Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 567 



writer in June of 1897 and 1899, although no nests were found, either 

 then or in 1900. "The date of its arrival," Mr. Bacon writes, 

 ' ' varies considerably, depending as it does upon the general advance 

 of the season, and has been observed from March 7 (1902) to 30 

 (1893). In August and September this species resorts by thousands 

 to the Peninsula, going to the ponds containing wild rice late in the 

 afternoon, and starting back to the mainland soon after sunrise. Oc- 

 casional flocks remain in the ponds through the day, but the main 

 army make the trips to the grain fields and back again daily. In 

 making these trips they follow the neck of the Peninsula at its western 

 end, or else the breakwater pier at the eastern end, seldom crossing 

 the bay where it is of any considerable width. This bird is supposed 

 by most of the gunners to be the ' reedbird ' of the game laws, and 

 many are slaughtered annually for food." Their flesh is said to be 

 very good. A curious albinescent specimen, showing the pattern of 

 the female in a bleached condition, was taken by Mr. Bacon Septem- 

 ber 19, 1902, and sent to the Carnegie Museum. November 12, 1900, 

 is the latest fall date upon which its presence has been recorded. 



140. Sturnella magna. Meadowlark. 



A summer resident, quite common in the meadows and cultivated 

 fields of the mainland, but naturally not found breeding on the Penin- 

 sula, where it was only detected occasionally during the fall migra- 

 tion, a few being seen in the sandy barrens bordering the outside 

 beach as late even as November 17, 1906. Mr. Bacon says that it is 

 seen occasionally through the winter months, as for instance on Jan- 

 uary 1, 1902, although ordinarily it arrives from March 10 (1894, 

 1898) to 29 (1896, 1899), and remains until November 5 (1896 J to 

 29 (1894). 



141. Icterus spurius. Orchard Oriole. 



This is given by Mr. Bacon as a regular but not common summer 

 resident, breeding in suitable situations. It was not met with in 1900, 

 but a single individual was detected on the Peninsula June 17, 1897, 

 in open woodland. Mr. Sennett took one specimen May 10, 1875. 



142. Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole. 



Also a summer resident, much oftener seen and better known than 

 the last species, but hardly to be called more than tolerably common. 

 Its arrival occurs early in May (May 6, 1893, Bacon"), in 1900 on 

 May 8, when individuals were observed among the shade trees of the 



