30 



less apparent at Saint Louis than at more northern points. The hosts 

 of birds sent south by the inclement weather did not halt, on their return, 

 at their former resting places, but pushed rapidly forward and spread 

 over many miles of new country. The onward movement dates from 

 about March 12, and during the remainder of the " indeterminate" period 

 (that is, to March 16) Ducks, Geese, Eobins, Bluebirds, Blackbirds, 

 Meadowlarks, and Killdeer were found over all of northern Illinois 

 and the southern edge of Wisconsin, all of Iowa and eastern Nebraska, 

 while a few scouts, keeping close to the Mississippi river, followed it 

 nearly to Saint Paul. The general dispersion of the birds at this time 

 can be seen from the fact that seventy-two records of the arrival of 

 Ducks, Geese, Eobins, and Blackbirds were received from the region 

 indicated. 



Fourth icave. — At Saint Louis the first rain of the season occurred 

 March 17, after a warm night (thermometer 56°), with a light south 

 wind. Winter ended, and spring began with a sadden start of vegeta- 

 tion and an awakening of insect life. Many birds arrived during the 

 night, and others were moving all the morning. The bulk arrived of 

 the Kobin, Flicker, Meadowlark, Bluebird, Ohewink, Purple Grackle, 

 Busty Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, and Blue- winged 

 Teal. There was an increase of Wilson's Snipe, White-crowned, White- 

 throated, and Field Sparrows. The first arrivals appeared of the Phoebe 

 (Sayornis phcebe), Pectoral Sandpiper (Tringa maculata), Oowbird (Mo- 

 lothrus ater). Field Plover (Bartramia longicauda), and the Little Yellow 

 Rail (Porzana noveboracensis), while the bulk of the Tree Sparrows (Spi- 

 zella monticola) departed. 



Since the movement in this wave consisted principally in an increase 

 of those species which had already come in the preceding waves, and 

 since few of the stations reported more than the first arrival, it is prac- 

 tically impossible to work up the wave from the notes in hand. There 

 seem to be intimations that the power of the wave was not great, but 

 that its influence was felt more or less for a hundred miles north of 

 Saint Louis and for a great distance west and southwest. 



Fifth wave.— March 22 ; this was next to the largest wave of the sea- 

 son. The night before was warm (thermometer 53°) and cloudy, with 

 a light southeast wind. The day was cloudy and threatening, with an 

 increasing southeast wind. Many birds arrived during the night and 

 others were moving all the forenoon. The following birds attained the 

 height of the season— that is, the period of greatest abundance: Robin, 

 Flicker, male Red- winged Blackbird, Purple and Rusty Grackles, Ohe- 

 wink, transient Bluebirds, transient Purple Finches, and Song Spar- 

 rows. The bulk arrived of the Shrike, Phoebe, and Wilson's Snipe ; 

 and an increase was noted in the White-throated, Field, and Swamp 

 Sparrows, male Cowbirds, and Red headed Woodpeckers. The first 

 appeared of the Chippy (Spizella socialis), Brown Thrush (Rarporhyn- 

 chus rufus), Bewick's Wren (Thryothorus bewicMi), Grass Finch (Poo- 



