Field Notes 195 



Three later censuses — 42 miles — from August 3 to 9, gave an 

 average of 8 birds per mile; in these the effect of the flocking of 

 Cliff and Barn Swallows is seen, for more than half of the native 

 birds recorded — 125 out of 330 — belonged to these species. 



This further experience has convinced us that the chief value 

 of the roadside census for comparative purposes lies during the 

 bi'eeding season, partly because birds are easier to identify then, 

 but largely because of the stability of the avian population. 

 Norman, Okla. Margaret M. Nice and L. B. Nice. 



SPRAGUE'S FIPIT—ANTHUS 8PRAGUEI—IN FLORIDA 



On February 23rd, 1921. while investigating a colony of Florida 

 Burrowing Owl {Speotyto floridaua floridana) in De Sota County 

 — now Charlotte County — about eight miles northwest of Punta 

 Gorda. I noticed two small birds fly up from the very open, sandy 

 " prairie " and go off quite wild in rather erratic flight. A general 

 grayish color and decidedly white on the outer tail feathers indi- 

 cated a stranger to me. One of the birds went off entirely out of 

 sight eastward while the other lit on the summit of an excavation 

 on the border of a large drainage canal and was there shot and 

 later found to be a female in normal winter plumage. 



So far as I can determine this is the first record for this bird 

 in Florida. 



On March 7th. following, while crossing the same " prairie " 

 about one and one-half miles farther east another bird of this 

 species was observed and twice flushed at long range and finally 

 disappeared. I judged it might be the number two bird seen Feb- 

 ruary 23rd. 



C. J. Pennock, 



Kennett Square, Pa. 



WILD BIRDS AND GAME FOWL ARE INCREASING 

 Notable increases in migratory birds, through special protec- 

 tion afforded them under Federal laws, are reported by George A. 

 Lawyer, Chief U. S. Game Warden of the Bureau of Biological Sur- 

 vey, United States Department of Agriculture, as a feature of his 

 recent inspection of the various districts scattered throughout the 

 country. Mr. Lawyer's trip took him practically around the borders 

 and coasts of the entire country, giving him opportunity to ob- 

 serve the condition of the birds in all important wintering sections 

 of the United States. 



Wild ducks and geese were found in great abundance, show- 

 ing the most notable increase of any of the migratory birds. 

 Greater numbers of upland plover, sandhill cranes, and Wilson snipe 

 or jacksnipe, were also especially noted. The welfare of the birds 

 was found to be generally satisfactory and promising, although the 



