33 
to be desired that at the close of the season each observer should supple- 
ment his regular reports with a synopsis of this sort. In the synopsis 
the following abbreviations have been used: F.=the first individual 
seen; B. A.=the ‘arrival of the bulk ; B. D.=the departure of the bulk; 
L.=the last individual seen; H.==the height of the season, or the period 
when the species is most abundant; T. V.=transient visitants. Thus 
when “B, A. Catbird T. V.” is spoken of, it means the arrival of the 
bulk of Catbirds which do not intend to remain to nest, but are passing 
through to their more northerly breeding grounds. 
Synopsis of Migration at Saint Louis from January 1 to May 27, 1884. 
By OTTO WIDMANN. 
Snow storm. 
} 
Coldest period; minimum tem-| | wississippi full of floating ice. 
perature—21° Fahr. on the Sth. 
Ne 
SO MAM op os por 
11, + Ground covered with snow. 
Mississippi gorged. 
18, Moderately cold. 
» 
wo 
SS 
Mississippi entirely 
23, | Snow Buntings gone, frozen 
| 
a Ther. 56°; snow disappeared; first flock of Geese seen. | 
25. | Crows begin to disperse. | 
29. | Warm wave. Gnils return. } 
30. | Ther. 67°. ( First Ducks (Mallards and Sprigtails) and the first | Creeks free from ice; ice 
. Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds go north; Gulls } in the Mississippi break- 
f go vorth in migrating wedge; Bluebirds and| ing. 
a Shrikes begin to return, J 
‘eb. 
First Purple Grackle; Canada Geese go north; Red-tailed Hawks at stand. 
| 75-85 Herring Gulls go north. 
First green shows itself on the ground, 
Large flocks of Ducks go north. 
Cold, dark, damp weather, with rain and snow. 
winged ‘Teal. 
Increase of Bluebirds, Goldfinches, and Black-capped Chickadees (T. V.). 
20. ) First Fox Sparrow, Chewink, White-throated, White-crowned, and Field Sparrows. 
21. | First Robin at stand. Decrease of old Purple Finches. 
22. | Ducks and Geese in many fincks go north. . 
23. (Cold winds. Robins in flocks. Bald-headed Eagle, Song, ana Swamp Sparrow. 
24, — apenas have decreased at stands, but are found in large migrating flocks in vhe low- 
ands. 
25. ie 58°. A great day for wandering Geese. First Snow Goose. Sudden rise.:. 
17. 
18. {sas wind. Birds move; flocks of Geese go north; also Mallards, Sprigtails, and Green- 
26. | Ther. 56°. Great day for wandering Ducks. First Turkey Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, Rusty 
Blackbird, and Ruddy Duck; increase of Red-winged Blackhirds ayd Robins. Firat froga 
and mosquitoes. 
7365—Bull. 2-—3 
