8 Beyer, Allison, Kopmax. Birds of Louisiana. [jan 



exception of a slight increase of species already represented in the 

 wintering bird life of the southern section, there is usually no 

 great interest attached to these periods of unseasonable weather, 

 which generally come about the middle of February. Even in de- 

 ciduous southern forests, there is commonly considerable shelter, 

 thus obviating the necessity of great movement of winter species 

 when the blizzards strike far south. 



To return to a more specific consideration of the elements that 

 make southeast Louisiana unique in its avifauna, we find that 

 possibly the most important of these is the absence of certain 

 species very familiar in other regions. The Chipping Sparrow, 

 for instance, has never, to our knowledge, been found in the fertile 

 alluvial plain, while other common species, such as the Bluebird, 

 have very circumscribed breeding areas within the region, and are 

 general in distribution only in winter. Even at that season they 

 are rarely common. The Bluebird, however, is apparently becom- 

 ing better established, and recently we have found it at New 

 Orleans in the nesting season. The Kingbird is decidedly uncom- 

 mon in the region more closely adjacent to New Orleans, and 

 appears in regular numbers only in the pine woods to the east, in 

 Mississippi, in the pine flats and hills to the north, in Louisiana, 

 and on towards the prairies in southwest Louisiana. About the 

 same conditions prevail with regard to the Nighthawk and the 

 Cowbird, and, less conspicuously, in the case of the Southern 

 Meadowlark. Another peculiarity is the absence of all Nut- 

 hatches in southeastern lowland Louisiana. 



The positive peculiarities of this region of the State are the 

 abundance of Orchard Orioles and the abundance of wet Avood- 

 land warbler life. Hooded and Prothonotary Warblers are aston- 

 ishingly plentiful, and so is the Parula Warbler in certain localities, 

 especially the neighborhood of New Orleans. The fondness of 

 Swainson's Warbler for the growths of 'switch cane' (Arundinaria 

 tecta) bring it to this section of the State as well as to the river bot- 

 toms in higher areas. But the distribution of this warbler is dis- 

 tinctly local in the former region. In fact, we have found it only 

 near New Orleans, and we have not secured proof of its breeding 

 there. The Sycamore Warbler, of course, is representative of 

 this region, and especially of the lake and bayou cypress swamps.. 



