May, 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



73 



after August- 2;!d, ns transient migrants from the 

 niirtli. 



Tlie Purple Martins gatlier in Manliattan in 

 immense tloel^s during August. Tbe local resi- 

 dents, young and old, are numerous, but their 

 numbers are largely augmented by daily arrivals 

 from the north. Toward the end of the month 

 they become most iiumerous. Thousands of tliem 

 occupy a grove of young Maples on tbe Coui't 

 House Square, as a "roost," after the manner of 

 Grackles. In the evenings, they alight upon 

 some of the trees in such numbers tint the limbs 

 cannot support them, and large numbers are com- 

 pelled to find less crowded perches near the bor- 

 der of the grove. About September 1st, the 

 adults leave; but large numbers' of the young 

 liirds remain for a few days longer. They crowd 

 uiion the roofs of churches and other large build- 

 ings in town, for several days before taking their 

 final flight. The hist of this species waf seen 

 Septenilier lllh. 



Another bird which migrates in large flocks is 

 the Western Meadow Lark. A few ot these re- 

 main with us during our coldest weather; but 

 far the greater number pass southward in large 

 flocks, singing as they go. They fly low, and the 

 flight is not sustained for any great distance. In 

 the Spring they return in the same manner. The 

 song in the Fitll is as musical and strong as in the 

 Spring, but fewer individuals join in the singing. 

 September 12th was the height of their south- 

 wai'd movement last season. 



From September 20th to the 2Slh, a daily suc- 

 cession of Night Hawks, numbering from two to 

 twenty, was to be seen flying southward in circles, 

 feeding as they went. They were ol)served most- 

 ly in the mornings and evenings. 



The Brown Thrush leaves us for the south 

 during the last week of August; but transients 

 from the north were seen as late as September 

 22d. None ot the species were seen between 

 August 28tli and September 12th. 



October in Kansas is a sort of lengthened In- 

 dian Summer, which often extends late into No- 

 vember. Tiie days, warm and dry, are in sharp 

 contrast with the cool nights. The fields gradu- 

 ally take on a brown color, relieved here and 

 there by the brilliant scarlet of the Sumac leaves. 

 The woods, on account of the dry, hot days, usu- 

 ally lack the bright colors of eastern forests; but 

 if there have been rains followed by frosts, the 

 rambler in the woods finds no lack of brilliancy. 

 Such was the cliaracter of last October. The 

 Virginia Creeper, {Amjxlopxig quiiiquefiMn,) cling- 

 ing to many a tree rivalled the Rock Maples of 

 the east in gold and crimscni hues. The Waahoo 



(Eiioiiymuii atropiirpureus,) with its crimson 

 fruit, and the bright Sumac leaves contributed to 

 the general effect. 



The naturalist who visits field or woods at this 

 season is surprised to find how few the birds are. 

 Nearly all the Summer sojourners have departed. 

 Many of the Winter visitors have not yet arrived. 

 The southward movement seems to be temporari- 

 ly checked; and the resident l)irds are silent and 

 have resorted to hidden nooks. I'nder tiiese cir- 

 cumstances, one feels hardly repinil for devoting 

 much time to observation. 



A sliort walk on a bright morning in early Oc- 

 tober brought me to the outskirts of a thicket 

 where I seldom fail to find birds plentiful. The 

 thicket consists chiefl.v of Dogwoods, (Coi-iins 

 pditicidritti,) with Sumac l)ushes and Wild Grajie 

 vines. A half hour's .search here revealed nothing 

 more than a trio of Mourning Doves. But in the 

 open field beyond, I found in a clump of small 

 Elms, a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and an 

 Orange-crowned Warbler, while a Hock of Ducks 

 in the distance sliowed that migration wns really 

 in progress. 



The following days turned warmer, and Ducks, 

 Bronzed Grackles, Cowbirds, Red-shafted Flick- 

 ers, and Yellow-rump Warblers became plentiful. 

 About the middle ot the month the migrants 

 came in greater numbers. White-crowned Spar 

 rows, Lincoln's Finch. White-throated Sparrows, 

 Song Sparrows, Black and Oregon Snowbirds 

 became plentiful by the 18th. The first Wihl 

 Geese came on the 16th. On the 21st. the Arctic 

 Towhees and Fox-colored Sparrows were here in 

 large numbers. Migrating Robins appeared in 

 Hocks on the 23d. On the 30th of October the 

 Tree Sparrow and Harris' Finch were present in 

 large numbers. The Fo.x Sparrow, Field Spar 

 row, Song Sparrow, and Lincoln's Finch re- 

 mained abundant, but the White-crowned Spar- 

 rows had all departed and the Intermediate 

 White-crowned Sparrow had taken their places. 

 This form seems more common here fliiin the 

 ea.stern, and yet it was unknown lo our .;'""»(/ 

 previous to 1884. 



Among our October birds, one not seen l)y the 

 writer in any other month of the year, seems 

 worthy of notice. It is Leconte's Sparrow. Tliis 

 bird was for a long time supposed to be rare in 

 our State; but it certainly is reasonalily common 

 in this vicinity. 1 have never seen it in Sining 

 migration, nor have I actually taken it previous 

 to last .sea.son; but its habits are such that I am 

 confident that I have frequently seen it in Octo- 

 ber. II frequents rough fields near the river, 

 where old gra.ss is abundant. 



