56 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. iS-Nn. 4 



The dates given in the reports on the fall 

 migration are so varied and incomplete that 

 it is difficult to trace any regular movements 

 in their southward journey. It is reported 

 from county No. 6 that the bird remains into 

 October ; county No. 3, departs latter half 

 of September ; county No. 7, latter part of 

 August, and in county No. 31 we find record 

 of its departure in the latter half of July. It 

 therefore appears that the departure of this 

 bird in No. 31 is earlier than in the extreme 

 northeastern county, No 6, whereas it should 

 be vice versa. Undoubtedly the food sup- 

 ply has considerable to do with the move- 

 ments of this bird as it has with others. The 

 irregularity in the dates of the different lo- 

 calities is probably due to this. In some of 

 the counties the food supply may become 

 exhausted, and in conse([uence thereof the 

 birds are compelled to change their feeding 

 grounds quite early in the summer, or they 

 may move to some resort to congregate with 

 other restless flocks, eager for their south- 

 ern departure. Mr. Cobleigh presents a fact 

 which might to a certain degree help sub- 

 stantiate the above. He reports that, after 

 the young are strong enough to accompany 

 their parents, the Bobolinks move east in- 

 stead of south in the fall. It is with regret 

 that I am unable to take up the subject of 

 fall migration further, but owing to the 

 meagreness of the data in hand, it would 

 seem impracticable if not im]K)ssible to 

 proceed. 



The substance of the preceding reports 

 can be summed up in a very few words : 

 The Bobolink is transient throughout the 

 State ; summer resident in the northern 

 half; aljundant in the northern quarter. 



W. E. Lone I; s. 

 Peoria, 111. 



C. W. Boles, Ponkapog, Mass., while hunt- 

 ing Ducks, shot a fine Otter over his decoys. 

 It was the finest specimen that we ever saw, 

 measuring 52 inches and weighing 24 

 pounds. 



A Criticism. 



Matter appeared in your issue of Feb- 

 ruary last which has prompted me to offer 

 a protest. I trust you will not deny me 

 space in your columns to enter my objec- 

 tions, as I assure you that the following 

 remarks are in no way intended as an as- 

 persion toward any writer or other person, 

 but rather as a means of protection for the 

 readers of the " O. & O." from future in- 

 flictions of this nature. The first article 

 referred to, on page 22, setting forth the 

 valuable work of L. L. Dyche at the coming 

 "World's Fair," is excellent in scope, and 

 fully convincing as to Mr. Dyche's ability 

 as a workman in his chosen province. How- 

 ever, in the selected matter heralding Mr. 

 D's powers as a taxidermist, you fail to 

 record the fact that he had unlimited ter- 

 ritory from which to select his specimens, 

 and leave one to infer that the collection in 

 consideration is from Kansas. 



On your front page you advertise Kan- 

 sas's grand show, and in the article men- 

 tioned embrace the Moose, Caribou, Orizzly 

 Bear, Rocky-mountain Sheep, Elk, Wol- 

 verine and Ocelot. The article is, there- 

 fore, certainly very misleading, for, if I know 

 anything of the range of these mammals, 

 )ione of f/iciii arc found i>i the State 

 giving this exhibition.* Kansas is justly en- 

 titled to Coyotes, Foxes, Bisons, Jack Rab- 

 bits, Antelopes, Lizards, Prairie Dogs anp 

 Burrowing Owls ; but I cannot understand 

 why she wants to encroach upon the Mon- 

 tana Big-horn, Maine Moose ; or why she 

 will adopt the other incongruous and surpris- 

 ing species. A group of Horned-toads (so- 

 called), with a cluster of Burrowing Owls, 

 Rattlers and Prairie Dogs, living in the har- 

 mony represented by our childhood's geog- 

 raphy, would be much more consistent, and 

 also more comprehensive, than this conglo- 

 meration of aliens on Kansas' prairies. 



* The Elk is, perhaps, an exception, bnt certainly six ro 

 seven species are here wrongfully accredited to Kans2s. 



