June, 1884.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



check to migration. The stations in north- 

 ern Dakota report the commencement of 

 the storm April 2d and 3d. Then come 

 reports all along the line until the southern 

 limit of snow is reached approximately at 

 Grand Ridge, 111., 41 18 , which reports 

 "Ajaril 8, four inches of snow fell last 

 night." 



The northward bending of the isothermal 

 lines as we go northwest is clearly shown 

 by the record of the grass. At Eiver 

 Falls, Wis., 44 43 , on April 8 the record 

 reads "the grass show r s little or no green as 

 yet; snow still on north side of hills." 

 Frazee City, Minn., 46 33 , on April 3 reports 

 "ice on lakes still solid," while far to the 

 west at Menoken, Dak., 46 58 , the grass had 

 started and was growing finely in the last 

 part of March. In these latter places, they 

 tell us the first spring birds have just ar- 

 rived at Frazee City, the first Robin came 

 April 3 and at Larimore, Dak., 47 52 , the first 

 Ducks were seen April 2. 



Apropos to the note from Lanesboro, 

 Minn., appearance and immediate disap- 

 pearance of the first Martin, it is hard to 

 refrain from a brief sermon on the fickle- 

 ness of birds and the unreliability of those 

 notes which do not take this fickleness into 

 account. But these remarks like all good 

 sermons, must be taken as entirely imper- 

 sonal. It is not always safe to mark as 

 "first," the first bird of a species which is 

 seen. Many birds wander far ahead of 

 their fellows and put in an appearance 

 which is as purely accidental as if they had 

 come months before in the depth of winter. 

 For this reason instructions were issued, 

 "note the first bird of each species seen 

 and then for the next few days watch 

 closely to see whether this is an accidental 

 occurrence or the normal first of the migra- 

 tion of the main body." It is better to 

 make the " F " indicate the first bird of the 

 regular movement of the species as a whole, 

 then the notes can be used intelligently and 

 accurately. 



To determine whether the first appear- 



ance is normal or accidental takes more 

 time than most of the observers can spare, 

 and from those who have both the ability 

 and the opportunity, it has been well nigh 

 impossible to get any accurate information 

 on this particular point. Moral — if a ser- 

 mon is allowed to have a moral — Don't fail 

 to send in whatever notes you do make, 

 and next year we will all do better. 



What a rambling discouse this is getting 

 to be. We had better return to birds before 

 we completely lose sight of the subject in 

 hand. 



Heron Lake, Minn., 43 4S , informs us that 

 Canada Geese were laying April 12, and 

 Mallards in pairs everywhere, while the law 

 allows water fowl shooting until May 15. 

 A good chance for missionary work. It is a 

 pity some of the Solons are not orni- 

 thologists. 



This spring has been a remarkable one 

 for the Evening Grosbeaks {H. vespertina.) 

 Along the whole line of the Mississippi 

 in Minnesota, they have been abundant. 

 For years they have been known as one 

 of the most regular winter visitants to the 

 vicinity of Minneapolis, but this spring 

 they have wandered to Southern Minneso- 

 ta and Northern Iowa. At Lanesboro, 

 Minn., 43 43 , they came early and stayed 

 late. Indeed, on April 1st, they were 

 among the most common birds for some 

 miles down the valley of the Root River. 



In conclusion, it may be well to insert a 

 copy of a circular which will soon be sent 

 to each observer. 



"Our labors this spring are drawing to a 

 close ; the northward migration is ended 

 and but little remains to be chronicled. 



Please send as soon as possible what- 

 ever notes have not been forwarded, and 

 accompany them with the following pa- 

 pers, unless the information has already 

 been furnished : 



1. A list of all the birds that have 

 ever been known to breed in your vicinity, 

 marking with a cross those which are 

 known to be breeding this summer. Any 



