Harris Birds of the Kansas City Region. 293 



ditions as many as four broods are brought forth in a single 

 year. 



It is probably a fact that the balance of nature will be ad- 

 justed in time by this sparrow at the expense of our more de- 

 sirable native forms, though this may be partially compensated 

 for by an increase in the smaller predatory birds, but as far as 

 the writer has been able to observe no appreciable harm has 

 as yet been done at least in this vicinity. 



Mr. Widmann writes that the zenith of this bird's abundance 

 has been reached in St. Louis several years ago, and is of the 

 opinion that the late severe winters and lack of suitable nest- 

 ing sites may have caused this standstill or decrease. This con- 

 dition has also been noted in Kansas City, though coincident 

 with the decrease within the city there has been a most decided 

 increase in the surrounding rural districts. 



PLECTROPHENAX NTVALIS NIVALIS (Linn.). Snow Bunting. 

 Very rare and irregular winter visitant. 



This wanderer from the north reaches this vicinity only dur- 

 ing the most severe winters. On January 29, 1889, a flock of 

 several dozen of these beautiful birds was observed at Courtney 

 by Bush. There is a specimen in the Tindall collection taken 

 near Independence on November 8, 1892. 



CALCARIUS LAPPONICUS LAPPONICUS (Linn.). Lapland Longspur. 

 Regular and not uncommon winter resident, sometimes very common. 



Lapland Longspurs are to be looked for on the prairie re- 

 gions of the county between 1 the first week in November (Novem- 

 ber 5, 1913, earliest) and the middle of March (March 18, 1917, 

 latest). 



Small flocks are commonly met with between the Country 

 Club and the upper Blue Valley, but very seldom visit the Mis- 

 souri Valley. 



During some winters, flocks of hundreds are present, and dur- 

 ing migration thousands are heard passing over at night. 



CALCARIUS PICTUS (Swainson). Smith's Longspur. 

 Very rare and irregular winter visitant. 



The one local record for this bird is May 1, 1905, when three 

 specimens were taken. It is reported as a common winter so- 



