176 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



On referring to Dr. Barton's " Tables," we are at once 

 struck with the inapplicability of the lists to the dates 

 given. Thus, under that of March 12th, fourteen species 

 are named as first seen at that time or about that time. 

 Three of these have been commented upon ; another, the 

 white-throated sparrow, like the others, comes to us in 

 early autumn and remains until every vestige of winter 

 has disappeared. 



Again, a more striking instance than all, is to mention 

 the turkey-buzzard as appearing in this neighborhood 

 as late as June 20th. Now it must be admitted that 

 these birds are of a wandering disposition, and when the 

 mercury falls close to zero, they are disposed to take 

 shelter from the north winds ; but of ordinary crisp 

 winter mornings, provided there is plenty of sunshine, 

 they have no fear, and it is quite within bounds to assert 

 that there are fully one third as many of these birds 

 floating in the upper air in January as in June. How- 

 ever the case may be, as to whether they are guided by 

 scent or sight to their unsavory food, but let a sickly 

 sheep wander afield in midwinter, and the attendant 

 buzzards will not be far away. 



Fully one-half of the birds Dr. Barton names are now 

 strictly resident species. Are we to suppose that they 

 were overlooked ? Now, an autumn ramble or a winter 

 walk, anywhere beyond the city's limits, will be reward- 

 ed by the presence of these very birds. The same is 

 true of many species mentioned as "April arrivals." 

 Some that are now migratory come much earlier, others 

 are resident. One large diver, called by him an "eel 

 crow," is said to appear about April 15th. This was 



