Bird Migration in the Mixnissippi Valley. 7 



army flew over the heads of the others in front, and all moved in the same 

 direction. 



Swamp Sparrow — One bird on January 29, in the same place I found one 

 last Winter. 



Purple Grackle — Four birds on January 18, and two on the 29th. 



A few gulls remained here and were seen several times over the Mississip- 

 pi at the south part of the city, where the strong current prevented the form- 

 ing of ice. 



Following are the notes for the week from February 18 to 24 : 



The weather was cool, partly clear or fair. Northerly winds, and just warm 

 enough to keep the ground in an exceedingly muddy condition. It required 

 more than ordinary energy to pull through in order to be au fait to the do- 

 ings of the progressing season. The equatorial wave which stirred the wa- 

 ter-birds to northward advancing on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and morning of 

 the sixteenth, and whicli was so abruptly met by its antagonist, the polar 

 wave, has wrought some changes in the status of our ornis. 



The most noticeable change is the great increase of bluebirds, or rather, the 

 arrival of our bluebirds, if we do not count the few birds wintering with us. 



Ducks were very plentiful in this neighborhood all the week, but no great 

 move took place until yesterday forenoon, February 24, when with a light 

 rain and strong, warm (62 dgs.) south wind, large flocks were seen to go 

 north at some height; also troops of Canada geese. 



This migratory movement was again abruptly stopped, when at noon the 

 black western horizon announced the oncoming Norther, which, during the 

 afternoon, forced the mercury down to 32 dgs. It is still Winter with us, and 

 no changes in our ornis are expected during the next few days. 



Although the weather during this week, February 25 to March 4, was fine 

 and seemingly very favorable to the movements of birds, the fact is, that it 

 brought no birds at all. We have had clear skies, lively drying winds, with 

 a warm sun and four frostless nights. We have had all kinds of winds, but 

 have not had that soft moisture-laden south wind which brings us the dark 

 clouds from the gulf and the birds from the gulf-bordering countries. 



On our vegetation the clear, warm skies, and frostless nights have had 

 great effect since February 28. Within three or four days the yellow of the 

 wheat-field has turned into a beautiful green, and many plants, besides the 

 grasses, put forth their young leaves. Around the opening blossoms of the 

 red maple the bees are swarming, and animal life stirs everywhere, since the 

 hot sun of the 28th gave the first start. This last day of February was remark- 

 able as an instance of the great effect which a few hours of sunrays have in 

 a clear and still air, on an early Spring day. After an extremely clear 

 night, the temperature of the air was a little above freezing, but the ground 

 was somewhat stiff in the early morning (from radiation, I suppose). Soon, 

 however, the sun began to make itself felt, and at 11 a. m. the first frog com- 

 menced to croak. At noon a host of his brethren had joined him on all sides, 

 and by this time the mercury had risen to 113 dgs. in the sun. 



The mud under the shallow water of the swamps began to move in many 

 places, and small larva? appeared with writhing motions. Minute black flies 

 danced in the air, and in the dry rubbish ran numbers of spiders to and 

 fro. Craw-fishes of small and large sizes crawled up the banks of the creek, 



