A LIST OF THE 

 BIRDS OF THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS, 



WITH ANNOTATIONS. 



By Edgar A. Mearns. 



About six years ago, in 1872, I first formed the plan of working up 

 the ornithology of this region as thoroughly as possible. Since that 

 time I have been constantly at work in the field at all seasons of the 

 year, except during the summer months, when other business has 

 almost wholly interrupted my ornithological work. This is to be 

 regretted, for, otherwise, I might have observed the breeding-habits 

 of a greater number of our rarer summer residents ; and probably 

 should have secured some of the southern forms that occasionally 

 wander northward, during the hot months of summer. 



My residence is, for such a purpose, very happily located at High- 

 land Falls, New York ; affording, from its position, an excellent point 

 for ornithological observation. It is "situated on the right [west] 

 bank of the Hudson River, fifty-one miles above New York City, in 

 the midst of a range of the Alleghany Mountains known as the High- 

 lands. Latitude, 41° 23' north; longitude, 3° 3' east." 1 



The surface of the country is exceedingly varied, abounding in high 

 mountains with enormous perpendicular cliffs, while large streams 

 flow in the valleys. Lakes, ponds, and brooks are very numerous, 

 affording, as they do, favorite resorts for both migrating and station- 

 ary birds. The numerous islands of the Hudson afford choice resting 

 places for migrating flocks of small birds, which prefer to follow, on 

 their long and fatiguing vernal and autumnal journeyings, the course 

 of the river. The whole region is wild, and sparsely inhabited. 



I have prosecuted my researches, on foot, in the three adjacent 

 counties, bordering the Hudson on either side — Orange, Rockland, 

 and Ulster, on the west; and Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester, on 



x The situation, as above quoted, is from "Circular No. 8, Surgeon General's 

 Office," and refers to the West Point Military Academy, a mile north of Highland 

 Falls. 



(166) 



