﻿2 20 FIELD AND FOREST. 



Or, take the instance of a person living in the heavy timber of Wis- 

 consin, he would hardly ever see Plectrophanes nivalis, or lapponicus, 

 still they may be found any day in winter, not twenty-five miles away, 

 if the locality be suitable. 



Regarding Elanoides forficatus, and Ictinta mississippiensis, we 

 agree with Mr. Ragsdale that the occurrence of those birds in Texas in 

 December, (7th) was rather out of season. We would also add D. 

 maculosa. In our opinion these, as well as others, were migrating and 

 would probably have gone much further south. However, at that 

 time, they had any abundance of food and the weather was warm, so 

 we see no reason why they should hurry their migrations. 



We have often noticed parallel instances in Wisconsin. Gallinago 

 wilsoni is sometimes found every month in the year. D. coronata 

 will linger until driven southward by snow falls, or severe cold. Many 

 of our Hawks will remain so long as they are able to secure a supply 

 of food. The same with many other kinds; the main body will mi- 

 grate at the usual season, but there will often be individuals that will 

 lag behind as long as possible. 



University of Wisconsin, Ludwig Kumlein. 



Madison, Wis. , April 2Q, 1877. 



Dear Sir : 



In an article entitled "Earthworms on the Pavements," published 

 in the late issue ot Field and Forest, is found a statement to the effect 

 that while the earthworms were found in large numbers on the brick 

 pavements and stone flagging after the heavy rain of the morning of 

 March 15 : "singularly enough none were to be found on the asphalt 

 pavements of the streets or even on the walks of that material passing 

 through the parks," and the writer suggests the probaole reason for it. 

 I remember perfectly having noticed on that morning large numbers on 

 the asphalt walks of the Executive grounds, and-of discussing with a 

 friend accompanying me the cause of their presence there. On the 

 same morning the asphalt roads and walks through the grounds of the 

 Department of Agriculture were so completely covered with the worms 

 that one could scarcely place his foot on the pavement without crush- 

 ing some of them. On several other occasions since then I have no- 

 ticed them on the walks,' and more especially since reading the article 

 on the subject. — Wm. McMurtrie. 



