14 



to these meadows during the winter. Meadowlarks occur there 

 regularly in flocks, while over most of the higher ground a few miles 

 back they are absent from November to March. A few Rusty 

 Grackles sometimes winter with the flocks of Sparrows which fre- 

 quent the marshes, and now and then flocks of Tit Larks, Horned 

 Larks or Snow Buntings may be found there, though they are very 

 erratic in their movements. Robins and Bluebirds usually winter in 

 small numbers in sheltered spots in the vicinity of Philadelphia, and 

 now and then one or two Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red- 

 winged Blackbirds or Purple Grackles are seen, and more rarely Red- 

 polls, Crossbills and Northern Shrikes. 



On the New Jersey tide-water creeks, as already mentioned, birds 

 are very numerous. Cardinals are very plentiful here all winter, and 

 an occasional Hermit Thrush is found. Myrtle Warblers are also of 

 regular occurrence in winter in New Jersey, frequenting the Pines 

 and Cedars. 



In the vicinity of Cape May, and on the eastern edge of the Pine 

 Barrens, several species winter which have not been found farther 

 north in the state at this season, or which only occur as sti*agglers. 

 Fox Sparrows, Long and Short-billed Marsh Wrens and Cowbirds 

 have been taken in the depth of winter, and Meadowlarks, Red- 

 winged Blackbirds, Savanna Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows and Vesper 

 Sparrows occur in abundance. A few Turkey Vultures are also gen- 

 erally to be seen in southern New Jersey throughout the winter. 



On the salt marshes, from Atlantic City southward, a few Sharp- 

 tailed Finches manage to survive the winter, while on the sand hills, 

 all along the coast, Ipswich Sparrows occur, though not plentifully. 

 Among the waterbirds, Scoters and Herring Gulls are present all 

 winter along the shore line, while Loons and several species of Ducks 

 inhabit the bays. Canada and Snow Geese occur regularly in Dela- 

 ware Bay, and a few Little Auks, Briinnich's Murres and Razor- 

 billed Auks enter the mouth of the river from the ocean, and nearly 

 every winter one or two are taken as far up as Chester. 



