4() Till': \\'ii.s()x Ri'Li.ETiN' — No. ."iO. 



at one flic^lit. We say the "generality" with reason, for 

 some species we have seen crossing- directly over, unde- 

 flected by the inviting- appearance of Pelee Island that lies in 

 full view from the end of the Point and about eight miles and 

 a half away. The birds we have seen so crossings were Duck 

 Hawk, Sharp-shinned H'awk, Sparrow" Hawk, Red-winged 

 r)lackbird. Bronzed Grackle, Blue Jav; Robin, and Blue- 

 bird. We noted all of these species crossing the afternoon of 

 October 14, 1900. On that date this was of more than common 

 interest as it showed mig-ration at a time wdien such move- 

 mjents are difficult to detect. Ordinarily with individuals com- 

 ing and going daily there is no appreciable increase or diminu- 

 tion of numbers of a species. Lender such conditions it is 

 almost impossible to tell positively whether the bird popula- 

 tion is migrating or stationary. But here it is possible to 

 actually see such species start out and feel certain that it is a 

 migration flight and not but a passage to another woods or 

 swale, and accidentally in a southerly direction. From the 

 first of September on. every morning's sunrise sees great 

 flocks of Blackbirds and Bobolinks that have presumably 

 passed the night in the marsh making their way down the 

 Point for the crossing. Through the day it is but an occasional 

 small bunch that passes over, but from sunrise to about eight 

 o'clock they go in an almost steady stream. Sharp-shinned 

 Hawks, on the contrary, seem to wait until they have digested 

 their morning meal before starting out and then seem to cross 

 throughout the day in steady numbers. 



There is one species, however, that does seem to take ad- 

 vantage of every resting place along the way, and that is the 

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This diminutive little bird 

 showed a strange mixture of bravery and caution. Other 

 birds hesitate more or less before finally leaving the Point and 

 then fly at an elevation of about two hundred feet or more. 

 As they start out from the shelter of the last trees the least 

 thing will turn them back, a man shouting, a gun shot or the 

 sight of a hawk in the far distance. In this manner they may 

 make several false starts before the final one. The Humming- 

 bird, however, comes sailing down the Point over the tops of 



