131 



ively abundant in the bottom-lands during the winter. Passing west- 

 ward to Pierce City, Mo., it was recorded as a rare winter resident in 

 the bottom-lands. Still farther southwest, at Caddo, Ind. Ter., it is 

 so rare a bird in winter that none of the local hunters thought one 

 could be found. A few were seen, however, one at a time, all through 

 December and January. Near Houston, in eastern Texas, it is an 

 abundant resident (Nehrling); Throughout the greater part of its 

 range it is a more or less regular migrant, its movements depending 

 largely, if not wholly, on the food supply. Though capable of with- 

 standing great cold when food is plenty (as for instance when it spends 

 the winter in northeastern New York), * it seems to much prefer a warm 

 climate, and when in the south waits until the weather is settled be- 

 fore attempting the northward journey. In the spring of 1884, in the 

 belt between latitude 39° and latitude 39° 30' in Illinois and eastern 

 Missouri, their winter numbers began to be increased about the middle 

 of March, and in Illinois the first had advanced to Chicago by the end 

 of fche month. No such advance took place in Iowa. Not a Red-head 

 was reported in the State before April 26, nor any further advance in 

 Illinois until after May 1. By the 1st of May the advance in Iowa was 

 at latitude 41° 38', and by May 6 those on the western side of the Mis- 

 sissippi had overtaken those on the eastern side, and they were both 

 together in Wisconsin and Minnesota at latitude 43° 43'. Four days 

 later they had passed to West Depere, Wis. (latitude 44° 26' ); May 15 

 they were reported from Minneapolis and Green Bay; May 19 from 

 Elk River, Minn, (latitude 45° 25'), and the last day of the month they 

 had penetrated to Oak Poiut, Manitoba (latitude 50° 30'). Near the 

 Mississippi River the bulk may be looked for about ten or fourteen 

 days after the arrival of the first. 



In the fall of 1884 the bulk left Williamstown, Iowa, August 27, and 

 Des Moines, Iowa, September 18. At Des Moines the last was reported 

 September 19; and at Mount Carinel, Mo., November 11. At Shawnee- 

 town, 111., it remained through the winter of 1884-'85, and a single pair 

 wintered at Saint Louis, Mo. Several early records from points farther 

 north indicate that the individuals seen had wintered not far from the 

 localities whence they were reported. These records are: Fayette-, Mo., 

 March 10; Sioux City, Iowa, March 11; Duraud, Wis., March 15; Keo- 

 kuk, Iowa, March 22; and Lake City, Minn., April 13. 



In regular migration in the spring of 1885 it was first noted from 

 Saint Louis, Mo., April 16; an increase was observed April 21; it con- 

 tinued arriving slowly from April 22 to 26, and the bulk came from 

 April 28 to May 1. . As the rest of the notes for 1885 can not be arranged 

 systematically they will be given in full. The "firsts" recorded were as 

 follows: Ferry, Iowa, April 24; Williamstown, Iowa, and Lake Mills, 

 Wis., April 25; Delavan, Wis., April 29; Fayette, Mo., and Grinnell, 

 Iowa, April 30; Paris, 111., Manhattan, Kans., and Milwaukee, Wis., 

 * Merriam, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. Ill, 1873, pp. 124-125. 



