SOME "BIRD WAYS.' 



All of us, no doubt, in the course of our bird-observations, have met 

 with, or had brought to our attention, what might easily be termed inci- 

 dents and, as such, the following, a trifle out of the ordinary, and perhaps 

 worthy of recognition in some permanent form, have come to the writer's 

 notice from time to time, either through the corroborative and reliable 

 testimony of others or by direct observation. 



To Mr. William Brewster we are indebted for much information and 

 many valuable notes pertaining to and taken in connection with the mi- 

 gratory movements of birds, and in his paper on "Bird Migration" 

 (see Memoir No. i of the Nuttall Ornithological Club) he has called 

 attention to the peculiarities sometimes indulged in by migrants when 

 approaching the lighted lantern of a light-house during a night flight — 

 peculiarities, it may be said, when the conditions were peculiarly favora- 

 ble ; i.e., "during densely cloudy or foggy weather." Fluttering about 

 inspecting it timidly, or even striking it gently. Others, more impetu- 

 ous, would strike the lantern with full force, thus ending their careers 

 then and there, or disabling themselves hopelessly, while others still 

 would strike with slighter force, flutter down upon the platform of the 

 lantern in a dazed and exhausted condition, but after resting for a time 

 would take wing and disappear in the darkness. A percentage of the 

 latter, however, returning and striking the light again and ahvays 

 harder the second time than at first. The bewildering and fascinating 

 effect that a light will sometimes have upon these nocturnal migrants 

 was very clearly illustrated to the writer some years ago, occurring here 

 at Glen EUyn on the night of April i6, 1893, being related to me at the 

 time by a neighbor friend. 



On the night mentioned, which previously had been somewhat showery 

 during the evening, a Kingbird, l\'ranniis tyratmns, appeared at one 

 of the east windows of my neighbor's house, and in which a lighted 

 lamp had been placed. It fluttered against the glass for some time and 

 could not be induced to leave even after repeated efforts had been made 

 from within to drive it away. Finally the door on the same side of the 

 building was opened, when in flew the bird. It was caught and placed 

 in a cage, appearing very much exhausted and bewildered for a time, but 

 soon became uneasy ; its violent actions convincing my friend that its 



^-s*' 



