^°^i9l4'^^] Cooke, Wmter Birds of Oklahoma. 475 



which came in late October had increased until they and the Cow- 

 birds were present in multitudes. The first week in November 

 brought the first visitors from the north of the Tree, Song, White- 

 crowned, and Harris's Sparrows, Junco, IVIyrtle Warbler, and Ruby- 

 crowned Kinglet. 



The trees had shed about half their leaves by November 9, the 

 first norther of the season November 13 froze water slightly and 

 stripped off many more, while a real norther November 26 tore off 

 most of the remainder. 



The first hard rain of the season, December 3, marked the be- 

 ginning of the wet season; the 'tanks' were filled for the first time 

 since July, and December 13, the lowlands were half-flooded by a 

 down pour. A norther and everything frozen December 19; a 

 temperature of 74° on December 23 and freezing the next day; 

 real winter from December 24 to January 27, with zero weather on 

 Janu ary 5 and + 4° on January 24. 



The Longspurs began to arrive November 17 and increased 

 November 26; after the hard freeze of December 19, the most 

 common birds were the Junco, Tree Sparrow, and Brewer's Black- 

 bird. All through December the Cowbirds, Red-winged Black- 

 birds and Meadowlarks gradually decreased until by Christmas 

 they had ceased to be conspicuous. The lowest ebb of bird life 

 was December 24-January 15; after that date, in spite of the cold, 

 Blackbirds began to increase until by January 20, both they and the 

 Horned Larks had doubled in numbers. 



^NlcCown's Longspur came January 19; the first spring song 

 of the Meadow lark was heard January 21 ; still further increase of 

 Blackbirds on January 23, followed by Cowbirds two days later. 

 First spring songs of Red-winged Blackbird and Song Sparrow 

 January 29, when spring began with a rush, the temperature rose 

 to 72° and in two days more there was no snow, ice, or frost any- 

 where. On January 31 there was a fine chorus of song from a 

 dozen different species, while the Mallard and Green-winged Teal 

 returned to the tanks and a few flocks of ducks passed north. 

 Within the next few days the grass started and the Spring Beauty 

 opened its blossoms. 



February 6-14, a second winter. 



Savannah Sparrows, Horned Larks, and Smith's Longspurs were 



