The Roadside Census 115 



proportion was higher, but usually it was lower. There 

 are certain birds that one can be sure of seeing- if they 

 are in the vicinity; they are conspicuous, fearless and nest 

 near the roadside. For the prairies of Oklahoma, these 

 dependable birds are Dickcissels, Mockingbirds, Mourning 

 Doves, Meadowlarks, Lark Sparrows, Bluebirds, King- 

 birds and I'uri^le Martins. Other birds that are uncom- 

 mon, shy, or i)refer a different environment are only oc- 

 casionally seen; such as Hawks, Crows, Cardinals, Painted 

 Buntings, Yellow-breasted Chats, etc. 



The following table gives the numbers of birds tliat 

 were alike and ditferent on three trips that Avere repeate<l 

 a week later at different times of the dav. 



It will be seen that from 00 to 83 per cent of the species 

 were alike when the same ground was covered a second 

 time. The highest proportion was on tlie shortest trip 

 where there was least chance for variety. 



The forty-one censuses which form the basis of this 

 study were all taken in Oklahoma in the summer of 1920. 

 The country covered was of two vei*y (liferent types ; most 

 of it was level prairie, but some, especially in the eastern 

 part of the State, was wooded and mountainous. The 

 first two censuses were taken on a trip from Oklahoma 

 City, which is in the center of tlie State, to Kinglisher 

 county, fifty miles northwest. All the others occurred on 

 two camping trips with Norman, twenty miles south of 

 Oklahoma City, as a starting point. Tlie first trip was to 

 the Wichita Mountains, about 120 miles to the southwest. 

 On the second trip we went directly south GO miles to the 

 Arbuckle Mountains, then east to the Ouachita Mountains; 



