FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

The Wilson Bulletin

Official Org-an of the Wilson Ornithological Club

and

The Nebraska Ornithological Union

fin affiliation)

An Illustrated Quarterly Magazine devoted
to the Study of Birds in the Field

Edited by Lynds Jones

Nineteen Hundred and Seventeen
Old Series, Volume XXIX New Series, Volume XXIV

Published by the Club at Oberlin Ohio

V <X - 1 ?

THE

\A/lLSON BULLETIN

NO. 98
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

VOL. XXIX MARCH, 1917 NO. 1

OLD SERIES VOL. XXIX. XEW SERIES VOL. XXIV.

THE DL\RY OF A NEW ENGLAND ORNITHOLOGIST
Ax Appreciation.

(Read before the \Ml5on Ornithological Club at Chicago,
December 28, 1916.)

W. F. HEXXIXGER.

A few years ago a letter came to my desk, asking me
whether I would like to consider buying a small collection of
birds. Upon my answer that I would have to have the exact
data I heard no more until this fall. Then I received the
answer that the data were all given and thus the collection
passed into my hands together with the book, that was to con-
tain these data. Naturally when unpacking the specimens and
checking them off I saw that the collection had but little finan-
cial value. A specimen of Pheiigopediits inaculipcctiis at-
tracted my attention only because it had belonged to the col-
lection of John Cassin and a specimen of JVilsonia citriiia be-
cause it originally belonged to Dr. E. A. ^ilearns. Running
over the Warblers in the collection I came across the name on
the checklist : "' Whitethroated Warbler." Knowing that the
Cerulean is sometimes called by that name I looked for this
species, but what was my surprise when the specimen found
proved to be a Vermh'ora leucohronchialis of a very early date,
July 3, 18T5. I then paid close attention to those species of
which there seemed to be only one specimen at hand. The
very next one was a Cerulean and then a Kentucky Warbler,
both from the New England States. To my memory came

2 The Wi^sdN Bulletin — Xo. 98

, ■ f ( ,, , , ,

a short note in the Auk, the Bird Journal of the Atlantic Coast,
written about nine years ago and when I turned to the page I
saw what had fallen into my hands. Consequently I turned
to the book which had accompanied the skins and there found
accurately recorded the ornithological life history of a man,
who furnished many other men in the New England States
in the past with splendid records of New England birds, and
whose records are worthy to be retold or revealed. The col-
lection, Qj- what was left of it — 302 skins — thus proved to
be of considerable historical value and it gives me great pleas-
ure to show the most interesting ones of them to the members
of the Wilson Club today, as I read to them from the records
of the past, from the diary of Dr. Erwin I. Shores, the Orni-
thologist of Sufifield, Connecticut.

The diary begins with statements of his childhood days back
in 1862 and relates struggles with parental objections to the
use of a gun, when he was only eight years old, the wrestling
with questions of identification of birds, all things with which
the most of us are familiar from our own reminiscences'. Ten-
ney's Manual, and in 1871, when the family lived in Haver-
hill, Mass., Johnson's Natural History, as also Maynard's
Naturalist's Guide served him as his ornithological literature.
There at Haverhill he also learned the art of taxidermy. Two
good records from this time are still preserved in the diary,
viz, the shooting of a Black-backed three-toed Woodpecker
(Picoides arcticns) in October, 1871, at Bradford, along the
river, but he says of this specimen : " it was so lousy, that I
only kept his head and wing." In November of the same year
a friend gave him a pair of little Auks {AUc alle) which were
shot on Kenoza lake, which he mounted and still had at a very
late date. In August, 1872, the family moved to Suffield,
Conn., and in September of the same year he entered Brown
University and there became acquainted with Professor J. W.
P. Jenks. Through him he became still more interested in
birds and received permission from his parents to accompany
the Professor on a winter trip to Florida. The trip I wish to
give in his own words. He writes as follows :

A New England Ornithologist 3

" Our party consisted of Professor Jenks, Fred Jenks and
myself. On the way to our real starting- point Fred and I shot
several birds, but kept very few. Saw a few gulls and ducks
on the way to Savannah, but lost them. Saw plenty of ducks
after we passed Cape Hatteras. Our next shooting was at
Sand Point on the Indian river. There we got several birds.
Among them I remember a mockingbird that Fred got and
a Fish Hawk and a Broad-winged Hawk that I got. At Se-
bastian Creek I got a Pigeon Hawk and eighteen other birds
and Fred got a pair of Carolina Doves and twenty birds. On
the way down Indian River we had shot at a number of birds.
At Ft. Capron we met Mr. Ober and Mr. Van Buskirck and
they went with us to the interior. While at Ft. Capron went
gunning several times and shot a bag full each time, but
turned nearly all over to Professor Jenks, keeping for myself
only the following, all of which were obtained along the river's
bank North of Ft. Capron, but within five miles of it. This
list is as follows :

Ft. Capron, Florida, February 11, 1874.

1. Bahama Honey Creeper {Coereha bahamensis) J'. — (Aside of
this record are written the sad words, "lost in mail 1878." Sad,
I say, because I want the Club to remember that this is by far
the northermost record of this species in the United States, all
others being from the Florida Keys, principally Indian Key. This
record must be all of 200 miles farther north and thus the credit
for the northermost record of this species must go to this youthful
ornithologist, then 19 years of age, Dr. Shores.)

2. Cardinal Redbird, one (^.

February 12.

3. Yellow-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica dominica) ^.

4. Nonpareil {Passerina ciris) 5.

5. Stone Snipe (Totanus melanoleiicus) (^.

6. Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphicus) J'.

7. Royal Tern {Sterna maxima) (f.

(Numbers 3, 4 and 5 are now in my collection. — W. F. H.).

My first shot at Ft. Capron killed a Fish Crow and a Tur-
key Buzzard. From that place we started for Okeechobee and
breaking down on the way we left Professor and Fred behind.

4 Tut: Wh^oin Bulletin — Xo. 98

Killdeers, Meadowlarks, Quail, Deer, Raccoons, Fox Sq.,
Wild Turkeys, a Wildcat, Alligators and Snakes were com-
mon all the way to the Kissimee River. Besides these I killed
numerous smaller birds, but had no time to skin them. At
Cowboy camp, on February 19th, I killed a pair of Ivory-
billed Woodpeckers in the morning, but had no time to skin
them then, as the camp was moved that day, so put them in
the boat and at night when we reached camp they were spoiled.
At Ft. Bassanger there were plenty of birds and game and
though I shot much it went into our stomachs and I preserved
no skins. On the way down the river Snake birds, Herons,
Gallinules were abundant, but nearly all I shot were "gators."
On the island in Okeechobee there were thousands of nests of
Herons and a few of Roseate Spoonbills. When we came
the Herons left and the crows came and destroyed their eggs.
In the lake I was taken with fever and ague. — " On the
rest of the trip he could not do much, mentioning only, that he
again meets Professor Jenks and Fred, to whom he turned
over the box of eggs he had collected, and that at a Pelican
rookery at the Sebastian River he killed six Brown Pelicans
with one shot, but could only keep their plumes as he was too
sick to prepare any specimens. The effects of this trip made
itself felt in two ways. First it kept him in poor health for
some time, secondly he became determined to have a collection
of his own and started out to do so most vigorously. Several,
articles from his pen appeared in later years in regard to the
camp life in Florida and some of his experiences there, but
that was all he ever wrote about it and he never published
anything over his own name in ornithological literature. The
records from 1874 in his diary's shooting list up to 1880 in
the fall are very complete except the last few years when he
went to school, most likely some medical college. In the fall
of 1880 he moved to West Bridgewater in eastern Massachu-
setts. There he lived till the summer of 1885, moving to
Hampton, Virginia. The entries in the diary at the last named
place are of no peculiar or particular value except in one in-
stance to be mentioned later on. His life's work as an Orni-

A New Englaxd Ornithologist 5

thologist was in Sufifield, Conn, and West Bridgwater, Mass.
In giving the work for this period I have considered it best to
take up the various famiUes of North American birds and point
out anything that may be of interest. Suffield, West Suf-
field, and Enfield, Conn., are located in that part of Connecti-
cut where the Connecticut River enters the state from Mas-
sachusetts, and his work sometimes carried him across the line
into Massachusetts, besides he made several trips to Rhode
Island. This naturally makes his list of water and shorebirds
very small.

RECORDS.
Order Pygopodes.
The record for the Dovekie (Alle alle) has already been given.
The only other one worth mentioning is from West Bridgwater,
Mass., on November 1, 1882, two $$ juveniles, of Gavia stellata, shot
in PljTnouth, Mass., on October 28, 1882, and presented to him in
the flesh by Chas. Thayer.

Order Longipennes.
Most of the records for the birds of this order are from Hamp-
ton, Va., and are for birds we naturally would expect to meet there.
Of the Massachusetts records there is one of interest, a specimen
of the Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus), a 5 juvenile,
shot at Plymouth, Mass.,, on October 22, 1884, and presented to him
in the flesh by F. Mitchell.

Order Anseres.
Not many records for ducks and geese are given. He only got
one specimen of the Wood Duck (Aix spojisa) on October 26, 1880,
at West Bridgwater, Mass., and states that its crop had two large
acorns and its gizzard was full of cracked acorns, small stones and
sand. His record for the Blue-winged Teal is April 21, 1876, at
Suffield, and occasionally he mentions finding the Black Duck. The
other specimens were obtained mostly in the Boston markets and
taken in that neighborhood.

Order Herodiones.
He mentions the Great Blue Heron as fairly common, the Bit-
tern as not nearly so common, the Green Heron as common, the fol-
lowing stomach contents being noted: One (^ shot August 6, 1879,
had a frog and a mass of crickets and grasshoppers in his stomach,
one $ on August 11, 1879, had a mass of water-beetles in her stom-
ach. Of the Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax n. naevius).

6 TiiK Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

however, he only took one specimen — a $, in the juvenile plumage
on July 24, 1875, in the Big Brook woods, thus showing that this
species must be rather rare in that region.

Order Pahtdicolae.
He has several records for the Sora, but only one specimen act-
ually taken August 9, 1875, at Suffield, Conn., a (^ (now in coll.
"W. F. H.). Otherwise only the Coot is mentioned of this Order.

Order Limicolae.
The Woodcock and Wilson's Snipe are mentioned, but only one
specimen of each was in his collection; (now in coll. W. F. H.). The
Least and Spotted^ Sandpiper as well as the Bartramian Sandpiper
were common in those days and specimens of all these are in the
collection. August 4, 1875, was a red letter day for him. He went
to Saulsbury Beach to visit some friends, borrowed a gun and
rowed over to Plum Island at the mouth of the Merrimac River
in Massachusetts and took a specimen each of the Wiliet (Catop-
tropliorus setnipahnatus) , of the Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes), of
the Red-backed Sandpiper (Pelidtui alpina saTcalina) , of the Pec-
toral Sandpiper (Pisobia macnlata) , all of which are now in my
collection, and a bunch of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers,
which they had for supper. The Solitary Sandpiper is fairly com-
mon according to his notes, but the Killdeer rather rare, one rec-
ord being given a pair taken May 22, 1880, at Suffield, Conn. This
last record must be added to those given by Sage and Bishop.

Order Gallinae.
The Quail (Coliniis virginianus) is mentioned by him and the
Ruffed Grouse; the specimens of Spruce Grouse he had he ob-
tained from Northern Vermont.

Order Coliimbae.

He has a number of records for the Passenger Pigeon (Ecto-
pistes migratorius) June 19, 1874, a specimen shot in the front
yard of the home farm, June 16, 1875, a pair seen, August 30, 1879,
a 5 shot had been feeding on blackberries and elderberries, and
at the Southwick Ponds in Massachusetts, in July, 1880, he finds
several on July 16, and one on July 20. After that there are no
more records.

Order Raptores.

Among the Hawks there are no exceptional records, but some of
the observations and stomach records are worthy of note. Thus
he mentions a specimen of Buteo borealis feeding on Lepus sylvat-
icus on February 28, 1882, at West Bridgwater, Mass., the stom-
ach contents of a Buteo lineatus on August 24, 1875, at Suffield,

A New England? Ornithologist 7

Conn., as a large light green worm with light and reddish bands
across it with a long horn, black on top and green below, a dozen
or more large locusts and a small green snake, a small frog and
four black ground beetles. A winter record of Accipiter velox is
December 30, 1878. The contents of stomach of an Accipiter velox
taken September 12, 1877, were the bill of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
while the stomachs of all Sparrow Hawks contained mice. Twice
does he mention how Hawks have darted down and taken away
the bird he had just killed, in each case it being Cooper's Hawk,
and on one of these occasion he managed to kill the thief. The
Marsh Hawk he finds but once, and of other Hawks only the Bald
Eagle is met with, especially at the Southwick Ponds, Mass., in
July and August, 1880.

Among the Owls ,he notes the stomach contents of a Screech
Owl taken July 21, 1879, as having dorrbugs (whatever that may
be) and parts of a Chipmunk, while all others had mice. On May
25, 1877, he shot a pair of Great Horned Owls with both of the
young. Stomach contents: the $ had skunk, the (^ a Red Squirrel,
the young each a mouse and the skunk's fur. His best record,
however, is a Hawk Owl (Surnia uliila caparocli) obtained in the
Boston markets in December, 1877, shot on Salem Beach, having
a mouse in its stomach. As there are only fourteen records for
this owl in Massachusetts it constitutes the fifteenth one, or rather
the tenth one, in order. The Long-eared and Short-eared Owls
are also mentioned by him.

Orders Coccyges and Alcyones.
Both species of cuckoos are mentioned, though the Blackbilled
one is the more common of the two. The Kingfisher is mentioned
as common and several observations on his mode of fishing are
made, that he dives down quite deep to catch his prey and that
he breaks the backbone of the fish and swallows it doubled up.

Order Pici.
The record for Picoides arcticus has been mentioned. The
Flicker, the Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are all noted as com-
mon. His specimens of the Pileated Woodpecker came from North-
ern New York and Vermont. Of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
(SpJiyrapicus varius) he hasi but one record, a ^ taken September
9, 1874, at Rehoboth, Mass. (coll. W. F. H., No. 1395). We know
today that this species is a rare breeder in the mountains of Massa-
chusetts and his record must have been of some value in those
days, since it does not seem to be established as a breeder there
till in the eighties of the past century. The greatest rarity, how-
ever, is the specimen of Centurus caroJinus, the Red-bellied Wood-

8 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

pecker, a $ taken July 30, 1874, at Suffield, Conn. (coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1394). This is the specimen mentioned by Merriam in Trans.
Conn. Ac. Sci. IV, 1877, 65, and is the only indisputable specimen
taken in Connecticut, as Linsley only saw one, and no one seems
to know anything definite about the one killed by Dr. Crary at
Hartford and the date of its capture. Dr. Shores' specimen is
likewise the first one taken in New England.

Order MacrocJiires.

The Whip-poor-will, Nighthawk, Ruby-throated Hummer and
Chimney Swift are all well known birds of this region. Of the
latter species he has one shot July 21, 1879, at Suffield, Conn.,
(Coll. W. F. H., No. 1422), a J' that had three testicles, two of the
usual size, and on the right side another from the same duct about
two-thirds the size of the other, certainly an interesting specimen
anatomically.

Order Passeres.
Family Tyrannidae.

Kingbird (Tyrannus lyrannus). — Common. Migration dates:
May 12, 1876, and May 11, 1884.

Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchtis crinitus). — A rare bird in that
region. He took only four speciments, two of which I now have,
a (^ taken September 10, 1877, and a ?, taken May 17, 1877 (Coll.
W. F. H., Nos. 1400 and 1401).

PhcBbe (Sayornis pJioehe). — Common. Migration dates: April 21,
1875; April 12, 1876; April 23, 1877; April 7, 1882; April 4, 1883;
March 27, 1884. The specimen taken April 21, 1875, a ^, had some
long white worms just in front of the eye similar to those found
in the Snake Bird (AnMnga anhinga).

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Nutallornis dorealis). — Rare. Dr.
Shores took only one specimen of this bird, a c^, on August 5,
1874, at Suffield, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1560). This is the
first specimen ever taken in Connecticut (Sage and Bishop, Birds
of Conn., p. 102).

"Wood Pewee (Myioclianes virens). — Common summer resident.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidoncix flaviventris) . — Rather
rare. Mr. Shores took ten specimens of this species, and I be-
lieve the earliest records from the state, since Sage and Bishop
mentionj only one earlier, August 21, 1876, a pair (^^ in Coll. W. F.
H., No. 1562 and $, No. 1563); May 25, 1877, two males (one (^
in Coll. W. F. H., No. 1564); May 17, 1877, a c^; June 4, 1878, a ?;
August 30, 1879, a c?; September 1, 1879, a J'; September 4, 1879,
a $; September 10, 1879, a $.

Empidonax minimus. — Common. Migration dates: May 4, 1876;
May 9, 1877; May 5, 1882; May 12, 1883.

A New England Ornithologist 9

Empidonax virescens. — One specimen taken, a J', June 24, 1874,
at Suffield, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1551). The A. O. U. check-
list credits this species with breeding casually in Connecticut and
once in Massachusetts. Ridgway (Birds of North and Middle
America) credits it with a breeding record at Hyde Park, Mass.,
1888, but does not mention Connecticut at all, although under the
bibliographical references it is mentioned from that state (Mer-
riam, Trans. Conn. Ac. Sci. IV, 1877). Evidently Dr. Shores'
record is the first one from Connecticut, and also for the New
England states, and the late June date makes it possible that it
bred there as it did so in later years. (Sage and Bishop, B. of C,
p. 104.) Another valuable specimen.

Of the next families, the Blue Jay, the Crow, the Bobolink, the
Cowbird, the Red-winged Blackbird, the Purple Crackle, the
Meadowlark, the Baltimore Oriole, the Rusty Blackbird are all com-
mon birds of that region. The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spiirius)
is rare and he mostly met with but one specimen each summer,
with the exception of one, and took only six specimens all told,
three of which are now in my collection. One Bobolink, a c?, shot
July 28, 1876, had grasshoppers and crickets in his stomach, and
on June 15, 1875, he mentions finding a Red-winged Blackbird's
nest that had two entirely light blue eggs without any markings
and one with one black spot only on the large end. The Horned
Lark was taken only at Providence, R. I., two J'c^, one 5, February
3, 1875, and November 13, 1875, a c? at Pawtucket, R. I.

Family Fringillidae.

Passer domesticus. — How uncommon the English Sparrow was
in those days is shown by the remark under December 23, 1875:
"Was at work skinning birds, when I heard a queer song, so went
out and shot these two," viz. two 5? of this species. Surely dif-
ferent from what we experience.

Pinicola enucleator leucura. — Met with occasionally February
22, 1875, at Rehoboth, Mass., December 21, 1875, at Suffield, Conn.,
December 6, 1882, and January 1 and 18, 1883, at West Bridg-
water, Mass., and the next winter at the same place as common
all winter.

Pine Siskin (Spinns pinus). — He has four records for this spe-
cies, one (^ taken November 24, 1874, a c? taken December 21, 1875,
its crop full of frozen apples, and two (^(^ taken December 30, 1878.
January 2, 1879, a flock seen. These records are years earlier than
any given by Sage and Bishop (B. of Conn., p. 122). The Purple
Finch breeds in that region and the records are numerous.

Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra minor). — The only records are

10 The Wilsox Hullrtin — Xo. 98

Rehoboth, Mass., one male and two females on October 30, 1874,
a pair being now in my collection.

Loxia leucoptera. — This rare straggler was taken on November
26, 1874, at Suffleld, Conn., a male (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1480).
This is a month earlier than the first record by Sage and Bishop,
and hence the first one taken in Connecticut.

Redpoll (Acanthis liuaria). — Common. On January 20, 21 and 22,
1875, he took 53 specimens. Sage and Bishop mention only one
earlier occurrence, so that is the second record for the state.

Greater Redpoll (Acanthis linaria rostrata). — One specimen of
Redpoll taken on January 20, 1875, at Sutfield, Conn. I refer to
this subspecies. Its measurements seem to come well within the
range of this variety (length 5.70 and extent 9.10 in., wing 3.20,
tail 2.25). This is three years sooner than the only record given
by Sage and Bishop (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1467).

Snowflake {Plectroplienax nivalis). — One specimen taken, a (^,
on November 24, 1874, at Suffield, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1413).
Sage and Bishop's first record is two months later.

Of the other members of this family the Goldfinch, the Vesper,
Savannah, White-throated, Tree, Chipping, Field, Song, Fox, and
Swamp Sparrows, the Slate-colored Junco, the Towhee, the Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, and the Indigo Bunting are all common.

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus). — It sounds peculiar
that this species is only met 'with once, a fine male in full plu-
mage, taken in Suffield, Conn., November 24, 1874 (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1433). It evidently must be a very rare visitor in that region.
Dr. Shores' record is the first specimen taken in Connecticut (S.
and B., B. of C, p. 122).

Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Passe7~hcrbulus caudacutus). — There are
only two records, one from Rhode Island, where the species is
common, at Silver Springs, October 23, 1875, a male (Coll. W. F.
H., No. 1581), and one female from Hampton, Va., October 22, 1886
(Coll. W. F. H., No. 1586), where the species is also common.

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum austraUs). —
While this species breeds in Connecticut it seemed to be almost
absent in that region, since there are only two records, a J' juve-
nile, taken July 6, 1874, at Enfield, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1459)
and May 29, 1878, a male taken at Suffleld, Conn.

White-crowned Sparrow (ZonotricMa leucophrys) . — A rare bird
in this region. Only four records, a male taken at Silver Springs,
R. I., October 23, 1875; a female taken at Suffleld, Conn., May 20,
1876 (Coll. W. F. H., No. 229), and a $ taken May 23, 1876, at
Suffleld, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H., No. 351). A recent article states
that this species is rare in all New England. May 14, 1877, a
(^ taken.

A Xf.w England ORxiTiioLonisT 11

Lincoln Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii). — Our fellow member, H.
S. Hathaway, remarked on the rarity of this species in the "Os-
prey," March, 1899, p. 110, stating that only three had been taken
in Rhode Island and similar conditions prevailed in Connecticut
at the time when Dr. Shores worked there. The records are as
follows: June 6, 1874, one taken; May 23, 1877, a male taken,
"which had small straws in its mouth and acted as if it were near
its nest, being very much less shy than usual" (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1476); June 2, 1877; June 23, 1877, and September 14, 1877,
and May 14, 1877 (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1475); May 22, 1878, two
males taken, and June 4, 1878. These records show that it bred
there at the time, at least to all appearances. Mr. Shores' record
of June 6, 1874, is the first record from Connecticut.

Family Tangaridae.

Summer Tanager {Piranga rubra). — This species is only known
as a straggler in the New England states, but two of the very few
records are furnished by Mr. Shores. A male July 21, 1876, of
which he writes: "Was sitting in room reading when I happened
to look out of the window and saw this bird in Miss Clark's yard.
Got gun and shot out of the window." As this bird was mounted
it may possibly still be in Mrs. Shores' possession, as she kept a
case of mounted birds. The other record is from West Bridg-
water, Mass., May 16, 1884, a male taken. Mr. Shores' record from
Suffield is the first one taken in Connecticut.

The Scarlet Tanager is of course a common bird in the region
of Connecticut.

Family Hintndinidae.

Purple Martin (Progne subis). — Not overly common. Migration
dates: April 16, 1877; May 13, 1883.

Cliff Swallow (Petrochclidon I unifroi^s) .—Migration dates: April
21, 1876; April 25, 1877; May 11, 1884. Common.

Barn Swallow (Hiriindo erytlirogastra) . — Common. Migration
dates: April 13, 1876; April 22, 1877; May 11, 1884.

Tree Swallow (Iridoprocne bicolor). — Common. Migration dates:
April 22, 1877; April 8, 1882; April 19, 1883; March 24, 1884.

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) . — Common along the river.

Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis). — Only one
specimen taken, a $ on June 6, 1874, at Suffield, Conn. This is the
specimen mentioned by Purdie in Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club II, 1877,
21, and is the first specimen recorded from Connecticut and the
second one ever taken in the New England states. This species
has extended its range since those days and is now a fairly com-
mon breeder in Southern Connecticut (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1453).
This specimen is not mentioned by Sage and Bishop.

12 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

The Cedar Waxwing was of course a common species there, but
of the Northern Shrike there are very few records, a J* taken No-
vember 27, 1876, in Suffield, Conn. (ColL W. F. H., No. 1366), and
a $ taken February 28, 1880 at Suffield, which had a mouse in its
stomach, and four seen during the winter of 1883 to 1884 at West
Bridgwater, Mass.

Family Yireonidae.

The Red-eyed Vireo (F. oUvocea) is the most common, followed
by the Yellow-throated (V. flmnfrons), the White-eyed (V. griseus),
the Blue-headed {V. solitarws), and the Warbling (V. gilvus) in
regular order of abundance, but there is only one record for the
Philadelphia Vireo (Vireosylva pMladelphica) , a female taken Sep-
tember 10, 1879, at Suffield, Conn. This is always a rare species
and this record constitutes apparently the first one for Connecti-
cut It is now No. 1493, Coll. W. F. H. (Sage and Bish. Birds of
Conn., p. 145).

Family Mniotiltidae.

Black and White Warbler (MniotiUa voria). — Common in this
region. Migration dates: May 20, 1875; May 11, 1876; April 21,
1877; April 30, 1882; April 28, 1883; April 27., 1884. Fall dates:
September 9, 1874; September 12, 1877; September 11, 1878.

Worm-eating Warbler (Helniitlieros vermivorus) . — Very rare.
One specimen taken August 22, 1874, a male (Coll. W. F. H., No.
1611). This is the specimen mentioned by Merriam in the Trans,
Conn. Acad. Sc. IV, 1877, 12, and is certainly the one mentioned
by Purdie, Bull. Nutt. Om. Club II, 1877, 21. No doubt the first
specimen taken in North Connecticut, and at that time the north-
ernmost one in New England.

Vermivora pinus. — This warbler is still reported as rare in Mas-
sachusetts. Dr. Shores took only one specimen, a male, May 27,
1878, at Suffield, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1540).

Brewster's Warbler (Vermivora leucotroncTiialis) . — This rare
species was once taken by Mr. Shores July 3, 1875 (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1541), a male at Suffield, Conn. Second specimen taken in Con-
necticut, fourth specimen ever taken — there is one from Massachu-
setts, 1858, and one from Massachusetts, 1870, one from Connecti-
cut, May 25, 1875.

Golden-winged Warbler {Yermivora clirysoptera) . — Quite a num-
ber of records: June 17, 1875, a J' taken; July 7, 1876, a pair of
adult and three young taken, (a breeding record) ; August 7, 1878,
two J'c? and one 5 taken; August 10, 1878, two c?,^ taken; August
14, 1878, three t^^c^ taken (two in Coll. W. F. H., Nos. 1503 and
1523), and June 9, 1879, a S taken (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1504). Only
one of these records given by Sage and Bishop.

A New England Ornithologist 13

Nashville Warbler (Verniivora ruhricapilla) . — Common. Migra-
tion dates: May 14, 1874; May 11, 1876; May 10, 1877; May 21,
1882; May 4, 1883; May 16, 1884. Fall: September 12, 1877.

Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina) . — Sage and Bishop
give this as a rare spring and fall migrant, but they, only made
use of one of Dr. Shores records, and that seems to be the first one
for the state, June 8, 1875, a male taken (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1524);
September 3, 1877, a 5 jvivenile; September 10, 1879, a pair (5 in
Coll. W. F. H., No. 1582); a ? September 1, 1879; a ? September 7,
1877; a pair September 2, 1879; a J' September 4, 1879; a J' Sep-
tember 5, 1879; a pair September 8, 1878 (a $ in Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1525). These were the specimens taken by him.

Northern Parula Warbler (Compsothlypis a. usneae). — Common.
No special records.

Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina) — Sage and Bishop call
this a very rare spring and fall migrant (B. of Conn. p. 153), but
Dr. Shores took fourteen specimens, that is more than all the other
Connecticut men put together, and he also took the first specimen
in the state. May 28, 1875, a $; May 20, 1876, a c? (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1538); two $?, May 23, 1876; a J', May 27, 1876; two c^c?, Sep-
tember 1, 1879; a J', September 2,, 1879 (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1539),
and four $$ on the same date (two in Coll. W. F. H., Nos. 1536 and
1537) ,and twoJ'J' on September 10, 1879. Only one of these records
given by Sage and Bishop. It seems that I now have more speci-
mens of this warbler (four) in my collection, taken in Connecticut,
than any Connecticut man has at the present day.

Dendroica (estiva, caertilesccns and magnolia are all common in
that region.

Dendroica coronata. — Common. Two winter records given in the
diary. January 2, 1879, a flock of about twenty seen, of which
two (^^ were taken, and February 22, 1875, a J' taken. These rec-
ords are not given in Sage's and Bishop's work and are many years
prior to any winter records they do give.

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica caerulea). — Exceedingly rare. One
J' taken on June 12, 1875 (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1501). He says about
this occurrence: "On my way home lay down under a tree by the
road waiting for a ride and I thought I saw a Warbling Vireo, so
shot and got a Blue Warbler." This was at West Suffield. This
is the specimen mentioned by Ridgway (Birds of North and Mid-
dle America, Vol. II, p. 571), by Brewer Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H.,
XIX, 1878, 303, and also by Purdie Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club II, 1877,
21, Linsley's record from 1841 does not state whether a specimen
was taken or not, hence is not to be considered in this connection,
but there is one earlier one from Massachusetts. Thus Dr. Shores'

14 The Wilson Bulletin' — No. 98

specimen, is tlie first one taken in Connecticut and the second one
taken in New England.

Dendroica pensylvanica, virens, Seiurus aitrocapillus and nove-
boracetisis, Setophaga ruticilla, Wilsonia canadensis and Geothlypis
trichas are all common in that region, and there are no special
records.

Black-poll Warbler (Dendroica striata). — This is the most com-
mon warbler of all in that region. Dr. Shores taking 116 specimens
in all.

Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea). — Dr. Shores found
this is a very rare warbler and notes only three specimens taken.
May 20, 1875, a J', May 21, 1877, a J' (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1478) and
a c? May 23, 1878 (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1477).

Blackbiirnian Warbler (Dendroica fiisca) . — To the fall records
given by Sage and Bishop must be added a male taken September
1, 1879 (now in Coll. W. F. H.), and one on September 10, 1879;
to the simimer records a male taken July 29, 1878. We find under
this species the following remark, which will no doubt evoke a
smile as we think of similar feelings in our life: "June 11, 1876,
Sunday. This A. M. was sitting in my room reading, when on look-
ing up I saw a sight that made me wish the people were not just
going to meeting. Nine Blackbumian warblers in the elm! How
I did want to shoot! But father said 'No,' and the people were
passing thick, so I couldn't very well." Common.

Pine Warbler (Dendroica vigorsi). — Not common, as he took only
nine specimens.

Yellow Palm Warbler (Dendroica p. hypochrysea). — Common.
Two early spring records are April 17, 1876, and April 22, 1877.

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor). — Decidedly rare. He took
only three specimens, a ,^, June 16, 1875, and two c?c? Jime 28, 1876
(one in Col. W. F. H., No. 1520).

Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosa). — Rare. One specimen, a
male, taken August 16, 1876, at Suffield, Conn., of which he says:
"I shot the Kentucky Warbler in the lane by the large chestnut
tree." This is the bird of which C. Hart Merriam says in a re-
view of the birds of Connecticut, 1877. "A specimen was taken by
Erwin I. Shores at Suffield, Conn., on August 16, 1876, a bird new
not only to the state of Connecticut but new also to the whole avi-
fauna of New England." It is now No. 1509, Coll. W. F. H. This
record is not mentioned at all by Sage and Bishop in the Birds of
Connecticut, for what reason I know not. There is just one more
record for Connecticut in those early days, two for Massachusetts
and two for Vermont (Auk, Vol. XXIV, 1907, p. 346).

Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis). — Dr. Shores took just

A New England Ornithologist 15

five specimens, a $, on September 10, 1879, at Suffield (Coll. W. F.
H., No. 1531), a $, September 28, 1880, at West BridgA\'ater, Mass.,
and three specimens on September 17, 1881, at the same place. (One
in Coll. W. F. H., No. 1497.)

Mourning Warbler (Oporornis pliUadelpJiia) . — Rare in Connecti-
cut. Mr. Shores took only two specimens, a male. May 29, 1879
(Coll. W. F. H., No. 1484), and a male. May 22, 1877 (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1485). These two records are not given by Sage and Bishop
and should be added to their list.

Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens). — A rare breeder in that
section. Two taken, a male each time. May 17, 1877, and June 23,
1877 (Coll. W. F. H., Nos. 1405 and 1406).

Wilsonia piisilla. — Rather rare. Nine specimens taken. A male
taken each on May 26, 1874, May 10, 11, 13 and 23, 1876, May 14,
1877, May 22, 1877, a female on August 31, 1877, and a male on
September 10, 1879. Two of these are in my collection. Sage and
Bishop say, "usually rather rare and most often seen in spring."

Hooded Warbler {Wilsonia citrina). — ^Veiy rare. One specimen
taken, a male, on July 8, 1875, at Suffleld, Conn. (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1508). Ridgway says in his Birds of North and Middle Amer-
ica, Vol. II, p. 706, of this species: "Breeding northward to Connec-
ticut (Suffield, etc.)." Evidently basing this upon the present speci-
men, perhaps the first specimen taken in Connecticut. The other
specimen in Dr. Shores' collection (now Coll. W. F. H., No. 1502)
was taken by the late Dr. E. A. Mearns, a male in high nuptial
plumage on May 21, 1878, at Highland Falls, New York, and seems
to be one of the earlier records for that state.

The Titlark or Pipit is not mentioned from Connecticut. Two
specimens he took at Cranston, R. I., on November 20, 1874, and
several at Hampton, Va., in. 1892. The Catbird he found less com-
mon than the Brown Thrasher. Of the Wrens he mentions for
Connecticut only the House Wren, and from the Southwick Ponds
in Massachusetts the Short-billed Marsh Wren. The Brown
Creeper, the White-breasted and the Red-breasted Nuthatches he
found quite often. A remark under the Chickadee (Penthestes atri-
capillus) shows what a careful observer he was. He writes under
date of March 27, 1882, at West Bridgwater, Mass.: "Several times
this winter have heard a note that sounded like a Wood Pewee, but
yet I knew none of them could be, here at such a time. Today I've
stood within ten feet of a Chickadee and have seen him dilate his
throat and give utterance to a sound which I should express by
'chee-bir-de.' First syllable loud and long and the next of half
length and less volume, the last short and not loud enough to be
heard a great distance. The whole is rather brighter and quicker

IG The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

than that of the Wood Pewee, but very closely resembles it. Noth-
ing like their very bright and quick note of 'chicadee.' At a dis-
tance the last syllable seems only a continuation of the second."
The two Kinglets he found commonly.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (PoliojHila cacrulea). — He took only one
specimen, when he "took a ride down the bay just for fun," namely,
a male at Silver Springs, R. I., on June 24, 1875 (Coll. W. F. H.,
No. 1555). There are seven records for Massachusetts of this bird,
all of a later date, and seven for Connecticut. Two ,of these are
earlier and one for the same year from Providence, R. I., all four
mentioned by Purdie in Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club II, 1877, including
Dr. Shores' specimen.. There are only four specimens all told
from Rhode Island.

Of the Turdidae we find the Bluebird, the Veery, and the Her-
mit Thrush mentioned as common, the last one arriving as early
as April 2, 1877, and leaving as late as November 1, 1882. The
Olive-backed is less common and the Wood Thrush common only
about every third year.

Robin (Planesticus mi gra forms). — Common. Sometimes stays
all winter, as January 2, 1879. While living at Hampton, Va., Jan-
uary 12, 1892, we find this record in the diary: "A fine male pre-
sented by Sam L. Garrett, shot at Curratuck County, North Car-
olina. Curiously marked with white and black. Albinistic and
melanistic mixed. Part of the breast, Avings and tail alone natural
color" (Coll. W. F. H., No. 1335).

And then the book becomes silent, only to be opened four
years later, in 1896, stating, that, owing to his father's death
and his moving from place to place, he sold his cabinet with
1,91(5 skins and his osteological specimens to Frank Blake
Webster Company. He retained the number of 302 skins. Once
more the book is opened, in 1900, and two specimens recorded
as taken at Fort Caswell, N. C, where he lived after the Span-
ish-American war. The two specimens were a Black-bellied
Plover and a Turnstone. Then he goes on to state that he
might be called to the Philippines for medical service and
works almost day and night to perfect his magnificent collec-
tion of seaweeds. And that ended his career as an Ornithol-
ogist and the diary. Mrs. Shores wrote me that the Doctor
died at Schenectady, N. Y., on May 6, 1906, after they had
lived there for about four and a half years.

I never knew this man personally, but you will agree with

A New England Ornithologist 17

me that I was able to write to Mrs. Shores : " He was not
only a keen observer and a man of scientific accuracy, but also
a man of great modesty — too much so perhaps — with an in-
dependent turn of mind and he had a nature that must have
been noble and good." And in return came the reply : '' The
Doctor was all you say of him and certainly had a wonderfiul
mind."

This man furnished many of the older New England orni-
thologists with his splendid records, on which in part at least
they built up their fame, but he never published anything over
his own signature that the wife or I know of. He was for a
time an Associate Member of the A. O. U., which of course,
as you all know, does not mean anything. And when he died,
there were none of his old friends, so often mentioned in the
diary, Jos. Ely, Fred Jenks, David Brewer and others, some of
whom are no doubt living today, to speak of his work, and
because he was not a member of the A. O. U. at the time of
his death his work was not reviewed. A streak of luck has
let this diary fall into my hands and you will agree with me
that he did his work well. So I have no more interest in this
appreciation but that full justice be done though even at so
late a date, to one who knew the birds and loved them well,
who furthered the cause of science in many ways ; and if the
men of New England have forgotten him and his ornithological
work without a word of praise, we men of the Middle West
at least will do him justice and whisper over his grave : " Well
done was thy work !" And the old woods of Suffield will nod
their consent to this appreciation of their old friend of long
ago, of Dr. Erwin I. Shores !

18 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

A COOPERATIVE BIRD CENSUS AT
WASHINGTON, D. C.

BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER.

The importance of counting- the actual numbers of birds over
given areas, particularly during- the breeding season, has been
already amply demonstrated. Censuses of the birds present
during the height of the spring migration are also of consid-
erable value, both as a basis for comparison of the relative
numbers of the various species in the same year, and of the
same species in different years. Series of such observations
taken throughout the migration season would give a pretty
good idea of the volume of the migration ; and a series extend-
ing through a number of different years would show its fluc-
tuations, which, as we already know, are often considerable.
It is practically impossible for a single person to make satis-
factory observations of this kind, except over a very limited
area, and the best results are undoubtedly obtainable by the
cooperative work of a number of persons.

The writer, with the assistance of fifteen other ornithologists,
planned a census of this kind in the vicinity of Washington,
D. C. As may be seen from the accompanying list, so many
ornithological experts have rarely been engaged on a similar
task at any one time. The day chosen was May 12, 1913,
which date in May may be considered the height of the spring
migration for the vicinity of Washington. Weather condi-
tions proved propitious, the day being bright and clear with
a rather chilly northeast wind. The country investigated con-
sisted of the region within 20 miles of the city of Washington,
and comprised the valleys of the Potomac and Anacostia
rivers, together with their tributary streams and the adjacent
uplands. The routes of the various parties, 13 in number,
were laid out so as to cover the country in all directions from
Washington. This section consists of the wide wooded val-
leys of the Potomac and the Anacostia rivers, along which

. Bird Census at Washington, D. C. li)

there are in places rather extensive areas of bottomland, mud-
flats, and marshes ; the numerous small timbered streams tribu-
tary to both these rivers ; and the rolling upland farms inter-
spersed with more or less extensive areas of woodland. The
timber in this region is almost entirely second growth, although
in some places the trees reach a considerable size. Most of
the woods are deciduous, but there are groves of pines in many
places and a few scattered hemlocks along the river bluffs.

Our careful bird survey indicated that 1913 was not a very
good year for birds, but the results are, nevertheless, from
several standpoints, decidedly interesting. One fact of distri-
bution stands out clearly, which is that the best places for birds
about Washington lie almost all in the more or less immediate
valley of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, including, of
course, the many small streams that intersect their banks.

On this day the total number of species observed was 129 ;
of individuals actually counted, 12,257 ; though, since one of
the parties made no count of individual birds, this latter num-
ber is really too small. That the number of species seen is by
no means as great as could be reasonably expected, notwith-
standing the fact that Washington is not a particularly good
place for birds, is evident from an examination of the list,
which shows that there" are several species of water birds
(particularly ducks, of which there is not one in the list),
shore birds, hawks, owls, flycatchers, warblers, sparrows, and
a few others, which might reasonably have occurred. This
absence of certain species must be accounted for by the fact
that certain unknown conditions were unfavorable for birds,
rather than by the lack of careful search, since the work was
thoroughly done by all the parties concerned.

The six most numerous species, in the order of their abund-
ance, were as follows : English sparrow, barn swallow, tree
swallow, song sparrow, chimney swift, and catbird — rather
an unexpected list.

The sixteen species least numerous, and of which only a
single individual was noted, are included in the following list:

20 The Wilson Bulletin— Xo. 08

great blue heron, sharp-shinned hawk, marsh hawk, king rail,
woodcock, great-horned owl, nighthawk, red-breasted nut-
hatch, solitary vireo, yellow palm warbler, bay-breasted war-
bler, northern parula warbler, Nashville warbler, blue-winged
warbler, blue grosbeak, and Bachman sparrow.

The nineteen species of most general distribution, as evi-
denced by the fact that they were observed by all the parties in
the field, may be listed as follows : turkey vulture, bob-white,
flicker, chimney swift, crested flycatcher, brown thrasher, cat-
bird, southern robin, wood thrush, house wren, tufted titmouse,
red-eyed vireo, yellow-breasted chat, scarlet tanager, cardinal,
chewink, song sparrow, chipping sparrow, and English spSr-
row.

In addition, the following twelve others were noted by every
party except one : kingbird, Carolina wren, Carolina chickadee,
blue jay, southern crow, white-eyed vireo, American redstart,
Maryland yellow-throat, oven-bird, purple grackle, field spar-
row, and American goldfinch.

An analysis of the various lists shows that a number of
species, in addition to those of usually special distribution,
such as water birds and shore birds, were confined on this
date largely or wholly to the valleys of the rivers and the
larger streams. Such species were : barn swallow, bank swal-
low, rough-winged swallow, American redstart, hooded war-
bler, Maryland yellow-throat, northern water-thrush, prairie
warbler, black-poll warbler, black-throated green warbler,
black-throated blue warbler, cardinal, song sparrow, and white-
throated sparrow.

Two species which have been increasing in numbers about
Washington during the past few years were noted on this oc-
casion — the mockingbird, which was common, and the
migrant shrike, which was tolerably common.

Of the rarer birds of the District of Columbia there were
found the king rail, red-bellied woodpecker, great horned owl,
Cape May warbler, blue-winged warbler. ^Bachman sparrow,
and Henslow sparrow.

Bird Census at Washington, D. C. 21

Several migrant birds, for which May 12 is an unusually
late date, were also observed, as noted below, the dates after
each being the latest known previous records for this region :

Greater yellow-legs. May 16,

Least sandpiper, May 15,

Red-breasted nuthatch, May 12,

Solitary vireo, May 18.

For three other species the latest record of spring occurrence
was extended, these species with their previously recorded
dates being as follows :

Pied-billed grebe, April 24,

Yellow-legs, May 11,

Yellow palm warbler. May 1.

The itinerary of each of the thirteen parties engaged in this
survey was as follows :

1. — Great Falls, Virginia: By electric car from Washing-
ton, D. C., to Great Falls and return. Traveled on foot, 14
miles in the region about Great Falls on the Virginia side of
the Potomac river. Total distance traveled, 46 miles. Time
in field, 4 :00 a. m. to 8 :40 p. m. Total number of species ob-
served, 82 ; individuals, 623. A. Wetmore.

2. — Washington, D. C., to Great Falls, Maryland : By au-
tomobile to Great Falls and return. Total distance traveled,
32 miles. Time in field, 7 -.00 a. m. to 5 :00 p. m. Total num-
ber of species observed, 68 ; individuals, 728. V. Bailey and
Mrs. V. Bailey.

3. — Valley of the Potomac river in Virginia, from Elkins
and Difficult Run to Chain Bridge ; and the District of Colum-
bia, from Fox Hall Road to Observatory Heights, D. C. :
By electric car from Washington, D. C, to Elkins, Virginia.
Traveled on foot, 22 miles, from Elkins, Virginia, to Observa-
tory Heights, D. C. Total distance traveled, 55 miles. Time
in field, 4 :00 a. m. to 8 :00 p. m. Total number of species ob-
served, 73 ; individuals, 701. E. A. Preble and W. L. McAtee.

4. — Potomac Valley, on the Virginia side, from Georgetown,

22 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

D. C, to Chain Bridge, Virginia ; and on the Maryland side,
from Chain Bridge, D. C, to Cabin John Bridge, Maryland :
By electric car from Washington, D. C, to Georgetown, D. C,
and Cabin John Bridge to Washington. Traveled on foot, 18
miles, from Georgetown, D. C, to Cabin John Bridge, Mar)^-
land. Total distance traveled, 32 miles. Time in field, 4:15
a. m. to 5 :55 p. m. Total number of species observed, 75 ;
individuals, 914. H. H. T. Jackson.

5. — Arlington, Fort Myer, and Rosslyn, Virginia, to the
Virginia end of the Long Bridge over the Potomac : By elec-
tric car from Washington, D. C, to Rosslyn and return.
Traveled on foot, 15 miles, Rosslyn to Arlington, Fort Myer,
and the Long Bridge. Total distance traveled, 20 miles. Time
in field, 3 :50 a. m. to 8 :00 p. m. Total number of species
observed, 6G ; individuals, 2,105. E. A. Mearns.

6. — Dyke, Fairfax County, A^irginia : By electric car from
Washington. D. C, to Dyke and return. Traveled on foot
about 10 miles in the vicinity of Dyke. Total distance traveled,
34 miles. Time in field, 8 :00 a. m. to 6 :00 p. m. Total num-
ber of species observed, 66 ; individuals, 516. W. Palmer.

7. — Western side of Anacostia River Valley, from Ana-
costia, D. C, to Benning, D. C. : By electric car from Wash-
ington, D. C, to Anacostia, D. C. Traveled on foot, 5 miles,
from- Anacostia to Benning, D. C. Total distance traveled, 13
miles. Time in field, 4:03 a. m. to 8:50 a. m. Total number
of species observed, 58 ; individuals, 1,382. W. D. Appel.

8. — Rock Creek Park ; and the Anacostia River Valley from
Benning, D. C, to Bladensburg, Maryland : By electric car
from Rock Creek Park to Anacostia, D. C, and return.
Traveled on foot in Rock Creek Park and in the Anacostia
Valley, six miles; by rowlx)at, Benning to Bladensburg and
return, 11 miles. Total distance traveled, 29 miles. Time in
field. 4 :00 a. m. to 9 :00 p. m. Total number of species ob-
served, 91 : individuals, 3,049. Harry C. Oberholser.

9. — Woodridge, D. C. to Beltsville, Maryland; and Laurel,
Maryland: By electric car from Beltsville to Laurel, Mary-
land, and Laurel to Woodridge, D. C. Traveled on foot, 15

Bird Census at Washixgtox, D. C. 23

miles, from Woodridge, D. C, to Beltsville, Maryland, and
about Laurel, Maryland. Total distance traveled, 35 miles.
Time in field, 4 :10 a. m. to 7 :00 p. m. Total number of species
observed, 61 ; individuals, 790. E. R. Kalmbach.

10. — Woodridge, D. C, via Northwest Branch, to Burnt
Mills and Forest Glen, Maryland : Traveled on foot, 13 miles,
Woodridge, D. C, to Forest Glen, Maryland. By electric car,
Forest Glen to Woodridge. Total distance traveled, 25 miles.
Time in field, 4 :05 a. m. to 7 :00 p. m. Total number of species
observed, 71 ; individuals, 748. A. H. Howell.

11.— Valley of Rock Creek, D. C. : Traveled on foot, 6
miles in Rock Creek Valley. Total distance traveled, 6 miles.
Time in field, 5:15 a. m. to 10:30 a. m. Total number of
species observed, 34; individuals, 260. E. J. Brown.

12. — Lanham, Maryland, to College Park, Maryland: Trav-
eled on foot, 5 miles, Lanham to College Park, Maryland.
Total distance traveled, 5 miles. Time in field, 6 :00 a. m. to
11 :45 a. m. Total number of species observed, 58 ; individuals
not counted. W. R. ]\laxon and T. H. Kearney.

13.— Falls Church, Virginia : Traveled on foot 12 miles, in
the vicinity of Falls Church. Total distance traveled, 12 miles.
Time in field, 5 :55 a. m. to 5 :45 p. m. Total number of species
observ^ed, 51 ; individuals, 538. J. H. Riley.

The following tables gives in graphic form the number of
each species observed by each party ; also the total number of
each species observed by all the parties during the day ; as well
as the other totals given above :

24

The \\''ilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

SIB^OJ,

leddV

jaraiBd

+

+

+

0<IO5e0rHt--<*<lOe0(MrHrHCnrHlOU3LftC0a5C0rHL»tO00

^ailH

«£> r-i

rH

■^

T-l

AeujTedyi ^ noxBj\[

+ ^

^ +

+

nAvojg

O
I— 1

tH

iH

IIQ^OH

CO
CO

L.O

I-l I-l

CO

qoBquiiTJH

rH

C^

c-

tH CO

T-l

jasioqaaqo

■*

00
Csl

LO

lO lO iH 'X) Oi CO

<M cq

C<l CO C<1

SUJB8H

cq cv) T-l CO i-H

TIOSJlOBf

aa^VOK ^ 9iq9Jd[

AduvQ

8joni:^aAi

m xn m

a 3 CI

•^^ S^ ly

O Pi (h

CO rt

Q in to

<P o c

O « O)

2 ^ <i^

ft 2" ^

J3 oj CO

rt ^ a^

O >-. =3

S ^ G to

;-H PI CO 3

o) a> jH J-

M 03

CO ;-<

IS 3

CO to r-

Cti CC ^ O

oj xd u a>

'v3 C3 fH -^

;-. 03 0) 3

5 go I

^ ^ >- 3

o 'a 'a §

+-> « o F
3 o o .^

<A

o
_ - C

•^ O) q

s ■-2 -^

O ct O

0; rt

rt
C

o

r/l

r/J

H)

ff;

fl

hr

ct

rt

O

;h

HH

to

y -* C! g

g o) « rt

Q; cd <l^

CO ^ .^ r1

r §^ o

<JW PhPh

CO :3

'co S

^ ^=1 5s
" 53 s

>=• CO

Part

03

0)

la

^ O rt

§ s ^

J Ci U

»< 0) o

Bird Census at Washington, D. C.

siBjox

^aiia

iCauaBaa: -^ uoxbjv + +

+ + ++ ++++ +++

ij-^irtr-(^t-o>i-ie<irH«oro-»*<e<ir»<T»<irtooc<ieo<Mioi-i

"5 ,* _H

<M «5 iH 00 T-t O Cq

UAVOJa

IiaAVOH

Tlo'BqTiii'B;^:

jasioqaaqo

laddV

++ ++++ +++

t- 1-1 CO

coe<)-rt<->*ii-iooTt<

t- eo th c^ i-t

T-IC^-*Tt<rH T-ICSlO-^OlrHO

lo CO oo iH 05 00 us

jaraiBtj

tOCOCO -^fOO-^OO 05 iH

i*»l

sujEajv

UOSJlOBf

•*■«*< C'O I-! ixicoe^iH c>q rfi

99W0W ^ 9iq9-id:

CO l-IS<ll-( tH 1— IOSCO LnoOOiCOCO-rfit-OO

Xairea

8Jora:^8iV\.

oqTt<u:) i-tcq iH rii-l-^CO C<lr-(-*i<Mi-(tHTf?OTj<S

02

g 5

PI

is

5 3

CO
O Pi

S s--

>^_o O tS

y jc TO "^
' — I ■-( "r" 'ri.

o t-'-S ^

u hi Qi a S -^ -1

<D g O
O O <B

QUO

CO '^

$ CO CO

(-1 -^J +J

® Ci 03

C ,c ^

C3 p p

o ?? b

b-S .S$ CO

o >. t* a;

^ O CO to

,;; CO t< •r'

CO eg

CO

3

cS

-I
CO S

s 5

CO =n

w cS ^H 2

O

J^ p. CO

a o .c^

CO

TO 5jO ^J

"a I

c3

^^U^

pl

C CO

n o

>> o

is

2 pi

CO ^^

.2 § 0)

-.■^^
cS OJ ^

S PI

St^ wS

26

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

+ +

++++ + + + + +

SyeiO J. i-IINLOrHlOa5CO ->*<00r-lc<l^ 00 la 00 CO

^ailH

iH O Ofl

jiaujBaa ^ noxBK

+ ++

•+ + + + + +

UAvoaa

CO CO <M

CO -^i C<)

IiaiSiOH

l-(l-lt-UtiO5COi-HC0 LOMlO

qo'BqraiB^i

jasioqjaqo

leddV

jaraiBj

Tf COCO COCqoO -^CO-ttHCOCl 00 ■^ 00

sujBaH

UOSllOBi'

C^ O lH OO U5

l-trHl-H-^T-ICC e^ -^COC^

aaWOH ^ aiqa-id

CO C<I 05 T-H

■^05050 0-. r-IOS CO LO

itaiiBa:

-* t- O CO

OOtOCDC<lt-COC^ lO -^

ajoraja^

OlOCqCOCO r-lC<lLni000e<IO eg OSrH-frH

0

j3 (U

A

m

fl

;:3

rt

0)

'Ti

C

c;

rn

0)

rt

0)

cri

o

4h

15

m

3

a

«e

ct

03

rt

^^

J3^

o

o

w

o

o

o

o

o

o

O

o

o

>>

>>

>>

>..

td WW ffi

o

rt CJ >

QJ O O

';q -a "O

g 0; 3

03 „ aj

" ^ s

o ° o

.2 ^ h

^ o ^

s

c

03

to

^/^

o

r/2

ri

u

c

(\'

(P

C

o

>>

-a
o

03

o

03

0-

-t-J
c3

o

o

H

rt

oi

•<->

-I-"

0

S-. 03

b -i- cc >:-

.S .2 ^ >>

O ^H ;H ^

to ^ 'oQ J'^

II s§

o c > >
d) 7i u u
o3 >j O O

pq 000

o3

■3 ; O

« t« «5

3 S ^

•r; CO ;-^

g s o

O a; CO

CO

i>a u

2 ^ " C"S

•q; to CO >> g,
5 oj o) g °

s o E;
c £ c

Bird Census at Washington, D. C.

I + ++ + +++ +

siij^ojL l?5 "^ 5 "^ °° S ^ ^ ^ ?^ ?:? S? '^^ S 5 '^ ^ ^ ?2 '^ «> -^ »

^ailH

Aaui-BByi ^ noxTjj\[

+

+ +

+ + + + +

uAioja:

II9AV0H

1-i <M t~ CO tH lO

qoBqiniBx

jasioqjaqo

eOCOiH (MtOCO (N-^U550i-It-(00

laddv

jauiIBtj

siuBaH

UOSJlOBf

lOl-(iH(MC<Ii-IC^COTH«3iHr-!

a8^V3H ^ 9iqaJcI

to 00 CC lO T-l T-l

■^^ii^a

OO Oi (M C<l

r-l LC CO e<i 1-1 IM

ajoui^jaAi.

Pi

m

<M 05 -^ CO

■«*< t- CO T-l O 02

.2 §

•ii • C CO

+-> "H ft o

£ *" "= s

^ -rt -U 1^

CO rt w ft

M .S "2 ^:; c

-^ TO .rH '^

CO ;=i c CO _2

"^ M g3 03 cj

TO '^ 'r-t *'-H

2 ^ c c c

fl o o o o

be o CO CO CO

CO H

CO

lU ,^ d "^

■sis 11

w c o 'S

s a

osrr co£

0)

ti-l

>

tn

rn

o

>

p.

c

C

,>1

CO

5

,^5

o

3
^1

03 fl O
o — > M

o 5 r

d Ctf g

^ ^ g

§'g

> CO CJ Pl^

" .■— 0 o o .2 .2

.2.2

oooooooo

- ■ u U !-i U ^^ !-i
TJ "O "O "O 'O "O

p p p Pi p fl

fl) ^ ^ 0^ ^ Q^

QQPQQQ

28

The WilsOxNT Bulletin — No. 98

SIB^OJL

^9nH

^eujBa^: ^ uoxt?i\[

+ + +

+

+ + + + +++

uAvoaa

CD •<**

cq -^ -^

llBJi-OH

tH iH 1-1

•*!

rHTHt-C0'*-*Tt<i-lt-a5THlrtrH

qo'BqraiBH

M

■^ t-rHrH t-ICOM t^
CO rH

jasioTiaaqo

pddV

jaxni-Bd

SUJB8H

UOSllOBf

aaW^W ^ aiqa-id

+ + +

+ + + + +++

rHTtiTH'iDlOiH<M<£>rH03 00,

OLOOOOO(NLOLOl-l

tHCO C005rH(r<100rHt-rHTt<tO

tH r-l

rH

co

CO eq

tH rH CO O
rH

rH

m CO

rH

CO

CO CO

CO

rH

lO

CO o
CO

■* e<i t-

rH

rH rH rH (rq CO C<1 00

rH eq ■*

cq

e<i

rH Cq
C<l

CO CO O rH
7-t

cq CO <M rH C<l t-

XaiTBa

ajoui^aM.

rH CO rH CO td CO

cq rH Cq e^ -^

OO (M 2

rH '^

(0

M .

fl •

a> •

o •

m •

0) •

• c3 f3 .

. ^ u .

. cd 01 .

• 0 a ■

. o " •

K

• u

>

■ O CD •

01 •

O • a;

U3

CO

rt cS'

f^ o 2

<u rtT;

oi o
a d

bn re 03

^ ci d oi ci d

O y y O o O

o o o o 'o o

U !-i U !-i ^ U

c^ 03 3
ft a ^

03

en CO

^ Xi

2 *H

3 O ..rt

" CO c3

^ <^ f^"

03 tn

0 2=^

o3
03 2^

W) "^

=5 CO

a s

o

l^! d n»

o3 o ;3

a-as

03 ,„ M

::3 .rl

CS rt

"O 'O "O

a a a

Oi 0) 0>

c T3 -a

C Cl G
O 0) 4)

OOP

5--

o Si £ ^ g S

2 03 .^

O O ^0)

'^ S (D o (V -^ 'z:
O 5 M t^ -jr; s o

CO

a^.s

O !h ^
5l „< ^

>.^ "

0) S .^

rt c^ cd
bJO two fl

^ ^ 5rt
PhPhO

CO a

aEH

-a

01

Bird Census at Washington, D. C

39

++

++++

+ + + +

+

H 1-1 t- tH

TtHfOmiT-lrHloaJNrHOO

05 t-

Sl'B^OX

CD o cq

O lO O •<*< IM CD

co in

T-l

m rH tH t- iH

rH C^

rH

C^

r-t

^9IIH

CO lO
CI

COTt<-rf<(M r^ iH CD(M
rH rH

rH OO

in CO
in

iCauJBax ^ uoxBH

++

+ + + + '^ + + + +

00 _|_

m 1

CO

UAvojg

CO (Nl

T-l

CD ^ O
rH

-* o

Iiajw-OH

05 O

<M 05 CO (M rH rH t-

rH 00

IM

CO rH 00

qo'BqTniB:a

O CO 05 C<l b- 00
-* rH rH 00 rH

rH O
CD 03

jasioqjaqo

CO <M

Lo Lo Tfi •>* ir; Tf

CO <^ r-t

rH C3

T-i

O

CO

-

laddy

r-( IM

in ■«*i 05 Tti -!t< c<i

CO rH O C<l

00 c^
in OO

i-\

cr.

rH

-

t-

O O lO ■* CO -rfi O

CO CD

C<l rH U5 rH

CO rH

m

-

suj^aH

05 c^ cvi in e^ t-

t- rH rH rH CO

CD in

CD O

rH OO

C^

-

UOSJlOBr

T-i ■*

o cq <M in o t-

CO rH O

in ^

t- rH

-•

-*

03

99W0H ^ aiq9-id[

t- CO Cd CD C<1 CO •*
C<1 T-i Oi rH rH

CO r-*

^ail'Ba

rH 05 uti

CDCslOOas rHrHOOm

CO oc

ca C<l C<1 rH

CD C^

ajom^jaAi

t- CD

00 in CD 05 rH CJ
rH rH r-

C<l cc

00 e<i

1^

. . 72

• • S

;=!

C

a

rt
^

:S ^

e

s

O 1 02-

•5

ft

"TP -P 3

02 Qi

o

^ 02 OJ

•-H CO

^

c^-5£ S.a

02 s e

02

"3

>>

02

O

serin
hmai
wii h
rum
gram
tills .

pecie
divid
for P

O

G
CO

=3

a a
11

ospiza melodia me
otrichia albicollis
zella pusilla pusilla
zella passerina pas
caea aestivalis bac
serherbulus henslo
modramus savanna
ecetes gramineus
ser domesticus hos

er of s
BY of in
name

ca caerule
a cyanea^
erythropht

otal numb
otal numb
The latest

2^°c

i hh;

9 .a n 'S

Ji^oCbaojrtOOrto

c

3h-

r£^

3^

i ts

m

2 U

2P

.CU <9-

H A

■<<

30 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

REMARKS ON THE MID-MAY CENSUS.

W. DEWITT INIILLER AND CHARLES H. ROGERS.

To US it seems that the vahie of this census, as of others,
such as " Bird-Lore's" Christmas one, lies more in the accuracy
of the count of individual birds, as a basis for comparison,
than in the total number of species noted. We strive for as
many species as possible consistent with as accurate as practic-
able an enumeration of individuals. Holding- such an opinion,
we venture to claim that our method, presently to be detailed,
is preferable to the methods of certain other of The Wilson
Bulletin's mid-May census takers.

The frequent use of "common" in the Ohio lists means very
little and is practically worthless for comparison, especially
when it is used to the exclusion of all other terms, such as
"abundant," thus putting the Warbling Vireo and the Robin,
for instance, into the same class. Again, figures such as those
in Mr. Kohler's list last year, apparently estimates made after
returning from the field, we believe to be far from accurate.
For example, — on our 1916 "Big Day," Song Sparrows
seemed so ubiquitous that, had we not counted as we did, we
might easily have estimated them later at 250 (Mr. Kohler's
number for his census), but our figures show only 66. We
are, therefore, not convinced that Mr. Kohler and Mr. Tau-
benhaus, in somewhat less than ten hours, noted nearly four
times as many Song Sparrows as did we in fifteen or sixteen
hours of daylight, even supposing that species to be more
abundant in their region than in ours.

Our big day is only a glorification of the kind of day each
of us spends on an average of over once a week all the year
around. On nearly every such occasion the individuals are
entered in the field notebook as often as seems necessary to
avoid forgetting any ; the species naturally appear on the pages
in the order of observation. This, however, is much too slow
for the Big Day, — the notebook would have to be opened
and perhaps several pages turned in looking for any species.

Remarks on the Mid-j\Iav Census M

On this occasion each man has a piece of heavy cardboard
about four by ten inches in size, and on each side of this is
closely fastened one sheet of finely-ruled paper very slightly
smaller. A list containing all species we are at all likely to
meet (about one hundred), with a few blank spaces where
they are most likely to be needed, is written in ink in A. O. U.
"Check-List" order on this paper the previous day. In the
field a pencil is used, and this may be tied to the cardboard.
Individuals are entered at intervals as brief as seems neces-
sary ; often the board is hardly in the pocket before it must
come out again. Of course all this does delay the progress of
the hunt to a certain extent, and occasionally a "good" bird
may slip by unobserved while we write, but we believe that the
comparative accuracy of our results justifies the loss of time
and, possibly, species, and we know of no scheme that would
take less time, unless we should take along a scribe to whom
we could dictate !

We are usually together, but at times become separated
(thcjiigh never beyond hail), so that our totals sometimes dif-
fer. In that case the larger figure is used for publication.
7"li:is, if one sees ten Phoebes, the other twelve, each including
1 .vo not seen by the other, the number printed is twelve, not
fourteen. The latter, however, would be better, if always
practicable.

From many years' familiarity with our region, we have
carefully chosen a route to include the haunts of as many
species as possible. We find that we cannot cover more than
fourteen miles before dark; this leaves six miles of return
journey with the possibility of adding the Whip-poor-will and
other species that make themselves heard by night. From the
start till the end of the twenty miles we are afoot.

We are particularly interested in the avifauna of northern
New Jersey, and we take the liberty of questioning certain of
Mr. Kohler's identifications. In his last May census, "Purple
Crackle, 150; Bronzed Crackle, 25;" indicates what we fear
to be a misplaced confidence in his ability to distinguish be-
tween these two forms in the field. To do this requires such

.'52 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

exceptionally favorable circumstances that it is very rarely pos-
sible for even the best-trained field ornithologist to identify
positively, by the use of glasses, a Bronzed Crackle in the
range of the Purple. Also we have grave doubts as to the
"Wilson's Warblers" Mr. Kohler records as breeding in New
Jersey ('The Oologist," vol. xxxiii., No. 6, p. 104), as Wil-
son's Warbler has not been found in New York in summer
and is rare in the nesting season even in northern New Eng-
land.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MIGRATORY
FLICHTS OF BIRDS AND CERTAIN ACCOM-
PANYING METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS.^

FRANK SMITH.

The purpose of this paper is to call attention to the correla-
tion between the principal migration activities of birds in
Spring in Central Illinois and certain types of weather con-
ditions. The existence of such correlation is shown by an
examination of the migration records which have been made
during the past fourteen years (1903-1916) at the University
of Illinois.

The region in the vicinity of Urbana, where the greater
part of these records have been made, is an elevated prairie,
without marshes or swamps ; the streams are mere ditches ;
and the natural timber is but a thin woodland tract skirting
one of these ditches and a nearby artificial pond. The most
complete data are from a cemetery adjacent to the campus;
an artificial forest of about 18 acres and over 40 years old
which is on the campus ; and a few rapidly disappearing
hedges and brushy patches in the outskirts of the city. More
extensive streams and woodlands twelve to twenty miles dis-
tant, have been visited very frequently but not daily and hence
the data from them have not been used in this discussion.

^ Contribution from the Zoological Laboratory, University of Illi-
nois, No. 87.

Migration Flights 33

Daily records have been made each year from early in Feb-
ruary until late in May for the past fourteen years and each
record includes a list of all the species seen, with approximate
numbers of each, tog-ether with memoranda concerning nests
and songs. During the season of migration activity these
records include results of early morning trips by the writer
and others ; trips of sections of a class in Ornithology at 8-10
a. m. or 3-5 p. m. taken with an instructor; and individual
work of a few experienced students takings more advanced
work who are assigned special territory for regular observa-
tions. In addition to these records there are nearly always
some members of the University Staff and other citizens, often
former students, who contribute results of frequent trips and
help materially in the adequacy of the data. The great super-
iority of such composite data over that possible by a single ob-
server has already been discussed by Cooke (Auk. 1907: 346)
and Stone (Proc. Acad. Sci. Phila. 1908: 128).

The combined results of a number of observers makes a list
of dates of " first seen " conform much more closely with a list
of dates of first arrivals than is possible with a single observer.
A comparison of the records of the writer with those of the
other observers during the years of 1912-1916 shows the fol-
lowing relations between his list of dates of " first seen " and
those of the other observers. 43.5% of the "firsts" were
recorded on earlier dates by others; 26.5% were recorded
earlier by the writer; and 30% were recorded on the same
dates by both. This is a decidedly better showing- than that
of Mr. Cooke and his collaborators at Washington who only
recorded about 8.5% of the " firsts " on the same days.

In the problem under discussion we must determine what
measurable phenomenon we shall use as an evidence of migra-
tion having taken place. We may use the appearance of species
which have not previously been recorded for the season ; or
we may use obvious increases of numbers of individuals or
bulk movements ; or we may use the non-appearance of birds
which have been recorded on the next preceding lists. For
the purposes of this paper I shall deal with records containing

3J: The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

the larger numbers of " firsts " and in doing- so it becomes
very obvious that in the data studied we are at the same time
dealing with records showing important bulk movements.

The data of " firsts " shows a great lack of uniformity of
distribution throughout the season. The average season has
had 89 days and the number of " firsts " has averaged 120
but these have been so bunched that 61 of them have been
recorded on 9 days. The extremes are found in the season
of 1907 w^hen it took 14 days to record one half of the " firsts,"
and in 1912 when one half of them were bunched on 5 days.
This lack of uniformity in distribution is still more apparent
when we examine the records of the last 30 days of each sea-
son, during which three fifths of all of the arrivals make their
appearance. On the average, 74 " firsts " are recorded in
these 30 days and 39 of them are bunched on 4 or 5 days.
Extremes occurred in the years 1915 in which it took 8 days
to record one half of the " firsts " of the last 30 days, and in
the years 1909 and 1916 in each of which it took but 2 days.
One half of all the " firsts " of those 14 seasons of 30 days
each were recorded on a total of 63 days and we have now
to examine the weather conditions which existed on those
days.

For such comparison weather maps are of course desirable
and preferably a series of the Washington maps which ap-
pear daily including Sundays and holidays.

An examination of the weather maps for the 63 days on
which are recorded a half of all the " firsts " of the last 30
days of each of the 14 seasons shows that on 54 of those days
there were approaching areas of low pressure, with south
winds which had been effective during the preceding night.
On 5 days there were southerly winds, or had been at points
further south in the state during the preceding night, although
an approaching " low " was not well defined. On 3 days the
winds were light and either due East or West. On one night,
April 30, 1907, there was a rather light northerly wind and
yet 5 " firsts " were recorded on the morning of May 1st
where none of them had been found on the preceding day.

Migration Flights 35

A study of the records of these 63 days readily shows that
they include the heaviest of the bulk movements of many
species as well as the " firsts " of others.

In view of what has preceded there seems to me ample
justification for the statement that in Central Illinois there is
a high degree of correlation between the flights of night
migrants and the meteorological conditions involved in the
near approach from the West of an area of low barometric
pressure with the accompanying rise in temperature and south-
erly winds.

A preparation of graphs showing temperature changes and
migration activities would doubtless show marked correla-
tion, as have those prepared by Stone at Philadelphia. So
also would graphs showing changes in the wind and migra-
tion activities. The determination of the relative importance
of temperature and wind direction in the initiation of the
separate migratory flights is yet to be made.

36 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

NOTES AND NEWS

In view of the greatly increased cost of printing the Wilson
Bulletin, and in view of the impossibility of securing an early
expression from all of our membership relative to an increase in
membership dues and subscription price before 1918, it has been
decided to make certain changes in the body of the Wilson Bul-
letin, beginning with this number, and to publish a magazine of
only 48 pages per issue, and not to exceed four illustrations per
number, unless the author of an article is willing to meet the cost
of illustrations in excess of four. It is believed that the present
high prices are temporary, and that with the return of normal
conditions it will again be possible to resume the printing of a
magazine of 64 or more pages without any increase of dues or
subscription price. It is not deemed wise to reduce expenses by
the use of cheaper paper or smaller type.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The Fourth Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological
Club was held in the parlors of the New Morrison Hotel, Chicago,
on December 27 and 28, 1916. In the absence of the President and
Vice-President, the meeting was called to order by the Secretary,
Professor T. L. Hankinson, of Charleston, 111. The Rev. W. F
Henninger was chosen to act as presiding officer for the sessions.
There were 44 members in attendance.

The following papers were read during the session:

Some Rare Birds Observed at LaGrange, Illinois, by Edmund
Hulsberg, LaGrange, Illinois.

Relation of Migratory Flights of Birds to Weather Conditions,
by Professor Frank Smith, Urbana, Illinois.

Ecology trip on the Coast of Washington, by Charlotte Weath-
erill, Elgin, Illinois.

Recent Adventures in Bird Photography, by Alvin R. Cahn,
Madison, Wisconsin.

Some Methods in Bird Photography, by Ralph Wager, DeKalb,
Illinois.

Exhibition of some Pecular and Beautiful Birds from different
Parts of the World, by H. K. Coale, Highland Park, Illinois.

The Birds of Harney Valley, by Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse
Polnte Shores, Michigan.

Field Observations and Notes from the Chicago Area for 1916,
by C. W. G. Eifrig, River Forest, Illinois.

Notes and News 37

An Interesting Spot in Northeastern Illinois, by Collin C. San-
born, Chicago, Illinois.

The Work of the Illinois Audubon Society, by O. M. Schantz,
Cicero, Illinois.

The Diary of a New England Ornithologist, by Rev. W. F.
Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio.

The following papers were read by title since the authors were
not present and time did not permit their being read in full:

Certain Problems of the Genus Dendroica, John Treadwell
Nichols, New York, N. Y.

An Ornithological Survey of Scott's Bluff, Nebraska, Myron H.
Swenk, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Some Anecdotes of Bird Life, O. J. Wescott, Chicago, Illinois.

The Iowa Lake Laboratory with special reference to Bird
work carried on there. Professor T. C. Stephens, Sioux City, Iowa.

A Red-eye Vireo Study, Professor T. C. Stephens.

A Cat-proof Bird Shelter, Thomas H. Whitney, Atlantic, Iowa.

Disappearance of Bird Life in Northeastern Iowa, Ellison Orr,
Waukon, Iowa.

A Bird Review of Rockford, Illinois, and Vicinity for the year
1916, Paul B. Riis, Rockford, Illinois.

The Workings of Federal Conservation as illustrated by the
Washington Bird Reservations, Lynds Jones, Oberlin, Ohio.

Two illustrated lectures were given for the Wednesday even-
ing programme, which were as follows:

Observations on the Breeding Habits of the Night Heron, by
Ralph E. Wager, Northern Illinois State Normal School, DeKalb,
Illinois.

The Albatrosses of Laysan and the Mating and Nesting Habits
of Fregata Aquila, by Homer R. Dill, director of Vertebrate Mu-
seum, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

Certain actions taken during the sessions, together with the
report of the Treasurer, will be placed before the entire member-
ship presently.

The following persons were elected to membership:

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP.
Walter W. Bennet, Grinnel, Iowa (now associate) ;
Miss Bertha Burnett, 1201 East Third St., Mishawaka, Ind.;
Samuel F. Folt, Waukee, Iowa;
J. S. Huxley, Rice Institute, Houston, Texas;

38 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

John Treadwell Nichols, Am. Museum Nat. Hist., New York;

Charles J. Spiker, Blairsburg, Iowa;

Eugene Swope, Box 9, College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio;

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

Fred Truesdale, Shandon, California;

Ralph Wager, State Normal School, DeKalb, Illinois;

Chas. Wescott, 152 North Scoville Ave., Oak Park, Illinois;

Alex. Wetmore, Bureau of Biological Survey, Washington, D. C;

H. L. Stoddard, 7141 University Ave., Chicago, Illinois.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Dr. W. H. Bergtold, 1159 Race St., Denver, Colorado;

F. E. Burgess, Gushing, Iowa;

George S. Easton, 1814 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, Iowa;
Mr. A. F. Ewers, 3411 Pestalozzi St., St. Louis, Mo.;
Carroll Lane Fenton, 409 St. Charles St., Charles City, Iowa;
Charles W. Finley, 216 N. Ward St., Macomb, Illinois;
Edward H. Forbush, Mass. State Ornithologist, Room 136 State
House, Boston, Mass.;

E. W. Hadeler, Paiuesville, Ohio, Assoc;

W. R. Griffith, 4914 Fourth Ave., Sioux City, Iowa;

W. J. Knobbs, Troy, Iowa;

Miss Pearl Koehn, 900 S. Seventh St., Burlington, Iowa;

G. O. Ludcke, 2803 Pierce St., Sioux City, Iowa;
P. J. McCullough, Union House, Delaware, Ohio;

Geo. F. McNair, 125 North Eleventh St., Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
W. A. Matheny, Athens, Ohio;

Katherine Mauthe, 1436 Second Ave., South, Fort Dodge, Iowa;
George R. Mayfield, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.;
Professor E. Palmer, Cedar Falls, Iowa;

F. H. Redmond, 3229 Berkeley Ave., Berwyn, Illinois;
Kenneth L. Rowe, Iowa Falls, Iowa;

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

Mr. Robert P. Scholte, Pella, Iowa;

H- A. Scullen, Station "A", Ames, Iowa;

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

Professor A. C. Webb, 308 Wilburn St., Nashville, Tenn.;

O. J. Wescott, Maywood, Illinois;

Noel J. Williams, Arnold's Park, Iowa;

C. B. Corey, Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois;

George Bennet, Iowa City, Iowa.

T. L. HANKINSON, Secretary.

NoTKs AND News 39

MINUTES OF THE FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB.

An informal report was given stating that an official member-
sliip list is being constructed for the Secretary's office. This was
published in as good condition as possible in the June number of
the Wilson Bulletin, with requests for corrections to be sent to
the Secretary. Many of these were received, and they have been
used to produce a much better and more accurate list, which will
be printed in one of the 1917 numbers of the Bulletin.

The programme of the present meeting was arranged by the
Secretary with some help from the President, Mr. T. C. Stephens.

The minutes of the 1915 meeting at Columbus, Ohio, were writ-
ten up and sent in for publication in the Wilson Bulletin. They
appeared in the March, 1916, number.

Report of the Treasurer.

The report of the treasurer was read by Mr. P. B. Coffin, and by
a motion, it was turned over to the auditing committee, appointed
by the Chairman, Rev. W. F. Henninger.

This committee is composed of two members, Mr. O. M. Shantz
and Mr. E. R. Ford.

It will report to the Secretary a short time after the Annual
Meeting, as soon as the accounts and reports can be examined and
audited.

Name of Our Organization.
The motion to change the name from Wilson Ornithological Club
to Wilson Ornithological Society was voted down, and the old
name is to be retained.

Printed Programmes.
The Club expressed a desire, by motion, that printed programmes
be prepared for future meetings and that these be placed in the
hands of members as long as possible before the meeting.

Summer Field Meeting.
A motion was made that the' Club thankfully accept Mr.
Stephens' invitation to have a summer field meeting at the Iowa
Lakeside Laboratory in the summer of 1917. It was carried.

Ornithological Research.
At the suggestion of Mr. J. S. Huxley of Houston, Texas, in a
letter to the Secretary, a committee was appointed to collect im-
portant notes on birds, obtained by Club members and others in
their field work, and organize and arrange these for publication.

40 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

The following committee was appointed for this purpose:
Professor T. H. Huxley, Rice Institute, Houston, Texas.
Professor H. S. Dill, Vertebrate Museum, Iowa City, Iowa.
Professor Frank Smith, University of Illinois, Urbana, 111.

Change in Officers.

Mr. P. B. Coffin proposed that the Constitution be so changed.

That the Business Management of the Club be in the hands of
two or three men, who -shall constitute the Executive Committee,
one of whom might be some business man or newspaper man or
advertising man who need not be a member of the Club,

That the people constituting this executive committee should be
appointed by the General Council,

That the General Council consist of the President, the Record-
ing Secretary, and a series of Vice-Presidents or, if preferred. As-
sociated Fellows, one of whom should be named from each state
where the Club has twenty-five or more members, and one should
be named from each organization affiliated with the Club. This
General Council should meet once a year to determine the policy
of the Club, but it would not have anything to do with its business
detail. Each Vice-President or Associated Fellow would be held
responsible for his own state and have the following duties:

A. to solicit new members,

B. to obtain reports and articles for the Wilson Bulletin,

C. to give information.

That all of the correspondence of the Club be centered in one
place, and all of its records should be kept at one point, by having
one man be Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. One man
should be Editor of the Bulletin, and a third should be Business
Manager. These three men should be located where they can
meet together at least once a month, and their communication to
the Club members should be through the Bulletin.

Conservation.

The Club voted that it go on record as urging the County Com-
missioners to establish Bird and "Wild Life Havens in the pros-
pective Outer Park Forest belt of Cook County, Illinois.

Mr. O. M. Schantz was appointed to represent the Wilson Club
in conferences, to be held with a view to securing this Forest Pre-
serve.

Election of Officers.

The following officers were elected for the coining year:

President, Rev. W. F. Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio.

Vice-President and Business Manager, George L. Fordyce, Youngs-
town, Ohio.

Notes and News 41

Secretary, Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan.

Treasurer, F. M. Phelps, Elyria, Ohio.

Editor of the Wilson Bulletin, Professor Lynds Jones, Oberlin,
Ohio.

Extra members of the Executive Council, Professor T. C. Ste-
phens, Sioux City, Iowa; T. L. Hankinson, Charleston, Illinois;
Percival B. Coffin, Chicago, Illinois.

Attendance.
Forty-four persons registered their attendance at the meeting.
These are distributed as follows:

19 from Chicago,

20 from Illinois outside Chicago,
1 from Ohio,

1 from Tennessee,
1 from Iowa,
1 from Wisconsin,
1 from Michigan.

42 The Wilsox Bulletix — Xo. 08

FIELD NOTES

OBSERVATIONS ON SOME OF THE JUNE BIRDS IN THE
VICINITY OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

During the first two weeks of June, 1916, spent at Cincinnati,
I made eleven trips into the surrounding districts, identifying
over sixty species of land birds. Six of the trips were made to
Ault Park, a bird paradise, where over fifty species other than the
Mockingbird were found.

Excellent chances were afforded to study the Summer Tanager
and the Mockingbird, unfamiliar birds to the writer. About a
dozen of each species were found and many were observed at close
range. The two birds, especially the Mockingbird, are rather
scarce around Cincinnati, except in certain neighborhoods pointed
out by a local bird authority. The status of the Mockingbird in
the vicinity is interesting. The Queen City bird-lovers say that
this w^onderful songster is extending its range northward, which
movement is largely controlled by the food supply and not by cli-
matic conditions. This was verified by inquiries in the field. One
farmer, a resident along Muddy Creek, told me that about five
years previously the first Mockingbirds appeared in his neighbor-
hood, and since then they have gradually increased in numbers.
While talking to him a gray bird with a long tail flew from- a
cherry tree, displaying the tell-tale white w^ing-bars and tail feath-
ers four broad streaks of white, making a conspicuous field mark
in flight. At a long distance the birds resembling the Mockingbird
are the Blue Jay and the Mourning Dove, which may be differen-
tiated by studying the three species together. At ordinary range
the Mockingbird is unmistakable.

The Summer Tanagers were very tame along Hillside Avenue
below Sedamsville, where most of the Mockingbirds and Tanagers
were found. One female Summer Tanager, perching on a weed
stalk in the full sunlight, was approached within six feet, where
the light orange-yellow hue of the bird seemed almost perfect. The
somber greenish-yellow shade of the Scarlet Tanager cannot
compare with this color. Only three Scarlet Tanagers were seen:
a single male was a pleasant incident of an all-day trip along
Muddy Creek and a pair were noted near Ault Park. One never
tires admiring the beautiful tanagers: the matchless and gorgeous
rose-red of the Summer Tanager and the flaming scarlet of the
Scarlet Tanager that seems ready to burn up his coal-black wings
and tail, the most vivid contrast in the bird-world. I always think
of these two shades of red as the piranga reds.

Field Notes 4 J

Numbers of Cliff Swallows, an uncommon species to the writer,
were flying with Bank Swallows, Purple Martins, etc., near the
rocky cliffs facing Muddy Creek. This was my best opportunity to
watch this swallow, which is rather rare in Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania. The Grasshopper Sparrow was evident as a breeder
in a field one-half mile north of Madisonville. In Ault Park I was
surprised by running across a Louisiana Water-Thrush feeding
its young. The Whip-poor-will, a rare bird around Cincinanti, is
apparently breeding near Cove Creek.

In the cemetery near Fort Thomas, Kentuckj% Orchard Orioles
seemed to be everywhere, and for the first time I learned their
sweet song, which I consider after the Bobolink's, the most liquid
of our bird songs, and like that song a bubbling out of joyful notes.
Around Cincinnati the Orchard Orioles outnumber the Baltimore
Orioles about six to one, while in Western Pennsylvania ten Balti-
more Orioles are usually seen to every Orchard Oriole. In the
vicinity of Fort Thomas Yellow-breasted Chats were very numer-
ous, although they were not uncommon anywhere.

One of the region's characteristic birds, the Bewick Wren, was
not seen, althoiigh a lookout was kept for him, as I have never
identified this bird. The Yellow-throat was observed but once,
while the Redstart was not placed.

As I wandered through the woods many of the common familiar
birds of Western Pennsylvania were absent. One of our rich song-
sters, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, heads the list. With a north-
ener it will take a lot of Mockingbirds to make up for the loss of
the "potato-bug" bird. The tinkling Bobolink's melody was lamen-
tably missing because no June day bird trip is complete without
hearing "Robert-of-Lincoln's" tambourine-like flight song.

Thos. L. McCoxnell.

FIELD NOTES FROM THE CHICAGO AREA FOR 1916.

The year opened auspiciously. A week of unusually mild
weather in February brought, on the 22d of that month, the first
Bluebirds, a Killdeer and a few Song Sparrows, although the last
species seems some years to winter in small numbers as near as
LaGrange, just 5-6 miles southwest of River Forest. On the same
day 10-15 Ring-necked Pheasants were seen.

The most interesting parts of the Chicago area are no doubt the
sand dunes, on the south shore of Lake Michigan. Here, 30-40
miles from Chicago, may yet be seen several pairs of Great Horned
Owls and Ruffed Grouse. During the winter of 1915-16, as again
in the present, large flocks of Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks are

44 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

seen; also occasional Snow Buntings and Crossbills. Three flocks
or the rare Northern Grosbeaks were seen, of 75, 45 and 8 individ-
uals respectively. One was seen as late as May 4th in Jackson
Park. They were again seen at the dunes on November 21 last.
They feed on berries of Rhus uromatica and Toxicodendron vernix
or Poison Sumac. When flying a greater distance, they form com-
pact flocks and fly swiftly, straight and noiselessly. In the marshes
and swales between the dunes the Marsh Hawk is common; they
arrive about the beginning of March, mate about April 1st, and
nests with five and four eggs were found on May 20th and 30th re-
spectively. In the same places the Prairie Long-billed Marsh Wren,
the Short-billed Marsh, Wren and Henslows Sparrow, find con-
genial habitats. They are common by April 22d.

A visit on April 8th to the Longspur paradise, Addison, proved
interesting. The temperature was 30-35°, the wind blew a gale,
so that it was extremely unpleasant in those wind-swept, bleak
hills; in ,fact, making headway and looking about was difficult.
And yet, the Longspurs were evidently in their glory, they played
and chased each other, twittered and tinkled in great style, as
though they regarded that kind of weather as the ideal one for
them. Conditions in the arctic tundra, where they breed, are no
doubt much like they were here on that day. Many were already
in nearly perfect nuptial plumage.

A later than usual stay on the part of winter visitants was ob-
served, when Juncos were seen up to May 4th, after Bobolinks,
Orioles, Catbirds, Blackburnian and other warblers had arrived.
A real rarity was the finding of a Mockingbird on May 18th near
my home. Mr. B. T. Gault, with whom I was taking a walk, and
I had a good view of it at close range.

The nesting season brought along a peculiarity, inasmuch as in
"Waller's Park" and nearby, the Robins especially, also the Mous-
ing Doves placed their nests lower than other years, as low as 2-3
feet in the case of the former, and nearly all on the ground, in
the case of the latter. I ascribe it to an attempt to escape the
depredations of the Crows and Blue Jays, which probably do not
pilfer quite so low, as a rule.

Unusually late records are the seeing of Chimney Swifts and
Nighthawks on September 21st, a Hummingbird on October 6th, and
a Black-crowned Night Heron on November 19th. A Saw-whet Owl
was caught alive by an Italian in "Wallers Park," in a spruce tree,
who promptly wrung off its head, for the reason that its calling
disturbed him in his sleep, he said! A pair of Long-eared Owls
stayed in one and the samei Norway spruce there for at least four
weeks, probably much longer, as there were quite a number of

Field Notes 45

pellets, etc., in and below the tree when first seen. One could go
there at any time during the day and find them in that tree, even
on the same branches, ready for an interview.

Finally, I would like to report one of the periodical incursions
of the Goshawk. They were shot here in numbers during Novem-
ber and December. I received one from Orland, twenty miles south
of Chicago, and one from Michigan, and Mr. K. W. Kahmann, the
taxidermist, received more than fifty specimens alone. They were
from the whole northern part of the state and as far south as
Springfield.

C. W. G. ElFRIG.

River Forest, Illinois.

A CAT-PROOF SHELTER.

Those who try to encourage birds to feed and nest around their
homes are at once confronted by two serious obstacles, both in-
troduced by man himself, and both greatly interfering with good
results; I allude to house-sparrows and cats. While gun, trap, and
poison will more or less reduce the numbers of sparrows and tend
to drive them from premises where such measures are in use, it
is impossible of course to prevent their occupying places where
other birds go, and from annoying and fighting with privileged
guests. Cats, however, can be absolutely barred from any given
area by proper safeguards.

The more I study the habits of cats in relation to bird protection,
the more strongly I feel that cat-proof fences should be in much
more general use, and I am in hopes my description of the small
shelter maintained last summer will induce others of the Wilson
Club to try the same experiment. I had the problem of protecting
at least a part of our yard from depredations by a neighbor's cat,
a cunning and destructive hunter, but immune, by neighborhood
reasons, from the extreme penalty it richly deserves. A strong
spring-gun, (usually called an air-rifle) is very effective in day-
light visits, one hit preventing further calls for some time, but
there remained the probability of unopposed prowls at night. Part
of our yard was already enclosed by an ordinary four foot wire
fence on tubular steel posts. I found cats even when running from
a rifle seemed unable, or very reluctant, to climb this fence, in-
variably escaping through overhanging trees. Following out this
idea, I erected a higher wire fence around a group of shrubbery,
and experience has proved it a thoroughly cat-proof shelter.

My shelter is circular, about thirty feet in diameter, enclosed by
a small-mesh woven wire fence, hung loosely and with some over-

4C The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

hang, on nine foot tubular steel posts. The fence is at present
about five feet high, but the posts are high enough for two or three
feet additional if necessary. A strong cat might bound over this
fence from outside, but owing to the thick bushes, would have
great difficulty getting out, and cats are very cautious of getting
into any place which instinct warns them would be diflBcult of
egress. I am positive no cat has ever been inside the enclosure,
but a cat-trap is kept set and well-baited during the nesting season
as a final precaution. Originally the location of the shelter was a
rather unsightly rubbish pile, overgrown by elderberries. After
deciding to make it useful, it was renovated, and other shrubs and
vines planted. It now contains, besides elderberries, honeysuckles,
hazel, wild gooseberries, a small wild cherry tree, hardy climbers
such as bitter-sweet and green brier, and the self-planting wild
cucumber. All these are native except the honeysuckles, and will
thrive without cultivation. From time to time I intend to add other
rarer wild shrubs and vines, making it a preserve for plants as
well as birds. Almost impenetrable in summer, in early fall it is
full of wild fruit relished by nearly all its feathered visitors.

Just outside the fence is a concrete bird bath and fountain
formed in three shallow pools, one above the other, the lowest of
ample diameter and gently sloping bottom. City water is con-
ducted by a hose, permitting a gentle trickle which adds to the
attraction of the pools as well as keeping the contents cool and
sweet.

By this combination of water and shelter there has been at-
tracted a very interesting variety of birds, which we have had a
splendid chance to study almost without leaving the house, a
strong binocular bringing any object within close range. Many
kinds of birds were seen right at home that we probably could not
have found in the open country.

The following list of visitors may be somewhat disappointing to
those expecting great results the first season, but I am sure it
would have been much increased if closer observations were made
in the migration period, and especially early in the morning:

NAME. DATE.

Least (or Acadian) flycatcher March 29th.

Juncoes March 31st.

An unidentified native sparrow April 8th.

Another species of native spar- Same day. Fine and unusual

row song.

Migrant warbler, yellow sides April 28th.

Other native sparrows Same day.

Maryland Yellow-throat May 10th.

Field Notes

47

Wren bathing in trickle from
second basin. The first ob-
served in the water

Chipping sparrow

Wood thrush

Two olive-backed thrushes

Ruby-throated hummingbird
Least flycatcher

Yellow warbler
Oven-bird

Male gold-finch

Strange tiny bird, impossible to
identify. Apparently feeding
on dandelion seeds, but leap-
ing into the air in a peculiar
way at intervals.

Two wood thrushes

Yellow warbler

May 11th.

Same day. This little sparrow
and his mate were frequent
visitors afterward and nested
somewhere near.

Same day.

May 14th. These migrant
thrushes stayed a week or
more, and while not in song,
became quite familiar.

May 16th.

Same day. Very interesting and
unafraid. Stayed a number
of days, and used a particular
low branch from which it
hawked for insects.

Same day.

Same day. This peculiar "high-
steeping" little bird also
stayed several days, but re-
mained shy and difficult to
observe.

May 17th.

May 19th.

June 12th.
July 26th.

The wood tlirushes made the shelter their home for some time,
and we were in hopes would nest there. They became familiar,
and did not hsitate to sing when we were quite near. Their lovely
voices, heard so closely that every murmur and cadence would be
enjoyed fully, was ample reward for whatever trouble and expense
the shelter cost.

The above list includes only unusual visitors. Robins, rose-
breasts, orioles, thrashers, and other common though delightful
residents, are of course present every year without regard to spe-
cial protection. Neither does it include migrants seen in the trees,
although they may have been attracted by the shelter. Worthy of
mention, however, is the confidence of one or more female rose-
breasts, which resorted to the shelter before the nesting season.
These demure sparrowy matrons searched for stray sunflower seeds
among the bushes almost within reach of hand, and well illustrated
the security most birds seemed to feel in the protection of the
thicket. It was not at all uncommon to notice small birds dart into
the shelter in the fading twilight, and probably there were many
lodgers who escaped notice in daytime.

48 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 1)8

I am well aware suggestions for a cat-proof fence usually call for
a much higher and more elaborate affair than mine, and probably-
additional protection would be necessary for a shelter distant from
dwellings, where it would be left to itself. Nevertheless, my fence
is a practical success and not only a safe shelter for the birds,
but a source of pleasure and instruction to our family, as well. It
has brought the bird-life of woods and fields to our daily view, and
many hours have happily passed in watching for new incidents and
new visitors.

T. H. Whitney.

Atlantic, Iowa.

Provisional Roll 49

PROVISIONAL ROLL

This provisional roll of the membership appears in its present
form rather than in strict alphabetical order in order to facilitate
corrections which are certain to be necessary. If your name and
address are not correctly given here please send the correction to
the editor so that the mailing list may be corrected.

President — W. F. Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio.
Vice-President — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.
Secretary — Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.
Treasurer — Frank M. Phelps, Elyria, Ohio.
Editor — Lynds Jones, Oberlin, Ohio.

Alaska.
Merrill, E. W., Sitka. Assoc.

California.
Allerton, Agnes C, 1025 Highland St., S. Pasadena.
Bell, B. C, 235 8th St., San Francisco.
Carriger, H. W., 5185 Trask Ave., Oakland. Act.
Chambers, W. Lee, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. Act.
Daggett, Frank S., Museum Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Act.
Dawson, W. Leon, Rev., R. F. D. No. 3, Santa Barbara. Act.
Dickey, Donald R., San Rapael Heights. Act.
Grinnell, Dr. Joseph, Museum Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley. Act.
Holland, H. M., 320 S. Gramercy Place, Los Angeles. Assoc.
Howell, Alfred B., Covina. Act.

-Huey, Lawrence M., 3203 Clay Ave., San Diego. Act.
Law, J. Eugene, Hollywood. Assoc.
Little, Luther, Sierra Madre. Assoc.

Rich, Dr. Guy C, 1820 El Cerrito Place, Hollywood. Assoc.
Silliman, 0. P., 220 Salinas St., Salinas. Assoc.
Swarth, Harry S., Museum Vertebrate Zool., Berkeley. Assoc.
Truesdale, Fred, Shandon. Act.

Canada.
Arnold, Edward, 64 Duroeher St., Montreal. Assoc.
Brown, W. J., 250 Olive Ave., Westmount, Quebec. Act.

50 Till': Wilson IU'llfttn — Xo. 9S

Fleming, J. H., 267 Rusholme Rocad, Toronto. Act.

Gormley, A. L., Box 345, Amprior, Ontario. Assoc.

Hennessey, Frank G., 457 Alberta St., Ottawa. Assoc.

Johnson, Frank Edgar, care Mrs. R. P. Rodjuson, Victoria, P. E. I.

Kermode, Francis, Provisional Museum, Victoria, B. C.

Klug, A. B., Guelph, Ontario.

Saunders, Wm. E., 352 Clarence St., London, Ontario. Sustaining.

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

Smith, Napier, Bank of Montreal, St. James St., Montreal.

Tufts, R. W., Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Assoc.

Stansell, Sydney S. Manly, Alberta. Assoc.

Stone, R. E., Wellington Field Naturalists' Club, Guelph, Ont.

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

Terrill, Lewis McI., 44 Stanley Ave., St. Lambert, Quebec. Act.

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

Colorado.
Bergtold, Dr. W. H., 1159 Race St., Denver. Assoc.
Bradbury, W. C, 1440 Race, Denver.
Dille, Fred M., 2927 W. 28th Ave., Denver.
Henderson, Junius, Boulder.

Lincoln, Frederick Charles, Colorado Museum Nat. Hist, Denver.
Sloanaker, J. L., Box 402, Palisades.
Warren, Edward R., 20 W. Caramillo St., Colorado Springs.

Connecticut.
Bishop, Dr. Louis B., 356 Orange St., New Haven. Act.
Bruen, Frank, 69 Prospect St., Bristol. Sust.
Case, C. M., 16 Burton St., Hartford.
Ells, Geo. P., Norwalk. Act.
Fay, Frank S., Meriden.
Hart, C. G., Box 47, East Berlin. Assoc.
Hawley, Thos. G., Bridgeport.
Holmes, Fred. W., Jerome Ave., Bristol. Act.
Honywill, A. W., Jr., 50 Farmington Road, Hartford. Assoc.
Meeker, J. C. A., Danbury. Act.
Sage, John H., Portland. Sustaining.
Savmders, Aretas A., Y. M. C. A., New Haven.

PKOXTSri-iNAr. KOLL 51

Smith, Elbert E., Edgewood, R. F. D., Bristol. Act.

Cuba.
Ramsden, Chas. T., Apartado lifi, Guatannamo. Act.
Reed, A. C, Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines. Act.

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

DisTBicT OF Columbia,
Bailey, Mrs. Florence M., 1834 Kalorama Road, Washington. Act.
Bartsch, Dr. Paul, Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Act.
Brown, E. J., U. S. National Museum, Washington. Act.
Gabrielson, I. X., Washington, care Biological Survey. Act.
Hollister, Ned, U. S. National Museum. Act.
Knowlton, F. H., U. S. Nat. Mus., Washington.
McAtee, Waldo Lee, Biological Survey, Washington. Act.
Oberholser, Harry C, 1444 Fairmount St., Washington. Act.
Palmer, Dr. T. S., Biological Survey, Washington. Act.
Riley, J. H., U. S. National Museum, Washington. Act.
Rl6.gwa.y, Prof. R., U. S, National Museum, Washington. Hon.
Wetmore, Alex., Bureau of Biol. Survey, Washington. Act.

Florida.
Ainsworth, Mrs. H. A.

Andrews, Miss Calista, Lake Alfred. Assoc.
Baynard, 0. E., Miami. Sustaining.
Williams, John, St. Marks, Fla.

Geoegia.
Rossignol, G. R., 2116 Bull St, Savannah. Assoc.

Idaho.
Winslow, A. N., Moscow.

Illinois.
Appel, W. D., University of Chicago, Chicago. Assoc.
Armstrong, Edward E., 207 N. Michigan St., Chicago.
Banta, N. M., Arlington Heights. Afisoc.
Barnes, Hon. R. M., Lacon. Act.

Buchner, Mrs. E. M., 3637 FuUerton Ave., Chicago. Act.
Coale, H. K., Highland Park. Assoc.

52 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

CoflBn, Percival Brooks, 3232 Groveland Ave., Chicago. Sust.

Cory, C. B., Field Mus., Cliicago. Assoc.

Craigmile, Miss Esther A., 24 Soutli Grant St., Hinsdale. Act.

Davidson, Mrs. F. S., 1302 W. S., Grand Ave., Springfield. Assoc.

Deane, Ruthven, 1222 North State St., Chicago. Act.

Devine, J. L., 133 West Washington St., Chicago. Assoc.

Dodson, Joseph H., 189 W. Madison St.,, Chicago.

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

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

Ekblaw, W. Elmer, 809 West Main St., Champaign. Act.

Finley, Charles W., 216 N. Ward St., Macomb. Assoc.

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

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

Gault, Benj. T., Glenn Ellyn. Act.

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

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

Hankinson, T. L., Charleston. Act.

Hess, Isaac E., Philo. Act.

Hulsberg, E. F., 340 St. Catherine Ave., LaGrange. Assoc.

Hunt, Cresswell, Jr., 5847 W. Superior St., Chicago. Act.

Jesse, Dr. R. L., Philo. Act.

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

Kavanagh, Mrs. J. M., 212 S. Kensington Ave, LaGrange. Assoc.

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

De Laubenfels, Max W., 216 6th Ave., Lagrange.

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

Lindquist, H. L., 708 East Fortieth St., Chicago.

Lyon, W. L., Box 167, Ashton. Assoc.

MacArthur, J. W., 38 Zoology Bldg., Chicago. Assoc.

Miller, Mrs. Frank J., 1222 East Fifty-sixth St., Chicago.

Mitchell, Catherine Adams, Riverside. Assoc.

Newton, Thos. D., 5624 Prairie Ave., Chicago. Assoc.

Ohlendorf, Dr. W. C, 1922 Blue Island Ave., Chicago.

Osgood, Prof. W. H., Field Museum Nat. Hist, Chicago. Act

Plath, Carl, 3307 West Congress St, Chicago. Assoc.

Redmond, F. H., 3129 Berkeley Ave., Beryn. Assoc.

Raymond, Mrs. C. E., 21 Third St, Hinsdale. Assoc.

Provisional Roll 53

Rueckert, A. G., 1745 Roscoe St., Lakeview Sta., Chicago.
Sanborn, Collin C, Box 55, Highland Park. Act.
Schantz, Mrs. O. M., 5215 West Twenty-fourth St., Cicero. Act
Schantz, 0. M., 5115 Twenty-fourth St., Cicero. Sust.
Smith, Jesse Lowe, Highland Park.
Smith, Prof. Frank M., Univ. of HI., Urbana. Act.
Sparks, Miss Marion, 1205 Springfield Ave., Urbana. Assoc.
Stevenson, A. L., 2324 Larrabee St., Chicago. Act.
Stoddard, H. L., 7141 University Ave., Chicago. Act.
Strode, W. S., Lewiston. Assoc.
Swift, Dr. C. H., 5032 Maryland Ave., Chicago.
Test, Dr. F. C, 4620 Greenwood Ave., Chicago. Assoc.
Turtle, R. A., Ogden Bldg., Chicago.
Vilas, A. H., 124 S. East Ave., Oak Park. Assoc.
Watson, J. Q., 202 South Livingston Ave., LaGrange. Assoc.
Weatherill, Charlotte, 255 Villa St., Elgin. Act.
Wager, Prof. Ralph E., DeKalb, State Normal School. Act.
Westcott, Chas., 152 N. Scoville Ave., Oak Park. Act.
Westcott, O. J., Maywood. Assoc.

Wheelock, Mrs. Irene G., 1040 Hinman Ave., Evanston. Sust.
White, Chas. E., Box 45, Kenilworth.

Wing, DeWitt C, 5401 Dorchester Ave., Chicago. Assoc.
Woodruff, Frank M., Academy of Sciences, Lincoln Park, Chi-
cago. Act.

Indiana.
Baxter, Maria, 44 South Eighteenth St., Richmond. Assoc,
Burnett, Miss Bertha, 1201 East 3rd St., Mishawaka. Act.
Butler, Amos W., State House, Indianapolis. Act.
Coulter, Stanley G., Purdue Univ., Lafayette. Assoc.
Downhour, Miss E., 2307 Talbott Ave., Indianapolis. Assoc.
Hanna, Miss M., 1020 West Wayne St., Fort Wayne. Assoc,
McBride, John F., 340 South Ritter St., Indianapolis. Assoc,
Norris, Roy C, 725 North Tenth St., Richmond. Sustaining,
Stockbridge, Chas. A., 2323 Webster St., Fort Wayne. Assoc.

Iowa.

Abel, Arthur R., 1301 Newton Ave., Sioux City. Active,
Allen, A. F., 2224 Pearl St., Sioux City. ! Assoc.

54 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 1)8

Anderson, A. J., 1822 West Palmer Ave., Sioux City. Assoc.
Bailey, Dr. B. H., Coe College, Cedar Rapids. Act.
Baird, Miss Alice A., 304 North 3rd Ave., Marshalltown. Assoc.
Bennett, Rev. George, Iowa City. Assoc.
Bennett, Walter W., Grinnell. Assoc.
Bigglestone, Harry C, Laurens. Act.
Breckenridge, Robert W., Park Ave., Brooklyn.
Burgess, P. E., Cushing. Assoc.

Carter, Prof. Charles, Parsons College, Fairfield. Act.
Cooper, D. C, 3815 Third Ave., Sioux City. Assoc.
Denny, Milo B., Cedar Rapids.

Dill, Prof. Homer R., Room 10, New Science Bldg., Iowa City. Act.
Evans, Vern, 501 Center St., Marshalltown. Assoc.
Fenton, Carroll Lane, 409 St. Charles, Charles' City. Assoc.
Fields, E. A., 2111 Douglas St., Sioux City. Act.
Foft, Samuel W., Waukee. Act.
Giehm, Helen, Box 356, Hartley. Assoc.

Griffith, W. R., 4014 Fourth Ave., Sioux City, Iowa. Assoc.
Guild, E. L., Conrad. Act.
Hatch, Miss Mary H., McGregor. Assoc.
Hayden, F. J., 1212 Douglas St., Sioux City. Assoc.
Hayward, W. J., 2919 Jackson St., Sioux City. Sust.
Hedden, Rev. R. G., Jewell. Assoc.
Himmel, W. J., Momingside College, Sioux City. Act.
Hood, Miss Adah, 1002 Ninth St., Sioux City. Assoc.
Huntington, H. G., Onawa. Active.

Inskeep, Mrs. Carey, 515 Hawthorne Ave., Ottumwa. Assoc.
Jarvis, Raymond, 112 North Fourth St., Marshalltown. Assoc.
Jewell, Miss Susan G., Tabor. Act.

Johns, E. W., 112 East Bloomington St., Kingsley. Act.
Johns, H. A., 1904 Court St., Sioux City. Act.
Keehn, Miss Pearl, 900 S. 7th St., Burlington. Assoc.
Kempkes, Jay A., Pella. Act.

Kimberly, Miss Anna Maud, care of Public Library, Marshall-
town. Assoc.

Kinsley, Miss Harriet, McGregor. Assoc.

Provisional Roll 55

Knobbs, W. J., Troy. Assoc.

Lazell, Mrs. Anna B., 1557 Washington Ave., Cedar Rapids.

Lazell, Fred J., 1557 Washington Ave., Cedar Rapids.

Loughlin, Miss Rosemary, 816 West Cherry St., Cherokee. Assoc.

Ludcke, Mr. Geo. O., 2803 Pierce St., Sioux City. Assoc.

Mauthe, Miss Katherine, 1436 2nd Ave., S. Fort Dodge. Assoc.

McNair, Geo. T., 125 N. 11th St., Cedar Rapids. Assoc.

Merritt, Miss Maude, Ottumwa.

Mills, Weir R., Pierson. Assoc.

Morgan, Miss K. L., 303 East State St., Marshalltown. Assoc.

Orr, Ellison, Waukon. Act.

Palmer, Prof. E., Cedar Falls. Assoc.

Pellett, Frank C, Atlantic. Act.

Perkins, Lucius M., 212 University Ave., Shenandoah. Assoc.

Ridgway, Miss Joy, Plymouth. Assoc.

Rowe, Kenneth, Iowa Falls. Assoc.

Schatz, A. H., Merril. Assoc.

Scholte, Robt. P., Pella. Assoc.

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

Sherman, Miss Althea R., National, via McGregor. Sust.

Smith, Arthur E., Little Rock. Act.

Spiker, Chas. J., Blairsburg. Act.

Spurrell, John A., 116 Welch Ave., Ames. Assoc.

Stephens, T. C, Momingside College, Sioux City. Act.

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

Stubbs, Chas. R., Conrad.

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

Tuttle, F. May, Osage. Assoc.

Whitney, Thomas H., Atlantic. Sust.

Williams, Noel J., Arnold's Park. Assoc.

Wilson, J. Max., Sigma Nu House, Iowa City. Assoc.

Kansas.
Eastman, F. B., Fort Leavenworth. Act.
Keezel, Mrs. Clara Cozad, Garnett. Assoc.
Love, Guy, Oberlin. Assoc.
Mitchell, Dr. Walton I., 603 Beacon Bldg., Wichita. Act.

56 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

Peabody, Rev. P. B., Blue Rapids. Act.
Stephens, E. G., 950 State Ave., Kansas City. Assoc.
Sweeney, J. A., care of Forest Service, Garden City. Act.
St. John, Dr. J. Ada, 600 North Topeka Ave., Wichita.

Louisiana.
Dowman, R. H., Hibemia Bldg., 2525 St. Charles Ave., New Or-
leans. Act.

Guion, George Seth, Napoleonville. Act.

Maine.
Stanwood, Cordelia J., Ellsworth. Act.

Massachusetts.
Baker, John H., 7 Holyoke Place, Cambridge. Assoc.
Ballard, H. H., Pittsfield. Hon.
Bent, Arthiir C, Taunton. Sust
Brewster, William, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. Act.
Chamberlain, C. W., 36 Lincoln St., Boston. Assoc.
Deane, Walter, 29 Brewster St, Cambridge. Act.
Durfee, Owen, Box 125, Fall River. Sust.
Field, Irving A., Clark College, Worcester. Assoc.
Forbush, Edward H., Mass. State Ornithologist, Room 136, State
House, Boston. Assoc.
Jenney, C. F., Court House, Boston. Assoc.
Osbom, Arthur A., 58 Washington St., Peabody. Assoc.
Thayer, Hon. John E., Box 98, Lancaster. Sustaining.
Trowbridge, Chas., Framingham, Station A.
Tyler, Dr. Winsor M., 522 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. Act.
Townsend, C. W., 76 Marlborough St., Boston. Assoc.
Wright, Horace W., 197 Pinckney St., Boston. Assoc.

Michigan.
Abbott, Berard Alan, Gross Pointe Shores. Act.
Barrows, Prof. W. B., Agricultural College, East Lansing. Act.
Blain, Dr. Alex. W., Jr., 727 Jefferson Ave. E. Detroit. Act.
Eddy, N. A., Craps Bldg., Bay City. Assoc.
King, Helen B., 607 Harrison St., Flint. Assoc.
Mahood, Miss Etta, R. F. D. 1, Rapid City.
Mershon, Wm. B., Saginaw. Sust.

Provisional Roll 57

Newcomb, C. A., Jr., Newcomb Endicott Co., Woodward Ave., De-
troit. Assoc.

Praeger, W. E., 421 Douglass Ave., Kalamazoo.

Stuart, F. A., Marshall. Assoc.

Swales, Bradshaw H., Grosse Isle.

Tinker, A. D., 631 South Twelfth St., Ann Arbor. Act.

White, W. F., Jr., care of Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co.,
Rogers.

Winslow, A. M., Jackson.

Wright, Miss H. H., 1637 Gratiot Ave., Saginaw W. S. Assoc.

Minnesota,
Bailey, Bernard, R. F. D. 1, Elk River. Assoc.
Bond, Harry L., Lakefield. Assoc.
Jensen, J. P., Dassel. Assoc.

Kretzman, Prof. P. E., 1230 St. Anthony Ave., St. Paul. Act.
Lange, D., St. Paul, Court House. Assoc.

Roberts, Dr. Thos. S., Animal Biology Bldg., University of Min-
nesota, Minneapolis. Act.
VIsher, S. S., 819 Tenth St., Moorhead. Assoc.
Whitman, Miss Julia, 351 West Wabasha St, Winona.

Missouri.
Bolt, Benjamin, 1421 Prospect Ave., Kansas City.
Ewers, Prof. A. F., 3411 Pestalozzi Ave., St. Louis. Assoc.
Harris, Harry, 901 Armour Boul., Kansas City. Act.
Hoffman, Ralph, 11 W. Concord Ave., Kansas City. Act.
Long, R. A., 3218 Gladstone Boul., Kansas City.
McNeil, Dr. Chas. A., Sedalia. Act.
Widmann, O., 5105 Von Versen Ave., St. Louis. Hon.

Nebraska.
Dawson, Prof. R. W., 1105 North Thirty-third St., Lincoln. Act.
Stevens, Dr. J. F., 1920 East St., Lincoln. Assoc.
Swenk, Prof. Myron H., 3028 Starr St., Lincoln. Act.
Sweeney, J. A., Forest Reserve, Halsey. Assoc.

New' Hampshire.
Danforth, Stuart T., East Jaffrey. Assoc.
Townsend, Rev. Manley B., 9 Mt. Pleasant St., Nashua. Act.

58 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

New Jersey,
Curtis, Harold, Towaca. Assoc.
Grant, W. W., Englewood.
Holmes, Mrs. Georgiana K., Summit. Act
Howland, R. H., Upper Montclair. Act.
Kohler, Louis S., 98 Watessing Ave., Bloomfield. Assoc.
Kuser, John Dryden, Faircourt, Bernardsville. Act.
Moore, Robt. T., Cassinia, Haddonfield, N. J.
Potter, J. K., Sixth and Bailey Sts., Camden.

New York.

Abbott, Clinton G., Orchard Hill, Rhinebeck, N. Y. Act.

Allen, Prof. A. A., Cornell Univ., Ithaca. Assoc.

Braislin, Dr. Wm. C, 425 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn. Act.

Burtch, Verdi, Branchport. Act.

Chapman, Frank M., Am. Mus. Nat. History, New York. Act.

Childs, John Lewis, Floral Park. Sustaining.

Crosby, Maunsell, Grasmere, Rhinebeck. Act.

Dwight, Dr. Jonathan, Jr., 134 West Seventy-first St., New
York. Act.

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

Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, Cornell Heights, Ithaca. Act.

Hall, F. H., Geneva. Act.

Hix, George E., 114 West Ninetieth St., New York. Act.

Hoag, Benj., Stephantown. Assoc.

Johnson, Frank Edgar, 16 Amackassin Terrace, Yonkers. Assoc.

Keeler, S. L., Box 473, Scarsdale. Assoc.

McCreary, Otto, Agr. Exp. Station, Geneva. Assoc.

Metcalf, F. P., 110 Osmim Place, Ithaca.

Metcalf, T. N., Columbia Univ., New York City.

Nichols, John Treadwell, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York. Act.

Palmer, Prof. E. L., 804 E. Seneca St., Ithaca, N. Y.

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

Reinecke, Ottomar, 400 Elm St., Buffalo.

Rogers, Chas. H., care Am. Mus. of Nat. History, 77th St. and
Central Park, N. Y. Act.

Sherman, John D., Jr., 403 Seneca Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y.

Provisional Roll 59

Stone, Clarence F., Branchport. Act.

Van Wagner, Millard, Saltpoint, R. F. D. Act.

North Carolina.
Metcalf, Prof. Zeno P., A. and M. College, Raleigh.

North Dakota.
Doolittle, Will 0., Minot.

Ford, Rev. Eugene C, 1017 Seventh St., North Fargo. Assoc.
Larson, Adrian, Keene. Act.
Peck, H. E., Kenmore. Assoc.

Ohio.
Baird, Robert L., 1246 Ethel Ave., Lakewood, Cleveland. Act.
Bales, Dr. B. R., Circleville. Act.
Beardsley, R. W., North Wood St., Loudonville.
Brandt, H. W., care of the Brandt Co., Sheriff St. Market, Cleve-
land. Assoc.

Burton, E. Ray, 68 Central Ave., Delaware. Act.

Burton, Rev. Wm. Wallace, Alliance.

Cook, Orange, Chardon. Assoc.

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

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

Ford, F. E., Chardon. Assoc.

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

Giddings, L. A., 370 Howell Ave., Cincinnati. Assoc.

Ginther, H. J., 8303 Brooklyn Ave., Cleveland. Assoc.

Goodrich, Calvin, 733 Lincoln Ave., Toledo. Assoc.

Hadeler, E. W., Painesville. Assoc.

Henninger, Rev. W. F., New Bremen. Act.

Herrick, F. H., Western Reserve University, Cleveland. Act.

Hine, Prof. James S., Ohio State Univ., Columbus. Act.

Hopkins, A. W., M.D., 47 McGovem Ave., Ashtabula. Assoc.

Jones, Dr. Howard, Circleville. Act.

Jones, Dr. Lynds, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin. Act.

Kean, Mise Laura, Stockport. Assoc.

Kellogg, W. H., 39 Jefferson Ave., Columbus. Assoc.

Matheny, W. A., Athens. Assoc.

McConnel, Harry B., Cadiz. Act.

60 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 1)8

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

Mills, Leo, Jefferson.

Mills, Prof. Wm. C, Ohio State University, Columbus. Act.

Morris, C. H., McConnelsville. Act.

Morse, Harry G., Huron. Act.

Phelps, Frank M., 212 E. 4th St., Elyria. Act.

Regel, Vernon M., Court House, Marion.

Roads, Miss Katie M., 463 Vine St., Hillsboro. Assoc.

Roper, Kenyon, 509 North Fourth St., Steubenville. Assoc.

Ryder, Mrs. R. 0., 1041 Franklin Ave., Columbus. Assoc.

Sarver, Rex A., R. F, D. No. 3, Sidney. Assoc.

Scott, Mrs. R. T., 603 North Seventh St., Cambridge. Assoc.

Shankland, F. N., Willoughby. Assoc.

Showalter, Ben R., 88 Victor Ave., Dayton. Act.

Swope, Eugene, College Hill, Cincinnati. Act.

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

Warner, Willis H., R. F. D. No. 2, Canfleld. Assoc,

Wharram, S. V., Austinburg.

Young, John P., 1510 Fifth Ave., Youngstown. Act.

Pennsylvania.
Ball, Dr. J. P., 4445 Frankfort Ave., Philadelphia. Act.
Benners, G. B., Ambler. Act.

Burleigh, Thos. D., 825 North Negley Ave., Pittsburgh. Assoc.
Bums, Frank L., Berwyn. Sustaining.

Dickey, Samuel S., 31 South West St., Waynesburg. Assoc.
Fisher, Mrs. E. W., 2222 Spruce St., Philadelphia. Act.
Hamilton, Earle, 400 Walnut St., Versailles via McKeesport.
Assoc.

Harlow, R. C, State College. Assoc,

Jackson, Thomas H., 304 North Franklin St., Westchester. Act.

Jacobs, J. Warren, Waynesburg. Act.

Keim, Dr. Thos. D., 405 Radcliffe St., Bristol.

Mercur, J. Watts, Jr., Wallingford. Act.

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

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

Sharpies, Robert P., Westchester, Act.

Thomas, W. S., 316 Frick Bldg., Pittsburgh. Act.

Provisional Roll 61

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

Philippine Islands.
McGregor, Richard C, Bureau of Science, Manila. Act.

Rhode Island.
Flanagan, John H., 89 Power St., Providence. Act.
Gifford, Paul C, 73 Whittier Ave., Olneyville.
Hathaway, Harry S., Box 1466, Providence. Act.
Walter, Dr. Herbert E., Brown University, Providence. Act.

South Carolina.
Wayne, Arthur, Mt. Pleasant.

South Dakota.
Mallory, W. B., Lennox. Assoc.

Gingerich, Mrs. L. O., Springfield, South Dakota. Sustaining.
Lightner, D. H., Citizen's Trust and Savings Bank, Aberdeen.

Tennessee.
Ganier, A. F., 1301 Seventeenth Ave., South, Nashville.
Gray, D. R., Brookdale, Maury Co. Assoc.
Mayfield, Dr. Geo. R., Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville. Assoc.
Strong, Dr. R. M., Vanderbilt Medical School, Nashville. Act.
Webb, Prof. A. C, 309 Wilbum St., Nashville. Assoc.

Texas.
Huxley, J. S., Rice Institute, Houston. Act.
Pope, E. L., Colmesneil.

Shearer, Dr. A. R., Mont Belvieu, Chambers Co. Act.
Simmons, G. Finley, Houston, Rice Institute. Act.

Utah.
Betts, Norman, Trinwood, Unitah Co.

Virginia.
Bailey, H. B., Newport News. Act.
Bailey, H. H., 319 54th St., Newport News. Act.
Bailey, B. B., Newport News. Act

Washington.
Maltby, Fred, 1412 8th Ave., Seattle.
Skinner, Dr.H. H., 234 Mitchell Bldg., N. Yakima. Act.
Rathbun, S. F., 217 Fourteenth Ave., North Seattle. Act.

62 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98

West Virginia.
Donaghlo, W., R. F. D. Route No. 8, Parkersburg.
Price, Llgon, R. F. D. Route No. 1, Box 44, Dunmore.

Wisconsin.
Cahn, A. R. Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison. Act.
Cleasby, E. A., 900 Cameron St., Eau Claire. Act.
Glenn, Emma G., Wyalusing. Assoc.
Laughlin, Miss R., 107 Hancock St., Madison.
Malin, Mrs. Joda, Wyalusing. Assoc.

Simpson, Mrs. Mark L., 2804 State St., Milwaukee. Assoc.
Snyder, Will Edwin, 309 DeClark St., Beaver Dam. Assoc.
Wagner, Prof. George, 73 Biology Bldg., Madison. Act.
Walker, Mrs. R. O., Wyalusing. Assoc.
Wilcox, H. B., R. F. D. Route No. 1, Box lOA, North Racine,

Deceased Members.
Bendire, Maj. Chas. E.
Beers, Henry.
Clark, John W.
Chipperfield, Paul C.
Cooke, Dr. Wells W.
Ferry, John Farwell.
Holmes, La Rue Klingle.
King, Rev. J. W.
Knight, Ora Wellis.
McKechnie, Frederick B.
Marble, Charles C.
Newbury, F. C.
Pennock, Charles John.
Purdie, Henry A.
Sammons, B. C.
Sand, Isabelle L.
Wilson, Sidney S.
Wood, J. Claire.

Provisional Roll 63

Members Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

1. Mrs. W. E. Barkley, 1827 E Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

2. Mrs. W. F. Baxter, 123 S. 37th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.

3. Rev. J. M. Bates, Red Cloud, Nebraska.

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

5. Prof. Lawrence Bruner, 2314 South 17th Street, Lincoln,
Nebraska.

6. Mrs. Lily Ruegg Button, 616 West 8th Street, Fremont, Ne-
braska.

7. Mr. Ralph W. Dawson, 1105 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln, Ne-
braska.

8. Miss Laura M. Evans, Blue Springs, Nebraska.

9. Mrs. Catherine Foley, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

10. Miss Mary E. Foster, Union, Nebraska.

11. Mr. LeRoy M. Gates, Chadron, Nebraska.

12. Miss Joy Higgins, 544 South 30th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

13. Mr. Thomas R. Hill, 552 Bee Bldg., Omaha, Nebraska.

14. Dr. David C. Hilton, 2832 O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

15. Miss Alice Hitte, 2305 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebraska,

16. Mr. L. O. Horsky, Mailing Division, Post Office, Omaha, Ne-
braska.

17. Prof. W. B. Johns, 1412 East 11th Street, York, Nebraska.

18. Mrs. G. A. Loveland, 1130 South 20th Street, Lincoln, Ne-
braska.

19. Dr. H. B. Lowry, 843 South 10th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

20. Mr. Chas. S. Ludlow, Red Cloud, Nebraska.

21. Mrs. Charles W. McCaskill, Royal Apts., University Place.
Nebraska.

22. Miss Jeanette McDonald, Dodge Apts., Omaha, Nebraska.

23. Mr. Clarence E. Mickel, 3214 U Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

24. Mrs. H. D. Neely, 4371 Hamilton Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

25. Mr. B. J. Olson, Armitage-Olson Drug Co., Kearney, Ne-
braska.

26. Mrs. Geo. H. Payne, West Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

27. Hon. Isaac Pollard, Nehawka, Nebraska.

4^ The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 98

28. Miss E. Ruth. Pyrtle, Lincoln, Nebraska.

29. Miss Elizabeth Rooney, 2802 Dodge Street, Omaha, Ne-
braska.

30. Mr. G. B. Salter, Norfolk, Nebraska.

31. Mr, L. Sessions, Norfolk, Nebraska.

32. Mrs. A. E. Sheldon, 1319 South 23rd Street, Lincoln, Ne-
braska.

33. Prof. T. C. Stephens, Momingside College, Sioux City, Iowa.

34. Miss Anne Stewart, 1905 D Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

35. Prof. M. H. Swenk, 3028 Starr Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

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

37. Prof. Wilson Tout, Superintendent of Schools, North Platte,
Nebraska.

38. Miss Elizabeth Van Sant, 2950 Dewey Avenue, Omaha, Ne-
braska.

39. Dr. R. H. Wolcott, 2100 B Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

40. Miss Carolie Stringer, Omaia High School, Omaha, Ne-
braska.

M. H. Swenk,

Sec'y-Treas. N. O. U.

CORRECTIONS TO "LOCAL NAMES OF BIRDS" IN MARCH,
1917, BULLETIN.

Page 74 — Name of author; should be McAtee.

Page 75, 126 — Genus should be Stercorarius.

Page 76, 28 — Local name is Bec-a-lance.

Page 76, 30a — usaser should be weaser.

Page 76, 31 — plorgeon should be plongeon.

Page 77, 37 — Genus should be CJiaritonetta.

Page 77, 46 — candensis should be canadensis.

Page 78, 49 — jumper should be pumper; onomatropoeic should
be onomatopoeic.

Page 78, 49a— Genus should be Ixobrychus.

Page 78, 53 — Specific name should be virescens.

Page 78, 54 — Quaker should be quawker.

Page 79, 68 — Genus should be Pelidna.

Page 81, 97 — Genus should be Ceryle.

Page 82, 102 — heigh-lo should be heigh-ho.

Page 82, line 17 — Tyranniqae should be Tyrannidae.

Page 82, 108a — Generic and specific names should be separated.

Page 82, 109a — Knelies should be Kreelies.

Page 83, line 1 — Onometopoeic should be onomatopoeic.

Page 83, 117 — lecophrys should be leucophrys.

Page 83, 125 — Pinlar should be Pindar.

Page 84, line 26 — Minidae should be Mimidae.

Page 84, 143 — Wickenburg should be Wicklenburg.

Page 85, 151 — Heckman should be Hickman.

Page 91 — Creepr should be Creeper.

Page 91 — Chickadock should be Crickadock, and Crickadock
should be Crickadoo.

Page 92 — Hoitalot should be Hoitalotl.

Page 94 — Stripe-yard bird should be omitted.

Page 94 — Twillicq should be twillick.

Photo by F. C. Lincoln

The largest Sahuaro we saw. Note the Woodpecker holes and the Gila
Woodpecker near the top of the right hand arm

THE

WILSON BULLETIN

NO. 99

A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
VOL. XXIX JUNE, 1917 NO. 2

OLD SERIES VOL. XXIX. NEW SERIES VOL. XXPV.

SOME NOTES OF THE BIRDS OF ROCK CANYON.

ARIZONA.

BY F. C. LINCOLN, DENVER, COLORADO.

(With Photographs by the Writer and J. D. Figgins.)

The biolog-ical interest attached to the Sonoran life zones,
and particularly to the Lower, is readily attested by the num-
ber of papers and more lengthy publications treating of these
regions.

But despite all that has been written, interest in these won-
derful areas is not flagging, nor has the subject been at ail
exhausted. In fact, in common with many other regions,
they have just been surveyed, and the work now before the
field and cabinet biologist may be confidently expected to
materially enlarge our knowledge of their flora and fauna.
Species will be added or eliminated ; others discovered as en-
tirely new to science: ranges will be extended; migrations,
with schedules of arrivals and departures and other move-
ments of a consequential character be determined ; and above
all, causes definitely ascertained for the existence or non-
existence of the many characteristic forms.

It was accordingly with much pleasurable anticipation that
the writer, accompanied by Messrs J- F). Figgins and A. H.
Burns, pitched camp at the mouth of Rock Creek Canyon, on
the south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, under large
palo verdes and mesquites on the afternoon of May 7th, 1910,
where we were delighted to find ourselves surrounded by con-

66 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 9!)

(litions ideal beyond our most sanguine hopes. In fact, judg-
ing from the resuUs obtained in the vicinity, we concluded it
to he the most important, from an ornithological viewpoint,
of any for many miles in every direction, due solely to the
presence of permanent water with the accompanying lux-
urient desert vegetation.

The portion of Rock Creek upon which we were located,
had its source (at this season) but a scant hundred yards
above our camp, disappearing into the thirsty sands about the
same distance below ; at both places forming large water-
holes supporting small clumps of medium-sized cottonwoods,
which, during all daylight hours, were literally alive with a
great variety of birds. It was in the vicinity of these two
sources of water supply with the intervening territory, that
ihe great bulk of our observations were made, the extraor-
dinary abundance of bird-life between and at these points
rendering their pursuit useless in the less likely desert re-
gions ; though, uf course, the latter were carefully studied as
well.

In the neighborhood of the water-holes the creek banks
rose abruptly ; on the west with an almost impenetrable thicket
of thorn-bush and mesquite fringing a rugged plain, where
the higher growths of deciduous plants fell rapidly away to
barren flats of creosote-bush (Coz'illea), cholla (Opuiitia
cholla), and tree cactus (0. zjersicolor), with the beautiful
giant cactus or ''Sahuaro" (Cereiis gigaiitcus), either as sol-
itary trunks or gracefully branched like some giant candela-
bra. This plain stretched clear for twenty-five or thirty miles.
broken only by a few rolling hills and the narrow thread of
cottonwoods that marked the course of the (now dry) Santa
Rita River.

To the east the bank rose sharply to a high stony ridge,
rough, hot, and cheerless ; covered with masses of the multi-
spined cholla, straggling growths of palo verde (Parkin-
sonia) and the ever-present sahuaros. Still on to the east
and north rose the beautifully modeled Santa Catalina Moun-
tains, bearing near their summits, heavy growths of cedar

ba '^l

u

9 '*'

C I

c
n

O

The Birds of Rock Canyon, Arizona 67

and yellow pine, which did much toward softening the dry
harshness of the desert below.

The flower season had passed its zenith at the time of our
visit, but enoug-h maroon and mahogany-colored flowers re-
mained on the tree cactus, with some big, lemon-yellow blooms
on the prickly-pear, to afford an idea of the gorgeousness of
the landscape but a short time before. The flowers of the
giant cactus were just appearing; the white, waxy clusters
forming a crown around the apex of each trunk and arm. We
were also fortunate in finding two barrel cacti (Echino-
cactus) in bloom, with flowers of rich burnt-orange color,
splashed and mottled with red. The candle-bush, too, (Fou-
quieria) had dropped most of its odd flame-like vermilion
5 pikes and was beginning to send tiny ovate leaves out over
each spine. But the palo verde and mesquite were still in full
bloom, resembling nothing so much as green and yellow cumu-
lus clouds in the distance, and from the numbers of bees that
frequented them it was evident that a supply of sweets was
stored in these stern denizens of the waste places. Agaves
or century-plants, with a few thread-and-needle plants were
found on the rocky slopes and taluses farther up the canyon.

By the last of May the heat was felt severely by our tem-
perately accustomed skins, and contrary to all expectations,
we did not find the air exceptionally dry, and we perspired
freely. Despite the noon-day heat, however, the nights and
mornings were always sufficiently cool to render the use of
sweaters a matter of satisfaction, and we slept between heavy
blankets with comfort.

The month's work netted a collection of about 225 speci-
mens, representing 52 species and subspecies, which, with
observations on 13 others not collected, brought the list up
to G5.

The following constitutes the list, with annotations :

Ardea Ji. Jierodias — Great Blue Heron. One example was noted
at a small water-hole on the Santa Rita May 27th, and again on
June 1st.

Oxyechus vociferus — Killdeer. One noted on the Santa Rita
May 27th.

68 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Lophortyx gambeli — Gambel's Quail. Plentiful, particularly in
the vicinity of the water-holes on Rock Creek. A brood of newly
hatched young (still damp) was secured on the 24th of May, while
other broods of all ages were of daily note. A set of heavily in-
cubated eggs found on the 26th. Their call-note has a decidedly
sarcastic tone and is not infrequently given from the top of a mes-
quite or palo verde, 20 or 25 feet from the ground.

Zenaidura m. marginella — Western Mourning Dove. Common,
but not seen in as great numbers as Melopelia. Very wild. Nest
with quarter grown yovmg found May 20th.

Scardofella inca — Inca Dove. Not found in the desert country
at all, but very common in the city of Tucson, particularly on the
University campus, where specimens were secured. During the
heat of the day it was of common note to see from a pair to six
or eight close together on a single limb. They are almost domes-
ticated, and in the neighborhood of poultry yards are considered
somewhat of a nuisance.

Melopelia a. mearn si— Western White-winged Dove. Abundant.
Frequents the mesquite and cactus-covered foothills, the sahuaros
forming their favorite perches. In the evening the calling of the
males was incessant, and being quite variable in length and tone,
many phrases were readily adaptable. One that could always be
counted upon to rouse the ire of the cook at our evening mealtime
was, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you?" Not infre-
quently supper was temporarily forgotten by the exasperated culi-
nary artist, who took gun and proceeded to collected the insin-
uating pigeon.

They feed largely on the berries of the thorn-bush and insects
secured from the sahuaros.

The season opens June 1st, much too early, as we found nests
containing both eggs and young at a still later date.

Cathartes a. septentrionalis — Turkey Vulture. Common. Five
or six seen daily around the mouth of the canyon.

Buteo b. cal urns— Western Red-tail. An adult or two seen daily
and our camp neighbor, Mr. Harold Bell Wright, had an imma-
ture he had captured nearby, for a pet. This bird became very
tame and would make no demonstration at being approached.

UruMtinga anthracina — Mexican Black Hawk. Rare. I saw one
on two occasions on May 24th, but failed to secure it with the light
load in my collecting gun. On second observation it was asso-
ciated with the Vultures.

Aquila chrysaetos — Golden Eagle. Rare; two seen on the banks
of the Santa Rita June 1st.

Falco s. pJialaena — Desert Sparrow Hawk. Rare. An occasional

■=1

Pheto by F. C. Lincaln

A perfect Sahuaro. "Beautifully branched like some giant
candelabra"

The Birds of Rock Canyon, Arizona G9

specimen observed near camp during the latter part of May. Prob-
ably the same bird in each case.

Otus a. cineraccus — Mexican Sceech Owl. Rare. An adult
female taken at camp by Mr. Figgins, May 27th, the only record.

Micropallas wMtneyi — Elf Owl. Common. The most plentiful
raptore. Secured a good series of adults with three downy young.
The latter taken May 29th. Nest in old Flicker or Gila Wood-
pecker holes in the sahuaros. Their food seems to consist entirely
of insects as, beetles, caterpillars, etc. All specimens but one se-
cured after dark and they are evidently entirely nocturnal.

Buho V. pallesccns — Western Horned Owl. Probably not uncom-
mon in the cedar zone above the desert country, as we would hear
them occasionally, but always above us. The Mexicans, however,
report them as not infrequent in the lower foothills and canyons.

Geococcyx californiamis — Road-runner. Not common; but three
examples noted. One secured. One that I followed near the Santa
Rita, ran up a sloping tree trunk and endeavored to hide in the
foliage. Failing in this it made a short flight, or rather glide, to
the earth and again took to its legs to escape.

Dryohates s. cactophilus — Cactus Woodpecker. Rare; only ones
noted being a pair that had a nest in a willow at the upper water-
hole.

Centurus itropygialis — Gila Woodpecker. Plentiful; more so than
any other Picidae. Almost every sahuaro of any size contained
their drillings or nests. Extremely pugnacious, the approach of
one to a water-hole being sufficient to drive all other birds congre-
gated thereabout into the trees. Much of their food at this season
seems to be derived from the flowers of the sahuaros. The young
keep up an incessant whining or buzzing noise, which is quite ven-
triloquil and weird when one stands at the foot of the cactus con-
taining the nest.

Colaptes chrysoides — Gilded Flicker. Common. Nest very early,
as fully fledged young were flying about at the first of May.

PJialaenoptilus n. nuttalli — Poor-will. Rare. On the evenings of
the 11th and 12th one was repeatedly heard near camp, but all sub-
sequent work failed to flush the specimen.

Chordeiles a. texensis — Texas Nighthawk. Common; especially
so in the evenings around the water-holes and camp. Flushed one
pair evidently preparing to nest. The male kept close to and a
little above the female, at times so close as to touch her with the
tips of his wings. Almost no note at all. No boom as with vir-
ginianus.

Aeronautes melanoJeucus — White-throated Swift. Common. Nests
in the cliffs higher in the canyon, but descends to the mouth reg-
ularly in the evenings to feed.

70 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

ArchilocTius alexandri — Black-chinned Hummingbird. Humming-
birds were of common note, but as the majority were females or
immatures, visual identification was impossible. In point of rela-
tive abundance, however, alexandri probably ranked next to calypte
costae. All hummers fed readily from the various cactus flowers,
as well as those of the mesquite and palo verde, heavy pollen stains
marking every specimen secured.

Calypte costae — Costa's Hummingbird. Common. Probably the
most plentiful of the Trochilidae. Mr. F'iggins had an interesting
experience with one of these birds while sketching under his um-
brella. The bird, a female, was fearlessly curious and repeatedly
came under the umbrella and perched on the ribs, or the canvas,
once flying so close to his face that he (Mr. F.) forgetting the
protection afforded by his glasses, shut his eyes for fear the bird
would strike at them.

The males fight furiously, as is the case with all other Trochili-
dae that I have observed. One fight that I witnessed, kept up for
fully five minutes, when the vanquished bird fiew off, while the vic-
tor, too exhausted to pursue, perched nearby to preen his feathers.
Selasi)lwrits platycercus — Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Uncommon,
if not actually rare. Only one secured, a female, on the 20th.

Tyrannus verticaUs — Arkansas Kingbird. Fairly common, with
vociferans and Myiarchus around the camp. Found only in the
vicinity of water.

Tyrannus vociferans — Cassin's Kingbird. Rather more numer-
ous than verticaUs.. Usually found with them.

Myiarchus m. magister — Arizona Crested Flycatcher. Plentiful.
The two forms of Myiarchus kept up, with the assistance of the
Kingbirds, a continual fight in the vicinity of our camp. Their
call-note may be likened to " Come 'er, Come 'er, Come 'er," uttered
rapidly with the accent on the " er." It is quite noticeable that
if another bird accepts the invitation, a fight is the inevitable re-
sult. A few of their nests were found in woodpecker excavations
in the sahuaros, usually with incubated eggs, and the ever-present
piece of shed snake-skin. This last is remarkable since we found
snakes decidedly rare. This form was always found along streams,
never in the open desert, as was cinerascens.

Myiarchus c. cinerascens — Ash-throated Flycatcher. Found in
about the same numbers as migister, but more frequently in the
creosote covered foothills.

Sayornis nigricans — Black Phoebe. Rather rare. Secured an adult
the first day in camp and two immatures subsequently.

Nuttallornis borealis — Olive-sided Flycatcher. Not common. A
couple of specimens secured early in May, probably migrants to
the higher country.

= o

•- J3

— C3
3 lA

a-

— Co

> O

.5f
<

The Birds of Rock Canyon, Arizona 71

MyiocJianes r. richardsoni — Western Wood Pewee. Not uncom-
mon along Rock Creek and the Santa Rita.

Empidonax difficiUs — Western Flycatcher. Fairly common. Seen
dally along the creek.

Pyrocephalus r. mexicanus — Vermilion Flycatcher. Not common.
Two pair seen near Tucson and three others secured at Rock Creeic
and the Santa Rita. At the latter place they exhibited a marked
preference for low perches, often alighting on wire fences. There
is certainly no protective coloration with this species as it shows
out vividly at all times.

Corvus cryptoleucus — White-necked Raven (?). En route from
Deming, New Mexico, numbers of Ravens were noted that I believe
were this variety. A few were occasionally seen flying over camp,
although the flats of tall yucca plants seemed to be their preferred
habitat.

Molothrus a. oiscnrus — Dwarf Cowbird. Shortly after we lo-
cated camp numbers of these birds flew over, one of which was
secured.

Icterus parisorum — Scott's Oriole. Rare. A nest containing three
heavily incubated eggs found on the 26th. Female secured. An-
other pair collected at the upper water -hole on the 30th. This last
female had much black on the head and throat; a rare occurrence.

Icterus c. nelsoni — Arizona Hooded Oriole. Common. FrBquented
the cottonwoods above and below camp and was very common along
the Santa Rita. Found a nest on the 28th on a dead Yucca stalk,
twenty feet from the ground, containing four fresh eggs.

Carpodacus vi. frontalis — House Finch. Plentiful. Found in
the open desert and along the water-courses. A small bunch could
be found at the water-holes during all hours of the day. The
candle-bush was preferred for perching places. The males of this
region are remarkably brilliant; much more vermilion than any
in my series of Colorado specimens. This may be the result of
the intense sunlight.

Astragalinus p. hesperophilus — Green-backed Goldfinch. Rare in
the vicinity of the canyons, but found in some numbers along the
Santa Rita.

CJiondestes g. strigatus — Western Lark Sparrow. Rare. None
seen on Rock Creek, but a few seen along the road near the Santa
Rita.

AmpMspiza b. deserticola — Desert Sparrow. Not uncommon, but
more often heard than seen. A juvenile, just out of the nest, was
secured May 23d.

Pipilo /. mesoleuciis — Canyon Towhee. Common. Frequents the
more open brushy hillsides. Was also noted daily at the water-
holes.

72 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Oreospiza cJilorura — Green-tailed Towhee. Rare. A few mi-
grants to the higher slopes came through on the 14th and 15th.

Cardinalis c. superlms — Arizona Cardinal. Fairly common along
the water-courses. Their song is quite different from that of true
cardinalis of the east.

Zamelodia melanocephala — Black-headed Grosbeak. Common. Ap-
parently nests in the mesquite and thorn-bush.

■Passerina amoena — Lazuli Bunting. Rare. Only record, a male
taken on the Santa Rita May 27th.

Piranga ludoviciana — ^Western Tanager. Plentiful. I have never
found this variety as abundant as it was here, nor the males as
brilliantly colored. They were exceptionally fat, however, and
several specimens were lost through the exudation of oil from
the shot-holes.

Piranga r. cooperi — Cooper's Tanager. Rare. Not seen at camp,
but one was secured at the river and another seen. A fine male
was also observed on the University campus at Tucson.

Tachycineta t. lepida — Northern Violet-green Swallow. Fairly
common around camp at times, although it apparently nests farther
up in the hills.

Bomtycilla cedrorum — Cedar Waxwing. A flock of five of these
birds flew into the trees at camp on the 26th. Two were killed, but
one could not be recovered from the dense thorn-bush into which
it fell.

Phainopepla nitens — Phainopepla. Plentiful at camp and on the
river bottoms. The young were out of the nests and their cat-like
calling was at times incessant around the water-holes.

Laniiis I. excubitorides — White-rumped Shrike. Not common.
Found principally in the lower mesquite desert.

Vireosylva g. swainsoni — Western Warbling Vireo. Rare. The
only record is a specimen killed at camp on the 17th.

Vireo b. arizonae — Arizona Vireo. Plentiful. Frequents the dens-
est thickets, and their plumage was badly worn from continual
passage through the brush.

Yermivora hiciae — Lucy's Warbler. Seemingly not uncommon, but
difficult to raise from the heavier growths of mesquite, etc. Three
specimens were secured.

Dendrioca a. sonorana — Sonoran Yellow Warbler. Rare. A single
female secured on the 24th, with two or three seen subsequently,
my only records.

Dendroica townsendi — Townsend's Warbler. Rare. A male was
secured on the 25th on the open desert.

Icteria v. longicauda — Long-tailed Chat. Not common. A few
seen near camp and on the Santa Rita.

The Birds of Rock Canyon, Arizona 73

Wilsonia p. pileolata — Pileolated Warbler. Not uncommon at
camp for a few days during the latter part of May.

Mimus p. leucopterus — Western Mockingbird. Not uncommon;
usually found in the desert. Only occasionally heard singing.

Toxostonia c. palmeri — Palmer's Thrasher. Abundant. By far
the most numerous bird and one of the few found any distance
from the water-courses in the desert. One brood of young had
already been raised and many nests were found containing eggs
and young in all stages of development. Their call-note may be
readily adapted to the phrase " Pretty quick," with the accent on
the " quick."

Nests were usually placed in the chollas, but some were found
in the mesquites and palo verdes.

CatTierpes m. conspersiis — Canyon Wren. Rare. Heard on one or
two occasions in the canyon above camp.

Heleodytes ft. conesi — Cactus Wren. Plentiful. The most char-
acteristic bird of the cactus desert. They also had raised one
brood and were engaged in caring for the second at the time of
our visit. A few sets of eggs (both fresh and incubated) were
also found. Nest almost invariably placed in a cholla; only one
found not so placed, and that in a palo verde.

Aiiriparus f. flaviceps — Verdin. Not uncommon, and their retort-
shaped nests were found in numbers, though usually unoccupied.
We succeeded, however, in securing two sets of young just ready to
leave the nest. Their plumage was much frayed out, but when
one considers the combing that the feathers of many of these des-
ert birds are subjected to it, it is more surprising that they retain
any body covering at all. Nevertheless, we found very few spines
in birds' feet, and saw absolutely no evidence that would lead us
to believe more serious tragedies of common occurrence.

Polioptila plumhea — Plumbeous Gnatcatcher. Plentiful. Adults
and fully grown young found everywhere. Most abundant in the
dry water-courses near the main stream.

Hylocichla u. ustulata — Russet-backed Thrush. Not common.
(Rare)? For a few days during the latter part of May thrushes
were not uncommon, and I took one on the 24th, thinking it to be
ti. swainsoni, but upon comparing it with California specimens of
true ustulata at the Museum, I am satisfied it should be so referred,
though I cannot, of course, state positively that all Hylocichla seen
were of the same variety, and it is quite possible that a large series
would have contained both forms in more or less equal numbers.

74 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

SOME LOCAL NAMES OF BIRDS.

BY W. L. m'aTEE.

In 1911 the writer published ^ a Hst of local names of birds,
chiefly intended to supplement Gurdon Trumbull's most inter-
esting" compilaton - of vernacular names of game birds. The
present list has a similar object, since it deals largely with
water and shore birds, but like the former catalog it includes
unusual cognomens for a variety of other species.

The principal sources of the informaton presented in the
following pages are field experiences of the writer on trips
for the United States Biological Survey, a manuscript catalog
by L. O. Pindar of birds names in use about Hickman, Ky.,
and fugitive references to bird nicknames in Forest and Stream
and elsewhere. The names given in a brief but interesting list
by H. H. Brimley (see bibliography) are among those incor-
porated. Mr. Francis Harper has kindly contributed numer-
ous names in use at Beaufort, N. C, and on Long Island,
N. Y. The principal localities at which the writer made lists
of local names since the publication of his first paper on the
subject are Matinicus Id., Maine, Wallops and Revels Ids.,
Virginia, and Willapa Flarbor, Washington. The Wallops Id.
material is supplemented by a manuscript list kindly prepared
by Dr. B. H. Warren. The present catalog of names is in-
dexed so that it may be used as a supplement to other glos-
saries.

COLYMBIDAE.

1. AecJiviopJiorus occidentalis. — Silver loon, silver diver, Wil-
lapa Harbor, Wash.

2. Colymbus Jiolboelli. — Bobtail, Shitepoke, Wear hen (so called
because they perch on projecting parts of fish-wears), Matinicus
Id., Me.; sheldrake loon, Patchogue, L. I.; pinquin, pinquint, Wal-
lops Id., Va.; red-eyed devil, sinker, Willapa Harbor, Wash.

3. Podilymhus podiceps. — Tad, Wallops Id., Va.;culotte, Marks-
ville, la. The latter word, the French term for breeches, is amus-
ingly appropriate for a bird whose feet only portrude beyond its
feathers.

^Forest and Stream, 77, pp. 172-174 and 196-197.
= Names and Portraits of Birds, 1888.

Some Local Names of Birds 75

Gaviidae.

4. Gavia immer. — Adult is pond loon; young, sheep loon, Ply-
mouth, Mass. (Browne); loo, Newfoundland (Harvey); warloon,
Hickman, Ky, (Pindar).

5. Gavia arctica.- — Grayback loon, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne).

6. Gavia stellota. — Peggin'-awl loon, Matinlcus Id., Me.; peg-
gin'-awl, pegmonk, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne); Quaker loon, Wil-
lapa Harbor, Wash.

Alcidae.

7. Lunda clrrliata. — Parrot-bill, Bering Sea (information given
me by a sailor); Jew duck (in recognition of the Semitic profile),
Willapa Harbor, Wash.

8. Fratercula arctica. — Parakeet, Matinicus Id., Me.

9. BrachyravipJius marmoratus. — Fog-bird, Willapa Harbor,
Wash.

10. Alca torda. — Pinwing, Newfoundland (Forest and Stream,
2, No. 16, May 28, 1874, p. 244).

11. Alle alle. — Pine knot, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne); also Mat-
inicus Id., Me., ice-bird, Matinicus Id., Me., Northeastern Banks
(Collins).

Stercorariidae.

12. Megalestris skua.^Sea, hen. Northeastern Banks (Collins).
12a. Stercorarius stxp. — Marlin-spike birds, Coast of Maine;

marling-spikes, gull chasers. Northeastern Banks (Collins).

12b. Stercorairus longicaudns. — Whip-tail, Northeastern Banks
(Collins).

Laridae.

13. Rissa tridactyla. — Squaretail or bay gull, Plymouth, Mass.
(Browne); winter gull. Wallops Id., Va.; this name and pinyole.
Northeastern Banks (Collins).

14. Larus Marinus. — Farmer gull, Grand Menan, N. B. (Forest
and Stream, 13, No. 1, Aug. 7, 1879, p. 524); saddle-backed gull,
Matinicus Id., Me.; Daniel gull, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne); win-
ter gull. Wallops Id., Va.

15. Larus argentatus. — Adult is white gull; young, gray gull,
Plymouth, Mass. (Browne); winter gull. Wallops Id., Va.

16. Lams delawarensis. — Squeezy gull, Newfoundland (Harvey).

17. Lams pMladelpliia. — Square-tail gull, Plymouth, Mass.
(Browne); codfish gull, Wallops Id., Va.

18. All terns. — Mackerel gulls, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne);
Connecticut shore (Morris).

19. Geloclielidon nilotica. — Big striker. Wallops Id., Va.

20. Sterna caspia, Stem maxiina. — Gannet striker. Wallops Id.,
Va., the latter big striker at Beaufort, N. C.

76 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

21. Sterna Mrundo. — Petney, mackerel or medric gull and med-
ric, Matinicus Id., Maine; big striker, Wallops Id., Va.; striker,
Beaufort, N. C.

22. Sterna antillarum. — Little striker, Wallops Id., Va.

23. HydrocJielidon nigra surinamensis. — Adult is black striker,
young, pigeon gull. Wallops Id., Va.

Rhynchopidae.

24. Rhynchops nigra. — F. M. Chapman gives (Country Life in
America, 3, No. 2, Dec. 1902, p. 85) black skimmer, cutwater, shear-
water, scissor-bill and flood gull as names for this species on the
coast of Virginia. The last name is in use at Wallops Id., and
Shearwater is used at Beaufort, N. C, also.

Procellariidae.

25. Petrels. — Old sailors' souls; so-called by down-east mariners.
25a. Fiihnarus glacialis. — Noddy, marble-header, oil-bird. North-
eastern Banks; striker. West Coast (Collins).

25b. Pufflmis gravis. — Hag, hagdon, Northeastern Banks (Col-
lins).

25c. Piifflnvs grisens. — Black hagdon, Northeastern Banks (Col-
lins). Shearwaters are known as haglets at Montauk, Long Island.

Phaethontidae.

26. Tropic-birds. — Bos'n; a name widely used among sailors for
these birds.

SULIDAE.

27. Sula iassana. — Winter gannet. Wallops Id., Va.

Anhingidae.

28. AnJxinga anhinga. — Bec-alance (lance-bill), Marksville, La.

Phalacrocoracidae.

29. Pfialacrocorax auritns. — Water buzzard, Autaugaville, Ala.,
(A. H. Howell); Bogue Sound lawyer (presumably referring to
conspicuous vocalization), Beaufort, N. C. The name nigger
goose which I previously recorded as being used for cormorants
along the Gulf Coast is also heard at Beaufort, N. C, and Great
South Bay, long Island.

30. Mergus serrator. — Shell-bird, Muskeget Id., Mass., jack,
Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

30a. Mergus americanus. — Woozer, universally used at Pat-
chogue. Long Island, but apparently unknown a few miles east or
west (Harper). This name seems to be an evolutionary product
of "usaser," mentioned by Trumbull as being used at various
points on Long Island.

31. Lophodytes cucuUatus. — Zin-zin, plorgeon, diver, Marks-
ville, La. 1

Some Local Names of Birds 77

32. A7ias platyrhyncJios. — Black duck, Cape Hatteras, N. C.
(Brimley).

33. Anas ruhripes. — Black-jack, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar) It is
interesting to note that the much-discussed forms or subspecies of
northeastern black ducks are recognized in local nomenclature
at Indian River, Delaware (Pennock, Cassinia, 1907, p. 38). The
black-legged form is known as nigger black duck, and the other as
red paddle.

34. Spatula chjpeata. — Shovel-mouth, Oakley, S. C.

35. Marila afflnis. — Cotton-tail bluebill. Wallops Id., Va. ; pol-
ridge, Willapa Harbor, Wash. I have wondered whether the latter
name was not originally porridge, which clearly would be another
allusion among vernacular names df this species to its habit of
gathering in dense masses.

36. Clangnla clangula americana. — Pie duck, Newfoundland
(Harvey); fiddler duck, Mississippi Sound, Ala. (A. H. Howell).

37. Chartonnetta albeola. — Salt-water teal (Hallock, Forest and
Stream, 15, No. 21, Dec. 23, 1880, p. 406); dipper duck, Montauk,
Long Island.

38. Harelda hijemalis. — Old mammy, Bay Shore, Long Island,
mammy duck, Wallops Id., Va.; knock molly. Cape Hatteras, N. C.
(Brimley); Jay-eye-see (this soubriquet of a celebrated race horse
undoubtedly is applied to the old-squaw in allusion to its speed),
and o-i (a corruption of old wife?), Willapa Harbor, Wash. There
are more than thirty local names for the old squaw known to be
in use in the United States.

39. Somateria dresseri. — Ducks and drakes, canvasback, Matin-
icus Id., Me.; sea coot, Connecticut shore (Morris).

40. Soynateria spectabilis. — King bird, Newfoundland (Harvey);
mongrel drake, Matinicus Id., Me.

41. Oidemia deglandi. — Ice duck. Wallops Id., Va.; bay coot,
Willapa Harbor, Wash.

42. Oidemia perspicillata. — 'Scovy, Wallops Id., Va.; river coot,
Willapa Harbor, Wash.

43. Erismatura jamaicensis. — Sleeping booby. Wallops Id., Va.,
sleepy jay, sinker, Willapa Harbor, Wash. I repeat the name pin-
tail, given by Trumbull for northeastern Maryland, in order to em-
phasize its wide distribution on the Pacific Coast. It is the usual
name at Willapa Harbor, Wash., and is known to be used as far
south as Fresno, Calif. (Tyler). Fully 75 local names for the ruddy
have been recorded as used in the United States.

44. Chen Jiyperboreus nivalis. — Bald brant, Wallops Id., Va.

45. Ayiser albifrons gambeli. — Yellow-legs, yellow-legged goose,
Willapa Harbor, Wash.

46. Branta candensis. — Outarde, brant, Marksville, La.

78 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

47. Branta canadensis Jiutchinsi. — Bernaise, brant, Marksville,
La.; little honkers, China geese, Fresno, Calif. (Tyler).

Plataleidae.

48. Ajaia ajaja. — Flamingo, Corpus Christi, Tex. (Johnson, S.
M., Forest and Stream, 13, No. 6, Sept. 11, 1879, p. 625).

ArdeidaEw

49. Botaurus lentiginosus. — Years ago J. E. Todd published (see
bibliography) a list of names for the bittern of which the follow-
ing presumably were gathered in the United States: bog-bull, bog-
bumper, garde-soleil, Indian hen, Indian pullet, look-up, mire-drum,
poke, stake-driver, thunder-pumper, and water-belcher. In order
to have in one place a ifairly complete catalog of nicknames for
the bittern, I have gathered the following from various sources:
barrel-maker, Michigan (Cook); bog-hen, Maine (Knight); bog
trotter, Michigan (Gibbs), butter-bump. Concord, Mass. (Bergen);
corker (caulker), Nevrfoundland (Harvey, also Forest and Stream,
3, N. 13, Nov. 5, 1874, p. 196); dunk-a-doo, New Jersey (Wilson);
flying fox, Indian River, Delaware (Pennock, Cassinia, 1907, p.
35); night-hen, Massachusetts (Nuttall); plum-pudden, Michigan
(Gibbs); plunkett, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne); post-driver, Illi-
nois (Ridgway); jumper, Minnesota (Hatch); quock, "Wallops Id.,
Va.; shite-poke, Maine (Knight); Matinicus Id., Me.; sibitron,
Newark and Flemington, N. J. (E. R. Kalmbach), probably resi-
duum of the phase "it's a bittern"; sun-gazer, Chef Menteur, La.;
thunder-pump, Illinois (Forest and Stream, 6, No. 21, June 29,
1876, p. 237); vison-la, Marksville, La.; wop. Wallops Id., Va. Of
these 30 names, while 17 allude to the bird's remarkable vocal
efforts, only 5 are really onomatropoeic; 9 refer to habits of the
bittern and 7 are of other categories.

49a. Ixirychus exilis. — Citron (undoubtedly a corruption of
bittern), near Alexandria, Va.

50. Ardea herodias. — Cranky (a good name for this species,
which scolds so vehemently when disturbed). Wallops Revels and
Cobbs Ids., Va.; jo, grand-jo, Marksville, La.; jim, Hamburg, La.,
Blue, fish or gopher crane, Fresno, Calif. (Tyler).

51. Herodias egretta. — White crane, piglin, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

52. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. — Poor jo, Beaufort, N. C.

53. Butorides virecens. — Scouck, Wallops Id., Va.; scout, Smith
Id., Va., Beaufort, N. C; cow-cow, Marksville, La. All these names
are onomatopoeic.

54. Ni/cticorax nycticorax naevius. — Quaker, Montauk, Long
Island, Wop, Revels Id., Va., winter gros-bec, butor, huac, Marks-
ville, La.

Some Local Names of Birds 79

Gbuidae.

55. Grus americana. — Gourd head, white crane, Hickman, Ky.
(Pindar).

Rallidae.

56. Rallus elegans. — Double rail, Newbern, N. C. (Brimley).

57. Rallus virginianus. — ^Single rail, Newbern, N. C. (Brimley).

58. Gallinula galeata. — Rale, Hamburg, La.

59. Fulica americana.— Chicken duck, chicken-bill, Wallops Id.,
Va.; water guinea, Leighton, Ala. (A. H. Howell); water guinea
hen, Mother Carey's chicken, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

Phalaropodidae.

60. Phalaropus fulicarius. — Herring bird, Jersey geese, coast of
Nova Scotia.

61. LoMpes lobatus. — Herring bird, Jersey geese. Coast of Maine;
whale-bird, Massachusetts (Shooting and Fishing, ,16, No. 11, July
5, 1894, p. 205).

Recubvirostridae.

62. Recurvirostra americana. — Tilter, Corpus Christi, Tex.
(Johnson, S. M., Forest and Stream, 13, No. 6, Sept. 11, 1879, p.
625); sickle-bill, Willapa Harbor, Wash.; yellow snipe, Fresno,
Calif. (Tyler).

Scolopacidae.

63. Philohela minor. — Night-flit, Currituck, N. C. (Brimley).

64. MacrorJiamphus griseus. — Dowits, Long Island, N. Y. (For-
est and Stream, 7, 1876, p. 149). Name said to be derived from a
note of the bird, a theory different from that given by Trumbull
(p. 160).

65. Micropalama hiniantopus. — Frost snipe, New Jersey (Hol-
berton) ; bastard yellowlegs, Wallops Id., Va.

65a. Pisobia maculata. — Hay plover. Wallops Id., Va.

66. Pisobia fuscicollis. — White-tailed stib, Plymouth, Mass.
(Browne).

67. Pisobia ininutilla and Ereunetes pusillus. — Ox-eye, bumble-
bee, New Jersey (Holberton) ; mud-suckers, little birds, bumble-
bees, Wallops Id., Va. Bumble-bee peep is used on Cape Cod (Ca-
houn), and the generic name for small sandpipers on Nantucket
is peckies (B.).

68. Pelinda alpina sakhalina. — Smutty-breast, Wallops and Rev-
els Ids., Va.; winter birds, the former; winter ox-eye, Cape Cod,
Mass. (Murdoch).

69. Calidris leucophaea. — Skinner, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne);
bull-peep, Cape Cod, Mass. (Cahoon); strand or surf snipe, Long
Id., N. Y. (Forest and Stream, 7, 1876, p. 149); clayton. Wallops
Id., Va.

80 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

70. Limosa fedoa. — Marlin curlew, Wallops Id., Va.

71. Totanxis probably melanoleiicus. — Yellow-shanked sandpiper
twillick, nasary (Townsend, 1911, gives auntsary), Newfoundland
(Harvey).

72. Actitis vMcularia. — Sandbird, Matinicus Id., Me.; teeter-peep,
Essex Co., Mass. (Townsend); teeter, steel-yard bird. Long Id.,
N. Y. (Forest and Stream, 7, 1876, p. 149); jerk-or perk-bird. Wal-
lops Id., Va. This and other small sandpipers are known as gray-
backs, maggot-eaters and sea-chickens at Beaufort, N. C.

73. Numenius longirostris. — Turkey curlew. Prince Edward Id.

Charadriidae.

74. Oxyechus vociferus. — Dotterel, Iowa (Hapgood).

75. Aegialitis semipalmato. — Beach-bird, New Jersey (Holber-
ton).

76. Aegialitis meloda. — Beach-bird, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne);
mourning bird, pale ringneck. Cape Cod, Mass. (Cahoon); stone
runner. Long Id., N. Y. (Forest and Stream, 7, 1876, p. 149).

77. OcMJiodromus wilsonius. — Ring-neck, Wallops Id., Va.

Aphrizidae.

78. Arenaria interpres. — Chicaric, Plymouth, Mass. (Browne);
maggot-eater. Wallops Id., Va., Cape Lookout, N. C, Brimley.
Trumbull comments on Wilson's name Horse-foot snipe, and al-
though he could not find it in use, expresses his faith in local
names by remarking "yet in some out-of-the-way corner," the
tumstone "may still be the Horse-foot snipe as it was in Wilson's
time" (p. 185). However, Giraud (Birds of Long Island, 1844,
p, 221) notes the use of this name at Egg Harbor, and virtually
the same name, that is, king-crab bird, is now in use at Beaufort,
N. C. (Harper). Both refer to the tumstone's fondness for eggs
of the horse-shoe crab.

Haematopodidae.

79. Haeniatopus palliatus. — Sea-crow, Wallops Id., Va.

Tetraonidae.

80. Bonasa umhellus. — Wood-pile quawker. Long Island, N. Y.
(Forest and Stream, 12, No. 3, Feb. 20, 1879, p. 49).

81. Lagopus rupestris. — Mountain partridge, Newfoundland
(Harvey).

82. Pedioecctes phasianellus. — Bur-oak grouse, Southern Wis-
consin, Northern Illinois (Forest and Stream, 13, No. 10, Oct. 9,
1879, p. 705).

Cathartidae.

83. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. — Cara-crow, Marksville, La.

84. Catharista tiruhu. — South Carolina buzzard, Beaufort, N. C.

Some Local Names of Birds 81

BUTEONIDAE.

85. Elanoides forficatus. — Forked-tailed hawk , Hickman, Ky.
(Pindar).

86. Circus hudsonius. — Meadow-hawk, Revels Id., Va., Hickman,
Ky., (Pindar).

87. Accipiter velox. — Privateer, Wallops Id., Va.

88. Astur atricapillus. — Blue hawk. Nova Scotia (Forest and
Stream, 12, No. 13, May 1, 1879, p. 245).

89. Buteo sp. — Up-the-country boy, Chestertown, Md., among
negroes (Bergen). This name, together with those quoted in my
former list for the marsh hawk and swallow-tailed kite, indicates
a general use among negroes of the term "boy" for hawks.

90. Haliceetus leucocepTialus. — Grepe, Newfoundland (Harvey).

Falconjdae.

91. Falco islandus (?). — White hawk, Newfoundland (Harvey).

92. Falco columbarius. — Privateer, Wallops Id., Va.

■ 93. Falco sparverius. — Mouse hawk, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar),

Stbigidae.

94. Otus asio. — Field, little gray, mottled, rat or red owl, Hick-
man, Ky. (Pindar).

CUCULIDAE.

95. Geoccoccyx californianus. — For some time I have had on
hand a collection of local names for this species. It is here pre-
sented in alphapetical order, practically without annotation: Cali-
fornia hen, California peacock, chachalaca, chaparral, chaparral
bird, cock, or fowl, churca (also, if not a misprint, churea), cor-
poral, correo del camino (there are several variants of this, most
of them erroneous; exceptions may be correcamino and correo
del paisano), el caporal, ground cuckoo, hoitlalotl, lizard bird,
long-tailed pheasant, medicine bird, Mexican peafowl, paisano, pa-
jaro, prairie cock, racer, rattle-snake killer, road-runner, snake
killer, war bird.

96. Coccyzus americanus. — Chow-chow, phantom or spirit bird,
Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

Alcedinidae.

97. Ceryl alcyon. — Martin pecheur, Marksville, La.

PiCIDAE.

98. Dryobates villosus. — Big sapsucker, wood-knocker, Hickman,
Ky. (Pindar).

99. Dryobates pubescens. — Little sapsucker, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

100. Phloetomus pileatus. — Great black woodpecker, Newfound-
land (Harvey) ; poule de marais, Indian hen, Marksville and Ham-
burg, La.

82 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

101. Asyndesmiis lewisL- — Apple bird, Bitter-root Valley, Mon-
tana (V. Bailey).

102. Colaptcs auratus. — It never seems impossible to find a few
more local names for the flicker. Frank L. Burns has recently (see
bibliography) brought up to date the list of flicker names, which
reaches a total of 132. It is worth noting, however, that neither
this nor his previous list contain the variants "heigh-lo" and
"wick-up," which are quoted in standard works. Burns records
the name "wheeler" as being used in Maryland; with the prefix
"yallow," this name is used on Wallops Id., Va., where we hear
also "yallow whicker." Charles Hallock cites the name "Whit-
taker" frorrv eastern Carolina (Forest and Stream, 51, No. 27, Dec.
31, 1898, p. 525).

MiCROPODIDAE.

103. Chaetiira pekigica. — Chimney sweeper, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

Tyranniqae.

104. Muscivora forficata. — Bird of paradise, Texas (A. D. Le-
compte (Amer. Field, Vol. 27, No. 9, Feb. 26, 1887, p. 200).

104a. Tyrannus tyrannus. — Betty martin. Wallops Id., Va.; dish-
washer, Texas (E. D. Lecompte, Amer. Field, Vol. 27, No. 9, Feb.
26, 1887, p. 200).

105. Sayornis jyhoehe. — Tick bird, Dothan, Ala. (A. H. Howell);
bridge, moss, preacher, or spider bird, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

CORVIDAE.

106. Cyanocitta cristata. — Silken jay, Newfoundland (Harvey).

107. Perisoreus oiscurus. — This species apparently receives the
same cognomens by which canadensis is variously knovm. I
heard camp-bird, camp-robber, elk-bird, and tallow-bird in western
Washington.

108. Perisoreus canadensis. — Meat-bird, Alaska.

108a. CorrusbrachyrhyncJios. — Two cognomens heard by Fran-
cis Harper at Patchogue, Long Island, namely Coram duck and
Bald Hill parrot, embody the names of nearby villages, which the
residents of Patchogue delight to couple* in sarcastic vein with that
of the despised crow.

109. Cyanocephahis cyanocepJialus. — Blue crow (Coues, E., Chi-
cago Feld, 7, No. 22, July 14, 1877, p. 359).

Stuknidae.
109a. Sturnns vulgaris. — E. R. Kalmbach gives me the follow-
ing names used in New Jersey: Church-martin, Monmouth Co., a
very appropriate name, alluding to the bird's fondness for belfries
and also to its martin-like appearance in flight; Knelies, Medford,

Some Local Names of Birds 83

and star, Niitley. Of its two names the former is onometopoeic,
the latter a European importation.

ICTERIDAE.

110. DolicTionyx oryzivorus. — Skunk blackbird, meadow-wink,
Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

111. Molothrits ater. — Lazy-bird, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

112. Icterus galbula. — English robin, .Bernardston, Mass. (Ber-
gen); fire-bird, golden robin, golden oriole, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

•113. Stitrnella magna. — Meadow starling, marsh quail, Hickman,
Ky. (Pindar).

114. Quiscalus quiscula. — Green-head blackbird, Hickman, Ky.
(Pindar).

Fringillidae.

115. Loxia leiicoptera.- — Spruce bird, Newfoundland (Harvey).

116. Astra galinus tristis. — Tweet, seedeater, Hickman, Ky (Pin-
dar).

117. Zonotrichia lecophrys. — Stripe-headed sparrow, Hickman,
Ky. (Pindar).

118. Spizella monticola. — Winter chip-bird, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

119. Spizella passerlna. — Nixie (the young), New England (Ber-
gen); chipsney, twit-sparrow, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

120. Spizella pusilla. — Bush-bird, bush-sparrow, Hickman, Ky.
(Pindar).

121. Junco hyemalis. — Rain-bird, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

122. Passerella iliaca. — ^Hedge sparrow, Newfoundland (Harvey) ;
big sparrow, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

123. Pipilo erythrophtJialmns. — Owhee, chowee, chewing (Forest
and Stream, 13, No. 20, Dec. 18, 1879, p. 907); ground or marsh
robin, bullfinch, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

124. Pipilo fnaculatus oregonus. — Robin, Oyster Bay, Wash.;
blackbird, Willapa Harbor, Wash.

125. Guiraca caerulea. — Wheat-bird, Hickman, Ky. (Pinlar).

126. Passerina cyanea. — Summer bluebird, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

127. Passerina ciris. — English robin, Gloucester, N. C.

TaNAGRIDx\E.

128. Piranga erythromelas. — Fire bird, pocket-bird, black-winged
redbird, redbird, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

129. Piranga ruira. — Rose tanager, beebird, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

HlRUNDINIDAE.

130. Swallows in general. — Rain-birds, Va., Ky., and La.

84 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

131. Progne subis. — Big, black, house, or large martin, Hickman,
Ky. (Pindar).

132. Hirundo erytlirogastra. — Forked-tailed swallow, Hickman,
Ky. (Pindar).

133. Riparia riparia. — Sand swallow or martin, bee-martin, Hick-
man, Ky. (Pindar).

BOMBYCILLIDAE.

134. Bombycilla cedrorum. — Rice-bird, paroquet, Hickman, Ky.
(Pindar); canker-bird, from its habit of feeding on canker worms,
Taunton, Mass. (Baylies, Forest and Stream, 10, No. 17, May 30,
1878, p. 319).

Laniidae.

135. Lanius ludovicianus. — French mocking bird. Southern States
(Forest and Stream, 8, No. 4, March 1, 1877, pp. 49-50); moquer
sauvage, Indian mockingbird, Marksville, La.

Mniotiltdae.

136. Warblers in general. — Blossom birds, Missouri (43rd Ann.
Rep. State Hort. Soc, 1901, p. 332).

137. Mniotilta varia. — Tree creeper, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

138. Dendroica aestiva. — Yellov/ hammer, Newfoundland (Har-
vey).

139. Dendroica coronnta. — Seed-bird, Revels Id., Va.

140. Geothlypis triclias. — Bush-bird, black-faced yellowbird, Hick-
man, Ky. (Pindar).

141. SetopJiaga ruticilla. — Goldfinch, Newfoundland (Harvey).

MiNIDAE.

142. Toxostoma rufum. — French mockingbird. Grant Co., Ind.;
Hickman, Ky. (Pindar); rusty-mock. Wallops Id., Va.

143. Toxostoma curvirostre palmeri. — Pretty-quick, Wickenburg,
Ariz. (E. A. Goldman).

Troglodytidae.

144. Nannus hiemalis. — Wood wren, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

Cebthiidae.

145. Certhia familiaris americana. — Winter creeper, Hickman,
Ky. (Pindar).

SlTTIDAE.

146. Sitta carolinensis. — Devil downhead, Ossining, N. Y. (A. K.
Fisher); creeper, tree-creeper, sapsucker, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

Paridae.

147. BaeolopJius bicolor. — Tom-tit, Ossining, N. Y. (A. K.
Fisher); Hickman, Ky. (Pindar); also tip-top at latter locality.

148. Penthestes carolinensis. — Black-capped titmouse, cricka-
dock, crickadoo, tom-tit, Hickman, Ky. (Pindar).

Some Local Names of Birds 85

Sylviidae.

149. Regulus spp. — Wood wren, yellow-bird, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar). ^

150. Regulus satrapa. — Kingbird, Matlnlcus Id., Me.,

151. Polioptila caerulea. — Moss-bird, Heckman, Ky. (Pindar).

TURDIDAE.

152. Hylocichla mustelina. — Song-thrush, Hickman, Ky. (Pin-
dar).

153. Planesticus migratorius propinquus. — Summer robin, west-
ern Washington and Oregon.

154. Ixoreus naevius. — Winter robin, Alaska robin, western
Washington and Oregon.

PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LOCAL BIRD NOMENCLATURE

Besides the standard works on American ornithology, as
those of Audubon, Wilson, Bendire, and Coues, a number of
the well-known local lists pay marked attention to local names.
Among these are the lists for Michigan (Barrows, Cook),
Indiana (Butler), Bahama Islands (Cory), New York
(Eaton), Ohio (Dawson, Jones), Washington (Dawson and
Bowles), Long Island (Giraud), Cuba (Gundlach), Minnesota
(Hatch), Maine (Knight), Chester County, S. C. (Loomis),
Alaska (Nelson), Illinois (Ridgway), New Jersey (Stone),
Essex County, Mass. (Townsend), Labrador (Townsend and
Allen), Fresno County, Calif. (Tyler), Porto Rico (Wet-
more), and Missouri (Widmann).

When any of these are referred to in previous pages it is
by the author's name. In addition to the above, the following,
either putting especial emphasis on local names or entirely de-
voted to the subject, should be mentioned:

Anon.

Various kinds of beach birds.

Forest and Stream, 7, No. 10, Oct. 12, 1876, p. 149.

Long Island names; birds described but no scientific names given

Anon.

(Common names of MacrorJiamphus gi-iseus.)
Forest and Stream, 12, No. 21, June 26, 1879, p. 409.

Anon.

Uniform nomenclature.

86 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Forest and Stream, 14, No. 4, Feb. 26, 1880, pp. 65-66.

Proposals of Michigan Sportsmen's Association for names of
various game birds and mammals. Several synonyms cited in
some cases.
Anon.

In the ducking blind.

Country Life in America, 5, No. 3, Jan. 1904, pp. 221-227, and
253-255.

Local names of a few species.
B.

Shore bird nomenclature.

Forest and Stream 28, No. 5, Feb. 24, 1887, p. 84.

Nantucket names for 6 species.
Bergen, Fanny D.

Animal and Plant Lore, collected from the oral tradition of Eng-
lish speaking folk. 1899.

Folk names of animals. Chapter V, pp. 61-64, include a few bird
names.
Brimley, H. H.

Local names of waterfowl.

Forest and Stream, 77, No. 12, Sept. 16, 1911, p. 453.

For 8 species of North Carolina birds.
(Browne, F. C.)

List of gunners' names for birds and wildfowl obtained in Ply-
mouth Bay, Mass.

Forest and Stream, 7, No. 14, Nov. 9, 1876, p. 212; Corrections
No. 16, Nov. 23, 1876, p. 245.

Names of about 40 species.
Burns, F. L.

A monograph of the flicker {Colaptes auraUts).

Wilson Bui. No. 31 (N. S. Vol. 7, No. 2), April, 1909.

Vernacular names, pp. 4-12.

A monograph of the broad-winged hawk (Biitco platypterus).

Wilson Bull. 23, Nos. 3-4, Sept.-Dec. 1911, pp. 143-320.

Vernacular names, pp. 169-170.

One hundred and thirty-two vernacular names for the flicker.

Wilson Bull. 28, No. 2, June, 1916, pp. 90-91.

Nine names additional to his former list.
Cahoon, J. C.

Shore bird nomenclature.

Forest and Stream, 27, No. 18, Nov. 25, 1886, p. 343.

Discusses Murdoch's article of same title and adds some names
from Cape Cod.

Some Local Names of Birds 87

Collins, J. W.

Notes on the habits and methods of capture of various species of
sea birds that occur on the fishing banks off the eastern coast
of North America, and which are used as bait for catching
codfish by New England fishermen.

Rept« U. S. Fish. Commissioner — 1882 (1884), pp. 311-335.
Colbum, W. W.

Names of a woodpecker.

Forest and Stream, 28, No. 12, April 14, 1887, p. 248.

Thirty-seven names for the flicker.
Cooke, W. W.

Bird nomenclature of the Chippewa Indians.

Auk, 1, No. 3, July, 1884, pp. 242-250.

Names of 78 species.
Elliot, D. G.

North American Shore Birds, 1895.

The Wildfowl of North America, 1898.
Fisher, A. K.

A partial list of Moki Animal names.

Am. Anthropologist, 9, No. 5, May, 1896, p. 174.

For 4 birds and 13 mammals.
Hallock, Chas.

Bay Snipe shooting, 1. — Nomenclature.

Forest and Stream, 15, No. 1, August 5, 1880, p. 4.

The Pappabotte.

Forest and Stream, 15. In 9 parts, from Nov. 11, 1880, to Jan.

The sportsman's gazateer and general guide.

Fifth Ed., 1880, 103-237.

Our waterfowl.

Forest and Stream, 15. In 9 parts, from No. 11, 1880, to Jan.
13, 1881.
Hapgood, Warren.

Range and Rotary movements of Limicolae.

Forest and Stream, 17, No. 12, Oct. 20, 1881, pp. 225-228.

Numerous local names.
Harvey, M.

The birds of Newfoundland.

Forest and Stream, 3, in 3 parts, from No. 4, Sept. 3, 1874, to
No. 22, Jan. 7, 1875.

Common names of a few species, some novel.
Hoffman, W. J.

Bird names of the Selish, Pah-Uta and Shoshoni Indians.

Auk, 2, No. 1, Jan. 1885, pp. 7-10.

Forty-nine species considered.
Holberton, W.

88 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Local names of bay-birds.

Forest and Stream, 7, No. 5, Sept. 7, 1876, p. 68.

New Jersey Coast names for 15 species.
Ingersoll, Ernest.

The domestic life of the brown thrasher.

Forest and Stream, 8, No. 10, April 12, 1877, p. 145.

Five common names.

A vernacular synonymy.

Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, 6, No. 3, July, 1881, pp. 183-185.

Twenty-five names for the flicker.

Birds'-nesting; a handbook of instruction in gathering and pro-
serving the nests and eggs of birds for the purposes of study.

Salem, 1882.

Same list as above cited, pp. 68-71.

The common names of American birds.

Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, 8, No. 2, April, 1883, pp. 72-78.

Names for numerous species in the groups from thrushes to
titlarks inclusive.
McAfee, AV. L.

Local names of waterfowl and other birds.

Forest and Stream, 77, No. 5, July 29, 1911, pp. 172-174, and
196-197.
Mearns, E. A.

Ornithological vocabulary of the Moki Indians.

Am. Anthropologist, 9, No. 12, Dec. 1896, pp. 391-403.
Morris, Robert T.

Local nomenclature.

Forest and Stream, 7, No. 18, Dec. 7, 1876, p. 276.

Connecticut shore names for some 20 species.
Murdoch, John.
Shore bird nomenclature

Forest and Stream, 27, No. 15, Nov. 4, 1886, p. 287; also No. 20,
Dec. 9, 1886, p. 382.

Names for 6 species.
Nehrling, H.

Our native birds of Song and Beauty. I, 1893, II, 1896.

Includes German names which in most cases are merely trans-
lations of one or more of the English names.
Newcomb, R. L. (X. Y. Z.).

Shore bird nomenclature.

Forest and Stream, 27, No. 17, Nov. 18, 1886, p. 325.

Discusses Murdoch's contribution and gives some additional
names.
Roads, Katie M.

Why birds are so named.

Some Local Names of Birds

89

Wilson Bull., 24, No. 1, March, 1912, pp. 27-33 and No. 3, Sept.
1912, pp. 130-142.

Explanations of standard English (book) names.
Scolopax (Gibbs, Morris).

The American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.).

0. & O., 14, No. 8, Aug. 1889, pp. 120-121.
Smith, Everett.

The birds of Maine, with annotations of their comparative abun-
dance, dates of migration, breeding habits, etc.

Forest and Stream, in various numbers from Vol. 19, No. 22, Dec.
28, 1882, p. 425, to Vol. 20, No. 12, April 19, 1883, p. 224.

Various local names and notes thereon.
Stearns, Winfrid A.

Bird Life in Labrador.

American Field 33 and 34, in 25 parts, from April 26 to October
11, 1890.
Todd, J. E.

A many-named bird.

Amer. Nat. 17, No. 4, April, 1883, pp. 431-432.
Townsend, C. W.

Captain Cartwright and his Labrador journal, 1911, pp. xxxiii.
385.

Explains Labrador vernacular names, most of which were in use
in the 18th century.
Trumbull, Gurdon.

Names and Portraits of Birds which interest gunners.

New York, 1888, pp. viii, plus 221.

A model catalog of vernacular names.
" Wanderer."

(A few hints to sportsmen.)

Forest and Stream, 1, No. 26, Feb. 5, 1875, p. 411.

Notes on common names of birds.

INDEX.

Alaska robin, 154.
Apple bird, 101.

Bald brant, 44.
Bald Hill parrot, 108a.
Barrel-maker, 49.
Bastard yellow-legs, 65.
Bay coot, 41.
Bay gull, 13.
Beach-bird, 75, 76.
Bec-a-lance, 28.
Beebird, 129.
Bee martin, 133.

Belcher, Water, 49.

Bernaise, 47.

Betty martin, 104a.

Big martin, 131.

Big sapsucker, 98.

Big sparrow, 122.

Big striker, 19, 20, 21.

Bird, Apple, 101.

Bird, Beach, 75, 76.

Bird, Bee, 129.

Bird,. Black, 124.

Bird, Black-faced yellow, 140.

Bird, Bridge, 105.

90

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Bird

Bush, 120, 140.

Black skimmer, 24.

Bird

Camp, 107.

Black striker, 23.

Bird

Canker, 134.

Black-winged redbird, 128.

Bird

Chaparral, 95.

Blossom birds, 136.

Bird

Elk, 107.

Bluebill, Cottontail, 35.

Bird

Fire, 112, 128.

Bluebird, Summer, 126.

Bird

Fog, 9.

Blue crane, 50.

Bird

Herring, 60, 61.

Blue crow, 109.

Bird

Ice, 11

Blue hawk, 88.

Bird

Jerk, ,72.

Bobtail, 2.

Bird

King, 40, 150.

Bog-bull, 49.

Bird

King-crab, 78.

Bog-bumper, 49.

Bird

Lazy, 111.

Bog-hen, 49.

Bird

Lizard, 95.

Bog-trotter, 49.

Bird

Marlin-spike, 12a.

Bogue Sound, lawyer, 29.

Bird

Meat, 108.

Booby, Sleeping, 43.

Bird

Medicine, 95.

Bos'n, 26.

Bird

Moss, 105, 151.

Boys, Up-the-country, 89.

Bird

Mourning, 76.

Brant, 46, 47.

Bird

of Paradise, 104.

Brant, Bald, 44.

Bird

Oil, 25a.

Bridge bird, 105.

Bird

Perk, 72.

Bull, Bog, 49.

Bird

Phantom, 96.

Bullfinch, 123.

Bird

Pocket, 128.

Bull peep, 69.

Bird

Preacher, 105.

Bumble-bee, 67.

Bird

Rain, 121.

Bumble-bee peep, 67.

Bird

Rice, 134.

Bur-oak grouse, 82.

Bird

Sand, 72.

Bush-bird, 120, 140.

Bird

Seed, 139.

Bush sparrow, 120.

Bird

Shell, 30.

Butor, 54.

Bird

Spider, 105.

Butter-bump, 49.

Bird

Spirit, 96.

Buzzard, South Carolina, 84.

Bird

Spruce, 115.

Buzzard, Water, 29.

Bird

Steel-yard, 72.

Bird

Summer Blue, 126.

California hen, 95.

Bird

Tallow 107.

California peacock, 95.

Bird

Tick, 105.

Camp-bird, 107.

Bird

War, 95.

Camp-robber, 107.

Bird

Whale, 61.

Canker-bird, 134.

Bird

Wheat, 125.

Canvasback, 39.

Bird

Winter chip, 118.

Cara-crow, 83.

Bird

Yellow, 149.

Caulker, 49.

Birds, Blossom, 136.

Chachalaca, 95.

Birds, Little, 67.

Chaparral, 95.

Birds, Rain, 130.

Chaparral bird, cock or fowl, 95

Birds, Winter, 68.

Chewing, 123.

Blackbird. 124.

Chicaric, 78.

Blackbird, Greenhead, 114.

Chicken-bill, 59.

Blackbird, Skimk, 110.

Chicken duck, 59.,

Black-capped titmouse, 148.

Chicken, Mother Carey's, 59.

Black duck, 32.

Chickens, Sea, 72.

Black duck, nigger, 33.

Chimney sweeper, 103.

Black-faced yellow bird, 140.

China geese. 47.

Black-jack, 33.

Chip-bird. Winter, 118.

Blac

k marten, 131.

Chipsney, 119.

Some Local Names of Birds

91

Chow-chow, 96.
Chowee, 123.
Churca, chiirea, 95.
Church martin, 109a.
Citron, 49a.
Clayton, 69.
Cock, Chaparral, 95.
Cock, Prairie, 95.
Codfish gull, 17.
Coot, Bay, 41.
Coot, River, 42.
Coot, Sea, 39.
Coram duck, 108a.
Corker, 49.
Corporal, 95.
Correcamino, 95.
Correo del camino, 95.
Correo del paisano, 95.
Cottontail, bluebill, 35.
Cow-cow, 53.
Crane, Blue, 50.
Crane, Fish, 50.
Crane, Gopher, 50.
Crane, White, 51, 55.
Cranky, 50.
Creeper, Winter, 145.
Creeper, Tree, 137, 146.
Creepr, Winter, 145.
Chickadock, 148.
Crlckadock, 148.
Crow, Blue, 109.
Crow, Cara, 83.
Crow, Sea, 79.
Cuckoo, Ground, 95.
Culotte, 3.
Curlew, Marlin, 70.
Curlew, Turkey, 73.
Cutwater, 24.

Daniel Gull, 14.
Devil downhead, 146.
Devil, Red-eyed, 2.
Dipper duck, 37.
Dish-washer, 104a.
Diver, 31.
Diver, Silver, 1.
Dotterel, 74.
Double rail, 56.
Dowits, 64.
Drake, 39.
Drake, Mongrel, 40.
Drum, Mire, 49.
Duck, 39.

Duck, Chicken, 59.
Duck, Coram, 108a.

Duck, Dipper, 37.
Duck, Fiddler, 36.
Duck, Ice, 41.
Duck, Jew, , 7.
Duck, Mammy, 38.
Duck, Pie, 36.
Dunk-a-doo, 49.

El caporal, 95.
Elk bird, 107.
English robin, 112, 127.

Farmer gull, 14.

Fiddler duck, 36.

Field owl, 94.

Finch, Gold, 141.

Fire-bird, 112, 128.

Fish Crane, 50.

Flamingo, 48.

Flood gull, 24.

Flying fox, 49.

Fog-bird, 9.

Forked-tailed hawk, 85.

Forked-tailed swallow, 132.

Fowl, Chaparral, 95.

Fox. Flying, 49.

French mockingbird, 135, 142.

Frost, snipe, 65.

Gannet striker, 20.

Gannet, Winter, 27.

Garde-soleil, 49.

Geese, China, 47.

Geese, Jersey. 60, 61.

Golden oriole, 112.

Golden robin. 112.

Goldfinch, 141.

Goose, Nigger, 29.

Goose, Yellow-legged, 45.

Gopher crane, 50.

Gourd head, 55.

Grand-jo, 50.

Grayback loon, 5.

Graybacks, 72.

Gray gull, 15.

Great black woodpecker, 100.

Green-head blackbird, 114.

Grepe, 90.

Ground cuckoo, 95.

Ground robin, 123.

Grouse, Bur-oak, 82.

Guinea or Guinea hen, Water, 59

Gull, Bay, 13.

Gull-chasers, 12a.

Gull, Codfish, 17.

92

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Gull, Daniel. 14

Gull, Farmer, 14.

Gull, Flood, 24.

Gull, Gray, 15.

Gull, Mackerel, 18, 21.

Gull, Medric, 21.

Gull, Petney, 21.

Gull, Pigeon, 23.

Gull, Saddle-backed, 14.

Gull, Square-tail, 13, 17.

Gull, Squeezy, 16.

Gull, White, 15.

Gull, Winter, 13, 14, 15.

Hag, 25b.
Hagdon, 25b.
Hagdon, Black, 25c.
Haglet, 25c.
Hammer, Yellow, 138.
Hang-nest, 112.
Hawk, Blue, 88.
Hawk, Forked-tailed, 85 .
Hawk, Meadow, 86.
Hawk, Mouse, 93.
Hawk, White, 91.
Hay plover, 65a.
Hedge sparrow, 122.
Heigh-ho, 102.
Hen, Bog, 49.
Hen, California, 95.
Hen, Indian, 49, 100.
Hen,' Night. 49.
Hen, Sea, >12.
Hen, Wear, 2.
Herring bird, 60, 61.
Hoitalot. 95.
Honkers, Little, 49.
House martin, 131.
Huac, 54.

Ice-bird, 11.
Ice duck, 41.
Indian hen, 49, 100.
Indian mockingbird, 135.
Indian pullet, 49.

Jack, 30.
Jay-eye-see, 38.
Jay, Silken, 106.
Jay, Sleepy, 43.
Jerk-bird, 72.
Jersey geese, 60, 61.
Jew duck, 7.
Jim. 50.
Jo, 50.

Jo, Grand, 50.
Jo, Poor, 52.

King-bird, 40, 150.
King-crab bird, 78.
Knock-molly, 38.
Kreelies, 109a.

Large martin, 131.
Lawyer, Bogue Sound, 29.
Lazy-bird, 111.
Little birds, 67.
Little gray owl, 94.
Little honkers, 47.
Little sapsucker, 99.
Little striker, 22.
Lizard bird, 95.
Long-tailed pheasant, 95.
Loo, 4.
Look-up, 49.
Loon, Grayback, 5.
Loon, Peggin'-awl, 6.
Loon, Pond, 4.
Loon, Quaker, 6.
Loon, Sheep, 4.
Loon, Sheldrake, 2.
Loon, Silver, 1.

Mackerel gulls, 18.
Maggot-eater, 72, 78.
Mammy duck, 38. ,
Mammy, Old, 38.
Marbleheader, 25a.
Marlin curlew, 70.
Marlin-spike bird, 12a.
Marsh quail, 113.
Marsh robin, 123.
Martin, Bee, 133.
Martin, Betty, 104a.
Martin, Big, 131.
Martin, Black, 131.
Martin, Church, 109a.
Martin, House, 131.
Martin, Large, 131.
Martin, Sand, 133.
Martin, pecheur, 97.
Meadow hawk, 86.
Meadow starling, 113.
Meadow-wink, 110.
Meat bird, 108.
Medicine bird, 95.
Medric or medric gull, 21.
Mexican peafowl, 95.
Mire-drum, 49.
Mock, Rusty, 142.

Some Local Names of Birds

93

Mockingbird, French, 135, 142.

Mockingbird, Indian, 135.

Molly, Knock, 38.

Mongrel drake, 40.

Moquer savage, 135.

Moss bird, 105, 151.

Mother Carey's chickens, 59.

Mottled owl, 94.

Mountain partridge, 81.

Mourning bird, 76.

Mouse hawk, 93.

Mud-suckers, 67.

Nasary, 71.

Nigger black duck, 33.

Nigger goose, 29.

Nightflit, 63.

Night-hen, 49.

Nixie, 119.

Noddy, 25a.

0-i, 38.

Oil-bird, 25a.

Old mammy, 38.

Old sailors' souls, 25.

Oriole, Golden, 112.

Outarde, 46.

Owhee, 123.

Owl, Field, 94.

Owl, Little gray, 94.

Owl, Mottled, 94.

Owl, Rat, 94.

Owl, Red, 94.

Ox-eye, 67.

Ox-eye, Winter, 68.

Paddle, Red, 33.
Paisano, 95.
Pajaro, 95.
Pale ringneck, 76.
Paradise, Bird of, 104.
Parakeet, 6.
Paroquet, 134.
Parrot, Bald Hill, 108a.
Parrot-bill, 7.
Partridge, Mountain, 81.
Peacock, California, 95.
Peafowl, Mexican, 95.
Pecheur, Martin, 97.
Peckies, 67.
Peep, Bull, 69.
Peep, Bumble-bee, 67.
Peep, Teeter, 72.
Peggin'-awl, or peggin'-awl
loon, 6.

Pegmonk, 6.

Perk-bird, 72.

Petney gull, 21.

Phantom bird, 96.

Pheasant, Long-tailed, 95.

Pie duck, 36.

Pigeon gull, 23.

Piglin, 51.

Pine knot, 11.

Pintail, 43.

Pinquin or pinquint, 2.

Pingwing,,10.

Pinyole, 13.

Plongeon, 31.

Plover, Hay, 65a.

Plum-pudden, 49.

Plunkett, 49.

Pocket bird, 128.

Poke, 49.

Polridge, 35.

Pond loon, 4.

Poor jo, 52.

Post-driver, 49.

Poule de marais, 100.

Prairie cock, 95.

Preacher bird, 105.

Pretty-quick, 143.

Privateer, 87, 92.

Pullet, Indian, 49.

Pump, Thunder, 49.

Pumper or Thunder-pumper, 49.

Quail, Marsh, 113.
Quaker loon, 6.
Quawker, 54.
Quawker, Wood-pile, 80.
Quock, 49.

Racer, 95.

Rail, Double, 57.

Rail, Single. 56.

Rain-bird, 121.

Rain birds, 130.

Rale, 58.

Rat owl, 94.

Rattle snake killer, 95.

Redbird, 128.

Redbird, Blackwinged, 128.

Red-eyed devil, 2.

Red owl, 94.

Red paddle, 33.

Rice bird, 134.

Ring-neck, 77.

Ring-neck, Pale, 76.

River coot, 42.

94

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Road-runner, 95.
Robin, 124.
Robin, Alaska, 154.
Robin, English, 112, 127.
Robin, Golden, 112.
Robin, Ground, 123.
Robin, Marsh, 123.
Robin, Summer, 153. .
Robin, Winter, 154.
Rose tanager, 129.
Runner, Road, 95.
Runner, Stone, 76.
Rusty-mock, 142.

Saddle-backed gull, 14.

Salt-water teal, 37.

Sand-bird. 72.

Sand martin, 133.

Sandpiper. Yellow-shanked, 71.

Sand swallow, 133.

Sapsucker, 146.

Sapsucker, Big, 98.

Sapsucker, Little, 99.

Scissor-bill, 24.

Scouck or scout, 53.

Scovy, 42.

Sea chickens, 72.

Sea coot, 39.

Sea crow, 79.

Sea hen, 12.

Sea bird, 139.

Seedeater, 116.

Shearwater, 24.

Sheep loon, 4.

Sheldrake loon, 2.

Shell-bird. 30.

Shite-poke, 2, 49.

Shovel-mouth, 34.

Sibitron. 49.

Sickle-bill, 62.

Silken jay, 106.

Silver diver, 1.

Silver loon, 1.

Single rail, 57.

Sinker, 2, 143.

Skimmer, Black, 24.

Skinner. 69.

Skunk blackbird, 110.

Sleeping booby, 43.

Sleepy jay. 43.

Smutty-breast, 68.

Snake-killer, 95.

Snipe, Frost, 65.

Snipe, Strand. 69.

Snipe, Surf, 69.

Snipe, Yellow, 62.
Song thrush, 152.
Souls, Old-sailors', 25.
South Carolina buzzard, 84.
Sparrow, Big, 122.
Sparrow, Bush, 120.
Sparrow, Hedge, 122.
Sparrow, Stripe-headed, 117.
Sparrow, Twit, 119.
Spider bird, 105.
Spruce bird, 115.
Square-tail gull, 13, 17.
Squeezy gull, 16.
Stake-driver, 49.
Star, 109a.

Starling. Meadow, 113.
Steel-yard bird, 72.
Stinker, 25a.
Stone runner, 76.
Strand snipe, 69.
Striker, 21.

Striker, Big, 19, 20, 21.
Striker, Black 23.
Striker, Gannet, 20.
Striker, Little, 22.
Stripe-yard bird, 72.
Stripe-headed sparrow, 126.
Summer robin, 153.
Sun-gazer, 49.
Surf snipe, 69.
Swallow, Forked-tail, 132.
Swallow, Sand, 133.
Sweeper, Chimney, 103.

Tad, 3.

Tallow bird. 107.

Tanager, Rose, 129.

Teal, Salt-water, 37.

Teeter, or teeter-peep, 72.

Thrush, Song, 152.

Thunder-pump, thunder-pumper,

49.
Tick bird, 105.
Tilter, 62.
Tip-top, 147.
Tit, Tom, 147, 148.
Titmouse, Black-capped, 148.
Tom-tit, 147, 148.
Tree creeper, 137, 146.
Trotter, Bog, 49.
Turkey curlew, 73.
Tweet, 116.
Twillicq, 71.
Twit-sparrow, 119.

More Records from the " Shores '' Collection 95

Up-the-country boys, 89.

Vison-la, 49.

War bird, 9.5.
Warloon, 4.
Water-belcher, 49.
Water buzzard, 29.
Water guinea or water guinea-
hen, 59.
Wear hen. 2.
Wea.ser. 30a.
Whale-bird, 61.
Wheatbird, 125.
Wheeler, Yellow,
Whicker, Yellow,
Whip-tail, 12b.
White crane, 51,
White gull, 15.
White hawk, 91.
White-tailed stib,
Whittaker, 102.
Wick-up, 102.
Winter birds, 68.
Winter chip-bird, 118.

102.
102.

55.

66.

Winter creeper, 145.
Winter gannet, 27.
Winter gros-bec, , 54.
Winter gull, 14, 15.
Winter ox-eye, 68.
Winter robin, 154.
Wood-knocker, 98.
Woodpecker, Great black, 100.
Wood-pile quawker, 80.
Wood wren, 144, 149.
Woozer, 30a.
Wop, ,49, 54.
Wren, Wood, 144, 149.

Yellow-bird, 149.
Yellow hammer, 138.
Yellow-legged goose, 45.
Yellow-legs, 45.
Yellow-legs, Bastard, 65.
Yellow-shanked sandpiper, 71.
Yellow snipe, 62.
Yellow wheeler, 102.
Yellow whicker, 102.

Zin-zin, 31.

MORE RECORDS FROM THE "SHORES"
COLLECTION.

BY W. F. HENNINGER.

1. Gallinngo deJicata.

Sage and Bishop give this species as " very rare in summer or
winter," while it is common in spring and fall. To their records
of this species for the summer months must now be added another
one, a ^, taken July 9, 1875, at SufReld, Connecticut, by Dr. Shores
(now No. 1356, coll. W. F. H.),

2. HeJodromas solitaritis.

To the three unusual records for this species in Connecticut,
given by Sage and Bishop, Birds of Connecticut, page 61, a fourth
one must now be added, a J', taken July 12, 1875, at Suffleld, Con-
necticut, by Dr. Shores (now No. 1355, coll. W. F. H.). Dr. Shores'
earliest record for this species is May 17, 1874, a (^ taken, and his
latest record is August 20, 1875, a (^ taken.

3. Oxyechus vociferus.

Quite a number of records must be added to those given by Sage
and Bishop in Birds of Connecticut, pages 65 and 66. Besides the
one mentioned in March, 1917, issue of Wilson Bulletin, there are

96 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

the following: May 26, 1874, a c? taken; July 12, 1875, one seen;
April 12, 1875, a flock seen, which was very wild, so that in spite
of a long and tedious chase he could not procure any; September
1, 1877, a $ shot. All at Suffield, Conn.

4. Accipiter velox.

An additional winter record is December 1, 1874, a J, taken at
Suflaeld, Conn,

5. Empidonax flaviventris.

A $ taken June 24, 1874, at Suffield, Conn. This record was in-
advertently omitted in the report as given in the March, 1917, Wil-
son Bulletin, and it is earlier than any that Sage and Bishop give
(Birds of Conn., p. 103),

6. Euphagus carolinus.

On May 11, 1874, Dr. Shores took one c? and two $$ at Suffield,
Conn. This is a late spring record for Connecticut, where this
species is not common in spring, though common in the fall.

7. Zonotrichia leiicophrys.

An additional record is May 23, 1875, a 5 taken at Suffield.

8. Melospiza georgiana.

The very few winter records given by Sage and Bishop for this
species show that it is a rare winter resident throughout the re-
gion. Dr. Shores took a specimen, a J, at Cranston, R. I., on De-
cember 3, 1874.

9. Dendroica vigorsi.

I have been requested to publish the Shores records for this
species in full, so here they are: June 5, 1874, a $ taken; May
28, 1875, a J' taken; May 3, 1877, two 5$ taken (now Nos. 1530 and
1599, coll. W. F. H.); June 26, 1879, a pair taken. These are all
from Suffield, Conn. June 22, 1880, two c?c?. one $ taken at the
Southwick Ponds, Mass.

10. Wilsonia canadensis.

I have also been asked to give the Shores records for this spe-
cies: June 5, 1874, a $ taken; June 6, 1874, a $ taken; May 23,
1875, a ^ taken (now No. 1491, coll. W. F. H.); May 27, 1876, a ^
taken; May 22, 1878, a <S taken; May 29, 1878, a c? taken; August
30, 1879, a 5 taken (now No. 1492, coll. "W. F. H.); September 1,
1879, a $ taken; September 2, 1879, a $ juvenal taken (now No. 1493,
coll. W. F. H.); September 6, 1879, two <^^ taken. All at Suffield,
Conn.

Two Recent Lists of Iowa Birds 97

A CRITICISM OF TWO RECENT LISTS OF
IOWA BIRDS.^

BY IRA N. GABRIELSON.

An interest in Iowa ornitholog'y leads me to call attention
to several questionable records concerning Iowa birds which
have appeared in two recent articles in the Wilson Bulletin.
As both of these lists deal with the same general locality in
North Central Iowa, they are treated together.

In the first and more pretentious paper, by Carrol Lane
Fenton, two additions to the Iowa State list, as compiled by
Anderson,^ and records of other rare species are found, based
on what seems to be insufficient evidence. The more im-
portant of these will be discussed in order under the separate
species involved.

It is of course unsafe to assert dogmatically that an organ-
ism endowed with such remarkable locomotive powers as a
bird possesses cannot occur at a given place at almost any
time. There is, however, a generally accepted principal among
working ornithologists that such abnormal occurrences should
only be considered authentic when the actual specimens are
secured. This is especially true where the observer is unfa-
miliar with species or when the bird is of a species difficult
to distinguish from nearly related forms. This point has
been discussed so many times that it is unnecessary to elab-
orate it further. The following records in Mr. Fenton's
paper seem open to question :
1. Colymbus holboelU. — Holboell's Grebe.

Anderson (op. cit., p. 148) says, "Appears to be very rare in
Iowa," and he does not list a single Iowa specimen. In view of
this lack of authentic records for the State, sight identifications
are not acceptable. The May 26 record is particularly questionable

^ Fenton, Carrol Lane. Preliminary List of the Birds of Floyd
County, Iowa (Wilson Bulletin, Vol. XXVIII, p. 130-138, Septem-
ber, 1916).

Tuttle, F. May. May Bird Census (Wilson Bulletin, Vol. XXVIII,
p. 203-205. December, 1916).

"Anderson, R. M. The Birds of Iowa (Proc. Davenport Academy
of Science, Vol. XI).

98 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

as this is a remarkably late date for the species outside of its
breeding range.

2. Oidemia deglandi. — White-winged Scoter.

This bird appears in Iowa only as a straggling migrant and
acceptable records of its occurrence in the State should be based
on actual specimens.

3. Branta bernicla glaucogastra. — Brant.

Anderson (op. cit., p. 189) does not list an existing specimen for
the State and only one of the "records" reported related to speci-
mens actually handled. Kumlien and Hollister' were able to find
only one authentic record for Wisconsin. There is one definite
record for Nebraska^ and two for Michigan.^ These are the only
records based on actual specimens that I am able to find in the
State lists for the surrounding region. Upon investigation, all of
the other rather numerous reports of the occurrence of the brant
have been found to refer to other species. Those most commonly
recorded as brant are the dark immatiire birds of the Snow and
Blue Geese. These are often called Brant in the Middle West and
the records in the paper under discussion probably are referable
to one of these forms. Whatever these birds may have been, the
evidence presented by Mr. Penton seems insufficient as a basis for
recording the occurrence of the Brant in Iowa.

4. Branta iiigricans. — Black Brant.

So far as I am aware, there is not a single authentic record of
the species in the Mississippi Valley. It is not mentioned (even
in the hypothetical list) in any of the State lists for that region
except in Hatch's "Birds of Minnesota" and he gives no dates or
specimens. In any case this species and B. c. glaucogastra resem-
ble each other very closely and could not be distinguished in the
field except by one intimately acquainted with both forms. This
record, if valid, would add a species to the Iowa list, but it cannot
be accepted in the absence of specimens identified by a competent
ornithologist.

5. Grus canadensis. — Little Brown Crane.

This species is a migrant through the Western United States,
and, so far as is known, appears only as a straggler in Iowa. It
closely resembles the more common Sandhill Crane in everything
but size, and hence field identifications are not sufiicient evidence
on which to base an addition to the few records for the State.

6. lonornis martinicus — Purple Gallinule.

^ Kumlien, L., and Hollister, N., The Birds of Wisconsin. Bui.
Wis Nat. Hist. Soc. 1903, p. 32.

^ Bruner, Wolcott, and Swenk. A preliminary Review of the
Birds of Nebraska, p. 30.

' Barrows, W. B. Michigan Bird Life, p. 120.

Two Recent Lists of Iowa Birds 99

According to Anderson (op. cit, p. 208) this species is a very
rare straggler in Iowa and lie does not record a single existing
specimen. Unless the bird taken by Mr. "Waller is still extant to
confirm this record it should be excluded from the list. The other
bird recorded on sight identification was probably a Florida Gal-
linule.

7. Himantopus mexicanus. — Black-necked Stilt.

This species is a rare straggler into the Northern States and
should not be included in Iowa lists on the basis of indefinite state-
ments. Anderson records two specimens for the State.

8. Tryngites siibruficoUis. — Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

A rare migrant in Iowa, of which only a few specimens have
been taken. It would be well to have the supposed specimen of
the Buff-breasted Sandpiper examined by some working ornithol-
ogist before accepting it as an additional record for the State.

9. Falco mexicanus. — Prairie Falcon.

Prof. B. H. Bailey, of Coe College, made a special trip to Floyd
County to examine the supposed specimen of the Prairie Falcon,
and writes me that he found it to be an immature Broad-winged
Hawk (BiLteo platypteriis) .

10. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni. — Richardson's Owl.

This species was placed in the hypothetical list by Anderson, as
no actual specimens had been taken in the State. On the face of
the statements in the present paper this owl would be added to the
State list. Dr. Bailey examined the specimen and found it to be a
Screech Owl (Otus asio) in the gray phase.

The second paper, by F. May Tuttle, contains identifications
that it is practically impossible to make in the field.

For example, the Northern Hairy Woodpecker is positively
identified on field observation. The stati;.-^ in Northern Iowa
of the two subspecies of this woodpecker is still unsettled.
In any event the field identification of subspecies, based on
average differences in size and coloration, should not be at-
tempted.

This last remark applies equally as well to the records of
the Yellow-bellied, Traill's, and Alder Flycatchers. The
status of the last two in Iowa is still in dispute, but all of
my Iowa specimens have been identified by H. C. Oberholser
as E. t. alnorum. However this question of subspecific range
mav be settled, the fact remains that field identifications of

100 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

these two small flycatchers are not reliable. Personally I
know of no working- ornithologist who attempts to distinguish
between Traill's and Alder Flycatchers in the field.

Similar remarks may be said to apply to the attempt of the
average observer to distinguish between Philadelphia and
Warbling Vireos in life under normal field conditions.

Another record which needs confirmation is that of the
Bohemian Waxwings on so late a date as May 22. The
birds were in all probability Cedar Waxwings.

Field Notes 101

FIELD NOTES

HISTORY OF A KILLDEER'S NEST.

The following notes from my notebook are about a killdeer's
nest, which I found in our thirty-acre corn field about one mile
northeast of the town of Wall Lake, Iowa:

June 8, 1911. — I found a killdeer's nest while cultivating corn.
The nest was merely a slight depression hollowed out in the ground
beside an old corn husk and a piece of stalk and contained two
eggs. The mother bird tried to draw me away by uttering all
sorts of cries, squatting, fluttering her wings and occasionally
spreading her tail very wide in a fan shape. A part of the time
two male killdeers were around, but they did not come close. I
moved the eggs about twelve feet while I plowed the corn row they
were in, then I moved them back again.

The nearest running water to the nest is about one-half mile
away, a small creek, while the nearest marshy places, such as kill- '
deers usually feed in, are over a mile away. Th>'; nearest blue-
grass pasture is about one-fourth mile away.

June 9th. — Found the killdeer absent from her nest at 7:40 a. m.,
and three eggs in it. The killdeer soon returned and sat on the
nest most of the forenoon.

June 11th. — The killdeer's nest contained four eggs at 6:42 a. m.
At 8:30 p. m. the nest contained only three eggs. The wind blew
very hard from the northwest all day, but I do not think the egg
blew away.

June 14th. — I found the missing egg about five rods southwest
of the nest. As the wind blew from the northwest on the 11th it
could not have blown there. The shell was pierced and empty,
with yolk stains around the opening. It appears that some small
animal carried off the egg and sucked it, although I could not de-
termine what, or why it did not return for the other eggs.

June 18th.^ — My sister and I went out to the nest after dinner.
The killdeer left the nest without making an outcry while we were
yet about five rods away and did not return until we had gone
quite a distance from the nest, when it fiew around us with out-
cries and led us further from the nest. It then flew away, but did
not return to the nest while we were in sight.

June 24th. — I saw six old killdeers all in a bunch in the hay-
field this evening, which were calling and acting as though there
were young killdeer there. (The hayHeld is located north of the
cornfield and about one-fourth mile away.)

June 25th. — I went out to the killdeer's nest this morning. The
three eggs are still there and have not hatched. The killdeer has

102 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

collected quite a quantity of small weathered pieces of cornstalks
and scattered them in and around the nest.

June 28th. — The killdeer's eggs have not hatched yet.

July 2d.- — I went out to the killdeer's nest this morning about 8
o'clock. The three eggs were just pipped; that is, the shell cracked
out, not broken through. At 3 p. m. the eggs were still in the
same condition. Both old birds were there and somewhat solic-
itous, although they did not come very near. I went out to the
nest again at 6:30 p. m. I could hear one chick peep inside the
shell several times, otherwise conditions were unchanged.

July 3d. — The killdeer's eggs were pipped through the shell and
membrane this morning. At noon they were not yet hatched and
were in the same condition at night. The old killdeers were in
the vicinity of the nest morning and evening, but not at noon.

July 4th. — The eggs were not hatched early this morning. I
could hear one chick peeping very loudly.

July 5th.— The killdeer's eggs were not hatched at 6 a. m. and
I could hear the chicks peeping. As the weather had been very
dry and very hot the past week I concluded that the eggs needed
moisture and poured the stale water from my water jug over them.
The female killdeer was a little alarmed at this. At 1 p. m. I
again visited the nest and found the eggs hatched. The young
birds were squatted flat on the ground in the nest, two of the three
not yet dry, and they were puffing from the heat. The tempera-
ture was 102° F in the shade, and they were exposed to the full
glare of the sun upon the dark earth. The old birds were both
there, but made only a slight outcry. About 2:30 p. m. a shower
of rain fell, which would have supplied the moisture had I not
done so. Some friends and I again went out to the nest at 8 p. m.,
but although the old birds circled about, the young killdeers were
gone.

July 9th. — I saw the two old killdeers and two chicks in the
bluegrass pasture about one-fourth mile from where they were
hatched. I followed one chick slowly for abovit five rods, when I
was able to capture it. It called repeatedly just before I caught
it and was apparently tired out. After replacing it on the ground
I could not persuade it to move, so I left it.

My father saw the chicks in the same locality about two days
later, so I hope they survived.

According to these notes the incubation period would be either
twenty-one or twenty-two days, depending on when the incubation
commenced, had the eggs hatched the day they were pipped. As
conditions were, the period of incubation was either twenty-four
or twenty-five days, which shows how hardy the killdeer chicks
were.

Field Notes 103

I did not put it down in my notes, but I also moved the eggs the
second time I cultivated the corn.

J. A. Spurrell.
Wall Lake, Iowa.

NOTES FROM LAKE COUNTY, OHIO.

Iceland Gull — On December 3, 1916, a White-winged Gull was fly-
ing about the piers and breakwaters at Fairport Harbor, and was
under my observation for some time. The bird was an immature
and very dark in coloration, except for the end third (primaries)
of the wings, which were pure white. The general color was as
dark as the darkest immature Herring Gull one ever sees, and'
this brought out the white tips of the wings in striking contrast.
Even when the bird flew far out over the lake, where the glass
was necessary to distinguish it at all, these pure white wing tips
were very evident. I called it Iceland rather than Glaucous be-
cause, from among the immature Herring Gulls about for compar-
ison, it did not show appreciably larger. The bird winged back
and forth and settled upon the water at times, but made no vocal
outcry whatever.

Purple Sandpiper — The bird mentioned in the December issue
of the Bulletin stayed about the stone breakwater for some time
and was last seen on November 12. On this date it showed a tame-
ness worthy of record. A friend and I walked up to within fifteen
feet of the bird and then sat down to observe it at our ease. It
watched us also for a while and then deliberately tucked its bill
under its wing and took a snooze. Nor did it withdraw its bill
when we arose and left. Later in the day I went out on the stones
again alone and was keeping an eye in the air for ducks, when I
became aware that something was trying not to get stepped on.
I looked down and there was the Sandpiper again at my feet
calmly walking away. The bird was injured in no way, for it took
long flights across to the other breakwater and was a splendid fat
specimen. Before I could get down again with a camera a severe
winter storm had occurred and I saw him no more.

E. A. DOOLITTLE.

Painesville, Ohio.

THE MAY MIGRATIONS, 1917, AT OBERLIN, OHIO.

If one needed concerte evidence that the weather does have a
profound influence upon the movements of the birds during their
periods of migration, he has it.

March was not unusual, and while the records show a somewhat
erratic migratory movement for that month — in the unusually early

104 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

arrival of some few species and an unusually late appearance for
others — there was no reason for predicting what has happened in
May. April was also nearly normal up to the last week. But be-
ginning with the last week of April and continuing until almost
the closing days of May there was almost continual cold weather,
with frosts or near-frosts, and no period of warm weather of suf-
ficient duration or of wide enough extent to permit the smaller
birds to move in safety.

How widespread this condition was over the interior of the coun-
try remains to be learned. It extended at least into central Iowa.

The most distressing thing about the period of cold was the great
destruction of Purple Martins and swallows during the first two
weeks of May, and the death by starvation of large numbers of the
other small insectivorous birds during the last two weeks. Prac-
tically all of the first wave of martins died of starvation in and
about their nesting houses, here in Oberlin, and many of the sec-
ond wave likewise starved. It may be that some few individuals
retreated southward and returned when the weather moderated,
but that was not determined. There wer<^ three distinct waves of
martins: the first during the first week of April, the second about
the first of May, and the last about May 20. Something of the
same thing happened with the swallows.

There was no migration, in the proper sense, of warblers and
other small birds until May 18, when for three days they came
in numbers, then there was a return of cold and wet weather,
which held them until the last day of May. How much longer
some will stay remains to be learned.

Lynds Jones.

TUFTED TITMOUSE AT IOWA CITY.

(Baeolophus bicolor.)

It is interesting to observe the apparent increase in numbers of
ihis species in and near Iowa City and the fact seems worthy of
mention at this time.

Anderson, in his "Birds of Iowa" (1907), indicates the Tufted
Titmouse as " a rather rare resident in southern Iowa, seldom
reaching the northern part of the state, although it has been occa-
sionally taken in the extreme southern counties of Minnesota."
The increase in the number of individuals locally, not only in town
but in the surrounding country as well, has been quite marked in
recent years and one can not go on a field without encountering
at least three or four and hearing the loud, clear whistle of perhaps
several others. They are quite tame and unsuspicious and I have
approached to within a few feet of them on many occasions. The

Field Notes 105

species seems to be a permanent resident in this (Johnson) county.
A number of persons living near the edge of town have reported
its presence at feeding stations during the past winter.

Daytox Stoneb.
State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

CITY NESTING OF NIGHTHAWK.

In the September Bulletin Mr. N. B. Townsend calls attention
to a matter that may be worth discussion.

He theorizes that the adoption of flat roofs as a nesting ground
by the nighthawk is a change that is favorable to the bird, and
this attitude interests me considerably, because I had formed the
contrary opinion from a consideration of the comparative abund-
ance of nighthawks during the last thirty years.

At the beginning of that period the nighthawk was a common
summer resident in this district, but since then it has decreased
steadily as the bird took up its abode in the city; and it has always
seemed to me that immigration was the only thing that kept up
the city population, and now that the bird is very rare in the coun-
try, with the probability of no further movement citywards, the
city residents are becoming much less numerous.

It may easily be, as Mr. Townsend says, that the nighthawk nest-
ing on a roof is safe from all predatory creatures, but what of the
young after the first flight? Repeatedly I have had young night-
hawks brought to me, both living and dead, which had been picked
up on the ground in the morning, doubtless after making their first
flight during the previous night and coming down to spend the
day on the ground in accordance with M^hat might easily be sup-
posed to be the hereditary custom. But what chance of survival is
there for a young nighthawk on a city street or vacant lot? And
it is because of the overwhelming dangers of the ground in the
city that these birds have been so seriously depleted in numbers.

Yours truly,

W. E. Sauis^ders.

London, Ontario.

SPARROW HAWK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS,
Urbana, 111.
On January 27, 1917, while taking an examination in the Stock
Pavilion I was attracted by a shower of small feathers which were
falling into the arena. I traced the stream of feathers to its source
and there, on a steel girder, near the roof, sat a sparrow hawk
steadily plucking an English sparrow.

The Stock Pavilion is a large building, with a tan-bark arena in

106 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

the center and tiers of bleacher-like seats surrounding on all sides.
It is used for the various stock-judging courses and there are large
classes held there most of the day. English sparrows can be found
at all times in the Pavilion. Several places in the arena were scat-
tered with feathers, testifying to the good work of the hawk.

One of the caretakers at the Pavilion stated that the hawk had
been staying there for about three weeks.

Walter A. Goelitz.

Ravinia, 111.

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER AT ATLANTIC, IOWA.

A few days ago a male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Centurus caro-
linns, was observed for the first time in this locality. While it
may be possible, of course, that an occasional individual of the
species visits western Iowa, careful observation of both summer
and winter birds has never revealed one before, and the occurrence
may be of interest to other readers. Since first observed, he has
appeared every day at our suet bags, affording us ample oppor-
tunity to confirm identification, as well as the pleasure of studying
his beautiful plumage.

T. H. Whitney.

Atlantic, Iowa, April 20th, 1917.

PILEATED WOODPECKER.

A number of articles have appeared within the last year or so re-
garding this rare bird, all of which relate to counties near us, Ash-
tabula in particular, but I never have seen a note giving report of
an instance of its having been seen in Geauga. I have therefore
thought it proper to speak a word for our little county.

My own satisfactory views of the birds have been only two, but
both of these unmistakable. Both occurred within the limits of
Chardon Village, and at the same edge of the same piece of wood-
land. The first, on March 15th, 1905, was of a mature male, while
the second I took to be a young bird, form, size and action being
true to the species, but the areas that would be black in the ma-
ture bird, though quite dark, were not black. Two others were
with me for this observation. It was made May 5th, 1907.

Nearly every year some member of our Bird Club reports seeing
one at some point near, and we are coming to consider them not
very uncommon.

F. E. Ford and Arthur Fowler, of this place, followed one to a
swampy piece of timber about two and a half miles from town, in
the township of Claridon, last year, where they saw indications
that a pair were getting ready for housekeeping.

Field Notes 107

Mr. B. P. Grunauer, of Cleveland, who has recently purchased a
farm in the west part of Chester, this county, informs me that he
and a friend one day last spring found one, having traced him by
his drumming, in a large piece of timber at the back of the farm.

A student from Hiram College informs me that a pair have nested
in a large dead tree near that place for several years. Hiram town-
ship is in Portage county, and joins this county on the south.

The accompanying article, relating to the same bird in another
quarter of the county and covering, as it does, a longer period, is
evidence, not only that they are likely to be found in all parts of
the county, but suggests that this occupation of our territory has
continued for very many years. Several other instances of their
having been seen in this vicinity might be given in detail, but
these are sufficient to establish the fact that Geauga county is and
has been, perhaps for ages, the home of this remarkable bird.

Orange Cook.

February 22, 1917.

In the southwest part of Geauga county there is a large un-
broken tract of timber of over one hundred acres in extent. This
forest was a part of four different farms, one of which was my
father's, and later became my own. It was on this farm that I
spent sixty years of my life, and I was pretty familiar with the wild
life that found a home in the recesses of this forest. And I may
add that much wild life yet exists there that has entirely disap-
peared from most other sections.

From my earliest recollections the Pileated Woodpecker has
made these woods his home, and he is yet to be found there every
year. We first called him the Woodcock. Later we were taught
that his proper name was Logcock, and as we began the study of
natural history we learned to call him the Pileated Woodpecker.

How we (my brother and myself) liked to follow the big fellow
about, and watch him at work, hammering vigorously and noisily
upon the limb or trunk of some decaying tree. The amount of ex-
cavating that they could do in a short time was truly astonishing.
The powerful strokes of that chisel-like bill could be heard a long
distance. Many of the pieces of wood they would throw out of the
place they were excavating would measure two or more inches in
length.

Although the Pileated Woodpecker is a rare bird, and somewhat
shy, I have never found it difficult to approach him while he was
busy at work. He always seemed to be so completely absorbed in
the business before him, that he gave but little heed to what was
going on around him.

108 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

I think the Pileated Woodpecker is the most solitary of all our
native birds. Although I have seen him frequently, all my life, 1
never saw two at the same time, though my brother once did, — but
that was undoubtedly at mating time.

He certainly is a captain at hiding his nest, for though we were
certain he nested somewhere in that large tract of woods, we were
never able to find his nest. I have more than once found holes in
trees that looked as though they might be his nesting place, but
always in a place so inaccessible that I was never able to verify
my suspicions.

The Pileated Woodpecker is said to be a vanishing bird, and
nearing final extinction. This belief I regard as only partly true.
While they are much less numerous in some sections of the country
than they formerly were, they are to be found as numerous in many
places that are to their liking, as they were in pioneer days. The
greatest enemy to this magnificent bird is the modern hunter with
the modern gun. We have laws and laws for the protection of the
wild things about us that are so vitally necessary to our own
existence; but against the ruthless and irresponsible hunter with
a modern weapon in his hands there is little protection, little hope
for those things he desires to kill.

A. R. Phillips.

Publications Reviewed

The editor feels constrained to express his regret that he has not
been able to present reviews of literature which has been accumu-
lating upon his desk for a full half year without notice in these
pages. He will not make the annual pilgrimage to the Pacific Coast
this summer, because of service which the war has called for, and
therefore time for many things will be available during the sum-
mer.

"A Year wiith the Bird." By Alice E. Ball. Illustrated by Robert
Bruce Horsfall. Prom the press of Gibbs & Van Vleck, Inc., New
York. Published by the -author, 1961 Ford Drive, Cleveland,
Ohio.

Each of the 56 species treated in this book has a full-page plate
in colors by Horsfall accompanying the description, which is in
verse. The underlying thought of the author is that young chil-
dren will be more certainly attracted by rhyme than prose, and
will be likely to retain their early impressions thus gained. The
mechanical work is exceptionally good, and the type large and
clean Of especial value are the backgrounds in the illustrations,

PURLICATIONS REVIEWED 109

which give the bird in its proper natural setting. Without these
backgrounds few persons would be able to be sure of the Phoebe
and Wood Pewee. The bill of the Field Sparrow should be redder
and the illustration of the Sandpipers does not give an accurate
picture of the differences between these two species. The book
should make a strong appeal to the child who is forming early im-
pressions of the birds. l. j.

The Bird Study Book, by T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary, National

Association of Audubon Societies. Doubleday, Page & Co. $1.25,

net.

" This book has been written for the consideration of that ever-
increasing class of Americans who are interested in acquiring a
greater familiarity with the habits and activities of wild birds."
With an audience of beginners before him the author begins with
the nest as the most available place of attack, devoting three chap-
ters to this. Chapter 4 is given to a discussion of " Migration,"
and 5 to " The Birds in Winter." Then follow six chapters which
might be grouped around the word " Economic," which includes
man's influence upon the birds and his efforts at protection of them
for whatever reasons. The last chapter is devoted to a discussion
of " Teaching Bird Study."

There is a colored frontispiece of the Wood Thrush. Sixteen
full page half-tone cuts, and 26 line cuts in the text, are well se-
lected and creditably done. Paper, binding and type are of high
grade, and the volume is handy in size and pleasing in style. It
is a book well worth the attention of everybody, whether he has
any particular interest in the birds or not, and should prove of
exceptional value to the beginner. l. j.

110 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

MINUTES

of the
Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

The eighteenth annual meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists'
Union was held at Lincoln, Nebraska, Friday and Saturday, May 4
and 5, 1917. The sessions were held at the Temple Building of the
University of Nebraska, and there were two programs given on
May 4, one in the afternoon from 4:00 to 5:45 and an evening pro-
gram from 8:00 to 10:30. The annual banquet was held at the
Lincoln Hotel at 6:15 p. m., with twenty-six members and their
guests present. After the banquet the business session was held,
with President R. H. Wolcott in the chair. The officers reported
briefly, and following the report of the Secretary-Treasurer an
Auditing Committee consisting of Mr. C. E. Mickel and Mrs. G. A.
Loveland was appointed. A Nominating Committee consisting of
Prof. L. Bruner, Mrs. L. R. Button and Dr. D. C. Hilton was also
appointed. While these committees were deliberating the society
proceeded with the election of new members.

The names of eight new members were proposed by various mem-
bers of the society and all were elected as follows: Mr, L. H.
Watson and Mesdames Katherine Follmer, May Hathaway, Emma
Hathaway, A. E. McChrystal and Olive Wallace of Lincoln, Miss
Mary Ellsworth of Omaha, and Miss Floy Canaday of Murdock.
The Auditing Committee reported finding the accounts of the
society correct, and upon motion the report of the Treasurer was
accepted. The Nominating Committee then reported and the fol-
lowing officers were elected for 1917:

President — Mr. C. E. Mickel, Lincoln.

Vice-President — Mrs. W. F. Baxter, Omaha.

Secretary-Treasurer — Prof. M. H. Swenk, Lincoln.

The following thirteen members were present at the business
meeting of the society: Mesdames L. R. Button, G. A. Loveland,
C. W. McCaskill, E. Ruth Pyrtle, R. S. Rice and A. E. Sheldon, and
Messrs. L. Bruner, R. W. Dawson, D. C. Hilton, H. B. Lowry, C. E.
Mickel, M. H. Swenk and R. H. Wolcott.

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 111

The combined program of the afternoon and evening follows:

The Birds of the Philippine Islands (illustrated with selections
from a series of over 800 skins collected during 1914-1916), Mr. J.
T. Zimmer, Port Moresby, Papua.

The Birds of Scottsbluff County, Nebraska, Mr. C. E. Mickel,
Lincoln.

The Pinyon Jay in Nebraska, Rev. J. M. Bates, Red Cloud.

New Records of Bird Songs, Mrs. L. R. Button, Fremont.

President's Address, The Migration of Birds, Dr. R. H. Wolcott,
Lincoln.

Demonstration of Bird Portrait Slides, Dr. S. R. Towne, Omaha.

The fifteenth annual field day of the Union was held in the en-
virons of Lincoln on Saturday, May 5. There were three field
parties, all starting at 7:00 a. m., one taking the train for Jamaica
and working along Salt Creek to Hanlon, under the leadership of
Prof. L. Bruner and Mr. J. T. Zimmer, one circling Capital Beach
under the leadership of Prof. M. H. Swenk, and the third, led by
Mr. C. E. Mickel, studying the birds in Wyuka Cemetery. The first
two parties worked until the middle of the afternoon and the third
party until noon. The total list of the day included ninety-six
birds, as follows:

Bluebird, Robin, Olive-backed Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Wood
Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Long-
tailed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch,
Long-billed Marsh Wren, Western House Wren, Brown Thrasher,
Catbird, Grinnell Water-Thrush, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow Warbler,
Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler,
Black and White Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Migrant Shrike, Cedar
Waxwing, Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Tree Swallow,
Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cardinal,
Towhee, Arctic Towhee, Swamp Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow, Song
Sparrow, Slate-colored Junco, Western Field Sparrow, Clay-col-
ored Sparrow^ Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-
crowned Sparrow, Gambel Sparrow, Harris Sparrow, Lark Spar-
row, Leconte Sparrow, Western Grasshopper Sparrow, Savanna
Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Goldfinch, Bronzed Grackle, Rusty Black-
bird, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark,
Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cowbird, Crow,
Blue Jay, Prairie Horned Lark, Phoebe Kingbird, Red-shafted
Flicker, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,
Belted Kingfisher, Sparrow Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson
Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Mourning Dove, Piping Plover, Semipalmated
Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Willet, Solitary Sand-
piper, Yellow-legs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Red-backed Sandpiper,

112 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 99

Least Sandpiper, Baird Sandpiper, Wilson Phalarope, Coot, Bittern,
Bluebill, Wood Duck, Shoveller, Blue-winged Teal, Widgeon, Dou-
ble-crested Cormorant, Franklin Gull, Ring-billed Gull and Eared
Grebe.

Report of Treasurer, 1916-1917.

Receipts.

Cash on hand. May 5, 1916 . ., $188.13

Annual dues collected 76.00

Sale of Checklists 4.71

$268.84

Expenditures.

Wilson Bulletin $ 60.00

Postage 2.85

Balance on hand. May 4, 1917 205.99

$268.84

Myron H. Swenk,
Secretary-Treasurer.

THE

WILSON BULLETIN

NO. 100
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

VOL. XXIX SEPT., 1917 NO. 3

OLD SERIES VOL. XXIX. NEW SERIES VOL. XXIV.

THE BIRDS OF DENVER.
An Annotated List.

BY W. H. BERGTOLD.

This list is published, not only to make available to orni-
thologists in general a part of the writer's accumulation of
data relating to Denver's birds, but also to render aid, in
a small way, to bird-loving visitors to this city, especially to
those whose visit may be of brief duration, and who wish to
make, from a bird lover's point of view, the most of such a
" stop-ofif."

It is hoped that the list will point out what birds one may
reasonably expect to see in Denver at any given time, and to
define, in a general way, the status of any one of such birds.
Parenthetically, the writer may be permitted to digress a bit,
and suggest to the visitor who may have some time left over
after a general survey of Denver's birds, that it can be profit-
ably spent in studying a few mountain species, which can be
found in Lookout Mountain Park. This region is easily
reached in a little over an hour's trolly ride from Denver,
which ride is a trip along the valley of Clear Creek, and
which will in itself disclose birds not common, or seldom,
seen in Denver.

The situation of, and the conditions about, Denver, make
it a peculiarly interesting place for the study of western liird
life ; its geographical location makes it possible to see \\ ithin
its boundaries species and subspecies usually restricted to

114 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 100

Eastern, Northern, Western or Southern Faunae, the City
of Denver being at the overlapping edges of these four char-
acteristic bird regions.

When the writer first came to Denver (1881) its corporate
limits were much smaller than at present, it had no large
parks, and its then rather infrequent trees were nearly all
native " cottonwoods," which were watered by small irri-
gating ditches running as gutters on either side of practically
everv street. The complexion of its bird life was then very
different from what it is now ; there were no English spar-
rows, fewer house finches, but more swallows (of several
species) and many ravens and turkey buzzards. The imme-
diately surrounding country had much of its native bird pop-
ulation unchanged ; the small ponds and sloughs were all
frequented by many curlews, avocets, plovers , and other
forms now relatively scarce, even in districts of the State
still uninhabited and uncultivated.

In the intervening thirty-six years vast changes have been
wrought by nuan, not only in the upbuilding of a modern
city, but even in the very topography of the area now under
consideration ; what was then virgin prairie dotted with an
occasional pond, and slightly marshy area, and with perhaps
a Cottonwood tree here and there, is now well wooded and
watered park and residential districts.

If in the summer one view Denver from the summit of
Genesee Mountain (air line distance about 18 miles), it
seems mainly to be, not a multitude of houses, and other
buildings, but a dense green forest, stretching out towards,
and gradually melting into, the prairie on the distant eastern
horizon. This appearance is due to the great abundance of
tall shade trees growing on each side of all the residence
streets, and the deception is enhanced by the many trees in
the extensive park system which adds so much to the beauty
of the city. This park system embraces some thirty-five
parks, varying in size from one to nearly five hundred acres,
some of which are more or less inter-connected by wide and
partly wooded boulevards; forty years ago the ground cov-

The Birds of Denver 115

ered by the largest of these parks, the so-called " City Park,"
was unaltered prah-ie, with no trees, and with one uncertain
watercourse. Now after years of labor and care it is well
covered bv trees of many species, has three moderate sized
lakes, and gives shelter to many bird species and bird indi-
vaduals, which years ag"o were unknown or scarce in the
same area.

Three of the smaller parks also lend themselves partic-
ularly well to fostering" bird life, to-wit, Berkeley, Cheesman,
and Washington Parks.

Because of the conditions brielly, and incompletely outlined
above, the City of Denver furnishes a striking example of
the changes in the bird population in such a locality which
can be brought about by the presence and intervention of
man ; it is highly gratifying to see and to realize, that in Den-
ver the harm to birds following in the track of civilization,
has not been of its usual severity. Here man has not dealt
altogether harshly with birdkind.

The writer's duties, for many years, have taken him daily
through one or more of the parks of Denver, and also fre-
quently to the outskirts of the city ; he is convinced that each
year shows an increasing bird popidation, both in species and
individuals, throughout most of the city, but especiallv notice-
able in \\^ashington and Cheesman Parks. However, an ex-
ception to this nmst be noted ; the writer is certain (based
on careful personal observations) that the number of bird
species and individuals has decreased in Citv Park during
the past six years, a decrease most noticeable in the number
of Bullock's orioles. This undesirable diminution is due, it
seems to the writer, to the continued extensive spread of the
English sparrow, and to the recent introduction of squirrels.
While the latter have been detected many times in the act of
eating the eggs and young of our native birds, their injur-
ious effects on our bird population are probablv far less than
those of the English sparrow, which swarms in this partic-
ular park. This sparrow finds an easy living in the pheas-
ant and other zoological enclosures, and for a few vears past,

116

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

jfter using ordinary sites for its nests, has taken to occu-
pying abandoned oriole nests ; hence the conditions in City
Park promote the English sparrow's usual prolificity, and
cause a corresponding repression of the natural increase of
the native birds, because this sparrow destroys many nests,
eggs, and young of our small birds. It is a pity that some
systematic effort cannot be made to restrict the multiplication
of the English sparrow in our parks ; a routine destruction
of its nests would be in itself a large first step in the right
direction.

It has been a real privilege to watqh, in the past years the
gradual increase of birds in Denver ; where thirty-five years
ago there were robin, warblers, vireos, and house finches by
twos and threes there are now dozens ; where years ago nut-
hatches, chickadees, and juncoes were to be found sparingly
along the Platte River as it passed through Denver, they are
now to be seen every winter in all the parks, and even at
times in the well built up sections of the city. Furthermore
there is no doubt but that our beautiful native bluebird would
be as common as robins in the city were it not for the Eng-
lish sparrow. These species furnish a few examples of the
wonderful increase of bird life in Denver, due mainly to man's
alterations in the physical and floral conditions of the region.

The following named birds have been recorded in the past
as having been observed (or taken) " in Denver " or " near
Denver " :

Eared Grebe

Ftanklin's Gull

Arctic Tern

Double-crested Cormorant

Mottled Duck

Wood Duck

Old Wife

Surf Scoter

Glossy Ibis

White-faced Glossy Ibis

Wood Ibis

Little Brown Crane

Black Rail

Stilt Sandpiper
Golden Plover
Snowy Owl
Bobolink
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Eastern Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Oregon Junco
Indigo Bunting
Palm Warbler
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

The Birds of Denver 117

While many of the above named birds unquestionably may
have been seen or taken within the present liniits of Denver,
nevertheless it has been so often impossible to determine,
from the published record, exactly where the species was
seen or taken, that it has been deemed wisest to restrict the
following- annotated list to the species seen by the present
writer within such limits, which may be outlined approxi-
mately as follows : on the north by West 48th and West 52d
Avenues, on the west by Sheridan Boulevard, on the south b}'
Yale Avenue and on the east by Yosemite Street; these lim-
its enclose an area of a Httle more than fifty-eig-ht square
miles.

The list comprises all the species seen by the writer in
Denver during the past twenty-three years, and he alone
(exceptions noted) is responsible for the correctness of such
records.^

No attempt has been made to include such other birds as
are known to occur in the immediately contiguous areas of
Riverside, and Fairmont cemeteries, nor in the adjoining
towns of Aurora, Englewood, and Edgewater.

The writer is confident that a much larger number, than
this list shows, of bird species visit Denver from year to
year ; in order to make such a list complete, however, one
w^ould have to make regular daily observations, a system-
atic study obviously impossible to one whose vocation com-
mands most of his time for other purposes.

A visitor to Denver should not be disappointed if many
of the species herein listed are not seen during a brief so-
journ in the city, as many of the birds of the list are of
irregular occurrence ; nor should a visitor feel that it is use-
less to look for birds in the district under consideration dur-
ing the season when nature is asleep. No month in the year
in Denver is without its birds, and a street car will take one
quickly to one of the larger parks, where in any season some

' For the sake of relative completeness twenty-nine other species
recorded by Cooke in his list of Colorado Birds, as having been seen
or taken in Denver, are herein included, and so indicated.

lis The Wilson Bulletin— No. 100

phase of our native bird life is certain to be seen. Further-
more, the writer urges the bird lover who is not very familiar
with western birds, to visit the Colorado Museum of Natural
History (in City Park) where are to be found comprehen-
sive and graphic illustrations of a large number of Colo-
rado birds, in the mounted specimens and groups displayed
in the Museum rooms.

In trying to give some idea as to the relative abundance of
the different species, the writer has done so in comparative
terms only. In such matters the chances of experience and
the personal equation cannot fail to enter, hence the terms
used to qualify a bird's abundance are largely relative, and
must be taken as such, and as such only.

1. Stercnrariiis parasiticus — Parasitic Jaeger. Cooke; by Smith,
1889.

2. Lams argentatus — Herring Gull. Cooke; by Smith, 1883.

3. Lams atricilla — Laughing Gull. Cooke; by Smith, 1889.

4. Larus philadelpliia — Bonaparte's Gull. Cooke.

5. Xema sahini — Sabine's Gull. Cooke.

6. Phalacrocorax vigua mexicamis — Mexican Cormorant. Cooke;
by Felger.

7. Pelecaniis erythrorhynclios — White Pelican. A flock of more
than forty seen flying over Montclair June 14, 1913.

8. Anas platyrliynchos — Mallard. Common during migration in
all the park lakes, and in wet places of the outskirts; also along
the Platte. Probably breeds with the domesticated species in City
Park. Arrives in the late winter months, as soon as there is
open water, i.e. February.

9. CJiaulelasmus streperiis — Gadwall. Not infrequent in Wash-
ington and City Parks during migration. Arrives a little after the
mallard.

10. Mareca americana — Baldpate. Noted in City Park, Wash-
ington Park, and University Park, as a migrant. Arrives about
the middle of March, and reappears the last week in October.

11. Nettion carolinense — Green-wing Teal. Seen in Washington
Park, October 17, 1896.

12. Querquedula discors — Blue-wing Teal. Noted in City Park,
February 4, 1916, and April 24, 1917.

13. Spatula clypeata — Shoveller. Fairly common in the various
park lakes and flood-water areas in the outskirts during migration;
seen from March 18 to June 16, and as early as September 26. Be-
comes very tame in City Park lakes, if undisturbed.

The Birds of Denver 1 19

14. DaiiJa acuta — Pintail Duck. Noted in City Park, March 31,
1913.

15. Marila americana — Redliead. Frequent in City Park during
migration; has been seen there in two different years, all summer,
and would doubtless breed if undisturbed. Becomes very tame.

16. Marila valisineria — Canvas-back Duck. A flock of fourteen
seen in City Park, March 17, 1917.

17. Marila affinis — Lesser Scaup Duck or Bluebill. Seen in City
Park, March 17 and April 24, and in Washington Park, April 25,
1917.

18. Clangula islandica — Barrow's Golden-eye. One noted in City
Park, November 15, 1898.

19. Oidemia deglandi — White-winged Scoter. Cooke; by Smith,
1890.

20. Branta canadensis canadensis — Canada Goose. One shot in
Washington Park, October, 1895, and a large flock of geese, prob-
ably of this species, seen flying over City Park, February 21, 1914.

21. Ixodrychns exilis — Least Bittern. Cooke; by Borchert, 1898.

22. Ardea Jierodias herodias — Great Blue Heron. One seen June
16, 1914, in a flood-water pond in Montclair.

23. Egretta candidissima candidissimu — Snowy Heron. Cooke;
by Felger.

24. Nycticorax nycticorax ncevius — Black-crown Night Heron.
Has been seen at various dates from March to July, in City Park,
Montclair, and flying over Cheesman Park.

25. Porzana caroliiia — Sora Rail. One found wounded in City
Park, September 14, 1911, by Dr. Leonard Freeman.

26. Fulica americana — Coot. Not infrequent in City Park, and
observed once flying over Cheesman Park.

27. Steganopus tricolor — Wilson's Phalarope. Seen in Montclair,
June 16, 1914.

28. Philohela minor — Woodcock. One seen in University Park,
June 8, 1895.

29. Gallinago delicata — Jack Snipe, Wilson's Snipe. Detected
in University Park, June 4, 1895, and June 5, 1896.

30. Macrorlianiplnis griseus scolopaceus — Long-billed Dowitcher.
Cooke; by Henshaw, 1873.

31. Calidris leucopha'a — Sanderling. Cooke; by Smith, 1888.

32. Tetanus melanoleucus — Greater Yellow-legs. Two seen in
Washington Park, April 19, 1917.

33. Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus — Western Solitary Sand-
piper. Seen in University Park, September 2, 1896, and in City
Park, August 22 and 23, 1913.

34. Bartramia longicauda — Upland Plover. Two noted in City
Park, April 18, 1912.

120 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

35. Act it is macular id — Spotted Sandpiper. Occasionally seen in
City Park and Washington Park, during June and September.

36. Numenius americanus — Long-billed Curlew. Seen once in
Washington Park, July 3, 1896.

37. Sqiiatarola sqiiatarola — Black-bellied Plover. Cooke.

38. Oxyechus vocifcrus — Killdeer. Not uncommon in the out-
skirts, and frequently seen in City and Washington Parks. Arrives
in March and leaves in December; breeds in the outskirts. Seen
also in Cheesman Park, December 5, 1913, and April 24, 1917.

39. Podasocys montanus — Mountain Plover. Taken once, in
University Park, July 3, 1896.

40. Arenaria interpres interpres— Turnstone. Cooke; by Smith,
1890.

41. Phasia)ius torqiiatus — Ring-neck Pheasant. Introduced. Be-
coming common; resident throughout the year and breeds in all
the large parks.

42. Zenaidura macroura marginella — Western Mourning Dove.
Frequent in all the larger parks, and in the outskirts. Arrives in
March and leaves in October. Breeds occasionally in Cheesman
and City Parks.

43. Cathartes aura septentrionalis — Turkey Buzzard. Uncommon
and irregular visitor. Noted soaring over City Park and Univer-
sity Park.

44. Circus hudso7iius — Marsh Hawk. Frequent but irregular
visitor to City Park, University Park, Country Club, and Montclair,
from July to December.

45. Accipiter velox — Sharp-shinned Hawk. Frequently seen dur-
ing April, in migration in Cheesman Park; and in the fall, in the
center of the city, i.e. on the court house grounds, December 8, 1913.

46. Accipiter cooperi — Cooper's Hawk. One seen in University
Park, May 25, 1896.

47. Buteo torealis calurus — Western Red-tail Hawk. Casual
only within city limits; City Park, May 9, 1912, and Montclair, Oc-
tober 28, 1914.

48. Buteo sicainsoni — Swainson's Hawk. Observed once at Uni-
versity Park, September 26, 1896, and Montclair, April 24, 1917.

49. Archibutco lagopus sancti-johannis — American Rough-leg
Hawk. An irregular winter visitor; in City Park and Montclair,.
December to February.

50. Archibuteo ferrugineus — Ferruginous Rough-leg. Detected
in Montclair, April 17, 1916.

51. Falco mexicanus — Prairie Falcon. A fall visitor to Univer-
sity Park, City Park, and Cheesman Park; September to December.

52. Falco columbarius columharius — Pigeon Hawk. A rare vis-

The Birds of Denver 121

itor during migration; University Park, October 17, 1896, and Chees-
man Park, January 24, 1904, and May 7, 1917.

53. Falco columbariiis richardsoni — Richardson's Merlin. Fre-
quent in City Park, and even " down town," during the fall migra-
tion. Noted at 12th Avenue and Logan Street, November 13, 1913.

54. Falco sparveriits plialacna — Desert Sparrow Hawk. Fre-
quent in the outskirts, and occasional in all the parks; bulk arrive
in April and leave in October, but a few winter at times. Breeds
In outskirts.

55. Pandion lialiaetus caroliiiensis — Osprey. One seen in City
Park, May 2, 1914, and two. May 19, 1917.

56. Aluco pratincola — Barn Owl. One seen by Mr. A. T. Allen
on Clayton Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, December
10, 1909.

57. Asio wilsoniamis — Long-eared Owl. A frequent visitor to all
the parks, and occasionally in the residential portions, i.e. one
having been caught at Eleventh Avenue and Pearl Street, April
23, 1916. Most commonly seen in the parks in April.

58. Asio fammeus — Short-eared Owl. Seen once in University
Park, December 23, 1897, and once in Cheesman Park, March 6,
1917.

59. Cryptoglaux acadica acadica — Saw-whet Owl. Observed once
in Cheesman Park, March 10, 1917.

60. Otiis asio maxwelliw — Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. Two
records; at University Park, June 6, 1896, and Cheesman Park,
March 15, 1917.

61. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaxi — Burrowing Owl. Not uncom-
mon in the suburbs, and seen occasionally in all the parks; from
April to October. Breeds in suburbs.

62. Glaucidiuvi gnoma gnoma — Pigmy Owl. Cooke; by Smith,
1888.

63. Conuropsis carolinensis — Carolina Paroquet. Cooke, 1861-
18G2.

64. Coccyzus omericanus americamis — Yellow-bill Cuckoo. One
seen in Cheesman Park, June 22, 1915, and one June 17, 1917.

65. Ceryl alcyon alcyon — Kingfisher. Seen in Washington Park,
September 14, 1910, and one in City Park, September 20, 1913.

66. Bryotates vlUosus monticola — Rocky Mountain Hairy Wood-
pecker. Frequently seen in all the parks, and in various parts of
the city, from September to April.

67. Melanerpes erytJirocephalus — Red-headed Woodpecker. Oc-
curs in all the parks and the suburbs, and breeds in suitable places
in the outskirts. Arrives in April and departs in October.

68. Asyndesmxis lewisi — Lewis's Woodpecker. Seen June 17.

123 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 100

1897, at University Park, and in Berkeley Park, August 29, 1914.
Nested in Overland Park during the summer of 1917.

69. Colaptes auratus luteus — Northern Flicker. Rare straggler,
but becoming more frequent each year; seen in Cheesman Park
twice in 1915, and twice in 1916.

70. Colaptes cafer collaris — Red-shafted Flicker. Common resi-
dent, and breeds even near center of city, i.e. Grant Street and
Nineteenth Avenue.

71. Phalcenoptilus nuttalU nuttaUi — Poorwill. Infrequent mi-
grant; Cheesman Park, May 15, 1914, and May 19 and 25, 1916.

^ 72. Chordeiles virginianus henryi — Western Nighthawk. Com-
mon summer resident; arrives about May 15, and departs about
October 1; nests in the suburbs.

73. CliordeUes virginianus sennetti — Bennett's Nighthawk. Fre-
quent during migration, on dates similar to the above.

74. Cypseloides niger dorealis — Black Swift. Cooke; once, 1884.

75. SelaspJiortis platycercus — Broad-tail Hummingbird. Fre-
quent in all the parks, and in the outlying districts; arrives about
May 15, and leaves about the middle of September. Breeds.

76. Tyrannus tyrannus — Kingbird. Fairly common in all the
parks and outskirts. Arrives early in May and departs late in
September. Breeds.

77. Tyrannus verticalis — Arkansas Kingbird. Slightly more
common than the preceding in same areas; arrives about April 15
and departs about September 15. Breeds, the young being out of
the nest by July 1.

78. Tyrannus vocifermis — Cassin's Kingbird. Seen once, at Col-
fax and Clayton Streets, May 17, 1908; and in City Park, July 11,
1917.

79. Sayornis sai/us — Say's Phoebe. Occurs sparingly in all the
parks and the outskirts; arrives the last week in March and de-
parts the last week in September. Breeds; young out of nest by
July 15.

80. Myiochanes richardsoni richardsoni — Western Wood Pewee.
Seen occasionally during the summer in City Park and Cheesman
Park. Probably breeds; earliest date noted. May 13, and the latest,
September 18.

81. Otocoris alpestris praticola — Prairie Horned Lark. Cooke.

82. Otocoris alpestris leiicolcema — Desert Horned Lark. Resi-
dent, and breeds in the outskirts; not common in the parks except

^ Until the American Ornithologists Union accepts a new classi-
fication for the various species and races of nighthawks found in
the United States, the light and dark races occurring in Denver
may best be listed as above.

The Birds of Denver 123

in winter. The young are often out of the nest by the first week
in April.

83. Pica pica Jiudsonia — Magpie. Resident, and breeds in the
outskirts; occurs in the parks more frequently in winter.

84. Cyanocitta stelleri diademata — Long-crested Jay. Irregular
winter visitor and seen occasionally in all the larger parks. Oc-
curs from the middle of December to May.

85. ApJielocoma ivoodhonsei — Woodhouse's Jay. Infrequent fall
and spring visitor in Cheesman Park, coming in April, May, and
September.

86. Corviis corax sinuatus — Raven. One seen over City Park,
April 17, 1902.

87. Corvus cryptoleucus — White-necked Raven. Cooke; by Aiken,
1871.

88. Corvus dracJiyrJiyncJios brachyrhynclios — Crow. One noticed
flying over Eleventh Avenue and Corona Street, December 7, 1913;
and one seen in Cheesman Park, May 1, 1917; is becoming increas-
ingly common to the northeast of the city.

89. CyanocepJialus cyanocephalxis — Pinon Jay. Rare visitor;
one observed in Cheesman Park, May 12, 1913, and one in the
same place, September 23, 1914.

90. Molothrus ater ater — Cowbird. One seen in Cheesman Park,
June 19, 1914.

91. XanthocepJialus xanthocephalus — Yellow-head Blackbird. An
occasional straggler to all the parks and seen more frequently in
the suburbs, where, in the suitable places, i.e. " Manhattan Beach,"
it breeds. Some remain all winter. Bulk leave in the late fall.

92. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis — Red-wing Blackbird. Common
in the parks with lakes, where it would breed if left undisturbed;
also seen in other parks, and many winter in the outskirts.

93. Sturnella negJecta — Western Meadowlark. Common all over,
and many winter in the suburbs; bulk arrive in March and leave
in October. Breeds.

94. Icterus spurius — Orchard Oriole. Cooke; by Allen, 1872.

95. Icterus galbula — Baltimore Oriole. One seen in City Park,
June 28, 1897.

96. Icterus buUocki — Bullock's Oriole. Now fairly common all
over the city, but formerly more so; bulk arrive the first week in
May, and depart towards the end of September. Breeds.

97. Euphagus cyanocephctlus — Brewer's Blackbird. Frequent in
all the parks, and in the outskirts. Arrives early in April, and de-
parts late in October. Breeds, young being found in nest by the
first week in June.

98. Quiscalus quiscula ceneus — Bronzed Grackle. Occurs all-

rM The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

over the city during migration in good sized flocks; arrives late
in April or early in May; numerous till last of June; reappears in
large numbers early in September and stays until late in October.
Breeds in City Park.

99. HesperipJiona vesvertina montana — Western Evening Gros-
beak. Rare visitor; seen at the corner of East Sixteenth Avenue
and Washington Street, January 11, 1901, and in Cheesman Park,
April 12 and 20, 1911.

100. Corpodociis cassini — Cassin's Purple Pinch. Noted in Chees-
man Park, February 29, 1912.

101. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis — House Finch. Our char-
acteristic native city bird; resident and abundant. Breeds from
early in April to early In August.

102. Loxia curvirostra minor — Crossbill. Irregular winter vis-
itor; City Park, November 9, 1898, and March 9, 20, and 28, 1899;
Cheesman Park, December 6, 1913, and October 19, 1914.

103. Acanthis linaria linaria — Lesser Redpoll. Rare winter vis-
itor; University Park, February 18, 1897, and Cheesman Park, De-
cember 24, 1916, and March 13 and 31, 1917.

104. Astragalinus tristis palUdus — Pale Goldfinch. City Park,
May 14, 1914.

105. Astragalinus psa^tria psaltria — Arkansas Goldfinch. Fre-
quent summer resident in all the parks. Arrives late in March
and remains until October. Breeds, building late, beginning nest-
ing about August 1.

106. Spinus pinus — Pine Siskin. Common summer resident; often
throughout the whole year. Bulk arrive early in March, and many
linger till June. Starts nesting about the middle of March. Eggs
sometimes found by April 7. Majority disappear in June, proba-
bly going to higher altitudes to nest a second time.

107. Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis — Snow Bunting. Cooke.

108. Passer domesticus — English Sparrow. Ubiquitous. Breeds
from March to October. First seen in Denver, by the writer, at
the Union depot, in June, 1894.

109. Calcariais lapponicns alascensis — Alaska Longspur. One
taken at University Park, February 18, 1895.

110. Calcarius ornatus — Chestnut-collar Longspur. One seen in
Montclair, June 14, 1914.

111. Pooecetes gramineus confinis — Western Vesper Sparrow. In-
frequent visitor in City Park and Washington Park, April and Sep-
tember; more frequent in outskirts. Breeds.

112. Passerculus sandwichcnsis alaudinus — Western Savannah
Sparrow. Taken at University Park, October 1, 1896, and July 1,
1897.

The Birds of Denver 125

113. CJiondestes grammacus strigatus — Western Lark Sparrow.
Frequent summer resident in the parks and suburbs; arrives early
in May and departs about the middle of September. Breeds.

114. Zonotrichia leucopUrys leiicoplirys — White-crown Sparrow.
Seen in migration, in Cheesman Park, May 3 to about May 15; City
Park, April 29, 1917.

115. Zonotrichia leucopUrys gambeli — Gambell's Sparrow. Com-
mon in all the parks in migration, from April 22 to May 21, and
September 7 to October 10.

116. Spizella monticola ochracea — Western Tree Sparrow. Un-
common winter visitor. University Park, January 1, 1895, and Octo-
ber 26, 1896; Washington Park, January 17, and March 18, 1917.

117. Spizella passerina arizonce — Western Chipping Sparrow.
Common summer resident, all over area; arrives about April 1,
and leaves about September .15. Breeds.

118. Spizella pallida — Clay-colored Sparrow. Common in migra-
tion in all of the parks, and in the outskirts; earliest spring date,
May 1, and latest fall date, October 25.

119. Spizella breweri — Brewer's Sparrow. Fairly frequent in
migration, in Cheesman Park and Washington Park; earliest spring
date, May 8, and latest fall date, September 28.

120. Junco aikeni — White-wing Junco. Infrequent winter vis-
itor; University Park, January 1, 1896, and Cheesman Park, No-
vember 8, 1914, and March 5, 1917.

121. Junco liycmalis hyemalis — Slate-colored Junco. One de-
tected in Cheesman Park, January 21, 1917.

122. Junco hyemalis connectens — Shufeldt's Junco. Frequent
winter visitoi in Cheesman Park; arrives early in October, and
lingers until late in March.

123. Junco hyemalis montanus — Montana Junco. Frequent win-
ter visitor; arrives in December and leaves with the preceding
form.

124. Junco hyemalis mearnsi — Pink-sided Junco. Common win-
ter resident, arriving about the middle of September, and leaving
late in April.

125. Junco pha^onotus dorsalis — Red-back Junco. An uncommon
winter visitor; Cheesman Park, February 27, 1912, and February
25, 1916; May 8, 1917.

126. Junco phcconotus caniceps — Gray-head Junco. Frequent vis-
itor to Cheesman Park in winter; October 8 to April 22.

127. Melospiza melodia montana — Mountain Song Sparrow. Un-
common summer resident within city limits; seen principally along
the Platte and Cherry Creek, but also in Cheesman Park and City
Park. Breeds, in outskirts.

136 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

128. Melospiza lincolni lincolni — Lincoln's Sparrow. University
Park, June 2, 1896.

129. Pipilo maculatiis arcticus — Arctic Towhee. One detected in
Montclair, January 1, 1913.

130. Oreospiza cJilorura — Green-tail Towhee. Uncommon mi-
grant; City Park, May 10, 1908, and May 12, 1917, and Cheesman
Park, May 3, and September 23 to 30, 1911.

131. Zamelodia melanocephala- — Black-headed Grosbeak. Com-
mon summer resident, throughout the city; arrives about May 1,
and departs about September 10. Breeds; eggs sometimes laid by
the last of May.

132. Passerina amcena — Lazuli Bunting. Infrequent summer
resident, but more frequent as a migrant; arrives the last week
in May, and leaves the last week in August. Nested in Cheesman
Park, the last week in June, 1916.

133. Calamospiza vielanocorys — Lark Bunting. Infrequent sum-
mer resident in the parks, but common in the outskirts; arrives
early in May, and departs about September 15. Breeds in the out-
skirts.

134. Piranga ludoviciana — Western Tanager. Uncommon mi-
grant; Washington Park, May 23-25, Cheesman Park, June 3, Au-
gust 29, and September 15, 23.

135. Piranga erytliromelas — Scarlet Tanager. A male seen in
Cheesman Park, June 6, 1912.

*136. Piranga rubra cooperi — Cooper's Tanager. Cooke; by Hen-
shaw, 1873.

137. Petroclielidon lunifrons Iiinifrons — Eave Swallow. Common
in migration. Now infrequent breeder in outskirts. Arrives late
in April and departs as late as October 3.

138. Hirundo erythrogastra — Barn Swallow. Common in migra-
tion; arrives about May 1, and leaves about the middle of Septem-
ber. Infrequent breeder in outskirts.

139. Iridoprociie bicolor — Tree Swallow. Becoming quite uncom-
mon, even in migration. Not detected breeding for years. Arrives
with the preceding species, and not seen after September 1.

140. TacTiycineta tJialassina lepida — Northern Violet-green Swal-
low. A large flock in Washington Park, May 22 and 25, 1917.

141. Stelgidopteryx serripennis — Rough-wing Swallow, " Sand
Martin." Common in migration; arrives about the middle of April,
and departs the last of August; a few breed in the outskirts.

142. Bomhycilla garrula — Bohemian Waxwing. Irregular win-
ter visitor; a small flock in Berkeley, February 4; and on Clay-

*This record is based on a misidentification, the skin (now in
the Colorado Museum of Natural History) proving, on reexamina-
tion, to be one of Piranga rubra rubra. Summer Tanager.

The Birds of Denver 127

ton Street, between Fourteenth and Colfax Avenues, February 5,
16, and 18, 1899; all over the city in great numbers, from Febru-
ary 22 to April 8, 1917, vi^hen the last two were seen in Cheesman
Park.

143. BombyciUa cedrorum — Cedar Waxwing. Seen in Berkeley,
February, 1906.

144. Laniiis borealis — Great Northern Shrike. Infrequent win-
ter resident; City Park, November 3, December 24, and March 6;
Cheesman Park, November 22 and December 25.

145. Lanius ludovicianus cxciil^itorides — White-rump Shrike. Ir-
regular visitor; City Park, April 27 and September 7; Cheesman
Park, April 29.

146. Yireosylva olivacea — Red-eyed Vireo. Cooke; by Smith,
1892.

147. Yireosylva gilva sivainsoni — ^Western Warbling Vireo. Fairly
common summer resident in all the parks; arrives early in May
and remains until late in August. Breeds.

148. Lanivireo solitarius cassini — Cassin's Vireo. Previous to
1915, was an irregular visitor during migration. Some stayed in
all the parks all of the summer of 1916, the last being seen on Sep-
tember 8; the first being seen May 30.

149. Lanivireo solitarius plumieus — Plumbeus Vireo. Frequent
migrant; a, few remain all summer in the city and in Cheesman
Park, May 31 to September 11.

150. Vireo lelU helli — Bell's Vireo. Cooke; by Smith, 1903.

151. Vermivora virginice — Virginia Warbler. Detected once in
Cheesman Park, September 7, 1915.

152. Vermivora celata celata — Orange-crown Warbler. One seen
in Cheesman's Park, May 3, 1914.

153. Compsotfilypis americana usnece — Northern Parula Warbler.
Cooke; by Smith, 1904.

154. Dendroica wstiva (estiva — Yellow Warbler. Common sum-
mer resident all over the city; arrives the first week in May, and
departs late in August. Breeds.

155. Dendroica cwrulescens cwriilescens — Black-throated Blue
Warbler. One seen in Cheesman Park, June 13 and 14, 1915.

156. Dendroica coronata — Myrtle Warbler. Not common, but
seen during migration in all the parks. Earliest date, April 29,
latest. May 23.

157. Dendroica aiuUitoni auduioni — Audubon's Warbler. Seen
In University Park, October 7, 1896, and in City Park, April 29 to
May 20, 1917.

158. Dendroica magnolia — Magnolia Warbler. One seen in
Cheesman Park, May 20, 1913.

128 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

159. Dendroica cerulea — Cerulean Warbler. Cooke; by Henshaw,
1873.

160. Seirus aurocapillus — Ovenblrd. Cooke; by Wernigk, 1862.

161. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis — Grinnell's Water-Thrush.
Cooke.

162. Oporornis foZwuei— Macgillivray's Warbler. Seen occasion-
ally in Cheesman Park; August 27, 1912; September 6, 1913; Octo-
ber 10 to 13, 1914, and September 29, 1916.

163. Geotlilypis trichas occidentalis — Western Yellow-throat.
" Manhattan Beach," June 8 and 10, 1917.

164. Icteria virens longicauda — Long-tall Chat. One seen on the
Platte River, near Overland Park, July 10, 1896.

165. Oreoscoptes montanus — Sage Thrasher. Fairly frequent in
migration; seen in the outskirts and the parks only in the fall,
September 5 to 15.

166. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus — Western Mockingbird. Ir-
regular summer resident. Seen as early as March 8, in Cheesman
Park, and eggs have been found in University Park by May 26;
leaves by the first week in August. Would doubtless be much more
common, were it not so persistently hunted to secure its young for
cage birds.

167. Dumetella carolinensis — Catbird. Noticed in Cheesman
Park, August 31 and September 24, 1910.

168. Toxostoma rufum — Brown Thrasher. In Montclair, May 25,
1917.

169. Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus — Rock Wren. Seen occasion-
ally during migration, in all the parks and in the outskirts, from
April 27 to June 15, and from August 19 to September 25.

170. CatTierpes mexicanus conspersus — Canyon Wren. Infrequent
migrant; Washington Park, May 8; Cheesman Park, September 13
and 18; Montclair, May 5.

171. Troglodytes aedon imrkmani — Western House Wren. Regu-
lar migrant and uncommon summer resident. Seen most often dur-
ing the third week of May and the first week of September. Nested
in Cheesman Park, the summer of 1917.

172. Nannus Memalis hievialis — ^Winter Wren. Seen in Univer-
sity Park, July 8, 1896, and in Cheesman Park, May 10, 1908.

173. CertMa familiaris montana — Rocky Mountain Creeper. Fre-
quent winter visitor to all parts of the outskirts and the parks,
and observed well "down town" once in a while; occurs from the
last of December to the last of February.

174. Sitta carolinensis nelsoni — Rocky Mountain Nuthatch. Ir-
regular visitor, Cheesman Park from August 17 to September 18,
City Park, December 5.

The Birds of Denver 129

175. Sitta canadensis — Red-breasted Nuthatch. Cheesman Park,
November 3, 1910.

176. PantJiestes atricapillus septentrionalis — Long-tail Chicka-
dee. Regular winter visitor;, arrives early in October and departs
about April 15; often occurs well "down town."

177. PantJiestes gambeli gambeli — Mountain Chickadee. Irregu-
lar winter visitor, Cheesman Park, October 29, 1915 to February
25, 1916, and seen occasionally all of the winter of 1916-17, in Chees-
man Park.

178. Regulus calendula calendula — Ruby-crown Kinglet. Noted
in City Park, May 29, 1907, and April 28 to May 8, 1917.

179. Myadestes townsendi — Townsend's Solitaire. Frequent in
migration and occasionally a winter resident; has been noticed in
City Park and Cheesman Park in February, April, August (24),
September, October and December.

180. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola — Willow Thrush. Seen in
Cheesman Park, September 12, 1913, and June 9, 1917.

181. HylocicJila guttata aiiduboni — Audubon's Hermit Thrush.
Frequent in migration in all the parks and at times well "down
iown"; arrives early in May, sometimes remains until late in June,
and reappears late in August.

182. Hylocichla guttata nanus — Dwarf Hermit Thrush. Cooke;
by Smith.

183. Planesticus migratorius migratorius — Eastern Robin. Seen
wherever the next species occurs; not very common, but becoming
more and more so each year. Breeds.

184. Planesticus migratorius propinqmis — Western Robin. A
common summer, and occasional winter, resident; the bulk appear
about the middle of March and leave about the middle of October.
Breeds, and eggs are often found by the middle of April.

185. Sialia sialis sialis — Eastern Bluebird. Cooke; by Dille,
1899.

186. Sialia mexicana bairdi — Chestnut-back Bluebird. One seen
in Cheesman Park, April 9, 1907.

187. Sialia. currucoides — Mountain Bluebird. An infrequent
summer resident, but common in migration. Occurs most com-
monly from March to October, but also every other month in the
year. Would be a common breeder, if not driven out by the Eng-
lish Sparrow.

130 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

HORNED LARKS IN THE PROVINCE OE QUEBEC

{Otocoris alpestris pratlcola.)

By L. McI. Terrill.

Towards the close of the long Canadian winter, the earliest
signs of returning spring are very welcome, and none more
so than that first small harbinger, the Prairie Horned Lark
(Otocoris alpestris praiicola). There comes a time during
the latter part of February when the south wind and sun
combine in softening the atmosphere. Should you attempt
to look the sun in the face on such a day you will probably
see spots or sun-dogs. The snow, too, is affected ; it has a
honey-combed appearance and dark patches point to fast-
appearing soil. Railroad tracks, hillocks, and manure-piles
in the open country are quite bare of snow and steaming with
evaporating moisture. On such a day I fully expect to see
the Prairie Horned Lark. They are easily recognized : some-
times a dark form will he seen walking or running gracefully
over the snow, stopping to investigate places where the earth
is showing; again a small company will be found sheltered
in the lee of a manure-heap, particularly if the wind is high.
Roadways, and especially railway tracks, are favourite feed-
ing resorts.

The males arrive first and show little inclination towards
flocking, often being seen singly, though sometimes in groups
of from two to ten birds, especially when feeding on railway
tracks or other places where grain and seeds are abundant.
Frequently a sweet liquid song, delivered from some mound
or fence-post, will be the first intimation of their arrival — the
first spring song, and doubly sweet for that reason. If the
weather is fine they usually sing on arrival, or soon after,
and the song is more or less commonly heard throughout
their residence here. This song is a difficult one to describe.
One associates the name " lark " with all that is sweet and
melodious, and although my acquaintance with the European
Skylark is not first hand, its family name, from laudo (to

Horned Larks in the Province of Quebec 131

laud) is suggestive of song-ability. To laud, however, lit-
erally means " to praise to the skies," which is descriptive of
a song-habit rather than song-ability. As with our own
Lark its abandon and freedom of utterance are responsible
for the saying " merry as a lark." It is a thorough expo-
nent of the theory " Laugh and the world laughs with you,"
hence the terms " sky-larking," and '' out for a lark."

Though our own lark " praticola " has similar mannerisms
and delivery, the volume of its song is evidently considerably
less, as the average pedestrian appears to know nothing
about it.

Ones opinion is a little biased in its favour on hearing the
first bird and the first song of spring, but after repetitions a
scratchv or " screechy " quality is detected. Once, while cross-
ing a wire fence, I was so uncharitable as to compare it with
the squeaking of wires pulled through the staples — but then
this self-same squeak was due to exertions in detaching my-
self from the uncharitable barbs. Another song, less com-
mon, though frequently heard during the nesting season,
especially in the early morning and at twilight, is probably
comparable in some degree to the performance of the Euro-
pean Skylark. Rising toward the sky, higher and higher,
the bird gradually disappears from view, and while you are
wondering what has become of it a glad song floats dowm,
softened by distance, but still distinct. It consists mainly of
several notes repeated over and over, sometimes as many as
a dozen times. For brevity I write this in my note-book " the
pump song." When I first heard it I was reminded of the
action and distant sound of a rusty hand-pump in the dry
season. The first notes are similar to the simple song, but
the bird is in super-happy mood, and continues repeating the
second bar. with a little screechy catch between each repe-
tition, and finishes — just as the water reaches the spout of
the pump — with a jumble of liquid notes, similar to the end-
ing of the simple song. This song probably has the same
significance as the aerial love song of the Woodcock, being
most commonlv heard when the female is incubating. I have

132 The WilsoxN Bulletin— No. 100

also frequently heard it delivered from a mound or other
elevation on the ground.

Our earliest spring- migrant, the Prairie Horned Lark, is
also the most regular of the earlier birds, not excepting the
Crow. A few Crows occasionally winter, but the Lark never,
as far as I am aware.

Although the Prairie Horned Lark returns with the south
wind it does not necessarily proclaim the passage of winter,
as sometimes a month of wintry weather follow^s its return.
However its tinkling song imbues us with at least a portion
of its hopeful anticipation, and helps to tide over the bleak
spots.

During fifteen years the average time of arrival at Mon-
treal, by my records, w^as March 1st (February 29th for
leap years): extreme dates were February 14 (1915) and
March 9 (1905). This refers to the male bird, which ar-
rives a week or more in advance of the female.

When in flight, with each sweeping undulation, or, as is
often the case, at irregular intervals, the Lark emits a single
whistled note, very similar to the first part of the Snowbird's
flight notes, sometimes followed by a second note. To me
these notes seem best expressed by the syllables " pee " and
" Pee-u." While choosing a nesting site and during early
nesting operations its vocal activity is especially marked.
At this time they are often found in companies of three —
two males courting one female. They do not seem to be
very quarrelsome beyond chasing one another back and forth,
but give vent to their feelings vocally. One of the most com-
mon utterances sounds something like " seet-te-sweet " or
" seet-t'seet," with variations. Another musical call " pee-
u-wee," or " pee," followed after a pause by " pee-u-wee "
(with the accent on the last syllable), has a decided plover-
like quality and is the principal note of alarm. This call is
seldom or never uttered before nesting is well under way,
and is often shortened to a whistled " pee-u," especially after
the young are hatched.

During the period of incubation the Larks become more

Horned Larks in the Province of Queuec 133

quiet and their silence is pronounced when the young have
left the nest. I have often watched one slipping away with
an exaggerated slowness, proclaiming uneasiness by ner-
vously picking at the soil, possibly with the pretense of feed-
ing. Even with these indications it is not always easy to
pick out the old-grass coloured backs of the young squatting
motionless by some grass tuft.

A great deal has been written in confirmation of the theory
that the Prairie Horned Lark has gradually extended its
range eastward from the prairies. In any case it is not par-
tial to thickly wooded or newdy cleared land. In such a lo-
cality at Bury, Compton Co., Que., 125 miles, S. E. E. of Mon-
treal, it was uncommon during the years 1899-1902. To the
north, in the Laurentian Hills, I have seen it sparingly in the
cleared valleys of the North, Rouge, and Lievre Rivers, as
far as yit. Laurier, at the end of the railroad, about 150 miles
N. N. W. of Montreal. My observations, however, partic-
ularly with regard to nesting habits, refer to the valley of
the St. Lawrence River, in the vicinity of Montreal. Here
they are most abundant within a mile or two of the river
shore. For nesting purposes, rolling pasture land with scant
vegetation is preferred ; often so poor as to produce only
a growth of mosses and lichens. A sheep pasture is typical
of the Lark's choice. Again they will be found associating
with the Killdeer Plover, nesting in a stony field, or in one
in which there is exposed rock strata. Sometimes other sit-
uations are chosen, such as the close cut stubble of grain
fields, and once a nest was found in the furrow of a ploughed
field.

As with other prairie nesting birds, suitability as a lookout
point is a factor in the Lark's choice of a nesting site ; an
abrupt slope is never chosen. Cultivated fields in the vicinity
of the nest are desired as the Lark feeds largely in ploughed
land — in fact I have found it nesting most commonly within
a few hundred yards of farm buildings ; the neighborhood of
woods and swamps is avoided.

The srreater number of birds commence nesting during the

134 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 100

second or third week of April, according to the weather, al-
though there are always a few earlier nesters. The earliest
record I have was March 14th (1915), when a nest was
found commenced. On April 2nd this nest held four young
about one day from the shell.

While snow still covers the ground in late March or early
April, the birds have little choice of a nesting place and nat-
urally choose the crown of some small elevation, such places
being the only suitable spots free of snow. When the soil
is sufficiently thawed, and while it is still moist, a bowl-shaped
cavity, four to five inches in diameter, is excavated. I have
several times seen both birds quite close to these excavations,
but have never been able to determine whether or not both
assist in the work. The soil taken from the cavity is piled on
one side and later becomes an adjunct of the nest, forming an
embankment, which possibly serves as a wind-break. This
excavated soil is always found in little balls, which tends to
prove that it is always scraped out while the ground is wet.

When the excavation is complete the Lark collects ma-
terial, to be found near at hand, short pieces of withered
grasses, seed tops and roots of grass or grain, which is
finally pressed into a thick walled nest, averaging, in outside
diameter, 4 inches ; inside, 2.4 inches ; outside depth, 2.2
inches; inside depth. 1.8 inches. The rim of the nest is
usually flush with the soil and is very neatly finished and
blended with the surroundings, though there is no attempt at
weaving or binding, and the nest readily falls to pieces when
removed.

Material similar to the body of the nest is used for lining,
while generally a little old thistle down is added, and some-
times a small feather or two. The number of eggs deposited
is most commonly four; often three composes the set, rarely
two, and on one occasion I knew of five being laid.

Eggs of this species exhibit less variation in markings
than those of most birds. The main peculiarity in a large
number of local specimens lies in the comparatively uniform
colouration, pigment being distributed in minute dots, usually

Horned Larks in the Province of Quebec 135

over the entire shell, with a slight tendency to form a wreath
at the larger end.

Absence of blotches and the pale-coloured pigment produce
a delicate appearance — a fragile looking egg indeed, to be
found amidst banks of snow.

\'ariation in shape and size is considerable. The largest
set examined averaged .92x.6.5 of an inch ; the smallest,
.78x.57 ; while the average size of ten sets was .85x.61.

The largest and smallest individual eggs were .96x.66 and
.76X.57.

One w^ould think that the Lark, nesting so early in the sea-
son, would sit very closely, but apparently such is not the
case. It is the exception to even see the bird leave its nest,
and during the early stages of incubation it will remain at
a distance, -as long as there is a human being in the vicinity.

On a few occasions I have flushed a sitting bird when
within a few feet of her, and at other times, particularly
wdien incubation was advanced, I have seen them leave at
distances varying up to 150 yards. On all occasions the de-
parture was similar, a quick bound into the air, directly from
the nest, when the bird would go dipping away and alight
at some distance. When flushed from its nest or from the
vicinity it is not always easy to distinguish the Lark from the
Vesper Sparrow, unless you see it leave the nest. It invar-
iably flies away in silence, contrary to its usual custom. How-
ever if you watch the bird as it skims the surface of the soil
in prolonged undulations, its larger size and the fact that it
generally alights on the ground and stands erect to peer at
the intruder, will usually serve to identify it.

When the Larks are at all vociferous you may take it for
granted that the nest, if there is one, is at some distance.

I have frequently attempted to watch a bird return to its
nest, but with the excepion of a few instances, decided that
I was not a man of leisure. Occasionally the bird is pro-
voked into disclosing the nesting site. On April 16. 1905,
during a sudden snow flurry, a Lark passed over my head,
quickly veered toward the ground and vanished ! Approach-

136 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

ing the spot I looked in vain for the bird until I finally caught
sight of her flying away, and soon found the nest, plainly
visible with its single egg, the only dark spot in the snow-
covered area. The following year, on April 1, while trying
my skill, pitching- a heavy stone with two companions, a Lark
flew towards us, and dipping close to the ground flew over
the spot where the stone had fallen. We soon found a newly
completed nest within a few feet of this stone.

Inclement and uncertain weather is naturally the chief
vicissitude of a ground nesting bird at this early date. After
the Larks have commenced nesting we frequently have
storms with a fall of wet snow or rain, followed by a lower
temperature, sufficient to glaze the fields with an icy cover-
ing. This is often disastrous and the birds have to recom-
mence. These conditions were especially noticeable during
the springs of 1907, 1912-13-14-15.

After a period of eleven days' incubation the young make
their appearance, and during early growth their parents
spend much time in adjacent ploughed fields.

Although I have little exact data on the food supplied to
the young, I know that many insects in the larval stage are
taken, in fact, at this season most insects are still in that con-
dition. I believe that the early nesting of this species is more
than merely coincident with the operations of ploughing and
harrowing the soil, which are usually in progress at the time
young Larks are hatched. This repeated working of the
soil keeps a constant supply of larva exposed at a time wdien
the need of the Larks is greatest and competition with other
species least. They are thoroughly in accord with the proverb
" It's the early bird that catches the worm." In this respect
it would be interesting to compare the habits of Larks nest-
ing in virgin prairie districts. Unfortunately I have found
little data, beyond nesting dates, for prairie-nesting Larks.
Some authorities describe western and southern birds as
comparatively late, but whether for birds nesting in an un-
tilled region is not stated.

The male bird is as busy as his mate at this season and has

HoRNKD Larks in the Province of Quebec 137

little time for song-, usually confining his efforts to early
morning and late afternoon. So far as I have observed, the
female alone incubates, but at least the male assists in feed-
ing the young, and is very solicitous of its welfare. On one
occasion I almost stepped on a young Lark, when the male
bird jumped into the air as if to attack me. Returning to
his perch a few feet distant he stretched himself, head up
and horns raised, to such an extent as to resemble a Killdeer
Plover more than a Lark. On my retiring a few feet he flew
to the young bird and fed it.

Perhaps earlv nesting Larks have more troubles to con-
tend with in raising their young than most birds. Late
snowstorms causing nest-abandonment have been previously
mentioned, but they have other enemies. At the time incu-
bation is completed many birds of prey have arrived, and
considering that the smaller migrants present are compara-
tivelv few, the- Larks are bound to receive considerable at-
tention. Possibly predacious animals also take their toll,
although, happily, I have nO' records. The protectively-
coloured backs of the adult Larks, with the highly developed
watchfulness of this species, keeps them fairly safe from
enemies that both soar and creep. It is the young that suf-
fer : of four nests under observation in one locality, during
the spring of 1915, onlv in one instance did the young safely
leave the nest. One of these, found April 11, and revisited
on April 17, contained broken egg-shells on the latter date,
and apparently had been trodden on by some animal.

Another bird safelv hatched her young- and reared them
until they were almost ready to leave the nest. On April 25
the well-spotted feathers, wind-blown in every direction, were
all that remained of this brood. This was probably the work
of a low-lying Marsh Hawk, which' I had several times
seen diligently hunting in the vicinity.

Another nest containing a single egs^ on April 25 was
abandoned for some uexplained reason. The fourth nest,
found commenced on April 5 (a mere hollow, with no nest
material) contained three eggs on the 11th and four on the

138 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 100

12th, and on the 23rd newly-hatched young- (perhaps ten
hours from the shell), with eyelids unopened and s:r.all
patches of grayish-white down showing.

Visiting this nest again on the 25th I found considerable
development in the nestlings — eyes well-opened and good
sized patches of down on either side of the forehead, occiput,
back and wings. How narrowly this brood also missed a
tragic end was apparent in the track of a farmer's wagon
which had passed a few feet away, while cow-manure had
been scattered in all directions, one fork-full almost touching
the nest. On my next visit (May 1) the condition of the
nest showed that the young had recently left, probably the
same morning.

In this instance the en.tire operation, from the time the nest
was commenced until the young had vacated, occupied twenty-
five days, or possibly a little less. Three days were occu-
pied in nest-construction, four in which to deposit the eggs,
eleven (plus) for incubation, and seven to mature the young
sufficiently to enable them to leave the nest.

Having devoted very little time to the Larks during May
and June, my notes at this period are very scanty, although
I am well aware that this species nests a second and possibly
a third time.

After a period of quiet, incident to the care of the first
brood, the song becomes more frequent during- the month of
May. The wide first-nesting range, from late March through-
out April, makes it difficult to say whether birds found breed-
ing in early May have already raised a brood or not. May 15
(1915), T flushed a Lark near a fresh excavation. By the
22nd this nest was fully lined, but for some reason was later
deserted. This was probably a second nesting, as I found
another nest, about fifty yards distant, in which a brood had
been raised earlier in the season.

During the heat of summer the Prairie Horned Lark is
not much in evidence and is usually to be seen in family
groups. Tt sings less and the earlier activity is gone. How-
ever, the cause of seeming scarcity is due more to the fact

Horned Larks in the Province of Quebec

139

that one is detracted by the many other birds with more pro-
nounced songs and actions. From the latter part of August,
throughout the fall months, it is more gregarious — family
groups collecting into small flocks. This is especially notice-
able on river shores, where they gather to feed, often in com-
pany with various species of sandpiper and plover, and later
in the season with Pipits, Horned Larks (alpestris), and
Snowbirds ; hence the common appellation " shore-lark.''
Flocks are seldom very large — more often from twenty to
fifty birds — and are not compact as flocks, say, of the Euro-
pean Sparrow, which arise in a cloud ; whereas, the Larks,
with a startled whistle, keep bounding up just ahead of you,
and a company of fifty will sometimes occupy several acres.
The Prairie Horned Lark evidently finds the fall weather
agreeable, as it sings more commonly after the extreme heat
of summer is passed. Towards the end of October migra-
tion is at its height, and usually by the beginning of Novem-
ber few remain. My latest record was November 21 (1915).
Following is a summary of migration for the past nine-

First

Earliest

First

I atest

Last

Arrivals

Song

Nesting

Condition

Song

Seen

1897

March 6

1898 (mated) March 15

March 15

a

1899
1900

March 13
March 18

March 13

>^

1901

March 8

3

1902

March 9

Oct. 25

1903

March 7

April 26

Four young a few
days old

Oct. 11

1904

March 6

Oct. 23

Oct. 23

1905

March 9

March 19

April 16

with one egg

Oct. 22

1906

Feb. 23

March 4

April 1

two nests fully lined

Nov. 18

1907

Feb. 24

Aprii 7

two nests under con-
struction

Ocf 20

1908

March 1

March 8

April 12

nest commenced

Nov. 15

1909

Feb. 28

Feb. 28

April 4

three fresh egga

Oct. 25

Oct. 25

1910 (mated) March 5

March 6

March 27

two nests almost
completed

Nov. 6

1911 (mated) March 5

April 9

three nests com-
menced

Oct. 15

Nov. 5

1912 fmated) March 10

April 7

five nests, one com-
pleted

Oct. 6

Nov. 10

1913

Feb. 23

March 16

March 23

four nests, one com-
pleted

Oct. 12

Nov. 2

1914

March 8

April 8

April 6

one completed nest

Nov. 15

1915

Feb. 14

March 14

nest commenced

Oct. 24

Nov. 21

140 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 100

teen years. It will be noticed that four records of spring
arrivals are for mated birds. Allowing for a lapse of at
least seven days between the arrival of male and female, and
eliminating the four records made at Bury, Que., we have
an average date of arrival at Montreal, during fifteen years,
of March 1 (Feb'. 29 for leap years).

The thirteen records of fall departure give November 3
as the average date on which the last birds were seen.

The Horned Lark (Oct oris alpcstvis alpestris).

While watching Prairie Horned Larks during April,
when they were paired and nesting, it has been customary
for me to see flocks of larks, sometimes as many as a hun-
dred, but usually between fifteen and fifty birds. Formerly
I thought these " praticola " on their way to more northern
districts, but later investigation invariably proved them to be
O. a. alpestris. In the vicinity of Montreal they usually ar-
rive more than a month later than " praticola " ; the average
time during seven years being April 11.

Throughout April I have many times had the opportunity
of direct comparison between the two species. The contrast
between a solitary Prairie Horned Lark, giving utterance to
song or alarm, and the Horned Lark, with its gregarious
habits, startled whistle, unsettled manner, and absence of
song, easily proclaims the fact that it is still in migration,
and not even thinking of nesting.

In the fall, when both species are gregarious, it is more
difficult to secure records without indiscriminate shooting,
and my scattered notes for this season are not sufficient to
warrant conclusions.

Following is a summary of migrations for this species.
Omissions of dates of departure are due, mainly to my fail-
ure in recording them :

1906 — First seen, April 8. Last seen, .

1909 — First seen, April 4. Last seen, May 2.

1910 — First seen, March 28. Last seen, .

1911 — First seen, April 10. Last seen, April 23.

1912 — First seen, April 28. Last seen, .

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 141

1913 — First seen, April 13. Last seen, May 4.

1914 — First seen, April 10. Last seen, .

I cannot resist alluding- to the several outward resem-
blances, in habit and appearance, between shorelarks and
shorebirds (Liniicolac). The whistled " pe-u," appearance
while walking and running, and the partially ringed neck
of Otocoris all recall certain shorebirds ; and coupled with
the habit of associating with shorebirds during migration,
these resemblances are responsible for the destruction of
many larks by mistaken gunners.

St. Lambert, Oue.

ANNOTATED LIST OF THE WATER BIRDS, GAME

BIRDS AND BIRDS OF PREY OF SAC

COUNTY. IOWA.

By J. A. Spurrell.

My purpose in writing this list is to place on record per-
sonal observations, which if trusted to memory or even to
note-books would be lost, and also much data gathered from
the pioneers of the county, which is much more valuable than
my own observations.

Aly personal interest in birds dates from my early child-
hood. When I first began to keep a record of the species
identified in July, 1907, I had a local list of about fifty spe-
cies. My first Reed's Bird Guides were purchased in 1906.
They had been preceded by a complete file of " Birds and
Nature " and were followed by many other bird books. After
that my local list grew steadily until it now numbers one
hundred sixty-five species. In my own identifications I have
used extreme care in making records of species, excluding-
everything doubtful. I have used eight-power stero-binocu-
lars the last four years. I have also identified all dead speci-
mens found. In g^athering data from the pioneers I have
used extreme care to differentiate species, excluding every-
thinsr doubtful.

142 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

I am indebted to the following people for records and in-
formation. Mr. C. Orville Lee of Sac City, whose parents
came to Sac County in 1854, and who was born in 1860. In
his youth he improved all opportunities for hunting and has
always been a keen observer of things natural, being still in-
terested in the subject. Mr. Hugh Cory of Sac City, who came
to Sac County in 1854 as one of the first party of white settlers.
Mr. Shelt Tiberghien of Sac City, who came to Sac County
in 1856. The earliest settlers obtained most of their living
from the game animals and birds and were keen observers
of them. Mr. Harry Colburn of Sac City, furnished one
observation, and Mr. Piatt Armstrong of Lake View, who
came to the county in 1878, a few. Dr. A. S. Hayden of
Wall Lake, who came in 1873, and his wife, who came in
1878, also their daughter, Mrs. George May, have furnished
much valuable data. My father, John Spurrell, who came
to Wall Lake in 1875, contributed some data. One of my
most valuable sources of data was Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Smith
of Odebolt, who came to the county in 1876. They not only
furnished information but had formed a collection of mounted
birds which included nearly all the game birds of the region,
besides many land birds. Mr. Smith is now dead, but his
wife still maintains the collection, which they had started
many years ago in Ohio. I visited them July 28, 1913, while
Mr. Smith was living, and obtained information about all
the specimens taken in Sac and adjoining counties.

While, in general, the topography of Sac County is that
of a treeless prairie, except for the now numerous planted
groves, there are two distinct types of land surface. The
eastern half of the county is wnthin the Wisconsin glaciation,
characterized by very gentle swells, a few low knobs, a level
landscape, and very poor drainage conditions. At the time
of settlement all the low-lying land in this area was either
pond, marsh, or slough. The roads wound around, follow-
ing the ridges of the low swells. At the present time the
roads follow section lines, all of the ponds and the great
majority of the marshes and sloughs having been drained.

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 143

Correction pond, Lard lake, Rush lake, and many smaller
ponds are now farm land. This section is drained by the
Raccoon river, locally called the " Coon," and its tributaries.
Cedar river and Indian creek. The drainage from Wall lake,
the only one remaining, flows into Indian creek. The Rac-
coon river enters the county on its north line about six miles
from its northeast corner, flowing in a southerly direction
about eighteen miles, when it turns and flows eastward, its
waters finally reaching the Mississippi. The " Coon " river
has cut a broad valley about fifty feet deep. The river fol-
lows a winding course through this valley, sometimes cut-
ting into the sides and forming steep bluffs. The bluffs and
part of the bottom lands are now timbered. At the time of
settlement its timber fringe was from one to four miles
broad. The enlarged parts were known as Grant Grove,
located where the river turns east ; Cory Grove, about three
miles south of Sac City ; and Lee's Grove, about eight miles
north of Sac City. The first settlements in the county were
at Grant Grove, which became Grant City, and at Sac City,
in the vear 1854. Until about 1870 there were very few set-
tlers other than along this timbered well drained strip along
the " Coon " river. Having so limited a habitat the forest-
loving game birds were speedily exterminated.

The western half of the county is within the Kansan gla-
ciation and characterized by a gently rolling to roughly roll-
ing surface, the highest hills being about sixty feet, with a
mature drainage and no lakes, ponds, or marshes. This sec-
tion is drained by the Boyer river and a few small creeks
tributary to it. all their waters finally reaching the Missouri
river. The Boyer river occupies a flood plain about a mile
wide, across and down which it follows an exceedingly tor-
tuous course. It has a local reputation of being the crook-
edest river there is. Its general direction is southerly until
within four miles of the south litie of the county, when it
turns abruptly southwest.

The two glaciations are divided by the Wisconsin moraine,
which is several miles broad, and partakes of the g'eneral

144 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

rolling topography. A portion of it is locally known as the
" Big Ridge." For about twenty miles its eastern border
is followed by Indian creek flowing south. The creek then
turns and flows east into the Raccoon river, passing within
one-fourth mile of Wall lake, the w.aters of which flow sev-
eral miles to reach it. Wall lake is situated just south of the
turn in Indian creek. It has an irregular outline, does not
exceed ten feet in depth at the deepest part, and in general
is shallow, covering an area of about nine hundred and sixty
acres, or approximately two square miles. It gets its name
from an irregular " wall " of glacial boulders or " nigger-
heads," which were piled around its shores by the ice ex-
pansion of winter and the break-up in spring. Only small
portions of the " wall " remain, most of it having been long
since hauled away for barn foundations.

Wall lake and the Boyer river are connected by a depres-
sion which appears to be a pre-glacial channel of the Boyer
river. This broad flat valley extends directly across the Wis-
consin moraine. It extends southwesterly from Wall lake
to the Boyer river, passing to the south of the town of Wall
Lake. The two miles of this valley next to the Boyer river
are lower than the banks of the Boyer and this depression is
flooded by back-water from the Boyer river every spring and
some years very frequently during the summer. The sum-
mer of 1915 it was full of water all summer, but in ordi-
nary years the water runs out very slowly, leaving the
'' Goosepond," as it is locally known, dry during late fall and
winter. In times of extreme high water, which occur every
five to ten or fifteen years, the waters from the Boyer entirely
flood the very low divide at the east end of the " Goosepond "
and flow into Wall lake, thus mingling the waters of the Mis-
souri and Mississippi drainage systems, sufficiently so that
aquatic forms of life could pass from one to the other. An
elaborate plan for draining the " Goosepond " is now being
projected.

Since the " Goosepond " is nearly always flooded in the
spring, it is a favorite resort of the migrating waterfowl and

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 145

shore birds, the more so since the neighboring Wall lake is
usuall}' ice bound for some time after the earliest migrants
arrive.

The tales the early settlers tell of the abundance of water-
fowl and prairie upland game birds seem almost incredible
today. Mrs. E. B. Hayden said, " J have seen the entire
east end (about one square mile) of Wall lake so thickly
covered with ducks during the spring migration that the
water seemed black." Dr. Hayden said, " Every pond and
mud-hode was covered with broods of young ducks."

According to Mr. Lee or Mr. Smith, swans, Canada geese,
sandhill cranes, prairie chickens, upland plover, and \ong-
billed curlew nested within the county, besides the following
ducks, ranked in the order of abundance as nesting species:
blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, mallard, spoon-bill, pin-
tail, wood duck, black head or scaup, and redhead. Mr.
Tiberghien also reported the whooping crane as nesting.

Today, most of these do not nest in the county at all, only
prairie chickens, mallards, blue-winged teal rarely nesting.
Mr. Lee stated that ninety per cent of the ducks raised in
Iowa today are blue-winged teal.

Mr. Smith ranked the clucks in order of abundance as mal-
lards, pintail, and teal as being common, then wood duck,
canvas-back, and hooded merganser next in order of abun-
dance, with the old-squaw as the rarest of all. The time of
which he spoke was from 1876 to about 1885.

Species Listed.

Eared Grebe (Colymbits nigricollis californicus). The only rec-
ord is a speciemn in the Smith collection. I have seen large grebes
on Wall lake, but could not certainly identify them at the time.

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilym'bus podiceps). I have found this
grebe to be tolerably common on Wall lake and the " Goosepond "
during migration. My earliest migration date is April 11, 1915.
There are two specimens in the Smith collection. I am not aware
of its breeding.

Loon (Gavia immer) . Mr. Lee reported that loons nested, their
young being seen, on Rush and Lard lakes north of Sac City, every
year until 1900. Loons were also reported by Mr. Tiberghien.

146

Thr Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

Herring Gull {Lams argentatus) . I first identified it April 11,
1915, when I saw a single bird in winter plumage in the " Goose-
pond." Mrs. George May also reported three seen in the " Goose-
pond " April 16, 1911. There is one specimen in the Smith collec-
tion.

Franklin Gull (Larus franklini). Specimen in the Smith collec-
tion. This species is an abundant migrant both spring and fall. At
both seasons, a flock will often follow a farmer plowing for hours
at a time, usually coming in the forenoon and again in the after-
noon, at times alighting on the plowing and resting for a half hour
or less. They follow the plow very closely and I have seen them swoop
down, capture and swallow white grubs, angleworms, and other in-
sects. While disking fall plowed land in the spring I have seen
a Franklin gull capture and swallow an adult prairie white-footed
mouse, although the mouse went down with difficulty. Another
farmer reported the gulls capturing an entire family of mice which
were plowed out.

Occasionally in the spring I have seen huge flocks of these gulls,
after much preliminary circling, alight upon a bluegrass pasture,
resting there for some time, in such numbers as to make the ground
appear white. In the fall the young birds, with different plumage
from the adults, make up a majority of the flocks, which frequently
stay in the vicinity several weeks. Sometimes all members of a
flock will scatter far apart and start circling high in the air, until
the sky is filled with their soaring and circling forms as high as
the eye can distinguish them. In feeding they range over the en-
tire country, not confining their attention to bodies of water. When
feeding they usually fly in loose straggling flocks, but when mi-
grating, in a compact flock. Mrs. George May reported them in
" Goosepond " April 14, 1911.

Migration

Data.

Spring.

Fall.

First

Became

Last

First

Became

Last

Year

seen.

common.

seen.

seen.

common.

seen.

1904-

-April 21.

1906-

-May 3.

1908-

-April 25.

May 2.

May 30.

Sept. 30.

Sept. 30.

Nov. 6

1909-

-April 22.

May 2.

May 31.

Oct. 11.

Oct. 17.

Nov. 6

1910-

-April 30.

April 30.

June 27.

Oct. 6.

Oct. 27

1911-

-April 19.

April 19.

May 11.

Sept. 28.

Sept. 28.

Oct. 30

1912-

-April 26.

April 26.

May 20.

Sept. 23.

Oct. 4.

Nov. 5

1913-

-April 22.

May 4.

1914-

-April 29.

May 1.

June 6.

1915-

-May 3.

May 16.

Oct. 23

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 147

Forster Tern (Sterna forsteri). A rare migrant. Specimen in
the Smith collection. I once saw three large terns over Wall lake
in the fall, which I took to be this species, but was unable to dis-
tinguish for certain between this species and the common tern be-
fore they flew.

Least Tern (Sterna antillamm) . A rare migrant. I found one
shot by hunters, on the shore of Wall lake, September 29, 1912. I
saw four least terns flying over Wall lake June 19, 1916. Mrs.
George May also reported it from Wall lake in the fall.

Black Tern (Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis). Specimen in
the Smith collection. The black tern is a common migrant both
spring and fall and also a tolerably common breeder. They follow
the plow for insects in the same manner that Franklin gulls do,
but not as persistently. During the nesting season they do not
range far from the marshes or lakes, but in the fall they range far
over the surrounding country, often ranging over the hayfields to
catch grasshoppers. They nest in the vicinity of Wall lake and on
small marshy ponds between Lake View and Sac City. A colony
of about fifty nested in the " Goosepond " the summer of 1915, judg-
ing from their remonstrance as I passed through it on the rail-
road track several times during July.

Quotation from Rudolph M. Anderson's " Birds of Iowa. ' "Dr. J.
A. Allen records, " great numbers, July 20, about Wall lake, in Sac
Co. The young had already flown and were accompanying their
parents." (Mem. Bost. Soc. i 1868, 502.)"' Mr. Lee also reports
them as nesting.

Migration Data.

Spring.

First

Became

Year.

seen.

common.

1908-

-May 15.

May 27

1909-

-May 14.

May 14

1910-

-May 13.

May 19

1911-

-May 20.

1912-

-May 12.

May 14

1913-

-May 11.

May 18

1914-

-May 10.

May 10

1915-

-May 9.

May 18

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus auritvs). Re-
ported by Mr. Smith as rare. A specimen in his collection. Re-
ported by Mr. Lee as being called " black swan " and having the
habit of staying in the middle of large lakes. He had seen none
since 1894.

White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorJiynchos) . Specimen in the

148 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

Smith collection. The pelican is a regular migrant, stopping on
Wall lake to spend the night. It was common in early days, and
large flocks are still seen in some years. Two pelicans, winged-
tipped by hunters, were kept all summer at Lakewood resort on
Wall lake about the year 1900. Mr. Lee and several others reported
that seventy-five pelicans were killed by a hail storm in March or
April, 1896, on a pond between Lake View and Sac City.

Merganser (Mergiis americanus). Two specimens, a male and a
female, in the Smith collection. The merganser is reported by Mr.
Lee as being always rare. I identified a female on the inlet of
Wall lake. May 9, 1915.

Red-breasted Merganser {Mergus serrator). One specimen, a fe-
male, in the Smith collection. Mrs. George May reported one seen
in the " Goosepond " April 17, 1911. It must be classed as a rare
migrant.

Hooded Merganser {Lopliodytes cucullatiis). A female specimen
in Smith collection. It was reported rare by Mr. Smith.

Mallard (Anas platyrliynclios). Three specimens in the Smith
collection. All the early settlers state that the mallard was a com-
mon breeder and abundant migrant. It is still one of the most
common ducks, although greatly reduced in numbers, and breeds
occasionally in secluded places. According to local hunters it
nested in the "Goosepond" in 1915.

Black Duck {Anas ru})ripes). Mr. Lee reported killing a black
duck in the spring of 1909, also that five were killed by another
hunter the fall before.

Gadwall (Chaulelasimis streperns). Specimen in the Smith col-
lection. Reported common by Mr. Lee. I found the remains of a
gadwall, I think the remnants of a Cooper hawk's meal, April 21,
1913. I identified a male and two females on the inlet of Wall lake,
April 2, 1916.

Baldpate (Mareca americana). Specimen in the Smith collection.
Reported tolerably common by Mr. Lee. I saw about fifty on Wall
lake March 15, 1914, and fifteen in the " Goosepond " April 16, 1916.

Green-winged Teal (Nettion carolinense). Two specimens in the
Smith collection. Not as common as the blue-winged teal and mi-
grates earlier, my first seen dates ranging from March 15 to April
4. Mr. Lee stated that the green-winged teal nested until about
1883, building their nests in the prairie grass well back from the
water. He said that the nests were often exposed by prairie fires
and that the females would return and try to hatch out the cooked
eggs, often sitting for weeks. He stated that the blue-winged teal
nested in similar locations.

Blue-winged Teal (Querqiiednla discors). Reported by all the
early settlers as nesting abundantly, and as more common than the

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 149

green-winged teal. It is still the most common of nesting ducks,
although in extremely small numbers as compared with early days.
It nested commonly in the " Goosepond " in 1915.

Cinnamon Teal {Querquedula cyanoptera) . I identified one
among many other ducks in the " Goosepond " April 18, 1915. It
was resting and preening its feathers on the top of a haystack bot-
tom surrounded by water. I had ample opportunity to observe it
through eight-power binoculars, getting all identification marks.
Mrs. George May also reported it in the spring of 1911, and a local
hunter in the fall of 1915, both observations in the " Goosepond."
The hunter has a copy of Reed's Game Bird Guide.

Shoveller or Spoonbill (Spatula clypeata). Specimen in the
Smith collection. In my experience this duck ranks next to the
mallard in abundance. First seen dates range from April 3 to
May 4. During the summer of 1915 it was numerous around the
" Goosepond " and I presume nested there. Mr. Lee reports it as
nesting commonly in early days.

Pintail (DafiJa acuta). Three specimens in the Smith collection.
This duck nested commonly in early days and Mr. Lee reports it as
a rare breeder now. In 1908 the " Goosepond " was flooded and it
remained until late in June. It is one of the earliest migrants. My
first seen dates range from March 15 to April 24.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). Three specimens in the Smith collec-
tion. Very rare now. Mr. Lee reported it as next to the pintail in
numbers breeding in early days and as still nesting in rare in-
stances, nests having been reported in 1916. H. B. Hayden killed
one on Wall lake in 1904.

Redhead (Marila americana) . Specimen in the Smith collection.
Reported by Mr. Smith as very common in early days, he having
killed one hundred twenty-nine redheads to seven canvas-backs in
the years 1876 to 1881. Mr. Lee reported it common. I saw many
in the " Goosepond " April 7, 1912, and Mrs. George May reported
it from the same place April 16, 1911.

Canvas-back {Marila valisineria). Specimen in the Smith collec-
tion. Both Mr. Lee and Mr. Smith stated that it was rare in early
days. It appears to be increasing in numbers. Mrs. George May
identified it in the " Goosepond " April 4, 1912. Local hunters re-
ported it more common that year than for years. I found it com-
mon in the spring of 1915, keeping company with scaup ducks in
the " Goosepond."

Greater Scaup {Marila marila). I presume it occurs, but I have
never positively identified it and have no records.

Lesser Scaup (Marila affinis). Specimen in the Smith collection.
Reported as breeding in early days by Mr. Lee. It is a common mi-
grant now. My first seen dates range from March 28 to May 11. It
often lingers till June.

150 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

Ring-necked Duck (Marila collaris). Specimen in the Smith col-
lection. Reported common by Mr. Lee. He stated that a party of
hunters at Wall lake killed one hundred twenty-five in 1904.

Buffle-head (Charitonetta albeola). Three specimens in the Smith
collection. Reported common by Mr. Lee. I saw one in the " Goose-
pond " May 5, 1914.

Old-squaw Duck (Harelda hyemalis). One specimen, a male, in
the Smith collection. Mr. Smith said that this was the only one
he ever saw, and considered it very rare. No others reported it.

Ruddy Duck {Erismatura jamaiccnsis). Two specimens in the
Smith collection. Mr. Lee reported it rare.

Lesser Snow Goose (Chen 'hyper'boreus hijperboreus) . Specimen
in the Smith collection. They are rare migrants at the present
day. Mr. Lee reported that snow geese were quite common in early
days, he having seen acres covered with them. He stated that they
never nested but stayed about a month in spring and were rare
in fall. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Lee said they were very poor
eating as they never got fat. On April 3, 1914, I counted eight
snow geese in a flock of blue geese, which had alighted in the corn-
field back of our barn. On March 28, 1915, I saw seven snow geese
in a large fiock of blue geese. I called them lesser snow geese
because they were approximately the same size as the blue geese.

Blue Goose (Chen cwrulescens) . Specimen in the Smith collec-
tion. Mr. Smith said that the one he had mounted was the only
one he ever saw. Mr. Lee considered them rare, reporting about
one hundred snow geese to one blue goose. In my experience this
goose cannot be called rare at the present day. On April 2, 1914,
about fifty blue geese and three snow geese alighted in a cornfield
about one-half mile from our house. I took my binoculars and
got close enough to see the rusty wash on their white heads
and necks in addition to their blue bodies. The next day a larger
fiock of eight snow geese and one hundred sixty blue geese (I
counted them, and they were so thick I missed a few) alighted
and rested for some time on a bluegrass pasture. Later they
alighted in a cornfield only about twenty rods from our barn, from
which I watched them through my field glasses. On March 28, 1915,
an enormous fiock of blue geese came up the Boyer river valley
from the southwest and after much preliminary circling they
alighted in a dense mass about the center of the " Goosepond,"
where they remained until I left, or for over two hours. It was
impossible to count them, but I estimated their number at two
thousand or over. The fiock contained seven snow geese. On April
2nd I again saw what I think was the same fiock of blue geese,
as there were seven snow geese in it. They were fiying in im-
mense circles high in the heavens, honking as they flew. Local

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 1.")1

hunters reported the blue geese as present in the " Goosepond "
in the spring of 1916. I did not see them as I was away from home,
except for two brief visits.

White-fronted Goose (Anser aldifrons gamieli) . Both Mr. Lee
and Mr. Smith reported this goose common in early days. Both
stated that they were good eating as they got very fat. Mr. Lee
stated that they were common in fall as well as in spring, coming
about September 1st and staying until it froze up. They are tol-
erably common yet. I saw a small flock in the " Goosepond "
March 28, 1915. Mrs. George May reported them in the same place
April 14, 1911. Snow geese, blue geese, and white-fronted geese are
all called brant by local hunters.

Canada Goose {Branta canadensis canadensis). Reported as
common by both Mr. Smith and Mr. Lee, but not as common as its
smaller subspecies. Mr. Lee said that the Canada goose was the
only goose that ever nested in Sac county. He stated that in 1856
or 1857 a party of seven men captured a double wagon-box full of
young Canada geese from one-half to two-thirds grown in a trip
of about fifty miles, from Sac City up Cedar creek to Fonda, then
west to Pond or Sunk grove, then to the Raccoon river and down
it to Sac City. He also reported the last Canada goose nest at Cor-
rection pond in the year 1878, with perhaps some nesting at Rush
lake in 1886 or '87. He further said that Canada geese are the
least common of the three subspecies now, but that thousands of
Canada geese stayed at Storm lake in Buena Vista county for a
month in the spring of 1914. My father reported that Caanda
geese nested in the " Goosepond " till 1878. Mrs. George May re-
ported them in the " Goosepond " April 14, 1911, and I identified
one April 18, 1913.

Hutchin's Goose {Branta canadensis hutchinsi). Reported by
Mr. Lee as tolerably common both in early days and at the pres-
ent time.

Cackling Goose (Branta canculensis minima). Mr. Lee reported
that the cackling goose was more common than the Hutchin's in
early days, and as more common than either Hutchin's or Canada
at the present day.

Brant {Branta 'bernicla glausogastra) . Mrs. George May report-
ed five seen in the " Goosepond " in the spring of 1911.

Whistling Swan {Olor columhianus). Specimen in the Smith
collection. Mr. Smith reported them as tolerably common. My
father stated that Mr. Oscar Draper shot two swans, weighing re-
spectively, twenty-three and one-half and twenty-four pounds, out
of a flock of eight or ten, in the " Goosepond " in 1875. Mr. Lee
reported swans flying over in 1888 and 1889. A swan was seen on
Wall lake by hunters in 1904. Local hunters reported that a flock

152 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

of about fifty swans stayed about the lower end of the " Goose-
pond " for some time in the spring of 1915.

Trumpeter Swan {Olor huccinator) . Mr. Smith has a fine speci-
men in his collection, but reported them very rare. Mr. Lee said
that he saw swans swimming in Rush lake in nesting season in
1873. Mr. Shelt Tiberghien reported the last swan nesting about
1870.

Bittern (Botaunis Icntiginosiis). These birds are common in all
wet marshy sloughs of any extent. They are more common in mi-
gration, but considerable numbers remain throughout the summer
in all suitable localities. I have first seen migration dates of
April 13, 1913; May 3, 1914, and May 9, 1915.

Least Bittern {Ixohrychus exilis). Specimen in the Smith col-
lection. I have found the least bittern rare, never having seen
more than two in one day, and these usually in the fall. I have
observed it both on Wall lake and in the " Goosepond."

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias herodias). This huge heron
is a tolerably common migrant in the fall, somewhat rarer in
spring. It is a rare breeder. In the spring of 1915 I saw five in
the air over the " Goosepond " at the same instant. I have also
seen it along the Coon river and about Wall lake. Mr. Lee stated
that it now nests along the Coon river and that it was much more
common in early days. A pair nested along the Boyer river or in
the lower end of the " Goosepond " during the summer of 1915,
according to the report of a local farmer, who saw them all sum-
mer and saw the young from the time they were able to fly until
the hunting season opened.

Green Heron (Buforides x^iresccns virescens). Two specimens in
the Smith collection. The green heron is common along the Coon
river. I saw it in the " Goosepond " in the spring of 1915, and
also during the summer of 1916. During this summer I also saw
it frequently along the Boyer river near by. I think it nests at
all the places previously mentioned, and possibly at Wall lake,
although it is not numerous at the lake, even during migration.

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticoarx nycticoarx nccvms).
Specimen in the Smith collection. Mr. Lee stated that these her-
ons were common and nested at Sac City, but in most of the county
it is a rare bird. It has been shot at Wall lake and at a pond
north of the lake. I have seen one along Indian creek northwest
of Lake View, and two were reported by a farmer boy along the
Boyer river in 1914.

Whooping Crane (Grus americana). According to all early set-
tlers the whooping crane was much rarer than the sandhill crane.
My father stated that he had seen from one to ten in flocks of
sandhill cranes, and that he had seen as high as forty in a flock

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa \~)o

by themselves, both in the spring and fall. Mr. Shelt Tiberghien
said that whooping or white cranes nested in northern Sac county
until about the year 1869, and that the whooping cranes deserted
this section as a breeding ground at the time that the railroad
went through Newell. Mr. Lee reported none seen since 1895.
My last record is March 24, 1904. Mr. Smith stated that he once
secured a specimen for mounting which a neighbor had shot, but
that it was temporarily left on a work bench, with its head hang-
ing over so that the hogs could reach it, and they considered it
good eating.

Sandhill Crane {Grus 7?; ea^/cowt/ ). ^ Specimen in the Smith collec-
tion. Mr. Smith reported them very common. My father stated
that a pair were seen about the farm all summer in 1875. Mr.
Lee also reports them as common and breeding, two eggs being
laid, with the last nest found about the year 1875. He hatched out
two eggs from this nest under a goose, but could not raise the
young cranes. He stated that the sandhills nested in sloughs,
bviilding their own mound for the nest and not using muskrat
houses. Mr. Shelt Tiberghien reported them nesting also, with
the last nest in 1878. I have found sandhill cranes only tolerably
common to rare as migrants; also more common in spring than
in fall. I have eight spring migration dates in the twelve years
from 1904-1915, ranging from first seen on March 8th to April 10th,
with the average on April 5th. I have never seen them alight save
once, which was in a large pasture, in the fall. Their trumpeting
can be frequently heard on spring nights as they pass overhead,
although they also migrate by day. My father said that he once
saw a flock of sandhills " dancing." They flopped their wings,
kicked and hopped and circled about, but did not rise from the
ground during the dance. Mr. Timmerman of Wall lake stated
that when a boy in Franklin county he used to trap the sandhills
in steel traps set in oat. wheat, or corn fields, but unless promptly
secured the cranes would twist off their toes and escape. They
were considered good eating.

King Rail (Rallus elegans). The king rail is a common breeder,
nesting wherever there are suitable marshes. It is especially com-
mon in the " Goosepond " some years. I have seen the young rails
there when they were about the size of young domestic chickens
a few days old, and they were dead black in color. I have also
seen the species about the inlet of Wall lake.

Virginia Rail (Rallus virginianiis). Specimen in the Smith col-
lection. I have found the Virginia rail very rare. I saw one in
the " Goosepond " May 30, 1915, and one at Wall lake August 27,
1909.

Sora Rail (Porzana Carolina). The sora rail is common in all

lo4 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

suitable marshy places, at least during migrations. I have picked
up several dead soras which apparently had struck telephone wires
or buildings during migration.

Florida Gallinule (Gallinula galeata). Very rare. I saw one in
the " Goosepond " May 11, 1913. My father picked up a young
gallinule which was lying dead by the roadside, August 17, 190S.
Apparently it had flown into a telephone wire as the skin on its
crown plate was broken.

Coot or Mudhen (Fulica americana). Specimen in the Smith
collection. Very abundant during migration, especially at Wall
lake and in the " Goosepond." It nests commonly in all suitable
marshy places. My first seen dates range from April 3rd to 16th.

Wilson Phalarope (^teganopus tricolor). Specimen in the Smith
collection. A rare migrant. I first identified it on May 9, 1909,
in the " Goosepond," the one seen being an adult female. On Sep-
tember 3, 1911, I saw a young Wilson phalarope at the inlet of
Wall lake. I saw an adult female in the " Goosepond " in the
spring of 1916.

Avocet (Recvrvirostra aviericana). Mr. Harry Colburn of Sac
City killed twenty avocets along the Cedar creek in 1894. In the
fall of 1914 I saw two birds along the inlet of Wall lake which
must have been avocets, but they were so wary that I could not
positively identify them, although they were very large shore
birds with long legs, very loud call notes and a striking black and
white color pattern.

Wilson Snipe (Gallingo deVcata). Very common in suitable
marshy places during migration. My spi-ing migration dates range
from April 4th to 23rd for first seen. I flushed one from a small
springy creek November 28, 1915.

Long-billed Dowitcher (Macrorhamphus griseits scolopaceus) .
Very rare migrant. I first identified it in the " Goosepond " May 9,
1909, seeing one. I also saw one August 8, 1911, rowing my boat to
within ten feet of where it probed the muddy shore of the inlet
of Wall lake.

Stilt Sandpiper (Micropalama'himantopus). A rare migrant. I
saw two in the " Goosepond " May 23, 1915.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Pisobia mnmilata) . An abundant spring
migrant, common fall migrant, frequenting low wet pastures far
from any open water, in the fall. My first seen dates in spring
range from April 4th to May 4th and I have seen it in the fall
from August 6th to September 8th.

Baird Sandpiper (Pisobia bairdi). A rare migrant which I have
identified only once, -on August 23, 1911, at the inlet of Wall lake.
I watched that one through eight-power binoculars for fifteen min-
utes or more, at distances as close as ten feet.

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 155

Least Sandpiper (Pisohia inimitilla). A common migrant, es-
pecially in the fall and about the inlet of Wall lake. It is less
common in the " Goosepond " and marshy places. My first seen
dates in fall range from August 2nd to 24th.

Red-backed Sandpiper (Pelidnaalpina sakJwlina). A rare migrant.
I saw two males and one female in the " Goosepond " May 23, 1915.

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Ereunetes pusilla) . A common mi-
grant during the months of May, August and the first half of Sep-
tember, especially about the inlet. It is usually found in the com-
pany of least sandpipers and is not quite as common as that
species.

Marbeled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). Specimen in the Smith collec-
tion. Mr. Lee reported them as formerly common and told of find-
ing nests and eggs. Mr. Smith reported them as rare after 1875.

Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa Jicemastica). Specimen in the Smith
collection. Mr. Smith reported them as rare.

Greater Yellow-legs {Totanus melanoleucus) . Two specimens in
the Smith collection. A rare spring and fall migrant at the pres-
ent time. I saw on,e August 24, 1914, and one in the spring of 1916.

Lesser Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes). A common migrant both
spring and fall, about the inlet of Wall lake and the " Goosepond."
My first seen dates in spring range from April 18th to May 12th;
in the fall, August 4th is the earliest date.

Solitary Sandpiper (Helodramas solitarius solitarius). A toler-
ably common migrant both in spring and fall. It is more frequently
found along the small creeks and streams, one or two individuals
in a place, than about the larger marshes or the lake. My first
seen dates in spring are from May 18th to 23rd. In the fall it
comes early in August and remains as late as the second week in
October.

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus scmipalmattis) . A very
rare migrant. I identified one in the " Goosepond " May 30, 1915.

Upland Plover (Bartramia longiciida) . Tolerably common spring
and fall migrant at present. Mr. Lee reported it as formerly common
and breeding, the last nest he knew of being about 1890. Mr. Smith
reported it as nesting in timothy fields and so shy that it had to
be hunted by driving up to it with a team. I can remember of a
nest in our pasture, which must have been about 1898.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis viacularius) . Only tolerably common
along the sandy shores of Wall lake and along the Coon river. I
know it as a migrant only.

Long-billed Curlew (Numcnins americanus). Specimen in the
Smith collection. Mr. Smith said they were rare after he came in
1876. Mr. Lee reported seeing none of late years, but that formerly
they were common and nested, the last nest about 1885.

156 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

Golden Plover (Charadriiis dominicus dominicus). Mr. Smith
said, " There were countless thousands of them running over the
burned-over prairies in the spring of 1876." Mr. Lee reported that
in early days Indian creek used to be a flightway for golden plover.
He stated that during the spring migration a bushel basket-full
could be shot there in an hour. He also reported seeing four
golden plover in Buena Vista county in the fall of 1916. Dr.
Speaker of Lake View reported one killed near Wall lake about 1910.

Killdeer (Oxyeclius vociferus) . Tolerably common as a migrant
and tolerably common as a breeding species. I once found a nest
in my cornfield over three-fourths of a mile from the nearest water.
It is one of the earliest migrants, my first seen dates ranging from
March 11th in 1908 and 1911 to April 3rd in 1915.

Semipalmated Plover {Mgialitis semipalmata) . A common fall
migrant, especially at the inlet of Wall lake, but rare as a spring
migrant in my experience. I have seen it only once in spring,
June 9, 1916, along Boyer river west of the " Goosepond."

Bob-white or Quail (Colinus virginianns virginianns). Two speci-
mens in the Smith collection. The bob-white is very rare in all the
prairie portions of the county at he present time. The few that are
found live mostly along the edges of the timber along the Coon river.
Mr. Lee reported bob-whites very scarce in 1854. Mr. Tiberghien
reported that bob-whites were most numerous in 1866. Mr. Piatt
Armstrong of Lake View reported a few bob-whites in a patch of
brush on Indian creek in 1878. The bob-whites do not thrive h\
the prairie portions of the county because, even if the hunters
spare them, every four or five years there comes a sleet storm in
winter which reduces them to the verge of extinction.

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa um'bellus umhellus). Extinct in the
county at the present day. Mr. Lee said he saw the last one in
1886, and had seen a few others before that. Mr. Hugh Cory re-
ported ruffed grouse rare, the last he saw being in the 1860's.

Prairie Chicken (Ti/nipannchus americanns americanus). Three
specimens in the Smith collection. The status of the prairie
chicken has been changed several times in Sac county. Mr. Tiber-
ghien reported that the prairies chickens were common at the time
of the earliest settlements, but that they migrated south in winter.
He said that in the winter of 1855-56 fifteen chickens tried to re-
main and only seven of them survived. All the other chickens
had migrated south, and returning the next spring were very abun-
dant the succeeding summer and fall, nesting in great numbers on
the prairie. These migrations giving absence in winter continued
until about 1875 to 1880, when corn became a common crop. The
prairie chickens then both nested and wintered abundantly. Many
farmers trapped them in coop traps during the winter, some of

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 157

them drying the meat of the breasts for summer use. One albino
prairie chicken attained quite a local reputation in the southern
half of the county because it could never be trapped, and all the
hunters made it a point to spare the " White Chicken." This
period continued until about 1895, by which time the county be-
came so thickly settled that only a few prairie chickens could find
places to nest. From this time on they have been common in win-
ter, coming in from the Dakotas or Minnesota, wintering in the
stalk fields or about the fields of shocked fodder, and in the spring
returning whence they came to nest. This condition continues at
present, with the exception of a few remaining to breed. From
1900 to 1913 I have no knowledge, nor can I find any record of a
prairie chicken nesting in Sac county. Mr. Lee reported one pair
nesting in the northern part of the county in 1913 and several
pairs in 1914. In 1915 one pair nested a few miles from Wall lake.
I saw the brood in July when the young were about the size of
bob-whites.

Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. (Pcdicccetes iJliasianellus campes-
tris). Mr. Hugh Cory said that he trapped about one hundred of
these birds in the winter of 1855-56. He stated that he saw them
last in the 1850's, and that they were much rarer than prairie
chickens. Mr. Tiberghien also reported them rare, with the last
seen in 1858.

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo sUvestris) . Both Mr. Cory
and Mr. Tiberghien reported three killed at Grant City in 1854.
This is the only record for the county.

Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) . Mr. Tiberghien said
that he had seen flocks of five hundred in buckwheat fields in the
fall. The last one he shot was in September, 1879. My father saw
one near the " Goosepond " in the summer of 1875, and a flock
of about twenty nested in the young grove about the home place
one mile north of Wall lake one spring between 1880 and 1885.

Mourning Dove {Zenaidxira macroiira carolinensis). Common to
abundant at times. The early settlers reported it as present at
first settlement, but as much rarer than now. Since doves are
very wisely protected at all times by state law they also are increas-
ing in numbers. An occasional one spends the winter here. In
the winter of 1907-08 a flock which numbered twenty on December
22nd were tempted to winter by an abundant supply of shelled
popcorn, which was scattered on the ground in a thirty-acre field
which had been husked with a corn picking machine. About the
middle of January snow covered up most of the food supply and
on February 4th only three doves were left. I saw one of these
start south one evening about sunset. Zero temperatures suc-
ceeded, yet in spite of the cold one dove remained about the farm

158 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

buildings on February 29th. As migrants arrived on March 10th
I think it survived. My first seen dates range from the date given
to April 11th. The dove usually nests in groves about farm houses,
but I once found a nest on the ground in a clover field. From the
latter part of July until the doves depart on their fall migration
in late October they select common roosting places, one of which
happens to be our orchard. Toward sunset the doves visit some
place to drink and then fly to the roosting place from all direc-
tions until between five and six hundred are roosting there. They
depart again just as it becomes light in the morning, spending the
day far away in pastures and grain fields. During the month of
August they may be commonly found about salt troughs for cat-
tle, seeming to eat the salt. In late October the numbers coming
to the roost gradually become fewer, until none come in on whist-
ling wings at sunset.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura sevtentrionalis) . Mr. Lee re-
ported that vultures used to be very common. The last nest he
saw was in 1875, and the last bird about 1910. Mrs. E. B. Hayden
said that vultures or buzzards were common along the Coon river.
Mr. Joe Abernathy reported two seen near Sac City in the spring
of 1915.

Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) . A specimen taken in
Ida county, which adjoins Sac on the west, is in the Smith collec-
tion. Mr. Lee reported the swallow-tail kite as rare, with the last
one seen in 1908. Mr. Tiberghien also reported it as rare.

Marsh Hawk (Circus Jmdsonius). Specimen in the Smith collec-
tion. This species is a tolerably common breeder in suitable
sloughs. I know of three sloughs within a few miles of Wall lake,
where it breeds regularly. It does not nest in the " Goosepond,"
probably owing to the fluctuating water level. I think it occasion-
ally winters, as I have seen it on Christmas day and early in Feb-
ruary. First dates of arrival, other than February, are from March
29th to April 20th.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox). Specimen in the Smith
collection. A rare spring and fall migrant, with more observed in
the spring than in the fall. I know of no breeding records, al-
though they may nest in the timber along the Coon river.

Cooper Hawk {Accipiter cooperi). A rare spring and fall mi-
grant. I have seen about five individuals all told. It may nest in
the timber along the Coon river.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis lorealis). A rare spring mi-
grant in the vicinity of Wall lake, but some years a common fall
migrant in the month of October. My first seen dates in spring are
March 3rd and 6th. I have no record of its nesting.

Western Red-tailed Hawk {Buteo borealis caJurus). A rare fall

Annotated List of Sac County, Iowa 159

and winter visitant. One stayed nearly all winter several years ago,
Krider Hawk (Buteo borealis hrideri). On March 25, 1914, I
identified this subspecies. Its tail had the lighter colored portions
almost white.

Rough-legged Hawk (Archibiiteo lagopns sancti-johannis). Speci-
men in the Smith collection.

Golden Eagle {Aquila clirysaetos) . Specimen in the Smith col-
lection, but which was taken in Ida county.

Bald Eagle (Halkcetns leucocephalus leucocephalus) . A specimen
in the Smith collection which was taken In Crawford county. Mr.
Lee said, " Bald eagles used to nest, the last nest being in 1871,
at Brown's grove, near the north line of the county in Delaware
township. They were always rare, six in one day being the highest
usual record, but forty-two were seen in one tree about 1868."

Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus anatum). I saw one of these
hawks in the " Goosepond " April 16, 1916, obtaining a good look
at it.

Pigeon Hawk (Falco columbarius cohim'barius). Mrs. George
May reported seeing two, which she had under close observation
for some time, near Herring, in the spring of 1911.

Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius sparverius). Specimen in the
Smith collection. A rare migrant and still rarer as a nesting
species. Dates of first arrival are from March 24th to April 23rd.
A few miles south of Odebolt I saw four young only recently from
the nest and attended by the parents, July 28, 1913. On June 6,
1916, I found a pair nesting in the south Chicago & Northwestern
railroad bridge over the Boyer river. The nest was placed back in
the top of the high wooden structure, so I could not see the young,
but I could hear them calling, while the old bird swooped about
my head crying, " killy," " killy."

Osprey (Pandion lialicetus caroUnensis). Mr. Lee said that the
osprey was only tolerably common, but that they were seen every
spring. I saw two at Wall lake May 14, 1916.

Barn Owl (Aluco pratincola) . Specimen in the Smith collection.
Mr. Smith stated that this was the only one he ever saw.

Long-eared Owl (Asio wilsonianus) . Specimen in the Smith col-
lection. It is of rare occurrence. I identified one October 20, 1908,
and have seen only two since. It is probably more common in the
timber along the Coon river.

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus). Specimen in the Smith col-
lection. This species is a rare breeder and at times an abundant
winter resident. One February afternoon I counted seventeen fly-
ing about over the snow-covered earth, searching for meadow
mice. A pair usually nest in every fair sized patch of slough grass.
I saw a pair in the " Goosepond " several evenings in the summer

IGO The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 100

of 1916. I have examined numerous pellets thrown up by this spe-
cies and have almost always found from one to three meadow
mouse skulls in each pellet.

Barred Owl {Strix varia varia). Mr. Lee said that barred owls
were always rare and that they are still found occasionally.

Screech Owl (Otus asio asio). The screech owl is a common resi-
dent the year round. Nearly every farmer's grove has its pair of
screech owls, and the towns are also well supplied, as anyone who
knows their call can readily testify. At my home farm a pair have
nested in an artificial house, with an entrance three inches in diam-
eter, and w^ith ground cork in the bottom, for several years. The
female has become so accustomed to people that at the time the
young leave the nest she is very bold. One evening when I was
picking cherries she swooped down from behind and struck me
on the head. In rare instances I have heard them " screech " in
broad daylight. They are proficient catchers of English sparrows
and mice. In the bitter cold winter of 1914-15 a screech owl in-
jured one eye so that it could not see from it. I found it in the
barn hay loft and also a partly eaten pigeon, which was frozen,
and which I removed. The next day the owl was still there, also
there was another partly eaten frozen pigeon. The owl died that
night and there were no more dead pigeons.

Great Horned Owl (Buho virginianus virginianus) . Mr. Lee
stated that the great horned owls were common in the early days,
but are rare now.

Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea). Three specimens in the Smith col-
lection. In occasional very severe winters the snowy owl comes
as far south as Sac county, but it is always rare. I have never
seen one alive.

Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia liypogcea). Mr. Lee re-
ported burrowing owls as common and nesting. I have found them
only tolerably common. My first identification was September 16,
1907, on our home farm. I have found them breeding in the fol-
lowing localities: About four miles north of Lake View, two miles
south of Wall lake, and five miles southwest of Wall lake on the
hills bordering the Boyer river flood plain. Mrs. George May also
reported these owls from this locality April 15, 1911. In the sum-
mer of 1916 I saw two broods of four owlets each, sitting at the
mouths of their burrows in the evening, a few days before they
started to fly. At this stage the adults are very angry should a
person or dog appear near the burrow, and swoop toward the in-
truder, snapping their bills and uttering loud cries. The pellets
at the mouth of the burrow seemed to consist chiefly of beetle
wings from various species, with the fur and skull of an occasional
mouse.

General Notes 161

GENERAL NOTES

NOTES FROM LAKE COUNTY.

Piping Plover Breeding. — My first spring record for this species
was made on May 25 of this year, and my previous fall records
having been mighty few, I was well pleased when visiting the place
again on the 27th and 30th to find two birds about, and wondered
if they would possibly stay and breed. Then I made the mistake
of forgetting all about them until Mr. E. W. Hadeler informed me
on July 5th that he had seen a Piping Plover that day on the beach.
I lost no time in visiting the place the next day and found a pair
of the birds, whose actions clearly indicated either eggs or young.
A few minutes' search and I was lucky enough to find a downy
young just old enough to run about. When first discovered it was
squatted on the sand, with head flat down, and I rubbed the little
crown with my finger without getting even a quiver out of him.
The female meanwhile was doing the wounded bird stunt to per-
fection. Not wishing to cause too much disturbance I soon left,
and as soon as I started off the little fellow ran for shelter. A few
days later Mr. H. visited the place again, seeing three young in all,
now able to run about swiftly.

Savanna Sparrow Breeding. — While hunting a swampy meadow
on July 8, trying to outwit a pair of Bartram Sandpipers that ap-
parently had a nest there, I flushed a Sparrow from under my feet,
and upon looking into the nest beneath a buttercup was struck
with the heavy and unusual coloration of the three eggs it con-
tained. They were so different from all the Song and Vesper Spar-
row eggs I have seen that I thought it worth while to identify the
bird. I followed her about the field a while, and in doing so, flushed
another bird from her nest which also contained three eggs. Be-
fore I left I obtained excellent views of both birds and heard a
male sing his wheezy song several times. The day was cloudy and
the grass wet, and both birds flushed almost from under my feet
and lit but a short distance away. I visited the nests again the
next day and found one of the males singing from a nearby fence-
post, but he flew far on too close an approach. The song reminded
me of a Grasshopper Sparrow trying to sing a Song Sparrow song.
The females acted different in leaving the nest this time. Though
I approached as before they sneaked off mouse-like for some little
distance, then flew far in their characteristic swift flight. Both
nests were in a low part of the meadow beneath buttercups, their
rims flush with the ground. This is my first knowledge of the
Savanna Sparrow otherwise than that of a spring and fall migrant.

Purple Finch as a Summer Re.sident. — During the latter part of

162 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 100

June and up until the present time (July 11) I have had a singing
male under observation, but have not been able to locate any nest
as yet. He is in full adult plumage.

Rusty BLACK-mRo. — The unusually cold wet spring that kept the
Warblers here into June and gave me late May records for such
birds as Kinglets, Brown Creeper and Junco also was the probable
cause of a May 25th record for a singing male Rusty Blackbird
weeks after they had apparently all moved on. An unusual alarm
note aroused my curiosity, and I looked around to see the Rusty,
who finally came flying towards me to alight near by in a willow
and sing his "gor-whillier" notes several times as though they also
were needed to satisfy me. The bird was not wounded in any
manner that I could see.

Record for Stilt Sandpiper. — Visiting a flood pond along the
beach on July 29, 1917, I found its shores to contain some fifty
odd shore birds of various species, among which was one that im-
mediately drew my attention by its peculiar actions. Before I could
get a good view, however, the whole bunch flushed, the smaller
Sandpipers going in one direction and the Killdeer and the un-
named one in another. An hour later I again found the Killdeer
and this bird at the head of the pond and had ample opportunity
to observe it and identify my first Stilt Sandpiper. It may be
worthy of note that it staid with the Killdeer, while all the others
kept in a separate flock which contained twenty-two Sanderling,
several Spotted Sandpiper, three Semipalmated Sandpiper and two
Semipalmated Plover. The peculiar actions mentioned were its
manner of feeding. While all the rest were standing or moving
leisurely about the muddy edges of the pond, the Stilt kept run-
ning rapidly about in most erratic circles and twistlngs and cap-
turing just as they left the ground the insects that he flushed;
each capture being attended by a dip of the body and a sinuous
scoop of the neck, which made the whole performance very strik-
ing. And every few moments Tie would suddenly stop dead still
and stretch up his neck to the limit to see if all was well. This
action made the bird appear a very long-necked Sandpiper rather
than a very long-legged one. I do not mean to say, however, that
this is the usual manner of feeding with the Stilt Sandpiper, but
it answered the purpose in this instance and was kept up all the
time the bird was under observation. Probably an immature bird,
as the legs Avere yellow, the underparts very light, and the tail
white in flight. The slenderness of the rather long bill made a
noticeable field mark.

Record for Western Willet. — Visiting the same pond on Au-
gust 12 I found it occupied by several Killdeer, one Least Sandpiper,
two Lesser Yellow-legs, one Black-bellied Plover and a big stranger;

General Notes 163

while just over a sand ridge, on the beach, were Spotted Sandpipers,
Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and a Turnstone. The big fel-
low was easily identified a little later as a Western Willet and
proved the least timid of the lot, remaining after all the rest had
flown, and running about in the shallow water. This was seem-
ingly done to startle his food into action so as to effect its capture.
Several large pollywogs, which he had drawn into shallow water,
were not taken, however, but seemed greatly to arouse his curi-
osity. The bird had to be purposely flushed in order to see the at-
tractive wing pattern, but he returned immediately, and I flushed
him suddenly again to hear his call, and succeeded. Later in the
day I found him unconsciously hunting the beach within a few
hundred feet of a large gathering of bathers.

E. A. DOOLITTLE.

Painesville, Ohio.

SUMMER RECORDS FOR 1917.

In northwestern Iowa weather conditions throughout April and
May were exceedingly unfavorable for seeing migrating bird. Sim-
ilar conditions in 1915 were followed by like results, making the
records for these months the poorest in a dozen years. In both
years the birds were halted somewhere south of my station, and
when their journey was resumed most of them hurried northward
without stopping.

After a spring lacking in usual interests there has followed a
summer in which the birds have been more plentiful than any year
since 1910. This statement is based upon records of the species
seen daily in my own dooryard and its immediate neighborhood,
where forty-two species are known to have nested within recent
years. Some of these, such as the Sora, Western Meadowlark,
Grasshopper Sparrow and Chickadee are infrequent breeding birds,
the Cliff Swallow and Purple Martin are summer residents of the
past, the Blue Jay has become scarce, and of late the Sparrow Hawk
and Screech Owl are discouraged in every possible way from
nesting.

For June and July, and for August to date (which is the 25th),
the daily average of species seen has been twenty-three, the high-
est number for any day being thirty-two, and the lowest thirteen.
The total number of species seen in these months on our place and
its near neighborhood is sixty, which is exactly two-thirds of the
number seen here this year. All but three of the breeding species
have been present, and in addition there have been twenty-one vis-
iting species. In size the variation has been great, ranging from
that of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird to that of the immature

164 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

Bald Eagle. This Eagle caller, when departing, was chased by a
Marsh Hawk, and the immense spread of its wings could thus be
compared with that of the Hawk. Their proportional sizes were
to each other about as those of Crow to Kingbird, and their be-
havior was decidedly similar.

Seeing and hearing daily within hailing distance of ones door-
step an average of twenty-three species of birds is a privilege not
to be despised, neither are the thrills that come when rare visitors
appear quite unexpectedly: to step outside to find a non-reporting
Chipping Sparrow and see a Great Blue Heron flying overhead, or to
go a little farther in search of a Short-billed Marsh Wren and find
instead a Bald Eagle gives zest to the roll calling. But the best part
is to see the recruited numbers of some species that have been
sadly missed of late. This is especially true of the Bobolink, that
joyous rollicking songster which had almost disappeared from
fields and orchards for a few years. The Dickcissel, entirely want-
ing last year, has been present in moderate numbers, and the Grass-
hopper Sparrow, always scarce, has been with us again. The Mourn-
ing Dove seems to be prospering as never before. Perhaps pros-
perity has made it more generous in revealing its nest secrets, at
all events some unsuspected features have been displayed. The
seventh nest of this species that has been found on our place in
1917 is now in progress. The Maryland Yellowthroat apparently
was driven away by House Wrens, whose numbers have increased
unduly.' When such an increase happened among the Flickers a
few years ago some very curious things took place by which fur-
ther increase was checked and the species has now been reduced
to normal numbers. It will be a matter of interest to note, if any-
thing of like nature occurs among the Wrens, though it seems ex-
tremely unlikely.

Species whose summer residence with us is short are staying in
more than usual numbers; since they came late in the spring it
is possible they do not intend to cut short their northern sojourn.
No Warblers from the north have been seen, though it is now time
for first arrivals.

Altiiea R. Sherm.\n.

National, Iowa.

WEIGHT OF AN EAGLE'S BRAIN.

Recently Mr. Wirt W. Hallam, Secretary of the Chicago Vigi-
lance Association, desired to secure information showing the rela-
tive brain capacity of a domestic fowl and of an eagle. Inquiry
of various ornithologists failed to bring him the information, and
lie was compelled to secure the data himself. He secured a male

General Notes 165

Golden Eagle through a taxidermist in Chicago, and made similar
measurements upon it and a Plymouth Rock hen.
The facts obtained are as follows: :

Eagle. Chicken.

10 pounds — Weight of entire bird 7y2 pounds

7 ft. 1 in.— Extent, tip to tip of wings 28 inches

39 inches — Length of each wing 12 inches

16 inches — Width of each wing 8 inches

36 inches — Length of entire bird 24 inches

185 grains — Weight of brain 55 grains

PRAIRIE HORNED LARKS FROZEN IN ICE.

In February, 1914, near Westfleld, Iowa, I found seven Prairie
Horned Larks frozen in the ice in the ruts of a country road. The
ice was thin and easily broken, and as the birds were still alive
they were quickly released and allowed to fly away, apparently
not seriously injured. Most of the birds were held by both feet, but
one or two were fastened by only one foot. Feathers could also
be seen frozen in the ice. These feathers may have been whipped
out in the efforts of the birds to escape, or some may have been
frozen in at the same time the feet were frozen in.

We cannot be altogether certain how the birds came to be thus
imprisoned in this peculiar manner. But it seems to me most
likely that the birds found the deep ruts a good shelter and roosted
there through the night. It is not easy to believe, however, that
they would deliberately stand in water, and we may have to suppose
that some thawing occurred during the forepart of the night, and
that the temperature later fell to the freezing point.

Claxjdiu.s Pike.

SOME NOTES FROM ST. MARKS, FLORIDA.

PetrocJielidon lujiifroris lunifrons — Cliff Swallow. May 10, 1917,
five flew over the river, feeding for some minutes. This is the only
spring record I flnd.

Porzana Carolina — Sora. May 8, 1917, four were seen feeding on
an open marsh. All showed the bright yellow coloring to bill, in-
dicative of approaching breeding season. May 14, 1916, a single
bird was seen. These dates seem late, but I have no idea they
remained here for nesting.

HaUiretus I. lencoceplialus — Bald Eagle. December 11, 1916, a
single egg, that proved incubation almost finished, was taken from
a nest. This egg was probably deposited about November 20.

CompepMlus principalis — Ivory-billed Woodpecker. I recently
saw a female of this rare bird in the fiesh that had been taken

166 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100

down the coast — not in this county, however. A male was seen in
the same locality in early May, 1917.

John Williams.

ANOTHER NEW BIRD FOR OHIO.

Buckeye Lake, Licking County, has furnished Ohio with several
rare records of birds. Mr. Edward S. Thomas, of Columbus, found
two Surf Scoters (Oidemia perspicilla) there in company with
scaup ducks, on April 28, 1917. It has been supposed that this
scoter would be found on Lake Erie at some time, but this interior
artificial body of water seems to have furnished a greater attrac-
tion. L. J.

A SEASON OF ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN CENTRAL OHIO.

Mrs. R. 0. Ryder, Columbus, in reporting the work of the bird
students of that city, states that rarely if ever has there been such
an abundant visitation of the migrating birds as during the spring
migration period of 1917, especially during late April and May.
Among the many species of Warblers, the Kirtland's was seen on
May 21, 22, and 23. It permitted an inspection at close range.
Other usually rare warblers were Prairie, Sycamore, and Connec-
ticut, several individuals of each. Other rare birds recorded in
some numbers were Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln and Bachman's Sparrows. The
record of 200 species seen up to the first of June, for that inland
region, is proof that there must have been a halt of many species
during the severe weather, which cheated the northern counties
of their usual quota of migrating species of warblers and spar-
rows. L. J.

Publications Reviewed 1G7

PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED

The Winter Bird Life of Minnesota. By Thomas S. Roberts. Pub-
lished as Occasional Paper: No. 1, of the Zoological Division of
the Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota. Feb-
ruary, 1916. With a full page colored plate of the male and fe-
male Evening Grosbeak. Published also, without the colored
plate, In " Fins, Feathers and Fur," for December, 1915.

We have here a very complete list of the birds which have been
authentically recorded as winter birds within the State. The list
includes eighty-five species and five subspecies, and they are listed
in four groups, as follows:

Permanent residents, 32 species, 3 subspecies.

Winter visitants, 16 species, 1 subspecies.

" Half hardy," 10 species, 1 subspecies.

Accidental, 27 species.

Forty-one are marked as common iii the vicinity of St. Paul and
Minneapolis. Copious annotations accompany each species refer-
ring to their differential characters, status, etc. Notwithstanding
the long list, it seems to have been very conservatively compiled;
and in all unusual records data as to time and place are offered —
in most cases the observer is also named. This list will be of con-
siderable value to students in the adjacent states as well.

T. C. Stephens.

THE

WILSON BULLETIN

NO. 101

A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
VOL. XXIX DEC, 1917 NO. 4

OLD SERIES VOL. XXIX. NEW SERIES VOL. XXTV.

A DAY WITH THE BIRDS OF A HOOSIER SWAMP.
By Barton Warrren Evermann.

Have yon ever realized how interesting a small swamp
may prove to any one who takes the trouble to look at it?
Or what a fascinating story it has for him who makes friends
with it and tries to learn its secrets?

I fear you never have. Not because you would not like to
know, but perhaps because no one has ever tried to interest
you in swamps. Most people look upon a swamp merely as
a useless, unproductive piece of ground where snakes and
mosquitoes and frogs abound; where horses and cattle mire;
where one gets wet and covered with vile-smelling mud
should he venture therein.

This is what those think and say who do not really know
swamps; who view them with prejudiced eye. But let us
take a trip to one of our small Hooisier swamps and try to
learn its ways. There are thousands of them in the state, all
much alike in many respects, yet each possessing peculiari-
ties, a personality I may say, of its own. Let us go to the
old Maple Swamp.

Flowing westward through the southern part of Carroll
County, Indiana, is a small creek called Middle Fork. Not
far from where it is crossed by the Vandalia Railroad it
widens out very much, almost losing its identity. Its banks
are ill-defined. There is no definite channel, or else the chan-

170 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

nel changes from time to time. The country on either side
is level and low, and the water from the stream spreads out
and the stream dissipates itself among the bushes and trees.
A large slough is formed over which the water varies in
depth from a few inches to 2 or 3 feet, and the ground is very
soft and muddy indeed. Along the border is a fringe of small
bushes and vines, and a few oaks, nearly all of which lean in-
ward toward the swamp. Inside this fringe of bushes is a
border of marsh-grass and button-bushes. Then come cat-
tails (Typha), tall water-weeds (Scirpiis), and water-lilies.
Lower down is a dense growth of underbrush and a pretty
heavy forest of swamp ash, soft maple, and willows. The
yellow pond lily is abundant, growing in the more open shal-
low places where the bottom is of soft, black mud. Patches
of Iris or blue flag are seen here and there. In one place,
where there are springs in the bottom and the water is cold,
is a patch of that most magnificent of Indiana wild flowers,
the beautiful showy Lady's slipper (Cypripedium regince).

We drive to the swamp on a pleasant morning in late May
(21st). We put our horses in the barn of a farmer who
kindly permits us to do so. We change our clothes for older
suits, suitable for wading.

The Great Blue Heron, or " Big Blue Crane," is said to
nest in this swamp. " Why," said the man who first told us
about it, and who had seen the place in winter, " the nests
in the tree-tops look like small haycocks ! I saw them plainly
as I drove by in my ,sleigh. I counted over a hundred of
them." So we are impatient to see if the nests are occupied
this spring. We begin wading out into the marsh. The
water is very cold and, as if to add to our unpleasant sensa-
tions, the bottom is very uneven, and we often suddenly step
into holes deeper than any before ; our feet become entangled
and we fall headlong into the water. And now we find areas
of quicksand into which we are kept from sinking only by
catching hold of some prostrate log or nearby limb. Hardly
have we entered the swamp when a Great Blue Heron is seen
coming from the north. He is high in the air, and approaches

A Day with the Birds of a Hoosier Swamp 171

the swamp with long, steady strokes of his mighty wings.
But as he nears the margin of the forest he suddenly stretches
his neck and legs to their full length, and in a right line, par-
tially closes his wings and swoops down with a whirring
noise in a direct line for the top of a large ash, in which is
his nest. We have often watched hawks and crows and buz-
zards descend from heights in this way, but never before have
we seen so loJig, a bird as a Great Blue Heron perform the feat,
so let us watch him closely. How long he is and how grace-
ful and like an aeroplane he glides in descending flight ! But
see ! When within a few yards of the nest he suddenly
doubles up his long neck close against his breast, lets fall his
legs in a very awkward, dangling manner, spreads his wings
and beats the air with a few well-timed strokes until he finally
clutches the limb on which he wishes to alight.

During the day we witness the return of many others.
They all come from the north. Their fishing grounds are
probably on Wildcat Creek, some five or six miles to the
northward. In every case the descent is made in essentially
the same manner, and each is received with loud croakings
by those at home.

But soon all become quiet, except an occasional malcontent
who, seemingly not satisfied with his lot, gives evidence of
his discontent in spirited quarrelings with those about him.
Now the return of another bird puts all in confusion again.

Let us wade about among the trees and estimate the number
of nests they contain. It is easy to count at least 130 of them ;
and there are probably several more. Some trees have but a
single nest, but usually there are several in each. And here
are twelve in one tall ash, all in use.

These maples and ash are quite tall and without limbs for
the first thirty to sixty feet, and as we have no climbing
irons we shall not be able to reach many of the nests. But
with the aid of a long rope we succeeded in getting to a few.
To one end of the rope we tie a long, light but stout string,
to the end of which we tie a weight of convenient size. This
we throw over a limb of the tree we wish to climb. Taking

172 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

hold of the end of the cord that hang-s over the Hnib, the
rope is drawn up i until it hangs to the ground in a long loop.
One now has no difficulty ascending even very large and tall
trees, if he makes use of both the rope and the tree. One of
us climbs this large maple. There are eleven nests in it, but
most of them so far out on the limbs that we dare not ven-
ture out to them, so we must be content to stand in the main-
top and look down into the nests with their thirty beautiful
light green eggs. The usual number to the nest seems to
be three, though there are several with only two each, and
a few with four as the full nest complement. Not more than
four were found in any nest. There are some empty nests
and several containing young birds of varying ages, — some
just hatched, others large and lusty youngsters, almost ready
to fly. Indeed, one large fellow is standing bolt upright on
the edge of the nest, and as I attempt to reach him, in try-
ing to fly to another limb, he falls to the ground, a good hun-
dred feet below, his life paying the penalty for his rashness.

But we must not devote the entire day to the herons ; the
swamp has many other objects well worth seeing. There are
other birds that make this their summer home. Here among
the button-bushes and the patches of Scirpus we tind the
curious well-built nests of the Red-wing Blackbird, — Amer-
ica's starling. These nests are seen on all sides woven
among and hanging in the tall rushes or resting in the
crotches of low bushes. The Crow Blackbird, next to the
Heron, is the most numerous and noisy bird of the place.
Their nests are of mud and grass and small sticks placed in
large knot-holes, on top of broken-ofif snags, in forks of
trees, and even in deserted woodpecker holes. We see these
nests at all sorts of distances from the ground ; here is one
on the top of a small rotting stump only three feet above the
water, while there is one fully sixty feet high in the fork
of that dead maple.

The breeding season is nearly over with the Crow Black-
bird, for only young birds are seen in the nests, which nearly
all seem about ready to leave.

A Day with the Birds of a Hoosier Swamp 173

See that bird flitting across the open space Hke a flame!
It is the American Redstart, one of the daintiest of our birds.
Here is its nest in, this small elm. It is only six feet above the
ground. By standing on this old log we can look down into
the nest without disturbing it. How beautifully fluflfy its
little nest of delicate fibres, moss and feathers is ! And how
delicately fine are the three little eggs it contains!

A Maryland Yellow-throat flies scolding athwart our
course and hides in the clump of grass at the edge of the
marsh. From its excited scoldings we know its nest is there,
though we are not able to find it.

In the thickets and hawthorns on the banks we find doves,
catbirds, brown thrashers, and yellow-breasted chats living
together and rearing their young in peace and contentment.
And with what a thrill of excitement and delight do we dis-
cover that this swamp is a breeding place of the Golden
Swamp Warbler, the most beautiful of all our summer birds.
We catch a glimpse of a bright-colored bird as it flies from
a hole in a small dead snag not far away and disappears in
a thicket neaxby. We have not long to wait, for ths little
bird, solicitous for its treasures which must be in the nest in
the old snag, soon returns. By short flights and with much
anxiety it approaches the nest, and we see it is the Golden
Swamp W^arbler. We learn that the nest contains five beau-
tiful fresh eggs, and later in the day w^e find several other
nests, none of which we molest. They are all in deserted
sapsucker holes, or similar holes, in small dead snags or
trees from four to ten feet up.

In another part of the swamp we find several of these lit-
tle birds not yet mated. The pairing season is on, and the
birds are in active courtship. ]\Iany a combat between rival
males do we see. Near the center of the breeding ground
is an acre of comparatively open space, a pond in fact, cov-
ered with a thick growth of water-lilies. As we stand near
the edge of this pond a couple of males dart by us across the
open space, then circle about the pond, the one in close pur-
suit of the other. Often they cross and re-cross the open

174 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

water, circle around its margin, then dart off through the
trees and disappear from view, only to return again after a
time and repeat the same wild race. Some times the one is
not a coward, but stands his ground ; then a fierce conflict
occurs ; frequently they clinch and fall nearly to the water be-
fore letting loose. Now they ascend in a spiral flight far up
among the tops of the trees, only to return promptly to the
pond again. Now they have separated and one of them flies
alone in a slow fluttering way across the open space toward
the old snag in which the female is building the nest. With
wings bent downward, and tail spread so as to show plainly
the white of the outer feathers, he gives expression to his
happiness in an excited but pleasing little song, which I wish
I could describe. Now he perches upon a limb just above
my head, where, with drooping, tremulous wings, and head
erect, he warbles very prettily his delicate little love song,
oblivious of us all except of her who is busy at the old willow
snag. Although she seems very busy indeed, she doubtless
hears the little song and knows full well its subtle meaning.

These are but a few of the interesting birds that may be
seen in and about this fine old Maple Swamp. There are red-
eyed vireos, warbling vireos, wood pewees, Baltimore ori-
oles, turtle doves, scarlet tanagers, and many others, but
these we must leave until another day.

And now, as we start home in the gloaming, the Great
Blue Herons are returning in larg'er numbers from their feed-
ing grounds along Wild Cat Creek and Deer Creek to the
north, and perhaps even from the Wabash to the northwest ;
the Crow Blackbirds and Redwings come flocking in from
the nearby fields and marshes. A Brown Thrasher, perched
upon the topmost limb of a tall sassafras in the corner of a
field, sings to us as we pass by; while from the hillside across
the swamp comes the strange, doleful song of the Whip-
poor-will.

The pleasures of the day were not all from the swamp and
its denizens. The woods, the fields, the air and all out-doors
conspired to entertain us and make us happy. We saw and

Keeping Field Records 175

heard and felt a hundred beauties which delight the soul and
fill it with happy memories. We enjoyed most the fish we
didn't catch.

KEEPING FIELD RECORDS.
By a. F. Gainer.

A detail in connection with bird study which is very gen-
erally accepted is the fact that we should keep systematic
field notes and records of our observations. Just how to do
this in the least irksome manner has been the cause of much
thought and the subject of a number of articles on the sub-
ject.

The field notebook is used quite generally, but is objec-
tionable, for the reason that it is more or less bulky, and for
that reason is often left at home. Again we sometimes have
so much respect for the neatness of its contents that we
hesitate to scribble in it with a dull pencil, perhaps in the
midst of a summer shower or a driving snow. Unless we
submit to the expense and bulkiness of a loose-leaf notebook,
we are unable to substitute new sheets for old should occa-
sion arise.

After many years of systematic note keeping I have set-
tled upon the card system of keeping field records and find
it meets every need. Briefly, the idea is to have printed upon
both sides of a 3x5 bristol board card the names of about
130 of the birds most often noted the year 'round. As shown
by the illustration, there has been left below such species as
the warblers, sparrows, etc., several blank lines for those
which are rare and not ordinarily met, to be inserted in pen-
cil should they be encountered. Sufficient space is left on
the line behind each name to check off the number of indi-
viduals as they are met. Additional blank lines are also left
at the end of the list for short notes, etc. The heading speaks
for itself.

The cards are 3x5 in size, which dimensions are standard
for index cards the country over. For this reason they will

176

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

fit in standard card index cases, which can be bought from
thirty-five cents and upwards, or they can be filed in drawers
of larger cases, other drawers of which have cards devoted

FIELD LIST OF TENNESSEE BIRDS

Bluebird /fy>V M^.//

Bobwhtte

Bobolink..

Blackbird, Redwing

Bunting, Indtiro

Calbird ,

C,rdinal.>;8!//Wy

Chat,Veliow-hreaM, _,^^
Chickadee, Cftrollna /fV ./J:a.

Creeper, Brown ■// '

Cuckoo. Yellow-billed

Dove, Mourning .^Ti^./ ..

Pickclssel.

Duck. Mallard

Flicker. /S>^.-^/...

Flycatcher. Created . ■
Acadian.

Finch. Purple '^^

Goldfinch ^ — Z*?;, ..
Gnnicaicher. Elue-gray «^W./
Crackle. Bronzed V.-r///":^-/^
Grebe. Pied-bill, .'i?*.^

Grosbeak. Rose breast.

Heron. Green. ■ /

Hummingbirfi. Ruby-throat
Hawk.SparroH ./

Red -tailed //

Junco." -^ .~.v3

Kildeer....-^. " -^^

Klnjibird- ^ ...^.

Ifingfisher / ...j.m//.

Kinglet. Ruby-crowrfV%lf ffM

Golden crown /9«V //

LMrk.Mpn.iow.*tf'-r * - V,* 3

Prairie horned. -> .
Martin. Purple.-/". ^ ~ /O
Motkingbird .^H^ /t¥/ ///

Nighthawk ^^

Nulhatph. \Vhite-breB3t >wS.

Oriole. Baltimore

Oriole. Orchard.j^^-.

Ovenbird ^^ /

Owl. Scrpech.y .......

-^^, JYPrn^^ % ^

Phoebe'- ■•/

Pewee. Wood .,

Robin. ^<?-.^ <'.-/.£? --<...

Sandpiper, Spotted

Solitary

Snipe Wilson's

Shrike. Migrant

Sapsucker. Yel-beltied. /
Soarrow, Bachman's.. -*■ • .

■• ChippinirV?^/»<////

Field. ;9i<('>'?*y.///

Fox

jshopper

Veaper.-.-^3. ...
White-crown-./. ,

White-throatyW.WM^

im.//

Swallow. Bank

Bam.--.v2

Cliff

" lT^,..///t

Rough-wing . /^- —

Swi(t._ Chimney

Tanager. Summer

Scarlet

Titmouse. Tufted . ■ . ^/^Z

Thrasher. Brown .-^^^^4^ .'^..
Thrush, Orey-chf-tk

OUvf-backed.

Hermit. .Z^../

Wood

Water
La. Wa

/

y/

Towhee .■■-?W'^ .-</.

White-eyed.-

Warbling

Vel.-ihroai..

Warbler, Bay-breast

Bl.A Wh J5*^////

Blue-wing . /

Blackbnrnian

Blackpoll

Bl-thr. Blue.

Warbler. Hooded ////

Kentucky

Md, Vel.-throat _^ .
Myrtle- v^.'2>^.5'7*^

Magnolia

Nashville •■

N.Panila

Pain

Redstart

Sycamore — ^■■

Tennessee ■-

Yellow ■/■'■

Was wing. Cedar

Wiiippoorwlll-.- /.-^^

Woodpecker. Downy /TTt'

Hairy ..y//

Pileated -. /^

Red head.--.. Z^^-. ■

Red-beUied/SiCWv//

wren, Bewicks-..^

■■ (aroilna/Sy////

■■ Winter..////

Gr»

/K/

ulture. Black./". ^■/'^ ..../*
Turkey ^

^/i9:e.rn- /^T^. y.

C>-^/?r!fy../.

Cerulean

Chestnut-bided .
Cape May

Pubilsbed by tcnntsjte Orii!thol03ical Society

to various subjects. Index cards may be bought with months
printed on the tabs or they may be secured blank and the
tabs written on according to the user's ideas.

On returning from a trip, file your card in the box or case
under the current month and record its contents into your
ledger, if you keep one, at your leisure. It is a very simple
matter to " run down " your records of any particular spe-
cies, since the name will be found in the same place on every
card, and it takes but a few minutes to run through a year's
records. Should your card become torn or soiled afield, the
rewriting of it may be left for a rainy day with less pang of
conscience than if your notes were recorded on the prover-
bial old envelope or other scrap of paper. I usually take a
blank card along to record notes too bulky to put on the
printed card, and the two can be filed together, both being
dated. Nothing could be more convenient afield than to keep

Saving of a Pond, and Resulting Bird List 177

a card with pencil in the front coat pocket, where it is so
accessible that the matter of recording individuals becomes
almost mechanical.

The cost of my cards printed on good white bristol board
was $4.50 per thousand. Care must be exercised that the
right sized type be used in order that a sufficient space be
left available for making the records.

Members of the Tennessee Ornithological Society are
using this system altogether and are enthusiastic over it. The
user of course may carry out his " office records " in as great
detail as he likes, the cards being offered merely as a firm
basis for the development of more voluminous notes should
the observer have the time.

Nashville, Tenn.

THE SAVING OF A POND, AND THE RESULT- ,
ING BIRD LIST.

By Howard C. Brown.

One windy day during a heavy snowfall, in the spring of
1917, the telephone in my father's real estate office tingled.
When answered, an excited woman began talking. Her name
was Mrs. ■ , and she had just been told by a person liv-
ing near Schneider's Pond that someone was there cutting all
of the willows. So she had phoned to my father as a real
estate agent, to find out if he could tell her who owned the
property, so that the cutting could be stopped at once. Fur-
ther explanation for stopping the cutting of willows was quite
essential, and it was speedily given.

" You see," she continued, " that place is a perfect rendez-
vous for birds, and it would be a shame to destroy it. I
thought that if I could learn who the owner was, perhaps
he would stop it. For it must be stopped, and at once."

My father not knowing the owner, but sufficiently inter-
ested in any project which would benefit the birds, proposed
that they make a trip to the Pond at once, to have an inter-
view with the chopper. So out into the snowstorm he went

178 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

after Mrs. with his auto, and they made a trip to the

scene of destruction. Great willows, which had been allowed
the freedom of plenty of space for years, were being chopped
off for the piteous bit of wood they would make. When arrived

at the place, Mrs. made at once for the chopper, and

discovered that he was an old schoolmate of hers. But that
made no difference. If they had not agreed in school, at
least, there was a possibility that they could now. So she
asked him whose authority he had for cutting the willows.
He replied that the owner had given him permission to cut
all the trees for the wood. Then she pleaded for the preser-
vation of the trees, which of course meant the preservation
of the Pond as well, and he became interested enough to stop
work, to listen. " It is perfectly alive with birds at certain
seasons of the year, and if the trees were cut, the Pond would
dry up, the birds would forsake it, and we would only have
a weed patch where we now have a Natural Bird Sanctuary.
I am a member of the local Naturalist Club, and in the name
of that organization which stands for the protection of Nat-
ural Beauty spots, and our wild life, I ask you to cease your
cutting, until we can confer with the owner."

The owner was found to be a Mr. Smith, living at Monona,
Iowa. So the chopper was finally prevailed upon to cease
his action, for the present, and after making her way back
to the car, dripping wet from the thickly falling flakes, she
went home and wrote a letter at once to the owner. After
this action, of which I knew nothing until it was all over,
she felt that a big step was taken toward the preservation of
a spot which deserved to be preserved, not alone from its
natural beauty, for it had been used by many persons, uncon-
scious of the beauty which was lurking near, as a dumping
ground, but because of the many birds which visited the spot
every spring and fall during the migration season.

It is no wonder that her enthusiasm was so great for the
preservation of the spot, and that her indignation was well
aroused, for the Pond, although small, had a slough on one
side, a meadow on the other through which a creek made

Saving of a Pond, and Resulting Bird List 179

its way, and houses on the other two sides. Only two blocks
from the Illinois Central depot and Main Street, this little
spot of not more than three acres was, it seemed, a favorite
stopping point of all migrating- birds. The varied conditions
of the land about it gave to it a variety of bird life which I
doubt is equalled by any place in the county of equal area.

So a letter was written to Mr. Smith telling him about the
use the birds made of the place, and asking that he should
stop the cutting of the trees at once, and give his permission
to allow those members of the Naturalist Club, who would,
help improve the general appearnce of the spot and make it
a Bird Sanctuary. His reply was very favorable. He hadn't
realized that it had any value as it was and merely thought
that he would have it cleaned up. But with the letter from

Mrs. he changed his mind. Orders were given at

once for the chopping to be stopped, and permission was
readily granted for cleaning up the place and making it a
Bird Sanctuary. In time, it was thought that the City Im-
provement might be able to buy the place, and then it would
always remain a place of natural beauty, and a valuable asset
to the bird student. At present all that was done was to
place the project before the Calif or Naturalist Club and to
create an interest in the spot among all who were interested
in birds.

For a number of meetings the Junior Nature Study Club of
the city met at the Pond, and spent their time in hauling cans,
old stoves, etc., out of the Pond, and taking them all to one
place, where they would be covered with ashes. It would not
take long, then, for the plants to cover the ashes, and stopping
further dumping of rubbish in the Pond was attended to. A
sign was at once ordered, which would be hung by chains
from some of the willows which faced the railroad track
near-by, so that all strangers coming into the city would be
greeted by this sign, showing the enthusiasm of Charles City,
Iowa, over bird-life. As yet the sign has not been hung, and
there is a great deal to do, but we have hopes that the day will
come when the Pond, with its immediate surroundings, may

180 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

become the property of the city and may be used as a Bird
Sanctuary for all time to come. Its close location to the
central portion of the city makes it a most desirable place
to preserve for future time as a Sanctuary.

Early in the spring I began making trips to the Pond and
keeping a list of my observations. And that others may know^
something of the variety of bird-life about it, I have here
given a list of the birds identified within the two months
of April and May, 1917. Several species which I observed
a block or so in from the Pond, I have included in this
list, as there are others which I did not list there, but wliich
undoubtedly were there and missed. The goldfinches, for
example, were migrating on May 27, and were observed in
flocks of great numbers not far from the Pond, but I have
never seen a goldfinch sufficiently near to include it on this
list. Of course it must be borne in mind that other birds,
which come later in the season, and the winter birds
will not appear in this list. And when you consider that this
is only the observations of two months, I think the reader
will agree with me that the place is well worthy of preser-
vation. The name has been chang'ed from Schneider's Pond,
named from an early owner, to the Willow Pond Bird Sanc-
tuary. I have listed quite a number of species here which I
have never listed before. The black tern is one of this class.
Purple martins, two years ago during the migrating season
in the spring, came in flocks and stayed for a few days about
our store awnings on Main Street. The street was fairly
alive with their chattering. Many started nests near the awn-
ings, but when the awnings were rolled up and down the
nests were destroyed, and all left in a few days. Never since
that time have I seen any numbers here. Last year (1916)
I only saw a few in the spring around the Illinois Central
depot, and this year, for one day, I saw quite a number at
the Pond ; a day or so after I saw one, and have not seen one
here since. Towhees I have never seen before this year, but
have several listed this time ; also the Florida Galiinule. The
warblers were unusually numerous this year, as were also

Saving of a Pond, and Resulting Bird List 181

the rails, oven-birds, and redstarts. The redstarts I had seen
only a few of before this year, but they came in flocks to the
Pond this year, and lingered for over a week. Of the kinglets
I have found the Golden-crowned to be much the rarer, as
my list will show. Bobolinks have been more numerous this
year than last, and hummingbirds have been very rare. I
listed my first one for 1917 on August 8th.

In the following list of birds identified at or near the Pond
during the two months of April and Alay, 1917, an (x)
merely indicates that the species was identified that day.
Where the species is a new one, or one not so commonly
found, or migrants, I have used the initial letter of an ad-
jective to indicate the numbers, or in the case of rare species,
I have given the number of individuals seen. Nighthawks
are not rare, but for some reason I have never been able to
see very many. Only the one at the Pond this year. The
question mark inclosed in parenthesis (?) indicates that the
species is uncertain. Many times my trips to the Pond were
made at noon, or at some time when I had to hurry back.
At such times I often caught fleeting glimpses of thrushes,
swallows, etc., which I did not take the time to hunt the
species of. Ag'ain, the swallows were so numerous that I
did not bother to list them by individual species after the
first three or four. Beyond these explanations I think the
list is self-explanatory:

182

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

L?Bt of Birds

24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.

54.

55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.

1. English Sparrow

2. Robin

3. Blue Jay

4. Bronzed Crackle

5. Catbird

6. Northern Flicker

7. Meadowlark

8. Red-wing-ed Blackbird

9. Phoebe

10. Mourning Dove

11. Red-headed Woodpecker .,

12. Slate-colored Junco

13. Purple Martin

14. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

15. Colden-crownfd Kinglet ..

16. Myrtle Warbler

17. White-throated Sparrow..
Swallows l?)

18. Brown Thra.sher

19. Barn Swallow

20. Tr^e Swallow

21. Rusty Blackbird

22. Grinnell Water-Thrush

23. Chipping Sparrow

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

*m

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

n

X

X

X

X

X

3

6

X

n

1

X

X

X

m

X

m

m

X

X

s

m

X
X

X

X

X
X
X

X

X

X
X

X

X

m

X

X

s

X

s

X

X

X

X

X

X

nest

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

nest

X

X

X

X

nest

X

X

X
X

X

X

Hawk (?)

Song Sparrow

Veery Thrush

Brown Creeper

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Little Green Heron

Olive-backed Thrush

Sora Rail

Yellow Warbler

House Wren

American Bittern

Crow

Black and White Warbler.

Wilson Warbler

Chickadee

Western Meadowlark

Towhee

Killdeer

Baltimore Oriole

Chimney Swift

Bank Swallow

Belted Kingfisher

Md. Yellow-throat

Conn. Warbler

White-rumped Sandpiper ..

Bobolink

Parula Warbler

Redstart

Magnolia Warbler

Black-poll Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Thrush (?)

Downy Woodpecker

Black Tern

Wood Pewee

American Coot

Florida Gallinule

Least Bittern

Mourning Warbler

Oven-bird

Flycatcher (?)

Nighthawk

* M, many; n, numerous; s, several; f, few.

Charles Citv, Iowa.

Winter Birds About Washington^ D. C. 183

WINTER BIRDS ABOUT WASHINGTON, D. C,
1916-1917.

By W. L. McAtee^ E. A. Preble, and
Alexander Wetmore.

After having committed to the mails our 1916 Christmas
Bird Census of 40 species and 752 individuals (made Decem-
ber 27: see Bird Lore, XIX, 1917, p. 25), the writer suc-
ceeded in making (on December 30, 1916), a record so much
better — in fact, the best winter day's list for the region — that
it seems well to publish this also. At the same time we take
the opportunity to present a list of other birds that have been
seen near Washington this winter, with brief notes on the
more interesting species.

Our trip of December 30, 1916, was from Mt. Vernon to
Dyke, Va., taking us along the partly frozen Potomac, over
wooded bluffs, and through clearing's, farm lands, pineries,
and river swamps. The day was partly cloudy, with a tem-
ature of -|-20° F. at 8 a. m. Observations were made between
9 a. m. and 5 p. m.

The species seen were : Herring Gull, 3 ; Hooded Merg-an-
ser, 21 ; Canvas-back, 410 ; Golden-eye, 47 ; Ruddy Duck, 4 ;
Bob-white, 16 ; Turkey Vulture, 8 ; Marsh Hawk, 1 ; Sharp-
shinned Hawk, 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 ; Kingfisher, 1 ;
Hairy Woodpecker, 3 ; Downy Woodpecker, 4 ; Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, 8 ; Red-headed Woodpecker, 6 ; Red-bellied Wood-
pecker, 1 ; Flicker, 3 ; Blue Jay, 12 ; Crow, 134 ; Fish Crow,
6 ; Starling, 9 ; Meadowlark, 4 ; Purple Finch, 5 ; Red Cross-
bill, 2 ; White-winged Crossbill, 2 ; English Sparrow, 20 ;
Goldfinch, 10 ; Savanna Sparrow, 3 ; White-throated Spar-
row, 51; Tree Sparrow, 76; Field Sparrow, 4; Junco, 176;
Song Sparrow, 7 ; Chewink, 4 ; Cardinal, 7 ; Migrant Shrike,
1; Myrtle Warbler, 3; Mocking Bird, 5; Carolina Wren, 7;
Winter Wren, 2 ; Brown Creeper, 5 ; White-breasted Nut-
hatch, 2; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Tufted Titmouse, 11;

* Names are in alphabetical order; responsibility for the list is
equal.

184 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

Carolina Chickadee, 20 ; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 16 ; Her-
mit Thrush, 1; Bluebird, 9. Total, 48 species and 1167 in-
dividuals.

Crossbills had been seen so often that early in the winter lo-
cal ornithologists had high hopes that an " invasion " of north-
ern birds was due ; however, no other boreal species have been
seen, though red-breasted nuthatches have been much more
numerous than usual. The first crossbills were seen Decem-
ber 10, 1916, near Ashburn, Va., by E. R. Kalmbach, D. C.
Mabbott, and W. L. McAtee, one white-winged crossbill be-
ing seen with a flock of half a dozen red ones. White-wings
were next seen at Woodridge, D. C, on December 14, by
Mabbott. On December 24, Alexander Wetmore found a female
at Four Mile Run, Virginia, and that same afternoon about
forty of the same species were seen at Woodridge, D. C, by
E. G. Holt, Mabbott, and Wetmore. On December 27, while
making our Christmas Bird Census, the writers observed
others of this same species. At Four Mile Run one was first
seen as it flew past high in air, and later was followed and
located in a clump of Virginia pines. Later the same day
at Dyke, Virginia, Wetmore and A. K. Fisher found a
flock of seven in some low pines, and afterward observed
others in deciduous trees. At dusk fo'ur or five flew into
some cedars on a hillside, where they prepared to roost with
the j uncos. One of these crossbills was flushed from some
low weeds when it was almost dark. On December 30, near
Mt, Vernon, we saw two red and two white-winged crossbills,
in some low dense pines that had overgrown an abandoned
orchard. Occasional birds have been observed since the first
of the year, but the wave of migration among them seemed
to pass during the last week of December, and since that time
the bulk of the crossbills appear to have betaken themselves
elsewhere.

The ducks noted in our list were seen on the Potomac,
where the birds were feeding in the channels and other open
places amongst the ice. On December 30 yellow-bellied sap-
suckers seemed almost common, and somewhat to our sur-

Winter Birds About Washington^ D. C. 185

prise were attracted readily by *' squeaking." Tliree Savanna
sparrows were noted in a grassy field. Both these birds
usually are rare in winter in this region.

Starlings have been fairly common in the vicinity of Wash-
ington this winter, and were seen on nearly every trip afield.
They frequented the river flats and fields, mingling freely
with crows, an act of familiarity that few native birds dare
attempt.

On January 7, 1917, we found myrtle warblers common
near Hunter, Virginia, in woods heavily grown up to under-
brush, in which was an exceptional amount of holly.

Other species of birds additional to the forty-eight above
listed that have been credibly reported in the Washington
region during the winter (December 1, 1916, to February
15, 1917), include the following. Unless otherwise stated
the observations have been made by one or more of the
authors. No attempt has been made to use all known dates
of occurrence, and certain records published in Bird-Lore for
January-February, 1917, have been disregarded. x\ll the
localities named are within fifteen miles of Washington.

American Merganser. — Mt. Vernon, Va., January 20, 1917, four
observed.

Mallard. — Dyke, Va., January 25, 1917, eight.

Black Duck.— Dyke, Va., December 27, 1916, three.

Buffle-head. — New Alexandria, Va., December 23, 1916, one (J. P.
Young, Bird-Lore, 1917, p. 25).

Great Blue Heron. — Four Mile Run, Va., January 14, 1917, one;
Dogue Creek, Va., January 20, one.

American Coot. — Dyke, Va., December 2, 1916, several recently
killed were seen at a hunter's cabin.

Wilson Snipe. — Dyke, Va., December 2, 1916; remains of one
killed, probably the preceding day, observed at a hunter's cabin.

Killdeer. — Arlington, Va., December 17, 1916, one; Brandywine,
Md., December 2, five; Four Mile Run, Va., December 10, common;
one seen December 24. Killdeer usually winter on the tidal basin
at the mouth of Four Mile Run, but a heavy freeze drove them away
this year.

Ruffed Grouse. — Between Contee and Bowie, Md., January 28,
1917, one.

186 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 101

Mourning Dove. — Snowden's, Va., January 7, 1917, five; others
have been reported.

Cooper's Hawk.— Berwyn, Md., December 23, 1916, one; Bowie,
Md., December 25, three.

Red-tailed Hawlt. — Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916.

Broad-winged Hawk. — Brandywine, Md., December 3, 1916; Ash-
burn, Va., December 10.

Duck Hawk. — At least one has been seen on the tower of the
Post Office Department Building this winter, as has usually been
the case during the past few years.

Sparrow Hawk. — Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916, two; Arling-
ton, Va., January 1, 1917 (Miss May T. Cooke).

Barn Owl. — One seen at dusk flying above Pennsylvania Avenue,
January 3, 1917; two in the northwest tower of the Smithsonian
Institution, January 8, 1917.

Barred Owl. — Arlington, Va., two (probably a pair), December
27, 1916; Dyke, Va., 3, same date; Plummers Island, Md., February
1, 1917, two.

Saw-whet Owl. — Silver Spring, Md., one, November 30 , 1916
(A. K. Fisher).

Screech Owl.— Washington, D. C, December 23, 1916, two (J. P.
Young, Bird Lore, 1917, p. 25); Cleveland Park, D. C. February 14,
1917, one.

Prairie Horned Lark. — Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916, two; be-
tween Contee and Bowie, Md., January 28, 1917, twenty-flve.

Red-winged Blackbird. — Berwyn, Md., December 23, 1916, three
(E. R. Kalmbach and I. N. Gabrielson, Bird Lore, 1917, p. 24).

Rusty Blackbird. — Four Mile Run, Va., December 10, 1916, one;
Arlington, Va., December 27, one (probably a cripple).

Crow Blackbird. — Brandywine, Md., December 2, 1916, many
thousands in flying flocks; Dyke, Va., December 27, nine; "Washing-
ton, D. C, Woodridge, D. C. January 27 (D. C. Mabbott).

Pine Siskin. — Four Mile Run, Va., December 3, 10 and 24, 1916,
small flocks in Virginia pines.

Chipping Sparrow. — Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916, one.

Swamp Sparrow. — Arlington, Va., December 27, 1916, five.

Fox Sparrow. — Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916; others were
reported in the vicinity of Washington at various times during
December.

Cedarbird. — Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916.

Cape May Warbler. — A living bird caught during a snow storm
on December 16, 1916, was brought to Dr. C. W. Richmond at the
U. S. National Museum (Auk, 1917, p. 343).

Pipit. — New Alexandria, Va., December 23, 1916, one (J. P. Young,

Winter Birds About Washington^ D. C. 187

Bird Lore, 1917, p. 26). Though this bird is considered as a win-
ter resident the earliest recorded spring date is February 16, 1908.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet. — Four Mile Run, Va., December 27, 1916,
two.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — Arlington, Va., January 1, 1917, one
(Miss May T. Cooke); the earliest recorded spring date is March
30, 1907.

Robin. — ^January 3, 1917, one (H. H. T. Jackson). A robin fre-
quented the holly trees in the Smithsonian Grounds during the
first week in February. The species arrived in large numbers
from the South soon after the middle of February.

The species observed by the authors on December 30, 191G,
together with those noted at other times by various observers
make a total of 81 species that have been seen in the vicinity
during the past winter. Doubtless others have been present,
but have been overlooked.

Referring to the District of Columbia list (Cooke, Proc.
Biol. Soc. Washington, XXI, 1908, pp. 107-118), we find
109 species wdiich may be considered as winter residents,
taking the dates used by us (December 1-February 15), as a
basis. Of these Cooke lists 43 species as winter residents.
The present list includes all of these latter except 7. One of
them, the Wild Turkey, is now practically extirpated as a
District species. Two others are rare in winter, while the
other three are seldom fotmd here at any season.

Of the entire number of birds observed this winter, only a
few can be considered as rare species about the District of
Columbia. Those best entitled to be so considered are the
Ruffed Grouse, Saw-whet Owl, White-winged and Red Cross-
bills, and the Pipit. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. a common
summer resident, is now first added to the number that have
been found in winter; the Myrtle Warbler and Mourning
Dove are amoiig the rarer residents at this season. The Cape
May Warbler is of course only of accidental occurrence at
this time.

188 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

ANOTHER UNUSUAL LAYING OF THE FLICKER.
{Colaptcs anratus luteus.)

BY B. R. BALES, M.D.

The records of the laying of a large number of eggs by
the Flicker have always been of great interest to, me, and I
had often determined, should the occasion present itself, to try
to " break the record." Not until the present year did I find
a nest favorable for observation. On May 2d, 1917, my son
and I found a nest, which consisted of a hole, excavated by
the birds, but six feet from the ground, in a dead limb of an
apple tree, which was standing in an orchard, some distance
from the road, and in a place not likely to be disturbed by
inquisitive boys.

On the date discovered, it contained one ^gg. It was again
examined on May 4th, at which time there were three eggs
in the nest, two of which were taken and one left in the nest
for a " nest &gg." Each day thereafter, one egg was taken,
leaving one in the nest.

On May 10th, a " nest egg " was left as usual, but when
the nest was examined on the 11th, the " nest egg " was gone,
but the bird was seen about the tree. To facilitate the re-
moval of the eggs quickly and to avoid disturbing the birds
by being about the tree for any length of time, we had re-
moved the top from the stub wherein the nest was located,
thus making a rather large hole, and a skulking crow, seen
in the neighborhood of the tree, could probably have told us
of the fate of the " nest egg."

On May 13th, we noticed the bird near a natural cavity
in the living wood in the same tree, but about ten feet higher
than the original nest. May 14th, we cut out a block of
wood near the base of the cavity, and found it to contain
three eggs, two of which were taken, again leaving a " nest

egg."

Each day thereafter, one egg was taken and one left, un-
til May 26th, when my son (who did the climbing) discov-

Another Unusual Laying of the Flicker 189

ered three eggs in the nest instead of the customary two.
He was sure that there had never been more than two in the
nest since May 14th, but it is possible and very Hke that the
extra eg'g' was laid on the 11th and had rolled to one side of
the cavity or had been covered by the debris at the bottom,
and not discovered until this date, as it is very unlikely that
the bird laid two eggs in one day.

One egg was laid each day until June 11th, when examin-
ation revealed only the " nest egg." Each day for the three
following- days, the nest was examined, but no new eg^g^s
were found, during- which time the bird was incubating and
was always found on the nest.

This egg was taken, as we judged that the bird had fin-
ished laying. The measurements of the eggs are as fol-
lows : —

May 4— No. 1— 1.03x.86.

May 4— No. 2— 1.04x.85.

May 5— No. 3— 1.03x.84.

May 6— No. 4— 1.05x.81.

May 7— No. 5— 1.07x.83.

May 8— No. 6— 1.05x.84.

May 9— No. 7— 1.07X.83.

May 10— No. 8— 1.09x.84.

May 10 — No. 9 — ■" Nest egg," which disappeared.

May 14— No. 10— 1.07x.82.

May 14— No. 11— 1.05x.83.

May 15— No. 12— 1.06x.85.

May 16— No. 13— 1.08x.84.

May 17— No. 14— 1.05x.84.

May 18— No. 15— 1.02x.82.

May 19— No. 16— 1.05x.84.

May 20— No. 17— 1.08x.84.

May 21— No. 18— 1.04x.86.

May 22— No. 19— 1.04x.84. Weight— 112 grains Av.

May 23 — No. 20 — 1.07X.84. Weight — 115 grains Av.

May 24— No. 21— 1.06x.23. Weight— 111 grains Av.

May 25— No. 22— 1.03x.82. Weight— 112 grains Av.

May 26 — No. 23 — 1.07x.85. Weight — 115 grains Av.

May 26— No. 24— l.Olx.84. Weight— 105 grains Av.

May 27— No. 25— 1.08x.84. Weight— 116 grains Av.

190 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

May 28— No. 26— 1.06x.84. Weight— 110 grains Av.

May 29— No. 27— 1.08x.87. Weight— 120 grains Av.

May 30— No. 28— 1.03x.85. Weight— 110 grains Av.

May 31— No. 29— 1.07x.85. Weight— 115 grains Av.

June 1— No. 30— 1.06x.85. Weight— 113 grains Av.

June 2— No. 31— 1.03x.83. Weight— 103 grains Av.

June 3— No. 32— 1.08x.86. Weight— 118 grains Av.

June 4— No. 33— 1.07x.85. Weight— 116 grains Av.

June 5— No. 34— 1.09x.86. Weight— 120 grains Av.

June 6— No. 35— 1.09x.86. Weight— 118 grains Av.

June 7— No. 36— 1.06x.85. Weight— 116 grains Av.

June 8— No. 37— 1.06x.84. Weight— 114 grains Av.

June 9— No. 38— 1.09x.85. Weight— 114 grains Av.

June 10— No. 39— 1.05x.82. Weight— 104 grains Av.

Summary: —

Number of eggs laid — 39.

Number of days laying — 39.

Lightest egg — 104 grains.

Heaviest egg — 120 grains.

Average v^reight of 21 eggs — 113 grains.

Total average weight of 39 eggs — lOVio ounces av.

It will be noted that, with the exception of the last egg
laid (and it no doubt lost some weight through incubatio'n),
the eggs averaged a slight increase in size and weight dur-
ing the latter part of the time the eggs were laid, rather than
a decrease, as would naturally be expected. However, the
uniformity in size is rather remarkable, varying in the long
diameter between 1.02 and 1.09, and in the short diameter,
between .81 and .87.

Wishing to ascertain how near we came to " breaking the
record." a letter from Frank L. Burns of Berwyn, Pa., who
is probably the greatest living authority on the Flicker, gave
us the information in regard to sets of the same size, or
larger, as follows : —

Vermont — 39 eggs and young (15+8+8 eggs +8 young)
— Oologist, Utica, N. Y., Vol. I, pp. 56.

Texas' — 40 eggs in 40 days, no nest egg — Scheer, Oologist,
Vol. XI, pp. 55.

North Carolina — 48 eggs in 65 days, no nest egg — Arm-
strona: Miss.

Another Unusual Laying of the Flicker 191

Massachusetts — 71 eggs in 73 days, nest egg — Phillips,
Young Oologist, Vol. I, pp. 26.

Thus it will be seen that while we did not " break the rec-
ord," we were equalled by one, and came within three of the
largest number taken.

The behavior of the bird was practically the same at all
times; almost every time we visited the nest, she was in the
nesting hole, but flew to a nearby tree and " sang " to us
while we were there. On one or two occasions, she flew to
the tree while my son was climbing to the nest, but flew away
before he had reached the nesting hole.

It would be interesting to know just how many insects
were consumed during- the period of laying, to nourish the
bird, for lime for the shells and to furnish ten and one-tenth
ounces, avoirdupois, of eggs, which is considerably more than
the weight of the bird itself.

Circleville, Ohio.

192 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

GENERAL NOTES

THE FLORIDA GALLINULE NEAR WASHINGTON, D. C.

On September 4, 1917, I purchased an immature female Florida
Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) in the Washington Center Market
that, from the condition of the blood in the larger vessels, and the
state of the viscera, must have been killed on the preceding day.
Though no definite locality was given it is believed that this bird
was shot nearby within the limits used in citing records for the
District Fauna. There are few notes on the occurrence of the
Florida Gallinule in this vicinity, though it is supposed that it
may breed rarely in the more secluded marshes.

Alexander Wetmore.

Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.

A CORRECTION.

In my paper, entitled " Some Notes on the Birds of Rock Can-
yon, Arizona," which appeared in the June, 1917, number of
the Wilson Bulletin, there are two errors which have been cour-
teously brought to my attention by Mr. Harry S. Swarth of the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California.

The Rillito River (or Creek) is frequently referred to as the
Santa Rita River. My use of the latter name was the resvilt of
a mere assumption that the name I heard in daily use by the Mex-
icans and others was the correct one.

Also, on page 68, the record of the Mexican Black Hawk (Vrii'bi-
tinga anthrocina) should be withdrawn from the list, because of
the rarity of the species in Arizona, and the lack of specimen evi-
dence with which to confirm the present occurrence. The great
similarity between this species and Buteo abbreviatus renders vis-
ual identification especially difficult, and while the specimen noted
may have been either of these two, it seems better to drop the
record altogether.

My appreciation is due Mr. Swarth for his courtesy and interest
in calling the above to my attention.

F. C. Lincoln.

Denver, Colo.

INCIDENTAL RECORDS FOR 1917.
(Obtained at Rantoul, 111.)

The most gratifying record of this past summer's season is that
of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. It was obt^^'ned by no effort.

General Xotes 193

On Sunday morning, May 23, while we were at the breakfast
table, and extraordinary note called our attention to a Yellow-
beaded Blackbird perched on a post of the yard fence. Later in
the day another bird of the same kind was observed, and both
stayed near the house during the entire day, but after that were
not seen. Another pleasure was the repetition of the Black Terns.
They had been recorded in 1916, and this spring they were ob-
served on May 14 and May 22. The latter day they followed the
men working in the fields, often touching the ground to obtain the
food they were seeking.

The Herring Gulls have been observed several times the past
season, namely: January 5, May 10, 11 and 12, and June 23, and
October. The June record would point to the fact that they were nest-
ing near, as there were but two birds observed. The May records
were of large numbers, observed in the fields that were being culti-
vated. No doubt the birds were gathering food from the fresh
earth.

Last winter was enlivened by continued presence of Redpolls
and Cedar Waxwings. The Redpolls have not been in this vicinity
for many years and the Waxwings but twice during the last fifteen
years.

George E. Ekblaw.

Rantoul, 111.

A FEW INTERESTING SPRING MIGRATION RECORDS
FROM LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

During the spring of 1917 I was in Lincoln, Nebraska, for a short
time on vacation, and while there secured a few interesting migra-
tion records for that locality. The most imi)ortant of these are
listed below. Most of them are substantiated by specimens, taken
at the time, which are deposited in my private collection at Lincoln.
Lobipes lobotus (Linnaeus). — Northern Phalarope.

On May 10, a single female of this species was taken along Oak
Creek in the neighborhood of Capital Beach. Wilson Phalaropes
{Steganopxis tricolor) were abundant during the whole period of
migration as usual, but I saw only the one individual of the pres-
ent species.
Yircosylva philadelphica (Cassin). — Philadelphia Vireo.

I secured a female Philadelphia Vireo May 16 in the strip of wood-
land bordering Salt Creek between Lincoln and Jamaica. The spe-
cies has been observed but rarely in Nebraska and, so far as I
know, there are no other specimens from the state extant.

There has been some diffrence of opinion about the song of this

194 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

species, but the bird I obtained had the song of V. oUvacea with lit-
tle variation, no more than I have observed among various indi-
viduals of the latter species.
Protonotaria citrea (Boddaert). — Prothonotary Warbler.

There is one record for the Prothonotary Warbler at Lincoln. I
am now able to supplement this with another on the basis of a
fine male which I collected on May 14, from a willow overhanging
Salt Creek south of Lincoln. The species is apparently much rarer
now in eastern Nebraska than in past years, a fact which makes
this westerly record of particular interest.
Dendroica castanca (Wilson). — Bay-breasted Warbler.

The Bay-breasted Warbler has never been common in Nebraska.
Several years ago I took a single specimen at Lincoln, and on May
17 of the present year I secured another, both males. This year's
capture was found in a low tree at the edge of an open field, in the
company of a flock of Clay-colored Sparrows (Spizella pallida),
where it was, to say the least, conspicuous.
Dendroica pahnariim (Gmelin). — Palm Warbler.

Palm Warblers seem to have visited eastern Nebraska in greater
numbers, during the last few years, than formerly, and have been
noted by various observers. I have records of two occurrences at
Lincoln this spring, the first a single male which I saw and secured
on May 8 along Steven's Creek, and the second a bird which I saw,
but did not take, along Oak Creek.
Polioptila caeriilea (Linnaeus). — Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Although rather common along the Missouri River in eastern
Nebraska, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is rather rare in the vicinity
of Lincoln, according to my observations. My first record for that
locality is a male, which I secured on May 14.
Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola (Ridgway). — Willow Thrush.

I noted Willow Thrushes a number of times at Lincoln in May
of this year and secured a male specimen on the 14th of that month.
The species was commoner than usual this year, I believe.

John T. Zimmeb.

Port Moresby, New Guinea, Sept. 25, 1917.

Bert Heald Bailey 195

BERT HEALD BAILEY.

Scientific and collegiate circles in Iowa were deeply affected when
the newspapers announced the death of Professor B. H. Bailey, of
Coe College. Perhaps most of his associates had no realization of
the seriousness of his sickness, since he was confined to his bed
only for a short time.

Dr. Bailey was in the prime of his usefulness and scientific ac-
tivity. At the time of his death he had just completed a year's
leave of absence from Coe College, which he had spent at the
State University of Iowa. Here he had pursued two lines of re-
search. He was gathering data toward a complete and revised
catalog of the mammals of the State. And he was also completing
a study on the food and distribution of the raptorial birds of the
State, upon which he had been engaged for a long period of time;
a study which grew out of his work for the Coe College museum.

The museum, of which Dr. Bailey was the Curator, is, perhaps
his greatest contribution along scientific lines. While Drs. Fred-
erick Starr and Seth E. Meek preceded Dr. Bailey in gathering
the nucleus, the bulk of the collecting, the organization, and the
arrangement on modern lines, were the work of the latter. This
museum is, no doubt, the second largest in the State. And while
a full description of it would be entirely fitting in any account
of Dr. Bailey's life work, we may simply say that it is especially
strong in birds, the group which most interested the Curator.

Besides containing a good representation of birds native to the
State, it possesses a very good collection of birds from British
Honduras, which is said to be the third largest collection of birds
from this region in this country. Part of this collection was pre-
sented by one of the graduating classes of the College, and the
remainder was collected by Dr. Bailey himself.

During the campaign for a five-year closed season on quail and
prairie chickens in Iowa in the spring of 1917, Dr. Bailey went to
Des Moines on urgent call to assist in the plea to the legislature
to pass the bill giving a continuous protection to these birds for
this length of time. His name should always be connected with
the successful outcome of this piece of conservation legislation in
Iowa.

By no means the least of Dr. Bailey's life work was the inti-
mate and sympathetic relation with his students. Such friend-
ship was, no doubt, the incentive for many of the contributions
which came to the museum from the students and alumni. For
some time also he had been the Senior Class Advisor, and was
thus brought into close personal contact with all of the gradu-
ates of the college. He was deeply interested in the religious

196 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

and social life of the students; in the work of the Y. M. C. A., and
all missionary enterprises, both local and foreign.

It is most difficult to speak of him personally, because of the
difficulty of doing so adequately. Those who knew Dr. Bailey must
have been impressed above all by his kind and gentle manner, his
extreme modesty, and upright manhood. I have on various occa-
sions observed the warmth of friendship arising from a single
meeting. He inspired confidence and good will.

The following eulogy is quoted from a brief tribute in the Coe
College Courier at the time of his death:

"Professor Bailey was a prince among men, outstanding and apart
in the simplicity, genuineness, and the essential goodness of his
character; as gentle in manner as the birds he loved, and yet with-
out compromise on questions of principle. Measured by the loftiest
Christian standards he deserved to be called great, for truly he
was ' the servant of all.' "

Bert Heald Bailey was born on May 2, 1875, at Farley, Dubuque
County, Iowa. His parents were Rev. Turner S. Bailey, D.D., and
Helen Mar (Gee) Bailey. As a babe he was taken by his parents
to Ohio,, but they returned in 1877 to Carroll, Iowa. In 1887 the
family removed to Cedar Rapids, where he grew to manhood. His
schooling began in Carroll, and was continued in Cedar Rapids
until 1890. From 1890 to 1893 he attended Coe Academy. Of his
four undergraduate years three were spent at Coe College and
one at the State University, he being graduated, however, from the
former institution. In 1900 he graduated from Rush Medical Col-
lege. In the same year he received the master's degree from Coe
College, for a thesis in the bacteriological field. Following this
graduation he entered the faculty of Coe College as Head of the
Department of Zoology, and also became the Curator of the Mu-
seum.

During the year preceding his death he held the Senior Fellow-
ship at the University of Iowa, and was here bringing together
the results of his researches, especially on the food and distribu-
tion of the hawks and owls of the State; and this work was to be
the basis of a thesis for the doctor's degree. In the spring of the
year he became afflicted with a malady which his physicians were
unable to diagnose. This depressing uncertainty continued until
a few days before his death, which occurred on June 22, 1917. The
cause of death was an abcess of the spleen. The deceased Is sur-
vived by his widow and three daughters.

He was a member of the American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, of the American Ornithologist's Union (1913), of
the Wilson Ornithological Club (1913), of the American Associa-

Bert Heald Bailey 197

tion of Museums, and a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Science
(1900 and 1911).

It is not certain that all of his publications are listed below;
but in addition to these he furnished many facts for the " Birds
of Iowa," by Dr. R. M. Anderson.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. The Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus anatuvi) in Iowa. Proc.

Iowa Acad. Sci., X., 1902, pp. 93-98. A review of records
and some account of habits.

2. Two Hundred Wild Birds of Iowa. Cedar Rapids, 1910. A

small popular handbook, especially good in emphasizing the
differential characters.

3. The Occurrence of Melanism in the Broad-winged Hawk

(Buteo latissimus). Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., XIX., 1912, pp.
191-192.

4. A Remarkable Flight of Broad-winged Hawks. Proc. Iowa

Acad. Sci., XIX., 1912, pp. 195-196. The flight contained
between two and three thousand birds.

5. Notes on the Food of the Black-crowned Night Heron in Cap-

tivity. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., XIX., 1912, p. 193. The
Heron readily ate white rats, and regurgitated the fur in
a round ball.

6. Birds of Iowa. Iowa Arbor and Bird Day Book, 1913.

7. The Building and Function of a College Museum. Proc. Iowa

Acad. Sci., XXII., 1915, pp. 358-362.

8. Notes on the Prairie Spotted Skunk in Iowa. Proc. Iowa

Acad., XXII., 1915, pp. 355-357.

9. The Mississippi Kite in Nebraska. Wils. Bui., XXVII., 1915,

pp. 407-408.

10. Science in the High School. The College Eye, Cedar Falls,

May 3, 1916.

11. Additional Notes on the Little Spotted Skunk {Spilogale in-

terrupta) Raf. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., XXIII., 1916, p. 290.

12. Successful " Mink Farming " in Iowa. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci.,

XXIII., pp. 285-290.

13. Krider's Hawk (Buteo horealis krideri) in Alaska. Auk,

XXXIII., 1916, p. 321.

14. Description of a New Subspecies of the Broad-winged Hawk.

Auk, XXXIV., 1917, pp. 73-75.

15. Why the Quail Should be Protected. Des Moines Register,

March 28, 1917.

16. The Western Goshawk in Iowa. Auk, XXXIV., 1917, pp. 336.

T. C. Stephens.
Sioux City, Iowa.

198 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

THE ANNUAL MEETING

Our affiliation with the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science makes it advisable for us to hold our
annual meeting with this Association when its meetings are
held within our territory. Therefore the executive board has
decided to hold the coming annual meeting of the Wilson
Ornithological Club in Pittsburg on January 1 and 2, 1918,
these being the dates when the Largest number of members
would be able to attend. There is good prospect of an in-
teresting list of papers and a good attendance. Members and
others who are planning to attend these meetings should also
plan to present something from their studies and experiences.
One feature it is proposed to introduce is a symposium upon
the effect of the exceptional weather conditions of the year
upon the bird life of the region which we regard as pecul-
iarly ours.

The place of meeting will be 304 State Hall, University of
Pittsburg. The general headquarters will be Hotel Schenley.

Titles of papers, with a brief abstract and statement of the
time desired for presentation, should be mailed to the secre-
tary, G. A. Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., at as early
a date as possible, so that the program may be arranged to
the best advantage.

INDEX

Acanthis linaria, 10.

linaria linaria, 124.
rostrata, 10.
Accipiter cooperi, 24, 120, 158.

velox, 7, 24, 81, 96, 120, 158.
Actitis macularia, 24, 80, 120,

155.
Aechmophorus occidentalis, 74.
^gialitis meloda, 80.

semipalmata, 80, 156.
Aeronautes melanoleucus, 69.
Agelaius phceniceus fortis, 123.

predatorius, 28.
Aix sponsa, 5, 149.
Ajaia ajaja, 78.
Alca torda, 75.
Alle alle, 25, 75.
Aluco pratincola, 121, 159.
Albatross, Laysan, 37.
Ammodramus savannarum aus-

tralis, 10, 29.
Amphispiza bilineata deserti-

cola, 71.
Anas platryhynchos, 77, 118, 148.

rubripes, 77, 148.
Anser albifrons gambeli, 77, 151.
Aphelocoma woodhousei, 123.
Aquila chrysaetos, 68, 159.
Arenaria interpres, 80, 120.
Archilochus alexandri, 70.

colubris, 25.
Archibuteo ferrugineus, 120.

lagopus sancti-johannis, 120,
159.
Ardea herodias, 78.

herodias herodias, 24, 67,
152.
Asio flammeus, 121, 159.

wilsonianus, 121, 159.
Astragalinus psaltria hespero-
philus, 71.

psaltria, 124.
Astur atricapillus, 87.
Asyndesmus lewisi, 82, 121
Athene noctua, 169.
Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps, 73.
Avocet, 114, 154.
Bseolophus bicolor, 26, 84, 104.
Baldpate, 118, 184.
Bartramia longicauda, 119, 155.

Bee-eater, 163.

Bittern, 5, 112, 152, 182.

Least, 119, 152, 182.
Blackbird, Brewer's, 123.

Red-winged, 9, 123, 172 182
186.

Rusty, 9, 11, 116, 162, 182
186.

Yellow-headed, 111, 123 192
Bluebird, 16, 43, 111, 184.

Chestnut-backed, 129.'

Eastern, 129.

Mountain, 129.
Bob-white, 20, 156, 183.
Bobolink, 9, 43, 44, 116 164
181, 182. ' '

Bombycilla cedrorum, 26 72 84
127. ' '

garrulus, 126.
Bonasa umbellus, 80.

umbellus umbellus, 156.
Botaurus lentiginosus, 78, 152
Brachyramphus marmoratus 75
Brant, 98, 151.

Black, 98.

Branta bernicla glaucogastra,
98, 151.

canadensis canadensis 77
119, 151.

hutchinsi, 78, 151.
minima, 151.
nigricans, 98.
Bubo virginianus pallescens, 64.

virginianus, 25, 160
Bufflehead, 150, 185.
Bunting, Indigo, 10, 116
Lark, 126.
Lazuli, 72, 126.
Snow, 44, 124.
Buteo borealis, 6.

borealis borealis, 158.

calurus, 68.
lineatus, 6.

lineatus, 24,
krideri, 159.
platypterus platypterus, 24.
swainsoni, 120.
Butorides virescens, 78.

virescens virescens, 24, 152.
Calamospiza melanocorys, 126.

200

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

Calcarius calcarius, 10.

lapponicus alascensis, 124.
ornatus, 124.
Calidris leucophsea, 79, 119.
Canvas-back, 119, 145, 149, 183.
Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis,
28.

superbus, 72.
Cardinal, 3, 20, 111, 183.

Arizona, 72.
Carpodacus cassini, 124.

mexicanus frontalis, 71, 124.
Catbird, 15, 19, 20, 44, 111, 182.
Calypte costse, 70.
Catbarista urubu, 80.
Catbartes aura septentrionalis,

24, 68, 80, 120, 158.
Catberpes mexicanus consper-

sus, 73, 128.
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, 6.
semipalmatus semipalma-
tus, 155.
Centurus carolinus, 7, 25, 106.

uropygialis, 69.
Cercbneis sparveria sparveria,

24.
Certbia familiaris americana, 84.

montana, 128.
Ceryle alcyon alcyon, 86, 121.
Cbsetura pelagica, 25, 82.
Cbaradrius dominicus domini-

cus, 156.
Cbaritonetta albeola, 50.
Cbat, Long-tailed, 72.

Yellow-breasted, 20, 43.
Cbaulelasmus streperus, 118, 148.
Clien ciserulescens, 150.

byperboreus byperboreus,
150.

nivalis, 77.
Chewink, 20, 183.
Cbickadee, 15, 163, 182.
Carolina, 20, 184.
Long-tailed, 111, 129.
Mountain, 129.
Cbicken, Prairie, 145, 156.
Cbondestes grammacus striga-

tus, 125.
Cbordeiles acutipennis texensis,
69.
virginianus benryi, 122.
sennetti, 122.
virginianus, 25.
Circus budsonius, 24, 81, 120,
158.

Clangula islandica, 119.
Coccyzus americanus, 81.

americanus americanus, 24,
121.

erytbrophtbalmus, 25.
Ccereba babamensis, 3.
Colaptes auratus auratus, 82.

auratus luteus, 25, 122, 188-
191 inclusive.

cafer collaris, 122.

chrysoides, 69.
Colinus virginianus virginianus,.

6, 24, 156.
Columbus bolbcelli, 74, 97.

nigricollis californicus, 145-
Campepbilus principalis, 165.
Compsothlypis americana usnese,

13, 28, 127.
Conuropsis carolinensis, 121.
Coot, 6, 112, 119, 154, 182, 185.
Cormorant, Double-crested, 112,

116, 147.
Corvus brachyrbyncbos bracby-
rbyncbos, 123.

paulus, 26.

corax sinuatus, 123.

cryptoleucus, 71, 123.
Cowbird, 9, 111, 123.

Dwarf, 71.
Crane, Little Brown, 98, 116.

Sandbill, 145, 152.

Wbooping, 145, 152.
Creeper, Babama Honey, 3.

Brown, 15, 162, 182, 183.
Crow, 9, 44, 111, 123, 131, 164^
182, 183.

Fish, 3, 183.

Soutbern, 20.
Crossbill, 44, 124, 184.

Red, 9, 183, 184, 187.

White-winged, 10, 183, 184,.
197.
Cryptoglaux acadia acadia, 121.

funerea ricbardsoni, 99.
Curlew, Eskimo, 192.

Long-billed, 120, 145, 155.
Cuckoo, Black-billed, 7.

Yellow-billed, 7, 121.
Cyanocepbalus cyanocephalus,,

82, 123. ^

Cyanocitta cristata cristata, 26,.
82.

stelleri diademata, 123.
Cypseloides niger borealis, 122.
Dafila acuta, 119, 149.

Index

201

Dendroica aestiva aestiva, 13, 28,
84, 127.

sonorana, 72.

auduboni auduboni, 127.

castanea, 14, 27, 194.

cserulescens cserulescens, 13,
28, 127.

cerulea, 13, 128.

coronata, 13, 28, 84, 127.

discolor, 14, 27.

dominica dominica, 3, 27.

fusca, 14, 27.

magnolia, 13, 28, 127, 194.

palmarum, 194.

hypochrysea, 14, 27.

pensylvanica, 14, 27.

striata, 14, 27.

tigrina, 13, 28.

vigorsi vigors!, 14, 27, 96.

virens, 14, 28.

townsendi, 72.
Dickcissel, 164.
Doliconyx oryzivorus, 28, 83.
Dove, Inca, 68.

Mourning, 42, 111, 157, 164,
182, 186, 189.

Turtle, 174.

Western Mourning, 68, 120.

White-crowned, 68.
Dovekie, 2, 5.

Dowitcher, Long-billed, 119, 154.
Dryobates pubescens, 81.

medianus, 25.

scalaris cactophilus, 69.

villosus, 81.

monticola, 121.
villosus, 25.
Duck, Black, 5, 148, 185.

Greater Scaup, 149.

Lesser Scaup, 119, 149.

Mottled, 116.

Old-squaw, 116, 150.

Pintail, 119, 145, 149.

Red-head, 145, 149.

Ring-necked, 150.

Ruddy, 150, 183.

Scaup, 145, 166.

Wood, 5, 112, 116, 145, 149.
Dumetella carolinensis, 25, 128.
Ectopistes migratorius, 6, 157.
Eagle, Bald, 7, 159, 164, 165.

Golden, 68, 159, 165.
Elanoides forficatus, 81, 158.
Empidonax difRcilis, 71.

flaviventris, 8, 96.

minimus, 8, 25.

virescens, 9, 25.
Ereunetes pusillus, 24, 79, 155.
Erismaturus jamaicensis, 77,

150.
Euphagus carolinus, 96.

cyanocephalus, 123.
Falco columbarius columbarius,
81, 120, 159.

richardsoni, 121.

islandus, 81.

mexicanus, 99, 120.

peregrinus anatum, 159.

sparverius, 81.

phalsena, 68, 121.
sparverius, 159.
Falcon, Prairie, 99, 120.
Finch, House, 11, 114, 124.

Purple, 116, 161, 183.
Flicker, 7, 20, 164, 182, 183, 188-
191 inclusive.

Gilded, 69.

Northern, 11, 122.

Red-shafted, 11, 122.
Flycatcher, Acadian, 46.

Alder, 99, 100.

Arizona Crested, 70.

Ash-throated, 70.

Crested, 8, 20.

Least, 8, 46, 47.

Olive-sided, 8, 70.

Traill's, 99, 100.

Vermillion, 71.

Western, 71.

Yellow-bellied, 8, 99, 166.
Fratercula arctica, 75.
Fulica americana, 79, 119, 154.
Fulmarus glacialis, 76.
Gadwall, 118, 148.
Gallinago delicata, 95, 119, 154.
Gallinule, Florida, 154, 180, 182,
192.

Purple, 98.
Gallinula galeata, 79, 154, 192.
Gavia arctica, 75.

immer, 75, 145.

stellata, 5, 75.
Gelochelidon nilotica, 75.
Geococcyx californianus, 69, 81.
Geothlypis trichas occidentalis,
128.

trichas, 14, 27, 84.
Glaucidium gnoma gnoma, 121.

202

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, 16, 116,
187, 194.

PlumbeiTS, 73.
Godwit. Hudsonian, 155.

Marbled, 155.
Golden-eye, 183.

Barrow's, 119.
Goldfinch, 10, 47, 111, 180, 183.

Arkansas, 124.

Eastern, 116.

Green-backed, 71.

Pale, 124.
Goose, Blue, 150.

Cackling, 151.

Canada, 119. 141, 145.

Hutcbln's, 151.

Lesser Snow. 150.

Wbite-f routed, 151.
Goshawk, 45.

Crackle, Bronzed, 31. 32, 111,
123. 154, 172. 182. 186.

Purnle, 9, 31, 32.
Grebe, Eared. 112, 116, 145.

Pied-billed, 21, 145.
Grosbeak, Black-headed, 72, 126.

Blue, 20.

Evening, 43.

Northern, 44.

Pine, 9.

Rose-breasted, 10, 43, 111,
182.

Western Evening. 124.
Grouse, Prairie Sharp-tailed,
157.

Ruffed, 6, 43, 156, 185, 187.

Spruce. 6.
Grus americana, 79, 152.

canadensis, 98.

mexicana, 153.
Guiraca casrulea caerulea, 29, 83.
Gull, Bonanarte's, 3.

Franklin's, 112, 116, 146,
147.

Herring, 103, 146, 183, 192.

Iceland, 103.

Ring-billed, 112.

Sabine's, 118.

White-winged, 103.
Hgematopus palliatus, 80.
Haliseetus leucocephalus leuco-

cephalus, 81, 159, 165.
Harelda hyemalis, 150.
Hawk, Broad-winged, 3, 111, 186.

Cooper's, 7, 120, 158, 186.

Desert Sparrow, 68, 121.
Duck, 159, 186.
Ferruginous Rough-legged,

120.
Krider's, 159.
Marsh, 7, 20, 44, 111, 120,

137, 158, 164, 183.
Mexican Black, 68, 192.
Pigeon, 120, 159.
Red-shouldered, 183.
Red-tailed, 158, 186.
Rough-legged, 120, 159.
Sharp-shinned, 20, 120, 158,

183.
Sparrow, 7, 105, 111, 159,

163, 186.
Swainson's, 111, 120.
Western Red-tailed, 120, 158.

Hedymeles ludovicianus, 28.
Helmitheros vermivorus, 12, 28.
Heleodytes brunneicapillus cou-

esi, 73.
Helodromas solitarius cinnamo-

meus, 119.

solitarius, 95, 155.
Herodias egretta, 78.
Heron, Black-crowned Night, 5,

44, 119, 152.

Great Blue, 5, 20, 119, 152,

164, 170, 171, 174, 185.
Green, 5, 152, 182.
Snowy, 119.

Hesperiphona vespertina mon-

tana, 124.
Himantopus mexicanus, 99.
Hirundo erythrogastra, 11, 27,

84, 126.
Horizopus virens, 25.
Hummingbird, Black-chinned, 70.
Broad-tailed, 70, 122.
Costa's, 70.

Ruby-throated, 8, 47, 163.
Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis,

78.
Hydrochelidon nigra surina-

mensis, 76, 147.
Hylocichla alicise alicise, 26.
fuscescens fuscescens, 26.

salicicola, 129, 194.
guttata auduboni, 129.

nanus, 129.
mustelina, 26, 85.
ustulata swainsoni, 26, 73.
ustulata, 73,

Index

203

Ibis, Glossy, 116.

White-faced Glossy, 116.
Wood, 116.
Icteria virens, 15.
virens virens, 27.

longicauda, 72, 128.
Icterus bullocki, 123.

cucullatus nelsoni, 71.
galbula, 28, 83, 123.
parisorum, 71.
spuriiis, 9, 28, 123.
lonornls martinicus, 98.
Iridoprocne bicolor, 11, 26, 126.
Ixobrychus exilis, 78, 152.
Ixoreus nsevius, 85.
Jaeger, Parasitic, 5, 118.
Jay, Blue, 9, 20, 42, 44, 111, 163,
182, 183.

Long-crested, 123.
Pinon, 123.
Woodhouse's, 123.
Junco aikeni, 125.
hyemalis, 83.

connectens, 125.
hyemalis, 125.
mearnsi, 125.
montanus, 125.
phasonotus caniceps, 125.
dorsalis, 125.
Junco, 44, 46, 162, 183.
Gray-headed, 125.
Montana, 125.
Oregon, 116.
Pink-sided, 125.
Red-backed, 125.
Shufeldfs, 125.
Slate-colored, 111, 125, 182.
White-winged, 12*5.
Killdeer, 4, 6, 43, 101, 111, 120,

133, 137, 156, 162, 182, 183.
Kingfisher, Belted, 7, 111, 121,

182, 183.
Kingbird, 8, 20, 122, 164.
Arkansas, 70, 122.
Cassin's, 70, 122.
Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 16,
111, 181, 182, 184.

Ruby-crowned, 16, 111, 129,
182, 187.
Kite, Swallow-tailed, 158.
Lagopus ruprestris, 80.
Lanius borealis, 127.

ludovicianus excubitorides,
72, 127.

ludovicianus, 84.
migrans, 26.
Lanivireo flavifrons, 12, 26.

solitarius cassini, 127.
plumbeus, 127.
solitarius, 12, 26.
Lark, Desert Horned, 122.

Horned, 9, 130, 140, 186.

Prairie Horned, 111, 122,
130, 141-165 inclusive.
Larus argentatus, 75, 118, 146.

atricilla, 118.

delawarensis, 75.

franklini, 146.

marinus, 75.

philadelphicus, 3, 75, 118.
Limosa fedoa, 80, 155.

hsemastica, 155.
Linaria cyanea, 29.
Lobipes lobatus, 79, 193.
Longspur, Alaska, 124.

Chestnut-collared, 124.

Lapland, 10.
Lophodytes cucullatus, 76, 148.
Lophortyx gambeli, 68.
Loon, 145.
Loxia curvirostra minor, 9, 124.

leucoptera, 10, 83.
Lucar carolinensis, 25.
Lunda cirrhata, 75.
Macrorhamphus griseus, 79.

griseus scolopaceus. 111, 154.
Magpie, 123.

Mallard, 118, 145, 148, 185.
Mareca americana, 118, 148.
Marila afRnis, 119, 149.

americana, 119, 149.

coUaris, 150.

marila, 149.

valisineria, 119, 149.
Martin, Purple, 11, 43, 104, 111,

163, 180, 182.
Meadowlark, 4, 9, 182, 183.

Western, 123, 163, 182.
Megalestris skua, 75.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus, 25,

121.
Meleagi-is gallopavo silvestris,

157.
Melopelia asiatica mearnsi, 68.
Melospiza georgiana, 29, 96.

lincolni lincolni, 11, 126.

melodia melodia, 29.
montana, 125.

204

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

Merganser, 148, 185.

Hooded, 145, 148, 183.
Red-breasted, 148.
Mergus americanus, 76, 148.

serrator, 76, 148.
Merlin, Richardson's, 121.
Micropalama himantopus, 79,

154.
Micropallas whitneyi, 69.
Mimus polyglottos leucopterus,
73, 128.

polyglottos, 25.
Mniotilta varia, 12, 28, 84.
Mockingbird, 20, 42, 43, 44, 183.

Western, 73.
Molothrus ater ater, 28, 83, 123.

ater obscurus, 71.
Myadestes townsendi, 129.
Muscivora forficata, 82.
Myiarchus cinerascens cinera-
scens, 70.

crinitiis, 8, 25.
magister magister, 70.
Myiochanes richardsoni richard-
soni, 8, 122.
virens, 8.
Nannus hiemalis hiemalis, 84,

128.
Nettion carolinensis, 118, 148.
Nighthawk, 8, 20, 44, 105, 181,
182.

Sennett's, 122.
Texas, 69.
Western, 122.
Nonpareil, 3.
Numenius americanus, 120, 155.

longirostris, 80.
Nuthatch, Red-breasted, 15, 20,
21, 183, 184.
White-breasted, 15, 111, 129,
183.
Nuttalornis borealis, 8, 70.
Nyctea nyctea, 160.
Nycticorax nycticorax nsevius,

5, 24, 78, 119, 152.
Ochthodromus wilsonlus, 80.
Oidemia deglandi, 77, 98, 119.

perspicillata, 77, 166.
Olor buccinator, 152.

colunibianus, 151.
Oporornis agilis, 14.
formosus, 14, 27.
Philadelphia, 15.
tolmiei, 128.

Oreoscoptes montanus, 128.
Oreospiza chlorura, 72, 126.
Oriole, Arizona Hooded, 71.

Baltimore, 9, 43, 123, 174,

182.
Bullock's, 123.
Orchard, 9, 43, 123.
Scott's, 71.
Osprey, 3, 121, 159.
Otocoris alpestris alpestris, 139,
140.

leucolsema, 122.
praticola, 122, 130-
141 inclusive.
Otus asio asio, 88, 99, 160.
cinerancens, 69.
maxwelliae, 121.
Oven-bird, 47, 181, 182.
Owl, Barn, 121, 159, 186.
Barred, 160, 186.
Burrowing, 121, 160.
Elf, 69.

Great Horned, 7, 20, 43, 160.
Hawk, 7.

Long-eared, 7, 44, 121, 159.
Mexican Screech, 69.
Pygmy, 121.
Richardson's. 99.
Rocky Mountain Screech,

121.
Saw-whet, 44, 121, 186, 187.
Screech, 7, 99, 160, 163, 186.
Short-eared, 7, 121, 159.
Snowy, 116, 160.
Western Horned, 69.
Oxyechus vociferus vociferus,

24, 67, 80, 95, 120, 156.
Pandion haliaetus carolinensis,

121, 159.
Paroquet, Carolina, 121.
Passer domesticus, 9, 124.

hostilis, 29.
Passerculus sandwichensis alau-

dinus, 124.
Passerherbulus caudacutus, 10.

henslowi henslowi, 29.
Passerina amosna, 72, 126.
ciris, 3, 83.
cyanea, 29, 83.
Pedioecetes phasianellus, 90.

campestris, 157.
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, 118,

147.
Pelican, Brown, 4.
White, 118, 147.

Index

205

Pelidna alpina sakhalina, 6, 79,

155.
Penthestes atricapillus, 15.

atricapillus septentrionalis,
129.

carolinensis carolinensis, 26,
84.

gambeli gambeli, 129.
Petrochelidon hmifrons luni-

frons, 11, 27, 126, 165.
Perioserns canadensis, 82.

obscurus, 82.
Pencaea aestivalis bachmanii, 29.
Pewee, Western Wood, 71, 122.

Wood, 8, 15, 16, 174, 182.
Phainopepla nitens, 72.
Phalacrocorax auritiis, 76.

vigua mexicanus, 118.
Phalarope, Northern, 193.

Wilson's 112, 119, 154, 193.
Phalsenoptilus nuttalii nuttalli,

69. 122.
Phalacrocorax auritus auritus,

147.
Phalaropus fulicarius, 79.
Phasianiis torquatus, 120.
Pheasant, Ring-necked, 120.
Philohela minor, 24, 79, 119.
Phlceotomus pileatus, 81.
Phoebe, 8, 31, 111, 182.

Black, 70.

Say's, 122.
Pica pica hndsonia, 123.
Picoides arcticus, 2. 7.
Pigeon, Passenger, 6, 157.
Pinicola enncleator leucura, 9.
Pintail, 119, 145, 149.
Pipilo erythrophthalmus ery-
throphthalmus, 29.

fusciis mesoleucus, 71.

maculatus arcticus, 125.
oregonns, 83.
Pipit, 15, 139, 186, 187.
Piranga erythromelas, 28.

ludovicianus, 72, 125.

rubra cooperi, 72, 126.
rubra, 11, 28, 83.
Pisobia bairdi, 154.

fuscicollis, 79.

maculata, 6, 79, 154.

minutilla, 24, 79, 155.
Planesticus migratorius acrus-
terus, 25.

migratorius migratorius, 16,
129.

propinquus, 85, 129.
Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis,

10, 124.
Plover, Black-bellied, 16, 120,
162.

Golden, 116, 156.

Mountain, 120.

Piping, 111, 161.

Semipalmated, 111, 156, 162.

Upland, 119, 145, 155.
Podasocvs montanus, 120.
Po'dilymbus podiceps podiceps,

24, 74, 145.
Polioptila cserulea cserulea, 16,
26, 85, 194.

plumbea, 73.
Pocecetes gramineus confinis,
124.

gramineus, 29.
Poorwill, 122.

Porzana Carolina, 119, 153, 165.
Progne siibis subis, 11, 27, 84.
Protonotaria citrea, 194.
PufRnus gravis, 76.

griseus 76.
Pyrocephalus rubinus mexica-
nus, 71.
Quail, 4, 6, 156.

Gambel's, 68.
Querauedula cyanoptera, 149.

discors, 118, 148.
Quiscalus quisciila aeneus, 123.

auiscula, 28. 83.
Rail. Black, 116.

King, 20, 153.

Sora. 6, 119, 153, 163, 165,
182.

Virginia, 153.
Rallus elegans. 24. 79, 153.

virginianus, 79, 153.
Raven. 123.

White-necked, 71, 123.
Recurvirostra americana, 79,

154.
Redhead, 119.
Redpoll, 10, 43. 192.

Greater, 10.

Lesser, 124.
Red-wing, 174.

Redstart, 20, 43, 173, 181, 182.
Red-tail, Western, 68.
Regulus calendula calendula, 129.

satrapa, 85.
Rhynchops niger, 76.
Riparia riparia, 11, 27, 84.

20G

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

Rissa tridactyla, 75.

Roadrunner, 69.

Robin, 16, 44, 47, 111, 182, 197.

Eastern, 129.

Southern, 20.

Western, 129.
Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus,

128.
Sanderling, 119, 162, 163.
Sandpiper, Baird's, 112, 154.

Bartramian, 6, 161.

Buff-breasted, 99.

Least, 6, 21, 112, 155, 162.

Pectoral, 6, 154.

Purple, 103.

Red-backed, 111, 155.

Semipalmated, 6, 111, 155.

Solitary, 6, 111, 155.

Spotted, 6, 12t), 155, 162, 163.

Stilt, 116, 154, 162.

Western Solitary, 119.

White-rumped, 182.
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied, 7, 183,

184.
Sayornis nigricans, 70.

phoebe, 8, 25, 82.

sayus, 122.
Scardafella inca, 68.
Scoter, Surf, 116, 166.

White-winged, 98, 119.
Seiurus aurocapillus, 14, 27, 128.

motacilla, 27.

noveboracensis notabilis, 128.
noveboracensis, 14, 27.
Selasphorus platycercus, 70, 122.
Setophaga ruticilla, 14, 27, 84.
Shoveller, 112, 118, 149.
Shrike, Migrant, 20, 111, 183.

Northern, 12, 127.

White-rumped, 72, 127.
Sialia corrucoides, 129.

mexicana bairdi, 129.

sialis sialis, 25, 129.
Siskin, Pine, 9, 111, 124, 186.
Sitta canadensis, 26, 129.

carolinensis carolinensis, 26,
84.

nelsoni, 128.
Skylark, European, 130.
Snipe, Stone, 3.

Wilson's, 6, 119, 154, 185.
Snowflake, 10.
Solitaire, Townsend's, 129.
Somateria dresseri, 77.

spectabilis, 77.

Sora, 6, 119, 153, 163, 165, 182.
Sparrow, Bachman's, 20, 166.

Brewer's, 125.

Chipping, 10, 20, 47, 111,
164, 182, 186.

Clay-colored, 111, 125, 194.

Desert, 71.

English, 9, 19, 20, 105, 106,
114, 115, 116, 124, 182,183.

Field, 10, 183.

Fox, 10, 186.

Gambel's, 111, 125.

Grasshopper, 10, 43, 161,
163, 164.

Harris', 111.

Henslow's, 20, 44.

Lark, 111.

Leconte's, 111.

Lincoln's, 11, 111, 126, 166.

Mountain Song, 125.

Sharp-tailed, 10.

Savanna, 10, 111, 161, 183,
185.

Song, 10, 19, 20, 30, 43, 111,
161, 182, 183.

Swamp 10, 111, 186.

Tree, 10, 183.

Vesper, 10. 135, 161.

Western Chipping, 125.

Western Field, 111.

Western Grasshopper, 111.

Western Lark, 71, 125.

Western Savanna, 124.

Western Tree, 125.

Western Vesper, 124.

White-crowned, 10, 111, 125.

White-throated, 10, 20, 111,
116, 182, 183.
Spatula clypeata, 77, 118, 149.
Spectyto cunicularia hypogtea,

121, 160.
Sphyrapicus varius, 7.
Spinus pinus, 9, 124.
Spizella breweri, 125.

monticola ocracea, 125.

passerina arizonse, 125.
passerina, 29, 83.

pallida, 125, 194.

pusilla pusilla, 29, 83.
Spoonbill, Roseate, 4, 145. 149.
Squatarola squatarola, 120.
Starling, 183, 185.
Steganopus tricolor, 119, 154,
193.

Index

207

Stercorarius longicauda, 75.

parasiticus, 5, 118.
Sterna antillarum, 76, 147.

caspia, 75.

hirundo, 76.

maxima, 3, 75.
Stilt, Black-necked, 99.
Stelgidopteryx serripennis, 11,

27, 126.
Streptoceryle alcyon alcyon, 25.
Strix varia varia, 25, 160.
Sturnella magna magna, 28, 83.

neglecta, 123.
Sturnus vulgaris, 82.
Surnia ulula caparoch, 7.
Swallow, Bank, 11, 43, 111, 182.

Barn, 11, 19, 111, 126, 182.

Cliff, 11, 43, 163, 165.

Northern Violet-green, 72,
126.

Rough-winged, 11, 111, 126.

Tree, 11, 19, 111, 126, 182.
Swan, Trumpeter, 152.

Whistling, 151.
Swift, Black, 122.

Chimney, 8, 19, 20, 44, 182.

White-throated, 69.
Tachycineta thalassina lepida,

72, 126.
Tanager, Cooper's, 72, 126.

Scarlet, 11, 20, 42, 126, 174.

Summer, 11, 42.

Western, 72, 126.
Teal. Blue-winged, 5, 112, 118,
145, 148.

Cinnamon, 149.

Green-winged, 118, 145, 148.
Telmatodytes palustris palustris,

26.
Tern, Arctic, 116.

Black, 147, 180, 182, 192.

Forster's, 147.

Least, 147.

Royal, 3.
Thrasher, Brown, 15, 20, 47, 111,
174, 182.

Palmer's, 73.
Thrush, Audubon's Hermit, 129.

Dwarf Hermit, 129.

Gray-cheeked, 111.

Hermit, 16, 184.

Olive-backed, 16, 47, 111, 182.

Russet-backed, 73.

Willow, 129, 194.

Wood, 20, 47, 109, 111.

Thryothorus ludovicianus Ivdo-

vicianus, 26.
Titmouse, Tufted, 20, 104, 183.
Totanus flavipes, 6, 24, 155.

melanoleucus, 3, 24, 80, 119,
155.
Towhee, 10, 111, 180, 182.

Arctic, 111, 126.

Canon, 71.

Green-tailed, 22, 126.
Toxostoma curvirostra palmeri,
73, 84.

rufum, 25, 84, 128.
Tringa solitaria, 24.
Troglodytes aedon aedon, 26.

parkmani, 128.
Tryngites subruficollis, 99.
Turkey, Wild, 4, 157, 187.
Turnstone, 16, 120, 163.
Tympanuchus americanus amer-

icanus, 156.
Tyrannus tyrannus, 7, 8, 25, 82,
122.

verticalis, 70, 122.

vociferans, 70, 122.
Urubitinga anthracina, 68, 192.
Veery, 16, 182.
Verdin, 73.
Vermivora celata celata, 127.

chrysoptera, 12.

leucobronchialis, 1, 12.

Incise, 72.

peregrina, 13.

pinus, 12, 28.

rubricapilla, 13.

ruficapilla ruficapilla, 28.

Virginia, 127.
Vireosylva gilvus, 12, 26.

olivacea, 12, 26, 127, 194.

philadelphica, 12, 193.
Vireo belli, 127.

belli arizonse, 72.

griseus, 12, 26.
Vireo, Arizona, 72.

Bell's, 127.

Blue-headed, 12.

Cassin's, 127.

Philadelphia, 12, 100, 166,
193.

Plumbeus, 127.

Red-eyed, 12, 20, 37, 127, 174.

Solitary, 20, 21.

Warbling, 12, 100, 111, 174.

Western Warbling, 72, 127.

White-eyed, 12, 20.

208

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 101

Yellow-throated, 12.
Vulture, Turkey, 3, 20, 68, 120,

158, 183.
Water-Turkey, 4, 8.
Warbler, Audubon's, 127.

Bay-breasted, 14, 20, 194.

Black and White, 12, 111,
182.

Blackburnian, 12, 44.

Black-poll, 14, 20, 182.

Black-throated Blue, 20, 126.

Black-throated Green, 20.

Blue-winged, 20.

Brewster's, 12.

Cape May, 13, 20, 186, 187.

Cerulean, 1, 13, 128.

Chestnut-sided, 182.

Connecticut, 14, 166, 182.

Golden-winged, 12.

Hooded, 14, 20.

Kentucky, 1, 14.

Klrtland's, 166.

Lucy's, 72.

Magnolia, 127, 182, 194.

Mourning, 15, 182.

Myrtle, 111, 127, 182, 185,
187.

Nashville, 13, 20. 111.

Northern Parula, 13, 20, 127.

Orange-crowned, 111, 127,
166.

Palm, 116, 194.

Parula, 182.

Pileolated, 73.

Pine, 14.

Prairie, 14, 20, 166.

Prothonotary, 173, 194.

Sonoran Yellow, 72.

Sycamore, 166.

Tennessee, 13, 111.

Townsend's, 72.

Virginia, 127.

Wilson's, 182.

Worm-eating, 12.

Yellow, 47, 111, 127, 182.

Yellow Palm, 14, 20, 21.

Yellow-throated Gray, 3.
Water-Thrush, Grinnel's, 111,
182.

Louisiana, 43.

Northern, 20.
Waxwing, Bohemian, 100, 126.

Cedar, 12, 72, 100, 111, 127,
186, 192.

Whippoorwill, 8, 31, 43, 174.
Widgeon, 112.
Willet, 6, 155.

Western, 111, 162, 163.
Wilsonia canadensis, 14, 27, 96,
citrina, 1, 15, 27.
pusilla, 15.

pileolata, 73.
pusilla, 27.
Woodcock, 6, 20, 119, 131.
Woodpecker, Black-backed,
Three-toed, 2.
Cactus, 69.

Downy, 7, 111, 182, 183.
Gila, 69.

Hairy, 7, 111, 183.
Ivory-billed, 4, 165.
Lewis', 121.
Northern Hairy, 99.
Pileated, 7, 106, 107.
Red-bellied, 7, 20, 106, 183.
Red-headed, 121, 182, 183.
Rocky-Mountain Hairy, 121,
Wren, Bewick's, 43.
Cactus, 73.
Canon, 73.
Carolina, 20, 183.
House, 20, 164, 182.
Long-billed Marsh, 111.
Prairie Long-billed Marsh,

44.
Short-billed Marsh, 15, 44,

164.
Western House, 111.
Winter, 183.
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus,

123.
Xema sabini, 118.
Yellow-legs, 6, 21, 111.
Greater, 21, 119, 155.
Lesser, 155, 162.
Yellow-throat, Maryland, 20, 43,

46, 164, 173, 182.
Zamelodia ludoviciana, 28.
melanocephala, 72, 126.
Zenaidura macroura carolinen-
sis, 24, 157.

marginella marginella, 68,
120.
Zonotrichia albicollis, 29.
leucophrys, 10, 83, 96.
gamlDeli, 125.
leucophrys, 125.

MARCH, 1917
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF

THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB

and THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

(In Affiliation)
No. 98

NO. I

'K

CONTENTS

The Diary of a New England Ornithologist . By W. F. Hennlnger 1-17

A Cooperative Bird Census at Washington, D, C.

By Harry C. Oberholser 18-29

Remarks on the Mid-May Census

By W. De Witt Miller and Charles H. Rogers 30-31

Migration Flights By Frank Smith 32-35

Notes and News . . • 36-41

Field Notes 42-48

Provisional Roll 49-64

THE \A/ILSOIN BULLETIN

published quarterly, March, June, September, December, as the organ of
the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornithologists Union, is
edited by Dr. Lynds Jones.

Terms: — $1.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num-
bers 30 cents. Free to all members not in arrears for dues.

The Office of Publication is No. 48 South Main St., Oberlin, Ohio. Sub-
scriptions may be addressed to Geo. L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio, Business
Manager, or to Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio, Treasurer.

All articles and communications intended for publication and all books
and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Labora-
tory, Oberlin, Ohio, in time to reach Oberlin at least four weeks before the
date of the number for which they are intended.

The Officers of the Wilson Ornithological Club for the year 1917 are:

President — ^Rev. W. F. Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio.

Vice-President — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Secretary — Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.

Treasurer— Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio.

Business Manager— George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Editor Wilson Bulletin — Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July 13, 1916, at the Postofflce at Oberlin,
Ohio, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

New MORRISON HOTEL

and Boston Oyster House

(In the Heart of the Loop)
MADISON AND CLARK STREETS, CHICAGO

The hotel of perfect service Most popular hotel in the West

Unexcelled facilities for taking care of
private luncheons, banquets, conventions, etc.

The Commercial Men's Convenient Headquarters

Price notably moderate — Large effective sample rooms

Visit our Dutch Grill and Boston Oyster House

Second and corner section of New Morrison Hotel
now being erected

Accommodations for 1400 at one time in Boston Oyster House after completion,
March 1, 1917.

E. T. HADOVEC & COMPANY

POWERS BUILDING, CHICAGO

We have designed a beautiful little piece of inexpensive

Jewelry, consisting of an

Embtem for Members of the Wilson Club

This little Wilson's Warbler can be mounted on a stick-pin,
bar-pin, fob, lapel button, or hat-pin. These may be had of the
designer or Business Manager, Wilson Bulletin. We specialize In
the manufacture of class pins, medals, class rings and fraternity
pins.

E. T. HflDOVEC & COMPANY

, /'

Blue- Bird

Published in co-operation with the Cleveland Bird Lov-
ers' Association, and devoted to

BIRD STUDY and CONSERVATION

$1.00 a Year, 10c a Copy

AGENTS WANTED

Address Editor Blue-Bird,

1010 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Tl^e Collectors' Journal

An Illustrated monthly magazine devoted to collectors of postage
stamps. The leading exponent of stamp collecting which no collector
can afford to be without.

Subscription Price, 50c per year.
Sample Copy, 5c.

H. L. LINDQUIST, Editob and Publibheb.
700 East 40th St, CJhlcago, 111.

We operate our own printing jplant and are In position to do
high grade commercial and publication work at moderate prices.
Write us about your nejct job.

A few Complete Sets of the "Old Scries"

Also back numbers of the "New Seriet," and
odd numbers of old Bird Magazines.

List furnished to thoie interested who write to

THE WILSON BULLETIN.

Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

iiliM tM'iUV.

X- — - — ——.-»

-■"--X

TIKI

mmw

B

m

VOL. XXIX

NO. 2

JUNE, 1917

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF

THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB

and THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

(In Affiliation)
No. 99

Ix - -X

CONTENTS

The Birds of Rock Canyon, Arizona . By F. C. Lincoln 65-73

Some Local Names of Birds -, . . By W. L. McAtec 74-94

More Records from the Shores Collection . ;

By W. F. Henhing-er 95-96

Two Recent Lists of Iowa Birds . By Ira N. Gabrielson 97-100

Field Notes 101-107

Publications Reviewed .... . . . . . . 108-109

Nebraska Ornithologists Union ... 110-112

XHE \A/ILSOIN BULLETIN

' published quarterly^ March, June, September, December, as the organ of
the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornithologists Union, is
edited by Dr. Lynds Jones.

' Terms: — $1.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num-
bers 30 cents. Free to all members not in arrears for dues.

The OflSce of Publication: is No. 48 South Main St., Oberlin, Ohio. Sub-
scriptions may be addressed to Geo. L. Fordyce, Young^own, Ohio, Businer.s
Manager, or to Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio, Treasurer.

All articles and communications intended for publication and all books
and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Labora-
tory, Oberlin, Ohio, in time to reach Oberlin at least four A^eeks before the
date of the number for whfch they are intended.

The OflBcers of the Wilson Ornithological Club for the year 1917 are:

President — ^Rev. W. F. Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio; ■

Vice-President — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Secretary — Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.

Treasurer — Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th' St., Eiy'ria, Ohio.

Business Manager — George L. Fordyce, Yoimgstown-, Ohio.

Editor Wilson Bulletin — Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July 13, 1915, at. the Postoffice at Oberlin,
Ohio, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

GIVE IT A FAIR TRIAL

Four Months Trial Subscription
for only 25 c

Th5 Guide to Nature

Subscription $ 1 .00 a year. Single copy 1 Oc
EDWARD F. BIGELOW. Managing Editor

The Agassiz Association

Arcadia: South Beach, Conn.

E. T. HADOVEC & COMPANY

I^WERS BUILDING. CHICAGO

We have designed a beautiful little piece of inexpensive

jewelry, consisting of an

luMm for Members of the Wilson Club

This little Wilson's Warbler can be mounted on a stiok-pin,
bar-piu, fob, liapel button, or hat-pin. These raay be had of the
designer or r.usiness Manager, Wilson Eullctiu. Wo specialize in
the manufacture of class pins, medals, class rings and fraternity
pins.

E. T. HflDOVEC & COMPANY

Blue-Bird

Published in co-operation with the Cleveland Bird Lov-
ers' Association, and devoted to

BIRD STUDY and CONSERVATION
$1.00 a Year, lOc a Copy

AGENTS WANTED

Address Editor Blue-Bird,

1010 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

TJ)e Collectors' Journal

An illustrated monthly magazine devoted to collectors of postage
stamps. The leading exponent of stamp collecting which no collector
can afford to be without.

Subscription Price, 50c per year.
Sample Copy, 5c.

H. L. LINDQUIST, Editob and Publisheb.
700 East 40th St., Chicago, 111.

We operate our own printing plant and are In position to do
high grade commercial and publication work at moderate prices.
Write us about your next job.

FOR SALE

A few Complete Sets of the "Old Series"

Also back numbers of the "New Series," and
odd numbers of old Bird Magazines.

List furnished to those interested who write to

THE WILSON BULLETIN,

Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

Tm

VOL. XXIX

SEPT., 1917

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF

THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB

and THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

(In Affiliation)
No. 100

NO. 3

K

K

THIS PERIODICAL IS SENT IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS BY

OBERLIN COLLEGE LIBRARY

OBERLIN, OHIO, U. S. A.
Exchanges Should be Addressed as Above

CONTENTS

Birds of Denver . . . . W. H. Bergtold 113-129

Horned Larks in the Province of Quebec . L. McI. Terrill 130-141

Annotated List of the Water Birds, Game Birds and Birds

of Prey of Sac County, Iowa . J. A. Spurrell 141-100

General Notes 1G1-1G6

Publications Reviewed . . . . . . . 187

XHE \A/ILSO[N BULLEXIIN

published quarterly, March, June, September, December, as the organ of
the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornithologists Union, is
edited by Dr. Lynds Jones,

Terms: — $1.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num-
bers 30 cents. Free to all members not in arrears for dues.

The Office of Publication is No. 48 South Main St., Oberlin, Ohio. Sub-
scriptions may be addressed to Geo. L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio, Business
Manager, or to Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio, Treasurer,

All articles and communications intended for publication and all books
and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Labora-
tory, Oberlin, Ohio, in time to reach Oberlin at least four weeks before the
date of the number for which they are intended.

The Officers of the Wilson Ornithological Club for the year 1917 are:

President — Rev. W. F. Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio.

Vice-President — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Secretary — Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.

Treasurer— Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio.

Business Manager — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Editor Wilson Bulletin — Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July 13, 1916, at the Postoffice at Oberlin,
Ohio, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

GIVE IT A FAIR TRIAL

Four Months Trial Subscription
for only 25 c

T!^5 Guide to Nature

Subscription $ 1 .00 a year, Single copy I Oc
EDWARD F. BIGELOW. Managing Editor

The Agassiz Association

Arcadia: South Beach, Conn.

E. T. HADOVEC & COMPANY

POWERS BUILDING. CHICAOO

We have designed a beautiful little piece of Inexpensive

jewelry, consisting of an

Emblem for Members of the Wilson Club

This little Wilson's Warbler can be mounted on a sticlc-pin,
bar-pin, fob, lapel button, or hat-pin. These may be had of the
designer or Business Manager, Wilson Bulletin. We specialize In
the manufacture of class pins, medals, class rings and fraternity
pins.

E. T. HflDOVEC & COMPANY

Blue-Birci

Published in co-operation with the Cleveland Bird Lov-
ers' Association, and devoted to

BIRD STUDY and CONSERVATION
$1.00 a Year, 10c a Copy

AGENTS WANTED

Address Editor Blue-Bird,

1010 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

TY)e Collectors' Journal

An Illustrated monthly magazine devoted to collectors of postage
stamps. The leading exponent of stamp collecting which no collector
can afford to be without.

Subscription Price, 50c per year.
Sample Copy, 5c.

H. L. LINDQUIST, Editob and Publisheb.
700 East 40th St., Chicago, 111.

We operate our own printing plant and are in position to do
high grade commercial and publication work at moderate prices.
Write us about your next job.

OFFERS SOLICITED

For a Copy of

Baird, Brewer and Ridgway^s North
American Birds

WITH COLORED PLATES
3 Volumes. Boston. 1875

JOHN WILLIAMS, St. Marks, Fla.

tfl.AL LllTll;¥

Tlrfl

LSM

MM

VOL. XXIX

B

e

DEC, 1917
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF

THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB

and THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
(In Affiliation)

No. 101

NO. 4

'i^

THIS PERIODICAL IS SENT IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS BY

OBERLTN COLLEGE LIBRARY

OBERLIN, OHIO, U. S. A.
Exchanges Should be Addressed as Above

CONTENTS

A Day with the Birds of a Hoosier Swamp

By Barton Warren Evermann 169-174

Keeping Field Records . . . By A. F. Gainer 175-177

The Saving of a Pond, and the Resulting Bird List

By Howard C. Brown 177-182

Winter Birds About Washington, D. C.

By W. L. McAtee, E. A. Preble, and Alexander Wetmore 183-187

Another Unusual Laying of the Flicker

By B. R. Bales, M.D. 188-191

General Notes 192-194-

Bert Heald Bailey 195-197

The Annual Meeting 198

Index 199-208

XHE \A/ILSOIN BULLEXIIN

published quarterly, March, June, September, December, as the organ of
the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornithologists Union, is
edited by Dr. Lynds Jones.

Terms: — $1.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num-
bers 30 cents. Free to all members not in arrears for dues.

The Office of Publication is No. 48 South Main St., Oberlin, Ohio. Sub-
scriptions may be addressed to Geo. L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio, Business
Manager, or to Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio, Treasurer.

All articles and communications intended for publication and all books
and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Labora-
tory, Oberlin, Ohio, in time to reach Oberlin at least four weeks before the
date of the number for which they are intended.

The Officers of the Wilson Ornithological Club for the year 1917 are:

President — Rev. W. F. Henninger, New Bremen, Ohio.

Vice-President — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Secretary — Gerard Alan Abbott, Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.

Treasurer— Frank M. Phelps, 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio.

Business Manager — George L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio.

Editor Wilson Bulletin — Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July 13, 1916, at the Postoffice at Oberlin,
Ohio, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

GIVE IT A FAIR TRIAL

Four Months Trial Subscription
for only 25c

T^.^ Guide to Nature

Subscription $ 1 .00 a year, Single copy I Oc
EDWARD F. BIGELOW, Managing Editor

The Agassiz Association

Arcadia: South Beach, Conn.

E. T. HADOVEC & COMPANY

POWERS BUILDING, CHICAGO

We have designed a beautiful little piece of inexpensive

jewelry, consisting of an

Emblem for Members of the Wilson Club

This little Wilson's Warbler can be mounted on a stick-pin,
bar-pin, fob, lapel button, or hat-pin. Tliese may be had of the
designer or Business Manager, Wilson Bulletin. We specialize In
the manufacture of class pins, medals, class rings and fraternity
pins.

E. T. HflDOVEC & COMPANY

— E31

Published in co-operation with the Cleveland Bird Lov-
ers' Association, and devoted to

BIRD STUDY and CONSERVATION
$1.00 a Year, 10c a Copy

AGENTS WANTED

Address Editor Blue-Bird,

1010 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

TY)e Collectors' Journal

An Illustrated monthly magazine devoted to collectors of postage
stamps. The leading exponent of stamp collecting which no collector
can afford to be without.

Subscription Price, 50c per year.
Sample Copy, 5c.

H. Jj. LINDQUIST, Editob and Publisheb.
700 East 40th St., Chicago, 111.

We operate our own printing plant and are In position to do
high grade commercial and publication work at moderate prices.
Write us about your next job.

OFFERS SOLICITED

For a Copy of

Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's North
American Birds

WITH COLORED PLATES ^
3 Volumes. Boston. 1875

JOHN WILLIAMS. St. Marks, Fla.