178 THB AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Distribution of Our Birds in the Spring of 1917. 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 



In March the- crow had 24 records, us many as those of the 

 winter months. But in April there was a decided falling off, there 

 being but 14 records for that month. This decrease w^as probably 

 due to the habit of the species of usually retiring to outlying woods 

 to breed, and seldom leaving the vicinity of the nesting site. In 

 May there was a slight gain in the number of records— 19, for then 

 the young are fledged, and the old birds venture forth more fre- 

 quently. 



The Blue Jay had 23 records for March, which are slightly 

 fewer than the average for the winter months. And the April 

 records — 21 — almost equalled those of March, a fact that would 

 indicate that the Jay's nesting time does not occur before the end 

 of April. In May the records of this species were comparatively 

 f ew — on iy I5 this year. The male is very devoted to the female 

 during the breeding season, and seldom leaves the vicinity of the 



nest. 



The Bronzed Grackle arrived somewhat late this year — on the 

 1 ith of March, making the number of records for that month — 1 7 — 

 a great deal smaller than those of either of the other two spring 

 months. April had 30 records and May, 29, and as this species is 

 very abundant at Notre Dame, and nests not far from the houses, 

 it may be seen daily during the breeding season. 



The Red- winged Blackbird this year first appeared on the 20th 

 of March, and was seen six times in the month after that date, 

 la April there were 5 records, and in May, 12, which shows that 

 this species was not abundant at Notre Dame in the Spring of i<; 1 7. 

 In fact the Redwing is very locally distributed here, usually on 

 the shores of St. Mary's Lake, where a few breed, and then leave 

 for more marshy places to feed with their young. 



The cowbird also arrived on March 20, and had 8 records in that 

 month. There were 25 in April and 26 in May. This is an abundant 

 species at Notre Dame from March until October. In Spring small 

 flocks are often seen flying, in summer the young birds are mostly 

 in evidence, and in autumn great flocks feed in the alfalfa Ileitis. 

 The Song, Field, and Chipping sparrows seem to be the most 

 imposed upon by the Cowbird in our locality. 



