186 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST. 
'89. Hornaday, W. T.—The Extermination of the Amer- 
ican Bison. Rep't. U. S. National Museum for 1887, pp. 369- 
Lugger, Otto.—Hemiptera of Im Report of 
the State Entomologist of jare wee for 1900 
'02. Roosevelt, Theodore (and others) — The Deer Family. 
'86. Scudder, S. H.— Butterflies of New England. 
Our Birds in August and September. 
BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 
The autumn migration of certain species among the birds 
presents some inexplicable facts to the writer. He is unable 
to ascertain why the Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird and Pur- 
ple Grackle should leave even before the end of summer. They, 
other curious thing is the total absence of the Spotted 'Sand- 
piper from his summer haunts along the shores of lakes be- 
fore he really migrates south. I have found this species near 
rivers long after leaving the lakes 
ertain species are absent from this locality for a consider- 
able Med and then reappear—some seldom and others often. 
Among the former are the Redstart, Phoebe, Nighthawk and 
Chickadee; among the latter is the Towhee. The writer is 
equally unable to account for the strange movements of these 
species. 
As the season of migration advances, the various species 
that were abundant during summer begin to appear irregular- 
ly. This fact leads the writer to surmise that most of the 
specie s migrate gradually and in small numbers, leaving gaps 
in their distribution. Even those that migrate in large flocks 
do not disappear altogether. Individuals m may be seen here 
and there for several days after the main body has departed. 
irds seen every day: 
e p Sparrow Chipping Sparrow 
pd not seen on any day: 
Crested Flycatcher Scarlet Tanager 
Dickcissel Yellow Warbler 
se-breasted Grosbeak Whip-poor-wil 
| Ph Nighthawk 
white 
