^"iqo^^l Trotter, Kahns Ornithological Observations. 2^3 



for several years past. They came this week, and continued here 

 for about a fortnight, after which they all disappeared, or advanced 

 further into the country, from whence they came." (Eng. Trans., 

 II, p. 82.) 



Hummingbird. — "Of all the rare birds of North Atnerica, the 

 Humming Bird is the most admirable, or at least most worthy of 

 peculiar attention. Several reasons induce me to believe that few 

 parts of the world can produce its equal. Dr. Linnceus calls it 

 Trochiliis Colubris. The Swedes and some Englislmien call it the 

 King^s bird, but the name of Humming bird is more common." 

 (Eng. Trans., I, p. 210.) 



Following this statement are five pages devoted to the description 

 and habits of this interesting little bird, which seems to have 

 excited the wonder and admiration of so many of the early travel- 

 lers in America. 



Whip-poor-will. — At Raccoon, New Jersey, under date of 

 April 22, 1749, Kalm gives a somewhat lengthy account of this 

 species, calling attention to the peculiarity of its notes as 

 follows: — "I heard it to-day, for the first time, and many other 

 people said, that they had not heard it before this summer; its 

 English and Swedish name is taken from its note ; but, accurately 

 speaking, it does not call Whipperiwill, nor Whip-poor-will, but 

 rather Whipperituhip, so that the first and last syllables are 

 accented, and the intermediate ones but slightly pronounced. 

 The English change the call of this bird into Whip-poor-will, that 

 it may have some kind of signification : it is neither heard nor 

 seen in day-time; but soon after sunset it begins to call, and con- 

 tinues for a good while, as the cuckow does in Europe." Obser- 

 vations on the habits of the bird follow. (Eng. Trans., II, p. 



151-) 



Woodpeckers. — At Philadelphia, under date of October i, 1748, 



Kalm writes : " A Black Woodpecker with a red head, or the Picus 



pileatus, Linn, is frequent in the Pennsylvanian forests, and stays 



the winter, as I know from my own experience. It is reckoned 



among those birds which destroy the maize ; because it settles on 



the ripe ears, and destroys them with its bill. The Stvedes call it 



Tillkroka, but all other woodpeckers, those with gold yellow wings 



excepted, are called Hackspickar in the S^vedish language. I 



