The Season 



187 



heard in full song on the 6th, which is 

 quite unusual for this region. 



The present cold period of April 9 and 10 

 finds Robins setting on eggs, with the trees 

 containing the nests just beginning to bud. 

 By the time the more northerly nesting 

 hordes of Robins have reached this point, 

 our local birds will be feeding their first 

 brood. These same north-bound migrants 

 will have returned in the fall, square-tailed 

 and fresh in their new coats, before our 

 own ragged and overworked birds have 

 completed their post-nuptial moult. 



The notorious and troublesome oppo- 

 sition to the Federal Migratory Bird Law 

 by the organized sportsmen of this and 

 surrounding territory is as bitter and de- 

 termined as ever. The situation, however, 

 has greatly improved latel}', owing to the 

 untiring and eflicient efforts of R. P. Hol- 

 land, the Biological Survey's splendid field 

 agent in this region. Over a dozen arrests 

 have been made, and though a Missouri 

 injunction temporarily embarrasses Mr. 

 Holland's office in the further execution of 

 its duties, the good work is on in earnest 

 and the early heavy flight of water-fowl 

 has been protected against the customary 



spring slaughter. - 

 City, Mo. 



-Harry Harris, Kansas 



Denver Region. — It is common knowl- 

 edge that the Robin does not burst forth 

 in full song until he has been in his breed- 

 ing-area for some time in the spring. Hence 

 it was a surprise to the undersigned to hear, 

 on March 3, 1919, at daybreak, a Robin 

 whose song was, to the writer, as abundant 

 and full as any nuptial song he has heard 

 later on in the season. 



The birds have returned rather early this 

 spring. Gamble's Sparrow reaching here 

 very early, having been seen on the hospital 

 grounds March 27, and still being present 

 at the end of this period. The writer has 

 seen, however, very few Bluebirds, much 

 to his regret, noticeingbut two on March 27 

 and two more three days later. The Kill- 

 deers and Sparrow Hawks have, however, 

 returned about on time, and the Pine Sis- 

 kins have started to build nests in their 

 usual early and industrious fashion. A 

 family of Long-eared Owls has preempted 

 an old Magpie's nest, and gives every evi- 

 dence of using it as this season's breeding- 

 place. — W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Colo. 



