ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK AND OF: THE WEST CANADA CREEK VALLEY BAGG ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY CORNELL UNIY, ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HomE ECONOMICS AT CoRNELL UNIVERSITY Annotated list of the birds of Oneida Co Annotated List of the Birds of Oneida County, N. Y. and of the West Canada Creek Valley By Egbert Bagg Associate Member American Ornithologists’ Union Read before the Oneida Historical Society March 13, 1911 4 From Transactions O. H. S. Vol. 12,Pages 16-85, 1912 Annotated List of the Birds of Oneida County, N. Y. and of the West Canada Creek Valley By . Egbert Bagg Associate Member American Ornithologists’ Union Read before the Oneida Historical Society March 13, 1911 . From Transactions O. H. S. Vol. 12, Pages 16-85, 1912 . PRESS OF THOMAS J. GRIFFITHS, UTICA, N. ¥- “Birds” An Address before the Oneida Historical Society on March 13th, 1911, by Egbert Bagg, of Utica, N. Y. Twenty-five years ago this winter I appeared before you in the rooms connected with those of the City Library, and read “An Annotated List of the Birds of Oneida County, N. Y.,” which I had prepared from the observations of the late Dr. William L. Ralph and myself. To-night I appear again to bring that list up to date. Great has been the advance in ornithological knowledge during the quarter of a century and in Oneida County, as well as elsewhere, we have advanced in knowledge of our birds. The list, as originally presented, contained 224 species. Now I am able to increase it to 257; but more important than the increase in numbers is the additional information as to the habits and distribution of the birds of our county. The Oneida Historical Society printed the original list, and so, having become responsible for it, has reason to congratu- late .itself that this list has been the authority for Central New York for a quarter of a century. During that time, while thirty-three new species have been added, it has not been nec- essary to remove one. There are a very few (twelve) which were originally given on the authority of others, which still remain without further record; and two of these have been questioned*, but the evidence is as good as it was twenty-five years ago, I see no reason to doubt their occurrence, and I have therefore allowed all the original names to stand. Of first importance in the study of the birds of a certain region is a limit to and a knowledge of the region itself. Birds are not governed by the arbitrary geographical boundary lines *Least Tern, Common Cormorant. 18 Oneida Historical Society. made by man, and I have therefore considered that any bird recorded from an adjoining county might fairly be supposed to occur in this. In one direction I have even extended the limit to a second county. This is in the case of the valley of the West Canada Creek. This stream, which bounds: our county for a short distance on the east, rises in Hamilton county and flows southwesterly across the narrow county of Herkimer before it reaches Oneida. As its fauna is directly tributary to our county I have included it, as I did in the original list, and to cover this extra-limital district, I call this “An Annotated List of the Birds of Oneida County, N. Y., and of the West Canada Creek Valley.” This county has always been considered a most interesting region in geological, botanical and ornithological investiga- tion; and has been the chosen field of such. distinguished scientists as Dana and Walcott, the geologists, Gray, the botanist, and Merriam, the ornithologist; besides many others only less distinguished, as Doctors Ralph and Haberer of our own city, Almost in the center of the State of New York, of irregular outline, approaching in shape a heart, with one lobe resting on Oneida Lake; the other in the great Adirondack wilderness, and the point down in the head-waters of the Sus- quehanna, a line drawn from the north, in a southerly direction across the county, cuts outcropping of almost all the rocks, from the Pre-Cambrian to the Middle Devonian. Such a field for the geologist as does not exist elsewhere on the continent. It is traversed from east to west by the broad and fertile valley of the Mohawk and Wood Creek, and between them the old “carry” of the early boatmen, the summit between the Hudson and the Great Lakes, but so low a summit that the Barge Canal is only 430 feet above the sea. From this valley the land rises into gentle hills in both directions, only to fall away again to the sources of the Black River on the North and of the Chenango and the Unadilla on the south. The highest land in the county is Tassel Hill, 1,944 feet; while the moun-. tains at the head-waters of the West Canada Creek have an elevation of 3,047 feet. The county contains the sources of rivers flowing to all four points of the compass—the Black River to the north and the Oneida River to the west, both finding their way through the Birds. ag St. Lawrence to the Atlantic; the Mohawk to the east and the Chenango and Unadilla to the south, the former, through the Hudson, and the latter, through the Susquehanna, reaching the same destination. : : The rainfall is large, and the temperature is not only low on the average, but exceedingly variable, especially in winter. Changes of fifty or sixty degrees Fahrenheit within twenty- four hours occur in almost every winter, and I have one record of a fall of seventy-two degrees in thirty hours. Such changes ‘destroy many birds if they are present, and make it almost impossible for such birds as the Bob-white, which are snowed under and frozen in, to maintain themselves as residents. A few winters ago the crust on the snow throughout this part of the county was strong enough so that for at least a week one could skate in any direction over the fields. Such a crust must, without doubt, destroy all but the most powerful birds which are caught under it. This is the climate of the center of the county, of the Mohawk Valley. In the extreme north it is much more steadily cold in winter, and in the south and west (where it is affected by large bodies of water) it is somewhat milder; but taken as a whole it must be considered a severe and trying climate. The most of the county is in the Transition Life Zone of Dr. Merriam. The northern part and the West Canada Creek Valley are in the Canadian, and there is a very small and very interesting area at the eastern end of Oneida Lake, where the Adirondack Valley of Fish Creek, coming down from the north, meets the valley of the Oneida, which connects directly on the west with a Carolinian area which comes east along the Great Lakes. Here we find such Canadian species as the White-throated Sparrow, the New York Water Thrush, and the Canada Warbler, breeding side by side with the Mourning Dove, the Whip-poor-will and the Towhee; while the forest is partly composed of tulip and gum trees, with quité a number of small sassafras, almost unknown among our beech, birch and maple at Utica, and entirely so in the spruce and fir forests in our northeastern section. 20 Oneida Historical Society. Local lists such as this are not mow so valuable as they once were, because the ground has been better covered than it was twenty-five years ago; and, since they gain most of their value from their local character, they are more valuable as they are more local. Hence a statement of the exact locality and time of these observations will add to their value. While I have consulted the local lists of those observers whose fields have overlapped ours, including Mr. E. H. Eaton’s new book, “The Birds of New York,” the foundation is, of course, the original list of 1886, which contained Dr. Ralph’s observations up to that date, mostly in the northern part of the county, but the principal sources of the information con- tained in this list are from my own observations, extending over nearly fifty years I have my ornithological journals from 1865 to date, and even the first pages contain some interesting facts. These journals show that I made my first trip into the West Canada Creek Valley in 1865, again in 1866. In 1872 I began to go there regularly for the month of June and con- tinued to do so till 1881, when I changed to August, and hardly missed a year till 1896. In 1884 I took a June trip to the Mon- tezuma marshes on the Seneca River, where J have spent many fall days, both before and since. These marshes are outside of our limits, but directly connected by the valley of the Seneca and the Oneida, and the birds of that region easily pass by this birds’ highway to our county. June, 1886, I spent at Holland Patent, a most wonderfully interesting locality for a bird student. June, 1887, I spent in that fascinating area at the east end of Oneida Lake, and was so pleased with the locality that I have spent a great part of every summer (but two) since at that point. In 1894 I began to go to the West Canada Creek Valley in May and have continued to do so ever since. As IJ have lived all these forty-five years at Utica and have made numerous excursions from here, perhaps the field has been as well covered as could be expected when done by one business man during his vacation hours. To group the birds of so small a district as ours, according to their occurrence, is very difficult, but I have attempted to do so, and submit this list of 27 residents; 118 summer resi- Birds. ai dents, of which six, the Red-headed Woodpecker, the Gold- finch, the Cedar Waxwing, the Robin, the Junco, and the Brown Creeper, sometimes remain during the winter; 72 tran- sients, of which most of the water birds might be classed as “winter residents” or “winter visitors,’ if we had any open water in the county during midwinter, these birds or many of them remaining on the Great Lakes. and -on those of the finger lakes whiclx do not freeze; 12 winter visitors from the north; and 28 species of accidental occurrence. All these classes can be again subdivided, but instead of doing so I refer to the notes under each species in the list. RESIDENTS. Three-toed Woodpecker. Pileated Woodpecker. Blue Jay. Bob-white. Canada Spruce Partridge. ' Ruffed Grouse. Goshawk. Canada Jay. Red-tailed Hawk. Northern Raven. Bald Eagle. Crow. Long-eared Owl. Crossbill. Barred Owl. Pine Siskin. ‘ Saw-whet Owl. Screech Owl. | Great Horned Owl. Hairy Woodpecker. Downy Woodpecker. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker SUMMER RESIDENTS. House Sparrow. White-breasted Nuthatch. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Chickadee. Hudsonian Chickadee. Loon. Herring Gull. Merganser. Red-breasted Merganser. Black Duck. Wood Duck. Golden-eye. Bittern. Least Bittern. Great Blue Heron, Green Heron. Black-crowned Night Heron. White-throated Sparrow. Chipping Sparrow. Field Sparrow. Slate-colored Junco. Song Sparrow. Lincoln’s Sparrow. Swamp Sparrow. Towhee. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Indigo Bunting. Scarlet Tanager. Purple Martin, 22 Virginia Rail, Sora. Florida Gallinule. Coot. Woodcock. Upland Plover. Spotted Sandpiper. Killdeer. Passenger Pigeon. Mourning Dove. Marsh Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Cooper’s Hawk. . Red-shouldered Hawk. Broad-winged Hawk. Duck Hawk. Sparrow Hawk. Osprey. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Black-billed Cuckoo. Belted Kingfisher. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Red-headed Woodpecker. Flicker. Whip-poor-will. Nighthawk. Chimney Swift. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Kingbird. Crested Flycatcher. Phoebe. Olive-sided Flycatcher. Wood Pewee. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Alder Flycatcher. Least Flycatcher. Prairie Horned Lark. Bobolink. ‘Cowbird. Red-winged Blackbird. Meadowlark. Oneida Historical Society. Cliff Swallow. Barn Swallow. Tree Swallow. Bank Swallow. Rough-winged Swallow. Cedar Waxwing. Migrant Shrike. Red-eyed ‘Vireo. Philadelphia Vireo. Warbling Vireo. Yellow-throated Vireo. Blue-headed Vireo. Black and White Warbler. Nashville Walrbler. — Northern Parula Warbler. Yellow Warbler. Black-throated Blue Warbler. Magnolia Warbler. Cerulean Warbler. Blackburnian Warbler. Black-throated Green Warbler. Pine Warbler. Oven-bird. Water-thrush. Louisiana Water-thrush. Mourning Warbler. Maryland Yellow-throat. Yellow-breasted Chat. Hooded Warbler. Canada Warbler. Redstart. Catbird. Brown Thrasher. House Wren. Winter Wren. Long-billed Marsh Wren. Brown Creeper. Golden-crowned Kinglet. Wood Thrush. Baltimore Oriole. Rusty Blackbird. Birds. 2a Bronzed Grackle. Purple Finch. Goldfinch. m, Vespér Sparrow. Savannah Sparrow. Grasshopper Sparrow. Horned Grebe. Pied-billed Grebe. Red-throated Loon. Ring-billed Gull. Bonaparte’s Gull. , Common Tern. Black Tern. Double-crested Cormorant. Hooded Merganser. Mallard. Gadwall. Baldpate. Green-winged Teal. Blue-winged Teal. Shoveller. Pintail. Redhead. .Canvas-back. Scaup Duck. Lesser Scaup Duck. Buffle-head. Old-squaw. King Eider. Scoter. White-winged Scoter. Surf-Scoter. Ruddy Duck. Canada Goose. Whistling Swan. Yellow Rail. Red Phalarope. Northern Phalarope. Wilson’s Phalarope. Veery. Olive-backed Thrush. Hermit Thrush. Robin. Bluebird. TRANSIENTS. Pectoral Sandpiper... . White-rumped Sandpiper. Baird’s Sandpiper. Least Sandpiper. Red-backed Sandpiper. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Sanderling. Hudsonian Godwit. Greater Yellow-legs. Yellow-legs. | Solitary Sandpiper. Long-billed Curlew. “Hudsonian Curlew. Black-bellied Plover. Golden Plover. Semipalmated Plover. Turnstone. Rough-legged Hawk. Pigeon Hawk. Short-eared Owl. White-crowned Sparrow. Tree Sparrow. Fox Sparrow. Orange-crowned Warbler. Tennessee Warbler. Cape May Warbler. Myrtle Warbler. Bay-breasted Warbler. Black-poll Warbler. Yellow Palm Warbler. Connecticut Warbler. Wilson’s Warbler. Pipit. 24 Oneida Historical S ociety. Wilson’s Snipe. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Dowditcher. Gray-cheeked Thrush. Knot. Bicknell’s Thrush. ACCIDENTAL, Holbeell’s Grebe. Wilson’s Plover. Brunnich’s Murre. Willow Ptarmigan. Parasitic Jaeger. Turkey Vulture. Kittiwake. Golden Eagle. Iceland Gull. Barn Owl. Great Black-backed Gull. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Least Tern. Orchard Oriole. Black Skimmer. Evening Grosbeak. Black-capped. Petrel. Nelson’s Sparrow. ‘Cormorant. Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Black Brant. Lark Sparrow. Egret. . Blue Grosbeak. Little Blue Heron. Plumbeous Vireo. Sandhill Crane. Short-billed Marsh Wren. WINTER VISITORS. Great Gray Owl. Redpoll. Snowy Owl. Greater Redpoll. Hawk Owl. Snow Bunting. Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur. Pine Grosbeak. Bohemian Waxwing. White-winged Crossbill. Northern Shrike. The notes under some species in the list give dates of arrivals (the water birds for Oneida Lake, the others for Utica and vicinity.) They were only kept for the commoner species and for a limited number of years, but will be of some assist- ance to observers. The nomenclature used is that of the third edition of the American Ornithologists’ Union’s “Check List of North American Birds.” This makes unnecessary the authority for each name, which has been accordingly omitted. The terms used, such as “Common,” “Rare,” etc., explain themselves, but it should be borne in mind that they are com- parative. “Common” as applied to a bird of prey indicates a much smaller number of individuals than the same term when applied to a sparrow or a swallow. Birds. 25 For assistance, my obligation is, always first, to the late Dr. William L. Ralph. In the introduction to the first list we acknowledged the assistance of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Messrs. A. L. Brainard, and A. A. Howlett, which acknowledg- ment I now repeat, and I wish to add my thanks to Messrs. William P. Shepard, Robert J. Hughes, George C. Embody, William R. Maxon, A. A. Beardsley, the Rev. Francis C. Smith, to my own two sons and to those other observers who have rendered valuable assistance and who are credited in the proper place in the body of the list. In conclusion I beg to say that the list is absolutely accurate. Every item of which I have not personal knowledge is so given with the authority. No bird is given as “breeding” without positive proof, though it is fair to assume that all “summer residents” and all “residents” do so. ‘With this introduction I submit this, my second contribu- tion to the history of Oneida County. EGBERT BAGG. Utica, N. Y., 1911. LIST. . 1. Colymbus holbcelli. HOLBCILL’S GREBE. A rare migrant. A female taken out of a flock of five or six on the Mohawk River in 1867. In February, 1902, and again in February, 1904, when all water was frozen, large numbers of these birds appeared in this county, undoubtedly driven _ from open water by storms. They were perfectly helpless, easily taken with the hands and captured in large numbers. They were reported from Rome, Oriskany, Utica, Clinton, and New Hartford. All efforts to keep them alive failed. Dissec- tion of one showed the gizzard to be filled with feathers of the bird. 26 __.. Oneida Historical Society. 2. Colymbus auritus. - HORNED GREBE, A not common migrant. i) ‘3. Podilymbus podiceps. PIED-BILLED GREBE. A common migrant in the county and common summer resident on the marshes of the Seneca River. See Galinula galeata. 4. Gavia immer. LOON. Common at Oneida Lake. Occasionally seen in other parts of the county. A common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. 5. Gavia stellata. RED-THROATED LOON. A young bird killed at Clinton, October, 1889. One on exhi- bition at Sylvan Beach in 1891 was killed at Durhamville several years before. ? 6. Uria lomvia lomvia. BRUNNICH’S MURRE. Several specimens of this bird have been taken in winter. Recorded from Utica, December 24, 1894; Boonville, December s, 1894; Western, December 15, 1894; Yorkville, January 2, 1901; Whitestown, November 29, 1910. Like the Grebes, they were helpless and were undoubtedly driven inland by storms. Birds. 27 7. Stercorarius parasiticus. PARASITIC JAEGER. A young bird of this species was taken August 22, 1886, on Joc’s Lake in the West Canada Creek Valley, by Mr. W. P. Shepard. The bird was seen to alight on the lake, and, appar- ently exhausted with a long journey, allowed itself to be approached in a boat and killed with a paddle. 8. Rissa tridactyla tridactyla. KITTIWAKB. A young male killed at Constantia on Oneida Lake by Mr. Robert J. Hughes November 9g 1890. g. Larus leucopterus. ICELAND GULL. Recorded from Peterboro, N. Y., February 1, 1884, by Mr. George N. Lawrence in the “Auk,” Vol. I, page 240. to. Larus marinus. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. Recorded from Boonville, young female, latter part of Feb- ruary. 1903, by Mr. W. S. Johnson, in the “Auk,” Vol. XX, page 303. 1x. Larus argentatus. HERRING GULL. Occurs occasionally throughout the county. A common migrant at Oneida Lake. A common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. Have known of nests on Joc’s, Canachagala, Big Moose, Cedar, and West Canada Lakes. 28 Oneida Historical Society. 12. Larus delawarensis. RING-BILLED GULL. ‘Common at the eastern end of Oneida Lake in early fall of 1909 and IgIo. 13. Larus philadelphia. BONAPARTE’S GULL. A common migrant at Oneida Lake, where the common name is “Black-head Gull.” Eight of these birds out of a flock of about fifty were killed on the Utica Water Works reservoir in 1879. 14. Sterna hirundo. COMMON TERN. An irregular migrant on Oneida Lake. Sometimes in large flocks for weeks at a time. Sometimes not seen for several years, 15. Sterna antillarum. LEAST TERN. Mr. F. J. Davis states that he killed a bird of this species on the “Capron Pond,” so called, in the town of New Hartford about thirty years ago. Mr. E. H. Eaton regards this record and also those of DeKay and the Rathbun-Fowler list as “prob- ably partly in error,” as all specimens which he has examined proved to be juvenile specimens of the Black Tern. See “Birds of New York,” page 148. 16. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. BLACK TERN. An irregular migrant on Oneida Lake. Quite common in the fall of 1907. Several records in other years. Birds. 29 17. Rynchops nigra. ‘ BLACK SKIMMER. I have a specimen of this bird which was killed with a stone near Whitesboro. Baird, Brewer and Ridgway say of this bird: “It is never known to be driven astray by any storm, however violent.” 18. Aéstrelata hasitata. BLACK-CAPPED PETREL. A male of this rare straggler was shot at Verona Beach, Oneida Lake, August 28, 1893, by the Rev. G. A. Biedermann. The stomach was empty. Mr. B. reports that there were two birds together, but he secured only one, and further search failed to discover the other again, and it may have been of some other species. The meastirements were as follows: Length, 16 inches; wing, 10; tail, 514; its graduation, 134; bill, 134, 2-3 deep, 14 wide; tube, 34; tarsus, 114; middle toe and claw, 21%4. This bird was later purchased for a European ornithologist. 1g. Phalacrocorax carbo. CORMORANT. A female shot on Oneida Lake near upper South Bay by Mr. J. J. Beh of Utica, October 13, 1890, was examined at the taxidermist’s, who reported that the stomach contained a small fish and a soft-shelled crab. How long was this bird from salt water?. 20. Phalacrocorax auritus auritus. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. Qne was killed on Fourth Lake of the Fulton Chain about 1895. Now owned by Mr. J. A. Wood of Old Forge. Cor- 30 Oneida Historical Society: morants are often killed by gunners on Oneida Lake, most of which are undoubtedly of this species. I have several records and have seen at least one myself, but could not secure him. I think the Species might fairly be put down as a “NSE cormmon migrant.” 21. Mergus americanus. MERGANSER. A not common migrant. 22. Mergus serrator. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Common migrant at Oneida Lake. Common summer resi- dent in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. 23. Lophodytes cucullatus. HOODED MERGANSER. A common migrant. 24. Anas platyrhynchos. MALLARD. A common migrant. 25. Anas rubripes. BLACK DUCK. A common migrant. A common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. A nest on almost every small pond in the valley. pet Bids x a. 31 26. Chaulelasmus streperus. ae 2.94 Se GADWALL. Ae Leng Two killed in -April,: 1884, and one~in October, ' 1885, on Oneida Lake by Mr. A: A. Howlett’ of Syractsé and several killed at the same place by Mr. N. Wood of Brewerton. 27. Mareca americana. BALDPATE. A not common migrant. 28. Nettion carolinense. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A common migrant. 29 Querquedula discors. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. A common migrant. 30. Spatula clypeata. SHOVELLER. Two recorded at Utica April 19, 1884. Occasionally killed on Oneida Lake. 31. Dafila acuta. PINTAIL. A common migrant. 32 ‘Oneida Historical Society. 32. Aix sponsa. WOOD DUCK. A not uncommon summer resident at Oneida Lake. Breeds. A common migrant throwghout the county. 33. Marila americana. REDHEAD. A not uncommon migrant at Oneida Lake. 34. Marila valisineria. CANVAS-BACK. A rather rare migrant at Oneida Lake. 35. Marila marila. SCAUP DUCK. A common migrant. 36. Marila affinis. LESSER SCAUP DUCK. A common migrant, much more numerous than the preced- ing. These two birds are known to all sportsmen as the “Big and Little Blue-bill.”” They are also called “Broad-bills” and often “Black-heads.” They are great favorites, as they come in good numbers, decoy well, and are considered among the best of our ‘winter ducks” for the table. 37.. Clangula clangula americana. GOLDEN-EYE. A common migrant. Another favorite of the gunners, who know it as the “Whistler.” A summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. Nested on Jones Lake and on Deer Lake in June, 1878 and 1879. “tb Birds. 33 38. Charitonetta albeola. BUFFLE-HEAD. A common migrant. 39. Harelda hyemalis. OLD-SQUAW. A rare migrant. Gunners get a few at Oneida Lake every fall. One taken at Utica October 27, 1881. a 40. Somateria spectabilis. KING EIDER. A rare migrant. Several have been killed at Oneida Lake. 41. Oidemia americana. SCOTER. A rather rare migrant. 42. Oidemia deglandi. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. A common migrant. 43. Oidemia perspicillata. SURF SCOTER. A fine male in full plumage, formerly in the collection of Mr. A. L. Brainard of Oneida, was killed on the lake in the fall of 1884. It is probably not uncommon, but as the gunners do not distinguish the species of.Scoters, or “Coots,” as they call them all, and as the birds are mostly young, it is difficult to judge accurately. 34 Oneida Historical Society. 44. Erismatura jamaicensis. x RUDDY DUCK. A not common migrant at Oneida Lake. One taken on the reservoir at Utica by W. C. Bagg in fall of 1903. 45. Branta canadensis canadensis. CANADA GOOSE. A common migrant. 46. Branta nigricans. BLACK BRANT. A fine specimen of this rare straggler was killed by Mr. Gustavus Dexter of Utica, at Lewis Point, Oneida Lake, October 30, 1891. The bird flew in from the lake and alighted on the sand beach, where it was attacked by Crows. These birds attracted its attention so that Mr. Dexter easily walked within range and secured the bird. 47. Olor columbianus. WHISTLING SWAN. A rare migrant. A fine specimen was killed on the Mohawk River flats in the town of Deerfield, March 13, 1890. Several swans, undoubtedly of this species, have been killed on Oneida Lake. 48. Botaurus lentiginosus. BITTERN. A common summer resident. Birds. 35 49. Ixebrychus exilis. LEAST BITTERN. An uncommon summer resident. Taken at New: York Mills, May, 1892; Oneida, August, 1892; Vernon, 1897; Verona Beach, September 1, 1898. 50. Ardea herodias herodias. GREAT BLUE HERON. e A common summer resident. Breeds near the western end of Oneida Lake. Northrup in the “Ornithologist and Odlo- gist,” Vol. X, page 11, described this heronry, which has existed ever since. A very interesting letter received a short time ago from Mr. A. A. Beardsley of Constantia tells that about 1895 the timber was cut where the heronry was located in “Pody-gut Bay,” which was locally known as “Crane Heaven.” The next year the birds, or what was left of them, moved east and came within about one mile of Constantia, in what is known as “Three Mile Bay.” “I don’t think there are quite so many as there used to be, but they are still nesting here and, with the protection they now have, I think in a few years they will be as plentiful as ever.” 51. Herodias egretta. EGRET. A rare visitant from the South. One was taken by Mr. A. H. Eysaman of Eatonville in the spring of 1882 in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer County. He reports that there were six of these birds in a flock and they remained in the vicinity abeut a month, but only one was taken. Messrs. Davis, taxi- dermists, of Utica, mounted a specimen which was killed on the Mohawk flats several years ago. A specimen was killed in Marcy, November 10, 1889, and lastly I am able to report a personal visit from this rare bird at my summer home on Verona Beach. The bird was first observed on the beach 36 Oneida Historical Society. August 8, 1910. He was watched for some time through a strong field glass, but at long distance. The next day, August 9, he appeared again and I was able to approach him in a boat. He was not very shy, although he would not allow approach within gun shot. I observed him at leisure at a distance of one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards feeding on the open beach. When I approached nearer it would only fly about two hundred yards and alight again. He kept a careful watch, however, keeping his long neck elevated often. There could be no possible doubt of the identification. On August 13 I saw the bird again at the same place but in company with five Blue@lerons. This gave a fine opportunity of comparison as to size. He was no more shy, perhaps not so much So, as the great blue birds. August 16 a lady neighbor reported that she saw three Egrets together. Though not an ornithologist, she is perfectly reliable and I fail to see how she could mistake these birds. On August 17 my daughter and I were fishing, anchored on a bar in South Bay, perhaps half a mile from shore. when an Egret flew over us so close as to enable us to see distinctly its shiny black legs and its lemon-yellow bill. August 18 my daughter and myself saw two Egrets together near Lewis Point. Another neighbor reported seeing - three together. August 221 saw a’single Egret i in Messinger’s Bay. After this date, though out every day, I saw no more of these interesting visitors, nor were they again reported. 52. Florida czrulea. LITTLE .BLUE HERON. The Rev. Francis C. Smith writes under date of October 23, 1908, that on September 24 he saw a Little Blue Heron on the bank of the Black River Canal between Boonville and Port Leyden. He was quite close and positively identified the species. In reply to a letter he wrote again describing the identification: “Dark reddish head and neck, bluish plumage, of correct size and without egret plumes. As positive an identification as is possible with a field glass.” Birds. | 37 53- Butorides virescens virescens. GREEN HERON. A common summer resident. Breeds. 54. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. A summer resident. Not uncommon at Oneida Lake, where young birds are seen every year. Old birds are very rare. The only record I have is a full plumaged male in the collection of Mr. W. R. Maxon of Oneida, which was taken in a steel trap set for muskrats, at Higginsville. A young bird taken near ‘Utica August 12, 1878. 55. Grus mexicana. SANDHILL CRANE. Formerly a transient visitor. Now unknown. Messrs. J. P. & F. J. Davis, taxidermists, Utica, report that they mounted for a Mr. Catwell of New York Mills a specimen of this bird which was taken in that village in the year 1873. 56. Rallus virginianus. VIRGINIA RAIL. A not common summer resident. Breeds. ‘57. Porzana carolina. SORA. A summer resident. Breeds. More common during migra- tions. 58. Conturnicops noveboracensis. ‘YELLOW RAIL. One taken near Utica October 3, 1883. 38 Oneida Historical Society. 59. Gallinula galeata. FLORIDA GALLINULE. A few have been taken at Utica, and one at Boonville. Occa- sional at Oneida Lake. Very common on the marshes of the Seneca River, where they are called “Water Chickens,” and where they breed in numbers. This bird shares its nest not only with its own species but sometimes with the Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, also, as the following observa- tions will show. On June 4, 1879, a nest was found containing four eggs. June 5, at 11 A. M., it contained six eggs. On the same day, at 5 P. M., there were nine eggs. At this time the female, or one of them, was killed and the eggs taken. The same month an old bird followed by a brood of young was observed leaving her nest, which on examination was found to contain one egg of this species and two of the Grebe, all with chicks peeping in them. It was impossible to distinguish which of the two species the old bird was. 60. Fulica americana. COOT. Common at Oneida Lake. One taken at Utica. 61. Phalaropus fulicarius. i RED PHALAROPE. An uncommon migrant at Oneida Lake. A single specimen killed at Utica on the water works reservoir, October 16, 1904. 62. Lobipes lobatus. NORTHERN PHALAROPE. A rare migrant. One taken at Oneida Lake September 21, 1889. Early in the spring of 1881 a specimen of ‘this bird was taken in the town of Westmoreland in this odd manner. It Birds. 39 was first observed swimming about like a duck, in a little pond made by the melting snow and the spring rain, and catching insects which were swimming on the surface of the water. The bird being a strange one to the gentleman who observed it, it was watched closely for some time, but as there was no means at hand to capture it, the gentleman finally went about his work, which was near at hand, till his attention was again attracted by the loud outcries of the bird; and on hasten- ing to the pond he found that the bird had been kindly captured for him by a large bullfrog, which was trying to swallow it. He killed the frog and secured the bird, which shortly died from the rough treatment it had received. It was then pre- sented to Mrs. M. T. Brown, of Hecla, who mounted it herself and preserved it. 63. Steganopus tricolor. WILSON’S PHALAROPE. A specimen of this bird was shot near the eastern end of Oneida Lake, October 6, 1883, by Mr. Morgan K. Barnurn of Syracuse. When first observed the bird was swimming on the lake. 64. Philohela minor. WOODCOCK. A common summer resident. Breeds. ' 65. Gallinago delicata. WILSON’S SNIPE. A common migrant. Arrives April 13 to 26. 40 Oneida Historical Society. 66. Macrorhamphus griseus griseus. DOWDITCHER. A rare migrant. Taken at Oneida Lake September 22, 1883, by Mr, Morgan K. Barnum of Syracuse and in 1880 by Mr. A. A. Howlett of the same place. . 67. Tringa canutus. KNOT. + « 2 A rare migrant. A young bird taken at Lewis Point, Oneida Lake, August 26, 1891, and a second on Fish Creek, about two miles from the lake, September 4, 1906. 68. Pisobia maculata. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. ’ Quite common during some migrations. 69. Pisobia fusicollis. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. A rare migrant. Three taken at Utica October 27, 1881. Several at Oneida Lake November 3, 1891, and one at same place October 30, 1896. 70, Pisobia bairdi. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER. A probably not uncommon migrant. One killed on Verona Beach by Egbert Bagg, Jr., September 4, 1897. A young bird in fair plumage. Length, 634 inches; wing, 4%; tail, 2; tarsus, %; middle toe and claw, 34; culmen, 7%. One shot at Verona Beach by Egbert Bagg, Jr., September 5, 1899. Recorded on Verona Beach September 6, 1900. Birds, ‘Al 71. Pisobia minutilla. LEAST SANDPIPER. An abundant migrant at Oneida Lake. August 1 to Sep- tember 18. 72. Pelidna alpina sakhalina. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. A common migrant at Oneida Lake. One taken at Utica. 73. Ereunetes pusillus. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. An abundant migrant at Oneida Lake. The most common sandpiper. August 1 to September Io. 74. Calidris leucophza. SANDERLING. Very common migrant at Oneida Lake. 75. Limosa hzmastica. HUDSONIAN GODWIT. A rare migrant. A specimen killed about a mile west of Lewis Point, Oneida Lake, September 7, 1891, and another near the same place a few weeks later. 76. Totanus melanoleucus. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. A not uncommon migrant. _ 42 Oneida Historical Society. 77. Totanus flavipes. YELLOW-LEGS. A common migrant. 78. Helodromas solitarius solitarius. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. A common migrant. A late spring arrival, May 3 to 15. 79. Bartramia longicauda. UPLAND PLOVER. A rather common summer resident. Breeds. \ 80. Actitis macularia. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 23 to 28. 81. Numenius americanus. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. Mr. A. A. Howlett of Syracuse reports that on October 5, 1880, at Oneida Lake, a flock passed near enough to give him a shot, and though he did not secure any, he is positive of their identification, being familiar with them and with the other curlews. ‘ 82. Numenius hudsonicus. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. One shot at Verona Beach, Oneida Lake, September 5, 1899, by Egbert Bagg, Jr. Sex unknown. A single bird. Birds. 43 83. Squatarola squatarola. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. a A common migrant at Oneida Lake during some falls. Taken fr6m September 1 to October 8. Very plentiful in 1907. 84. Charadrius dominicus dominicus. GOLDEN PLOVER. A very uncertain migrant at Oneida Lake. Some years in fair numbers but more often very rare. 85. Oxyechus vociferus. KILLDEER. A common summer resident. Arriving March 19 to April 13. An early breeder. They appear on the beach at Oneida Lake with their fully fledged young as early as July 1 and remain in numbers till about September Ist, sometimes later. In 1910 they were particularly plentiful from July 2, increasing till the 15th, when they were on the beach in great numbers. We estimated 200 passing in a practically continuous flock. 86. Aigialitis semipalmata. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. An abundant migrant at Oneida Lake. 87. Ochthodromus wilsonius. WILSON’S PLOVER. One shot near upper South Bay, Oneida Lake, in 1880, by Mr. A. A. Howlett of Syracuse. 88. Arenaria interpres interpres. TURNSTONE. Common migrant at Oneida Lake. 44 Oneida Historical Society. 89. Colinus virginianus virginianus. BOB-WHITE. ‘A rare resident. Breeds. While probably native, our hard and changeable winters make it difficult for these birds to maintain themselves, and if not extinct in the county they were nearly so, when they were introduced and liberated in various places, Verona, New Hartford and Constantia, but the experiment has been of doubtful success, though there are records almost every year of their nesting in the western part of the county. go Canachites canadensis canace. CANADA SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. Messrs. J. P. & F. J. Davis, taxidermists, of Utica, mounted a pair of these birds which were killed in the town of Greig, Lewis County, many years ago. I have in my collection a fine specimen which was killed at Lake Placid, Essex County, about 1893. gt. Bonasa umbellus umbellus. RUFFED GROUSE. A common resident. Breeds. 92. Lagopus lagopus lagopus. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. “Mr. Romeyn B. Hough has a specimen of this species that was killed in the town of Watson, on the eastern border of Lewis County, May 22, 1876.” (Merriam: Preliminary List of the Birds of the Adirondack Region). ’ Birds. 45 93. Ectopistes migratorius. PASSENGER PIGEON. In the 1886 list I wrote of this species: “A common migrant till within a few years, but is now less common than formerly. Breeds in Herkimer and Hamilton Counties.” A great change has taken place since then. Undoubtedly it had taken place at that time, although I had no idea of it, nor had any other observer. This bird was then far on its way to extinction, which extinction is now complete. They disappeared quite suddenly from some cause which is yet undiscovered. It is customary, even among ornithologists, to claim that they were exterminated by man, as the bison were, but all the evidence is against this. At the State Sportsmen’s convention held in Utica in 1873 Wild Pigeons were used as targets. From my scrap book I find that the number of birds shot at during two days of this convention was 2,860, in the regular matches. There were probably sweepstakes and outside matches requir- ing many more. So cheap were they that my recollection is that the price for sweepstakes was only 25 cents per bird shot at. Up to that time, therefore, and probably for a year or two after they were common eriough to be used by thousands for targets at the State Association meetings. Ten thousand were purchased each year, I am informed. In the “Auk,” Vol. ‘XVIII, page 191, Mr. G. C. T. Ward says these birds became very rare about 1870. He certainly has the date too early. My personal journal shows that they were common in the West Canada Creek Valley in 1878. In June of that year I found a nest at Jones’ Lake, on the Herkimer-Hamilton County line, on which the female was setting, and from which I collected one egg, which was the usual number laid by the bird. A male in my collection I shot near Joc’s Lake (now Honnedaga) June 27 of the same year and my journal entry concludes: “Have seen a good many during the past month.” The records of others, marketmen, dealers and observers, show that these birds nested in millions, perhaps billions, in the States about the Great Lakes, yearly, up to 1878. During this year they were killed, trapped and shipped alive and dead in as great numbers as ever (a million and a quarter birds from one dis- trict). It seemed impossible that these immense numbers could be much reduced except by years of persecution. But 46 Oneida Historical Society. the next year, 1879, the birds did not return to their usual nesting places. It was supposed that they had gone further west or further north and that the scouts of the hunters and the trappers would soon discover the nesting places again. But though searched for thoroughly by those who, being finan- cially interested, spent time and money liberally, they were never found, and the few birds which occurred throughout the country, though no longer disturbed, continued to diminish in numbers till they have entirely disappeared, and standing rewards, aggregating $1,000, have failed to bring the report of a single nest. A very small number were kept in captivity in Cincinnati till last year, when the last but one died, and it is probable that there is now not a single Wild Pigeon of the billions which once nested through this country. Mr. John D. Collins of this city, one of the oldest of our sportsmen, writes me very interestingly as to his personal recol- lections of the days when these birds were plenty. I quote a part of his letter: “About the year 1847 during the month of April there was a nesting ground or breeding place in what was commonly called the ‘Fish Creek Wilderness, a large tract of virgin woodland extending from near Annsville, Oneida County, to near Watertown, Jefferson County, a distance of some thirty miles. For a strip of it about three miles wide, along the easterly edge of its entire length, every tree therein was filled with pigeon nests. Every morning at sunrise their flight easterly and southerly would begin and darken the sky, cover the entire country for miles and look as if the ground had been plowed, even as far as Utica, where they could be killed from the house-tops. They have never nested here in such numbers since, although they have nested on portions of this land in much smaller numbers since.” His description of the netting, which he witnessed personally, is as follows: “The way the birds are caught i is by nets about 18 x 30 feet, so placed that when sprung the inner edges of the nets meet together and lap slightly. A live pigeon is placed in the space under the nets on an arm (like the pan of a steel trap), to be lifted and dropped to make this stool pigeon flutter as if lighting. Another live one is hitched to a string and thrown up into the air over the nets, to light thereon. Both of these stools are carefully and well trained for the work, so well that they seem Birds. 47 to take delight in attracting others into the net covered space. A bough-house of evergreen brush is built near one end of the net and facing the direction from which the birds are to come in their morning flight. When a flock appears in the distance the stools are made to flutter, the flock light, the net is sprung and the birds are caught under it. To illustrate how very destructive this process is: A net which we saw sprung three times in succession; from the first flock, of about thirty birds, but three escaped; the second flock of twenty or twenty- five only three escaped, while of the third flock of twenty or more, not one escaped. Time occupied, five minutes.” 94. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. MOURNING DOVE. A common summer resident in the western part of the county. Rare in the eastern part. Breeds. 95. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. TURKEY VULTURE. In May, 1879, Mr. Lavello J. Groves of Westmoreland shot a bird of this species in that town. When first seen the bird was in company with three others. A specimen was winged in . Marcy, in August, 1896, and was kept in captivity for some time by Mr. Batsford of Utica. 96. Circus hudsonius. MARSH HAWK. A not common summer resident. Breeds. Nests recorded from Frankfort, Herkimer County, and from Hamilton, Madison County. 97. Accipiter velox. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. A not common summer resident. Breeds. Nests taken in Frankfort, Herkimer County; and at Holland Patent, May 18, 1887, and June 7, 1887. 48 Oneida Historical Society. 98. Accipiter cooperi. COOPER’S HAWK. Quite common summer resident in some parts of the county. Breeds. ; 99. Astur atricapillus atricapillus. GOSHAWK. Not common except in the northern part of the county and in the Wesi Canada Creek Valley, where I see them every spring and where I collected a nest May 9, 1898, about five miles from Morehouseville, Hamilton County, in a beech, thirty feet from the ground, where several branches starting out in all directions made a perfect chair for the nest. In the virgin forest, one-quarter of a mile from the West Canada Creek. Composed of coarse sticks and lined with rotten wood. Outside diameter about three feet; nest proper, eight inches by two. Birds were demonstrative, flying about and uttering their shrill, flicker-like cry, but not coming very close till the clitaber descended. Eggs 2 7-16x1I 13-16, 2 7-I6xI 12-16, 2 8-16x1 12-16. Pale green, blotched or apparently stained . with light ocherous of various shades. A specimen taken at Remsen in January, 1888, a second somewhat later in the same winter, one at Trenton Falls during the next summer and one at Remsen in October, 1889. Illustrating the boldness of this bird: The late George H. Ferris of Utica reported that while he was hunting grouse on the Deerfield hills some years ago, he was in the thick brush and wearing a fur cap, when a Goshawk, probably mistaking his head covering for some small animal, swooped upon it, discovered its mistake before striking, and passing close to his head, immediately lit and was shot from its perch. too. Buteo borealis borealis. RED-TAILED HAWK. A common summer resident. Breeds. Some probably retnain all .winter. Birds. 49 ror. Buteo lineatus lineatus. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. By far our most common hawk. Breeding plentifully. Mr. W. J. B. Williams of Holland Patent took a set of five eggs in 1898, a most uncommon number. 102. Buteo platypterus. BROAD-WINGED HAWK. One of the most common hawks in the West Canada Creek Vailey in summer. A not common summer resident else- where. Breeds. Several nests taken in New Hartford. 103. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. A not uncommon migrant. 104. Aquila chrysaétos. GOLDEN EAGLE. A fine specimen of this magnificent bird was shot near Frankfort, Herkimer County, October 23, 1885. Another was wounded, captured and kept alive at Clinton early in May, 1896. 105. Halizeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus. BALD EAGLE. A common resident on Oneida Lake. Mr. A. A. Beardsley of Constantia writes me in 1910: “We have a pair of Eagles that lives and nests within two thousand feet of our depot, and they live here the year around. I saw them several times this winter. They live within five hundred feet of Carter’s farm.” Speaking of the Eagle’s nest which I had seen from the lake he says: ‘Eagles have nested there since I was a boy. I can remember that tree for forty years. Several years ago, when I used to fish through the ice, the Eagles used to come a 50 Oneida Historical Society. to the lake from this same swamp to feed. They came about the same time every day. They would fly around the fish holes until they saw a minnow on the ice or a ‘lawyer,’ and they would come very close sometimes to get them. It would depend on how hungry they were. I have not been on the lake very much the last few years, but I hear they do the same now.” 106. Falco peregrinus anatum. DUCK HAWK. A rare resident. Breeds. It has always been said in that part of the country that a pair of Golden Eagles breed on the cliff on the east branch of the West Canada Creek in the town of Morehouse, Hamilton County. In August, 1895, I visited the place, saw the cliff, that rises to an estimated height of 600 feet, but failed to see either old or young birds, though my guide assured me that he had often seen them and that he had found bones of good-sized mammals at the foot of the cliff, On May 15, 1896, while I was at Pine Lake, Charles Haskell, a collector in the employ of Dr. William M. Ralph, passed on his way to try and collect this nest. He returned the next day with a beautiful set of three eggs of the Duck Hawk. He found the nest thirty feet below the top of the clitt. He was let down with a rope from above. The bird was a very bold one and he had to keep her off with a short club. A fine young bird was shot by Mr. Robert J. Hughes on Star Hill in the town of Steuben, October 12, 1909. Length, 20 inches; wing, 13%; tail, 8; tarsus, 1.80; middle toe, 2.60. 107. Falco columbarius columbarius. PIGEON HAWK. A rare migrant. Messrs. J. P. & F. J. Davis, taxidermists, report that they have had several to mount during spring and fall. One taken at Sylvan Beach, Oneida Lake, September 12, 1889, by Mr. Wm. P. Shepard. Mr. Embody reports one from Madison County, October 2, 1900. : » Birds. 51 108. Falco sparverius sparverius. SPARROW HAWK. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 3 to 9. tog, Pandion haliaétus carolinensis. OSPREY. Not uncommon in summer. 110. Aluco pratincola. BARN OWL. About the middle of September, 1898, Mr. Charles L. Smith of Utica was driving in Marcy, when he saw an owl of this species in a tree near the road. While he was watching it, it left its perch and flew to a neighboring farm yard, where it proceeded to “chase the chickens.” Mr. Smith left his horse and went to the rescue of the chickens, expecting to see the owl fly, but instead it sought safety by retreating under the barn (probably having been there before). Mr. 5. crawled in after it and caught it alive, took it home and kept it for some time alive, but finally had it mounted and placed it in his store window, where I identified it and obtained from ’ Mr. S. this account of its curious capture. 11x. Asio wilsonianus. LONG-EARED OWL. A common resident. Breeds. | 112. Asio flammeus. SHORT-EARED OWL. Not uncommon spring and fall. A few taken near Utica every year. 52 Oneida Historical Society. 113 Strix varia varia. BARRED OWL. A not uncommon resident. Breeds. A nest and two eggs taken near Holland Patent April 18, 1889. One flew against a gentleman in one of the streets of the closely built part of the citv, grasping his clothes with its claws, was struck down with his fist and killed with a stone. 114. Scotiaptex nebulosa nebulosa. GREAT GRAY: OWL. A rare straggler from the north. Messrs. J. P. & F. J. Davis. taxidemists, mounted a bird of this species which was killed in the town of Marcy in February, 1875. In the “Auk,” Vol. XIi, page 301, Mr. W. S. Johnson records the killing of a specimen at White Lake in February, 1895. 115. Cryptoglaux acadica acadica. SAW-WHET OWL. A not very uncommon resident in the northern part of the county. Several nests have been taken and as such records are uncommon I repeat in full some of the accounts which we have published before. In the neighborhood of Holland Patent, seven or eight indi- vidaals have been. under careful surveillance this spring (1886). The result of a good deal of hard work in exceedingly unpleasant weather, has been the finding of four nests. The first was found March 12th, at which time it contained noth- ing; was visited again March 25th—still empty. But on April 5th it contained six eggs. Being left till the seventh, the com- plement was found to be seven eggs. It was situated in high and dry woods of hardwood timber, with a few hemlocks, about five rods from the open field, in a deserted woodpecker’s hoie in a dead maple stub, twenty-two feet from the ground. This hole had been left by the original woodpeckers at least Birds. 53 two seasons, for in 1885 it contained a nest of flying squirrels. The entrance was round, and about two inches in diameter, just such a size that the head of the bird exactly filled it, so that, as she looked out, she presented very much the appear- ance of an owl’s face fastened against the side of the stub. The hole was a fodt deep, and eight inches in diameter at the bottom. There was no nest except small chips of rotten wood and a few owl’s feathers. The bird would not leave the nest: till she was threatened with the hand several times, and then ‘*flew into the nearest tree (a small hemlock), and sat there without moving during all the time that her visitors remained (about three-quarters of an hour), and no sooner was the stub left than she flew back again. The eggs were pure white, nearly the same size at each end, and averaged 1.16x0.97 inches. They were variously advanced in incubation, though of course ncne were very far along. The consistency of the albumen was particularly viscid, and the yolk small and light col red. The second nest was found near Holland Patent, April 21st, 1886, in a woodpecker’s hole in a stub, forty feet from the ground, cortained five young, and one egg just on the point of hatching. The third nest was found the same day about half a mile below Trenton Falls, near the West Canada Creek, in an old woodpecker’s hole in a stub, twenty feet from the ground. The hole was nine inches deep and nine inches across inside, lined with a few feathers, birch leaves and chips. It contained seven eggs, nearly hatched, measuring .97x 1.18, .98 x 1.18, .98 x 1.24, .98 x 1.25, .99xX 1.2I, 1.00 x 1.23. The bird was taken alive from the nest. — The fourth nest was found April 30th, 1886, about one mile north of Gang Mills, Herkimer County, in a deserted wood- pecker’s hole in a stub, fifty feet from the ground, in a swamp, and contained seven eggs on the point of hatching. 116 Otus asio asio. SCREECH OWL. A common resident. Breeds. 54 Oneida Historical Society. 117. Bubo virginianus virginianus. GREAT HORNED OWL. A common resident. Breeds. 118. Nyctea nyctea. SNOWY OWL. A not uncommon, but irregular, winter visitor. 11g. Surnia ulula caparoch, HAWK OWL... Messrs. J. P. & F. J. Davis, taxidermists, mounted a speci- men of this bird which was killed at Clark’s Mills in the winter of 1885. 120. Coccyzus americanus americanus. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. A rare summer resident. Breeds. Nests taken in New Hactford and at Holland Patent. 121. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. A common summer resident. Arrives May 11 to 14. This species shows its relationship to its more famous European cousin by occasionally depositing an egg in the nest of some other bird. This has been recorded by several observers in different parts of the country and we have one record for this county. On July roth, 1874, a nest of the Cedar Bird (Ampelis cedrorum) was taken in New Hartford: which contained four eggs of the owner and one of this parasite. The nest was deserted, and apparently had been for some time; nor could it be discovered that incubation had commenced; certainly it had not in the Cuckoo’s egg. (Recorded, Bulletin Nuttall Ontthological Club, Vol II, page ro.) F Birds. 55 122. Ceryle alcyon. BELTED KINGFISHER. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 8 to 16. 123. Dryobates villosus villosus. HAIRY WOODPECKER. A rather common resident. Breeds. 124. Dryobates pubescens medianus. \ DOWNY WOODPECKER. A common resident. Breeds. 125. Picoides arcticus. ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. Common in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. 126. Picoides americanus americanus. THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. A not uncommon resident in the upper West Canada Creek *Valley. 127. Sphyrapicus varius varius. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. A common summer resident. Breeds. 128. Phlceotomus pileatus pileatus. PILEATED WOODPECKER. A not rare resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. Apparently more common than formerly. 56 Oneida Historical Society. 129. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. RED-HEADED- WOODPECKER. A common summer resident, especially in the northern part. Breeds. A nest taken within the limits of the City of Utica. These birds found at Remsen December 20 to 22, 1888. 130. Centurus carolinus. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. Dr. Merriam says: “A rare straggler.” Mr. Geo. C. Embody says: “Of rare and irregular occurrence. One record, March 8, 1898.” : 131. Colaptes auratus auratus. FLICKER. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 15 to April 15. 132. Antrostomus vociferus vociferus. WHIP-POOR-WILL. A common summer resident in the western part of the county. Not observed in the eastern part. Occurs, though not common, in the West Canada -Creek Valley. : 133. Chordeiles virginianus virginianus. NIGHTHAWK. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 16 to 20. 134. Chztura pelagica. CHIMNEY SWIFT. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 27 to May 8. A nest was taken in a hollow tree in the town of New Hartford—a return to original conditions, which is uncommon. Birds. 57 135. Archilochus colubris. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 17 to May 23. 136. Tyrannus tyrannus. KINGBIRD. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 27 to May 7. 137. Myiarchus crinitus. CRESTED FLYCATCHER. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 30 to May 12. 138. Sayornis pheebe. PHBE. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 29 to April 17. 139. Nuttallornis borealis. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. A rare summer resident. Breeds in the West Canada Creek Valiey and probably at the east end of Oneida Lake. 140. Myiochkanes virens. WOOD PEWEE. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 8 to 14. 58 Oneida Historical Society. 141. Empidonax flaviventris. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. A not common summer resident. Breeds. Nest and eggs taken at North Lake Reservoir, Herkimer County, June 24th, ° 1885. Eggs nearly hatched. Nest composed of fine grass, roots, leaf-bud scales of deciduous trees, and inner bark; lined with grass and fine black hair-like roots. It was sunk in a mossy bank, in the edge of thick, heavy timber: Measured: outside diameter, 3.50 inches; inside diameter, 2.50 inches; depth about 1.50 inches. The eggs were so far advanced as to make it impossible to save them, and therefore no measure- ments can be given. 142. Empidonax trailli alnorum. ALDER FLYCATCHER. A not uncommon summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 22. 143. Empidonax minimus. LEAST FLYCATCHER. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 29 to May 22. . 144. Octocoris alpestris alpestris. HORNED LARK. A winter visitor. Rare, except possibly in the northern part of the county. : 145. Octocoris alpestris praticola. PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. A common resident in the spring. Breeds. This is the firs+ bird to arrive in the spring, in fact it is difficult to distinguish its arrival from its possible winter residence. In 1877 one of these birds was a rarity, but from that date they became rapidly more common each year, till in the spring of 1885 I Birds. 59 saw a flock of fifty feeding on the seeds of the weeds which rose above the snow, within the limits of the city of Utica. Arrives March 7 to 18. 146. Cyanocitta cristata cristata. BLUE JAY. A common resident. Breeds in the northern part. 147. Perisoreus canadensis canadensis. CANADA JAY. A common resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds: They are very familiar and amusing about the camps in the Adirondacks, where they have various names, mostly significant of their sociable and bold character, as “Whiskey Jack,” “Meat Hawk,” “Moose Bird,” etc. 148. Corvus corax principalis. NORTHERN RAVEN. A resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Formerly common, but not nearly so plentiful as formerly. 149. Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos. CROW. Common all the year around. Breeds. 150. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. BOBOLINK. A common summer resident. Breeds. A nest taken several years ago contained four eggs, pale bluish gray, with a few blackish marks and scratches around the larger end. The bird was taken with the nest and the eggs are still preserved. Arrives May 5 to 12. 60 Oneida Historical Society. 151. Molothrus ater ater. COWBIRD. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 25 to April 13. f 152. Agelaius phceniceus phceniceus. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. An abundant summer. resident. Breeds. Arrives March 14 to April 5. 153. Sturnella magna magna. MEADOWLARK. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives early, March 23, and remains late, sometimes quite into the winter. 154. Icterus spurius. ORCHARD ORIOLE. Mr. George C. Embody reports that a pair of these birds were taken at Hamilton, Madison County, May 26, 1900. On May 15, 1887, I had the pleasure in company with Mr. W. P. Shepard of watching a male of the third year near Bear Pond in Herkimer County, both with the naked eye and with a strong field glass. 155 Icterus galbula. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arri as isn, ves April 4 te Birds. 61 156. Euphagus carolinus. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. A common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. Two nests taken May 7 and 20, 1886, four miles north cf Wilmurt, Herkimer County. They were placed five feet from the ground in spruce saplings ir open marsh, beside a pond, in heavy timber. Composed of hemlock twigs and grass and lined with fine grasses (some of which were green). Eggs were four, pale green, faintly marked as com- pared with others of the same family, with different shades of purplish brown, but not streaked. They measured 1.03 x .72, 1.03X.74, 1.05x.72, 1.06x.74. Several pairs of- these birds breed on the islands in Pine Lake every vear and nests have been taken twice. One, in 1903, was a beautiful structure, and, like those mentioned above, was composed of small evergreen twigs, apparently broken off by the birds, and lined with fresh green, a sort of fine water grass which grows in the lake and remains green all winter. The eggs were four, light green, thickly spotted with light purple brown; shells very thin. Measurements much less than those given above, .84 x .60, _85 x .63, .85 x .63, .92x.63. Another nest taken on one of these same dslands in 1909 had a mud foundation. Possibly the birds had made over an old Robin’s nest, although it did not have the appearance, being a much neater work than the Robins usually construct. 157- Quiscalus quiscula zneus. BRONZED GRACKLE. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 12 to April 4. 158. Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina. EVENING GROSBHAK. The unusual migration of this western species to the east during the winter of 1890 brought us a_ record, as it did so many other localities. On February 9, 62 Oneida Historical Society. 1890, Mr. James R. Benton of Clinton saw a flock of four singing on a tree before his house and had the good fortune to secure three, a male and two females. Mr. Charles C. Davis, of this city, a competent observer, reports two birds of this species in a mountain ash on Noyes Street, February 8, 1907: He was within a few feet of them and the identification was perfect. Mr. H. VanArnam reports a flock at Westernville in January, 1911. Three appeared first about the first of the month and after that he saw them daily and found them very tame. In the morning they came to the village and fed on the seeds of the box elders. Later they retired to the hillside and worked at the sumac buds till even- ing, when they again came to the box elders. They were reported from Broadwell the last of March. April 6 tog a . flock of about twelve were in the shade trees on Scott Street, Utica, N. Y., apparently eating elm buds. 159. Pinicola enucleator leucura. PINE GROSBEAK, An irregular winter visitor. 16c. Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. PURPLE FINCH. A common summer resident. Breeds. Sometimes winters. Arrives February 29 to April 18. 161. Loxia curvirostra minor, CROSSBILL. A very common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley, where they come in flocks about the hunter’s camps and gather the crumbs literally from under the table, and where ham, bacon and such provisions have to be carefully covered to protect them from these birds. Seen occasionally throughout the county in winter and as far south as Holland Patent in summer. . Birds. 63 162. Loxia leucoptera. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. A winter visitor. Much less common than the preceding. A ine male killed at Utica May 5, 1900 (an uncommonly late date) by Egbert Bagg, Jr., was in company with two or three females and some common crossbills. 163. Acanthis linaria linaria. : REDPOLL. A rare winter visitor. 164. Acanthis linaria rostrata. GREATER REDPOLL. Taken at Locust Grove, Lewis County, by C. H. Merriam, M. D. 165. Astragalinus tristis tristis. GOLDFINCH. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Occasionally win- ters. Arrives May 4 to 8. 166. Spinus pinus. PINE SISKIN. Seen occasionally throughout the county during migrations. Apparently a resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Messrs. Shepard and Hughes found them in large numbers near Remsen April 4 to 9, 1889, apparently mated and prepar- ing to nest, but a careful search a week or two later failed to find them. On March 8, 1895, I found a large flock at Joc’s Lake, singing in the tops of the trees, where the morning sun shone on them, though it was midwinter weather, snow deep, and ice on the lake several feet thick—not the first sign of spring. 64 Oneida Historical Society. 167. Plectrophenax ‘nivalis nivalis. SNOW BUNTING. A common winter visitor. 168. Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Mr. George Roth, taxidermist, of Utica, reports that he mounted one which was killed in Deerfield several years ago. Dr. C. H. Merriam says they occur with the Snowflakes, though not so common. Mr. F. J. Davis has a specimen of this bird which was killed at Mexico, Oswego County, by George A. Davis in the winter of 1884. 169. Pyrgita domestica. HOUSE SPARROW. A common resident. Breeds. Though not a native species, they have become so thoroughly naturalized that they are entitled to a place in any list of our birds. Originally intro- duced into New York to destroy the insects in the parks, they soon appeared here and made themselves entirely at home. They have undoubtedly made it difficult for some of our smaller birds to maintain themselves in the more thickly settled portions of the county, but since the public ceased to protect and feed them their number has fallen off and they are much less objectionable than they were twenty-five years ago. Personally I do not believe that they are responsible for the disappearance of our Wrens and Purple Martins, for the simple reason that these birds did not disappear in other parts of the State where the sparrows were equally numerous. In the country the native birds seem to have held their own, though in the closely built part of the city the sparrows have pretty full possession. Birds. 65 170 Pocectes gramineus gramineus. VESPER SPARROW. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 9 to 12. 171. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. SAVANNAH SPARROW. A not uncommon summer resident. Breeds. 172. Ammodramus savannarum australis. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Mr. William R. Maxon reports this bird as a common summer resident in the hills south of Oneida. Mr. George C. Embody reports it as common at Hamilton, Madison County, and the Rev. Francis C. Smith reports a single specimen from Boonville. 173. Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni. NELSON’S SPARROW. A specimen was taken near Utica October 12, 1883. Mr. George C. Embody reports taking four of these birds at Ham- ilton, October 8, 1898, and a fifth, October 17. 1900. 174. Passerherbulus nelsoni subvirgatus. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. Mr. Embody reports that he sent two of the Sharp-tailed Sparrows taken by him October 8, 1898, to Mr. Frank M. Chapman for identification and that he assigned one of them to the “Acadian.” 66 Oneida Historical Society. 175. Chondestes grammacus grammacus. LARK SPARROW. In the “Auk,” Vol. XXI, page 281, Mr. W. S. Johnson of Boonville records this bird from the northeast corner of the county. “Positively identified but not taken.” 176. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. : A not uncommon migrant. 177. Zonotrichia | albicollis. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. A common migrant throughout the county. A common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley and at the eastern end of Oneida Lake. Breeds. A nest with five eggs, somewhat advanced, taken June 1886, in Steuben. Arrives April 22 to 27. , ; 178. Spizella monticola monticola. TREE SPARROW. A very common migrant. Arrives March 10 to April 12. 179. Spizella passerina passerina. CHIPPING SPARROW. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. March 22, 1886, I found a nest in a bunch of clover, two inches above the ground, in an orchard and only a few feet from an apple tree. A ve1y uncommon location, as the bird is well known as a tree builder. Arrives April 16 to 27. Birds. 67 180. Spizella pusilla pusilla. FIELD SPARROW. A not common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 28 to May 1. 181. Junco hyemalis hyemalis. SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. A very common migrant. A common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. A nest taken June 28, 1880, contained two perfectly fresh eggs and two nearly hatched. Arrives March 10 to April 4. 182. Melospiza melodia melodia. SONG SPARROW. A very abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 9 to April 4. 183. Melospiza lincolni lincolni. LINCOLN’S SPARROW. A rather rare migrant. A summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. On the 13th of June, 1878, a nest of this species was taken on the banks of a little pond dignified with the name of “Moose Lake,” and situated in / Hamilton County, about twenty miles northeast of Wilmurt post-office, Herkimer County. The nest was placed on the ground where it was almost spongy with water, about two rods from the pond, and about the same distance from the edge of the forest. It was not under the protection of any bush or stone, but was quite well concealed by some last year’s grasses. It was composed entirely of dry grasses, both inside and out, the lining being neatly made of the finer spears; and contained three eggs, a few days advanced in incubation. 68 Oneida Historical Society. These measured .74x.56 inches. The ground was a pale greenish, covered with spots and blotches of different shades of reddish brown. On one of them the spots were so numerous as to become confluent and almost conceal the ground-color, while on another they were much smaller, so that the greenish white of the ground-color was the predominant tint, except at the large end, where the spots became larger and more con- fluent, as indeed they did on all three —(Recorded, Bulletin Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. III, page 198.) June 16th, 1881, another nest of this species was taken on “Otter Lake” or pond, about half a mile from the locality of the first. The nest was situated almost exactly like the other, in wet, spongy ground on the edge of the pond; not under any bush or weed but quite well concealed by last year’s grasses. Diameter, outside, 3.75 inches; inside, 2 inches; depth, outside, 2.25 inches; inside, 1.75 inches. It was composed of fine grass loosely put together, and set down nearly level with the moss. The eggs, which were four, slightly advanced in incubation, were exactly like those taken in 1878, except that the spots of reddish brown were rather larger and more marked.—(Record- ed, Bulletin Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. VI, page 246.) In both cases the bird was taken, positively identified and preserved. 184. Melospiza georgiana. SWAMP SPARROW. A not uncommon summer resident. Breeds. 185. Passerella iliaca iliaca. FOX SPARROW. A not common migrant. 186. Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus. TOWHEE. A rare migrant. A rare summer resident at the eastern end of Oneida Lake, where it undoubtedly breeds. Birds. 69 187. Zamelodia ludoviciana. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. A rather common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May Ir to May 29. 188. Guiraca czerulea czrulea. BLUE GROSBBAK. Some time between 1862 and 1865 I saw a pair of Blue Grosbeaks on the Henry Wood farm at the foot of Dry Hill, Litchfield, Herkimer County. On account of my youth and the fact that I did not take the birds, I never published this record. During August, 1910, the Rev. J. B. Wicks of Paris Hill, in an article in the Utica Observer, stated that he had seen one of these birds near his residence. Paris Hill is about six miles from Dry Hill in an air line and about the same elevation. In reply to a letter he writes as follows: “About the middle of July, 1910, the fellow came to me, making two brief visits, both the same day. I was sitting on the porch and the flutter of wings attracted my attention, and there on the railing sat the bird, almost in reach of my hand. He stayed long enough so that I noted the color, bill, etc. He tallied exactly with the book description. Neither visit was more than two or three minutes long, the second being in the apple tree, ten yards from the house. It is about forty years ago that I saw one of these birds near the roadside in the Bridge- water swamp. It was late in the fall.’ In his newspaper article he speaks of the fact that he knew these birds during his residence in Oklahoma. How could he be mistaken in such a marked bird? 189. Passerina cyanea. INDIGO BUNTING. A common summer resident. .Breeds. Arrives May 14 to 25. 70 Oneida Historical Society. 190. Piranga erythromelas. SCARLET TANAGER. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 8 to 22. 191. Progne subis subis. PURPLE MARTIN. Thirty years ago, a very common summer resident. Breed- ing in martin houses and in cornices of buildings throughout the city. In the country they were equally common. In the ‘center of the village of Prospect there was a large martin house where numbers of these birds bred every summer, and similar houses were maintained in various places. Twenty- five years ago, when I wrote the original list, I recorded it: “A not uncommon summer resident. Breeds.” A few years later I wrote the “Auk”: “Has practically disappeared within the last few years; an occasional migrant is all that is seen.” Letters written in several directions finally brought the information that the birds were breeding in the village of Oneida and they were reported from that village up to two years ago, but they are there no longer. Rev. Francis C. Smith of Boonville writes that he saw a flock of about two hundred near Port Leyden September 4, 1908. 192. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons. CLIFF SWALLOW. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 3 to 12. 193. Hirundo erythrogastra. BARN SWALLOW. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 25 to May 4. Birds. 71 194. Iridoprocne bicolor. TREE SWALLOW. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 13 to May 2. 195. Riparia riparia. BANK SWALLOW. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 27 to May 3. On April 2, 1899, Heatly Green reports that he saw three skimming over the snow at Alder Creek, everything being snowed under and frozen up. 196. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. A summer resident. Probably not rare, as it is difficult to distinguish from the preceding. Breeds. Several pairs nested in the abutments of the bridge over the West Canada Creek at Trenton Falls, in 1886. A nest which was examined June 19 contained young. 197. Bombycilla garrula. BOHEMIAN WAXWING. A rare and irregular winter visitor. Mr. J. P. Daxis, taxi- dermist, reports having killed thirty-two, within the limits of the city of Utica, in one winter, some years ago. 198. Bombycilla cedrorum. CEDAR WAXWING. A common summer resident. Breeds. Often seen during wiater. See Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. 92 Oneida Historical Society. 1gg. Lanius borealis. NORTHERN SHRIKE. A not uncommon winter visitor. 200. Lanius ludovicianus migrans. MIGRANT SHRIKE. A not uncommon summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 18 to April 7. 201. Vireosylva olivacea. RED-EYED VIREO. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 5 to 19. 202. Vireosylva philadelphica. PHILADELPHIA VIREO. Arure migrant. One taken September 14, 1880. Mr. George C. Embody records one May 7, 1898, one May 4, 1900, one May 16, 1900, all at Hamilton. 203. Vireosylva gilva gilva. WARBLING VIREO. A common summer resident. Breeds. Nests: taken May 27 and June 12, 1886, at Holland Patent and Trenton Falls, were near the tops of high maple shade trees, in the villages. Ar- tives May 5 to 8. 204. Lanivireo flavifrons. YBLLOW-THROATED VIREO. A not uticommon summer resident. Breeds. Nest taken May 24, 1886, in the village of Holland Patent, in maple shade tree, about twenty feet above the sidewalk. Arrives May 6 to 12. . Birds. 73 205. Lanivireo solitarius. solitarius. BLUE-HEADED VIREO. Seen occasionally throughout the county. Taken September 26, 1879, September 23, 1880, May 4, 1900. A summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. Mr. W. P. Shepard found a nest near Joc’s Lake, July 25, 1888. 206. Lanivireo solitarius plumbeus. PLUMBEUS VIREO. _ Recorded from Peterboro, Madison County, September 24, 1893, by Gerritt S. Miller, Jr., in the “Auk,” Vol. XI, page 79. 207. Mniotilta varia. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. A not uncommon summer resident. Arrives May 3 to 5. 208. Vermivora rubricapilla rubricapilla. NASHVILLE WARBLER. Not uncommon migrant and an occasional summer resident near Holland Patent. Breeds. Arrives May 3 to 8. 209. Vermivora celata celata. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Rare. One taken September 16, 1880. Mr. George C. Embody reports one at Hamilton May 15, 1899. 210. Vermivora peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER. A rare migrant. One taken September 30, 1879. 74 Oneida Historical Society. 211. Compsothlypis americana usnez. NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 3 to 12. 212. Dendroica tigrina. CAPE MAY WARBLER. A rare migrant. One recorded from Holland Patent some years ago by Mr. William Fowler of that place. Several in the springs of 1884 and 1885 at eastern end of Oneida Lake by Mr. A. L. Brainard. Four at Hamilton May 11, 1900, by Mr. George C. Embody. 213. Dendroica zstiva zstiva. YELLOW WARBLER. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arives May 3 to 9. 214. Dendroica czrulescens czrulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. A common migrant. A local summer resident in the north- ern part of the county. Breeds. Arrives May 5 to 13. In addition to the nest recorded in the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. V, page 238, which seems to have been unusually located, three nests have been taken, May 29th and June 14th, 1886, near Holland Patent. They were all placed in maple bushes, from nine inches to two feet from the ground, in heavy timber grown up with maple brush. They were loose structures, placed in an upright fork, and composed in all three cases of strips of rotten wood held together and lined with fine black roots, and in one case fur- ther secured with strips of the inner bark of deciduous trees, and measured. outside diameter, from three to three and a half inches; inside diameter, from one and three-quarters to two and a quarter inches; outside depth, three and three- r Birds. 75 quarters to five inches; inside depth, one and a half inches. The two sets of eggs, which seemed normal, consisted of four eggs each, one set, pinkish, quite heavily marked and blotchea with dark brownish pink, especially at the larger end, and a few fine marks and scratches of a darker color; rather blunt at the small end, and large for the bird, measuring .75 x .54, 72% .55, -76X .54, .72x.52 inches. The other set was white, rather sparsely marked with lilac and brown spots and dots, heaviest at the large end. In shape and general appearance resembling a Redstart’s, and measuring .66 x .50, .64 x .5I, 66 x .51, 64 x .5I. 215. Dendroica coronata. MYRTLE WARBLER. An abundant migrant. Dr. C. H. Merriam says: “Breeds plentifully in the Adirondacks.” 216. Dendroica magnolia. MAGNOLIA WARBLER. A common migrant. A few remain to breed in the northern part of the county. Of five nests found, four were placed in evergreens, from six to fifteen feet from the ground, in swampy -wonds. The fifth nest, taken July 1st, 1886, half a mile north of Wilmurt P. O., Herkimer County, was placed in a thick deciduous bush, underneath an evergreen, in a clump of small branches, two and a half feet from the ground, in a beaver meadow on the outer edge of the thick woods. It measured: Outside diameter, three and a half inches; inside diameter, two and one-eighth inches; outside depth, one and three-quar- ters inches; inside, seven-eighths of an inch. Composed of dry hemlock twigs, lined with fine, black, hair-like roots. The four eggs which it contained were white, spotted and blotched with lilac and brown, heaviest at the larger end, and measured .67 x .50, .67 x .50, .66 x .50, .66 x .50 inches. ~ 76 Oneida Historical Society. 217. Dendroica cerulea. CERULEAN WARBLER. A rare summer resident. A fine male taken at Clinton May 9, 1890. Mr. William R. Maxon of Oneida found these birds to the number of at least twenty-five, June 24, 1898, in a piece of woods about five miles south of Oneida. He secured three specimens. In June, 1899, he found them still common in the same piece of woods. 218. Dendroica pensylvanica. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May. 5 to 12. 219. Dendroica castanea. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. An irregular migrant. Sometimes not uncommon. A {full plumaged female was taken in the West Canada Creek Valley, August 6, 1886. 220. Dendroica striata. BLACK-POLL WARBLER. An irregular migrant. Very common during some migra- tions. 221. Dendroica fusca. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. A common migrant Arrives April 27 to May 12. A not uncommon resident in the northern part of the county. Breeds. Several nests taken. Mr. Hughes found a nest containing young in July, 1887, near Remsen. July 16, 1888, we took a nest about four miles north of Holland Patent, which con- tained four eggs on the point of hatching. The nest was well concealed in a bunch of small branches, about fifteen feet Birds. 77 above the ground, in a spruce tree. It was composed of hem- lock and spruce twigs outside, then pine needles and dry grass, and lined with horsehair. The eggs (which we were unable to save, they were so near hatching), were large for the size of the bird, and darker colored than is usual with Warblers’ eggs. 222. Dendroica virens. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. A common migrant. A not uncommon summer resident in the northern part of the county. Breeds. Arrives April 29 to May 12. Nests taken June 4th and 26th, 1886. Both were placed on a horizontal branch of a hemlock, about twenty feet from the ground, in a little clump of branches, but riding the horizontal limb; one on the edge of a heavy swamp, and the other in a swampy place in a large piece of very heavy timber. The nests were beautifully constructed, strong, com- pact and deep. The outer sides about perpendicular, measur- ing, outside depth, 2.25 to 2.50 inches; inside, 1.50 inches; out- side diameter, 3 to 3.50 inches; inside, 1.75 to 2 inches; com- posed of green moss, birch bark, spider web, feathers, fine dry twigs of the hemlock, lined with fine strips of bark and hair. The eggs were rather a pointed oval; one set of three, white with a pinkish shade, marked with fine spots of darker pink, seeming to show through, and quite strongly marked over these with scattering blotches of light reddish brown with much darker edges. They measured, .65 x .54, .64 x .52, .64 x .52. The other set of two eggs were white, strongly blotched, especially at the larger end, with different shades of brown and lilac, and measured .70 x .53, .70 x .51 inches. 223. Dendroica vigorsi. PINE WARBLER. A rare summer resident. Breeds. June 11, 1889, at Verona Beach, we saw at least two pairs building in high places. We watched them, with a glass and the naked eye, collecting 78 Oneida Historical Society. Spiders’ nests from under the veranda of a cottage and carry- ing these and other materials into two places in the pines. A day or so afterwards a gang of men moved a neighboring cottage a few feet, cutting two trees near those in which the birds were building, and the birds disappeared. About two weeks later a single bird was seen at the same place. ae 224. Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. YELLOW PALM WARBLER. A rare migrant. Mr. Shepard records three specimens; two near Clinton, May 3 and 9g, 1888, and one ¢t the eastern end of Oneida Lake October 5, 1889. 225. Seiurus aurocapillus. OVEN-BIRD. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 21 to May 6. 226. Seiurus noveboracensis noveboracensis. WATER-THRUSH. A not uncommon migrant. A not common summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley and at the east end of Oneida Lake. 227. Seiurus montacilla. LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH. A rate summer resident, of very local distribution. Found, evidently breeding, though the nest was not taken, in a little ravine on the headwaters of Mud Creek, in the town of Kirk- land May 9, 1897, May 10, 1888, May 12, 18809. Birds. 79 228. Oporornis agilis. CONNECTICUT WARBLER. A rare migrant. One taken September 18, 1880, and one September 8, 1881. 229. Oporornis philadelphia. MOURNING WARBLER. Not commén migrant. Not common summer resident in the northern part of the county. 230. Geothlypis trichas trichas. MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT. A common summer resident. Breeds. 231. Icteria virens virens. - \ YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Mr. W. J. B. Williams of Holland Patent writes me under date of June 6, 1898: “This afternoon I have had the very unexpected pleasure of listening to the song and calls of the male, witnessing the antics of both birds, and collecting a nest with four fresh eggs of the Yellow-breasted Chat, less than halt a mile from our dwelling.” 232. Wilsonia citrina. HOODED WARBLER. A rare summer resident. Mr! William R. Maxon of Oneida found these birds a short distance south of that place in the summer of 1897, again in June, 1898, and again June, 1899. _Mr. George C. Embody records on May 29, 1900, at Hamilton. 80 Oneida Historical Society. 233. Wilsonia pusilla pusilla. WILSON’S WARBLER. A rare migrant. 234. Wilsonia canadensis. CANADA WARBLER. A common migrant. Arrives May 10 to May 14. A common sunimer resident in the northern part of the coynty and at the east end of Oneida Lake. Breeds. Quite a number of nests found, were all on the ground, except one taken June 26th, 1884, near Holland Patent, which was placed about eighteen inches above the ground, in a cavity in the top of a slanting stump, which was so covered with vegetation as to entirely conceal the nest, which was composed of fine grass, hair-like roots and a few pine leaves. The eggs were four in number, white, showing rosy before blowing, covered with small spots of different shades of brown, thicker at the larger end, and measured .69 x .53, .67 x .53, .67 x .53, .67 x .55 inches. 235. Setophaga ruticilla. REDSTART. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrjves May Io to 13. 236. Anthus rubescens. PIPIT. A common migrant. Sometimes in hundreds if not thou-' sands on the beach at Oneida Lake. 237. Dumetella carolinensis. + CATBIRD. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 8 to 13., Birds. 81 238. Toxostoma rufum. BROWN THRASHER. A not common summer resident throughout the county. Breeds. A ccmmon summer resident in the brush lots near the east end of Oneida Lake. July 8, 1897, found them there in large flocks. Arrives May 4 to 14. 239. Troglodytes aédon aédon. HOUSE WREN. A summer resident, not nearly so common as formerly. In 1875 it was one of our most abundant species, nesting in dozens of bird houses in the city and in every empty shed and wooden bridge in the country. In the first list I noted it was not nearly so common as formerly. And from that date (1886) till 1900 only one specimen was observed. About that time they began to appear again, though they have never returned to anything like their former numbers. Arrives April 25 to 30. 240. Nannus hiemalis hiemalis. WINTER WREN. A common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives April 3 to 18. During the summer of 1885 thirteen nests were found near Holland Patent, ahd the birds were watched while building «twelve of them, and not one of these was occupied. The thir- teenth nest contained six eggs when found. One of these nests, which was built but not occupied in 1885, was occupied during 1886, and a brood of young raised in it. A nest taken July 16th, 1885 (undoubtedly a second laying, as a nest was found with young in May), two miles north of Holland Patent, was placed under the roots of a fallen tree, in a small cavity in the roots, about two feet above the ground, composed of moss, hemlock twigs, roots and pieces of rotten wood, and lined, first with fine grass and then with grouse feathers and horse hair; a compact mass of material, filling the cavity, and 82 Oneida Historical Society. containing in its center a cosy nest, to which entrance was obtained by a small round opening in the side. The eggs, six in number, were white, rather evenly marked with small spots and dots of reddish brown, and measured .67 x .50, .67 x..49, .65 x .49, .67 x .50, .63 x .47 inches.. 241. Cistothorus stellaris. SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. “Mr. Romeyn B. Hough shot two females of this wren Octo- ber 27, 1877, in the town of New Bremen, Lewis County, and writes me that he is confident that they breed there every year.’—(Mcrriam, “Preliminary List of the Birds of the Ad- irondack Region.”) 242. Telmatodytes palustris palustris. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. A not common summer resident. This bird is very common and breeds plentifully in the marshes of the Seneca River, a short distance west of us. There we have observed it. Its peculiar habit of building several nests for every one occupied has been noted by others; and, while we kept no accurate record, our judgment is that the number of unoccupied nests is at least six or eight for every occupied one. It seems probable from the notes under the Winter Wren that this strange practice is also practiced by its sprightly little cousin. 243. Certhia familiaris americana. BROWN CREEPER. A not uncommon migrant. A summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. A nest was taken by the late C. F. Carpenter, C. E., in Hamilton County, about twenty miles northeast of Wilmurt P. O., Herkimer County, N. Y., July 28th, 1875. The nest was in a heavy forest, concealed behind a piece of bark which had been partly torn loose from Birds. 83 the side of a spruce tree, about six feet from the ground, but which still remained attached to the tree by the upper end. Mr. Carpenter describes the nest as “made of soft, downy materials, including feathers and such soft materials as you will find in a squirrel’s nest. The whole bulk not larger than your fist.” It contained three young birds with down only in tufts upon them, and two addled eggs, white, thinly marked with fine reddish dots or spots, and measuring respectively .60 x .47 and .59 x .47 inches. More recently we have taken three more, all near Holland Patent, and each placed under a loose piece of bark beside the trunk of a dead tree. The first was taken June 15, 1888, and contained four young birds ready to fly and two addled eggs. The second was taken June 21, 1888, and contained five nearly fresh eggs. The second was taken June 21, 1888, and contained five nearly fresh eggs. The third, taken June 30, 1888, contained six fresh eggs. 244. Sitta carolinensis carolinensis. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. A common resident. Breeds. 245. Sitta canadensis. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. A common migrant. A common summer resident in the northern part of the county. Breeds. Of several nests taken, one of May 14th, 1886, at Trenton Falls, contained five eggs, nearly hatched. The hole was four inches deep and fifty feet from the ground, in the dead top of an ash, ina swamp. There were quantities of gum about the hole and running down the tree. The nest was composed of strips of bark, a little moss and a few feathers. The eggs closely resembled those of the white breasted, except in size, averaging .62 x .47 inches. 84 Oneida Historical Society. 246. Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus. CHICKADEE. Abundant summer and winter. Breeds. This is the most common of our winter birds, but we are unwilling even to hazard an opinion whether the birds of winter are the same ones which are with us in summer, or are migrants from further north. 247. Penthestes hudsonicus hudsonicus. HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. Mr. Robert J. Hughes took a specimen at Remsen, Decem- ber 25, 1886. Dr. C. H. Merriam reports the species as breeding in Herkimer and Hamilton Counties, where it is very local. 248. Regulus satrapa satrapa. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. A common migrant. An occasional resident, both winter and summer. Breeds. A specimen was taken by Messrs: Hughes and Shepard at Remsen, December 25, 1886, and they also report that they found them there during other winters. During the latter part of June, 1888, near Holland Patent, we observed a pair of these birds followed by seven or eight young, which they were feeding. 249. Regulus calendula calendula. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. A common migrant. 250. Hylocichla mustelina. WOOD THRUSH. A quite common summer resident. Breeds. Birds. 85 251. Hylocichla fuscescetis fuscescens. VEERY. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives May 5 to 21. 252. Hylocichla aliciz alicie. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. Dr. C. H. Merriam gives it as a common migrant. 253. Hylocichla aliciz bicknelli. BICKNELL’S THRUSH. Dr. C. H. Merriam writes in his “Preliminary List of the Birds of the Adirondack Region”: “In my cabinet is a speci- men of this recently described thrush, which I shot in Lewis County, May 24, 1873.” 254. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. A not uncommon migrant. An abundant summer resident in the West Canada Creek Valley. Breeds. Arrives April 14 to 26. Nest taken June 13th, 1876, between Deer and Otter Lakes, about twenty miles northeast of Wilmurt P. O., Her- kimer County; was built about seven feet from the ground in a small spruce, and lined entirely with black fibrous roots, resembling horsehair. The eggs were four, .83 x .65 inches, green, spotted with reddish. 255. Hylocichla guttata pallasi. HERMIT THRUSH. A quite common summer resident in the northern part of the County. Breeds. Arrives April 16 to 25. 86 Oneida Historical Society. 256. Planesticus migratorius migratorius. ROBIN. A very abundant summer resident. Breeds. Some are seen almost every winter. | Males arrive March 8 to April 1. Females follow about fifteen days later. 257. Sialia sialis sialis. BLUEBIRD. An abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives March 8 to April 1. 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