The Season 



351 



observers on August 26, 28, 29, in the vicinity 

 of the same Alexander Island. Unfortunately, 

 it was impossible, notwithstanding special 

 efforts, to collect the bird, but there is no 

 doubt whatever of its proper identification. 

 In view of the recent probable occurrence of 

 the species on the coast of Virginia, this Dis- 

 trict of Columbia record is particularly 

 interesting. 



As in several seasons past, the Purple 

 Martins again this summer gathered into a 

 roost in the city of Washington. This year 

 the roost was located on New Jersey Avenue 

 near L Street, and in the trees over this 

 avenue, along which runs a double electric 

 street-car track, they were present during 

 the whole of July, all of August, and up 

 at least until September 17, which is con- 

 siderably later than the average date (August 

 31) of departure of the species in this vicinity. 

 This year's roost was occupied by a very 

 large number of birds, larger than has ever 

 been observed before, some estimates ranging 

 as high as 50,000, and was, as always, one of 

 the interesting ornithological sights of the 

 summer in Washington. — Haioiy C. Ober- 

 HOLSER, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. 



Oberlin (Ohio) Region. — The fall migra- 

 tion started rather early this year. The first 

 flight of Nighthawks, which generally opens 

 the migration, came on August 15. They 

 were seen practically every day after that 

 until September 7. The largest flight came 

 on August 29, a cold, drizzly day. 



The weather during the latter part of 

 August was much cooler than during the 

 middle of the month, so that the first mi- 

 grants came straggling in during the last two 

 weeks. The Black and White Warbler was 

 seen on the 24th, the Black-throated Blue, 

 Magnolia, Blackpoll, and Blackburnian 

 Warblers were here by the 27th, and the 

 Cape May by the 31st. 



During the first week of September the 

 weather turned warm, so that very few 

 Warblers or migrants could be found in the 

 woods. On September 4, Wilson Snipe and a 

 Virginia Rail were found in the marshes. This 

 date was the last for the Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and 

 Indigo Bunting. A Mourning Warbler was 



found on the 7th and a Least Flycatcher on 

 the loth. 



The migration quickened with the cooler 

 weather of the second week in September. 

 Pied-billed Grebes were here by the 15th. 

 The 1 6th marks the last date for the Red- 

 eyed Vireo and Kingbird, and the 17th for 

 the Northern Yellowthroat and Semipal- 

 mated Plover. New arrivals on the 17th were 

 Bay-breasted and Tennessee Warblers, and 

 Ruby-crowned ICinglet. 



The rest of September and the first six days 

 of October were warm, with no rain at all, so 

 that the woods contained only a few sulky 

 birds and the migration progressed but 

 slowly. A single Myrtle Warbler was seen 

 on September 18. On the 24th, Juncos, Her- 

 mit Thrushes, and Black-throated Green 

 Warblers were noted. It was also the last 

 date for the Water Thrush. The 30th was the 

 last date for the Black-billed Cuckoo. Octo- 

 ber I saw the arrival of Winter Wrens and 

 White-throated Sparrows and the departing 

 of Least Flycatchers and Wood Pewees. 



From October 6 until the present (15th) the 

 weather has been generally cool with a few 

 light frosts and some rain. Many of the trees 

 have shed practically all their leaves, making 

 observation easier. On the 8th there was a 

 marked increase in the numbers of almost 

 every species. White-throated Sparrows 

 seemed to be everywhere, while the Myrtles, 

 Kinglets, Winter Wrens, and Towhees were 

 quite common. Golden-crowned Kinglets 

 and Brown Creepers were seen for the first 

 time, while the Spotted Sandpiper, Wood 

 Thrush, Redstart, and Ovenbird were seen 

 for the last. 



A flock of Wood Ducks was found in the 

 marshes at Oak Point on the 9th and two 

 Mallards were also found flying over the 

 marshes near Vermilion on the same date. 

 Thus far these have been the only reports of 

 Duck migrants this fall, and as none were 

 seen on the 15 th when a hike was taken to the 

 marshes near Cedar Point, we have reason to 

 believe they have not yet come south. 



The Magnolia Warbler, which has been the 

 most numerous of the Warblers this fall, was 

 still with us on October 12, as was also the 

 Veery, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blue-headed 

 Vireo; and Fox Sparrow, a new arrival. 



