THE OOLOGIST. 



155 



Plover appears in large flocks in 

 many quarters where they were not 

 known the previous spring. It is said 

 that these plovers are known in spring 

 in the states of Wisconsin and Minne- 

 sota, and it is probable that our au- 

 tumn visitors are birds that have gone 

 northwest of Lake Michigan. 



There are many of the smaller birds 

 which have a circuitous route for mi- 

 gration and are found at the north in 

 numbers while in certain sections to 

 the south of the sections inhabited in 

 summer they are not to be found at 

 any time, whether in spring, summer 

 or autumn. For instance, the Mourn- 

 ing Warbler is commonly found in 

 Montcalm county and several sections 

 to the north of Kalamazoo county, and 

 yet I have met with but one bird of 

 this species in Kalamazoo county in a 

 period of thirty years. Then there 

 are birds that have varying routes of 

 migration. This is more general 

 probably than is supposed and there 

 are undoubtedly many species that 

 change their routes from year to year. 

 More will be said upon this subject 

 in the chapter on the effects of civili- 

 zation. One well known instance of 

 variable route in migration is evident 

 in the case of the Wild Pigeon, which 

 was known to vary its route as well as 

 its summer quarters, as often as every 

 three years for many years and finally 

 each season, after the inroads of the 

 netters became unbearable. Finally, 

 after being driven from pillar to post 

 and over the wilder part of the territory 

 of three states, the imposed upon 

 pigeon yielded up the ghost and has 

 become extinct or so near to it that no 

 one can tell where the possible rem- 

 nant has h'dden itself. 



In passing through the land there 

 are many species of birds which follow 

 practically the same paths and pass 

 the same points in their journeys 

 north and south spring and autumn. 

 One of these points is at Mackinaw, 



Michigan, where the birds in countless 

 thousands pass to the north in spring 

 and autumnal trips. Another spot 

 for crossing is near to Fort Gratiot, 

 Michigan. At this point which is the 

 short cut into the Canadas from the 

 south, the birds pass over in great 

 numbers. Of course it is difficult to 

 identify the smaller birds on the wing 

 but the larger birds are easily studied. 

 For instance, hundreds of hawks have 

 been observed flying over the river at 

 this point in a single afternoon, and 

 sixty specimens, embracing four kinds 

 have been shot by one man in a few 

 hours. A needless waste surely, 

 though I doubt not that shooter con- 

 sidered himself doing humanity a 

 service. 



Morris Gibbs, M. D, 



I have had brought to me specimens 

 of Ruby-throat, Am. Woodcock, Song 

 Sparrow, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, 

 Wilson's Snipe, Am. Robin, killed by 

 Rural telephone wires near Rochester, 

 N. Y.— Editor. 



Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher. 



Dear Mr. Editor: 



I must say that I was struck on 

 reading Mr. Bostain's article in Sept. 

 Oologist replying to mine in the 

 August number. He says they begin 

 to build with him as early as the 28th 

 of March, but at Lexington, about 30 

 miles to the eastward of Statesville, 

 Mr. H. Gould Welbourne says: "The 

 earliest date I have for the beginning 

 of nestbuilding is May 1st. The Blue- 

 Gray Gnatcatcher arrives here in the 

 first part of April being common about 

 the fifteenth." (See Sept. 1895, Oolo- 

 gist). 



The following are from C. S. Brin^^i 

 ley's datas: "Raleigh, May 4, 1S89^ 

 Nest 8 feet high in the fork of sweet- 

 gum. 4 fresh eggs. Raleigh, May^ 

 24, 1890. Nest 7 feet high in smalli 

 pine on horizontal limb. 5 fresh eggs." 



