NOTES ON SOME OF THE BIRDS OF OYSTER BAY,
LONG ISLAND. /
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT. MARCH, 1879.
1. Turdus Swainsoni (Cab.). Common migrant. Usually arrives
from the North about September 20, departing about October 10 ; but
I have found them as late as the middle of November. These late individuals
were var. alicice.
2. Turdus fuscescens (Steph.). Rather uncommon migrants. In
spring, passes about the middle of May ; in the autumn, during the last
week of August and first week of September, — departing long before our
other Northern thrushes arrive.
3. Mimus polyglottus (L.). One shot Aug. 15, 1876.
4. Parus atricapillus (L.). Not only places its nest in deserted
woodpecker holes, &c, but frequently excavates a burrow for itself.
With us, is very fond of using the fur of the pine mouse as lining.
5. Parula americana (L.). Rather common summer resident, being
especially common in locust groves and open woods, near water.
6. Helminthophaga chrysoptera (L.). Shot it but once (May 10,
1878), but am almost certain I have seen it in summer.
7. Helminthophaga pinus (L.). Rather common summer resident,
arriving early in May. It frequents the edges of the woods (where there
is underbrush) and thickets, and in spring is also found in the open
groves and orchards. Although a moderately expert fly-catcher, it prefers
to obtain its food (consisting chiefly of caterpillars and small beetles
and bugs) by " handpicking " the leaves and branches. I have found
but one nest — June 10 — which contained one young one, fully fledged.
Besides the loud chuck common to both sexes, the males possess a curious
song, consisting of two hissing, drawling notes, like " cheechir'r'r."
Sometimes the bird will sit perfectly motionless for half an hour at a
time, at intervals uttering these notes.
I have been rather surprised at the absence of Helmitherus vermivorous.
and Sciurus motacilla, which I have found so common in the valley of the
Hudson.
8. Dendroica pinus (Wils.). Rather common summer resident in the
pine and cedar woods. About as common as the cestioa; neither being
any thing like as plentiful as the discolor, which is the most abundant of
all our warblers.
9. Oporornis agilis (Wils.). One shot Sept. 25, 1877.
10. Passerculus princeps (Maynard). One shot Dec 28, 1878, on
a sandv beach, sparsely covered with coarse grass. One other seen.
11. Corvus ossifragus. Dec. 30, 1874, I shot a male. There was then
a good deal of snow on the ground. It was by itself, although the common
crows were assembled in great flocks.
12. Empidonax acadicus (Gra ). Rather common summer resident;
much less so than the minimus. Frequents the dry, rather dense woods,
keeping in the underbrush and among the lower branches of the trees.
In autumn, I have found the curiously-banded young associating with
various warblers; otherwise they are solitary birds. Is more restless than
the Irailli. It has a querulous note, sounding like '• queech," or
"qu-eech," which it utters repeatedly and rapidly.
13. Empidonax trailli (Aud.). One shot June 12, 1876, in a wet
thicket. It was almost blown to pieces by the discharge, but there was
enough left easily to identify it.
14. Melanerpes erythrocephalus (L.). I have never seen it except
during the winter of 1873-74, when it was not uncommon.
15. Nyctea scandiaca (!>•). Common in the autumn of 1876.
16. Falco communis (Gm.). A pair appeared in September, 1875,
and worked great havoc among the night herons. I have seen one fly
into a flock of young, and kill three without picking up any.
17. Ortyx virginianus (L.). The weasel is a bad foe of these birds.
I have seen one track a covey across a stubble-field like a dog, and then
creep cautiously up, pounce on one and kill it instantaneously.Making preAuthentication call to:

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