^'°^914'^^] Cooke, Winter Birds of Oklahoma. 489 



but still remained all winter among the more common birds. The first 

 full song was heard Januarj^ 29, and two days later it was a prominent 

 member of a bird chorus from a dozen different species which was as volumi- 

 nous as one would expect in the height of spring migration. Arrivals from 

 the south were much in evidence March 11 and as in the case of several 

 other of the winter residents, the spring birds passed on within the next 

 few days and took the winter birds with them. No Song Sparrows were 

 seen after the few scattering individuals present March 21. 



77. Melospiza lincolni. Lincoln's Sparrow.— Not noted in fall 

 migration; a single bird seen February 1 and as spring migration had not 

 yet started it had undoubtedly wintered. One was collected February 9, 

 but up to and including March 11, only seven birds had been seen, showing 

 how rare it is during the winter. Then suddenly on March 15, it became 

 common both in town and in the woods, only to leave for the most part in a 

 few days. When the record closed on April 4, it was present in about 

 one-third of its highest numbers. 



78. Passerella iliaca iliaca. Fox Sparrow.— Not an abundant 

 winter bird but still fairly common, and almost constant in numbers from 

 the latter part of December until spring migrants began to arrive February 

 23. The first fall arrival was noted December 1 and the last March 15, 

 on which day migrants were abundant only to disappear at once. 



79. Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus. Towhee. — 

 The first was noted October 24, and the species did not become common be- 

 fore the middle of November, but by November 29 it was present in full 

 numbers scattered commonly through the woods along the Blue River, for 

 the most part in pairs of a male and a female, many of the males being as 

 brilliant in dress as ever seen in spring. The numbers decreased by half 

 as the migrants passed on, and left the species rather common through the 

 winter until the migrants returned March 8. The increase of numbers was 

 of short duration, and a long walk on March 15 revealed only three birds 

 while the last was seen March 25. 



80. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. Cardinal. — Abundant resi- 

 dent. During the fall, cardinals were found among the thick taU weed 

 patches around the cotton fields; they were silent and so shy that they 

 were seldom seen, sheltering themselves in the almost impenetrable mass of 

 foliage. During the latter part of November, when most of the leaves had 

 fallen, they retreated to the thickets along the streams. Here they stayed 

 in great numbers until real winter when they began to flock into town, and 

 as long as snow lasted they could be found everywhere around the houses 

 where not one had been seen for several months. A dozen Cardinals to- 

 gether, with the snow for a background, made a most striking and brilliant 

 picture. 



81. Passerina ciris. Painted Bunting. — An abundant breeder at 

 Caddo, but all had left before this record began the last of August and 

 none had as yet returned the first of April. 



82. Spiza americana. Dickcissel. — Quite common September 14, 



