No. 123.1 DIVISION OF ORNITHOLOGY. 95 



observed in Hampden County, Massachusetts; on the same 

 date a Black-poll Warbler was noted in southern New Hamp- 

 shire, and on the 23d a Wilson's Warbler in Vermont. 



A Flight of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. — In April and May there 

 was a small flight of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in New Jersey 

 and New England, some reaching Canada. The last individ- 

 ual recorded was seen early in June near Boston. A male 

 Western Tanager was reported on the 12th from western 

 Massachusetts. The increase in House Wrens which has been 

 conspicuous in recent years continued. The species was re- 

 ported as common in many localities through the State, from 

 the New York line to the sea. 



Juhj, 1021. 



This month was unusually warm with prevailing southerly or 

 southwesterly winds, also many heavy rains with local or gen- 

 eral tempests and a few hail storms. Fortunately the hail 

 storms were local, as very large hailstones fell and did serious 

 damage not only to crops but to birds both young and old. 

 A pair of Blue Grosbeaks was observed from July 1 to 30 in 

 Maine. On the 10th one was seen in Worcester County, Massa- 

 chusetts. In the early part of July, when the weather became 

 hot, white herons began to appear in New England from the 

 South. They moved mainly along the coastal plain. While 

 these southern birds were moving northward, the migration of 

 northern birds southward had already begun. 



The Southward Migration begins. — During the first week in 

 July, Dowitchers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Pludsonian Curlews 

 and Black-breasted Plovers appeared on the Massachusetts 

 coast, and during the second week several species of sand- 

 pipers appeared, together with some Turnstones and Yellow- 

 legs. Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers were reported 

 July 2 on Long Island. Forty to fifty Yellow-legs were ob- 

 served there on July 10, with two or three Stilt Sandpipers and 

 a Wilson's Snipe. Before the first of July Red-winged Black- 

 birds and Starlings had begun to gather locally in small flocks, 

 and soon afterward young Bronzed Crackles were seen flocking. 

 Land birds began to wander from their breeding places. 



Early Southward Movements of Land Birds. — On the second 

 week in July, in Maine, small birds were heard passing over 



