36 



The Ottawa Naturalist. [May 



tion to the first arrivals, only the numbers of those already here 

 must have been sHghtly augmented. Another curious fact in 

 the migration of this vear is, that, while the purple finch was 

 extremely abundant last year at this time, in and out of the city, 

 I have not seen one so far this season, nor have I heard of others 

 having seen them. There are always surprises in store for the 

 observers of birds, especially during their migrations. 



Appended is a Hst of birds that have come here so far, and 

 the date of their arrival, together with lists of 1906 and 1905, 

 for comparison's sake. It must be remembered, however, that 

 last year's migration was unusually late; that of 1905, however, 

 normal. From this latter hst it will be seen that the first comers 

 this season were from one to three days earlier than usual, some 

 even more. It must also be remembered that the main part of 

 the spring migration falls into May, when the countless hosts 

 of the warblers, in all their variety, livehness and beauty, come; 

 also the thrushes, vireos, sv/allows, many of the finches, kinglets, 

 etc. Then new pleasures await the observer at every turn. It 

 is to be hoped that many members of the Field Naturahsts' Club 

 may take part in observing and recording the May migrations 

 of this year, and send in their records of species seen and posi- 

 tively identified, together with date and place, to the writer. 

 Here is the list so far: 



1907 1906 1905 



Prairie Horned Lark Feb. 10(a) Feb. 20 Feb. 28(6) 



RedpoU (c) Feb. 18 



Crow (d) Mar. 2 Mar. 9 Feb. 18 



Song Sparrow Mar. 13 Apr. 2 Mar. 18 



Blue Heron Mar. 17 {e) Apr. 5 Apr. 27 



Robin Mar. 16 Mar. 31 Mar. 19 



Bluebird Mar. 21 Apr. 3 Mar. 24 



Cowbird Mar. 21 Apr. 8 Mar. 29 



Bronzed Grackle, Blackbird Mar. 23 Apr. 2 Mar. 27 



Red-winged Blackbird Mar. 23 Apr. 2 Mar. 24 



Tree Sparrow Mar. 23 Apr. 9 Mar. 24 



Meadowlark Mar. 23 Apr. 5 Apr. 3 



Shrike, Butcherbird Mar. 25 Apr. 16 Mar. 30 



Marsh Hawk Mar. 25 Apr. 12 Apr. 1 



Junco, Snowbird Mar. 25 Apr. 6 Mar. 23 



Golden-eye, Whistler (duck) Mar. 26 Mar. 29 



Flicker, Yellowhammer Mar. 26 Apr. 16 Apr. 10 



Winter Wren Mar. 26 Apr. 18 Apr. 17 



Golden-crowned Kinglet Mar. 26 Apr. 14 Apr. 8 



Killdeer .' Mar. 26 Apr. 16 Mar. 28 



Tree Swallow Mar. 26 Apr. 8 Apr. 3 



