50 
quiry gives some evidence of a decrease of these species, 
but not so much as might have been expected. Thirty-six 
observers report meadowlarks as decreasing; eighteen, as un- 
changed; twenty-three, as increasing. The reports of de- 
crease come mainly from Berkshire, Hampshire, Worcester, 
Norfolk and Bristol counties. Indications of a recent de- 
crease appear in a portion of Barnstable County. The re- 
ports of the birds holding their own come mainly from Mid- 
dlesex and Franklin counties; while the reports of increase 
seem to be local and nowhere general, as they are scattered 
through all the counties except Norfolk, Barnstable, Dukes 
and Nantucket. All this seems to indicate a general decrease 
in only Hampshire, Worcester, Norfolk and Bristol counties, 
and even in these counties it is by no means universal. 
Only fourteen reports are made upon the bobolink ; twelve 
report it as decreasing or becoming very rare, and two as 
increasing. This bird is probably diminishing in Massa- 
chusetts, hut, as most of the reports are from Middlesex 
and Worcester counties, it is impossible to tell how general 
the diminution has become. 
Family Hirundimdce. — The Swallows. 
Even previous to the injury done by the destructive rain 
storms of June, 1903, it seems probable that the swallow 
family was represented by far fewer colonies and individ- 
uals in Massachusetts than was the case thirty to forty years 
ago. Many observers have seen a decrease in some species 
within ten years. Some report a gradual decrease of all 
species, while comparatively few report an increase, except 
of the tree swallow. This species was greatly diminished 
in the winter of 1895 by a cold wave in the south, and since 
then has been recovering its numbers, which may account 
for the increase noted locally. Twelve observers report an 
increase of the bird, eighteen report numbers unchanged, and 
thirty-two report a decrease. The increase comes mainly in 
Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire counties, although some 
persons in these counties report this swallow to be decreas- 
ing. The reports of decrease are distributed generally among 
all the counties on the mainland. 
