26 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



mens having been taken in Ohio during the spring of 1877 — four of 

 them in this vicinit}'. 



Among the interesting ornithological features of this localitj'- should 

 also be mentioned the common occurrence of several rather southerly 

 species, such as the Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer 

 Redbird and Acadian Fly-catcher, among the summer residents ; and 

 the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chicadee, Great Carolina Wren and 

 Cardinal Redbird, among the constant residents ; this being apparent- 

 ly about the northern limit of the regular occurrence of these species 

 in numbers. Other noteworthy species are the Mocking Bird, Be- 

 wick's Wren, Loggerhead Shrike, Barn Owl and the Black Vulture; 

 these, however, are of rare occurrence in this vicinity. 



Daring the past fortj" years, several important changes have taken 

 place in our local Bird-fauna. As in all thickly populated districts 

 the Wild Turkey and the Prairie Chicken have been exterminated; the 

 Parroquet, which formerly occurred in abundance throughout the 

 Mississippi and Ohio Valleys has at present a much less extensive 

 range, being mainly confined to the Gulf States; the beautiful Swallow- 

 tailed Kite ( Elanoides forjicatus)^ has apparently ceased to visit us, 

 and our two largest Woodpeckers ( Campephilus principalis and Hylo- 

 tomvs pileatus) have disappeared along with the dense forests that 

 were their favorite resorts. The seventh extirpated species is the 

 Raven, which is said to have been a common resident of this section in 

 former times. 



Tu offset these losses, we have the Cowbird and the Black-throated 

 Bunting in abundance, both of which were considered of doubtful 

 occurrence in Ohio forty years ago;^ the Kentucky Warbler, Loggerhead 

 Shrike and Lark Finch are also inferred to have made their appearance 

 within the same period, as they were omitted entirel}' from Dr. Kirt- 

 land's list; and the Cerulean Warbler, now a common summer resident 

 throughout the State, was observed by him in one instance only, a fact 

 strongly suggestive of its comparative rarit}' at that time. . Within the 

 present decade two European species, the House Sparrow and the 

 Sk^'lark, have also been added to our fauna, the former of which seems 

 likely to exceed in numbers any one of our native species, unless its 

 extraordinary increase should be checked b}'^ natural or artificial 

 means — " a consummation devoutly to be wished." With respect to 

 this ever recurring " sparrow question^" however, it is sufficient to 



1 See footnote pagre 14, on the recent occurrence of this species near Columbus, Ohio. 



2 Vide Kirtland, List of Ohio Birds.— Ohio Geo!. Survey, 183S. 



