92 
THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1922 
Meadowlark and Blackbird, to remain in large nnmbers or even 
in nnmbers of large flocks in the case of some, or at least 
the successors of the same species from farther north. Bnt that 
was not the case to any large extent, at least not in the imme- 
diate locality of the Avriter, River Forest, a AA^estern snbnrb of 
tlie metropolis. Or one wonld expect the hardy migrants snch 
as Jnnco, Tree, Fox and White-throated S])arroAvs, also BroAvn 
Creeper, White-breasted Xnthatch and Chickadee to do so. Bnt 
that again was not true to any striking degree. A feAV odd Flick- 
ers stayed in the neighborhood all Avinter, a feAv Cree]>ers, too, 
Avhich also happens other Avinters, and there Avere more MeadoAV- 
larks and Robins remaining all Avinter a feAV miles south than 
nsnal, bnt nothing striking. Tliis Avonld lend color to the the- 
ory of some that length of day is Avhat prompts birds to leave 
or come, irrespective of teniperatnre. At Ft. Wayne, Ind., hoAV- 
ever, I Avas told that Blackbirds of several species remained in 
large flocks all Avinter. In this vicinity, in Thatcher’s Avoods, 
Avell known to people hereabont, a feAV Song SparroAvs and Fox 
Sparrows lingered all Avinter, Avhile Jnncos and Tree Sparrows 
Avere slightly more in evidence than nsnally. The case of the 
Song SparroAV is a peculiar one. This species figured in more 
lists and more northerly ones in the Christmas bird census pub- 
lished in “ Bird Lore ” than ever before. Out of 78 lists from 
Canada, the NeAv England states, New York, Michigan, Wis- 
consin and Minnesota, the Song SparroAV is given in 39, and 
from as far north as the Ottawa River, Avliere the Avriter, during 
six years’ residence, never found it in Avinter. On the other hand, 
in the same Thatcher’s Woods there Avere hardly any Bine Jays 
in this mild Avinter, Avhich usually stay there in some numbers. 
But a Black-croAvned Night Heron Avas tempted to stay till 
Jannary 4th at Beach, abont 30 miles north of Chicago, also a 
Lincoln’s Sparrow tarried there to December 20th. A pair of 
Bluebirds seems to have wintered in the Sand Dunes, as they 
were seen there January 22nd. 
An unexpected occurrence Avas that of the Arc l ie Three- 
toed Woodpecker. The first ones were noted as early as Octo- 
ber, despite the nnseasonable warmth. Abont fifteen specimens 
were reported from the city and suburbs. The writer saAV three 
on one day, November 26th, at Millers, Indiana. 
HoAvever, what Avas the effect of the mildness of the season 
on the first spring migrants? That is what we Avant to get at. 
To get at this I drew out of my records the date of first arrival 
