6 Massac hu sett s^^A u d ub o n Society 



for the pass isn't where he left it on the last voyage. The great fan- 

 shaped system of river mouths is constantly shifting, constantly push- 

 ing further out into the Gulf. To the north the red glare of the light- 

 house on the end of the jetty marked the beginning of an interesting 

 journey. Soon the big ship passed between the tv/o rows of piling which 

 marked out a channel just wide enough for two ships to pass in comfort. 

 Presently a narrow strip of soil appears outside the piling, gradually 

 getting wider, and then the first bushes, from which came just at day 

 light the familiar strains of the song sparrow. 



As the big ship plows her way at good speed close to the east bank 

 the high deck affords a fine post of observation. The land broadens, 

 trees appear, small tracts of cultivated land, houses, cabins, landings, 

 corn and sugar cane abound, now and then a grinding mill comes into 

 view and an occasional "mansion" with its double decked veranda and 

 negro quarters behind. 



It was a unique experience to go "birding" in the early morning 

 through woods and fields on the deck of an ocean steamship. I was 

 much interested to see and hear what sort of birds were summering in 

 that southland. Most in evidence was the song sparrow, but through 

 the swampy lands the black bird's reedy notes and the robins cheerful 

 call were almost a continual chorus. The flickers flickered and the vireo 

 preached just as in New England. There were occasional flocks of crows 

 and one hawk. The soft notes of the blue bird were heard and Sammy 

 Jay did not hide his light under a bushel. Now and then a kingfisher 

 flew across the bow sounding his rattle. One scarlet tanager flashed by, 

 or was it a cardinal? The fly catchers were seen and heard all along the 

 way perched on the dead branches and launching suddenly into the air 

 in pursuit of bugs, while swallows darted here and there. 



It was rather disappointing not to see more strange birds. I suppose 

 I must have been expecting the shores to be lined with gaudy parrots, 

 noisy parrakeets, birds of paradise, flamingoes, hoatzins and other 

 tropical birds, but the only ones I can recall not common to New England 

 are the mocking bird, the mourning dove and the scissor-tail fly catcher. 

 The latter was new to me and I was interested to see him manage his 

 excess steering gear. 



New Orleans is six hours, nearly a hundred miles, up the river, a 

 fact which I had not realized. Altogether this voyage by ocean liner 

 through fields and plantations and woods was as delightful as it was 

 unusual. 



R. G. Frye, Sharon. 



STARLINGS AND GYPSY MOTHS 



Manomet, Mass., July 18, 1919. 

 My Dear Sir: — 



I have your reply to my inquiry in regard to the English starling 

 for which please accept my thanks. My reason for asking is this. The 

 bird has never appeared on my place here until now. When we came 



