115 



" Handbook of the Birds of Eastern l^orth America," and was com- 

 jiiled for use about New York City. Tlie dates nearly coincide 

 witli those I have found about the central part of the State, and are, 

 in tlie main, only a few days in advance of those for the northern 

 counties. The latter dates in tlie column are about what may be 

 taken for the middle tier of counties. 



It is the earnest liope of the writer that these few very brief 

 sketches may be of use to those interested in entering the delightful 

 field of the study of birds ; your experience may and probably will 

 be different from that which I have cited, which only goes to show 

 that everyone must readily see for himself, and not only that, hut 

 by so doing may make new observations and get new ideas on prac- 

 tically all of even our best known birds. Birds are not, as a rule, 

 hard to watch, and the patience it requires to sit still and " be a 

 stump " long enough for birds to cease noticing you is soon and 

 amply repaid by the new insight into an unknown realm which is 

 sure to follow. 



LIST OF BIRDS COMPRISING THE SPRING MIGRA- 

 TION. 



(Until April 20 — Approximate.) 



( Taken froyri CJiapmarCs Handbook of Birds of Eastern North 



America^ 



Date of arrival. Date of arrival. 



Feb. 15-Mar. 10. Purple Grackle March 20-31. Wilson's Snipe 



Rusty Grackle Kingfisher 



Red-winged Mourning Dove 



Blackbird Swamp-sparrow 



Robin Field- sparrow 



Bluebird April 1-10. Great Blue 



Mar. 10-20. Woodcock Heron 



Phoebe Purple Finch 



Meadow Lark Yesper sparrow 



Cowbird Savanna-sparrow 



Fox-sparrow Chipping-sjDarrow 

 507 



