ZOOLOGY, ETC. Pag Fl 
Wild turkeys, once abundant in the state, are now entirely exterminated. 
They wandered from place to place through a wide range of country, but were 
not migratory. Eskimo curlews have not been seen for several years. 
Some of our smaller birds are increasing in numbers. Orioles have increased 
to such numbers that they are a serious nuisance in vineyards and orchards, 
driving their sharp bills into every ripe apple, peach, or grape that they see. The 
owner of one vineyard bought 3000 loaded shells at one time, and employed two 
men constantly to shoot birds. Another used thirty pounds of No. 10 shot in one 
day, and claimed to have killed bushels of orioles. Others kill many of them by 
placing poisoned water in their vineyards. 
Orioles build their hanging nests in the swaying branches of the numerous 
cottonwood groves. They commence drifting southward during the latter half 
of August, stopping at every orchard or vineyard. By the middle of September 
all have gone south — perhaps to Central America. 
For many years I have observed that a number of our migratory birds follow 
the direction of the Arkansas valley and river, going northwest in the spring and 
returning southeast in the fall. Crows in great numbers ascend the course of the 
river in the spring, feeding along the fields as they go, and return late in the fall, 
gleaning as they leisurely journey. They winter in the country of the black-jack 
acorns. Who knows where they nest ? 
Blue jays go southeast about the middle of September in long, straggling 
flocks. Hawks have their day about the 25th of October, vast numbers passing 
over in the course of two or three days. They sail slowly along without any at- 
tempt at order, and evidently come from great distances, since so many of them 
alight on trees and fences to rest. Of late years wild geese remain at the north 
until a severe ‘‘norther’’ drives them south en mv-rsse in a single night. 
Pelicans are the last of the large migrating birds to migrate. They go north 
about the middle of May, moving along likeanarmy. I have seen three divisions 
of about 500 each, abreast and in almost perfect line, about 100 yards apart. 
It would be interesting to follow our birds to their winter homes, along the 
Gulf coast, the West Indies, or in Central and South America. In the course of 
a winter trip to Galveston I saw immense flocks of blackbirds in the timber a 
hundred miles from the Gulf; but I saw no other land birds except an occasional 
robin on Galveston island. Texas is as barren of bird life in winter as is Kansas. 
