MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 23 
On a ridge south of the Huron River, at Schoolgirl’s Glen, we found 
three Prairie Warblers. This is a very rare bird and irregular in its occur- 
rence here. This record is seven days earlier than previously recorded. 
The Palm and Golden-winged Warblers, and also the Woodcock were ob- 
served at the Glen. 
The Virginia Rail was seen at the “Overflow,” along the Huron River, 
by Misses Hays and Parnell. The Scarlet Tanager was seen in the west 
part of the city by Miss Vrooman. 
All day Tuesday the birds lingered about the campus, where they were 
observed as late as 6 P. M. feeding in the tops of the trees. But the south 
warm winds continued through the night, so that they were nearly all gone 
by 4 A. M. on Wednesday, when again in the field. 
On Wednesday there were very few birds on the campus, only ten species 
were counted, and even in the fields there were fewer birds than on Tuesday. 
The following new arrivals were observed: 
NAME, EARLIEST DATE. AVERAGE. 
Crested Mlycatehei sAtcsk. cals a silsaaern ee ve Ait UO wl SIO ais ee ea yn 7 
Gai lirice eitlcesar eee, eet San Fe uctad eee sel Ap tile DN SO es pers. Si Meay, a, 
Bays oReastedeN Vat Dlets -san.uescims settee were Wan OMe LOO ae ae t eNLAY ol Be 
AMO eB VRID peal GR Ss: 
During the last fifty years some species of Michigan birds have become 
very rare or entirely extinct, while others have greatly increased with the 
clearing and settlement of the country. Among the species illustrating the 
latter fact we have a striking example in the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Our 
picture (see frontispiece) is from a mounted specimen of a male in breeding 
plumage, and gives a good idea of the proportions and color pattern, al- 
though the half-tone gives only a hint of the beautiful rose color which 
adorns the breast and under wing-coverts. This bird is now very generally 
distributed over the state, although it is most common in the Lower Penin- 
sula, and probably reaches its greatest abundance in the middle tiers of 
counties. During the early history of the state it seems to have been far 
from common, but has steadily increased in spite of the enemies whose multi- 
plication commonly keeps pace with that of the human population. 
The Sandhill Crane whose head is shown in the accompanying picture 
affords a melancholy illustration of the fact that an abundant species may be 
almost exterminated by the advance of civilization. This beautiful bird 
formerly occurred in large numbers over nearly the whole of the untimbered 
portions of Michigan, but has steadily decreased in numbers, and with fearful 
rapidity during the last decade. Ten years ago it was a common bird in the 
marshes of Ingham and surrounding counties, and nested regularly in favor- 
able places in this region. Its resonant voice could be heard daily as the 
birds passed to or from their feeding grounds, and their striking forms were 
noteworthy objects as they passed in files of three to ten through the upper 
air during their spring and autumn megirations. At present few if any are 
left in this region, and for the past two years the writer has not even heard 
their voice. The facts that the bird is large enough to make a tempting 
mark for the rifleman and that its flesh is excellent for the table, undoubtedly 
have contributed to its disappearance. It nests habitually in marshy tracts 
