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IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vol. XXIV, 1917 
vailed throughout February, but, as before, they were seen in 
small flocks containing eight to twenty, and occasionally thirty- 
to forty. The writer was later satisfied of the identity of 
several large flocks of about fifty individuals which flew over, 
giving their, then unfamiliar, call notes. During March, how- 
ever, they began to appear in larger flocks. On March 4 Mr. 
Paul Eiffert reported a flock of about a hundred Redpolls in 
the South Ravine. On the same date Mr. G. O. Ludcke saw 
large numbers of Redpolls in the fields near Logan Park ceme- 
tery, and estimated the number to be between four and five 
hundred. He noted his observations as follows: “Never have 
I seen so many birds together at one time. A five-acre corn field 
was alive with them. I made considerable noise just to see them 
take wing, but they seemed loath to leave this particular field. 
When I would shout or whistle they would appear confused and 
fly all around me.” 
Mrs. H. M. Bailey saw “hundreds” of Redpolls in Grand- 
view Park on March 10. On the same day another observer 
reported a “flock of two thousand flying north.” On March 
23 Mrs. H. J. Taylor reported a flock of about five hundred 
near Leeds. And on March 25 Mrs. Bailey saw a flock of about 
one hundred go to roost in a large patch of wild sunflower in 
Grandview Park. This seems to be the latest record of them in 
this vicinity. 
Some facts were obtained on the winter food of the Redpoll 
in this region. In various localities here we find large patches 
of the wild sunflower (Helianthns annuus L.), most often on the 
open hillside and along the fences. The Redpolls frequented 
these patches, probably for the seeds in the heads, as they al- 
ways alighted and remained in the tops of these tall weeds. In 
fact, Mrs. Bailey states that she saw them picking the seeds 
out the heads, just as do the Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. On 
March 4 I saw several Redpolls picking and eating winter buds 
from an unrecognized tree along the Big Sioux river. 
On February 18 Mr. A. F. Allen and I followed a small flock 
of eight or ten Redpolls on a hillside, and found that they 
were flying from one stalk to another of a weed which carried 
many dried seed receptacles, from which the birds were extract- 
ing and eating the seeds. A stalk of this plant was sent to 
Professor L. H. Pammel, who found it to be the Evening Prim- 
