20 



THE FLICKKR. 



and while gregarious to a great extent, in flight ever}- one is 

 capable of looking out for itself. The mature birds are the 

 most war)', and by example prepare the young for the dangers 

 of migration and Winter residence in the South, where it is 

 constantly menaced by hunters. Acknowledging the difficul- 

 ties in the way, it seems to me that the departure of the bulk 

 has been sadly neglected nevertheless. In this species at least 

 its value over dates of last .seen is apparent. 



At Buffalo, N. Y., the bulk retires in October ; Dunrak, 

 Pa., first week in October; Meridian, Wis., by Oct. 10 ; and 

 the same date is given for Hillsboro, la. The departure 

 of the bulk is alwa3"S dependent upon weather and foliage. 

 In '9<S the foliage was unusually late in falling, but in '99 

 rather unusually early with .some chill}'^ weather in October 

 (Jones). During the cold windy days in October at Taunton, 

 Mass., it may be found in large numbers huddled together in 

 hollows and sheltered localities, where it ma^^ be easily ap- 

 proached (Bent). The last seen are represented by a number 

 of irregular dates. 



At Croton Falls, N. Y., not present during the fall of '91 

 and '94 ; Dunrak, Pa., last b^^ October lo ; Germantown and 

 Narberth, Pa., by last of Octobor ; St. Paul, Minn., late in 

 October, one lingering until November 7, '95 ; Iowa City, 

 Iowa, and Glen Ellyn, 111., last week in October; Hillsboro, 

 Iowa, November <), '99, all but the few that winter. 



