38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



wing feathers equally perfect, but when the tails were only partly 

 grown the wings might be equally backward or perfectly de- 

 veloped, depending, apparently, somewhat upon the growth of 

 the tail, the wings reaching full size first. 



About one-half the birds with imperfect tails had all the 

 feathers present and of perfect form but one to one and one-half 

 inches long ; one-fourth had a short new tail like the above but 

 with one or more of the old feathers sticking far out beyond the 

 end of the new ones ; while the remaining one-fourth had tails 

 of every conceivable growth, many being without any tail at all. 



All the Robins which I observed were in full plumage.* 



No Red-wings have been known to visit the roost with the 

 Grackles but several Screech Owls seem to be entirely at home 

 there. I have heard as many as four calling at once and do not 

 doubt that double this number might be found in the vicinity. 



The following notes on the evening flights were taken Septem- 

 ber 17th : 



5 J). TO. — No birds in sight and none to be heard. Very few 

 birds seem to remain near the roost during the day. 



5:35 p. m. — A few small flocks are coming in, but not to any 

 extent as yet. As they arrive they keep up a constant calling 

 and shifting from tree to tree. 



5:50 p. TO. — A flock of 1,000 just arrived with a great deal of 

 calUug and commotion. 



5:55 p. m. — Large flight now beginning from the northwest 

 and birds are coming in, in a steady stream. 



6 p. TO. — Still larger flight from the northwest now begins. 

 Birds continue to come in from both the flights already noted 

 and also from a southwesterly direction. There are now prob- 

 ably 20,000 birds on the place. 



6:10 p. m. — 60,000 birds now here. They are continally 

 shifting about in the trees and 1,000 to 1,500 are walking about 

 on the lawn. 



♦Specimens that I have examined indicate that adult Grackles are later than 

 the juTena! birds in completing their molt. Some secured October 22 have 

 the tails only three-quarters grown. Old and young Robins molt about the 

 same time in August and September, and are through earlier than the adult 

 Grackles. Young Grackles, moreover, have a complete molt at this season, 

 while young Robins do not molt the wing and tail feathers. — Ed. 



