32 REPORT OF .NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
cuffing and answering, as it were, to keep from being separated 
from each other. . , 
The bulk of migrations occur on clear nights, yet storms ov - 
take them and many of them are killed. Becoming bewildered, 
they fly against lighthouses or other obstructions. 
During migrations, the flight of birds is by no means continuous. 
Instead of uniform flights of birds we have a series of waves, with 
corresponding rests or lulls between them. The time each species 
arrives varies either by changes in temperature or other causes. 
EARLY MIGRATIONS. 
The spring migration begins early in February with the arrival 
of scattered flocks of robins, bluebirds, purple grackles and a few- 
other species, none of which come earlier. Sometimes a little latei 
in the north red-winged blackbirds and flickers maj be found. 
Still later these early birds pass farther north. The above well- 
marked wave continue to come in increasing numbers during favoi- 
able weather. No other decided wave comes until about the middle 
of March. During March, in addition to the above species, the 
principal migrants are the meadow-lark, pewee, field sparrow, fox 
sparrow, cowbird, dove, Canada goose, kildeer, plover, yellow-bel 
lied sapsuckers, savanna sparrow's, vesper sparrows, myrtle warb¬ 
lers and rusty grackles. Not before the middle of the month do 
these birds arrive in abundance. 
After the first of April begins the flight of the strictly summer 
species. The most characteristic species are the chipping sparrow-, 
hermit thrush, chimney swift, ruby-crowned kinglet, barn and 
bank swallows, myrtle warbler, thrasher, house wren, chewink, 
white and black warblers, Maryland yellow-throat and solitary 
vireo. During the last week in April a number of other species 
arrive. The “thrush and warbler waves* of May sometimes begin 
the last days of April. 
The following have been seen in smaller or larger numbers from 
April 20th to 30th, but in large numbers do not arrive until May: 
Kingbird, water, v'ood and Wilson’s thrush, yellow, black-throated, 
green and parula warbler, crested flycatcher, orchard oriole, scarlet 
tanager, red-eyed vireo and catbird. 
