266 



the species had become common by March 31. Mockingbirds reached 

 Pierce City, Mo., April 17 ; Peoria, 111., April 19 ; Griggsville, 111., April 

 21; Saint Louis, Mo., April 24 ; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 2, and Man- 

 hattan Kaus., April 26. 



In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., October 24, 

 Mr. Lloyd states that it is an abundant resident in Tom Green and 

 CodcIio Counties, Tex. 

 704. G-aleoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.). [12.] Catbird. 



A common summer resident throughout the Mississippi Valley and 

 Manitoba ; rare in southeastern Texas (Nehrling). In the spring of 1884 

 fifty-one observers contributed notes upon the movements of the Oat- 

 bird. It was reported as a winter resident at Waverly, Miss., and at 

 San Angelo, Tex. At the latter place it was marked "occasional." 



Its northward movement in migration does not take place until the 

 weather becomes warm aud settled. Curiously enough, its first ap- 

 appearance in 1884 was reported from Danville, 111. (lat. 40° 08'), 

 April 3; while at Rodney, Miss. (lat. 31° 52'), it was not reported 

 until April 13. April 18 it was noted at latitude 41° 10' in Illinois; 

 and April 20 at latitude 40° 50' in Iowa. Five days later one was ob- 

 served at Saint Louis (lat. 38° 40'). 



Looking at these few records and knowing little of the state of the 

 weather during these three weeks of April, one would imagine that the 

 Catbird was exceedingly erratic in its movements; and a further study 

 of the records might do little towards dispelling this opinion. 



Taking the eastern line of migration, from Mississippi to Wisconsin, 

 we find a general advance about April 29. On that day and the next 

 it was reported at various stations in Illinois, from Hillsborough (lat. 

 39o 12') to Chicago (lat, 41° 51'). By May 7 the van had reached West 

 Depere, Wis., and the bulk had arrived at Hillsborough and Polo, 111. 

 It was reported as arriving at Green Bay, Wis., May 8, and the bulk 

 reached the same place May 15. West of the Mississippi the earliest 

 arrival was reported from Burlington, Iowa, April 20. April 26 the 

 bulk arrived at Pierce City, Mo. April 28 Catbirds had appeared at 

 Fayette, Mo., and Manhattan, Kans., while at Saint Louis they were 

 still scarce. April 29 the bulk appeared at Saint Louis, at which place 

 both sexes were at breeding stands, and flocks of transients were pres- 

 ent. April 30 the first was reported from Des Moines and Coral ville, 

 Iowa, while the bulk arrived at Manhattan, Kans. On the same day 

 they first appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba. This last must be either a 

 mistake or an extraordinarily early record. A delay of nearly a week 

 in the general movement followed. May 8 the first was noted at Ames 

 and La Porte, Iowa, and at Yer million, Dak. ; May 9 at Minneap- 

 olis, Minn.; May 11 at Elk River, Minn.; and May 17 at Frazee City, 

 Minn. In all cases the bulk followed within a week after the first in- 

 dividuals had been seen. 'Farther west, on the plains, where fewer in- 

 dividual of these species are met with, they were reported as arriving 



