Monthly Bulletin 7 



The autumn has been remarkable. Although there were many rains in 

 September, most of the storms were warm and the season has been so mild 

 and open that not only have fall flowers escaped the frost, but spring flowers 

 and fruits have developed. Wild strawberries, raspberries and blackberries 

 were ripening late in October. Many lawns, mowing fields and pastures 

 still retain their green verdure. From the Berkshire Hills to the Atlantic 

 Coast the trailing arbutus bloomed locally late in October, and the common 

 dandelion blossomed again in many localities, beside the fall species, and 

 in some cases it seeded for the second time this year. Both spring and fall 

 dandelions were blooming the first week in November. Willow catkins are 

 now (Nov. 15) open in eastern Massachusetts, and a few flowers still bloom 

 in some gardens. 



The eff"ect produced upon the birds by such springlike weather was 

 what might have been expected. Not only did many of them sing in the 

 usual subdued tones, but some apparently gave their full spring songs. Even 

 the flight songs of several species have been reported, and the singing of 

 robins, song sparrows and some other species continued well into November. 

 The mild weather seemed to delay the departure of some individuals of 

 several species, and to bring about dilatory movements of the waterfowl. 



Many herring gulls and numbers of ring-billed gulls are now moving 

 along shore. Bonaparte's gulls were reported from Cape Cod October 19, 

 and from Woods Hole Oct. 17. Three were still at Toronto, Canada, Nov, 6. 

 Kittiwake gulls were seen on Cape Cod Oct. 20, and at Block Island Oct. 25. 

 Kumlien's gull is reported from Cape Cod Nov, 2. 



A considerable movement of black ducks took place during October, 

 and now some small flocks of mallards are seen. Some baldpates have been 

 taken. Scaup, or bluebills, and redheads are perhaps not quite as common 

 as usual at this season. Golden-eyes, or whistlers, and old-squaws are here 

 in small numbers. All the scoters have come along as usual, 



Canada geese have passed intermittently during the last four weeks. 

 The first of the annual flight of brant was reported from New Brunswick 

 on the first two weeks of October, or about three weeks earlier than usual. 

 They were all old birds. Probably severe weather in the Arctic Ocean de- 

 stroyed their unfledged young and drove them to a less inclement climate. 

 Brant were reported as thin and poor and few young geese were seen. No 

 great flight of brant has been reported from New England, 



Again an autumnal flight of swans has been reported, but these reports 

 are few and vague. One observer on Cape Cod on October 16, a fine, clear 

 moonlight evening, heard calls which seemed to fill the air, which he ascribed 

 to swans. It was a great flight of birds going south and the sound of the 

 beating of their wings seemed so loud and close at hand that he almost 

 expected to be fanned by them. Scores of birds were calling and stragglers 

 followed for at least two minutes after the main flight had passed. 



No general flight of hawks has been reported this month. On October 

 14 there was a flight of red-tailed hawks north of Lake Ontario lasting all 

 day, but these were headed west, and probably were making for the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley, In western Hampshire County, Mass., an observer reported 

 on October 22 the greatest niunber of migrating hawks ever seen by him. 

 They passed between 7 and 8 A. M. and were so numerous that no count 

 or estimate of their numbers was possible. This flight was a great procession 



