Field Notes . 351 



House Wren arrived on their niicMle dates. Fourteen of the earlier 

 comers were from one to ten days behind the average dates for 

 their first appearance. Of these the Sparrow Hawk was one day 

 late, the Meadowlark and Mourning Dove were two days, and the 

 Robin, Red-winged Blackbird and Flicker were three days late. On 

 the other hand the warm weather of April pushed vegetation for- 

 ward a week in advance of its normal growth and hastened the 

 appearance of some of the birds from one to six days earlier tliau 

 their average dates. The Brown Thrasher was one day, the Chip- 

 ping Sparrow and Chimney Swift were two days, the Bobolink four 

 days, and the Red-headed Woodpecker, Baltimore Oriole and Warb- 

 ling Vireo were six days ahead of their median dates. To the cold 

 weather that marked the month of May was due, very likely, the 

 slight delay in the appearance of the Maryland Yellowthroat and 

 Catbird. The middle date for l>oth is May 10, but they were not 

 seen until the following day. 



It would :be a pleasure to announce that our summer residents 

 returned with undiminished ranks, but that was not the case. Tiie 

 greatest losses appear to have occurred in the Icteridae family. In 

 this neighborhood Meadowlarks and Red-winged Blackbirds have 

 far outnumbered other species, being more numerous here than in 

 adjacent territory. They are now by no means scarce, but their 

 numbers are greatly reduced without the reason for this diminution 

 being clear. The same cannot be said of the Bobolink, which from 

 an abundant species has become wholly wanting at present. If 

 pleasant weather should ever come again it may bring out a few 

 Bobolinks, which have sought sheltered places along with other mii^s- 

 ing species. 



In this day of vanishing species it may seem absurd to say tliat 

 of any there are too many. This expression refers to the viewpoint 

 of the birds, not that of their human friends. There seems to be 

 the possibility of making a place too attractive, and that by the 

 increasing of the numbers of some species they become intolerable 

 to their bird neighbors because of their warring on other's rights. 

 In this year of almost world-wide warfare it is depressing to have 

 one's mind constantly disturbed by the fighting of tlie birds. Their 

 atrocities are authentic; even two Mourning Doves were seen fight- 

 ing one day. The whole history of the causes of these forages and 

 the bushwhacking of the birds may never be told, but it would 

 make a ponderous volume if written. To-day (May 28) a Robin is 

 building her third nest, her eggs in two nests having been destroyed 

 by some bird, perhaps by House Wrens or Bronzed Grackles, which 

 seem to be the worst egg-despoilers in our yard. It is not for the 

 sake of food always, for frequently the shells are merely pierced. 



