34 Bird MUirntion in the Mississippi Valley. 



Cowbird (M. ater). St. Louis. — Summer sojourner. First seen on April 5, 

 and tlie height of the season was on the 12th. Jefferson.— Summer sojourner. 

 On April 21 first saw one flock of about forty males and females. The bulk 

 of the species arrived on April 28, and on ]\Iay 12 it was the height of the 

 season ; about five hundred seen. May 19.— Just about in Summer numbers. 

 Yellow-headed Black-bird (X icterocephnlm). bt. Louis. — Rare visitor ; not 

 seen this year. Jefferson.— Not seen, but may occur locally, as I know it is a 

 regular breeder at Green Lake, fifty miles north of here. At that lake, twelve 

 years ago, I found only one pair, breeding at the south end the next year three 

 pairs, and two years later they were quite numerous there, but nowhere else. 

 The-next year one pair moved to the north end of the lake, and this Summer 

 on revisiting the place,! found them all around that lake and several neigh- 

 boring ones. 



Red and Buff-shouldered Blackbird {A.pho&niceus). St Louis.— Summer so- 

 journer. On March 3 first saw many small flocks in the swamp on the Illi- 

 nois side of the river just opposite St. Louis, but none here yet. By March 11 

 they had spread a little more in small troops, mostly males, and on the 14th 

 they were the most conspicuous birds in the lowlands. Vast numbers were 

 in noisy flocks; mostly males. On March 17 large flocks went north above 

 the river, and on April 4 the number here was very great. April 6.— Height 

 of the season, which continued up to the 29th. Jefferson. — Summer sojourner. 

 First saw nine on March 17 and on the 23d the first flock, which was the last 

 until April 4, when, in the evening, two hundred and fifty went north. On 

 April 9 very few seemed to have passed and a walk of half a dozen miles did 

 not reveal as many flocks. On the 12th they were for the first time common, 

 but there were no large flocks, but a good many scattering single ones, all 

 males and all singing. April 21. — First females. April 28. — Height of the 

 season. 



Meadow Lark {8. magna). St. Louis — Summer sojourner. First seen on 

 March 3, when they were quite numerous and noisy in Illinois,^ opposite the 

 city, but only once met wHh on this side of the river. By March 11 they 

 were slowly taking up old stands, ana on the 14th their song was heard on 

 all sides, unusually numerous this year. Jefferson — Summer sojourner. On 

 March 23, first saw fifteen to twenty single males; no females until April 1, 

 and no flocks at any time. All that were here on April 9 were mated. 



Orchard Oriole (/. spurius). St. Louis— Summer sojourner. On April 18 

 first saw one male, which was very dark, and on the 19th another one, singing. 

 April 21. — First male of last j'ear, and on the 22nd there was a slight increase. 

 April 29. — It is becoming quite prominent; the first female and a few. males 

 of last year have arrived, but the species is not yet at its height. May 3. — 

 Bulk of the species, and in wandering troops. Jefferson — Should be here, 

 but not seen. 



Baltimore Oriole (/. galbula). St. Louis — Summer sojourner. On April 19, 

 first saw two, which were shy, and almost silent. April 20. — Two miire, and 

 on the 22nd a slight increase. April 29.— Bulk of the species, and they are 

 to-day the most conspicuous and noisy birds. Tlie females have arrived, and 

 old males are back in full numbers. Jefferson — Summer sojourner. First 

 seen on May 6, and the next day about one-tenth were here. May 8. Some- 

 what more common. On the 10th the females arrived, but only a few, and 



