^^^i^lO^^n Wright and Allen, Austral Birds at Ithaca. 65 



From this table it may be seen that certain forms which have 

 appeared at the north end or even established themselves there have, 

 as yet, either not reached the south end or, with one exception, occur 

 there only as rare migrants. This exception, the Florida Gallinule, 

 previous to 1909, had been recorded at Ithaca but twice. This 

 year at least three pairs nested. Other species are of about equal 

 distribution at both ends and still others, notably those showing 

 marked increase of late years, are more abundant at the south than 

 at the north end. 



Of these, the Barn Owl and Orchard Oriole, although manifesting 

 no decided influx during 1909, have undoubtedly been on the 

 increase during the past decade. Our first record of the Barn Owl 

 at this end of the lake was at the divide, Dec. 1, 1904. In 1907 at 

 Ithaca, four more were taken and in 1908, one at Ithaca, June 6, 

 and another at the divide, Nov. 27. The first Orchard Oriole at 

 Ithaca was recorded May 3, 1890. An interval of 12 years elapsed 

 before the second record in 1902 when a pair was recorded June 7. 

 None were then seen until 1908, when a pair nested in the Inlet 

 Valley just south of Ithaca. This pair returned this spring (1909). 



]\Iore pronounced than the above, however, has been the increase 

 of Grasshopper Sparrows, Chewinks and Yellow-breasted Chats, 

 especially during 1909. The Grasshopper Sparrow, though pre- 

 viously never rare, became this year very abundant along South 

 Hill on the east side of the Inlet Valley. The Chewink, formerly 

 an uncommon but regular summer resident, during the last two or 

 three years has become almost common. The Chat, previous to 

 1900 was of very unusual occurrence; from 1900 to 1902, one pair 

 was seen; from 1903 to 1905, two pairs each year; in 190(3 and 

 1907, 3 or 4 pairs; in 1908, 5 or 6 pairs, and in 1909, along the Inlet 

 Valley alone, 8 to 12 pairs nested. The increase of these birds has 

 been particularly marked over an area formerly heavily forested 

 with pine, — a condition not unlike that reported ^ directly south 

 of us in the Susquehanna Valley (Luzerne and Sullivan Cos., Pa.), 

 where the Chewink and Chat have likewise increased. 



Previous to 1909, the last four species mentioned in the list had 

 not been recorded in our fauna : — May 6, the Worm-eating War- 



1 Auk, Vol. XXVI, July. 1909, pp. 229-230. 



