29 



dates. There were, to be sure, a few records of apparently irregular oc- 

 currences ; a single Bluebird was seen at Newton, Iowa (lat. 41° 42'), but 

 none afterwards for three weeks ; a few Canada Geese were reported at 

 Osceola, 111. (lat. 41° 150, February 20, and a few Ducks and Geese at 

 Lin wood, Nebr. (lat. 41° 22'), between February 20 and 25. The weather 

 reports show that this warm wave was felt even beyond latitude 41°, 

 but such cold weather had preceded it that it could not break the bands 

 of winter and produce a condition of affairs that should invite birds to 

 further migration. 



Third wave. — A sudden rise of temperature at Saint Louis on Feb- 

 ruary 25 and 26, again started the migrating hosts northward. There 

 was not much of a u bird wave," but great movements of Geese took 

 place on the first day, and of Ducks on the second. Red-winged Black- 

 birds and Bobins increased, and the first Snow Geese appeared, together 

 with the first Turkey Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, Busty Grackle, and 

 Buddy Duck. The first frogs and mosquitoes were noted. 



Although the Signal Service reports show that this warm wave was 

 quite extended and powerful, yet it was of too short duration to cause 

 much movement among birds. The scouts of some of the hardier 

 species moved a little farther northward, keeping mostly along the 

 larger rivers. Bobins and Bluebirds advanced up the Mississippi river 

 to Quincy, 111. (lat. 39° 55') ; Bluebirds and Canada Geese were seen at 

 Bichmond, Iowa (lat. 41°26 / ), while large flocks of Bobins and Bluebirds 

 appeared at Hillsborough, 111. (lat. 39° 12'), and also at Griggsville, 

 111. (lat. 39o 43'). 



Until March 1 winter reigned supreme over all the land north of 

 latitude 40°, and from February 27 to March 9 its icy fingers again 

 closed around Saint Louis, driving all the Ducks south on March 2, and 

 bringing on a " second winter." 



The next period has been marked " Indeterminate" in the record. It 

 is neither a stand-still nor a period of much movement. It extends 

 from March 9, when the " second winter" was brought to a close by a 

 south wind, to March 16. During this time there was a continual 

 though slight northward movement at Saint Louis, and much movement 

 in the region just north of it ; and, what was of more importance, a gen- 

 eral advance in the line of open water, inviting a forward march and 

 preparing the way for the immense movements of the following week. 

 At Saint Louis the arrivals were as follows: 



March 9 the first Ducks returned and passed north, followed two days 

 later by large flocks of Bed- winged Blackbirds (both male and female), 

 Purple and Busty Grackles, and the first individuals of the Killdeer 

 {JEgialitis vocifera), Meadowlark (Sturnella), and Flicker (Colaptes) % 

 On March 12 came the first Snipe (Oallinago), and on the 16th the first 

 Cranes (Grus mexicana). 



Thus, there was little change in the species present at Saint Louis, 

 but a great increase in the number of individuals. This increase was 



