MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 169 



noisy. At daylight they commenced to scatter, most of them going up or 

 down the river where the wild rice is very plentiful. This roost was still 

 occupied by hundreds of birds on October 16th. 



September 23. — The only new species seen on this date was the Tree 

 Sparrow which was found in the bushes near the outlet. Four Pied-billed 

 Grebes were on the lake also near the outlet. 



September 24. — No observations were made on this date. 



September 25.— A large flock of about fifty Blue Jays was seen high over- 

 head. Near the outlet and in the bushes along the road a large flock of White- 

 throated Sparrows were found, the first seen this fall. In the orchard several 

 Red-breasted Nuthatches, apparently new arrivals, were seen. 



September 26. — A Swamp Sparrow was taken on this date at the edge 

 of the tamarack woods. This was the first one seen. In some alder bushes 

 in the immediate vicinity a fine Solitary Vireo was taken, this is the only 

 fall specimen ever seen here by the writer. Flocks of Field Sparrows were 

 seen in the hedge rows, and several Red-breasted Nuthatches in the orchard. 

 The first Olive-backed Thrush was also taken at the edge of the tamarack 

 belt, and two Ruffed Grouse were seen. Many White-throated Sparrows, 

 and a flock of Juncoes were noted for the first time. A small flock of Mourn- 

 ing Doves (flying over) and the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Yellow- 

 bellied Sapsuckers and White-breasted Nuthatches were seen in the orchard. 

 In the evening a Whip-poor-will was heard calling, in the woods near the 

 outlet. 



September 27. — Near the outlet the Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers 

 were seen feeding in the willows near the edge of the water, and the Northern 

 Yellow-throat was still to be found in the thick brush along the road, with 

 flocks of White-throated, Song and Chipping Sparrows and a few Catbirds 

 and Brown Thrashers. In the orchards were flocks of Flickers, Chipping 

 Sparrows, Chickadees, Bluebirds, and a few Phoebes and Yellow-bellied Sap- 

 suckers. Numbers of Myrtle Warblers were observed feeding on the ground, 

 a habit I have never before observed in this species. Large flocks of Crows 

 flew over the lake, and on the river I saw a few American Coot. 



September 28. — Early in the morning of this date near the north end of 

 the lake a flock of between eighty and one hundred Towhees was seen. This 

 is the largest flock in my experience; both sexes seemed to be represented 

 in about equal proportions. A flock of American Goldfinches was also seen 

 on this date, and in the orchard the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall 

 migration was observed. Numbers of Myrtle Warblers were seen to light 

 on the ground, apparently to feed. An Osprey was again fishing on the 

 lake, and just before dark a flock of eleven Wood Duck lit near a small grassy 

 island where with considerable noise and commotion they seemed to be 

 preparing to spend the night. The American Bittern before mentioned 

 came again and settled on the island where I had seen it before. 



September 29. — In the orchard were seen Myrtle W^arblers, Chipping, 

 Song and Field Sparrows, Bluebirds, -Phoebes and Flickers. On the lake 

 were three Pied-billed Grebes, two Coots, and the Osprey circling over. In 

 the evening I made a visit to the Bronzed Crackle roost at the mouth of 

 Portage river, where it empties into Little Portage lake. This vicinity is 

 ^narshy and covered with tall rushes and thick willow bushes, and for the 

 last five years to my knowledge has been a rendezvous for this species and 

 a few Redwings. My observations this year extended from September 10th 

 to October 26tli, at which time they still occupied the roost. On the evening 

 of September 29th it was raining and as flock after flock came to the roost 

 22 



