Vol i909" VI ] General Notes. 193 



viduals, and at intervals of about ten minutes between each flock. When 

 the lake was reached they rose higher and continued their journey without 

 a pause, except one large flock that broke in confusion and swung back to 

 the weeds on the mainland but joined the next flock a few minutes later. 

 November 15 the flight had ceased and only one flock of 23 birds was seen. 

 They were in the weeds back of the cottages and refused to be driven away. 

 They were gone on the 22d, and from that date to the present writing, 

 January 12, only one to four individuals have been noted on any one day, 

 and none of these were migrating. When the Redpolls reach here from 

 the north they are content to remain, and I fail to understand why the bulk 

 of Siskins go further south, as local food conditions are in every way 

 favorable. 



While observing the flight of Siskins, November 8, we saw a bird perched 

 on a willow bush in the sheltered marsh and secured it. The report of the 

 gun caused another to take flight which was also secured. They were 

 Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) , and dissection disclosed the fact that 

 both were females and very fat. We then carefully beat over this marsh, 

 together with the larger open marsh, but could find no more. November 

 15 and 22 we again unsuccessfully explored this section, but secured a male 

 December 6 within a few yards of where the other two were taken. This 

 bird must have arrived after November 22, for it seems impossible that he 

 could have been there and escape detection. He was much emaciated 

 and healed gunshot wounds were discovered in breast and wing. We went 

 over this ground again December 13 without success. December 20 we 

 were returning from the point when the characteristic call note of a Bobo- 

 link directed our attention to the bird passing overhead and making for 

 the point. It was followed and taken. It turned out to be a male and in 

 fine condition, being very fat. A careful examination failed to reveal the 

 slightest trace of a previous injury; nevertheless I believe that temporary 

 impairment of flight by gunners during the period of migration explains 

 the presence of all four birds. The most interesting fact in connection 

 with the two latter birds was their ability to endure 18° below freezing, for 

 the mercury dropped to that point prior to December 6. I supposed the 

 Bobolink to be of somewhat delicate constitution with reference to low 

 temperature, as normally it arrives late in spring and departs early in 

 autumn, but the above birds not only withstood the cold but in a thinly 

 feathered and poorly protected condition. Examining the specimens for 

 other points of interest I find that black feathers show on the throat, neck, 

 flanks, thighs and across breast on the December 6 bird but are confined 

 tc sides of breast, flanks and thighs on the December 20 specimen, which 

 seems to be a bird of the year. The general color of the underparts is 

 buffy white on the former and buffy olive on the latter, and all the black 

 feathers are edged with these colors, and this may indicate the beginning 

 of the spring transformation. — J. Claire Wood, Detroit, Michigan. 



