50 THE LOON. 



They were moving before a storm; the^ next day we 

 had a norther that cleared the woods and prairies of most 

 migratory species, and I did not see Blackbirds again 

 until Feb. 15th., when they begun their northward jour- 

 ney, going over first by ones and twos then gradually in- 

 creasing in numbers till they came by hundreds, and 

 dwindling down again to scudding flocks of less than a 

 dozen. Yesterday (May 6th.) there were still some of 

 the Iiusties passing through. 



^f In watching the migration of birds from year to 

 year, every observer must have been struck like myself 

 by the alternately increasing and decreasing numbers of 

 certain of our common kinds as from season to season 

 they pass through his district. 



Take for instance, the Robin, the Bobolink and the 

 Dove (Carolina). In the spring of 1884 the Carolina 

 Doves went through here in enormous numbers; swoop- 

 ing down in great Hocks to fall a prey by hundreds to 

 the gunners. No succeeding spring has seen such an in- 

 flux of these birds. 



In 1885 the Robins swarmed through on their way 

 north until one was fain to believe they were quartined 

 on all other routes. This year they have come over in 

 comparatively small numbers and passed through quick- 

 ly. As for the Bobolinks, there has been a steady de- 

 crease for years in their numbers until now they pass 



