THE OOLOGIST ‘ 97 
THE NEW AMERICAN ORNITHOLO- 
GISTS’ UNION’S CHECK LIST 
OF NORTH AMERICAN 
BIRDS. 
The Auk for July announces the 
fact—which is important if true,—that 
this check list will “probably” be ready 
for distribution about the end of July. 
So many false alarms have developed 
in regard to this long expected pro- 
duction during the four years since it 
was first announced that we may and 
we may not have it at the time an- 
nounced, Let us however live in 
hopes. 
The Annual History of these many 
announcements, delays and excuses 
for non-appearance might be interest- 
ing for our readers, but in view of 
the announcement in The Auk, will 
not be published at this time. 
The foregoing was intended for the 
July issue, but was held up hoping 
that the lost would be found, At the 
time of going to press it is still in the 
land of the unknown. 
ga ae, 
OHIO BIRDS. 
Indian Lake (Lewiston Reservoir) 
is a body of water some five or more 
miles across, situated in the north- 
western part of Logan county, Ohio. 
There is much shallow water about 
the shores where cat tails and rushes 
grow, making it a haunt much esteem- 
ed by many kinds of birds. 
For three successive years, I have 
visited Indian Lake between July 30 
and August 2. I have been much in- 
terested in the status of the great blue 
heron, and these visits at the same 
time for three years have afforded an 
opportunity for an interesting campar- 
ison of the numbers of the herons. 
In 1908, they were abundant. There 
were scores of young and old flying to 
and from the heronry on Crane Island, 
and their croaking was the commonest 
sound about the water, In 1909, I saw 
not more than half a dozen. I inquir- 
ed of persons who permanently re- 
side about the lake for the cause of 
the scarcity of herons, but they either 
did not know or had not noticed. This 
year, though not so abundant as in 
1908, they are quite common, and seem 
to be well protected. One of them flew 
within thirty feet of our boat as we 
rowed along. 
For many years, a pair of bald 
eagles has nested unmolested in the 
top of a tall oak tree on one of the is- 
lands. Other quite common water 
birds were kingfisher, little green 
heron, spotted sandpiper, et cetra. 
Two mallards were seen flying. At 
Lake Ridge, a summering place, there 
is a considerable flock of mallards and 
Canada geese in captivity. On July 
30, 1908, I saw a common tern on In- 
dian Lake, They do not breed there 
to my knowledge, and it is the only 
one I ever saw there. 
One morning we went out on the 
water while it was yet dark to watch 
the coming of the day. Many of the 
birds began to call or sing at the first 
of light. 
edge of the sun appeared above the 
glimmer Just as the gilt 
horizon, there was a tremendous whir 
of wings from the nearby cat tails. 
It was the tree swallows. Thousands 
of them were arising from the roost 
with a whir that was almost a roar. 
They flew up in an immense, funnel- 
shaped body, not unlike that of chim- 
ney swifts when they go to roost in 
large numbers. In a minute from the 
time the first bird arose, all were dis- 
persed and pursuing their insect prey 
over the glassy waters of the lake. 
WHEELER McMILLEN. 
