66 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 9-No. 6 



observations on the nesting of the rarer 

 kinds will be gladly received. 



2. A list of those birds which have 

 never been known to breed, but which 

 have been seen during the breeding sea- 

 son, giving, if possible, an approximation 

 of the date of observation. 



3. A brief description of the charac- 

 ter of the country in which the observa- 

 tions were made, in regard to altitude, 

 water, prairie, character of timber, etc. 



4. A summary of the opportunities 

 the observer has had for watching the 

 birds, and the use that has been made of 

 these opportunities." 



In order that the semi-annual report 

 may be made in seasou, it is highly desir- 

 able that all further notes be forwarded at 

 once. — W. W. Cooke, Heel Hock, Inel. Ty. 



Michigan Notes. 



Having never written for the 0. and O. it 

 is with some trepidation that I take up my 

 pen. I am led to do so from a feeling of 

 exultation in the recent efforts of two of 

 our Michigan ornithologists in sending to 

 your paper the very interesting notes which 

 have lately appeared. Dr. Atkins of Locke 

 has jjenned some able notes of late regard- 

 ing our favorite study, and Mr. N. A. 

 Eddy's notes from Bay City are extremely 

 interesting. The New England States lost 

 a competent observer when Mr. Eddy left 

 the coast of Maine, but the change is im- 

 measurably our gain. 



Michigan has gained new recruits within 

 the last few years, and with the present 

 corps of efficient workers, a constantly in- 

 creasing list of birds clearly proves that 

 valuable service is rendered each season. 

 There are now, on a compiled list before 

 me, 340 species and races known to the va- 

 rious collectors of the state, and it is rea- 

 sonable to believe that within a few sea- 

 sons we can fairly boast of a more com- 

 plete and varied catalogue than is now pos- 

 sessed by any adjacent state. The list is a 

 compilation of the catalogues and observa- 



tions of over twenty students of our avian 

 fauna. The first list, by Professor Sager 

 was published in 1839 and contained only 

 163 species, while a list published in 1879 

 gives 310 species and races, and indicates 

 the advancement made in this line. "We 

 have now twelve competent observers, and 

 the present season gives promise of much 

 desirable information. 



A few random notes are incidentally tak- 

 en from seventeen years' observations. 



The following species of the Thrush 

 family are well known to most of. our 

 ornithologists : Kobin, Catbirds, Wood, 

 Hermit, Swain son's, Wilson's and Brown 

 Thrush. I have the eggs of all in my col- 

 lection, and have found all to breed South 

 of 44° north latitude. Dr. Atkins informs 

 me, however, that the Alice's Thrush is 

 found in the State. The Forest and 

 Stream Bird Notes, by Mr. Bailey, men- 

 tions the species also, as a Michigan bird, 

 as given some years ago by Mr. G. A. 

 Stockwell, known to the readers of the P. 

 and S. as "Archer.'' Mr. Stockwell gives 

 our state credit for at least nine species of 

 birds that are not known to the other col- 

 lectors, and mentions as common, many 

 species not generally considered so. 

 Among others, he embraces the Fish Crow 

 and Stone Chat. Will any one acquainted 

 with Mr. S. kindly send his address? 



Twelve species of Hawks are known 

 in this county, of which the breeding 

 habits are known of six. The rarest 

 Hawk found breeding here is the Broad- 

 winged. The nest found by myself on 

 May 25th, 1875, being the only example 

 thus far. The eggs, two in number and 

 fresh, were taken from a large Black Ash 

 over six feet in circumference, and epiite 

 ninety feet from the ground. The nearest 

 limb was all of sixty feet from the ground 

 and in securing the eggs I had the hardest 

 climb that I have ever undertaken. Both 

 old birds were secured. The Bed-tailed 

 Hawk is very common and breeds in 

 abundance. The eggs are generally laid 



