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THE OOLOGIST. 



Devoted to Birds and Birds' Egffs 



SECOND PUBLICATION YEAR. 



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THE OOLOGIST, Utica, N. Y. 



APRIL, 187G. 



THE ABUNDANCE OR SCARCITY 

 OF BREEDING BIRDS. 



/^NE of tlie special objects concerning 

 ^^the study of birds is that above refei*- 

 red to. It admits a very wide range of 

 observation, and requires a large amount 

 of research to render standard. Thougli 

 we have given considerable time to the sub- 

 ject, we will not pretend to expound in a 



very lengthy manner, as both our space 

 and Jcnoivledge are limited. 



Some years will bring into a section 

 myriads, one might say, of all species com- 

 mon to t'lat district ; others Avill usher in 

 only a straggling few. What are the causes 

 or governing influences of this great re- 

 verse ? AVhat motive impels resident birds 

 to often forsake the territory they have for 

 perhaps years inhabited? It is a question 

 apparently simple to answer. Undoubtedly 

 the variation of vegetable productions as to 

 abundant or, deficient growth control tlie 

 numbers of seed-eating and fruit-eating 

 birds ; the tempera tui-e our smaller insect- 

 ivorous birds. Districts frequented by nu- 

 merous sportsmen, are of course depopulated 

 of its game inhabitants to a greater or less 

 degree, but as a special topic this forms an 

 item of a diiferent nature. In 1870 a vast 

 multitude of birds of all species inhabiting 

 the Middle States, flooded through New 

 Jersey and New York, and large numbers 

 of nests were reported throughout this lo- 

 cality. This abundance in a great degree 

 increased the numbers of our resident birds, 

 as in the majority of cases the result of the 

 season was two broods, and birds apparent- 

 ly rare were encountered in large numbers. 

 In the season there Avas nothing nnusiial ; 

 neither in variance of vegetable or animal 

 productions ; and this influx corresponded 

 seemingly to a great scarcity prevalent in 

 other districts. Whether this is a grand 

 periodical shift of abundiiuce or a mere com- 

 monplace dispersion, remains to be proved. 

 Doubtless the advance or retard of spring 

 has a marked efi^ect in this case, as in tlie 

 latter instance, birds breeding far north are 

 restricted to more southern grounds and 

 those still south are yet further restrained. 

 Thus some years will find our Hudson's 

 Bay and Labrador birds breeding in New 

 York and the New England States. Not 

 many years ago, the season being later than 

 usual, we became cognizant of the fact that 

 quite an abundatice of the Great Gray Owl, 

 Spruce Grouse aud White Ptarmigan was 

 prevalent throughout Canada and the up- 

 per parts of the United States. To some 



