1SS4.J WiLLARiJ 01/ Migration oj Winter Birds. 22 1 



forms a strikinii; part of the i^rcat l)ird chorus risiiio- at that season 

 in the North. 



The Eskimo name indicates that its notes are hke those of the 

 wah-us. hence the term they <^ive it — 'vvah'us talker.' 



Since my return from the North my attention has been called 

 to a note in the 'Proceedins^s' of the Zoological Society of 

 London (1S59, p. 130), where it appears that Dr. Adams noted 

 the peculiar habits of this bird above detailed when, in 1858, he 

 passed a season at St. Michael's. 



These Sandpipers were beginning to nest when I left the 

 Yukon Mouth, and in one instance a female was seen engaged in 

 preparing a place for her eggs in a tuft of grass ; but the spot 

 was abandoned before the eggs were laid. 



In autumn its habits in the Far North are precisely those so 

 familiar to all who know the bird in its southern haunts. 



THE MIGRATION OF OUR WINTER BIRDS. 



BY S. W. WILLARD. 



In the October (1883) number of the "Bulletin of the Nuttall 

 Ornithological Club' it is asked, "Why do Owls, Grosbeaks, 

 Crossbills, and some other northern birds come south in winter.?" 

 Lack of food and extreme cold are stated as being insufficient 

 reasons to explain this movement. As the birds are usually 

 fat when they arrive, they hence cannot have lacked for food far- 

 ther north. It also states, ''the idea that any of these birds feel the 

 cold is not entitled to a moment's consideration." Mr. William 

 Brewster, after quoting the above, attempts to explain the question 

 on the ground that "Birds, like many other beings, are fond of 

 variety." He says: "'Tlie truth of the matter probably is. that 

 when their breeding season is over, these birds habitually wander 

 over vast extents of country. If the winter happens to be severe 

 in the north they find a gradual impro\ement in conditions south- 

 ward, and naturallv, taking this direction, push on until a land of 

 plenty is reached Thus they come and go. sometimes with- 

 out apparent regard to conditicnis which govern the movements of 

 our more regular mioratorv visitors." 



