Notes on Birds of the Red River Sand-bars 295 



not be certainly ascertained. While true of many other river birds, the Herons 

 give the observer some advantage by the habit they have of flying ahead a 

 short distance as one comes near to them with a boat. As a result, one often 

 gets a half dozen chances to observe the same bird; after a mile or so they 

 finally tire of this process and make a wide circle back up-stream. 



The Sandhill Crane was seen only a few times, and not at close range. 

 These birds seem to be associated with the drift sand, and not especially 

 with the bars near the river. 



The American Coot, although common in the lakes and bayous near the 

 river, was not often seen in the river itself. Ducks were seen on only two 

 occasions, and, from specimens we secured, proved to be the Green-winged 

 Teal. The Belted Kingfisher, while rather common along the banks of the 

 tributary streams, appeared only at rare intervals over the master stream. 



The most abundant bird, in number of individuals, on the sand-bars 

 was the Turkey Vulture. These large birds sometimes appeared in great 

 flocks of fifty to a hundred, basking in the hot sun on the river bars. As far 

 as I could make out, they frequented the bars as a loafing-place, and not to 

 seek food. In the upper half of our course, the Vultures always appeared 

 when we were in the near vicinity of high bluffs; in the lower course, they 

 were frequently found roosting in the tall dead trees near the river bank. Below 

 Dennison, the Black Vulture was often found associated with the Turkey 

 Vulture. These birds are ver}^ tame, allowing one to approach as near as twenty 

 yards before taking flight. The Black Vulture, especially, has the habit of 

 standing with outstretched wings for some moments before taking flight, 

 and seems to find no little advantage in a short run and spring before leaving 

 the ground. 



The common song-birds were seldom seen near the river. Various Hawks, 

 Road-runners and Woodpeckers were frequently seen, but these were not 

 associated with the birds of the river sand-bars. The Rough-winged Swallow 

 may be mentioned as a bird, not belonging to the group under consideration, 

 that was at times quite common, skimming after our boats and perching in 

 great numbers on the cable wires of the ferry-boats. In this group the Purple 

 Martin was also abundant at times. On the whole, however, the avifauna 

 of the river zone is a distinct one, keeping to its rather narrow belt and mov- 

 ing up- and down-stream, having little in common with its prairie and forest 

 neighbors. 



