1 88 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



ceased to visit us, and our two largest woodpeckers {Caiiipcpliilus 

 principalis and Hylotomus pilcatus) have disappeared along with the 

 dense forests that were their favorite resorts. The seventh extir- 

 pated species is the raven, which is said to have been a common 

 resident of this section in former times. 



" To offset these losses we have the cowbird and the black- 

 tliroated bunting in abundance, both of which were considered of 

 doul)tful occurrence in Ohio forty years ago; the Kentucky warbler, 

 loggerhead shrike and lark finch are also inferred to have made 

 their appearance within the same period, as they were omitted en- 

 tirely from Dr. Kirtland's list ; and the cerulean warbler, now a 

 common summer resident throughout the vState, was observed by 

 him in one instance only, a fact strongly suggestive of its compar- 

 ative rarity at that time. Within the present decade two European 

 species, the house-sparrow and the sky-lark, have also been added 

 to our fauna, the former of which seems likely to exceed in 

 numbers any one of our native species, unless its extraordinary 

 increase should be checked by natural or artificial means — a con- 

 summation devoutly to be wished." 



"The foregoing are doubtless but a portion of the changes in 

 the Avian-fauna of this locality within the period mentioned, as 

 many others, of which we have no definite record, have probably 

 taken place ; it is apparent, however, that the various conditions 

 attendant upon civilization have resulted, directly or indirectly, in 

 the extirpation of several of our larger species ; while, on the other 

 hand, there has been a decided increase both in species and in in- 

 dividuals, among the smaller birds. And finally, in these various 

 changes that have occurred in our Avian fauna, we have an excel- 

 lent illustration of the workings of that universal law of nature, in 

 accordance with which the living things of a country or district be- 

 come adjusted to their surroundings; protection from enemies and 

 an increased food supply, resulting in a greater abundance of some 

 forms, while extirmination is the fate of others whose habits or con- 

 stitutions will not admit of the modification necessary to adapt them 

 to new conditions." 



Instances might be multiplied to show that civilization and 

 cultivation of the soil favor the increase of small birds, and the 

 reasons for this are obviously: First — That the clearing away of 

 forests and introduction of new seed and fruit bearing plants, which 

 are also the food of a host of insects, directly favors the increase of 

 food for small birds, both seed and grain eaters and insect feeders. 



