86 MICHIGAN SURVEY, 1908. 



Song Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Wliite-throated Sparrow, Redstart, Eed- 

 eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, "^Vilson's Thrush, Olive-backed Thrush, 

 Sparrow Hawk, Purple Pinch and Pine Siskin. 



Every time this station was visited there were one or two Alder 

 Flycatchers among the alder bushes, sometimes on top of the highest 

 bush and sometimes near the ground. They seemed to be always on 

 the lookout for insects, and every few minutes they would fly several 

 feet into the air and a snap of the bill told that some insect had been 

 caught. They could often be located by their "pep" of alarm, and in 

 the morning I frequently heard them sing a short song. 



The Redstart and Nashville Warbler were often seen among the alders 

 also. Both were always on the move. The Redstart kept flitting from 

 branch to branch, only pausing an instant at each one to look for 

 insects, while the Nashville Warbler would light on a limb and start 

 to hop toward the top, looking an instant at each leaf as it passed. 



• 2. Benson Brook {Station II, 1). 



The conditions along this little brook are difficult to describe in a 

 general way because they were so diverse; every few rods there was a 

 change. The little stream meandered through dense forests of cedar, 

 spruce and birch; through thickets of alders, dogwoods and small 

 maples; rushed through narrow ravines between bare topped ridges, 

 over rocks, through forests of birch and aspen until it finally reached 

 the harbor at Ransom clearing. 



The birds found along this brook were the White-throated Sparrow, 

 Redstart, Winter Wren, Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Wasrwing, Oven Bird, 

 Sparrow Hawk, Wilson's Thrush, Olive-backed Thrush, Blue Jay, Canada 

 Jay, Crow, Purple Finch, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Grinnell's Water Thrush, 

 Flicker, Magnolia Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Nashville Warbler, Red- 

 breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Chickadee. The Spar- 

 row Hawk, Blue Jay, Flicker, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Cedar Waxwing and 

 Purple Finch were seen more often in the clearings where there were 

 berries, grasshoppers and other insects. The Winter Wren and Water 

 Thrush were always seen near the brook. The former frequented places 

 wheje the undergrowth was thick. It was often observed flying along 

 the brook and stopping every few yards to look under the leaves and 

 logs for insects, and one was shot with a spider {Amaurohius 'bemietti 

 Blk.) and two mosquitos in its mouth. Sometimes this shy bird would 

 venture away from its damp retreat, perch upon the top of a tree 

 and pour forth a melody that rivalled any song heard in these woods. 



The Oven Bird and Red-eyed Vireo were nearly always found among 

 the birches and aspens. The former very frequently was flushed from 

 among the honey-suckle bushes on the gi'ound, but the Vireo was always 

 in the trees. The Magnolia Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet were always seen in that part of the forest where there 

 Avere several spruce or cedar trees. 



A large number of different species of birds was observed in this 

 habitat, but that was because it was so large. In reality the country 

 was rather desolate, for with the exception of some damp places aftng 

 the brook, the original forest has all been burnt off and was only partial- 

 ly replaced by a second growth of birch and aspen. 

 11 



