104 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 87 



Anderson shot several and one of these was taken to the Stag Cigar 

 Store, and there identified as a Gohlen Plover. Mr. Anderson described 

 the birds as having a short bill and a ' ' black back speckled with greenish 

 yellow. ' ' Dr. B. H. Bailey, with whom I interviewed Mr. Anderson, was 

 satisfied of the correctness of the identification. 



A Dr. Flageau, of Holly Springs, reported that large flocks of these 

 birds, which were locally called "Prairie Pigeons," had been seen in the 

 vicinity for the past ten days "feeding on the winter wheat." Mr. 

 Anderson thought they were feeding on the crickets and grasshoppers 

 rather than the wheat. 



A Mr. Williams, of Owego, was also (pioted as having seen these 

 birds in large numbers about the same time. Mr. Anderson says he 

 was able to obtain very few birds because of their shyness. When dis- 

 turbed they would tiy up \'evy high in the air, circle around, and finally 

 fly away. T. C. Stephens. 



SOME WINTER RECORDS FROM MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA. 



During the winter of 1913-1914 several records of unusual interest to 

 nie were made in this locality. 



Red-headed Woodpecker {Melanerpe-s enjtlirocepludus). In the fall 

 long after the other individuals had left three of this species were to 

 be seen about the cemetery. Every time I passed thru that region I 

 expected to discover that they were gone, but they remained thru the 

 winter. The cemetery contains large numbers of oaks of different species 

 and the Red-heads used tlie acorns, particularly those of the white oak, 

 for food. These three birds were to be seen at any time either feeding 

 or fighting with the Blue Jays. They had one particular tree which 

 they seemed to use as a sleeping place, and tliey allowed no Jays to 

 remain in that vicinity. 



Red-bellied Woodpecker {Centurus carolinus). This species was another 

 form which I was surprised to find here during the winter. I liave re- 

 garded this as a rather rare bird in this locality, as the only other 

 specimen noted in two years' field work was one taken April 4, 1913. 

 This second specimen remained all winter in the cemetery and is still 

 here at the present writing (May 5). This bird was much more shy than 

 the Red-heads and not so noisy, but we managed to see him on nearly 

 every trip during the winter. 



Tufted Titmouse {Bceoluphus bicolor). On the 25th of January, as 

 I was walking thru a small Avillow thicket, a small bird flew into a bush 

 not ten feet in front of me. It was snowing hard at the time and this 

 made any observation work difficult. However, I recognized the bird as 

 one of this species and after considerable maneuvering managed to se- 

 cure him. A short time later another was secured. This is another form 

 which I have considered rare, tlie only other record being a pair noted 

 on two different dates in April, 1913. Ira N. Gabrielson. 



