OUR BIRDS IN SPRING 20I 



Rob. p. 366. Large plant, four or five feet high, branches purpHsh. 

 every one of which bears a fine thick spike, about three inches 

 long, of rose colored flowers. This species, and all the following, 

 grow in swamps, moist grounds, and along the rivers; they are 

 called vulgarly Curages, in Louisiana; all their flowers smell 

 like honey, and afford it in plenty to the bees. Blossoms from 

 August to December." 



Transferred to the genus Persicaria we have the following 

 synonymy: 



Persicaria bicornis (Raf.) Nov, comb. 

 Polygonum bicorne Raf., (18 17) 1. c. 

 Polygonum longistylum Small, (1894) ^- c. 



OUR BIRDS IN THE SPRING OF 1913. 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 



Several species were observed but a few times in March. 

 The long interval between the first and second dates on which 

 the Golden-crowned Kinglet was seen is exceptional. The Herring 

 Gull is an occasional visitant to our inland lakes and rivers. The 

 Northern Shrike is a very rare species — seen only late in autumn, 

 in winter, and in early spring. Species which are only occasionallv 

 seen during their migration are: Kingfisher, Cowbird, Mourning 

 Dove, Phoebe, Red-winged Blackbird and Killdeer. 



The Tree Sparrow was most regular in its appearance in March 

 and early April, no interval during this period being a week in 

 length. The species may be found during this time in gardens 

 and orchards. In most other parts of its stay with us, this sparrow 

 is only rarely found. 



Like the Tree Sparrow, the Brown Creeper was oftenest seen 

 late in March and early in April. There were no long intervals 

 between any of its dates in those two months; but in March, 19 12, 

 the species was not once recorded; and in April there was one 

 interval of 7 days, the total number of records for the month 

 being 8. 



A comparison of the records for 191 2 with those for 19 13 

 shows condiserable difference in the dates on which the Fox Sparrow 

 was observed. In the former year there were five consecutive 

 records from April 2 to 6 ; in the latter year there were four obser- 



