1874.] 311 [Ridgway. 



ica ccerulea) is abundant — but secure from the reach of shot — 

 in the tops of the tall trees; around any pond the prothonotary 

 and yellow-throated warblers (Protonotaria citrea and Dendroica 

 dominicd) may be seen, the one flitting through the bushes, the other 

 creeping around and hanging from the branches which bend over the 

 water. In the dark, damp portions of the forest are heard the rich 

 liquid notes of the Louisiana water thrush (Seiurus ludovicianus) 

 and cardinal-like song of the Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formosus) . 



On the prairies, 1 Henslow's bunting (Coturniculus lienslowi) and 

 the shore lark (EremppMla alpestris) are the most characteristic birds, 

 along with Vireo bellii, Sturnella neglecta, Cliondestes grammaca, 

 Collurio excubitoroides (the two latter also common birds in cleared 

 districts of the wooded portions), and Euspiza americana; while the 

 gracefully floating flight of swarms of swallow-tailed kites (Nau- 

 clerus forficatus), and the beautiful evolutions of Mississippi kites 

 (Ictinia mississippiensis) form a sight to be witnessed elsewhere only 

 on the prairies of the South-west. 



In winter the birds are even more numerous than in summer, 

 though the increase in the number of individuals is accompanied by 

 a diminution of the species. From about one hundred and fifteen to 

 over one hundred and fifty species remain during the winter, the 

 number varying considerably according to the character of the sea- 

 son; the former number represents about the minimum of winter 

 residents, or the number found in severe winters, and the latter the 

 maximum of mild winters. Of course quite a large proportion of 

 them are more or less rare ; but at least fifty species are represented 

 by a perfect host of individuals. Among the brush-heaps, in 

 the new clearings, in the briary scrub overgrowing neglected 

 fields, in the shrubbery along the fences, and particularly in 

 the bushy swamps in the bottom-lands, the sparrow tribe literally 

 swarms, the most abundant species being the Spizella monticola, 

 Melospiza melodia, M. lincolni, ill. palustris, Z onotriclria albicollis, 

 Z. leucoplirys and Junco lujemalis, each represented by multitudes; 

 associated with these excessively abundant species are plentiful 

 numbers of Pipilo erythrophthahnus, Cardinalis virginianus, Passerella 

 iliaca and Thryoiliorus ludovicianus , besides a few of Spizella pusilla. 



In the woods are troops of LopJiopJianes bicolor (the most abund- 

 ant and noisy of all our birds), nearly as many of Cyanura cris- 

 tata, an abundance of Parus carolinensis, Sitta carolinensis and Den- 



1 See American Naturalist, Vol. vn, April, 1873. 



