38 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 66. 



ach No. 2, the remains of two mice; stomach No. 3 the re- 

 mains of three mice and a shrew. 



It has been stated that the apparent scarcity of Barn Owls 

 in times agone w^as not due to the actual scarcity of the birds, 

 but was due to the fact that they had better means of conceal- 

 ment, and that with the gradual destruction of woodlands, 

 came the gradual increase in numbers observed. Be this as it 

 may, no bird is deserving of more protection than the Barn 

 Owl, for it is truly the farmer's friend. 



Ctrci-eville, Ohio. Jan. 5, 1909. 



MIGRATION HALTS. 



ALTHEA R, SHERMAN. 



It is difficult to ascertain whether the duration of visits from 

 migrating birds is that of a minute, a day, a week, a month, or 

 even more, except when the visitors are of rare species, or 

 have some distinguishing marks, or are associated in some 

 special manner with others of their kind. Of this last named 

 class was a Downy Woodpecker, attended by one of his young, 

 which he was feeding constantly, although the youngster ap- 

 peared quite able to take care of itself; their advent was upon 

 the Fourth of July, and they staid two days. This may not be 

 considered a true migration halt, yet the early shifting of birds 

 from their breeding range is worthy of note, and possibly may 

 mark the beginning of their southward movement. The sum- 

 mer visiting species that come under my observation are o£ 

 two sorts, as regards their breeding haunts, those of the true 

 woodland varieties, and the marsh birds. 



Usually during June only our neighborhood breeding birds 

 are to be seen, but in the early days of July the forest birds be- 

 gin to come upon the prairie. In 1908 the Downy Wood- 

 l-)eckers were the first pioneers, followed by a juvenile male 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, then Hairy W"oodpecker, Chickadee, 

 Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow Warbler, Redstart, and Screech 

 Owl came in rapid succession. One summer a very ragged 

 Redstart was seen about our place almost every day for nearly 



