152 
EIGHTH REPORT. 
On this lake plain we find the richest mesophytic forest of this vicin¬ 
ity,—a continuation, according to Transeau, of the northern Wabash 
valley flora. It is not therefore surprising that there should occur 
some of the more southern birds with this forest. I have found here the 
Cardinal, the Tufted Titmouse, and below Ypsilanti the Sycamore Warb¬ 
ler has been taken by Dr. J. Van Possen in the groves of sycamores 
which line the river.* 
From this sketch of the region under consideration, it will be seen 
that the conditions are very favorable for the occurrence, not only of 
the common bird life of the State, but also for many of the rarer species 
which find favorable conditions and in some cases breed in this vicinity, 
as with the Prothonotary Warbler, which was found in a swamp near 
South Lyon. 
Ann Arbor is particularly fortunate with regard to bird migration, 
in being situated at the junction of the Huron valley and the old glacial 
drainage channel which extends southwest, which, by means of the lake 
plain, connects with the Maumee and Wabash valley systems, thus fur¬ 
nishing a highway for certain species. The water birds probably mi¬ 
grate up the Huron valley from Lake Erie, past Ann Arbor and on to 
the northwestern lake region. 
The marginal notes in my personal copy of Coues’ “Key” are the first 
records which I have of the occurrence of species in this vicinity, near 
Saline, eight miles southwest of Ann Arbor. In the year 1884 I com¬ 
menced a regular series of records on blanks sent out by the American 
Ornithologists’ Union. These were sent to me by the late Dr. J. M. 
Wheaton, then of Columbus, Ohio, who had charge of the inland divi¬ 
sion. The blanks were later (1886) sent out by the U. S. Dept, of Agri¬ 
culture, “Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy,” and in 1896 by the 
Mich. Ornithological Club. Since 1895 the records include the observa¬ 
tions of several bird observers, most of whom were students here at the 
University. 
During the last three years the members of the Bird Club, an informal 
club under the auspices of the University Museum, have furnished 
the records. It will be seen that these later records are the most com¬ 
plete of the series, on account of the larger number of observers. Of 
the local students especially active in making the records, the following 
should be mentioned: W. A. Maclean, Jesse J. Ricks, A. D. Tinker, W. 
H. Grant, Otto McCreary, R. A. Brown, Max M. Peet and R. D. T. 
Hollister. 
We are under special obligations to Prof. W. W. Cooke of the Bio¬ 
logical Survey of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, for allowing 
Mr. W. H. Grant to make a copy of certain early records sent in by 
Ann Arbor observers. The various records available include the follow¬ 
ing lists: 1886, by Prof. J. B. Steere and students; 1888, by Prof. F. L. 
Washburn; 1889, by Mr. A. B. Covert, who also kindly allowed the use 
of many marginal notes in his copy of Coues’ Key; 1890, by Mr. Jas. 
Savage; 1892, by Mr. Legrand T. Meyers; 1899, by Mr. Chas. L. Cass 
(spring and fall) ; 1884, 1886 and 1892, by myself at Saline, copies of 
which I had not preserved. For those records we are under special 
obligations to Mr. Grant. „ 
*On April 22, 1906, I saw this warbler in a sycamore grove near Geddes, and on May 4 secured a 
pair. I believe this is the most northern record for Michigan. 
