28 Bird-Lore 



south. Certain species that winter in southern Florida are now for the first time seen in 

 northern Florida, and others are crossing from Cuba. 



Note the difference in the times of arrival of males and females of the same species. 

 Do the males always a-rive first ? How long after the females arrive are the sexes found 

 associated ? Why should the sexes migrate alone ? 



Note the relation existing between the weather and the appearance of migrants. Study 

 the daily weather charts issued by the U. S. Weather Bureau at Washington and observe 

 whether the movement of a warm wave from the south northward is followed by a corre- 

 sponding advance of the birds. Note the close relation between the disappearance of ice 

 and the return of Ducks and Geese. What evidences of migration during the day are 

 noticed ? 



Song. — What species sing in February and March? What birds arrive in song ? 

 What species sing before the coming of the female ? What birds sing in flocks ? Is their 

 choral song different from their individual, solo song? 



Nesting. — What species nest in February and March ? Among summer residents do 

 the first birds to arrive nest first ? What species are observed courting at this season ? 

 Does the season of courtship and mating long precede the nesting season ? Compare here 

 the time of arrival and time of nesting of the Red-winged Blackbird. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SEASON'S READING 



Thoreau, 'Spring,' in 'Walden,' 'Early Spring in Massachusetts,' 'Winter'; 

 Burroughs, ' The Return of the Birds' and ' Spring at the Capital,' in ' Wake Robin,' 

 'A March Chronicle' in 'Winter Sunshine,' 'Spring Jottings' in ' Riverby ' ; Torrey, 

 'A Florida Sketch Book'; Flagg, 'February' in 'A Year With the Birds'; Bolles, 

 ' Land of the Lingering Snow ' ; Davis, ' After the Snow ' and ' The Benison of Spring' 

 in ' Days Afield on Statfen Island ' ; Keeler, ' February in Berkeley ' and ' March in the 

 Pine Woods ' in ' Bird Notes Afield ' ; Crockett, ' February ' and ' March ' in ' A 

 Year-book of Kentucky Woods and Fields ' ; Parkhurst, ' February ' and ' March ' in 

 'The Birds' Calendar.' 



The Christmas Bird Census 



WHILE the exceptionally fine weather on Christmas day was a 

 sufficient inducement to take one afield, we trust that the 

 spirit of wholesome competition aroused by Bird -Lore's bird 

 census added materially to the pleasure of those who took part in it. 



The results of the census are both interesting and instructive; in- 

 teresting, because they are definite, comparative, and, in a sense, per- 

 sonal; instructive, because they give a very good idea of the distribution 

 of winter birds on Christmas day, with some indication of the number 

 of individuals which may be observed in a given time. On the one 

 hand the almost entire absence of such northern species as the Crossbills 

 is noticeable; on the other, the mild season and prevailing absence of 

 snow evidently accounts for the presence of a number of species rarely 

 observed in December. 



