THE OOLOGIST. 



31 



life) might seem to make ttiis the best 

 plan to follow. But as Kipling says, 

 "that is another story." 



So let us consider those points about 

 this locality where our interest most 

 lies and which furnish the greatest at- 

 tractions for our friends, the birds. 



Probably in Massachusetts there is 

 no locality containing such a variety of 

 topography and fauna. Hills, valleys, 

 broad expanse of meadows a ad marsh; 

 thickly wooded tracts and barren de- 

 serted sand hills; stretches of gravelly 

 and sandy beach; extensive swamps of 

 cedar, choked in many places with im- 

 passable thickets of briar|and ivy,andin 

 others, open and easily traversed. Ponds, 

 great and small, scattered here and 

 there over the face of the country, at 

 times spreading a broad expanse near 

 the sea, and sending its waters through 

 the narrow stream which serves as its 

 outlet, to join those of its greater broth- 

 er; at others resting liks a mirrow be- 

 tween some tall and frowning hills, and 

 seeming from its situation to be espec- 

 ially placed by an all-wise power for 

 the benefit and use of the creatures of 

 the field and wood. 



Coupled with the topographical mix- 

 ture, the greatest variety of trees, shrubs 

 and other forms of plant life are met 

 with in agreeable profusion and confus- 

 ion, and while space will not permit us 

 to go into detail here, we will endeavor 

 to speak of the various forms while giv- 

 ing a short "resume" of the birds met 

 with in this locality during a two weeks' 

 stay, (July 16th to Aug. 1, 1901) during 

 which time were in intimate touch with 

 nature. 



Probably the first birds to attract the 

 attention of a visitor at Woods Hole and 

 vicinity, are the Terns or so called 

 "Mackeral Gulls." Flying about in 

 every direction, occasionally making 

 trips overland from "the Sound" to 

 "the Bay" shore, or to some island,lake 

 or lagoon, and giving voice at frequent 

 interval to their harsh, grating, scream, 



they naturally arouse the curiosity and 

 interest of any one whether bird student 

 or not. 



But it is of the land birds that we 

 wish first to speak, and as before stated, 

 owing to the very varied character of 

 the country, there is no lack of variety 

 among the feathered inhabitants. 



Perhaps it may be well to mention 

 briefly the bird life as a whole, and then 

 give a few notes on each species as we 

 found it during the two weeks' stay 

 mentioned above. 



The native of Wood's Hole if asked 

 what birds were found in his vicinity 

 would undoubtedly reply "Crow, King- 

 fisher, Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Catbird, 

 Woodpecker, Blackbird, Swallow and 

 those little birds with lots of green on 

 them," meaning by the latter the Vireos 

 and Warblers. He would be correct as 

 far as he went, for all these are common 

 and easy to observe. 



The Robins and Catbirds were partic- 

 ularly numerous this year, exceeding in. 

 numbers that for the past ten years, ac- 

 cording to oui notes. 



A ramble through the woods reveals 

 several of the Warblers and the Red- 

 eyed Vireos in plenty, while in the low 

 underbrush the Towhee flits about, often 

 coming close to the intruder, curiosity 

 overcoming whatever sense of fear or 

 better judgement he may have. 



An occasional Cuckoo startles us with 

 his loud note, while deep in some tan- 

 gled thicket we may get a glimpse of a 

 departing Brown Thrasher. 



Now and then the loud cry of a Jay 

 or the peculiar note of the Flicker wings 

 through the woods. 



Crows hold their meetings in various 

 portions of the forests, all speaking at 

 once and each one apparently endeav- 

 oring to make his voice heard above all 

 the rest. 



Along the stone walls and in the open 

 fields, the Song and Chipping Sparrows 

 have it all their own way, save when 

 they are driven to shelter by the un- 



