OUR BIRDS IN DECEMBER 149 



roadside on a level stretch of ground, while they were most numerous 

 in the leading classes of 13, 14, 15 rays when these were taken from 

 hillsides consisting largely of rocky or infertile ground. In about 20 

 of the 412 specimens the heads were solitary, and usually on 

 elongated branches. Of the total number one was white in color, 2 

 pink, and the others various shades of blue. 



Involucre. 238 of 259 outer involucres possessed 5 bracts, but 

 there were 12 specimens with 6 bracts. The least number obtained 

 here was 4, the greatest was 8. Greater variation was encountered 

 in the inner portion. Here there were 140 cases of 8 bracts, 53 of 7, 

 47 of 9. Least number obtained was 6, greatest was lo. 



With its rather extended distribution, and consisting as it does 

 of a moderate numbei of floral parts, chicory should make where 

 readily available, convenient laboratory material for the study of 

 variation in classes of Biology. Unopened buds will flower until 2 

 or 3 days after having been brought into the laboratory. 

 Hollins College, HoUins, Va. 



Our Birds in December. 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 



It may be interesting to compare the records made by the writer 

 for two Decembers — one (191 8) a mild month; the other (1919) 

 partly a cold month. With most of the species the number records 

 was somewhat larger for December, 1918. On the other hand the 

 Downy Woodpecker had notably more records for December 19 19. 



The records for the two years under comparison would seem to 

 indicate that a difference in the temperature does not necessarily 

 show there are fewer species found when the weather is cold. 

 All the birds except the Hairy Woodpecker and Screech Owl 

 were seen in both Decembers. 



The cold weather in December, 1919, moderated after the 

 middle of the month, and then most of the re cords for the Cardinal 

 and the Purple Finch were made. 



December 1918. 



Hairy Woodpecker, 6, 9, 28. 

 Downy Woodpecker. 6, 15. 



