Autumn Birds in Alcona County^ Michigan. 11 



the topographical features of the country covered by our 

 ornithological observations and is deemed advisable as a key 

 to the localities mentioned in the appended list and because 

 of its being in a stage of transformation. 



We arrived at the village of Lincoln on the evening of Oc- 

 tober o, 1912, and remained there until the 13th of November, 

 with the exception of one week beginning October 13, which 

 was spent at Hubbard lake. Bird study was not the object 

 of our trip, but it developed that we were able to devcte a 

 portion of each day to that purpose and in consequence the 

 following list presents a fairly accurate estimate of avian 

 conditions during the period of our stay. Comparing with 

 any section of southeastern Michigan we find Alcona County 

 deficient both in the number of species and individuals and 

 also in the flora, but it is doubtless the richer in the mamma- 

 lia. Without hunting for them we saw Chipmunk, Red Squir- 

 rel, Northern Hare, Badger and Porcupine, while Virginia 

 Deer and one Black Bear were shot and brought to Lincoln. 

 The bear was taken in Mitchell Township, about fifteen miles 

 west of Lincoln, and during the season about twenty deer 

 were taken within that distance from the village. The ab- 

 sence of Siskins and Red-polls and scarcity of diurnal raptores 

 were certainly surprises. A Buteo and Accipiter were seen in 

 the swamp east of the village on October 10, a Buteo while 

 driving to Hubbard lake on October 13, and another at the 

 lake on the 16th. These five hawks were apparently the last 

 of the autumn migration, but down in Wayne county the 

 southward movement is not entirely concluded until Decem- 

 ber, and a few remain throughout the winter ; this, of course, 

 refers to those species that winter mainly south of ^Michigan. 

 In Alcona County there is doubtless a definite route of mi- 

 gration near the shore of Lake Huron, and with access to 

 this section we probably could have added a few species to 

 our list. Over the territory we visited there was a general 

 southward movement, while Pipits and Horned Larks were 

 seen passing south over the dwelling section of Lincoln only 

 and there was a westerly movement through the second 



