492 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
not rare in that month. For the past two years, April had 1o 
records in 1914 and 11 in 1913. It is remarkable that in both 
years the Myrtle Warbler arrived on the 18th of April. 
The rare species in April were: Spotted Sandpiper—6 records; 
Yellow Palm Warbler, Brown Creeper, Baltimore Oriole—5 
records; Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, House Wren— 
4 records; Kingbird, Fox Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, White- 
crowned Sparrow—2 records; Pine Grossbeak, Cardinal, Acadian 
Flycatcher, Canada Geese, Herring Gull, White Breasted Nuthatch, 
Wilson Snipe, Orchard Oriole, Chimney Swift, Black-throated 
Green Warbler—1 record. 
The month of May 1914 had 11 species fewer than the same 
month in 1913, which totalled 85 species. These figures indicate 
that a normal record for May will be between 75 and 85 species. 
Certain species that are very rare may not be recorded in one 
year, thus reducing the total considerably. 
There is a notable difference in May between the records of 
the White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows. In 1913, the 
former had 8 records; in,1914, 15 records; in 1913, the latter had 
6 records; in 1914, 2 records. The Whitethroat’s longest absence 
was after the 23rd, when the bird departed. 
The May records of the Bluebird show great disparity for 
the years 1913 and 1914—8 for the first and 17 for the last. The 
writer often wondered why he has recorded this species so seldom 
in certain months; and he has concluded that its rather retiring 
‘habits, especially in the nesting season, must be the reason why 
the bird is not seen often. 
The Kingfisher had few records for May in both 1913 and 1914, 
the two years totalling only 15 records. In 1914, there were 9 
records, with the longest absence 8 days. A person passing near 
small lakes—as the writer does twice daily—would expect to see 
or hear Kingfishers regularly. I think the true explanation is that 
unless the species nests near a body. of water it will not be found 
there frequently. 
Another species showing some rarity is the Phoebe, for in 
two years it had but 20 records in May. I pass a certain grotto 
frequently during the nesting season, and yet seldom hear or see 
the bird off the nest-—A comparison with its cousin the Wood 
Pewee, shows the latter to be much more common. The same 
‘ 
two years gave the Pewee 36 records. 
