JoxES — On Birds of Cedar Point. 33 



ini;j;rates in flocks of its own kind, hut when the migrations have 

 been held back by a late season they join the huge companies which 

 are made up of several species. The males often arrive in advance 

 of the females, but by no means always. Many early flocks con- 

 tain both sexes in nearly equal numbers. On each of the late sum- 

 mer visits to the islands this species has been seen migrating south- 

 ward along the island route, and flocks have been seen coming to- 

 ward the southern end of Pelee Island from nearly due east, as 

 thouiih they had essayed to cross directly to the Ohio shore from 

 the point of Pelee. but had turned their course to the westward 

 before pasing abreast of the southern extremity of Pelee Island. 

 None have ever been seen crossing elsewhere, and none arriving 

 between Sanduslcy and Huron. I have never seen flocks make as 

 though intending to cross the lake in the northward migration. 

 Marsh vegetation is still suflSciently abundant, so that these birds 

 seldom build their nests in the marsh bushes, as they do sometimes 

 when natural conditions have changed. I have found eggs which 

 appeared to be nearly fresh, July 15. 



140. Fttuniclla )ii(i<nio. — Meadowlark. 



Common all summer, i)resent in small numbers all winter 

 wherever there are fields of sufficient extent to harbor a pair. On 

 the Cedar Point sand spit it is only a straggler, more often seen in 

 the winter and early spring than at other times. It feeds in the 

 marsh in the winter, particularly when it is ice covered. I pre- 

 sume it may spend the night there also, at least in heavy weather. 

 Regular migrations occur with the first bird wave, the birds be- 

 coming common by the middle of ^Nlarch. The bulk leaves about 

 the end of October, usually just in advance of a hard storm, or 

 during the storm. The winter resident birds begin to sing in late 

 February if the weather becomes spring-like. I have not noticed 

 any increase in numbers with the fall migrations. 



141. Icterus spnrins. — Orchard Oriole. 



It is now common over the whole region except the small isl- 

 ands. Prior to 1898 it was decidedly uncommon, but has steadily 

 increased in numbers until now it is in almost as great numbers 

 as the next species. The median date of arrival for the last twelve 

 years is May 1. the earliest being April 20, 1899. I have no reliable 

 fall records. Either the birds depart early or go into hiding. All 

 along the sand spit this Oriole is found nesting in the cottonwood 

 trees eastward, in various trees westward. In 1907 I found many 

 more west of the pleasure grounds than elsewhere. On the main- 

 land they are found nesting in orchards more frequently than else- 



