Birds and Seasons 169 



to our bird -life, or such as the seed eaters, or Sparrows, are now doing, 

 during these and the succeeding Indian summer dajs, so shortlj' to 

 follow. 



From a few, at first, the Tree Sparrows gradually become more numer- 

 ous, and. as the bracing days of late October finally give way to the 

 sharper nights and mornings of cooler November, it is found they are 

 not lacking in suitable places. Yet, as a species, they cannot be regarded 

 as common until the wintry days of December have actually come to stay; 

 though their exact status in this one particular does seem to vary with 

 the seasons. 



The first week in October, with us, usually hnds the Juncos and 

 Peabodies plentiful, and associated with them is a fair sprinkling of Fox 

 Sparrows, the whole constituting a jolly lot. 



Our mixed hazel and blackberry, cornel and wild crab thickets are then 

 the much -frequented resorts of the Sparrow kinil, and if one finds music 

 in the constant scratching among the rustling leaves and the almost in- 

 cessant clatter of vocal sounds emanating from such surroundings he should 

 not fail to visit them at this most opportune time of the year. 



The Ambrosia, or ragweed, thickets, too, also afford them capital 

 retreats, as one is almost sure of finding there a mixed assemblage of the 

 species just mentioned. 



There are years when the Pine Siskins first visit us in one immense 

 flock, with little bands from the main body scouring the country here 

 and there; and it is then that the heavily seed -laden tops of the ragweed 

 ofier them the greatest of attractions. 



A few notes pertaining to the fields and the foraging habits of the 

 Rough -legged Hawks might be as readily appended here, but, with these, 

 we doubtless are rather convinced by this time that our seasonal cycle of 

 bird -life experiences has practically and happily approached its completion. 



BIRDS OF THE SEASON 



For perriKiiu-iit residents, see Bird-Lore for Dec, 1900, p. 187. 



Late fall and earl\- winter arrivals at Cilen LIUii, siiowiiit; earliest recorded 

 dates : 



October 2. Nelson's and Wliite-crowned Sjiarrows; Oct. 4, Tree Sparrow;* Oct. 12, 

 Ring-necked Duck and American Roujjh- legged Hawk;* Oct. 17, Canada Goose;** 

 Oct. 23, Lesser Scaup Duck; Oct. 24, Northern Shrike;* Oct. 31, .American Crossbill; 

 Nov. 6, Shoveller Duck and Redpoll Linnet;** Nov. 19, Tufted Titmouse; Dec. 11, 

 Short-eared Owl.*f 



Late fall and early winter departures at Cilen I'.lKii, showing latent recorded dates, 

 from data collected during the past eight years: 



October i, Black-crowned Night Heron, Farula WarhUr and Water Thrush ; Oct. 2. 

 Nelson's Sjiarrow and NLarvland \'ellow-tliroat ; Oit. 4, .\merican C'oot. Broail-w ingeil 

 Hawk, Field Sparrow and Ba\ -breasted Warbler; Oct. ^. Reil-eved N'ireo and .\iner- 



* Rriiular wintiT visilam. ** Irrctular wiiilcf viiiianl. J Ooubllrs* occiirrcd cirlicr. 



