50 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 02. 



AN ADDITION TO THE BIRDS OF OHIO. 



LYNDS JONES. 



Writing- under elate of May 2r)th, Mr. William P. Holt, of 

 the Toledo High School, announces the capture near there of 

 a Cory's Bittern {Ardctta ncoxciia), a long sought and much 

 anticipated bird. The bird was captured in the Casino marsh 

 on May 25th. Mr. Holt states that the specimen is in fine con- 

 dition, and that he had seen either this bird or others in the 

 same situation three times durhig the week. It seems entirely 

 within reason that this bird was not a solitary one, but that 

 at this time, wdien the Least Bitterns were so uncommonly 

 nunierous in these marshes, as well as in the marshes all along 

 the southern shore of the lake, that there might have been 

 something like a flight of them. However that may be, no 

 other records are forthcoming. This species should be added to' 

 the list of Ohio birds in its proper place in the regularly oc- 

 curring species because its range clearly covers the state, this 

 record proving it. 



A SCARCITY OF BIRDS IN THE NORTHERN 



STATES. 



Reports come in from many parts of the country north of 

 the southern border of Ohio to the effect that birds are re- 

 markably scarce for the season. The suggestion has been 

 made that this scarcity is likely due to the unfavorable breed- 

 ing season of last May and June, when the weather was cold 

 and very wet, so that the usual number of young were not 

 reared. This might easily be true if there was also an unusual 

 mortality among the old birds, or if conditions of weather or 

 food supply were such, during the summer and autumn 

 months, that an increased mortality occurred. Before any 

 final decision can be relied upon we should know what are the 

 conditions the wdiole country over, for if there be any unusual 



