Ridgway.] 310 [February 18, 



larly at various seasons. 1 This overlapping of the faunae from the 

 four points of the compass, in consequence of the central geographi- 

 cal location of the State, accounts for the peculiarly rich and varied 

 nature of the Illinois Avian Fauna. . 



In studying the bird-life of Southern Illinois, the ornithologist from 

 the Atlantic States is at once impressed with many points wherein 

 it differs from that to which he has been accustomed in the East. 

 In summer he misses the chant of the song sparrow (Melospiza melo- 

 dia), 2 and the merry gabbling song of the house wren (Troglodytes 

 cedon) ; these seem to be entirely replaced by the CJwndestes gram- 

 maca, a western species possessing an unrivalled song, and the 

 Thryomanes bewicki, with a loud, clear chant similar to but much 

 finer than that of Melospiza. In the meadows the " dick-sissels " 

 (Euspiza americana) are abundant, the males perching upon the 

 fence stakes as they pour forth their rude but incessant ditty; around 

 the border of the old fields the rich musical chant of the Peuccea aesti- 

 valis is heard; in the groves the fine robin-like, but well-sustained, 

 song of the vermilion tanager (Pyranga cestivoC) delights the ear, while 

 troops of tufted titmice (Loplioplianes Mcolor) and Carolina chick- 

 adees (Parus carolinensis) rove noisily through the woods. Among 

 the shade trees of the town-parks, and along even the busiest 

 streets, red-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers (Centurus carolinus 

 and Melanerpes erytliroceplialus) sport without fear, while the blue 

 jays (Cyanura cristata) descend from the orchard into the yards 

 to pick up scraps of food from the very doorsteps. If he leaves 

 the town and visits the wild woods in the " bottoms," the birds 

 are as unfamiliar as the scenery. The cerulean warbler (Dendro- 



1 As might be expected from their habits of life and facilities for migration, 

 there is but a small mixture of the western element in the Illinois reptilian-fauna. 

 Still, Eutcenia parietalis occurs plentifully in the Wabash Valley, and Bascanion 

 flaviventris is found in other portions of Southern Illinois. Both of these species 

 belong to the Western Region south of 40°. There may be other western forma 

 found in the State, of which I am not aware. 



2 In Southern Iowa, according to Mr. Trippe (Proc. Bost. Soc. 1ST at. Hist., Oct., 

 1872, p. 237), the song sparrow is " abundant in spring and fall, but not observed to 

 breed. Shy and retiring, a complete contrast to the eastern song-sparrow." In 

 Southern Illinois this is also the case, the species being there a winter sojourner, 

 abundant, but very retiring, inhabiting almost solely the bushy swamps in the bot- 

 tom-lands, and unknown as a song bird. The same are also probably its habits 

 throughout Illinois and the adjacent districts. This is a remarkable instance of 

 variation in habits with longitude of one geographical race, since in the Atlantic 

 States it breeds abundantly as far south at least as the parallel of 38°, and is besides 

 one of the most familiar of the native birds. 



