Spring Migration of 190 1. 95 



runs and small creeks whose banks are covered with alders 

 and sumac bushes. 



Oak Point, a summer resort on the lake shore, half-way 

 between Lorain and Vermilion, is always the main objective 

 point in these tramps. Here there are fairly thick woods 

 and several swamps which are more abundant in species 

 than any other place I have visited in the county. It has 

 proved the best place for ducks and the shore birds. 



Near Oberlin the best place has been found to be a woods 

 a mile south of town, known as the South Woods. This 

 woods is quite dense with tall, straight, slender trees. Along 

 the edges is a thick second growth of small trees and on the 

 northern side a slashing with many bushes and brush piles. 



A mile northeast of town is another woods as good, per- 

 haps, as the South Woods, but not so easy of access. A 

 little farther beyond is a woods known as the Black Swamp 

 woods. This has promise of rich finds for the one who can 

 work it up, but so far as I know it has never been thorough- 

 ly gone over. It is very difficult to work for two reasons : 

 first, the swamps render it almost impenetable, especially 

 during the spring ; and secondly, the mosquitoes are almost 

 unendurable. The southern division of the L. S. & M. S. 

 railway runs past this woods, and as far as I have gone along 

 the track, species and individuals have been abundant, and 

 in the latter part of May nests were found at every few steps. 



Black River would be good working ground, I think, but 

 as it is farther away it is inconvenient to visit frequently. 

 Several times I did get over and was rewarded each time by 

 finding new species. It is said that birds migrate along the 

 water-courses. The amount of water in the river, on ac- 

 count of the Elyria water-works dam, ought to afford a good 

 resting-place to migrating water birds. The river averages 

 six feet deep and is from thirty to eighty feet wide for sev- 

 ral miles where it is nearest to Oberlin. The banks are well 

 wooded. 



In the town itself there are two places worth mentioning : 

 a block in the south-western part of town, and the college 



