Vol. Xixn . General Notes. 211 



1902. J ^ i. x 



State where several kinds of country blend, the prairies of the western 

 part, the rolling country of the upper part, the swampy or level woodland 

 of the eastern parts of the State. 



Judged from the standard of the winter bird life about New Orleans, the 

 conditions here are rather contradictory ; the Gnatcatcher, which is 

 unusual as a winter bird at New Orleans, is regular here as a winter 

 resident and might be called almost common ; on the other hand, the 

 Brown Creeper has appeared in some numbers in a live oak grove ; at 

 New Orleans it is a rare bird. So New Iberia appears to combine the 

 advantages of both a lower and a higher latitude than New Orleans. 



The Orange-crowned Warbler has been present in as large numbers as 

 it is common to find it at New Orleans. The first was noted on November 

 19; at about this time (the end of February) the last are being heard. 

 But much commoner than it is ever known at New Orleans is the Pine 

 Warbler ; like several other of the winter birds this bird is fond of the 

 live oak groves ; there it mixes freely with the Kinglets, Orange-crowned 

 Warblers, Titmice, and Brown Creepers. Pine Warblers are fearless, and 

 may be observed as they feed on the ground. Dull colored individuals are 

 the commonest, but now and then a male in good plumage may be noticed 

 among the little flocks ; as the only yellow-breasted bird of winter he is 

 conspicuous. Myrtle Warblers have been scarce through most of the 

 winter, but the appearance of transients was noted February 13. The 

 first transients of this species always appear about the middle of February 

 in southern Louisiana. 



Particularly since Christmas, Rusty Crackles have been very abundant ; 

 many Bronzed Crackles have been with them ; that species is evidently 

 the regular winter resident here ; at New Orleans it is practically unknown 

 at all times of the year, the Florida Crackle being the regular form there. 



Goldfinches were the last winter residents to come; the first were noted 

 not in cold weather, but on an Indian summer day that was one of the 

 warmest of the late fall, November 26. 



The remainder of the winter birds are the ordinary ones in this part of 

 the country*: White-throated Sparrow (in great abundance). Swamp 

 Sparrow, Savana Sparrow, Phoebe, Robin, Winter Wren, Cedarbird, and 

 American Pipit. The assemblage of these species is swelled of course, 

 by the presence of various common residents : Cardinal, Towhee, 

 Thrasher, Blue Jay, Red-headed Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, etc. — 

 Henry H. Kopman, Coviugtou^ La. 



Northern Birds at Cumberland, Md. — On December 6, last, I took a 

 walk along the Potomac, at a place where the banks are wooded, between 

 the river and the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. I had at former occa- 

 sions, but much later in winter, seen flocks of Purple Finches (Carpoda- 

 cus purpureus) and other northern birds there feeding on the sycamore 

 apples. On this day also there were Purple Finches about, and their 

 clear notes could be heard at different places. When I came to a small 



