4 EiFRiCx, The Spring Migration, 1907, at Ottawa, Ont. [f^^^^ 



Black-poll Warbler, May 31, May 21. This shows a delayment 

 of from four to seventeen days, or an average of 10^ days for the 

 twelve species. Again, whereas the annual great migratory waves 

 of birds, especially warblers, thrushes and flycatchers, are seen in 

 the gardens along our city limits about May 20-23, this year they 

 were only seen on May 29. But there are exceptions to be noted 

 here also. Last year's first record for the Scarlet Tanager, e. g., 

 was May 17, this year's, May 15; Myrtle Warbler, April 28, May 2. 

 The Nighthawk, which must have had a hard time to find its 

 winged prey, as moths, flies and mosquitos, which were few and far 

 between in May, came on its usual date, May 16. 



That the bands of migrants were badly scattered and reduced in 

 number by the cold weather, or rather the lack of food resulting 

 therefrom, cannot be doubted. For instance, during the presence 

 of the Black-poll Warbler here, one can hardly ever be outside of 

 the reach of their voice anywhere in the city — Ottawa is famous 

 for its many large shade-trees along the streets — or in the sur- 

 roundings, whereas this year I heard only three or four. Normally 

 the Bay-breasted Warbler, together with Dendroiea striata, the 

 last migrants to arrive here, can be seen by dozens, yes, by hun- 

 dreds in its favored pine woods, whereas this year they were nearly 

 absent, except for a few hours in a few favored but restricted 

 localities. Similar statements could be made concerning the Cape 

 May Warbler, the Warbling Yireo, the Barn Swallow, etc.; even 

 the Tree Sparrow, Brown Creeper, and Rusty Grackle were hardly 

 in evidence, and the Chimney Swift does not seem to have attained 

 its usual superabundance. Certainly, people that happened to 

 encounter one of the few late larger bird waves, or who noticed the 

 warblers better on account of the missing foliage on the trees in 

 May, will say, I never saw so many birds as this year, or so many 

 warblers, but I am convinced the numbers of many species were 

 less this summer than other years. Perhaps some of the comers, 

 finding conditions so uncongenial here, retraced their way to the 

 south again for some distance. That this was done by the Tree 

 Swallow, at least, I have no doubt, a large flock of which I saw over 

 the Rideau River on March 30, after which none were to be seen 

 again for about two weeks. But here, too, there are exceptions to 

 be recorded. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet seeemd to be just as 



