116 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



were late stragglers of many species of land birds, which, per- 

 haps, had been beguiled into staying longer than usual on 

 account of the mild weather and plentiful food supply, and 

 there was much autumnal singing by many species. On the 

 17th Pine Grosbeaks appeared in northern Ontario, apparently 

 moving southward. Pipits passed through New England in 

 goodly numbers. More Winter Wrens than are usually seen 

 in the autumnal migration were reported. Brown Creepers 

 appeared in larger numbers in northern New England than for 

 the past two years, and Golden-crowned Kinglets, which had 

 been rare for several years, appeared to have increased won- 

 derfully in numbers. During the latter part of the month 

 the number of land birds seemed less than usual. 



*• November. 



The weather of November was in general mild rather than 

 severe, with occasional gales and a long storm with high winds 

 the third week. Grass remained green, and some wild flowers 

 were still in bloom during the first half of the month. No- 

 vember was notable for a great scarcity of land birds, and an 

 abundance of water birds. Ducks, Geese, Brants, Gulls, etc. 

 Great schools of small fishes, which remained along the shores 

 of southern New England in October and November, brought 

 flights of Gulls, Cormorants and Gannets. Terns remained 

 later than usual, and a few were reported in November. 



Great Flights of Geese and Ducks. — Immense flights of Geese 

 appeared passing largely through the interior early in the 

 month and later both in the interior and along the coast. 

 They were reported from every New England State and from 

 New York, New Jersey, and all the Maritime Provinces. In 

 many localities the migration was the largest seen for very 

 many years. The greatest flight of all came with the stormy 

 weather which began on the 21st and continued for the re- 

 mainder of the month, with only two pleasant days. Some of 

 the heaviest flights thus came in storm, snow, sleet and rain. 

 Geese wet, worn out and weighted down by sleet came to the 

 ground or to roofs of sheds; others alighted in poultry yards, 

 and some are said to have been killed by clubs. Scaup Ducks 

 were found dead or dying upon the ground in Maine and Con- 



