THE OOLOGIST. 



71 



A Novice's Note-Book, No. 3. 



Virden, 111., September 29, 1881. 

 ^ighthawks still continue to appear 

 toward evening. 



Wild pigeons began to appear yester- 

 day morning, which was cloudy and 

 foggy. The cloudy weather continues 

 today. Today the pigeons began to 

 fly over the timber about daylight, in 

 flocks of 30 to 100, and the flight did 

 not cease until between eight and nine 

 a. m., when the sun came out very 

 bright. Very few of the birds settled 

 in the timber, and all flew toward the 

 west. 



Two Thrushes, taken for Wood 

 Thrushes, were seen yesterday south 

 of town. One of them was in a small 

 maple grove, and the other was in a 

 hedge, on the ground. This reminds 

 me that I found several of these 

 Thrushes nesting this season in a hazel 

 patch, but supposed they were Brown 

 Thrashers and thought no more about 

 them. I did not suppose that the 

 Wood Thrush was found around here. 



Hawks are very common in the tim- 

 ber now. I suppose they are following 

 the Pigeons. They are more common 

 than I ever saw them before. 



Also saw a Kingfisher along the 

 creek. 



Oct. 5. Pigeons were flying south all 

 day yesterday in large flocks, some 

 having between two and three hun- 

 dred. Hawks still very abundant 

 about the timber. 



Oct. 14. A chilly, rainy day. Large 

 flocks of ducks flying southward. 



Oct. 15. Shot a Green Heron on 

 Sugar Creek. 



Oct. 17. Ducks and Geese are pass- 

 ing over, going southward. 



Remark: My records for 1881 end 

 with the foregoing note. Like many 

 present-day observers, my boyish 

 records opened with the spring migra- 

 tion, continued intermittently through 

 the nesting season, and ended abruptly 



with the end of the fall migration. 

 However, we learn by experience, and 

 in due time my winter notes began to 

 show evidence of all-the-year observa- 

 tions. P. M. S. 



Jan. 16, 1882. Cold and snowy. 

 Saw a Downy Woodpecker flying about 

 in the garden. Also noted the Black 

 Snowbird (Junco Eyemalis. ) 



Jan. 27. Cedar Birds have appeared 

 in small flocks of eight to ten. Also an 

 occasional Redbird or Cardinal noted. 



Saw two Doves, which were sitting in 

 the corner of a rail fence in a corn-field. 

 They were evidently trying to winter 

 here. Saw a Rain-Crow yesterday in a 

 tree in town. (After a maturer judg- 

 ment based upon twenty years addi- 

 tional observation, I cannot vouch for 

 the note regarding the Rain Crow, or 

 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, at Virden, 111., 

 in mid-winter, yet at that time I was 

 most certainly familiar with this Cuck- 

 oo. At this period I have no idea what 

 observation prompted the note. P M 

 S.) 



Jan. 27. Went out to a slaughter- 

 house intending to get a Crow to stuff, 

 (to practice on rather. ) As I was re- 

 turning home several Crows flew over 

 me, and I shot at one, bringing it down. 



The others began to "caw" and fly 

 around, one or two flying at me as if to 

 attack me. Their outcry brought 

 about twenty Crows to the scene, all 

 making a great outcry. I walked 

 away to a distance, leaving the wouded 

 Crow, and tnen turned to watch them. 

 Presently they all alighted near the 

 fallen Crow, and appeared to be hold- 

 ing an inquest. What the verdict was 

 I do not know, but in a few minutes 

 the Crows arose, and in a short time 

 not one was to be seen. 



Feb- 4. Saw a Yellow Hammer {Fltch:- 

 er) in the timber. 



Feb. 5. Warm and bright. Heard 

 two Redbirds singing. Cedar Birds are 

 flying about; their only note, so far as I 

 have heard, is a sort of lisping chirp. 



