I40 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



sist mainly upon berries and grain. When migrating, they assemble 

 in flocks, which, uniting, form vast columns, each section being headed 

 by a leader. When about to alight, pioneers descend from the flock 

 to select favorable and safe feeding grounds. Having decided upon 

 the proper place they swoop rapidly down upon it with the wind, pass 

 over to see if the coast is clear, and then return against the wind to 

 alight. While on the ground the flock is guarded by sentinels with a 

 zeal that renders a close approach impossible. The fact that they are 

 so easily decoyed seals the fate of many of them. Gunners take ad- 

 vantage of their well known feeding habits, and early in the morning 

 set their decoys in some popular grain field. These decoys are made 

 of wood, pasteboard, or sheet iron, and bear more or less resemblance 

 to geese. Having concealed himself behind a brush heap or blind of 

 cornstalks, the gunner awaits the coming of his victims. It doesn't 

 take an expert to kill a goose by this method. 



ACCIDENTS. 



Birds are victims of accidents fully as often as are members of the 

 human race. Most of them are simply minor ones, such as broken 

 wings or legs, and with a little careful nursing on the part of the bird, 

 are as good as new in a few days. Besides the lesser accidents, the 

 number of fatalities that occur among the feathered population (from 

 purely accidental causes) is appalling. Thousands upon thousands of 

 birds are killed yearly by flying into telegraph wires or against light- 

 houses. I make mention of the following that were actually observed 

 by human eyes. 



My nearest neighbor, early in April, was poking about among the 

 weeds in a neglected flower bed. This bed was found to be by meas- 

 urement twelve feet from the house. Suddenly from almost under his 

 hands, flew a Bob-White. In its excitement and fear it took no notice 

 of direction and struck against the side of the house, which by the way 

 was painted white. He was picked up dead. 



Dr. M. of Monticello, while making a professional call seven or eight 

 years ago, saw two large flocks of prairie chickens flying in opposite 

 directions, about to cross the road in front of him. There was a collis- 

 ion high in the air and one chicken came down dead. No wire. Sim- 

 ply a collision in mid air. The doctor showed me the chicken and 

 remarked at the time that I never could guess how it had met its death. 

 It was a cloudy day and snowing at the time, which probably will 

 account for this casualty. a. l. 



