16 



THE OOLOGIST. 



thing whatever, conclusively, as to the 

 local breeding conditions. 



Oh, the mj stery, the tantalizing de- 

 light, of these eccentric movements, at 

 the greater centers of bird-life ! Though 

 the Franklin Gulls were pres nt by the 

 hundred all summer long, increasing 

 greatly in number during the autumn 

 not a nest was found. And I am told 

 by one who collects in the Devil's Lake 

 region of N. Dakota, (where by the way 

 many water birds nested this year, two 

 weeks earlier than last) that, although 

 the Franklin's Gull is abundant in that 

 region all the summer long, not a soul 

 lias ever found their nesting place, the 

 Indians, however, having a tradition 

 that they breed farther north in Mani- 

 toba. 



These are the features of bird life and 

 bird history that hold and fascinate us, 

 with each year of moi'e and more de- 

 lighted and absorbing study. Shall we 

 ever find Eagle wings I wonder, and 

 learn where lurk all the rai'er birds that 

 leave us wistfully gazing, in the spring 

 for northern homes? 



P. B. Peabody. 



Spring Breeders of "Western New York. 



In looking over some of my notes, 

 taken since March 1st, 1889, with the 

 intention of noting the comparative 

 dates of the breeding of our earlier 

 birds, I have noticed a decided seasonal 

 variation in the earliest dates for many 

 species. The earliest breeder we have 

 is Buho virginianus, Gt. Horned Owl; 

 but it is not common enough here to 

 afford any good opportunities for ob- 

 servation, and as I have never found 

 but one nest, I do not think I can draw 

 any important conclusions from that. 



Next comes Ortocoris alpestris prati- 

 €oZa,Prairie Horned Lark: My earliest 

 record of this species is March 23, 1889. 

 Next April 10, 1889, which seems to be 

 the right time to look for the eggs of 

 this species in this locality. 



My next species \&Corvus americanus, 

 American Crow: Earliest date April 32, 



1889, next April 27, 1893, while the first 

 dates for '90, '91, '92 are May 7, 2, 20 re- 

 spectively, notice 1892 shows the latest 

 date. 



Next we have Sialis sialis, Bluebird, 

 with an earliest date of April 27, 1890, 

 and a set or eight eggs Apinl 30, 1893, 

 part of which wei'e frozen. 



Next we have Melospiza fasciata,Song 

 Sparrow, first record April 28, 1890; 

 dates for '91, '92, '93 are May 6, 28, 17, 

 respectively, 1892 last again. 



Merula migratoria, American Robin, 

 comes next with a recoi'd of April 27, 

 1890. 



Is ext comes Lanius ludovicianus cx- 

 cubitoricles , White-rumped Shrike, May 

 1st and 3d, 1891. These are the only 

 sets I have taken during the spring 

 months as this species breeds plentiful- 

 ly here the last of June. 



Buteo Zmeai;?<s, Red-shoulder 3d Hawk, 

 comes in here with a set May 2, 1891 . 

 Most of my sets of the Buteo's have 

 been taken between May 10th and 22d 

 showing a later breeding season than 

 many writers give for this latitude. 



Next earliest comes Agelius phceni- 

 cews, Red-winged Blackbird. First record 

 May 3, 1889, next May 16, 1891, and the 

 28th, 1893, lastly June 16, 1892, 



Crowding this closely Q,ovLies,Sturnella 

 magna, Meadowlark, on May 6, 1891; 

 13th, 1890 and 23d, 1893. 



Even closer yet comes Snyornis 

 pJioebe, Phoebe. First record May 7, 



1890, next earliest May 13, 1891. 

 Pooccctes graviineus, Vesper Spar- 

 row, shows first sets on May 15, 1890 

 and 1891; 23, 1893, and 28, 1892. 



Quisctilus quiscula ceneus, Bronzed 

 Grackle, can show a like record as fol- 

 lows: May 15, 19, 21, 23 in '91, '90, '92 

 and '93 respectively. 



Next come three birds, properly classed 

 as summer breeders, most of them nest- 

 ing in June here. First, Actitis m,acu- 

 laria. Spotted Sandpiper, May 18, 1891; 



