110 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 79. 



eru and eastern parts of Ohio, and it was stated in local papers that 

 many were frozen or starved to death during the latter part of 

 March. It seems probable that a like fate overtook many of the 

 Bluebirds. 



o 



The cold winter, followed by a late spring in the central districts 

 and the promise of a cool summer, are likely to result in a temporary 

 pushing south of the breeding ranges of birds in the lower lake re- 

 gion where there appears to be some instability as to certain breed- 

 ing birds. At the present writing (June 5) Olive-backed Thrushes 

 are still present and singing at Oberlin — an unprecedentedlj^ late 

 date. It is not likely that this species will breed here even this sum- 

 mer, but it may be indicative of an inclination on the part of birds 

 like the White-throated Sparrow, Black-throated Green "Warbler, 

 Black-poll Warbler, and others to remain to breed, contrary to their 

 usual custom. A careful scrutiny of tlie summer fauna will not be 

 amiss in any region. 







The paper dealing with the detailed study of a Brown Thrasher's 

 nest, the first article in this number, is another of the carefully 

 worked out studies of that part of the life history of a species 

 which is greatly needed in our intimate studies of the birds as a 

 means of a thorough understanding of their place in nature. It is 

 needless to say that the paper represents an amount of painstaking 

 work w'hich no one who has not undertaken something of the kind 

 can begin to appreciate. It may be objected that the printing of the 

 details of each of the 775 visits of the parents to the young is un- 

 called for ; but we would remind the possible objector that this is 

 pioneer work and details are necessary for the laying of a sure foun- 

 dation for the further work which we earnestly hope may follow this 

 work. 



