390 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 90 



November, 1907, it required several years to become thoroughly 

 established before it penetrated inland. On January 5, 1911, a 

 flock was reported ,in the Chester valley, between Berwyn and Valley 

 Forge, feeding in the meadows with the Crows ; by February 2 large 

 scattered flocks of from 50 to 150 birds appeared and a male was 

 secured for identification and I value it highly as probably the first 

 captu,re in Chester county. During the following spring the birds 

 dispersed through the valley, nesting as far west as Bacton to my 

 knowledge. Chester valley, for its entire length of thirty miles, is 

 enclosed by wooded hills of no considerable height ; nevertheless, 

 since this bird appears to be more of a lover of the open country, 

 it presented a sufficient barrier to prevent an immediate invasion; 

 and the Wayne, Devon, Berwyn and Paoli contingent arrived with 

 the Grackles via the Darby creek route in 1912, and a year later 

 had become perfect pests to some of the suburban residents. 



The few Starlings that eventually penetrated the valley hills 

 north of Berwyn, came up the branches of Trout run ■ and estab- 

 lished , theuiselves at the heads of the ravines in 1913 and 1914 ; 

 and when I first heard the throaty, chattering song attempts of a 

 male in the shrubbery of my home, I knew that our local subju- 

 gation had been accomplished, since the advance from different 

 quarters were about to be reunited. 



Since the Starling appears to travel during the colder months, 

 following the lines of least resistance, it is likely to penetrate far 

 into the South under the guidance of allied species long before it 

 invades the West. Its advance westward will doubtless be slow 

 until the tributaries of the JMississippi are reached, when it is 

 apt to be rapid, especially in the more open country. 



Berwyn, Pa. Frank L. Burns. 



WHITE I'ELICANS KILLED AT SIOUX CITY, IOWA. 



A flock of White Pelicans of considerable numbers Avas observed 

 in the vicinity of McCook lake, in South Dakota, near Sioux City, 

 and of Crystal lake, in Nebraska, during the latter part of Sep- 

 tember, 1914. Tlie Hock was first reported on Septend)er IS by 

 Mr. F. T. Crum, an employe of the Sioux City Journal, who, while 

 fishing at the mouth of the Big Sioux river on that date, observed 

 the birds in flight. They had been ouva sandbar in the Missouri 

 river near the mouth of the Big Sioux. He estimated their num- 

 ber at about 200. A flock of about this size was observed by sev- 

 eral persons in the same general locality over a period of a week 

 or more. 



Tlie Emerson (Nebraska) Enterprise of Septendier 24. 1914. pub- 

 lished the following : 



