1907] Migration of Birds of the Past Spring 83 



THE SECOND CHAPTER IN THE STORY OF THE MIGRA- 

 TION OF BIRDS OF THE PAST SPRING. 

 By G. EiFRiG 



In the May number of the "NaturaHst" the present writer 

 published an account of the remarkably early appearance of 

 some of the bird migrants in this vicinity, when there was nothing 

 here whatever to tempt them to come earlier, together with the 

 probable reasons for this phenomenon. Appended was a list 

 of 29 species, that were the firstcomers this spring. That was, 

 if you please, the first chapter in the story of the past season's 

 migration. It was an auspicious and promising looking one. 

 However, the end in the migration did not bear out the promises 

 of its beginning. The second -chapter is an unsatisfactory, yes, 

 even a melancholy and sad one. 



When May, the principal migration month, came, it came 

 not as usual, smiling, laden with fresh green leaves and blossoms; 

 but darksome, gloomv, with lack of sunshine and warmth. 

 The violent snowstorm on Ma}- 4th, leaving abotit six inches of 

 snow on the ground, was but a foretaste of what was to come. 

 Such extraordinarily cold weather had not been recorded in 

 May for many years. There were heavy frosts at night, and 

 occasional slight snow flurries as late as the 28th. Nor were we 

 here the only sufferers from this winter weather in May. It is 

 recorded as the coldest May for 35 years at Washington, and at 

 Detroit, Fort Wayne, Ind.; yes, even at St. Louis, where the 

 writer had occasion to go in May, conditions were the same. 

 To see furs worn in May is certainly a novel sight for St. Louis, 

 but it was a very common one this year. 



The effect of this on plant and animal life was naturally a 

 very marked one. Vegetation practically remained at a stand- 

 still throughout May. The buds that were on the trees in the 

 beginning of May remained unopened until almost the end; the 

 trees were nearly bare. Insect life was correspondingly kept 

 back. Mosquitos, flies, etc., were few and far between, also the 

 numerous small insects frequenting the newly opened blossoms 

 and leaves. And the effect of all this on birds was simply 

 disastrous. The arrival of most species was very considerably 

 delaved, as the list given below shows. For instance, the chimney 

 swift, 1906, April 30; 1907, May 10; house wren. May 2-9; spot- 

 ted sandpiper, May 2-19; yellow warbler. May 4-13; bobolink. 

 May 5-18; black-throated green warbler. May 7-16; parula 

 warbler. May 7-15. The least flycatcher, whose note ckehec, from 

 which it also gets a name, can be heard in trees of our streets as 

 soon as it arrives, came in 1906, Mav 11th which already was 



