ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



35 



on private grounds. The mayor said he could do nothing till 

 there was a statute passed by the legislature. I do not know 

 whether his position is warranted or not. However, I am hoping 

 the Audubon Society may be able in time to get the requisite 

 legislation on the question of getting rid of stray cats. 



Odin 



Mr. C. B. Vandercook writes from Odin as follows : 

 "While the winter of 1921-22 was a very mild one here in 

 Southern Illinois, bird life was not so plentiful as would be ex- 

 pected. Some species which are usually observed on mild days 

 were not seen at all. January 4 a Mockingbird paid me a visit, 

 and has returned the call nearly every day since. He does not 

 appear to take well to feed put out expressly for him, but pre- 

 fers to pick up whatever he can from the grass in the garden. 

 I have seen him at various places all over town, and he is appar- 

 ently getting plenty to live on. Mocking-birds are frequently 

 observed in sheltered quarters, and I think this one has found 

 it comfortable in town. 



January 9 I saw one Bluebird flying northeast. January 15 

 I saw two Robins who were perched in the top of a large shade 

 tree. They finally decided that they were needed back in the 

 South, so they left, and I saw no more until February 1. Since 

 then they have been almost continually seen. January 20 I 

 was in the east part of town and I heard the pleasant note of 

 the Meadowlark, so I walk- 

 ed out into a pasture where 

 the sound came from, and 

 soon flushed fourteen in all. 

 The next morning there 

 were about three inches of 

 snow on the earth, and the 

 thermometer registered ten 

 above zero. I had occasion 

 to pass a piece of land in 

 the west end of town which 

 is grown up with wild blue 

 stem grass and very thick 

 at that. Here the Larks 

 were having a good time 

 singing and feeding. I count- 

 ed twenty-six in this flock. 

 I have seen or heard them 

 daily ever since. 



January 31 I saw my first 

 Killdeer. It was flying north. 

 I also saw three Bluebirds. 

 The first of February was 

 warmer, with a drizzling rain, and Bluebirds were to be heard 



Photo by R. S. Churchill 



ROBIN AT NEST 



