52 TIMES OF MIGRATION. 



attention to a study of nesting habits. As a matter of 

 fact, tlie nesting season begins quite as early as tlie 

 spring migration, tbe Great Horned Owl laying its eggs 

 late in February. In March and April other birds of 

 prey and the earlier migrants nest. May migrants go 

 to housekeeping soon after they reach their old homes, 

 and by June 5 there are few species that have not 

 nests. 



With birds that rear two or three broods, the nest- 

 ing season may extend into August. AVith those that 

 have but one l)rood it may be over early in July. At 

 this time we l)egin to miss the jolly, rollicking music 

 of the Bobolink. Soon he will leave the meadow he has 

 animated for two months, and with his young join grow- 

 ino; flocks of his kind in the wild -rice marshes. His 

 handsome suit of black and white and bufl: will be ex- 

 changed for the sparrowlike Reedbird dress, and in place 

 of the merry song he will utter only a metallic tinl'. This 

 note is characteristic of the season. Day and night we 

 hear it from birds high in the air as they hasten to their 

 rendezvous in the marshes. 



July 1, Tree Swallows, who nest rarely if at all near 

 Kew York city, appear and establish their headquarters 

 in the Hackensack meadows — a first step on the migra- 

 tory journey. July is a month for wanderers. The nest- 

 ing season of most one-brooded birds is over ; they are 

 not yet ready to migrate, and pass the time roving about 

 the country with their families. 



In August birds are molting and moping. The 

 careful observer Avill find that a few Warblers and Fly- 

 catchers have returned from the north and are passing 

 southward, but, as a rule, August is a month to test 

 the patience of the most enthusiastic bird student. Late 

 in the month migrants become more numerous, but be- 

 tween the " flights " or " waves " there are days when 



