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IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vol. XXIY, 1917 
row, S, m. ochracea. An effort will be made in the future to 
determine this point. 
17. Slate-colored Junco. Junco h. hyemalis. This is another 
of our very common winter visitors, and was especially nu- 
merous this year. They appeared in volume during the first 
week of October; and by the third week they seemed to be 
everywhere, invading the whole residence district of the city. 
But this seemed to be a “wave,” for by the middle of November 
few were seen in the city. Throughout the winter a few were 
seen on nearly every trip to the field, but by the third week in 
March a wave was again apparent, and large numbers were now 
observed on all trips until the middle of April. From the latter 
date onward they decreased in numbers, and the last record was 
on May 6. But on the spring northward movement there was 
no such invasion of the city yards and parkings as occurred 
in the fall. 
18. Song Sparrow. Melospiza m. melodia. Ordinarily the 
Song Sparrow does not arrive at this point until the middle of 
March. This winter two were seen on January 7 (Allen and 
Stephens). They were among a flock of English Sparrows be- 
yond the city, and may have wintered. 
19. Cardinal. Cardinalis c. cardinalis. This beautiful and 
picturesque bird is a permanent resident, and is increasing in 
numbers in this locality. It is frequently observed in the woods 
along the Big Sioux river, in the wooded ravines east and south 
of Morningside, and in the thickets across the river in Nebraska. 
On January 7 Mr. Allen and I counted nineteen (nine males 
and ten females) up along the Bix Sioux. All but two of these 
were in one neighborhood, and evidently associating together in 
a flock such as described by Nuttall. 2 When a flock of Cardi- 
nals moves about the flight is characteristic ; the movement is in 
single file, so that the group does not present the appearance of 
an ordinal flock of birds. The peculiar dippy, and irregular 
flight of the Cardinal probably is an acquirement which has pro- 
tective value, making a much more difficult target in motion, 
as well as enhancing his beauty as he flits through the bare 
trees, and over the snow-blanketed earth. 
The Cardinals on this date were not singing but frequently 
uttered a short, incisive call which sounds like “ peet, peet,” etc. 
2 Popular Handbook of Birds of the Eastern United States and Canada.. 
By Thomas Nuttall. Revised edition, 1911, part I, page 363. 
