738 llEroKT OF State Geolouist. 



western Indiana and of the cities across the border, these birds are 

 being fast destroyed. Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., says, in 1886, he could 

 go within eight miles of Chicago, in April, and see thousands of them. 

 In 1890 he noted they are now seen chiefly only in small flocks. Mr, 

 Parker saw ten enormous flocks at Liverpool, Ind., April 30, 1895. 



Mr. Blackwelder also notes their decrease. In 1897 he says it is still 

 plentiful, though the number is fast decreasing. In 1887 Mr. C. E. 

 Aiken found them plentiful near Crown Point. In 1888 Prof. Ever- 

 mann reported them common in Vigo County, March 24, having first 

 been seen the day previous. In addition they are reported as common 

 in Clinton County (Ghere), and on the prairies of Carroll County, 

 southwest of Delphi (D. C. Kidgley). On the contrary. Prof. Ever- 

 mann does not give it in his report of the birds of Carroll County. It 

 has not been reported from the following (bounties, where more or less 

 good orniihological work has been done: Monroe, Brown, Eipley, 

 Johnson, Marion, Howard, Tippecanoe, indicating it is at least not 

 common there and it is rare throughout the Whitewater Valley, and 

 in the following counties: Boone (Beasley), Putnam (Earlle), Deca- 

 tur (Shannon), Delaware (Williamson). In addition to the date of 

 first appearance given by Prof. Evermann from Vigo County in 1888, 

 it was first seen at Muncie, March 30, 1888 (Williamson); in Putnam 

 County, 1894, March 28 (Earlle); and in 1897 in A^igo County, March 

 23 (Kendrick). The earliest record from the vicinity of Lake Michi- 

 gan is in Cook County, 111., March 22, 1884 (Parker). In 1896 it was 

 first noted at Greensburg, April 11 (Shannon), and in the vicinity of 

 Chicago April 18, and last seen that spring May 9 (Blackwelder). The 

 latest spring record in Boone County is May 10, 1894 (Beasley). It 

 is also recorded from Cook County, 111., May 10, 1884 (Parker), and 

 Starke County, Ind., May 6, 1888 (Deane). 



In general it may Ije said a few early birds begin to arrive shortly 

 after the middle of April; the greater number, however, not until 

 near the middle of that month. After a short stay they pass northward, 

 a few lingering into the early part of May. They are just putting 

 on their breeding plumage when they are with us, and are very beau- 

 til'ul in their mottled dress. Their appearance is very irregular. 

 Sometimes they are found in great numbers, and other years few 

 or none are seen. In the Whitewater A'alley I have only fouiid a 

 few in April. 



They go far north to breed, and there only are found in full breed- 

 ing plumage. Beyond the Arctic Circle, on the Barren Grounds of 

 British America and the coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean, they 

 rear their young. Nelson says it is one of the commonest breeding 



