60 The Wilson Bulletin. 



'99— '00 — and spent parts of four spring seasons beside. It 

 was during the latest residence of a year, '99—00, that the 

 best opportunities for observation were afforded. It was 

 here upon our "Five Acres of Bird-land," reported in THE 

 WILSON BULLETIN, No. 32, that I recorded 63 species of 

 birds in the nine months of a year, exclusive of spring. This 

 little spot,with its singularly varied topography, is referred to 

 in the following notes, for lack of a more comprehensive 

 name, as "the demesne." From here, also, I was enabled 

 to make frequent trips and sallies, sometimes to the "South 

 Range" of hills, sometimes to the timbered mountains, and 

 once to the narrow paradise of the Lower Yakima. 



On the whole, birds are not abundant in the Yakima coun- 

 try, either in number of species or individuals. The best 

 strictly local horizon for a day comprised only 35 species; 

 while the best county horizon, taken on a trip from Ah- 

 tanum to the Yakima Soda Springs, included but 50 species. 

 The migrations are not very conspicuous. The resident 

 birds slip into their places rather quietly; while birds known 

 to be common further north are seldom seen as they move 

 to and fro. 



Of especial note, however, are the changes which have 

 taken place in the status of different species. A period of 

 observation covering roughly fifteen years has witnessed 

 many important modifications in the distribution of birds. 

 Decrease has been apparent in the hawks and owls, except 

 the Burrowing Owl, and in the game birds, such as ducks, 

 geese, grouse and curlews. But this has been offset by a 

 most gratifying and unmistakable increase among the Pas- 

 serine birds, and those which can in any way profit by civil- 

 ization. Among this number may be cited the Arkansas 

 Kingbird, Say's Pewee, Bullock's Oriole, Rusty Song Spar- 

 row, Lazuli Bunting, Robin and others. It would seem 

 probable that certain species, as Cowbird and Cliff Swallow, 

 have invaded the region solely because of the advent of 

 man. 



The following list is to be understood as strictly prelimi- 



