THE BIRD DIARY 183 



Most of the young of the slough ducks, — mal- 

 lard, spoonbill, pintail, teal, and red-head — are 

 now awing. In one mixed party of about fifty 

 ducks, a big blue heron was standing stolidly 

 among them, — a magnificent sentry. This is the 

 first fall appearance of this bird. 



Aug. 14, 15, 16. Deserted Lone Tepee and 

 went off on a canoe expedition into the oozy 

 places, all of which is too long to record here. 



Aug. 17. Birds noted around camp to-day, 

 and not mentioned earlier, were the rose-breasted 

 grosbeak, several canaries, a black-billed cuckoo, 

 and also a noisy, rattling kingfisher. The thrash- 

 ers were not seen at all during the day. Can it 

 be that they have moved southward? 



Aug. 18. Off to town. Little of anything 

 new noted, except that the members of the hawk 

 tribe were numerous. This autumn increase is 

 due to the young of the various species being 

 abroad, also to the fact that the more northerly 

 species have started southward. One large, whit- 

 ish fellow, apparently a Krider hawk, rose from 

 some deserted buildings and, passing low, di- 

 rectly overhead, watched me curiously with his 

 clear eyes. Two fast-speeding smaller chaps, 

 probably villainous duck hawks, were noted. 



