36 JOURNAL OV' MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the chickens' breakfast. Thej' have been sta^nng in the same 

 place several days, for another observer saw them eating and 

 drinking with the chickens on the previous day. The Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak, one of the handsomest birds which takes the 

 long journey from South America to Maine, in the spring, was 

 today reported to me as seen a few miles from Portland, on the 

 14th. A Scarlet Tanager has been at the Cape for a daj' or two. 

 Many persons have seen it and have wondered at the brilliancy of 

 its plumage. Both these birds ought to be seen in large numbers 

 the coming week. 



May 17. — The morning was cold, and a thunder shower pre- 

 vented me from getting into the woods early. I was out, however, 

 before the rain had ceased, expecting to see very few new birds, 

 but in this I was happily disappointed, for the trees and shrubbery 

 were fairly alive with a dozen migrating species. In a grove of 

 pitch pine I found myself in the midst of a busy flock of Warblers 

 and other small birds, evidently just in from a long flight, for thej^ 

 were so hungry that they searched, without ceasing, for food in 

 spite of the rain. Around me were fully two hundred birds, prob- 

 ably many more than thai. The Magnolia Warbler was appar- 

 ently the most numerous species, a score i)r two of them being 

 seen. Their gorgeous markings of black, white, gray and yellow 

 made them very conspicuous. Next in numbers were Chestnut- 

 sided Warblers, extremely handsome birds, their bright yellow cap 

 being the distinguishing mark: Nashville, Black and White, and 

 Black-throated Green Warblers were also abundant. The Water 

 Thrush was seen for the first time this season, only two or three 

 of them, down by the edge of a swampy pond, where they bobbed 

 and bowed much after the fashion of a Sandpiper. Chickadees 

 and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were in the flock with the others. 

 Field Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows were abundant, 

 keeping mostly on the ground, while the Warblers, as a rule, 

 were in the low trees and bushes. The White-throats were intent 

 on a search for food among the dead leaves, scratching with both 



