32 



in clouds. Most of the Ducks came from the west, being probably a 

 part of the Missouri valley flight. By way of comparison, to show how 

 little can be judged of the migration at one place by that of another, 

 let us examine the state of affairs at Manhattan, Kans. (directly west 

 of Saint Louis), in latitude 39° 12'. Here, during the first week of 

 March, no arrivals were noticed. March 8 the first birds came, namely, 

 Geese and Ducks — Mallards, Canvas-backs, Bed-heads, and Green- 

 winged Teal were particularly abundant. The first Killdeer were seen 

 on the 11th ; two more on the 13th, at which date Meadowlarks ap- 

 peared. It seemed as if spring had really come, but on March 13 a 

 polar wave arrived and all was changed. The fifth wave was not felt 

 here in the least, the weather being cold and snowy. To the southwest 

 still another condition of things existed. At Caddo, Ind. Ter. (lat. 

 34° ll 7 ), on March 22, the weather was hot and dry, with continuous 

 south winds, more like summer than spring. Fewer birds were present 

 than at any time since February 1. The commonest species was the 

 Savanna Sparrow. There were no Juncos, Tree Sparrows, White- 

 throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Harris's Sparrows; Cow- 

 birds, Eed- winged Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Ducks, or Geese. A few 

 individuals of each of these species may still have lingered, but the 

 bulk left some days previously, and none were seen on the 22d. There 

 was very little vegetation, owing to lack of rain. 



The study of this fifth wave leads naturally to the following state- 

 ments concerning bird waves in general : The movements of bird waves 

 are governed by those of atmospheric waves. Since a warm wave 

 takes several days to pass from one end of the Mississippi Valley to 

 the other, it must not be supposed that the whole of a bird wave is in- 

 cluded in a single night. In the case of small waves, which are almost 

 local in character, the whole effect may be felt in one night ; but waves 

 ordinarily occupy the whole of two days, and often three or four. It 

 must not be supposed that a bird wave consists of the same species of 

 birds at all places where its effects are felt. Above, when speaking of 

 the birds of the fourth wave, the species which were moving at Saint 

 Louis at this time were alone referred to. The ducks which arrived at 

 Heron Lake, Minnesota, March 24, were as truly a part of the "fifth 

 wave " as the Brown Thrushes and Bewick's Wrens which came to Saint 

 Louis on the 22d. For further remarks concerning bird waves the 

 reader is referred to the article on the Kingbird in the systematic por- 

 tion of this report. 



For the instruction of observers, a copy of the " synopsis " of spring 

 migration (in 1884) at Saint Louis, furnished by Mr. Widmann, is sub- 

 joined. During the migration season Mr. Widmann sent reports every 

 few days, but in this synopsis he has presented the substance of the 

 same in condensed form and in such a graphic manner that the more im- 

 portant movements of the bird waves can be seen at a glance, together 

 with their relation to the lesser movements of migration. It is greatly 



