DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 35 



And now let us consider some of the most interesting points 

 in the case ; i. e. the cause of such an appalling destruction. 

 Following an unusual cool period of weather for the month of 

 May, on the 2l8t considerable moderation took place, and 

 about 10 p. m. rain began falling. Prior to the rain quite a 

 heavy mist hung about the city, but was later cleared away by 

 the falling rain. By midnight and in the early morning hours^ 

 the rain had turned to a thunderstorm with a terrific downpour,, 

 which continued well into the morning. Various data were 

 collected regarding weather conditions and the facts seem ta 

 indicate, that in the vicinity of Philadelphia prior to the storm 

 quite a heavy mist or even fog prevailed; but as above stated, 

 was later cleared away by the falling rain. Employees at the 

 City Hall, between 11 p. m. and midnight, report having heard 

 great quantities of birds passing over, continually chirping. 

 "A heavy rain", they said, "was falling all the time, but 

 neither wind nor fog was in evidence." 



Although many of the birds became exhausted from contin- 

 uous fluttering about the lights and later succumbed to expos- 

 ure, the greater number of the hundreds of lives lost were 

 caused by coming in contact with hard structures, as the 

 fractured limbs, bruised bodies, indented and blood-clotted 

 skulls proved, when examinations were made after skinning the 

 specimens. 



As shown by the above list, Maryland Yellow-throats suffered 

 the greatest mortality. The one hundred and thirty specimens 

 of this species gathered does not in the slightest represent the 

 probable hundreds of individuals that lost their lives. Dead 

 Yellow-throats lay on every roof and ledge visible, while this- 

 species occurred in the greatest numbers flying up and down 

 the areaways. Some ten days later individuals (females) of 

 this species were still seen flitting about the courtyard. 



Next to the Yellow-throat the Parula Warbler was found in- 

 the greatest abundance, and this beautiful species doubtless 

 also suffered appalling destruction. Of the Myrtle Warblers 

 not a single specimen was found, although the species was at 

 the time quite common throughout the country. This seems^ 

 of rather special interest. 



