92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



shelter in hedges near dwelhngs and under the banks of streams. 

 In one case, reported by Mrs. F. B. Spalter of Winchendon, a 

 mill pond was drained off and the uncovered shores of the pond 

 were flecked with bright tanagers searching for animal food. 

 Many birds sought refuge from the storms in barns and sheds. 

 Mr. Glenn Boyle, who found twenty dead warblers about the 

 buildings of his home in Gill, half of which were redstarts, 

 reports that one warbler crept under the side of a reclining cow 

 in the barn for warmth, while another alighted on a horse's ear. 

 In other cases birds sought warmth by alighting on farm ani- 

 mals. Swallows sought window stools and sheltered places 

 about or inside buildings. But all of these various expedients 

 failed to protect many of them from the severity of the storms 

 or to nourish them sufficiently. Reports soon came in that the 

 school children were finding dead birds on the roads, about the 

 houses and lawns, and were bringing them to school. Many 

 teachers reported long lists of birds brought in. The majority 

 of these were warblers, but sparrows, even, and other species 

 were picked up dead; others were taken in so weak a condition 

 that they finally died, although given the best of care. Dead 

 birds were found along the railroads or in any place where the 

 ground was bare and the view unobstructed. They were even 

 seen to fall dead from the trees. Some of them were much 

 emaciated; others seemed in fair condition, but their stomachs 

 were empty. These birds died not in tens or hundreds, but in 

 thousands. Reports indicating this came from all but four 

 counties in Massachusetts. 



The following list of birds picked up dead has been compiled 

 from lists sent me by many correspondents, and probably most 

 of those that succumbed to the elements and starvation are in- 

 cluded in it. The name of the warbling vireo is conspicuous by 

 its absence, but the bird itself has not appeared this year in 

 many localities in Massachusetts. This leads to the belief that 

 something happened to the species farther south. 



