24 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIV. 



Aug. 17 (flock); Aug. 22 (several flocks); Aug. 

 24 (several flocks) ; Aug. 26 (several flocks) ; Aug. 

 28 (flock); Aug. 31 (flock heard in the night, 10 

 o'clock) ; Sept. 2 (several flocks) ; Sept. 3 (flock) ; 

 Sept. 7 (heard passing over). All these later flocks 

 with the exception of one or two on Aug. 22, moved 

 westward. They picked fair mornings and flew 

 low. Usually they followed a course out over the 

 water, aiming at the points on the shore and cutting 

 the bays, and though they were often disconcerted 

 by the aeroplanes, could not be shaken from their 

 course. The height of their migration passed on 

 Aug. 24. All these flocks were small, suggesting 

 families, from five to eight being the rule. None 

 were observed en route in the afternoon. 



Sturnella magna, Meadowlark. Bred locally. 

 Observed a small flock of about a dozen almost daily 

 from Aug. 12 till Oct. 17. Only once (Oct. 6) 

 did they show any evidence of migration, when a 

 number of them flew off westward over the orchards 

 as though in farewell. 



Astragalinus trisiis, American Goldfinch. Sept. 

 2 (several); Sept. 18 (common); Oct. 29 (five 

 or six flecks heard); Nov. 16 (flock heard). It 

 will be seen that this bird here was somewhat 

 erratic. Only on Oct. 29 when several flocks 

 passed overhead toward the west did it give a clue 

 to its course. 



Carpodacus purpureas. Purple Finch. This bird 

 was never definitely identified though the clucking 

 notes thought to belong to this species were heard 

 Aug. 12, Sept. 2 and Oct. 6. A male, probably 

 nesting, sang all summer in the ravine behind the 

 main camp to southward. 



Pooescetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow, Sept. 14, 

 Sept. 26, SepL 29 (4); Oct. 2 (1); OcL 4 (1); 

 Oct. 12. This was a common summer resident 

 about the tower, but like the song sparrow gave 

 no hint of its manner of leave-taking. It merely 

 disappeared. 



Passerculus sandrvichensis savanna. Savanna 

 Sparrow. Bred locally. Sept. 2 (1); Sept. 2 (in 

 song) ; Sept. 8 (in song). This was the last de- 

 fini'e record; there was mystery about this bird. 

 What was probably his migration began Sept. 9. 

 On the morning of this date fully fifty sparrows 

 answering to the Savanna's markings, size and notes, 

 came close by the tower. They took perch in the 

 top of the walnut and locust trees and gave excellent 

 view in the field-glasses. In threes and fours they 

 broke away at short intervals and went dodging off 

 westward, plainly on a mission. On Sept. 14 and 

 Sept. 25 they repeated these field manoeuvres. A 

 single bird of the same was noted Sept. 28. To all 

 appearances these were Savannas, but the trait did 

 not seem to ring true. 



Zonolrichia albicolUs, White-throated Sparrow. 

 Sept. 25 (heard) ; Oct. 4 (heard in song) ; Oct. 7 

 (several seen). 



Spizella monticola. Tree Sparrow. Oct. 18 (1); 

 Nov. 6 (5); Nov. 8 (several); Nov. 16 (flock of 

 12). Never observed en route; always in the 

 shrubbery. 



Passer domesticus. House Sparrow. During the 

 late autumn several densely crowded small flocks 

 of these adjustible gamins passed the tower. They 

 were mostly west-bound and suggested a local 

 migration. 



Melospiza melodia. Song Sparrow. Perhaps the 

 commonest bird of the locality. Very numerous 

 during September, thinning out in mid-October. Ob- 

 served also Oct. 31 and Nov. 6 (2). 



Passer ella iliaca. Fox Sparrow. Oct. 12 (1). 

 Observed in the woods half a mile from the 

 shore. 



Junco by^emalis. Slate-colored Junco. Oct. 6 

 (several); Oct. 12 (numerous); Oct. 13, Oct. 14. 

 As usual, these birds were not noted on the march; 

 they merely came, increased and diminished. 



Passer'ma nivalis, Snowflake. Oct. 15 (2); Oct. 



29 (2 flocks) ; Nov. 3 (4 flocks) ; Nov. 5 (flock) ; 

 Nov. 6 (6 flocks); Nov. 9 (flock); Nov. 10 (4); 

 Nov. 16 (flock); Nov. 21 (large flock); Nov. 26 

 (flock). For the Snowflakes this shore seemed a 

 direct pathway; they never on any occasion showed 

 inclination to come down to the nearby fields. 



Acanthis linaria. Redpoll. Oct. 18 (1); Oct. 19 

 (3) ; Oct. 20 (several) ; Oct. 29 (5 flocks) ; Oct. 



30 (numerous); Nov. 3 (flock); Nov. 5 (flock); 

 Nov. 6 (flock). These tiny sprites behaved like 

 the Snowflakes, except that they invariably flew 

 higher. Their chattering notes were the only means 

 to identification. 



Pipilo erythrophlhalnms, Towhee. Bred locally. 

 Observed in timber Sept. 14 (1); Sept. 29 (1); 

 Oct. 7 (1). Not observed at all on the shore. 



Calcarius lapponicus, Lapland Longspur. Noted 

 only once (Nov. 9) when three went clicking over- 

 head. 



Peirochelidon lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. Aug. 5 

 (a few small parties); SepL 8 (1); Sept. 19 (1)?. 

 It was rather hard to definitely identify the swal- 

 lows as they posted by the tower on rapid wings. 

 Several "doubtfuls" were recorded. The bird on 

 Sept. 9 was with barn swallows and chimney swifts; 

 the one noted Sept. 1 9 was alone. All were moving 

 westward post-haste. 



Hirundo er\)lhrogaster. Barn Swallow. The 

 commonest swallow here in migration. July 19 

 (family) ; July 22 (80 counted, passing a given 

 point in 5 minutes, west-going); Aug. 10 (flock); 

 Aug. 24 (2 families); Sept. 5 (1); SepL 9 (12); 



