BIRDS OF INDIANA. 701 



in Wabash County January 1, 1892, and within a week before that 

 date two others were killed in that county. Mr. E. J. Chansler thinks 

 some may winter in Knox County. Prof. E. L. Moseley reports one 

 killed at Grand Rapids, Mich., December 24, 1896, and several others 

 a few days before. The same authority tells me they have been taken 

 a number of times in midwinter several miles west of Sandusky, Ohio, 

 where there are springs and running water that do not freeze in severe 

 weather. The migrants begin to move early in March. The follow- 

 ing dates give that of the first appearance for each of several years, at 

 the places named: Brookville, 1881, March 29; 1882, March 29; 1883, 



Wilson's Snipe. 



April 7; 1886, March 18; 1896, March 7; Cook County, 111., 1884, 

 March 22; 1885, March 29 (Parker). English Lake, 1887, March 7 

 (Deane). Macsauber Club, Kankakee River, 1890, March 23 (Deane). 

 Frankfort, 1893, March 16; 1895, March 8 (Ghere). Greencastle, 

 March 5 (Earlle). Edwards, Vigo County, 1897, March 11 (Kendrick). 

 The first migrants generally appear in March, but it is usually the 

 last of the month or early in April before they become common. Usu- 

 ally after the warm rains have softened the earth and brought into 

 activity the insects, beneath the surface, they appear. March, 28, 

 1896, was a day when the snow melted in the sun, yet was to be seen 

 upon the frozen ground, in the shade. I saw a snipe by the side of 

 the road as I drove along. It seemed quite tame, and flew ahead of me 

 a short distance and alighted again and again in the ditch. At last 

 it arose and attempted to alight on a frozen snow-bank, evidently 

 thinking it was water. It seemed very much surprised when it came 

 down upon something hard, for it descended with some force, and as 

 soon as it could recover, arose and flew away. Usually in the White- 

 water Valley, they are gone by the 20th to 25th of April; but in 1881, 



