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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



for the species in many counties of central and western New York, only 

 to find perhaps one pair nesting, where, the previous year, 20 or more 

 pairs would certainly have been found. I noted, however, that the broods 

 reared were exceptionally large. Often 7 eggs were found in each of the few 

 nests which I examined. I am inclined to think this indicates simply the 

 exceptional vitality of the birds which survived the severe weather in 

 their winter home, and the result was that within 5 years this species was 

 as abundant as ever throughout the State. It is even possible that the 



Young Bluebirds 



Photo by L. S. Horton 



elimination of all weaker individuals was of final benefit to the stock. 

 A similar catastrophe occurred during the winter of 1911-12. This is 

 reported by Professor Cook in Bird Lore i : 59. In the country about 

 the central lakes I believe that during the summer of 191 2 there was not 

 more than 10 per cent of the usual abundance of bluebirds. Now, as 

 I am writing this paragraph (March 15, 191 3), the bluebirds have just 

 become common in their spring migration and it seems to me they are 

 nearly as abundant as I had noticed them during the last 10 years. It 



