260 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vol. XXIV, 1917 
drained that comparatively few swamps or ponds were left 
when it was last visited, in August of 1913. Where, in 1909 
and 1910, cattails and other aquatic vegetation, teeming with 
bird life, flourished, solid fields of corn now stand and the birds 
have vanished. This is particularly true of southeastern Clay 
county, where most of the time was spent. These notes are pre- 
sented as a partial record of the conditions existing in this region 
before man eliminated the swamps and “kettle holes” and 
changed entirely the conditions found there. It is believed that 
the list of water birds is reasonably complete except among the 
migrating sandpipers and rarer ducks. 
Little has been published regarding the avifauna of this re- 
gion. Tinker 2 published a list of eighty-six species based on 
material secured by the University of Michigan- Walker Expe- 
dition, which visited Clay and northwestern Palo Alto counties 
between July 1 and September 1, 1907. 
A papei by the writer 3 contained a list of fifty species found 
breeding on a farm near Webb. Aside from these two articles 
only scattered notes in reference to this locality have appeared. 
Tinker’s list includes eight species which were not found by 
the writer, namely Virginia Rail, Stilt Sandpiper, Greater Yel- 
lowlegs, Long-eared Owl, Alder Flycatcher, Western Henslow 
Sparrow, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Wilson. Warbler. These 
added to the 136 recorded here make a total of 144 species for the 
region. 
Little need be said regarding topography. The dominant fea- 
ture is the gently rolling prairie land which is now practically 
all under cultivation. Innumerable lakes, ponds, swamps, and 
“kettle holes.” dotted this prairie at the time these notes were 
made and the land was cultivated between them. The only 
stream of any importance is the Little Sioux river wdiich crosses 
Clay county from north to south just east of the center and 
then turns west along the southern edge of the two counties, 
running here within and there without the borders. The valley 
is more or less wooded throughout the course with the heaviest 
timber in southern Clay. Ash ( Fraxhms americanus var.), elms 
.(Ulmus americ ana and U. racemosa ) , maple (Acer saccharinum ) , 
2 Tinker, A. D., Notes on the Ornithology of Clay and Palo Alto counties, 
Iowa: Auk, Vol. XXXI, p, 70-81, January, 1914. 
3 Gabrielson, Ira N., Breeding Birds of a Clay County, Iowa, Farm : 
Wilson Bulletin, Vol. XXVI, p. 69-80, June, 1914. 
