April, 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



55 



Black-capped Yellow Warbler. — A very rare 

 species anil only thrice captured in the county. 

 Taken May 10 and Sept. 9. 



55. [137.] Myiodujctes canadensis (Linn.) Aud. 

 Canadian Flycatching Warbler. — A rather com- 

 mon but irregular migrant. A few may remain 

 to nest witli us. A late arrival generally, not ap- 

 pearing as a rule before May 10. 



50. [128.] Sctophaga ruticilhi (Linn.) Swains. 

 American Redstart. — A very common species. 

 Breeds abundantly. Arrives from April 25 to 

 May 4. Remains until late September. 



57. [152.] Pruffne siibis {L'mn.) Baird. Purple 

 Martin. — Arrives from April 1 to 16. The date of 

 April 1 is remarkably early and only occurred one 

 season. The species generally arrive from A\m\ 

 6 to 10. A very common species. Breeds abun- 

 dantly. Not so numerous as formerly, as it is 

 (liiven away by the pertinacious English Sparrow. 

 Depart for the south in late August. On one 

 season I did not see a bird after September 1, but 

 as a rule a few^ stragglers may be seen after that 

 date. The large majority of the birils disajipear 

 in one large flock. 



58. [158.] PetrocheUdoii lanifnms (Say) Lawr. 

 t'litt' Swallow. — Known generally in Michigan by 

 the name of Eave Swallow. Very abundant. 

 Arrives generally from April 15 to 30. Breeds in 

 huge colonies usually. Have found a hundred 

 l),iirs occupying the shelter afforded by the eaves 

 nf barns and sheds on a single farm. The nests, 

 well known to all, are often built in such numbers 

 that thirty or more are found attached to the 

 sides of a barn under the eaves. It has been ad- 

 vanced by some writers that the nests are usually 

 jilaced on the south sides of barns and sheds. 

 This is, I think, a mistake. I believe the birds 

 prefer the east and west sides equally well. The 

 north side is however rarely occupied. Only a 

 few nests are found in such situations. Eggs laid 

 from May 25 to June 15. 



59. [154.] Hiviindo erythroijastrd Bodd. Barn 

 Swallow.— A common species with us froLi May 

 1 to Aug. 15. The earliest arrival is April 12. 

 Tlie first seen one season was on April 24. Breed 

 abundantly in the barns and sheds, sometimes in 

 colonies ot over a score of pairs. A well known 

 and very useful species. Eggs laid from May 20 

 to June 10. 



60. [15*.] Tiirhijfinetn bintlur (Vieill.) Caban. 

 White-bellied or Blue-backed Swallow.-^Our 

 earliest arrival in the family. Appears from 

 March 39, in very early seasons, to April 12. Gen- 

 erally about April 5 to 8. Some seasons the birds 

 will appear at an early date, and on cold weather 

 returning, will disappear for a fortnight or more. 

 The eggs are laid from May 1 to 20, usually aliout 



the 10th. The species breeds abundantly in the 

 vicinity of lakes and streams surrounded by dead 

 trees. The nests are placed in holes from six to 

 thirty feet from the ground. Common till late 

 September. 



61. [157.] (jotHc ripai-ia (Linn.) Boie. Bank 

 Swallow. — Arrives from April 12 to the 24th. 

 Begins excavating in the sand banks soon after 

 arriving, but rarely lays its eggs before May 15. 

 Have found the nests nearly completed at the 

 ends of the burrows by April 30. The Bank 

 Swallow is a common species with us. It breeds 

 frequently in colonies, but isolated pairs, or two or 

 three pairs are often found at roadsides where 

 suitable building sites are found. 



63. [158.] Stelgidopterj/.v serripcmiis {Am\.) Brd. 

 Kough-winged Swallow. — Not what we may call 

 an abundant species. Not nearly so conmion as 

 the last. Arrives about the time of the appear- 

 ance of the last, but a little later I think. I 

 am not able to present reliable data of arrivals, 

 from the fact that I confounded the last with the 

 Rough-winged until within a few years past, and 

 am as yet unable to distinguish them in flight. 

 Have found the si)ecies breeding in company with 

 the more common Bank Swallow. 



63. [161] Pyranga rubra (Linn). Vieill. Scarlet 

 Tanager. — An abundant Summer resident. Ar- 

 rives from April 32 to May 12. Remains until 

 about the middle of September. The nests are 

 often found, and are most common, containing 

 eggs, from May 26 to June 10. I think but one 

 brood is reared during a season. The birds are 

 moulting in the last half of August, and are quite 

 silent after the middle of July. The song is very 

 beautiful, and the singer has the peculiar and 

 agreeable habit of often singing in the night. 

 Many people are not aware of the melody of this 

 bird's S(mg, and look upon it only as a gaudy gem 

 ol color. To those who are acquainted with the 

 Tanager in its woodland haunts, however, the 

 song far outranks the brilliancy of plumage. It is 

 one of a few of my special favorites. 



The Bay-breasted Warbler {Bendrceca 

 eastauea,) in Locke, Mich. 



BY DR. H. A. ATKINS. 



This lovely Warbler I have always found ex- 

 ceedingly scarce incur township. I have within 

 the last thirty years only met with three specimens, 

 all found, as will be seen below, during the vernal 

 migrations. Dates of appearance as follows: 



May 25 1867— i 



May 14 1877— i 



May 21 1883— J 



The weight of the last one taken was 221 Troy 

 grains. 



