THE ORNITHOLOGIUAL YEAR. 13

The commoner permanent residents of the middle Eastern States are. the following:

Bob—white. Hairy Woodpecker, Rufied Grouse, Flicker,

Red-shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay,

Red-tailed Hawk, Crow,

Sharp—shinned Hawk, Mezulowlark,

Barred Owl, American Goldfinch, Long-cared Owl, Purple Finch,

Screech Owl, Song Sparrow,

Great Horned Owl. White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Chickadee,

and occasionally the \Vaxwing, Bluebird, and Robin pass: the winter. To these should be added the following more or less common winter visitant land-birds:

Saw-whet Owl, Tree Sparrow,

Horned Lark, Junco,

Snowflake, Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur, Winter Wren.

Kedpoll, (iolden-crownml Kinglet, American Crossbill, Brown Creeper.

VVhitc-throated Sparrow,

Let us now begin with the (melting of the spring migration and briefly review the ornithological year. In the, vicinity of New York city the first birds arrive from the south late in February or early in March. There is much variation in the coming of these early birds. Later. when the weather is more settled, migrants arrive within a few days of a given date. In April most of our winter visitants leave for the north. The current of migration grows steadily stronger until about May 12, when high-water mark is reached. Then it rapidly subsides and the Springr migration is practically over by June 1. The winter yisitants have gone, the great army of transients has passed us. and our bird population is now composed of permanent residents with the addition of about. ninety summer residents.

Nestirlgtime has arrived, and birds which for nearly a year have been frcc: 1‘) go and come as inclination directed. now have homes where, daly lLfter day, they may be found in tireless attendance upon the nest emd its treasures. Courtship. the construction of a dwelling, the task (if. incubation. and care of the young. all tend to stimulate the. characteristic t'aits of the bird. and at no other time -an its habits be studied to better ad 'antage.

llut resident birds begin building long before the migration is con-