54 



Bird - Lore 



more numerous than usual in winter. Six 

 Mourning Doves have remained in a corn- 

 field. They are pretty certain to remain 

 all winter. — Lynds Jones, Oberlin, Ohio. 



Kansas City Region. — The first stormy 

 period of the season, which occurred on 

 October 25 and 26, had been preceded by 

 the. usual migratory drifting of the more 

 common species, marked by somewhat un- 

 usual numbers of Savannah Sparrows, 

 Purple Finches, and Song Sparrows, and 

 an altogether unprecedented scarcity of 

 Harris's and Tree Sparrows. An up-river 

 correspondent states that on October 10 

 a flock of Sandhill Cranes, numbering 

 twenty-seven birds, was seen on an island 

 in the Missouri River, and on October 14 

 a freshly killed specimen of the Wood- 

 cock was examined. This region lies prac- 

 tically outside the range of this bird, as 

 the available records and traditions of its 

 occurrence here, covering a period of sev- 

 eral decades, indicate that it is merely a 

 straggler up the Missouri valley, though 

 common enough in the eastern part of 

 Missouri during migration, and fairly 

 abundant in the sunken regions in winter. 



The first movement of water-fowl on 

 the Missouri River occurred on October 

 25, when great numbers of Coots, together 

 with scattered small flocks of Blue- 

 winged Teal, Shovellers, and Lesser Scaup, 

 and a few Mallards, with one Redhead, 

 were seen. Canada Geese in some num- 

 bers were heard migrating during the 

 nights of October 24 and 25, though none 

 were seen on the river. These wise birds 

 have long ago learned to avoid the centers 

 of population in the Missouri valley, 

 where their enemies are numerous and 

 murderous. 



The next stormy period, during the 

 third week in November, brought the 

 Ducks in in greater numbers. During this 

 flight a specimen of the Barrow's Golden- 

 eye was taken, this being the third recorded 

 specimen from this region. R. P. Holland, 

 who handled and photographed this Duck, 

 saw a flock of three Whistling Swans on 

 the Missouri River near the Iowa line on 

 November 9. This observer states that 



the BufBehead has been seen in numbers 

 this year. This little Duck, like the Ruddy, 

 is very irregular in the Missouri Valley. 



On November 17 and 24 swarms of mi- 

 grating Sparrows of several species were 

 found in the weed patches and willow 

 thickets of the bottom-lands. The mild- 

 ness of the season probably accounts for 

 the unusual numbers, as under normal 

 weather conditions the bulk of these birds 

 are south of here at this time. 



The expected hordes of wintering Red- 

 winged Blackbirds seem to have chosen 

 other fields this year, or have not yet ap- 

 peared, as they are scarce and wild. 



On December i a lone Bluebird was 

 seen, as well as a small troop of three 

 Meadowlarks. — Harry Harris, Kansas 

 City, Mo. 



Denver Region. — The one standing 

 interest in bird-life is the constant possi- 

 bility of surprises. On November 22, dur- 

 ing a 'cold snap,' while on my way to 

 breakfast at the U.S.A. General Hospital, 

 I was delighted, yet amazed, to see a single 

 Bohemian Waxwing. This is the first time 

 I have known this species to visit Denver 

 during two succeeding winters; since see- 

 ing the first one, a small flock has lingered 

 about the hospital grounds, having been 

 noted on November 26, 29, and 30, and 

 December 4. 



Gambel's Sparrows stayed here until 

 October 28, and the Tree Sparrow, too, 

 has been unusually common all fall. One 

 might forecast an early and severe winter 

 from the early arrival of the Tree Sparrow 

 and the presence of the Waxwings, yet the 

 season, so far, has been very mild, clear, 

 and almost cloudless. Robins, Meadow- 

 larks and Red-winged Blackbirds are still 

 with us, and it is a treat to hear an occa- 

 sional Meadowlark song. 



The Great Northern Butcher-bird has 

 visited the hospital grounds this fall at 

 least three times, to wit: on November 12 

 and 17, and December 7. I imagine it 

 takes pretty heavy toll from the Tree 

 Sparrows and Juncos, the latter being here 

 in their usual winter abundance and va- 

 riety. — W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Colo. 



