8 J Ui II elm No. /S. 



This bit of experience has taught us that he who would be a successful 

 bird census taker must be possessed of a good supply of patience, a keen 

 sense of the importance of thoroness, an abundance of "nerve" if his 

 held is a town, and a good pair of legs. The work must be done in one 

 day, of course, so that the shifting about of the birds will be reduced to 

 its lowest terms. This census taking, if given as much attention as the 

 note taking which every lover of the birds indulges in during the Spring, 

 will fill in the usual Winter blank wnth notes second to none in point of 

 interest. Try iti 



There is another sort of Winter work, closely allied to the census tak- 

 ing, which is less arduous, perhaps, but almost as interesting and profi- 

 able. It is what Mr. Dawson has aptly termed the "CENSO- 

 HORIZON." It consists of making a record of each bird seen during a 

 walk about town or during a more or less extensive excursion into the 

 surrounding country. No attempt is made to cover any prescribed. area. 

 It has been my privilege to make several such censo-horizons during the 

 present winter, twice in company with Mr. Dawson. Allow me to say 

 here that two persons, provided both are equally interested in the birds, 

 afe better than one for such work. What one may overlook the other is 

 likely to see. 



One of the most extensive of these outings, December 31, 1S97, began 

 at 6:30 in the morning when the electric car whirled me toward Lake 

 Erie. A solitary Flicker was the first and only bird seen from the car 

 window. The sleety snow driven by a stiff north-easter, and a tempera- 

 ture of 25^, were probably responsible for the scarcity of ])irds. Before 

 night-fall the temperature had reached t6" with gusts of sleety snow at 

 short intervals. After the ear left me in sight of the roaring breakers, 

 my route lay along the. lake beach (for a fringe of several rods of pack- 

 ice held the waves back) for about four miles. Here I saw nine Am. 

 Herring Gulls, three Mallards and one Sharp-shinned Hawk, all in earn- 

 est quest of food. After beating about in the marshes until satisfied that 

 they were inhabited by no other species than Tree and Song Sparrows 

 and Junco, my homeward tramp of fifteen miles began. It lay along the 

 valley (narrow for the most part) of a small stream— Beaver Creek. 

 This narrow valley is well wooded, and its sides are steep ; hence it is an 

 ideal refuge from the fierce winter storms. I need not give in detail the 

 bird life of the valley on that day. but only summarize the results. 

 First I should mention the flock of nine Horned Larks seen coming 

 across the lake just before the start for home. 



