are able to carry out these desires with such precision and regularity, is very doubtful.

Having thus reviewed the subject generally, if we turn our attention homeward we find that in an ornithological point of view Hamilton is favorably situated, its surroundings being such as will attract birds of all classes. In the country we find highly cultivated fields alternating with clumps of mixed bush and rocky gullies, while the bay, with its sandy shores and marshy inlets, provides ample food and shelter for the waders and swimmers. Here, too, we are favorably situated for observing the movements of the migratory armies in the spring, and have done so with results similar to those already described.

Pressing on toward the north through Ohio early in May, the birds meet the south shore of Lake Erie, and following its course crowd in perfect swarms along the Niagara River till they strike the shore of Lake Ontario at right angles Here, most likely, a separation takes place, some following the line of the lake shore eastward, while the greater number most likely take the western route, and are seen flitting from bush to bush along the beach, where for a few days in May they almost rival the sandflies in number, and that is saying a good deal. That some attempt to cross the lake is evident from their frequently flying on board vessels which are passing up and down at that season, and the fact of these individuals being generally much exhausted, would imply that many fall short of the north shore and perish in the water. The spring of 1882 is memorable as one in which the birds on their northern journey received a severe and sudden check. On the 9th of May the season was unusually favorable, and the migratory wave was rolling along at its height, when a severe north-easter set in during the night accompanied with cold, drizzling, sleety rain. This forced the birds to descend from upper air and seek shelter wherever it could be found. In the morning my garden was full of warblers, all in their glowing nuptial dress, but dull and draggled, not knowing where to turn. I collected more rare specimens in my garden that morning than I ever did anywhere else in the same time. This would seem to be an unfortunate resting-place for the birds, but others fared quite as bad elsewhere, for when a little daughter of Mr. Smith, who keeps the Ocean House, went down to play by the lake shore in the morning, she returned in a few minutes with her

pinafore full of little dead birds which were being washed up from the lake all along the shore. In former years it was the custom with those who wished a collection of birds to have them mounted and placed in glass cases, but the mounting in very many instances failed to satisfy those who were familiar with the appearance of the birds in life; besides which they took up too much room, and always suffered by transportation. This mode is now practiced mostly by public museums, where the specimens remain permanently and are under the care of a curator. The plan now followed by amateur collectors is to skin and preserve the specimen, filling out the skin with cotton to about the natural size so as to make the bird look as if newly killed. In this way they are kept in trays in a cabinet, where they are easy of access for measurement or examination, besides which, through the facilities offered for transportation by mail, an exchange of duplicates can at very small cost be made by collectors, residing at far distant points. On the table there are now brought together in this way specimens from Alaska to Texas, and from New Brunswick to California, as well as many intermediate points.

The month of May, above all others in the year, is the one enjoyed by collectors, the birds being now arrayed in their richest dress, and excursions to the woods in pursuit of them offering so pleasing a change after our long, hard winter has passed away. There is no group of our small birds so interesting as the Warblers, which, though they do not differ much in size, yet vary greatly in plumage, some of them such as the Blackburnian and Black and Yellow being exceedingly beautiful, while others are so extremely rare everywhere that the securing of one is an event of the season. Among the latter class I may name the Cape May, of which I got two specimens at the Beach one morning in May, 1884.

The name of John Cassin has already been mentioned in this paper as a representative Ornithologist of his time. Hear what he says about the birds we are describing :

"Bird collecting," says Mr. Cassin, "is the ultimate refinement, the ne plus ultra of all the sports of the field. It is attended with all the excitement, and requires all the skill of other shooting with a much higher degree of theoretical information, and consequent gratification in its exercise. Personal activity (not necessarily to be exerted over so great a space as in game bird shooting, but in a

much greater diversity of locality), coolness, steadiness of hand, quickness of eye and of ear-especially the latter; in fact all the accomplishments of a first-rate shot will be of service, and some of them are indispensable to successful collecting. The main reliance, however, is on the ear for the detection of birds by their notes, and involves a knowledge the more accurate and discriminating the better, which can only be acquired by experience, and always characterizes the true woodsman, whether naturalist or hunter.

"This ability is of incomparable value to the collector, whether in the tangled forest, the deep recesses of the swamp, on the sea coast, or in the clear woodlands, on mountain or prairie; it advises him of whatever birds may be there, and affords him a higher gratification, announcing the presence of a bird he does not know. We recognize no more exquisite pleasure than to hear in the woods the note of a bird that is new to us. It is in the latter case that the cultivated quickness of the eye of the experienced collector is especially important, and his coolness and steadiness of nerve is fully tested. It will not do to be flustered. But, in fact, all these qualities must be possessed for the acquirement of the smaller species of birds found in our woods. Some species, such as the Warblers, are constantly in motion in the pursuit of insects, and are most frequently met with in the tops of trees; they are, moreover, only to be killed with the finest shot, or they are spoiled for specimens. The obtaining of these little birds always requires the most careful and skilful shooting."

With us the Warblers arrive with remarkable regularity about the 10th of May. Should the season be a late one, they may be observed at this time gleaning their scanty fare among the almost leafless branches; or again, if early, the leaves may be opening out by the first of the month, yet the little birds do not appear till their regular time. As the first flocks arrive they rest and recruit for a day or two, and then pass on to make room for others who arrive and take their places. So the stream flows on till the Queen's birthday (May 24). About this time the Black Poll arrives, and when it goes the season may be considered over, as it is always the last of this class to arrive in spring. Thrushes, Orioles, Tangers and Flycatchers are now all here in full life, and the busy collector can hardly spare time to sleep-if he does, it is to see flocks of desirable species arise before his excited vision, and not till the

middle of June, when the birds are all nesting, does he lay aside the gun and take time to count his treasures.

The Sparrows, as a class, are also well represented near the city. Some of them, such as the Fox Colored, White Crowned and White Throated, being very handsome birds which visit us in Spring and Fall, but do not remain during the summer or winter, the best known of this class being the English Sparrow, which has been looked upon as an outsider, yet it is here now for good (or bad, as the case may be), and is entitled to a place among the others of its class. In all lists of American birds at present it is very unpopular, the principal charges brought against it being that of eating the fruit buds and driving away our native birds. Some time ago I gave the result of my observations, which appeared elsewhere, but may be worth repeating here :-It was in the summer of 1874 that I first noticed a pair of these birds about the out houses, and in a few days they became quite familiar, having evidently made up their minds to stay with us. I made them welcome for old acquaintance sake, and thinking they would make good settlers was about to put up a house for them, but before my well-meant intentions were carried out it became apparent that they were providing for themselves in a manner quite characteristic.

On a peak of the stable was a box occupied by a pair of swallows who were at this time engaged in rearing their young, and of this box the sparrows seemed determined to get possession. The swallows resisted their attacks with great spirit, and, their outcries bringing a host of friends to their assistance, the intruders were for a time driven off, but it was only to return again with renewed energy and perseverence. The swallows were now sorely beset, as one had to remain on guard while the other went in search of supplies. Still they managed to hold the fort till the enemy, watching his opportunity, made a strategic movement from the rear and darted into the box quicker than I can tell it. He emerged again with a callow swallow hanging by the nape of the neck in his bill and dropped it on the ground below, and soon another followed amid the distressing cries of the swallows who, seeing their hopes so completely blighted, sat mute and mournful on the ridge of the house for a short time, and then went away from the place, leaving the sparrows in undisputed possession of the box, and there they remained and raised some young ones during the summer.

In the spring of the following year the numbers had increased, and they began to roost under the veranda round the house, which brought frequent complaints from the sanitary department, and a protest was made against their being allowed to lodge there at all. Still, in view of the prospective riddance of insect pests from the garden, matters were arranged with the least possible disturbance to the birds, and we even stood by and saw them dislodge a pair of house wrens who had for years been in possession of a box fixed for them in an apple tree in the garden. So the second year wore on, no further notice being taken of the sparrows except that they were getting more numerous

I had missed the sprightly song and lively manners of the wrens, and in the spring when they came round again seeking admission to their old home, I killed the sparrows which were in possession in order to give the wrens a chance, and they at once took advantage of it and commenced to carry up sticks in their usual industrious manner. They had only enjoyed possession for two days, however, when they were again dislodged. Again the intruders were killed off, and domestic felicity reigned for three days, when a third pair of sparrows came along bent on the same object, and, if possible, more overbearing and determined than their predecessors. This time I thought of a different mode of accomplishing the object in view, and taking down the box at night, nailed a shingle over the end and worked it flush round the edges; with a centre bit a hole was then pierced just large enough to admit the wrens, but too small for the sparrows, and the box was put back in its place. Early in the morning the assault was renewed, but the wrens found at once that they were masters of the situation, and never were two birds more delighted. From his perch aloft the male poured forth torrents of scorn and ridicule, while the female inside the box fairly danced with delight, and I almost fancied was making faces at their enemy as he struggled ineffectually to gain admission, or sullenly, but fruitlessly, tried to widen the aperture.

Shortly after this dispute was settled I noticed ten or twelve sparrows quietly at work at the grape vines, and feeling pleased at the havoc they were apparently making among the insects passed on, speculating mentally on the probable increase of fruit I would have. In the afternoon they had moved to another trellis, and I thought "Well, they are doing the work systematically, and no