No. 4.] DECREASE OF BIRDS. 473 







have been decreasing for years in the region about Cam- 

 bridge and Concord. Mr. C. E. Bailey reports them now 

 as growing rare in those sections with which he is familiar. 

 The evidence from portions of south-eastern Massachusetts, 

 as well as many regions in the western counties, seems to 

 indicate that these birds are now generally rather uncom- 

 mon there. A large part of Worcester County, however, 

 seems to be well supplied with them. It is impossible to 

 make any accurate statement of the areas in which they 

 have decreased without a careful canvass of the whole 

 State. 



The Meadowlark and Bobolink. It is quite generally 

 believed that the meadowlark and bobolink have diminished 

 because of the early cutting of the grass in fields and meadows 

 since the general introduction of mowing machines. Where 

 the grass is cut in June, the eggs or the young of these birds, 

 even if escaping injury by the machine, are exposed to the 

 heat of the sun and the attacks of their enemies. This in- 

 quiry gives some evidence of a decrease of these species, 

 but not so much as might have been expected. Thirty-six 

 observers report meadowlarks as decreasing; eighteen, as 

 unchanged ; twenty-three, as increasing. The reports of 

 decrease come mainly from Berkshire, Hampshire, Worces- 

 ter, Norfolk and Bristol counties. Indications of a recent 

 decrease appear in a portion of Barnstable County. The 

 reports of the birds holding their own come mainly from 

 Middlesex and Franklin counties ; while the reports of in- 

 crease seem to be local and nowhere general, as they are 

 scattered through all the counties except Norfolk, Barnsta- 

 ble, Dukes and Nantucket. All this seems to indicate a 

 general decrease in only Hampshire, Worcester, Norfolk 

 and Bristol counties, and even in these counties it is by no 

 means universal. 



Only fourteen reports are made upon the bobolink ; twelve 

 report it as decreasing or becoming very rare, and two as 

 increasing. This bird is probably diminishing in Massa- 

 chusetts, but, as most of the reports are from Middlesex 

 and Worcester counties, it is impossible to tell how general 

 the diminution has become. 



