100 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 79. 



vers were all seen in unusual numbers. Only the Pectoral 

 and Red-backed Sandpipers were seen more rarely than might 

 have been expected. 



Of the birds that flew over the trees, the Swallows and 

 Blackbirds were easily the most noticeable, the former flying 

 in loose aggregations, the latter in compact flocks. The Swal- 

 low bands were usually composed of all the species, but with 

 a decided predominance of one or two kinds. At first the 

 commonest were the Rough-winged, but soon the Bank also 

 became prominent, only to be outnumbered in turn by the 

 Purple Martin. The Barn Swallows were always present in 

 good numl>ers, but the Tree and Cliff Swallows, while usu- 

 ally present, were never seen in large numbers. The Swal- 

 lows migrated mostly before 9 :00 a. m. and after 5 :00 p. m., 

 but on favorable days a steady stream would be passing from 

 morning until night. Of the Blackbirds, the Bobolinks came 

 past in flocks of Bobolinks alone, ranging in number from 

 twenty-five to three or four hundred. Red-wing's, Bronzed 

 Grackles and Cowbirds came in flocks mostly of one species, 

 but containing also some individuals of the other two. Black- 

 birds (including Bobolinks) were only seen passing in the 

 morning and at night, not in the middle of the day. Once 

 an enormous flock of Grackles was found scattered and feed- 

 ing around the west end of the swamp. The passing Red- 

 wings also often paused at the swamp. After passing the 

 base of the point, however, they did not usually light again. 



The Swallows were usually accompanied by a few Chinmey 

 Swifts ; and Nighthawks, Ospreys and Alarsh Hawks were 

 also seen migrating, flying usually high in the air. The iNIarsh 

 Hawks seemed to migrate U'^ually in pairs. 



The Goldfinch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Bluc])ird mi- 

 grated singly or in small companies, and lit, here and there, 

 in the trees to rest. They act much like the Bluebirds, but 

 light more. The Mourning Dove, Flicker, Red-headed Wood- 

 pecker, and Kingbird traveled in small, loose, companies, 

 which in the case of the last mentioned, almost reach the dig- 

 nity of flocks sometimes. They light even more than the 



