66 



THE OOLOGIST 



for a short period in the spring, and 

 then disappear. 

 67. Cowbird 



Far too common. The inroads of 

 tliis species on the domestic riglits of 

 the smaller species of birds is respon- 

 sible for a considerable amount of 

 damage, I believe. I feel sure that 

 the cowbird pushes eggs of the owner 

 out in order to make room for her own. 

 69. Yellow Headed Blackbird 



One bird seen flying over Point 

 Breeze on July 16, 1914. 



69. Red Winged Blackbird 

 Common summer resident. In the 



absence of cattails this species nests 

 commonly in the lower alfalfa fields 

 bordering the creeks. 



70. Meadowlark 



Common. One individual was noted 

 all through the winter of 1916. It is 

 probable that a few remain through 

 each winter. 



71. Orchard Oriole 



Rather rare summer resident. I did 

 not find the species breeding until the 

 season of 1918. 



72. Baltimore Oriole 



Abundant summer resident. An old 

 oriole nest was brought to me with 

 the much blackened and decayed skull 

 of an adult attached securely below 

 with a hair. This is the first time 1 

 have noted an oriole hanged at its 

 own nest. 



73. Rusty Blackbird 



Unusually common in the fall mi- 

 gration of 1917. Six specimens were 

 secured from a huge flock. 



74. Bronzed Grackle 



Abundant summer resident. The 

 nest robbing of this species had been 

 discussed at the first ogf this paper. It 

 will be interesting to ascertain whether 

 this habit is indulged in by both male 

 and female birds. 



75. Purple Finch 



Recorded twice. I identified imme- 



diately an adult male, merely by hear- 

 ing his loud vigorous song, on May 16, 

 1917, at Point Breeze. This was the 

 first purple finch song I had ever 

 heard, and the first male I had ever 

 seen. The later views I had of the 

 bird singing, were well worth the time 

 spent. The other record was a female 

 seen late in the summer of 1918. 



76. White Winged Crossbill 



This species may be recorded by 

 virtue of a specimen in the collection 

 of Bethany College. The bird was se- 

 cured in 1897, near the town of Beth- 

 any. It is not known whether it was 

 taken from a visiting fiock, or simply 

 as an individual staggler. 



77. Am. Goldfinch 



Abundant summer resident, and an 

 occasional winter visitant. 



78. Vesper Sparrow 



Common summer resident. A rather 

 early nester. 



79. Grasshopper Sparrow 



Fairly common summer resident of 

 the more open country. I discovered 

 one nest with fresh eggs in the season 

 of 1918. Other searches for the nest 

 were unrewarded. 



80. White Crowned Sparrow 



Noted in migration several times; 

 but one specimen secured. 



81. White Throated Sparrow 

 Exceedingly abundant migrant. The 



chirp of the species is quite distinctive. 



82. Tree Sparrow 



Abundant winter visitant. Never 

 until the early spring of 1918 was I 

 privileged to hear the real song of this 

 species. The gentle musical chorus 

 of a flock on a sunned winter slope 

 is beautiful and cheerful, but there is 

 a remarkable sweetness and refined 

 character in the song of the spring 

 male when I heard him by myself. The 

 song as a whole reminded me at first 

 of some extraordinary warbler. 



83. Chipping Sparrow 



Abundant summer resident 



