OUR BIRDS IN THE SPRING OF I914 493 
The Hermit Thrush shows differences both in distribution 
and in intervals of absence for May in 1913 and 1914. There were 
23 records for the first year and 11 for the second. In May rg1q4, 
a long absence occurred from the 1st to the 11th, which is un- 
accountable in a species that is usually so common in this month. 
This statement can be verified by the fact that the Hermit Thrush 
never failed to appear for longer.than 2 days during the previous 
May. 
The Towhee shows disparity in its records for the year 1913 
and 1914-15 for the former and 8 for the latter. A plausible ex— 
planation of the infrequent appearance of this species before 
retiring into secluded woodlands to nest is hard to find, or why in 
one season there may be such a marked difference in the records 
from another. 
The Crested Flycatcher is usually recorded most frequently 
in May, when the bird seems to wander about a good deal, visiting 
orchards and open woods in search of a suitable nesting place. 
Holes in apple trees are sometimes selected by this species for 
its nest. The two years of 1913 and 1914 show a difference of 5 
records for May, the latter year having a total of 20. 
The Cedarbird is another wandering species that is recorded 
most frequently in summer, when the cherries and mulberries 
attract these birds in numbers. In May, 1913 had 6 records and 
1914, 8 records. It would be interesting to know what this species 
feeds on before the berries begin to grow. 
In May 1914, the writer found 15 warblers, which were fewer 
than the number seen in other years. Those recorded most fre- 
quently were the Yellow Warbler, the Myrtle Warbler and the 
Yellow Palm Warbler. The Yellow Warbler had 12 records for 
1914 and 18 for 1913; the Myrtle Warbler had 16 records for 1914 
and 11 for 1913. An earlier date of departure in one year’ made 
the difference in the Myrtle Warbler’s records. 
Some rare species seen in May 1914 were: Bobolink—4 
records; Ovenbird and Connecticut Warbler—3 records; Wood 
Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed 
Vireo, Greater Yellowlegs, Purple Martin, Tennessee, Magnolia, 
Black and White Warblers—2 records; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 
Savanna Sparrow, Bobwhite, Hummingbird, Pine and Black- 
burian Warblers—one record. 
