Jones — On Birds of Cedar Point. 35 



themselves, especially during the roosting period and when the 

 young are .lust beginning to fly. None have been found nesting on 

 the sand spit, but great numbers come into the marshes during late 

 summer. At all times of day numbers of these birds may be seen 

 feeding along the beach. Their fxivorlte morsel seems to be the eyes 

 of the fishes which the waves have cast up. 



145. Hespcripliona respcrtiiiu. — Evening Grosbeak. 



The only record for the region known to the writer is that re- 

 corded in "The Birds of Ohio," page 136, of a specimen secured by 

 Dr. Carl Tuttle at Berlin Heights, January 30, 1S90. Its casual 

 occurrence in other places along the lake shore indicates casual 

 visitation to this region. 



146. Pinicola cmicleator leticirra. — I'iue Grosbeak. 



One was found in the Vermillion River gorge January 1, 1902. a 

 flock of twelve visited the outskirts of Oberlin from November 20 

 to December 4, 1903 ; two companies of four individuals were re- 

 corded in the region of Oak Point on January 5, and a company of 

 four iud'viduals remained just north of the college campus from 

 February 21 to 29. 1904. The character of the Avinter seems to 

 have little to do with the visitations of this interesting species. 



147. Passer douicsticus. — English Sparrow. 



The increasing abundance and aggressiveness of this vermin in 

 feathers forces this much recognition. It has not .vet made its way 

 to any part of the sand spit except the summer resort grounds, but 

 elsewhere in the whole region it is menacingly abundant. As yet it 

 goes into the woods to nest but rarely, but it is gradually invading 

 the borders of woods. In several places in the sti'eam gorges it has 

 caused the complete evacuation by the Bank and Rough-winged 

 Swallows by appropriating all available nesting places. Their de- 

 structlveness to small grains both while it is standing in the field 

 nearly ripened and while it is in the shock, and to garden vegeta- 

 bles, is more serious than is commonly supposed. Effective means 

 for their destruction would be hailed as a relief. 



148. Carpodaciis purpureus. — Purple Finch. 



A regular but seldom common winter visitor. It was common on 

 October 9, 1897, and again on September 24, 1906. It usually oc- 

 curs in small companies. Fully colored birds are always less nu- 

 meroiis than those in the spotted plumage, and they usually occur 

 in about the proportion of one to five. The latest spring record is 

 May 28, 1907, the average falling near the first of May. First fall 

 records are too scattering to be reliable, the earliest are September 



