BLACK-POLL WAKBLER. 79 



The main body of migrants reaches the southern part of the United 

 States early in May. About half of the records of spring migrants 

 striking the Florida lighthouses fall between May 1 and May 9. The 

 species was especially common in the spring of 1888, when it struck 

 May 4, 5, 6, 8 (about 50 birds), and 12. In the previous spring it was 

 most common May 18, 19, and 20. It was abundant on the island of 

 Auguilla May 10 and 11, 1891, and very abundant on the island of 

 New Providence May 1-10. On the neighboring Andros Island the 

 last bird to pass north was noted May 23, 1890, a date which does not 

 differ much from the dates of passage of the latest migrants at various 

 points on the mainland. The last migrant was noted at Raleigh 

 May 28, 1886, May 26, 1888, May 23, 1889, and May 29, 1891; at 

 Asheville May 30, 1891, and June 1, 1894, and at St. Louis May 22, 

 1885, May 18, 1886, and May 19, 1887. 



Fall migration. — Some of the black-poll warblers have the most 

 distinctl}^ northwest and southeast fall migration route of an}^ of the 

 wide-ranging species. Individuals that nest in Alaska winter in 

 northern South America without passing through either Mexico or 

 Central America, so far as known. The species uses the Florida and 

 West India routes, and is common enough to be fairly well known 

 along the entire way. 



The black-polls that summer in the northeastern United States nest 

 in June, and begin in August their fall migration , and have been seen 

 as early as August 30 at Ossining, N. Y. ; August 27, 1891, at Beaver, 

 Pa.; August 30, 1887, at Englewood, N. J., and September 1, 1889, at 

 Washington. The western birds have appeared at Chicago August 

 23, 1897; Cleveland, Ohio, August 27, 1886, and St. Louis, September 

 12. In 1881 the earliest date on which a fall migrant struck Fire 

 Island light on the south shore of Long Island was September 9. The 

 earliest date of first arrival in seven years at Raleigh, N. C, was Sep- 

 tember 24, and the average October 2. The black-polls linger late in 

 the North, having been noted at Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie, August 

 29, 1904; Ottawa September 27, 1887; Chicago, October 12, 1902; 

 Portland, Conn., October 20, 1888; Philadelphia, October 29, 1887; 

 and Washington, October 20, 1889. 



The black-poll warbler is easily attracted to lighthouses. At Som- 

 brero Ke}^ Fla., it has struck the light on thirty-five different nights 

 ini five consecutive years, the earliest certain date being September 25, 

 1888. Most fall migrants strike in the first half of October, and about 

 a third of the records are of single birds. Sometimes, however, the 

 black-polls are very abundant. In 1887 the}^ struck on ever}^ night 

 from October 13 to 17, being especially numerous October 14 and 

 16. The keeper of the light says that on October 14 the birds flew 

 low, and that 40 were seen at one time on the lantern, 8 of which were 

 killed. After sunrise there were found on the lower platform 20 live 



