90 



THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGIST. 



lectitig^ world, having been an 

 enthusiastic collector of and dealer 

 in Natural History specimens for 

 the past 15 years. Mr. Bartlett 

 is editor and publisher of the 

 Farnurs Montlily a successful agri- 

 cultural journal, of large circula- 

 tion and influence. 



W. W. Searles, Lime Springs, 

 Iowa, writes; While fishing the 

 other day I saw a fine specimen of 

 the Swallow-tail Kite but he did 

 not come in range of my shot gun 

 but just far enough away to b2 

 healthy for him. It is the first I 

 have seen in uhis locality for four 

 years. Five years ago I shot a 

 fine specimen and mounted it. In 

 May the spring of '88 for three 

 days they were very abundant, but 

 this was the first time I observed 

 them, since then; however they 

 have been very rare only seen 3 

 specimens since that date. Two 

 years ago an Albino Robin built 

 its nest just about four rods from 

 my gallery door and within 10 ft. 

 from passers on the side walk, 

 thought I would not disturb him 

 and see if the young would be the 

 same but I moved my gallery and* 

 was not able to watch them; he 

 was not all white but marked like 

 the Belted King-fisher. He 

 left us as misteriously as he came. 

 I looked for him back the next 

 spring, but he did'nt come back. 



BIRD MIGRATION. 



1894 — '95 COMPARED. 



In studying bird migration this 

 spring in this County (Jackson), 

 as compared with last season, 

 two remarkable features present 

 themselves; first the lateness of 

 the arrival of the early migrants, 

 except Ducks; and second the 

 scarcity of some of our common 

 species. I find that migration 

 commenced about twenty days 

 later in 1895 than in 1894. but 

 afterward gradually caught up 

 and the latter part of the season 

 was in advance. The arrival of 

 species the last few days of April 

 were about the same both years. 



I give the dates of the arrival, 

 of a few of our common species, for 

 each year, this will show the com- 

 parison at a glance. 



1894 1895 



Flicker, March 2, March 29 



Bluebird. "3 " 21 



Robin, " 4 " 21 



Meadow Lark, " 5 '' 21 

 Red-vvinged 



Blackbird, "6 " 22 



Chewink, " 8 April 5 



Song Sparrow, '• 9 March 31 



Fox Sparrow, "13 " 29 



Pewee, "17 " 29 



Chipping Sparrow" 18 April 5 



Vesper Sparrow, "22 " 1 



Field Sparrow, "23 " 3 



Purple Martin. April 7 " 4 

 Yellow-bellied 



Sapsucker, "13 " 14 



