Article III. — The Life History and Distrihution of the 

 FrotJtonotary Wat'Uer in Illinois. By AV. E. Loucks, 

 Peoria, Illinois. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the latter part of the year 1892, Dr. A. C. 

 Murchison and the writer issued circulars" to some two 

 hundred persons in the State of Illinois who were 

 known to be interested in ornitholooy, soliciting their 

 cooperation in ascertaining the distribution of certain 

 birds in this State. Though at first the response was 

 very light, it has since proved highly gratifying, far 

 exceeding expectations. The object in view was to ob- 

 tain by means of cooperative labor the present range 

 of certain species of birds in Illinois, and to issue monthly 

 reports, based on the contribntors' notes and such in- 

 formation as could be obtained from lists and catalogues, 

 both state and local. By January 1, 1893, we had the 

 assurance of aid from about fort\^ ornithologists, taxi- 

 dermists, and collectors residing in Illinois, or in adjacent 

 states, in close proximity to the Illinois line. Through 

 the kindness of Mr. Frank B. Webster, the first paper, 

 by Dr. A. C. Murchison, treating of thu long-eared owl, 

 appeared in the February number of the Ornithologist and 

 Oologist, together with a reference map, an incomplete 

 list of the contributors' names, and a few^ introductory 

 remarks by the writer. Up to January 1, 1894, articles 

 on the distribution of the long-cared owl, Cooper's hawk, 

 bobolink, mockingbird, blnek-crowned night heron, and 

 yellow-headed blackbird, had appeared in the above 

 magazine. 



In preparing the present paper, the seventh in the 

 series, the writer has relied chiefly on the notes of his 

 correspondents, especially in that portion treating of 



