72 NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



To meet some of these losses we find that the groves planted on nearly 

 every section, often every quarter section, with thickets of giant weeds 

 groAving- in the fence corners, and watering troughs in every j)asture 

 and farmyard were quickly noted by the birds, and no time was lost 

 in occupying the new fields. Now we find the familiar forms of our 

 tree birds, such as thrushes, the Eobin, the Catbird, orioles, jays and 

 woodpeckers in great abundance. As proof of this a farmer friend told 

 me he had just killed fifty thrushes to save eight or ten quarts of rasp- 

 berries. 



The Meadowlark, my especial favorite, remaining with us nearly the 

 entire year, cheerful in song, a model of industry and without a single 

 evil habit, has prospered and is foxmd in goodlj^ numbers everywhere. 

 Formerly the Eobin was to be seen in small flocks during spring and 

 fall keeijing close to the shelter of trees along the valleys. And not till 

 1885 Avas I able to find a pair nesting, but since then they have increased 

 rapidly. I have seen flocks of them about my home in mild weather 

 during every month of the past winter. We have noted with pleasure 

 the added numbers each year of the joyous little songster, the Lark 

 Bunting (C. melaiwcori/x). The Eskimo Curlew was at one time very 

 abundant and during the spring time moved northward in great num- 

 bers, reminding the homesteader of flights of passenger pigeons, and 

 were given the name of "Prairie Pigeon." The large flocks and singular 

 tameness proved a tempting mark for murderous guns. The Eskimo 

 Curlew has long since ceased to be a feature of prairie life. 



The Field Plover, comrade of the Meadowlark, and one of the few 

 sweet songsters of open land whose every move is g-race itself, Avas for- 

 merly abundant, but lawless shooting has greatly reduced their numbers. 



Botdiirus Iciitiffiiiosvs, Avhose love call boomed forth from every prairie 

 slough, has become quite rare. While the Long-billed Ciirlew and Mag- 

 pie, formerly common birds, have entirely disapjieared from our list. 



The Wild Turkey, noblest of oiir game birds, and at one time abundant 

 wherever timber afforded them a home, is exterminated. The Sharp- 

 tailed Grouse also has disappeared, but our little friends, the "Bob- 

 whites," have prospered and are now very abundant. 



The Crow has alwajs been a somewhat rare bird with us. A few pairs 

 nest here each year but surroundings do not seem to be just to their 

 taste. 



Of llaptores mauA' sjiecies were well represented t)n our ]jrairies, 

 where gophers, scpiirrels, mice anrl insects furnished tliem an abundant 

 supply of food. The rapid decrease in numbers of our birds of prey has 

 been very marked. The man Avith a gun seems to have inherited as 

 strong a prejudice against lunvks and oaa'Is as tlie ordinary mortal has 

 for snakes. 



Mourning Doves noAv make their home in every farm grove, and I re- 

 gret to note the groAving desire to class them as game birds. The little 

 scavengers are very useful to the farmer in destroying a vast amount 



