storms they seek the sheltered woods. In the depths of winter they and the Winter-wren (Troglodytes hyemalis), the Creeper (Certhia Americana), and the Black-capped. Titmouse (Parus atricapillus), enliven the woods, especially a wooded hillside with a southern exposure. Such a position is the most favorable by far, for finding these and other small winter resident birds. Unlike the Winter-wren (T. hyemalis), the Kinglets are not quarrelsome, but quietly from limb to limb, and tree to tree, flit incessantly, gathering the dormant insect life beneath the bark. To recur to the subject of their summer sojourn is it fair to suppose that those that do remain are old and too feeble to perform the journey north? If so, would they not also be too old for nidification and incubation? We think so; and so cannot account for the specimens in pin-feathers.

At this date (November 24th), both species of Kinglet are very abundant about the trees in the streets, and are remarkably tame.

9. The Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitherus vermivorus). 10. Blue-winged Yellow-warbler (Helminthophaga pinus).

Golden-winged Warbler (Helminthophaga chrysoptera). 12. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata). 13. Hooded Warbler (Myiodioctes mitratus).

We have now to take up the question of the geographical distribution of certain birds in a somewhat different manner, and to discuss, or rather to assert that we are not entitled to that usually or heretofore accredited to us. Of the five species of Warblers we have named above, four (except Dendroica coronata) have so far eluded us, although we have searched earnestly for them, after the spring visitors had gone. Coming as they did with them, and leaving simultaneously we supposed, like them, they, too, had gone north. This was our experience up to the time of completing our report for the "Geology of New Jersey." Three summers. have since passed, and as yet we have found not even one specimen of the four species later than June 5th, and no

authentic nest. Of the many Warblers' nests we discovered there were four that we failed to identify, the birds belonging thereto not appearing when we had opportunities of watching. The general appearance of these nests which had eggs in was that of species common with us, although the eggs were a little peculiar. We have not had, since 1866, during any one summer, very good opportunities for hunting birds; but being ever on the lookout for the four species in question, we think it strange if they did remain throughout the breeding season without our detecting them.

As we have shown that some species that have heretofore always sought breeding grounds north of us now remain, therefore why should not others, formerly with us, conclude also to make a change, even though it be the opposite from that of their cousins? The surface of our state has materially changed in its general aspect within the past thirty years, since Audubon visited it; and these changes may have driven off certain species that probably are abundant no farther north or immaterially so, say Pennsylvania and New York. The changes we refer to are the very general cutting off of the woods, and clearing out of swamps. Certainly nine-tenths of the shelter that existed for birds in 1840 is now no longer in existence. The question may now be pertinently asked that if there is less shelter, why are there more new comers than there are departures of former residents? This we admit seems strange, and we can only answer it by asking another question; why should birds so similar as the Sylvicolida be of so many minds? Again, the four species in question are not at all sociable in their habits, and the new comers are; so we can see that the latter could be contented where the former would not, provided that the climate suited them.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata), presents to us an instance of climatic geographical distribution. which has not been published we believe; and that is, that from September to June this species has been met with in

New Jersey, on each of the intervening months. My attention was first drawn to it, by noting several in March, before any other species of the family had appeared. In February of the following year one specimen was seen and shot, and since then (1863), it has been met with sparsely in November, December, and January. These scattered Warblers are associated with the regular winter residents, Creepers, Nuthatches and Titmice.

14. Butcher Bird (Collyrio borealis). We have seen the Shrike as early as September quite abundant, but more generally it is in December and January that it is to be readily met with. No species visiting us from the North is more uncertain in its movements, and occasionally a winter passes without any being seen about. The snowy winters are those in which they are most numerous, and during such a winter their peculiarities are more readily studied, as they are during "open winters" far more shy and retired in their habits. With us they follow closely after loose companies of Snow-birds (Junco hyemalis), and seem to live very largely upon them. On the approach of warm weather they do not all go beyond the boundaries of the state, as the writer has seen them in Sussex county during the breeding season. But very few individuals do remain however.

15. Winter Wren (Troglodytes hyemalis). So like them in its appearance, and arriving in as large numbers so closely upon the disappearance of the Troglodytes adon, there is a wide spread impression among persons with a smattering of disjointed ornithology, that they are one and the same bird, and that simply the former habit of migration has ceased. This absurd idea has gained ground in consequence of the very great accession to their numbers of the T. hyemalis that now annually appear. During the winter they are one of our most numerous species, ranking with Passerella iliaca and Lophophanes bicolor in this respect.

Like the "Shrike" (Collyrio borealis), they, too, do not depart wholly from us in the spring. Their numbers with

us in summer are much less than might be supposed, however, from my note in the "Geology of New Jersey," p. 776.

16. Red-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis). A careful observer of the birds that now (November) are enlivening our generally leafless trees will not fail to notice continually a woodpecker-like moving little bird that has as unmusical a note as ever fell upon one's ear or added cacophonic variety to a harsh mixture, for verily the music of the woods hath now departed. Of the three birds to which these remarks are applicable, we refer particularly to that named above. A strictly northern species, early in November by ones and twos they make their appearance in company with Sitta Carolinensis, and to the casual observer they appear to be one and the same. In their habits, they, with us, present nothing distinctive. They number, we should judge, about one to twenty compared with "Carolinensis," and three or four per cent. remain during the summer. The locality of their nests and breeding habits are generally the same as in S. Carolinensis.

17. Black-throated Bunting (Euspiza Americana). Although abundant during the summer in Pennsylvania, less than one hundred miles from the state line (Delaware River), we had never, up to the end of the summer of 1867, been able to see these birds later than May, until they appeared in numbers in September. In the spring of 1868, and again during the past spring and summer, we found in various localities colonies of them breeding in low bushes, several nests being found in one field. We believe that for some reason we have not ascertained, they have annually left the state to breed and then reappeared. They are now with us (November) and we think that a few remain during the winter.

18. Rusty Black-bird (Scolecophagus ferrugineus). During the summers of '67, '68 and '69, these birds have been quite abundant about Trenton, New Jersey, associating with

They

the Quiscalus versicolor and Agelaius phoeniceus. built their nests invariably in trees growing upon the banks of streams, raising one brood only.

19. Snipe (Gallinago Wilsonii). We find on conversing with intelligent observers throughout the state, that in the immediate neighborhood of all those tracts of meadows where the Snipe first appear in March, or even earlier, that quite a number remain during the summer and breed. This has been our opinion and coincides with the results of our observations about the extensive tract of meadow extending along the Delaware River from Trenton to Bordentown, New Jersey. During the past few years we think the number remaining has increased steadily. In the autumn many arrive from the North and remain a longer or shorter time according to the weather. Indeed, so long as the ground is not too much frozen to enable them to feed, they are abundant; and after the formation of thick ice some still remain, resorting to spring-holes, and such open water as gives them a chance to thrust their bills in the mud; but we cannot imagine what they then find to eat. During the winter we have examined the stomachs of many, but the mass contained therein was invariably so far digested as to render it impossible to recognize anything, except that it appeared to be largely animal matter.

20. Tell-tale Sandpiper (Gambetta melanoleuca). 21. Yellow-legged Sandpiper (Gambetta flavipes).

Early in May, following the course of the Delaware River, these birds in company with other Scolopacida arrive in the neighborhood of Trenton, New Jersey, and on the muddy shores and marshy inland of Duck Island, and the extensive sand bars and grassy islands near and above the city mentioned, make themselves at home. By the first of June the great majority have gone North; but with the few smaller species that remain, and the myriads of Tringoides macularius, the "Tell-tale" and "Yellow-legs" now reduced in numbers, associate, and when feeding along the river act