Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/178

 Birds and Seasons SIXTH SERIES WITH this issue of Bird -Lore the series of papers on 'Birds and Seasons ' is concluded. That it has been of assistance to field students their numerous and cordial expressions of appreciation assure us. The idea of a definite plan of study has also found favor and the editor is encouraged to follow these papers on 'Birds and Sea- sons' by a series of articles on the families of Passerine birds. The chief aim of these articles, which will be fully illustrated, will be to aid the student in identifying birds in nature, but information will be given for those who desire to know at least the main points of structure on which families are based. F. M. C. OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER BIRD LIFE NEAR BOSTON Bv Ralph HorrMANX The first of October is the height of the fall migration. The woods and dry country lanes are now full of restless bands, which seem to any one who has become familiar with the order of arrival which birds keep in spring, to be made up of strange companions. The Yellow Palm and the lilackpoll Warblers, birds which in May couKl only accident- ally overlap, are now encountered day after day together. In the grassy swamps, Sparrows, chiefly Song and Swamp, are swarming by the hun- dreds. A trained eye may detect among them on some fortunate dav the more elegant form and markings of a Lincoln's Finch. About the twentieth of the month the last regular migrants arrive, the Fox Sparrow, the Tree Sparrow and the Shrike. About the same time all but the hardiest of the summer birds, and the earlier migrants take their departure. The Sparrows in tlic weedy fields, the 'ellow- rumps in the now leafless thickets, a White-throat or a few lingering Blackbinis, how one treasures the sight of these familiar birds! We follow the last Bluebird as we iliil tin- first, knowing that a weary interval may diviile us from another sight of his warm blue. Even in November, the warm sunshine occasionalU tempts these birds to linger on till some seere storm covers the earth with the first snow, and we come down to winti-r fare.