lO Forbush, Decrease of Birds in New England. X^t^ 



The mass of material regarding the smaller birds that is con- 

 tained in the nearly 200 reports on hand must be digested further 

 before any positive statement can be made regarding these States. 



There can be no doubt, however, that the House Wren is now 

 either very local or absent in a large part of New England. 



Twenty-nine representative Massachusetts reports on this bird 

 may be summed up as follows : — Extinct, 1 1 ; nearing extinction, 

 2; rare, 10; decreasing, 4; holding their own, 1 ; plenty, 1. 

 This sprightly little bird, which was evidently common within 

 thirty or forty years over much of this region, seems on the whole 

 to be slowly losing its slight foothold. In most cases where birds 

 are said to be extinct, reference is had to breeding birds rather 

 than to migrants, but House Wrens seem to have disappeared 

 entirely in some cases. 



Apparently, Barn, Cliff, and Bank Swallows, though increasing 

 locally from time to time, have been diminishing generally in 

 Massachusetts for at least forty years. Cliff and Bank Swallows 

 are not found at all now in some sections where formerly they were 

 abundant. 



The decrease of Barn Swallows has been more gradual but 

 nevertheless quite general over a considerable part of the State. 

 This has been well known to ornithologists for years, and this 

 inquiry furnishes additional and corroborative evidence. 



Bobolinks are decreasing over considerable areas, but are 

 apparently increasing in some localities in western Massachusetts. 

 There are other instances of this kind. 



The Wood Thrush is reported as decreasing rapidly in some 

 sections and increasing in others. 



There seems to be trustworthy evidence of a remarkable reduc- 

 tion of birds in general in some localities and an equally notable 

 increase of the smaller species in others. 



The Robin is reported to be increasing in nearly all sections. 

 There is also considerable evidence to support the belief that the 

 Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak have increased. 

 The rise of the Bluebirds in recent years is well known. 



To members of the American Ornithologists' Union most of the 

 above will not be new, but it is written in the hope that it will 

 again call attention to the imminent danger of extirpation which 

 menaces certain species. 



