Taverner and Swales — On Point Pelee Birds. Ill 



195. *Sitta canadensis. — Red-breasted Nutliatcli. 



The erratic appearance of this gpecies in Southeastern Michigan 

 and neighboring Ontario stations has been commented on by the 

 writers elsewhere (Aulc XXIV, 1907, p. 147). It is usually a scarce 

 migrant, though some years very abundant. We have met with it in 

 spring but once, May 31 and June 3, 1907, when eight and seventeen 

 were noted respectively. This was a very vuiusually late spring, 

 which accounts for their presence at this time. It was also the spring 

 following their great fall abundance of 190G, which- may have had 

 something to do with their rather unusual numbers. In 1905 but 

 three were noted October 29. The following year, when it will be 

 remembered reports of their exceeding abiuidance came in from many 

 localities, they were present and common September 1 to 3, and on 

 our return trip from the 15th to 21st they were still more numerous. 

 The culmination of their abundance, however, was reached October 

 14 and 15, when they were easily one of the most abundant birds 

 on the Point and found in all conceivable localities except thi; 

 marshes. Especially were they numerous in the waste fields near 

 the end of the Point, where they crowded the dead and dry mullein 

 stalks in such numbers as to be perceptible from some distance as 

 blue masses. We have met with the species at the Point at no other 

 times, but Saunders reports it as "very common September 8 to 10, 

 with the Kinglets," and Keays noted from two to four daily from 

 September 17 to 21, 1901. 



196. '^Penthestes atricainllns. — Chickadee. 



March 9-10, 1907, the Chickadee was common. One noted May 14, 

 1905, and another June 3, 1907. These are our only spring dates. 

 September 5 and 7, 1905, and October 29 of the same year constitute 

 our only fall dates. Our experience with the species at Detroit 

 leads us to believe that it is more migrational than is generally sup- 

 posed. They are common through the winter, but about the first of 

 April the great bulk of them depart, leaving but a few scattered 

 summer residents behind. They appear again about the end of Au- 

 gust, though not becoming generally common until well into Octo- 

 ber. They are a good bird to listen for when searching for fall 

 warblers. Their cheery A'oice can be heard some distance and the 

 following of it up often leads one to a nice little bunch of other spe- 

 cies with which they are fond of keeping company. 



197. Reguliis satrapa. — Golden-crowned Kinglet. 



Met with but twice in the late fall, October 29, 1905, and October 

 13-15, 1906. 



198. *Re[/uliis calendula. — Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 



We have noted this species but once in spring, Maj' 13-14, 1905, 

 when but a few were seen. In the fall it has been rather irregular. 



