Xll 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
“Climate. — The climate of Pennsylvania is variable, and liable to sudden extremes, 
having sometimes the heat of the Carolinas, and at others the cold of Canada, but in 
periods generally of only three days, intermingled in summer with sharp winds 
from the northwest, and mitigated in winter by the milder breezes from the south- 
west. Periods of warm weather sometimes occur in January and February. * * 
The mountainous region has a greater degree of cold, and the snows are deeper and 
lie longer than in other portions. In the west the climate is milder and less vari- 
able than in the east.” 
“ Rivers, Lakes, Etc. — The only lake of importance in this state is Lake Erie, 
which forms its northwest boundary for about fifty miles. The Delaware, which 
rises in the southeast part of New York, and flows southerly, separates New York 
and New Jersey from Pennsylvania and Delaware, and empties into Delaware Bay. 
It is navigable for large ships to Philadelphia, about ninety-six miles from the sea, 
and for sloops and steamboats to Trenton, thirty miles further up. The Susque- 
hanna, the largest river in the state, enters Pennsylvania from New York, and flow- 
ing southerly for four hundred miles, crosses the entire state, dividing it into two 
unequal portions, having the larger part on the west. This river is not navigable, 
except at high-water in the spring and autumn, when large quantities of timber are 
floated down it in rafts. * * * Owing to its rapid descent to within a few miles of 
the Chesapeake Bay, into which it flows, it is but little affected by the tides. Its 
principal tributaries are the West Branch and Juniata from the west, and the Swatara 
and Conestoga from the east. Between the Susquehanna and Delaware are the 
Lehigh and Schuylkill, affluents of the Delaware, and each about one hundred miles 
in length. The Ohio, which is formed by the union of the Allegheny from the 
north, and the Monongahela from the south, drains the western part of the state, 
having about fifty miles of its course in Pennsylvania. It is navigable for large 
steamboats to its head at Pittsburgh. The Allegheny is about three hundred and 
the Monongahela two hundred miles in length, and both, at high-water, are navi- 
gable, the former two hundred and the latter sixty miles, for small steamers. The 
Youghiogheny, a branch of the Monongahela, and the Beaver, a branch of the Ohio, 
are small rivers. Canals coast most of these rivers, except the Monongahela and 
Youghiogheny, to a greater or less extent.”— Gazetteer. 
Lake Erie is the only lake of commercial importance, bnt there are nume- 
rous small lakes in many parts of the state, especially in the counties 
of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Wyoming-, where different kinds 
of water fowl repair during- migrations. Although numerous species of 
aquatic birds visit Conneaut Lake, in Crawford county, and Lake Pleasant, 
in Erie county, they are found in greater numbers at Presque Isle Bay 
(also called Erie Bay) than elsewhere in the state. 
• In this present work the classification, nomenclature and geographical 
limits correspond with the A. O. U. Check List of North American Birds,* 
a publication representing the joint labors of a “Committee on Classifi- 
sation and Nomenclature ” appointed by the Union at its first congress, 
held in New York city, September 26-29, 1883. This committee con- 
sisting of such eminent naturalists as Dr. Elliott Coues, J. A. Allen, Bobert 
Bidgway, William Brewster, and II. W. Henshaw, assisted by Dr. Leon- 
*The Code of Nomenclature | and ] Check List | of North American Birds. | Adopted by the American 
Ornithologists’ Union, j Being the Report of the Committee of the Union on Classification and Nomen- 
clature. 1 (Motto.) I [New York; | American Ornithologists’ Union. | 1886. [8 vo. pp. i-viii, 1-392. 
For sale by L, S. Foster, No. 35 Pine street, New York city. Price 83.00. 
