Bird-Life in Southern Illinois 197 



locally. The only thing that I am able to suggest as possibly having some 

 relation to the great decrease in this species is the fact that the date when this 

 decrease was first noticed was that during which the Enghsh Sparrow first 

 became really abundant; but the circumstance may, of course, be merely a 

 coincidence. 



Baltimore Oriole {Icterus gaJbida). — During 'the sixties,' this was one of 

 our common summer residents, but for many years has been one of the rarest. 

 At the present time, there is only one pair to a dozen or more pairs of the 

 Orchard Oriole, though formerly they were about equally numerous. 



Wood Thrush (Hylocichia nmstelina). — Formerly a common summer 

 resident in all damp woods, but now scarce and very local. The circumstance 

 that the bottom-land forests are now mostly cleared will, of course, partially 

 account for its scarcity; but I have visited considerable tracts of woodland in 

 every way suited to its requirements, and in most of them found it absolutely 

 wanting. 



Yellow W.\rbler {Dendroica astiva). — Formerly abundant and found in 

 every orchard and in the shade trees along the streets, as well as other suitable 

 places, but now so rare that I have not seen nor heard it at all within the past 

 two years. 



Warbling Vireo {Vireosylva gilva). — The same remarks apply to this as 

 to the last, so far as its great decrease is concerned, though one or two individ- 

 uals are seen each year. 



White-Eyed Vireo {Vireo griseus) and Yellow-breasted Chat {Ideria 

 virens). — Not many years ago, both these birds were abundant, and to be 

 found in all blackberry and hazel thickets, old grown-up clearings, and similar 

 places, but now are very scarce and local. The clearing of such localities will 

 not wholly account for their scarcity, for such suitable places as remain (some- 

 times of considerable extent) have been found either to lack entirely any of 

 either species or to harbor exceedingly few. Probably roaming house cats have 

 much to do with this case, since both birds live near the ground, and therefore 

 are within easy reach of four-footed enemies. 



Carolina Wren {Thryothorus ludovicianus). — This species also is far less 

 numerous than formerly. 



(f) Decrease from special causes. 



Turkey Buzzard {Cathartes aura septentrionalis). — Formerly so abundant 

 as to be almost constantly in sight, and found throughout the year. Its rela- 

 tive scarcity of late years, when at times weeks would pass without one being 

 seen, was a great pvizzle to me until I learned, after inquiry, of the probable, 

 if not ob\'ious, causes. These are, the state law compelling the burial of dead 

 animals, and the^ shooting of large numbers of buzzards on account of the 

 wholly erroneous supposition that they are active agents in dissemination of 

 hog-cholera. 



