418 APPENDIX. 



already given, there is apparentl}'^ evidence that our summer- 

 residents may have formerly arrived and laid their eggs some- 

 what earlier than they do now. 



In Jul}', singing is much less constant than in May or June, 

 decreasing as summer advances, though occasionally heard in 

 autumn (chiefly from the finches), and rarely in winter (from 

 the Song and Tree Sparrows). 



§ VIII. August. 



During this month, many birds leaA^e their summer-haunts, 

 and even become gregarious, and some journey to the southward, 

 as is occasionally observable even in tlie latter part of July. 

 The Goldfinclies, however, sometimes lay their first set of eggs 

 after July, during which month many other birds have their 

 second or even third broods. 



§ IX. September. 



During this month, the (smaller) hawks are often abundant, 

 many migrating, but the migrations of our birds of prey 

 cannot be easily determined as regards the dates. The Balti- 

 more Orioles, Bobolinks, Chimney Svvifts, cuckoos, fl3'catchers 

 (except the Pewees and occasionally the Great Crested Fly- 

 catchers), Henslow's Buntings, House Wrens, Hummingbirds, 

 Indigo Birds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, swallows (of whom 

 some go in August), Tanagers, vireos, warblers (or most of 

 them: see October), Wilson's Thrushes, and Yellow-winged 

 Sparrows finally disappear, many occurring as migrants.- Some 

 are to be seen only in the first week, but others may occur up 

 to late dates, as the Black-throated Blue Warblers (30th), 

 Golden-crowned "Thrushes" (2Glh), Hummingbirds (23rd), 

 and White-bellied Swallows (28th). The Red-winged Black- 

 birds generally leave the meadows, and associate in the grain 

 and stubble-fields, etc. ; the Wild Pigeons appear in large 

 flocks ; and a majority of birds are gregarious, particularly the 

 White-bellied Swallows, who, previous to their departure, often 

 gather "upon the salt marshes" " literally b}^ millions." Even 

 hawks occasionally travel in companies. In September, AVhite- 

 throated Sparrows and other birds appear from the North. 



Note. It has generall}' been in autumn that accidental 

 stragglers, whose usual habitat is more than a thousand miles 

 away, have occurred in Massachusetts. 



§ X. October. 



During this month, the "Black-poll" Warblers, Brown Creep- 

 ers, Goideu-crowned " Wrens," nuthatches, Ruby-crowned 



