Birds and Seasons 167 



of old, recurring with each successive year — contribute h'ttle in their 

 way that is enthusing to one's ardor for a more or less protracted study 

 of the bird -life then surrounding us. 



It is in the main a period of disappointments. The molting season, 

 but fairly begun the preceding July, is carried more into completion dur- 

 ing this month, with the result that the first two weeks of August find 

 many of our birds in a sadly dilapidated condition; though it is not un- 

 usual, even then, to see the Red -eyed Vireo, in rather scant attire, 

 caring for a brood of its own, having been debarred from this obligation, 

 through the several weary weeks just passed, by acting in a similar ca- 

 pacity for that bulky parasite the Cowbird, presenting in the meantime 

 a most pathetic picture. 



The last two weeks of this month are much more musical than the 

 first, which are mainly devoid of interest aside from the early arrival of 

 several of our warblers, who pass through almost unheralded at this par- 

 ticular time of the year. 



September gives us a taste of May over again; yet, after all, it is like 

 a cake that has been largely deprived of its frosting and sugared plums; 

 though, on the whole, very palatable as it is wholesome. 



We miss, however, the sweet vocal strains, and are comforted chiefly 

 by the sight of many birds, which, alternating with the weather, seem 

 to come by fits and starts. The woods may fairly swarm with them 

 from bramble to tree-top tomorrow and be comparatively tenantless the 

 day following. A rapid change in climatic conditions, a fall in tempera- 

 ture, is usually followed shortly afterward by its attendant bird -wave. 



The first two weeks of September should be very busy ones for the 

 energetic student of birds, and clever indeed is he who can accurately 

 identify all that he sees. Many of our transient visitors come to us then 

 in a poorly developed, if not greatly modified, dress, and we must rely 

 largely upon certain ineffaceable markings in onler to correctly name them. 

 It, too, is the month of Warblers and the smaller Thrushes, which finall\ 

 gives way, as the season advances, to that of the Sparrow hosts. 



I5IRDS OF THE SEASON 



Late summer and early fall transients and winter visitants, near Gien Ellyn, Illinois, 

 from data collected durinfj the past eight years, earliest dates of arrival being given: 



(For permanent winter visitant and summer resident species see Bird-I.ori:, Dt-c. 

 1900, p. 187, and June, 1901, p. 104.) 



July 4, Black Tern; July 16, Solitary Sandpiper; July 28. Orange-crowned War- 

 bler; July 29, Tennessee Warbler; July 30, \eIlow-Iegs; Aug. 3, CJreat Blue Heron; 

 Aug. 4, Least Sandpiper; Aug. 9, Broad-winged Hawk; .Aug. 11, Olive-sided Fly- 

 catcher, Blue-iieaded Vireo and Black-and- White Warbler; Aug. 12, Pectoral Sand- 

 piper. NLignolia and Blackburnian Warblers; Aug. 13, Bay-breasted Warbler; Aug. 

 14, Connecticut Wariiler; .Aug. 15, Cnnadian WarbiiT; .Aug. if>. ( Jolden-winged and 



