BIRDS OF NEW YORK 87 



to birds which can only be seen in particular localities; and irregular, indicat- 

 ing that the species may be much more common in some seasons than in 

 others. It is sometimes necessary to rank a species under two, or even 

 three heads, as for instance the Jimco or Common snow bird, which is an 

 abundant transient visitant in Ontario county, an uncommon winter visitant, 

 and a rare summer resident. 



Migration dates given in the third column represent as far as accessible 

 the earliest, average and fairly late dates of arrival of all migratory birds 

 from the south and in the fourth column is recorded the date of departure for 

 the north of all those species which are transient or winter visitants. The 

 fifth column contains the dates at which these species return from the north 

 again; and the sixth column records the dates of departure for the south 

 of transients and summer residents; and the last column for each county 

 indicates whether the species breeds within its borders and, where possible, 

 gives the date when fresh eggs have been found. 



Whenever dates are given in these columns the effort has been made 

 to record the earliest, average, and late dates for both migration and nest- 

 ing, but unfortunately, in spite of the unlimited time which has been 

 expended with this object in view, the result in most counties has been far 

 from satisfactory, yet represents the best that can be done at the present 

 time. In nearly every county it would be possible to insert more complete 

 and accurate dates, both for migration and nesting, than those which 

 appear, from our knowledge of what must be true in those localities ; we 

 have considered it far better, however, to adhere to the actual date received 

 and refer those who are in search of fuller dates of migration in different 

 parts of the State, to the schedules for Cayuga, Erie, Lewis, Madison, 

 Monroe, Ontario, Orange, Saratoga, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, West- 

 chester and Yates, where the dates are based on observations extending 

 through a series of years. In cases of rare or accidental birds with only 

 one or two dates for the county, we have entered the date in the column 

 where it seemed most appropriate and have often inserted the year, thereby 

 making the record of greater value. 



