OUR BIRDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 401 
THE STORY OF OUR BIRDS THROUGHOUT 
THE YEAR 1oI5. 
BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 
(CONCLUDED. ) 
Time will permit but a glance at a few of the many interest- 
ing facts disclosed by the arrival and the departure of our birds 
in May. There was only one record of the Downy Woodpecker 
in May—on the 28th; the last record in April was on the 2oth; 
and the species did not reappear until June 25th. This woodpecker 
closely resembles the White-breasted Nuthatch in its spring 
migration. The Snowbird departed on May 3, 1915 and on April 
28, 1914. My latest record for this species was May 20, which 
was quite exceptional. 
The Hermit Thrush is a species whose stay with us each 
spring is notably prolonged. Arriving this year on April 9, and 
departing on May 31, the Hermit Thrush remained 52 days. 
In 1914 the time was almost identical, the bird leaving one day 
later, and arriving on the same day. In 1913 the date of departure 
was May 30. These dates disclose remarkable regularity in the 
time of departure of the Hermit Thrush.- . 
The Myrtle Warbler arrived this year on April r9 and departed 
on May 20—a stay of 31 days. This is the hardiest of the warblers, 
always arriving the earliest in spring and leaving the latest in 
autumn. The dates of migration for this species in the spring of 
1914 were very close to those of the present year—arriving April 
18, and leaving May 17. 
Some scattered observations made in May will now be given.— 
May 7.—Young Killdeers out of the nest, and fledged.—May 9.— 
A Spotted Sandpiper was startled by the report of a gun and the 
howl of a dog that was shot; the note of the Sandpiper was 
piercing.—May 11.—Blackburnian Warbler feeding on insects in 
apple blossoms; uttered its characteristic note at frequent inter- 
vals; by this note the bird may be easily known, as well as by 
its striking plumage.—May 18.—Saw my first Mourning Warbler— 
no note; moved slowly in elms, flying a few feet at a time.—May 
21.—20 species of warblers seen up to date.—3:30 p. m., a Night- 
hawk resting in a road-way. 
Sixty-two species were recorded in June, 1915. They were: 
