ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE DICK CISSEL (SPIZA AMERI- 

 CANA) FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



nv 

 Hugh M. Smith, 



Assistant, U. S. Fish Comviission. 



Wliile it is a matter of no great rarity for certain of the larger birds 

 inhabiting a particular region to become scarce, or locally extinct, be- 

 cause of the direct persecution and slaughter carried on by man or on 

 account of the cutting away of forests and other similar procedures, 

 instances of the disappearance of small birds from a locality which they 

 have regularly frequented are by no means common, especially when 

 this disappearance is independent of the agency of man. 



Such is the case of the Dick Cissel in the vicinity of Washington. At 

 one time an abundant summer visitant, it is now a veritable rara avis. 



Speaking of this subject in their "Avifauna Columbiana," Coues and 

 Prentiss say : 



This bird used to arrive regularly about the first of May, aud leave toward the 

 end of September, meanwhile being very abundant. * * » Now, however, the 

 bird appears to have forsaken us, few if any having been heard of for the past few 

 years. * * * Whatever the cause, it is one of the most remarkable changes in the 

 bird fauna of the immediate vicinity of the city. 



This was in 1883. At the present time there can be no doubt that 

 the species is nothing more than the most accidental straggler, since 

 only one bird has been observ^ed during the past fifteen years, notwith- 

 standing the activity of the local collectors in searching for the species. 



The late Professor Baird stated a short time before his death that he 

 remembered when the Dick Cissel nested commonly in the Smithsonian 

 Grounds, and he was accustomed to observe the birds daily at the 

 proper season as he passed to and from his work in the Institution. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Ridgway, the Curator of the Department 

 of Birds, it has been possible to prepare the following list, showing all 



Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XIII — No. 806. 



171 



