Birds Near Minco, Oklahoma 3 



On May 31, in company with Marvin Woodwortii, I drove 

 to Bacon's Ranch, not far from Leal, Oklahoma. Here we 

 found high upland country, with gullies and ravines cutting 

 into it. I had hoped to secure the Black-headed Vireo (Vireo 

 atvicapiUus) here, hut was disappointed. The prairie coun- 

 try traversed this day fairly swarmed with Nighthawks, and 

 among those collected two forms were identified. 



In the town of Minco yards were planted in trees and some 

 lots were given over to growing orchards. These were at- 

 tractive to many birds that fed and nested fearlessly about 

 the houses. During the long hours passed in preparing speci- 

 imens and writing notes, I heard Bell's Vireos, Nonpareils, 

 and Mockingbirds singing constantly, and the birds them- 

 selves were often in sight ; while species familiar to me in 

 more northern localities were equally common. The breed- 

 ing birds near Minco presented a curious admixture of south- 

 ern, eastern, and western elements. Muscivora forHcata, 

 Thryoiiiaiics b. crypus, and Penthestes c. agilis may be enu- 

 merated as lower austral forms here not far from the northern 

 limit of their ranges. Among eastern (and northern) breed- 

 ing birds may be mentioned Dryobates p. medianus, Myio- 

 chanes vivcns, Agelams p. predatorius, Sfurnella m. magna 

 and Icteria v. virens. And among western forms were Zen- 

 aidura in. niargineUa, Ofocoris a. leucolaeuia, Sturnclla neg- 

 lecta, Chondestes g. strigatus, Guiraca c. laznJa and lilinius 

 p. leiicopterus. 



In the following list notes are given on 63 species and sub- 

 species of birds : 



1. Sterna ontillarum antillarum (Lesson). — Least Tern. 

 Fairly common. Three adult males were taken. The Least Tern 

 was found from May 24 on along the South Canadian River. Here 

 they worked systematically over the water with quick, graceful 

 flight, on the lookout for the minnows that formed their food. At 

 times one or two came to a slough near town in company with Black 

 Terns. On May 26 they were mating and were often seen in pairs, 

 pursuing each other with harsh call notes, high in the air. No 

 nests were found. It may be that these birds breed farther north 

 on the Cimarron or Arkansas Rivers and were here in migration. 



