1 82 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



March 23, and reappearing every day except the 26th. In the 

 other Spring months the records of the species were scattered, as 

 they usually are — 19 for April, and 16 for May, This year I found 

 only one pair breeding, in a grotto, where two broods were reared. 



The Mourning Dove is one of our most abundant species. 

 The date of migration for the dove this Spring was March 2 1 , and 

 twice again in that month it was seen. The April records totalled 

 25, and the May, 28. The Dove nests mostly in evergreens, but 

 sometimes in deciduous trees or vines, and is not afraid to build 

 near walks or houses where people frequently pass by. Often, 

 singly or in pairs, the species is seen flying swiftly over fields. 



The Vesper Sparrow usually arrives the last week in March 

 or about the first of April. This year the date of migration was 

 March 24, with records also on the 25th and 31st. This sparrow was 

 most abundant in April, when it was found on 22 days. In May the 

 weather was generally cool, and many of the birds became silent 

 for days. The Vesper Sparrow being a species that frequents 

 outlying fields, when its song is not heard the observer may not 

 meet the bird. The records for May were 15. 



The Flicker is usually the first of the migrant woodpeckers 

 to arrive in Spring — this year on March 25. There were 5 other 

 records in March, 27 in April, and 23 in May. These figures show 

 the species to be abundant. The Flicker is a very conspicuous bird 

 at Notre Dame, and far exceeds any of the other woodpeckers. 

 For nesting places it prefers trees, poles, and even houses, boring 

 holes in the walls. 



The Golden-crowned Kinglet arrived on March 26, and was 

 recorded daily for the rest of the month. It was also seen daily 

 in April until the 6th, the period between these two dates marking 

 the time of greatest abundance. The April records were mostly 

 scattered, and totalled 21. This Kinglet was found in May on the 

 1st and 9th, and was last seen on the nth. 



My earliest record of the Brown Thrasher was made this year — 

 on March 31. The species was next seen on April 13; then 3 scat- 

 tered records followed until the 21st, and from this date the thrasher 

 was seen daily. The bird was well distributed in May, there being 

 25 observations for that month. The song season of the Brown 

 Thrasher lasted from April 13 to June 22. 



The Hermit Thrush returned at about its usual time of arriving 

 — this Spring on April 1 1 . There were five scattered records until 



