341 



THE BIEDS OF WISCONSIN 



Having been carefully studied by Dr. Hoy, of Racine, I have obtained 

 his permission to insert here his "Notes," published in the 6th volume 

 of the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadel- 

 phia, instead of the catalogue prepared by me. There are some additions 

 and corrections made by Dr. Hoy, and I have added the common names 

 of each species. I. A. L. 



NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. 



BY P. R. HOY, M. D., OF RACINE, WISCONSIN. 



With few exceptions, the facts contained in the following brief Notes, 

 were obtained from personal observations made within fifteen miles of 

 Racine, Wisconsin, lat. 42° 49' N. ; long. 87° 40' W. This city is situ- 

 ated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, at the extreme southern 

 point of the heavy timbered district, where the great prairies approach 

 near the lake from the west, and is a remarkably favorable position for 

 ornithological investigation. It would appear that this is a grand point, 

 a kind of rendezvous, that birds make during their migrations. Here, 

 within the last seven years, I have noticed 287 species of birds, about 

 one-twentieth of all known to naturalists, many of which, considered 

 rare in other sections, are found here in the greatest abundance. It will 

 be seen that a striking peculiarity of the ornithological fauna of this 

 section is, that southern birds go further north in summer, while north- 

 ern species go further south in winter than they do east of the great 



Lakes. 



[* Indicates those known to nest witliin the State.] 



VULTURINiE, (1 species.) 



*Cathartes Aura, Linn. Turkey Buzzard: 



Found occasionally as far north as Lake Winnebago, lat. 44**. More numerous 

 near the Mississippi River. 



FALCONID^, (19 species.) 



*Aq0ila CHRYSiETOS, Linn. Golden Eagle. 



I have a fine specimen, shot near Racine, Dec. 1853. 



It is a fact worthy of note that this noble eagle, in the absence of rocky cliffs for 

 its eyrie, does occasionally nest on trees. One instance occurred between Racine 

 and Milwaukee, in 1851 . The nest was fixed in the triple forks of a large oak. 



