Field Notes on Louisiana Birds. 145 
FIELD NOTES ON LOUISIANA BIRDS, 
By Dr. F. W. Lanepon. 
The following ‘‘notes’’ comprise a record of ornithological observa- 
tions and collections made by the writer during the month ending 
April 17th, 1881, at “ Cinclare” plantation, situated in the parish of 
West Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the right bank of the Mississippi, 
one hundred and twenty-seven miles by river above New Orleans. A 
few notes made at various other points along the Mississippi and Ohio 
rivers are included. 
The landscape at the above-mentioned locality, as elsewhere along 
the “ Sugar-coast,” is flat and uninteresting, its monotony being con- 
siderably relieved, however, by the extensive plantations now ina high 
state of cultivation, which, with their numerous and usually well-kept 
buildings, lend an air of activity and prosperity to the scene. The 
cultivated grounds are mainly comprised in a strip ranging from one 
to three miles in width, along the rivers and principal bayous, the re- 
mainder of the State being chiefly occupied by extensive forests and 
swamp lands. The rich alluvial loam of the agricultural districts 
above referred to, and the heavy growth of cypress, swamp oak, sweet 
gum, ash, etc., in the adjoining swamp lands, are noticeable features 
in contrast with the red soil and “pine-barrens” of the higher grounds 
and more eastern Gulf States. 
Although no opportunity of adding to the present list was neglected, 
field observations being made almost daily during the above-mentioned 
period, the number of species obtained was not nearly so large as 
might have been expected. It seems to the writer, however, that the 
list is of quite as much interest for what it does noé¢ include, as for 
what it does, the absence of the Catbird, Long-biled Marsh Wren, 
Black-and-White Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-browed 
Yellow-throat, Black-throated Green and Palm Warblers, Large-billed 
Water Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Redstart, Song Sparrow, Pewee 
and some other species, being noteworthy in view of the generally re- 
ceived ideas of their distribution. The non-occurrence of these mi- 
gratory species would seem to be of interest as furnishing a clue to 
the distance from the gulf, at. which their lines of migration diverge 
and converge to and from Florida and Mexico, respectively. The Warb- 
_lers above mentioned, it will be observed, are chiefly those which are 
found with the main body of migratory Sylvicolide further north, and 
