226 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



SPRING OBSERVATIONS, 



(Mayfield, Ky.) 



Having had occasion to spend about one week recently, beginning- 

 with April 27th, in traveling over my county (Graves), during which 

 time I traversed at least 100 rniles, and being an ardent lover of birds, 

 I made some observations that I thought might possibly be of some 

 interest to your readers. I will state that my business was of such 

 a nature as to admit of my giving close attention, which I did. 



In the first place, I observe that our people have almost quit pre- 

 paring boxes for the martins and none for blue birds. This is due, I 

 think, to the encroachments of the English Sparrow. I saw two or 

 three boxes. 



I was delighted to see a goodly number of Scarlet and Summer Tan- 

 agers and Cardinal Grosbeaks. It amazes me to see people pass right 

 beneath a tree in which one of these beauties sits and sings his sweet 

 song, without even taking notice of its presence or song. 



Baltimore Oriole very rare. Observed one only. At least one 

 Orchard Oriole at most every farm house where there were any trees. 



At 8 o'clock one night I stood in the middle of an open field, in a 

 thinly settled locality, when most all nature seemed asleep, and listen- 

 ed with much pleasure to the distant threat: "Whip-poor-will," which 

 was the first time in years. It certainly brought vividly before my 

 mind many recollections of my boyhood. The superstition of my 

 companion concerning this bird surprised me. He is more than 60 

 years of age and a good business man. When I called his attention 

 to its notes, he seemed very serious for a moment, then related to me 

 that once this bird alighted in his yard and sang for quite a while one 

 night and that his wife died within a few days. And that later in life 

 another came to his home one night and sang about the door against 

 his vigorous protests, and that his little boy, then in perfect health, 

 took sick within a few days and died, and that a visit from this bird 

 was an unfailing sign of some great calamity to the home visited. 



Kingbirds, blue jays, sparrows, wrens, bluebirds, Kentucky Warblers, 

 Tomtits, Chickadees and Catbirds appeared to be fairly plentiful. 



Robins, doves, flickers, meadowlarks, swallows and woodpeckers 

 seemed rather scarce. Blackbirds plentiful. 



Our "sportsmen" are killing all the doves under the existing law in 

 this state which declares them to be "game birds." This law should 

 be repealed and they should by all means be protected all the time as 

 they are decidedly one of our most valuable birds to the farmer and 

 are too small to eat. c. w. Wilson. 



