THE SEMI-ANNUAL. 9 



It was the original intention of the Committee to group the 

 topics to be considered under six heads : Topography, Climatic 

 Conditions, Nesting, Eggs in Set, Coloration, Measurements. In 

 working over the notes the main topics have been reduced to 

 three : Topography, Climatic Conditions, Nesting ; all others 

 being reduced to sub-topics under Nesting for greater clearness. 

 Other sub-topics have been introduced as necessity gave occasion. 



It has not seemed best, nor hardly possible, to group the 

 ditlerent species together, but instead the observers have been 

 grouped under " Nesting." I trust they will not feel in the 

 least slighted ! 



Let us now turn to the systematic report. 



TOPOGRAPHY. 



Berwyn, Chester Co., Pa. 

 A succession of hills and narrow valleys ; covered In part with 

 timber of a mixed growth, chestnut predominating ; all land not 

 wooded is under cultivation. Well watered by small streams. 



Frakk L. Bukns. 



Perrineville, N. J. 

 Alternate hills an J valleys ; valleys covered with a thick growth 

 of small bushes ; hills with woods of oak, chestnut and pine. 

 Cultivated portions contiiln large orchards of pear, apple and 



peach. 



Chas. a. Ely. 



Wauvvatosa, Milwaukee Co., Wis. 

 Hilly and rolling, especially along streams. Many strea'ms, 

 swamps and small lakes. Timber : maple, oak, hickory, willow, 

 elm, ash,^beech, tamarack and others. Wild land, 4 per ct. ; pas- 

 ture, 5 per ct. ; proportion to cleared, 10 per ct. Thorn trees 

 and bushes in abundance along streams. Nesting sites: grass- 

 land. 50 per ct. ; cultivated, 35 per ct. ; timbered, 10 per ct. ; or- 

 chards, 5 per ct. Rkuuen M. Stuong. 



Grinnell, E. Jasper, W, Poweshiek Cos., Iowa. 

 Primarily rolling prairie, sparsely timbered along the streams 

 with hard woods and lindens, poplars, cottonwoods and a few 

 maples, with under brush in abundance. Many isolated patches 



