28 THE AUDUBON BUDD EIS 
was seen just at our dooryard. I’ll repeat the list I mailed to Bird Lore 
yesterday. Turtle Doves, 3; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; 
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4; Flicker, 3; Jaybird, 10; Crow, 11; Cow-bird, 
1; Meadow Lark, 3; Purple Grackle, 1; Goldfinch, 20; Tree Sparrow, 12; 
Junco, 175; Song Sparrow, 1; Cardinal, 15; Tufted Titmouse, 7; Chick- 
adee, 4; 17 species, 272 individuals. 
The snow is very deep here and badly drifted; we found no bare 
ground anywhere. Many of the places where birds are usually numerous 
were deserted. The three doves were at the barn. I did not see any of 
them today but early in December I saw a score of them. 
There were six meadow larks at the barn this evening. They were 
feeding at a pile of manure. When I went out to scatter some food near 
there they flew to the nearest tree—about fifty feet and had not moved 
again the last I noticed. Last year we had two dozen meadow larks that 
fed with the cattle all winter and about that many doves. 
As to quails—we could have many of them if we could some way get 
a perpetual closed season for them. Each summer we have several brood 
but always most of them are killed. Yesterday evening—too late for my 
report to Bird Lore six of them came up to the barn. 
The cow-bird and the grackle were both great surprises as I had 
never before seen either at the Christmas season. But both were sluggish 
and sat moveless in plain view and were examined with glasses so there 
could be no mistake. I didn’t see either today, however. I have never 
seen a starling to recognize it. Some birds that have been reported to me 
as starlings have proved to be grackles. 
We have at least one Carolina wren about the place. It got into the 
milk house Saturday. I could not find it anywhere Monday while 
enumerating birds, but it came to a juniper limb just outside my window 
while I was writing my report. It was back today. 
One of the most interesting things I noticed Monday was the way 
different species appeared to enjoy each other. On a narrow level strip 
at the base of a south-facing slope we came suddenly upon a throng of 
juncos. They were traveling west Just then—not as a flock—but indi- 
vidually each flitting forward six or eight feet. Closer examination 
showed a few goldfinches going along with them. But these birds clung 
higher on the weed stems and were more recklessly acrobatic in their 
searching. And there were at least eight, perhaps a dozen cardinals with 
them. They flitted forward in the same way, occasionally one or two 
' would hop upon the fence. A little later we came to another big flock of 
juncos, cardinals and goldfinches in a corn field. And there were tree 
sparrows with them. . 
MATTOON 
No census was attempted for this (Coles) County but a letter written 
by Mrs. Clarence W. Hughes reports a first-seen starling attempting to 
