102 MICHIGAN SURVEY, 1908. 



tli(jy alighted directly on the ground. This Avas especially noticeable 

 in the case of the Palm Warblers, which often lingered to feed in the 

 grass. 



The Sparrow and Sharp-shinned Hawks were the principal enemies 

 of these birds, devouring many each day. During the large bird wave 

 of September 12, the Pigeon Hawk also played a conspicuous part in 

 their destruction. The influence of the hawks will be taken up under 

 the discussion of that family. 



During the first days of migration the warblers moved along very 

 leisurely, the same flocks apparently remaining about the clearings 

 all day, but toward the latter part of the season the birds hurried for- 

 ward, taking their food as they moved along. There were several 

 A\'arbler waves or periods of gi'eat abundance, the first occurring on 

 August 23. This one was made up almost entirely of Tennessee War- 

 blers, adult and young being about equal in number. For the re- 

 mainder of the migration, however, the young outnumbered the adults. 

 The second, made up largely of immature Blackpolls, arrived on August 

 26. The third w&ve, consisting principally of Palm Warblers, occurred 

 <iu August 30. The last wave, and by far the largest, occurred 

 September 12. At this time the clearings and roads were full of 

 warblers, nearly every species observed at Isle Eoyale being represented 

 to a greater or less extent. These waves will be dealt with separately. 



During the heavy I'ain and wind storms of September 1, 2 and 3, 

 the wariiler migration was at a standstill, the birds keeping under 

 cover as much as possible. The Blackpolls and Palm Warblers were 

 the only species' which seemed to be utftifEected by the weather. These 

 beautiful warblers Avere observed feeding in the open clearing during the 

 heaviest rains, but eA^en they did not undertake to migrate against the 

 strong wind, so far as I could determine. 



b. Hpairoics. The sparrow migration began much later in 1905 than in 

 1904, some of the most striking ex.amples being Savannah, Aug. 17, 

 White-crowned, Aug. 28 and Lincoln, Sept. 1, 1904. On August 18, 

 (1905) the first day observations Avere made, Chipping and White-throat- 

 ed Sparrows were seen, The Chipping had gathered into flocks and 

 roamed about the clearings, feeding near the borders, while the White- 

 throated were still in single families hunting about among the dead 

 leaves in the damp underbrush. Many of the White-throated Sparrows 

 were still too young to migrate, some having a little of the first down 

 on them. On August 22, an immature Vesper Sparrow was taken, 

 the only one found on the island. A fcAv Song Sparrows were present 

 from August 21 to 24. Tliese AA'ere the only ones seen and were probably 

 migrating at that time. The next few days the number of both Chip- 

 ping and White-throated Sparrows was materially increased, large num- 

 bers of young of both species making their appearance. Very few of 

 these had moulted the first plumage. Not until August 31 were any 

 other species seen, then large flocks of Savannah SparroAvs, both young 

 and adults, came to the clearings. All Avere in pei'fect fall plumage. 

 It seems peculiar that none of these birds were seen before this date, 

 because between August 5 and 8, I saAv several, and obtained one im- 

 mature barely able to leave the nest. The food was obtained along 

 the roads, in the meadows, and about the houses, where several lost 

 their lives l:>y entering deserted rooms and not being able to find their 



