14 



THK SUNNY fcOUTH OOLOGIST. 



I have often noticed large numbers of 

 ducks assembling at the same given 

 lake or pond. This congregating 

 would perhaps occup}' a lapse of sev- 

 eral days, the numbers apparentl}^ aug- 

 mented b}' large additions each suc- 

 ceeding night. A t length, after a vast 

 number has congregated, 3'ou will 

 notice a great deal of excitement 

 among the large flocks; a seeming dis 

 satisfaction and restlessness, evinced 

 by loud calls and continual fluttering, 

 splashing, etc. After all these signs 

 of busy life, if you visit the lake the 

 next morning you will probabl}^ find 

 it lonely and deserted, without a ves 

 tige of yesterda3^'s tumult and life, 

 save a few lonely, sick looking Teals. 

 who were too weak or tired perhaps to 

 join the flight of their fellows the pre- 

 ceding night. But they may wait for 

 the next flight which at once begins 

 to form, with new additions each suc- 

 ceeding night, and in a few days we 

 have an exact repetition of the assem 

 blage and flight of a few days previ- 

 ous. The assembling of these birds 

 is usuallv at some larsje lake conven- 

 lent for their purpose, and the addi- 

 tions in the shape of small straggling- 

 flocks, are very probably detachments 

 of ducks which have left the small 

 ponds and streams, where the}^ have 

 passed the winter in detached flocks, 

 and as if b}^ some previousl}^ concerted 

 plan assemble here so as to take their 

 depai ture en masse for the possible 

 view of both compan}'- and protection. 



A. M. Shields, 

 Los Angeles, Cal. 



North American Birds. 



I will hereafter give in this column 

 each month, as near as possible, the 

 breeding places, and the time of nest- 

 ing of the Birds of North America; 

 beginning this month with the family 

 Turdidae. 



1. Wood Thrush — Hylocichla 

 Mustelina — Nests usually found in 

 low, damp woods. Dates of nesting, 

 from May 10th to June 15tli. 



Begins nesting about 



2. Wilson's Thrush — Hylocichla 

 fuscesceus — The situation of the nest 

 is retired, and often in the depths of 

 woods. Begins nesting about 31 ay 

 20th. 



3. Gray-cheeked Thrush — Hy- 

 locichla aliciae — Low, damp woods 

 and thickets. 

 May 1st. 



4. BussET-BACKED Thrush — Hy- 

 locichla ustulata— Pacific coast reo-ions 

 abundant. Begins nesting about Mav 

 15th. 



4a. Oltve-backkd Thrush — Hy- 

 locichla ustulata swainsoni — J)rj, 

 scrubby woods Begins nesting about 

 June 1st. 



5. Dwarf Thrush — Hylocichla 

 unalascae — Thick woods and swamps. 

 Begins nesting early in Ma}'. 



5b. Hermit THRU^H — Hylocichla 

 unalascae pallasi — Low, swampy pla- 

 ces Begins nesting June 1st. 



7. American Robin — Merula ^li- 

 gratoria— Nests made near habitations. 

 Nests from May 1st to July 25th. 



7a. Western Robin — Merula Mi- 

 gratoria propinqua — Nesting habits 

 similar to that of No. 7. 



9. VAaiED Robin— Hesperocichla 

 naevia — Inhabits all woodland. Be- 

 gins nesting about May 10th. 



10. Sage Thrasher— Oreoscoptes 

 montanus — Inhabits open, mountain- 

 ous countries. Begins nesting Maj- 

 1 5th. 



11. Mocking Bird — Mimus pol}-- 

 glottus — Nests placed in open country, 

 orchards, vineyards, etc. Always 

 near man. Begins nesting April 20th. 



12. Catbird — Galeoscoptes caro- 

 linensis — In gardens or clearings of 

 woods, always near habitations. Nests 

 May 15th to July 1st. 



13. Brown Thrasher — Harpor- 

 hynchus rufus — In blackberry tangle 

 or thickets, high or low land. May 

 10th to June 20th. 



13a. , Mexican Brown Thrasher 

 — Harporhynchus rufus longirostris — 



