Birds and Seasons 103 



of the Black-poll Warbler, and the silencing of his quaint pebble -like 

 clicking notes — one of the very best indicators, by the way — the season of 

 spring migration has happily drawn to a close. So, with the going out 

 of May, the exciting period of the past few weeks has suddenly termi- 

 nated, and we find ourselves face to face with a new order of things. 



With the birds it is the central or focusing point in many of their 

 careers, while to ourselves as students it should bring forth a season of 

 no mean importance. 



First, for the opportunity thus given us for determining to a degree 

 of certainty the number and kind of our permanent and summer-resident 

 forms; second, for the very great interest attachable to a more thorough 

 knowledge of their nesting ways. 



June, to the majority of our birds, means the great nursery month of 

 the year. A very considerable number of them, it is true, may have 

 anticipated it from one to several weeks' time. Again, there are others 

 that will delay all nest-building operations for several weeks yet to come. 

 In any event, however, the question of food suitable for the needs of 

 their growing young, at the proper season, has much to do in explain- 

 ing their otherwise eccentric habits, whether they are late or early 

 breeders, as the case may be. 



June is also the month when a gradual cessation of the season of song 

 is noticeable. The Bobolinks, (jrasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows of 

 our meadows and fields, the Marsh Wrens in the sloughs, or the Red- 

 eyed and Yellow -throatetl X'ireos of the deeper woods, together with the 

 Indigo Buntings in the sproutland clearings, may continue to interest us 

 with their songs, some for a few weeks, others, like the Indigo, the entire 

 summer through; still we, nevertheless, have not failed of detecting a 

 degree of listlessness on the part of others, for example the Robin, 

 Baltimore Oriole, Thrasher and Scarlet Tanager. 



An over -taxed parental care mav suggest an explanation in the case 

 of some, but for the many a much better solution is offered in the 

 approaching season of molt. As it is, the middle of jul\- fintis our miti- 

 summer chorus sadly decimated, both in the number of iiuliviilual per- 

 formers, as well as in the quality of songs olfereil. 



So to study, then, our biriis to the best advantage we must visit 

 them in tlieir weedy lowlami haunts, the lieiiges and the wet meadows, 

 where many iiave congregated prior to tlie formation of tiieir summer 

 roosts. 



We .-ire sun- to find there the Dickcissel and tlie Hobolink — old males 

 of the latter in molting parti -colored dress — the Song anil the Henslow's 

 Sparrows, and at certain times and places, the Bron/e and Red -winged 

 lilackhirds in mixed flocks of old and nouul;. In the lowlands, too, the 

 lilack-crowneil Night Heron is aUo much in e\ideiu-e during wet seasons. 



