THE OOLOGIST 



361 



travelled twice yearly by small song 

 birds. 



1. Dolichonyx oryzrivorus. Bobo- 

 link. Merida, Venezuela. September 

 L'Oth, 1902. Altitude 4800 feet. 



2. Mniotilta varia. Black and white 

 warbler. El Corial, Venezuela. Nov- 

 ember 17th, 1902. Altitude 9000 feet. 



3. Dendroica aestiva. Yellow war- 

 bler. Valle, Venezuela. November 

 24th, 1902. Altitude 9000 feet. 



4. Seiurus noveboracensis. Water 

 thrush. Merida, Venezuela. Novem- 

 ber 18th, 1902. Altitude 4890 feet. 



5. Steophaga ruticilla. American 

 redstart. Valle, Venezuela. August 

 24th, 1902. Altitude 6000 feet. 



6. Hylocichla aliciae. Gray-cheeked 

 thrush. El Corial, Venezuela. Novem- 

 ber 17th, 1902. Altitude 9000 feet. 



Paul G. Howes. 



From the Plains. 



In Northwestern Kansas, the 

 Bronzed Crackle (Quiscalus quiscala 

 aeneus) has been growing scarcer 

 each year for the past three years, 

 owing, I believe, to the depredations 

 of the Western Fox Squirrels, which 

 are becoming very plentiful on ac- 

 count of strict protection by law. 

 Three years ago the Bronzed Crackle 

 nested in large and small colonies in 

 this locality, mostly in Box-alder 

 groves near the Sappa Creek, colonies 

 ranging in size of from twenty to four 

 hundred nests to the grove. Nest 

 building commenced soon after their 

 arrival from the sunny South. 



Incubation usually began May 18th 

 to 25th. As soon as the young birds 

 were able to follow their parents, they 

 commenced feeding near the colony, 

 and as the young grew stronger, their 

 epicurian propensities drew them far- 

 ther from their homes. When their 

 wings were strong enough to make ex- 

 tended flights, of a morning as soon as 

 it grew light, the Grackles spread 



over the surrounding country in large 

 flocks to make war on the Crassho])- 

 per, Corn-worm and the numerous 

 other injurious insects that constitute 

 their bill of fare. 



Having spent the day at this, to 

 them, agreeable task, they would then 

 seek their roost. This, an ever recur- 

 ring delight, to any bird-lover, extend- 

 ed over a period of four months. Im- 

 agine a continuous stream of noisy, 

 happy Blackbirds passing over head 

 in the early gloaming, — first come a 

 few early birds straggling home; then 

 comes a whole army making the air 

 vibrate with the whistle of thousands 

 of eager wings, calling to each other 

 in soft low tones or giving loud clear 

 commands, as they fly in a wide level 

 plane, undulating like a black sleepy 

 sea. Sometimes the stream contracts 

 to a few dozen birds abreast, giving a 

 minor note to the music. Then as it 

 widens, the sound gradually increases 

 in volume until the uproar is perfect. 

 This gradually dies away as the last 

 belated traveller finds his roost, leav- 

 ing the observer to moralize over the 

 wonders of nature. 



This year, 1912, but very few Bronz- 

 ed Grackles succeeded in rearing a 

 brood. A small colony of some fifteen 

 pair on my farm succeeded in rearing 

 their young in safety with some help; 

 on two different occasions, squirrels 

 attempting to dispoil the nests of eggs 

 and young; but the colony being near 

 the house, I was at hand with a shot- 

 gun. 



Until the last few years the Fox 

 Squirrel was an unknown quantity in 

 this locality. The first few pairs that 

 arrived were hailed with delight and 

 stringent laws passed for their protec- 

 tion; but they have proved of no eco- 

 nomic value and are second to none 

 as bird destroyers, but they are still 

 protected. 



Guy Love. 

 Oberlin, Kansas. 



