The Season 



309 



continued to pass through during September 

 in fairly even numbers, and October 16 found 

 a few Myrtle and Palm still lingering. A 

 Warbling Vireo was reported in Humbolt 

 Park August 30 and 31, and Philadelphia and 

 Blue-headed Vireos there September 23 

 (B. T. Gault); also a Blue-headed at Palos 

 Park on the 25th. 



The rest of the migration moved along as 

 usual. A little cold snap started some of the 

 Ducks flying but at this writing the weather 

 is warm again and no more are coming in. 

 The third week in September saw Kinglets, 

 Brown Creepers, Juncos, and Hermit 

 Thrushes here and the next week White- 

 throated and Tree Sparrows and Yellow- 

 bellied Sapsuckers appeared. The Red- 

 breasted Nuthatch, which is an irregular 

 migrant, is rather common this fall. A large 

 migration of Sharp-shinned Hawks appeared 

 on September 24, seen at Beach by Dr. C. W. 

 G. Eifrig and by the writer at Evans ton. 

 There were probably a few Pigeon Hawks 

 among them; one found dead at Beach, Octo- 

 ber 16. Numerous Short-eared Owls seen at 

 Beach during October, also one at Lincoln 

 Park. 



More uncommon species reported are: 

 Caspian Tern, Lincoln Park, September 5; 

 Harris's Sparrow, near Jackson Park, Sep- 

 tember 22 (G. P. Lewis); Bicknell's Thrush, 

 Highland Park, September 22 (H. K. Coale); 

 Barn Owl, Palos Park, September 22 (Dr. 

 R. D. Paul); Tufted Titmouse, River Forest, 

 September 12; Montana Junco, September 23 

 Humbolt Park; Double-c.-i ted Cormorant 

 and Duck Hawk, October 2, at Lincoln Park 

 (B. T. Gault); Purple Finch, August 28, and 

 Short-billed Marsh Wren, October 2, at Beach 

 (C. C. Sanborn) . 



The northern birds seem to be coming a 

 little earlier this year; Crossbills were seen at 

 Beach on August 21 by Mr. S. S. Gregory and 

 on October 2 by the writer; also Pine Siskins 

 there on October 9. The Red-headed Wood- 

 pecker generally stays all winter when the 

 acorns are plentiful, as they are this year, and 

 they are reported from the dimes to be busily 

 storing them under the bark and in the cracks 

 of the trees. — Colin Campbell Sanborn, 

 Chairman of Report Committee, Chicago 

 Ornithological Society. 



Itasca State Park Region, Minn. — 

 August 15 to September 13. The weather 

 throughout this period continued unusually 

 warm, and no severe frost occurred as is 

 usual here at this time of year. There were 

 only two or three really cool days and only 

 one cold night, August 20, when the tem- 

 perature fell to 34°. However, by September 

 I, in spite of the absence of frost, a black 

 ash tree here and there along the shore of the 

 lake showed a tinge of yellow, early for this 

 tree, which is usually one of the last to turn; 

 the long-beaked hazel bushes were shedding 

 their russet leaves; the giant brakes, so 

 abimdant in the imdergrowth of the forest, 

 were yellow and brown; and an ocraFional 

 vivid patch of brilliant scarlet revealed the 

 Virginia creeper in its autumnal gloiy. The 

 last days of August and early September 

 brought the usual gorgeous display of wild 

 asters of many kinds and many hues, so wel 

 come just at this time when most of the other 

 wild flowers are parsing awaj'. An espe- 

 cially beautiful and densely flowered violet- 

 blue species filled ail the open places, while 

 the forest shades harbored the large-leaved 

 aster, the great sterile leaf-clusters of which 

 are such a conspicuous feature of all the 

 woodland undergrowth in this region. The 

 dainty rose-colored gerardia and the bright 

 blue lobelia were in full bloom in mid- August 

 on the sandy shores of De Soto Lake in the 

 southern part of the Park. They, with a few 

 other late-flowering plants, form a beautiful 

 fringe just above the water line. The wild 

 rice was ripe and falling by August 30, and the 

 abundant yield this year promised a goodly 

 feast for the birds. 



By August 15 all the local breeding Black 

 Terns had gone. Several through migrants 

 were seen a little later, the last on the 2 2d — 

 all in the white plumage. Crested Flycatchers 

 so common here, were to be encountered in 

 mid-August in little parties of six or seven, 

 evidently broods that had kept together, 

 wandering through the woods and being 

 partly cared for by the parents. A male 

 Connecticut Warbler was seen on August 

 15. We were too late this year to resume our 

 hunt for the nest of this elusive bird which 

 may be found in June breeding in nearly 

 every tamarack and spruce swamp. On 



