JOURNAT. OF MAINE OKNITHOLOGICAT. SOCIETY. 37 



feet at the same time, just the same as Fox Sparrows. Quite a 

 number of Ovetibirds were in the flock, running about on the 

 ground or perching not far from the roots of the underbrush. 

 Olive-backed Thrushes were seen this morning, but apparently 

 journeying by themselves. I was near enough to them to 

 distinguish their buffy eye-rings and buffy cheeks, these being 

 the tests to make sure that they were not Hermit Thrushes, 

 though the color of the tail is sufficient evidence, if the bird is seen 

 in a strong light. The Olive-backed Thrush does not nest here, 

 but seeks higher ground in the interior. Goldfinches, in a little 

 flock of six or eight, were seen this morning in their full spring 

 plumage of lemon-yellow and black, and their flight song was 

 heard as they passed directly over my head. Bobolinks are get- 

 ting to be plentiful in the fields. I saw today a number of these 

 birds, all males, but a careful search failed to disclose any females. 

 Purple finches, in splendid rosy tints, are not uncommon. The 

 brownish-gray females, seen by themselves, are not easy to recog- 

 nize until one learns to distinguish them from Sparrows. In the 

 woods, a Whip-poor-will, at rest on the ground, flew up before 

 me and fled out of sight on noiseless wings. Chebecs and Yellow 

 Warblers are living at Simonton's cove in exactly the same spot 

 where they have been every summer for many years. 



May 18. — This was an ideal morning for birds and they were 

 both active and tuneful. The places which yesterday were alive 

 with Warblers were today practically deserted. The swamps and 

 alder bushes seemed to be now the favorite resort for many species. 

 A little band of White-crowned Sparrow^s had come along and they 

 were doubtless very hungry for they were flocking to the middle 

 of the road and picking up particles of food with the English Spar- 

 rows. One of them sat on the top of an alder bush and sang in a 

 clear, mellow whistle. It is a song that is not often heard while 

 the bird is migrating. The loud note of the Veery was heard 

 more than once from the thick bushes, and it is evident that this 

 Thrush is becoming more abundant as the days grow wariner. 



