Hav on Birds nf the Lozver Mississippi. 8f) 



by its servinj4- as a point of attachment for the tensor patagii h)n- 

 gus, that tendon is freed from all dnties save that of "puckering 

 up" the anterior margin of the wing ; but, as stated i)efore. that 

 theory is by no means entirely satisfactory to me. 



A LIST OF BIRDS FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI 

 VALLEY, OBSERVED DURING THE SUMMER OF 

 iSSi, WITH BRIEF NOTES. 



BY (). P. HAY. 



During the summer of iMSi the writer and two companions 

 spent a little more than a month in the South, especially in the 

 State of Mississippi, travelling and studying its zoology. Our 

 primary object was to collect fresh-water fishes ; and to this yve 

 devoted the greater part of our time and efforts. Incidentally, 

 however, we collected and made obsei-\'ations on other animals. 

 Hence this list of birds and the few notes concerning them. I 

 did not intend to publish this list until I had opportunity to 

 make additions to it ; but the recent publication by Dr. F. W. 

 Langdon of his field-notes on birds observed by him. early in the 

 spring, at a point a little farther south, has made it seem proper 

 that I should contribute mv little toward making known the or- 

 nithology of this region. 



Ouj' observations and collections were made of course under 

 difficulties, and no attempt was made to secure nests and eggs, 

 or, in any special manner, notes on the breeding habits of birds. 

 Still, on account of the season when our trip was made, this list 

 may be of some value as indicating that the birds observed are 

 summer residents. The number of species recorded is not large, 

 but I include only birds that I am reasonably sure were seen. In 

 nearly all cases the bii'ds were shot, and identified by means of 

 descriptions. Others were seen, but as they were not identified 

 with certainty, they are not included in the list. 



The birds noted as found at Memphis, Tenn., were really seen 

 in Arkansas just across the river from Memphis. Most of our 

 other notes yvere obtained at Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. 



