BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



73 



It often happens that a species is reported on a given date far to the 

 north of stations where it has not yet been observed. This also indicates 

 that the species is not always reported on the first day of its arrival, and 

 the most reliable reports result from the combined observation of several 

 observers who divide the country between them. 



In comparing the average dates of 40 species for the \-ears 1880, 1882 

 and 1883 at Ossining, Springville and Locust Grove, we find 25 earliest 

 at Ossining, 14 at Springville, and i (the Hermit thrush) at Locust Grove. 

 At Locust Grove 30 appeared latest, at Springville 7, and at Ossining 3. 

 The grand average of these 40 species was two and one fourth days 

 earlier at Ossining than at Springville, and four and two thirds days earlier 

 than at Locust Grove. This average probably indicates correctly the general 

 progress of migration in the State, but the difference in the time of arrival 

 will usualh" be much greater in the case of the early migrants than those 

 Avhich come during the wami waves of early Ma}-. 



The birds at Springville, and of western Ne\v York in general, come 

 mostlv bv wav of the Mississippi valley or the western slope of the Alleghany 

 plateau, and as migration in the interior is earlier than along the coast of 

 the United States in our latitude, it is evident that those species which 

 are earliest at Springville are migrants from the interior. Some species, 

 however, wliich surelv come to western New York by way of the interior, 

 are later thaii at Ossining, as in the case of the Palm warbler. This, however, 

 is a different geographic race from the Yellow j^alm warbler which is found 

 at Ossining, and its chief migration route is far to the west of New York. 

 Thus the Palm warblers whicli reach New York are out of their proper 

 course and might be expected to be late. 



The observers who made these migration records are as follows: 



Staten Island William P. Hcineken 

 Long Island City W. F. Hendrickson 



Shelter Island W. W. Worthington 



New burgh F. B. Robinson 



Carmel W. A. Mead 



Stanfordville Mary Hyatt 



Ballston Spa S. R. Ingersoll 



