372 Roberts, Colony of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. [oct k 



near by and as much out of sight as possible. A note book was kept 

 and the notes entered daily on the spot under each nest number. 

 The water throughout the clump of reeds varied in depth from six 

 to eighteen inches. It was thus necessary to wade in making the 

 rounds of the nests, but it was possible to get about without disturb- 

 ing the vegetation greatly, or making any considerable noise, so 

 that the birds soon became accustomed to the daily visitations and, 

 for the most part, seemed little annoyed by the intrusions. 



The spring of 1901 was somewhat backward, the weather having 

 been rough and cold. Meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbirds and 

 Vesper Sparrows had arrived by the latter part of April. The first 

 Lark Finches came May 1, just as the last of the early blossoming 

 Nuttall's Pasque-flower {Pulsatilla hirsutissima) were fading on 

 the prairie knolls, and the first of the marsh marigolds (Caltha 

 palustris) were coming into bloom in the marshes below. On May 

 3 the first Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen, all males except 

 one. The edges of the sloughs were then just beginning to show 

 green with the sprouting grass and willows. The Baltimore Oriole 

 and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak came May 4, and the first 

 Warbling Vireo was heard on the 5th. May 12 it was still cold — 

 so cold that winter clothing out-of-doors and fires indoors were 

 necessary for comfort. A 'white frost' was to be seen that morning 

 and thin ice was said to have formed, but vegetation did not suffer 

 to any appreciable extent. Many birds had arrived but there had 

 been no distinct bird 'wave' as usual, the cold weather having 

 interfered with the regular order of migration. Most of the trees 

 were in small leaf. Willows were in full bloom, many staminate 

 catkins having scattered. Sweet-flag and iris were just coming up. 

 The water of the marsh was full of tadpoles. Many Mud-hens 

 and Florida Gallinules had arrived and were to be seen feeding 

 like chickens out in the bare slough. All day long on this date a 

 large flock of Yellow-heads, made up entirely of males, fed, first 

 among the rice stubble near shore, and, later (in the afternoon), 

 in the pasture in front of the house. They seemed to find food 

 among the broken rice stalks and the short grass, just what could 

 not be determined by watching them. As the males sat about in 

 the grass it was difficult at times to distinguish their saffron heads 

 from the dandelion blossoms which grew abundantly where they 

 were feeding. Late in the afternoon of the 13th the writer paddled 



