52 TIMES OF MIGRATION. attention to a study of nesting habits. As a matter of fact, the nesting season begins quite as early as the spring migration, the Great Horned Owl laying its eggs late in February, In March and April other birds of prey and the earlier migrants nest. May migrants go to housekeeping soon after they reach their old homes, and by June 5 there are few species that have not nests. With birds that rear two or three broods, the nest- ing season may extend into August, With those that have but one brood it may be over early in July. At this time we begin to miss the jolly, rollicking music of the Bobolink, Soon he will leave the meadow he has animated for two months, and with his young join grow- ing flocks of his kind in the wild -rice marshes. His handsome suit of black and white and buff will be ex- changed for the sparrowlike Reedbird dress, and in place of the merry song he will utter only a metallic tinl'. This note is characteristic of the season. Day and night we hear it from birds high in the air as they hasten to their rendezvous in the marshes, July 1, Tree Swallows, who nest rarely if at all near New York city, appear and establish their headquarters in the Hackensack meadows — a first step on the migra- tory journey. July is a month for wanderers. The nest- ing season of most one-brooded birds is over ; they are not yet ready to migrate, and pass the time roving about the country with their families. In August birds are molting and moping. The careful observer will find that a few Warblers and Fly- catchers have returned from the north and are passing southward, but, as a rule, August is a month to test the patience of the most enthusiastic bird student. Late in the month migrants become more numerous, but be- tween the " flights " or " waves " there are days when
