115 



" Handbook of the Birds of Eastern North America," and was com- 

 piled for use about New York City, The dates nearly coincide 

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

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

 counties. Tlie latter dates in the column are about what may be 

 taken for the middle tier of counties. 



It is the earnest hope 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, but 

 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 aiul " 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 from Cliajymans Handhooh of Birds of Eastern North 



America^ 



Date of arrival. Date of arrival. 



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



Mar. 10-20. 



Rusty Grackle 

 Red-winged 

 Blackbird 

 Robin 

 Bluebird 

 Woodcock 

 Phoebe 

 Meadow Lark 

 Cowbird 

 Fox-sparrow 



April 1-10. 



Kingfisher 

 Mourning Dove 

 Swamp-sparrow 

 Field- sparrow 

 Great Blue 



Heron 

 Purple Finch 

 Vesper sparrow 

 Savanna-sparrow 

 Chipping-sparrow 



507 



