Hay on Birds of the Lower Mississippi . 89 
by. its serving as a point of attachment for the tensor patagii I011- 
gus, that tendon is freed from all duties save that of “puckering 
up” the anterior margin of the wing ; but, as stated before, that 
theory is by no means entirely satisfactory to me. 
A LIST OF BIRDS FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI 
VALLEY, OBSERVED DURING THE SUMMER OF 
1881, WITH BRIEF NOTES. 
BY O. P. HAY. 
During the summer of 1881 the writer and two companions 
spent a little more than a month in the South, especially in the 
State of Mississippi, travelling and studying its zoology. Our 
primary object was to collect fresh-water fishes ; and to this we 
devoted the greater part of our time and efforts. Incidentally, 
however, we collected and made observations on other animals/ 
Hence this list of birds and the few notes concerning them. I 
did not intend to publish this list until I had opportunity to 
make additions to it ; but the recent publication by Dr. F. W. 
Langdon of his field-notes on birds observed by him, early in the 
spring, at a point. a little farther south, has made it seem proper 
that I should contribute my little toward making known the or- 
nithology of this region. 
Our observations and collections were made of course under 
difficulties, and no attempt was made to secure nests and eggs, 
or, in any special manner, notes on the breeding habits of birds. 
Still, on account of the season when our trip was made, this list 
may be of some value as indicating that the birds observed are 
summer residents. The number of species recorded is not large, 
but I include only birds that I am reasonably sure were seen. In 
nearly all cases the birds were shot, and identified by means of 
descriptions. Others were seen, but as they were not identified 
with certainty, they are not included in the list. 
The birds noted as found at Memphis, Tenn., were really seen 
in Arkansas just across the river from Memphis. Most of our 
other notes were obtained at Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. 
