478 Cooke, Winter Birds of Oklahoma. \P,]^} 



LOct. 



height. ' Several flocks passed March 3, 16, and 22, and vast numbers 

 dotted the prairies and passed north in large flocks April 1-4. 



10. Rallus elegans. King Rail. — A single bird shot November 1 

 constituted the only record for this species, which could find scant accom- 

 modations to its hking around Caddo. 



11. Gallinago delicata. Wilson's Snipe. — Never common; a few 

 scattered birds were seen from October 16 to November 6; the first spring 

 migrants appeared March 8; and they were present in some numbers 

 March 12. 



12. Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. — Seen in 

 small numbers March 11 and March 25, and thej became common April 4. 



13. Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. — There was no suitable 

 country to tempt the migrant Spotted Sandpipeis to aUght and they were 

 found only a few times in small numbers, October 1-16. 



14. Charadrius dominicus dominicus. Golden Plover.— Not 

 neariy so common as was to have been expected; a few were reported 

 March 12 and a single one seen March 25. 



15. Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer.— The killdeer of course nested 

 near Caddo and was easily the most conspicuous member of its family. 

 It was noted all the fall, but was most common October 1, after which time 

 the numbers became gradually less until by November 6 neariy all were 

 gone; the last was November 9. A single one was seen February 22,- but 

 not many appeared until a week later. By March 5 they had become 

 common and noisy and were most numerous March 15. 



16. Colinus virginianus virginianus. Bob-white.— Abundant resi- 

 dent; favorable conditions for both food and shelter existed along every 

 httle branch and the number of covies was correspondingly great. No 

 better quail hunting could be found anywhere than existed the early winter 

 of 1883 along the edges of the bottomland of the Blue River. The Red- 

 tailed Hawks however seemed to be fully as destructive to the quail as the 

 sportsmen and by Christmas the covies had become seriously reduced. 



17. Tympanuchus americanus americanus. Prairie Chicken.— 

 The open country around Caddo was especiaUy adapted to the needs of the 

 prairie chicken and they were one of the common birds. Some 18-20 

 covies were reared within a radius of a mile of the town and by September 

 24, these had begun to unite into larger flocks. At least a hundred were 

 seen in one small field November 6. In the early fall while they were in the 

 original covies, they would lie well to a dog and gave good sport. As the 

 flocks became larger the birds became much more wary until by eariy 

 December it was difficult to get within even rifle shot. Each flock had 

 sentinels posted on commanding elevations, and when these gave the 

 alarm the whole flock was off and seldom flew less than half a mile before 

 ahghting. 



18. Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. Wild Turkey.— Very common 

 m the bottomlands a few miles from Caddo. On November 5, twelve large 

 ones were brought into town as the spoils of a forenoon hunt by one party. 



