28 Bird-Lore south. Certain species that winter in southern Floriiia are now for the first time seen in northern Florida, and others are crossing from Cuba. Note the difference in the times of arrival of males and females of the same species. Do the males always a-rive first ? How long after the females arrive are the sexes found associated ? Why should the sexes migrate alone ? Note the relation existing between the weathei and the appearance of migrants. Study the dailv weather charts issued by the U. S. Weather Bureau at Washington and observe whether the movement of a warm wave from the soutii northward is followed by a corre- sponding advance of the birds. Note the close relation between the disappearance of ice and the return of Ducks and Geese. What evidences of migration during the day are noticed ? Song. — What species sing in February and March? What birds arrive in song ? What species sing before the coming of the female ? What birds sing in flocks ? Is their choral song different from their individual, solo song ? Nesting. — What species nest in February and March ? Among summer residents do the first birds to arrive nest first ? What species are observed courting at this season ? Does the season of courtship and mating long precede the nesting season ? Compare here the time of arrival and time of nesting of the Red-wino-ed Blackbird. ?'---■ [SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SEASON'S READING Thoreau, 'Spring,' in 'Walden,' 'Early Spring in Massachusetts,' 'Winter'; Burroughs, ' The Return of the Birds' and ' Spring at the Capital,' in ' Wake Robin,' 'A March Chronicle' in 'Winter Sunshine,' 'Spring Jottings' in ' Riverby ' ; Torrey, ' A Florida Sketch Book ' ; Flagg, ' February ' in ' A Year With the Birds ' ; Bolles, ' Land of the Lingering Snow ' ; Davis, ' After the Snow ' and ' The Benison of Spring' in ' Days Afield on Staten Island ' ; Keeler, ' February in Berkeley ' and ' March in the Pine Woods ' in ' Bird Notes Afield ' ; Crockett, ' February ' and ' March ' in ' A Year-book of Kentucky Woods and Fields ' ; Parkhurst, ' February ' and ' March ' in 'The Birds' Calendar.' The Christmas Bird Census WHILE the exceptionally fine weather on Christmas day was a sufficient inducement to take one afield, we trust that the spirit of wholesome competition aroused by BiRD- Lore's bird census added materially to the pleasure of those who took part in it. The results of the census are both interesting and instructive; in- teresting, because they are definite, comparative, and, in a sense, per- sonal; instructive, because they give a very good idea of the distribution of winter birds on Christmas day, with some indication of the number of individuals which may be observed in a given time. On the one hand the almost entire absence of such northern species as the Crossbills is noticeable; on the other, the mild season and prevailing absence of snow evidently accounts for the presence of a number of species rarely observed in December.
