DnnnDnnannnnannnnnnDanDnanna D a D D D D n ^j^*'"*^^ D D ^r^-^^^^ D n ff ~«umf^ \ D n i }Ww\ 1 D D \¥/J D D a D ^•h^-"*^^^ D n ^^KSB'^ D D D D D □ UNIVERSITY LIBRARY a D n D D UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETi'S D D D D n LIBRARY n AT a n n AMHERST n n n D D D n D a D D D D D D D D D n D a D D D D D n a D n ° s D n D a BnnnnnnnnnnanaDDnnnDDnaannna BULLETIN OF THE NuTTALL Ornithological Club ^ djunrtcrly |lourn:t( of (Liruitbologu. VOLUME VII. (i-bitor. J. A. ALLEN. ^ss&ciatc Ct^bitors. ' S. F. BAIRD AND ELLIOTT COUES. CAMBRIDGE. MASS. : PUBLISHED BY THE CLUB. 1S82 > ir. //. Wheel ef. Printer, IS & n Brighton Street, Cambridge, Mas 1S82. CONTENTS OF VOLUME VII. NUMBER I. Page. Ox AX APPARENTLY NeW PIeRON FROM FLORIDA. B\' Robcit Ridgzvax. ........... \ List of Birds observed at Houston, Harris Co., Texas, and Vicinity, and in the Counties Montgomery, Galv'eston, AND Ford Bexd. By H. Nehrling. ...... 6 On the Sesamoid at the front of the Carpus in Birds. Bv J. Amorv Jeifries. . . . . . . . . ■ 13 Notes on Some of the Birds observed near Wheatland, Knox Co., Indiana, in the Spring of 18S1. By Robert Ridgtvay. . . . . . . . . . . ,15 Notes on the Habits and Changes of Plumage of the Aca- dian Owl {Nyctcile acadica), with some additional Records OF ITS Breeding in Massachusetts. Bj- Willi im Brewster . 23 Description of a New Race of Peuceea ruficcps from Texas. Bj Nathan Clifford Broivn. ........ 26 On Kennicott's Owl and some of its Allies, with a Descrip- tion OF A proposed New Race. Ey William Brezvster. * . • -7 A Reconnoissance in Southwestern Texas. Bv Natlian Clif- ford Broiv/i. ..<........ 33 RECENT LITERATURE. Memorial Volume of Garrod's Scientific Papers, 43 : Shuteldt's Os- teology of the North American Tetraonfd;e. 44: Illustrations of Ohio Nests and Eggs, 45 : Shufeldt's -"The Cla^v on the Index Digit of tiie Cathartid;e."" 46; Papers on Minnesota Birds, 47 ; Freke on the Birds of Amelia County, Virginia, 48; Langdon's Field Notes on Louisiana Birds, 48; ^Crider's Field Notes, 49; Langdon's Zoological Miscellany. 50; Hoffman on the Birds of Nevada, 51. GENERAL NOTES. The Tufted Titmouse on Staten Island, N. Y., 52 ; Nesting of the White-bellied Wren {T/iryot/iorits bervicki leiicogaster)^ ^2\ An Erroneous Record of the Orange-crowned Warbler {Helmin- tiiopkaga crlafa) \n New Hampshire, 53 ; On the Generic Name HelmintiiopJiaga. 53; Dendneca palmar/on a.gain in Massachu- setts, 54; Ampelis cedrorum as a Sap-sucker. 54; Capture of PlectropJiaucs lappoi/icii-i in Chester, S. C 54: Occurrence of Cotiiriiiculus Iccoiitci in Chester County, South Carolina. 54; The Sharp-tailed Finch in Kansas, 55; Note on J////-e///(/«e.?, a New Generic Name, 55 : Nesting of Empidonax minimus and Helminthcriis zn^rmivorus in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 55 : iv Co}itcnts of J ^ohituc \ II. Cuckoos laying in the Nests of other Birds. 56: Melanerpes crv/krocephalits about Boston, ^^7; The Barn Owl in Maine: a Retraction, 58; The Snowy Owl at Fort Walla Walla. W. T.. 58; Capture of the Golden Eagle in Crawford County. Penn- sylvania, 58; The Swallow-tailed Kite in Dakota, 59: A Re- markable Specimen of the Pinnated Grouse {Cupidonia cupido). 59; Wilson's Plover (y^-Egialitcs zviho/iius) in New England, 59; Capture of Baird's Sandpiper on Long Island, N. Y., 60; An Addition to the Maine Fauna, 60; Capture of Lams li'ticoptertis near Boston, 6o; The Great Black-backed Gull {Lants murinus) from a new Locality, 60; The Snake-bird in Kansas, 61 ; Capture of thi Sea Dove 150 Miles from the Sea, 61 ; Additions to the Catalogue of North American Birds, 61 ; Notes on Some Birds of the Beit Mountains, Montana Territory. 6i : Remarks on Some Western Vermont Birds, 63. Erratum ............ 64 NUMBER W. On a Collection of Birds lately made by Mr. F. Stephens in Arizona. By William Brexuster ....... 65 NoTE.s ox THE Os PrOxMINENS. ^j Frederic A Lucas . . .86 A List of Birds from the Lowe^i Mississippi Valley, observed DURING THE SUMMER OF 1881. WITH BRIEF NOTES. Bv O. P. H.iy ...".. 89 Impressions OF so.ME Southern Birds. \^\ William Brexvster . 94 Notes ON" SOME OF THE Rarer Birds of Southern New Bruns- wick. Bv Montague Chamber la i)i . . . . . . 104 Notes on the Summer Birds of the Upper St. John. By Charles F. Bafchelder 106 RECENT LITERATIRE. Dr. Coues" New Check List and Dictionary, iii ; Nests and Eggs of Ohio Birds. 112; Professor Macoun's Report of Exploration, 113; Knowlton's Revised List of the Birds of Brandon. Vermont. 113; Krukenberg on the Coloring Matter of Feathers, 114; Minor Or- nithological Papers. 11 v (GENERAL NOTES. Description of a Nest of the Water Ouzel. iiS: The Short-billed Marsh Wren in New Hampshire, 118; Early Arrival of the Yel- low Rump in Southern Maine, 119; Late Stay (^probable Winter- ing) of Doidrceca piniis in Massachusetts. 119; The Hooded Warbler in Western New York, 119: Breeding of the Pine Gros- beak (/'/'w/co/rt e««r/ertift>/') in Lower Canada. 120; Cotitrniculiis leco7itei, C. hensloxvi. and Cistothorus stellaris in Florida. 121 ; Ammodramus caitdaciitus — a somewhat Inland Record on the Atlantic Coast. 122; The White-throated Sparrow in Winter near Worcester, Mass.. 122; Peiiccea rnficcps ercmwca. 122: The Can- ada Ja\ at Portland, Maine. 122 ; The White-throated Swift breeding on Belt River, Montana. 122: Capture of the Golden Contc?its of \'ol7i7ne \"II. Eagle i^Aquila chrysaetiis ianadeHsis) near Columbus. Ohio, 123; The Little Blue Heron in Maine, 123; Baird's Sandpiper on Long Island. X. y. — a Correction, 123; Pelidna subarquata on the Maine Coast, 124; The King Rail in New England, 124; Purple Gallinule {loiiornis marthiica) in Rhode Island, 124; Note on the Habits of the Young of Gallinula galcata and Podilymbus fodiceps, 124; Rynchops nigra — an Early Record for the Massa- chusetts Coast. 125; Notes on the Habits of the Kittiwake Gull, 125; Sterna /br.f^e;'/ breeding off the Eastern Shore of \'irginia, 126; Note on the Foot oi Accipiter ftiscus, 126; Supplemental;)- Notes on two Texas Birds, 127; Addenda to the Preliminary list of Birds ascertained to occur in the Adirondack Region. North- eastern New York. 12S. Err.\t.\ . . . . . . . . . . . . . i; NUMBER III. The Colors OF Feathers. {Plate I.) '&\ y. Amory Jeffries . 129 On a Collection of Birds lately made by Mr. F. Stephens in Arizona. By William Breivster . . . . . . • 13.=; Notes on the Summer Birds of the Upper St. John. By Charles F. Batchelder ........... 147 A Sketch of the Home of Hylocickla alicice bicknelli. Ridgway, WITH some Critical Remarks on the Allies of this New Race. By Eugene P. Bicknell. ....... 152 Short Notes on the Birds of Bayou Sara, Louisiana. By Charles Wiekliffe Beckham ........ 159 List of Birds observed at Houston. Harris Co.. Texas, and IN THE Counties Mont(;omery. Galveston, and Ford Bend. By H. Nehrling 166 RECENT LITER.VTURE. Bailey's Index to Forest and Stream, 175 ; Chamberlain's Catalogue of the Birds of New Brunswick, 176; Krukenberg on the Coloring Matter of Feathers. Second Part, 177: Stejneger's Nomenclatural Innoyations. 17S: IngersoU's Birds'-Nesting. 179. GENERAL NOTES. Note on Mimus polyglottus, 180; The Nest of the House Wren. liSo: Remarkable plumage of the Orchard Oriole. 181 ; The Nest and Eggs of Perisoreiis canadensis, 181 ; Notes on the Plumage of JVephcecetes niger borealis. 182 : Plumage of the Young of Eclec- tus polychlorus, 183; An Owl's Egg laid in Confinement, 183; Btiteo brachyurns — a Correction, 184; The Turkey Buzzard in New Hampshire, 184; Rapacious Birds in Confinement. 184; Note on Mareca amerirana. 185 : Destruction of Birds by the Cold Wa\e of May 21st and 22d. 185; More Definite Statistics needed in regard to the .Abundance of Birds. 186; Remarks on Five Maine Birds. 189: Maine Notes, 190: Stray Notes from Look- out Mountain. Tenn.. 191.. Errat.\ ............. 192 Contents of Vol . III. MMHER IV. On a Collection of Birds lately made by Mr. F. .Stephens IN Arizona. By William Bre-vster ...... 193 Notes upon the Osteology of Cinclus mexiciniiis. Bv R.- W. Shitfeldt " . .213 List of Birds observed at Holston, Harris Co., Texas, and IN *1HE CoiNTIES MONTGOMERY, GaLVESTON. AND FoRD BeND. By //. Nek r ling 222 Notes on some Birds collected by Capt. Charles Bendire AT Fort Walla Walla. Washington Territory. By Wil- liam Brexvster ........... 225 List of Birds ascertained to occur within Ten Miles from Point de Monts, Province of Quebec, Canada, based chief- ly upon the Notes of Napoleon A. Comeau. By C. Hart Merriam ............ 2t,t^ recp:nt literature. The Cones Check List and Ornitliological Dictionary. 242 : Gentry's Nests and Eggs of Birds of the United States. 246. GENERAL NOTES. Dendrceca f alma ruin at Sing Sing. N. Y., 249; Nest and Eggs of Setopliaga ficta — a Correction. 249; The Summer Tanager lyPyyanga <^stiva) in New Brunswick. 249; The Evening Gros- beak in New York. 250; The Black-throated Bunting in Florida. 250; Distribution of the Fish Crow {Corvtis ossifragits). 250; Tlie Swallow-tailed Kite {Ela7ioides forfcatiiiade>is/s, D. discolor, or D. ccerulca. 38. Siurus auricapillus, Siv. Golden-crowned Thrush. — Tran- sient and not common. 39. Siurus nsevuis, Cones. Water Thrush. — Not uncommon in suitable localities during migrations. 40. Oporornis formosa, Bd. Kentucky Warbler.— A common summer resident ; exceeding in numbers even the Maryland Yellow-thi-oat, with which it occupies the same localities. Common in wet fields with patches of low bushes, and in the dense undergrowth near water. Visits frequently the country gardens. Very abundant on Spring Creek, in the northern part of Harris County, and in Montgomery County. Arrives about April 21. Commences nest-building early in May. Nest verv difficult to find. 41. Geothlypis trichas, Cab. Maryland Yellow-throat. — Arrives about April 15, from its winter quarters. A common summer sojourner. Like the preceding species, most common in grassy localities with thickets interspersed. On a farm near Houston is a wet piece of land containing about two acres, where I found three pairs breeding. Through this runs a ditch and the whole ground is covered with high broom-grass (^Andropogon macriirus) with briar patches, thickets of water-oak. Vibur- num dentatum, black haw ( F. pruneifoliutn), etc. The field is surround- ed by an almost impenetrable hedge of Cherokee-roses {J?osa Itevigaia). Here the Yellow-throats occur with Kentucky Warblers, White-e^-ed Vireos, Yellow-throated Vireos, Painted Finches, and Blue Grosbeaks, all living in harmonj'. Two broods are raised yearly in this latitude. In almost every nest of this bird, and also of the Kentucky Warbler, eggs of the Cow Bird are to be found. 42. Geothlypis Philadelphia, Bd. Mourning Warbler. — Tran- sient and rather rare. 43. Icteria virens, Bd. Yellow-breasted Chat. — A common summer resident, arriving from its winter quarters about April 15. Many winter in sheltered places. Its most favorable resorts are brier-patches in fields, thickets on the edge of woods, myrtle-holly thickets overgrown with tangled Smilax laurifolia, and similar localities. Nest in the inte- rior of thickets near the ground ; it has some resemblance to the Catbird's, and is built of nearly the same material. 44. Myiodioctes viAtxBXviB, Aud. Hooded Warbler. — This beau- tiful species is common during migrations. Arrives from the South in the last part of April, when the host of Warblers migrate northward. I never observed the bird during the summer months and do not think that any remain to breed. 45. Myiodioctes canadensis, Aud. Canadian Flycatching War- bler.— Not very common during the spring migration. 46. Myiodioctes pusillus, Bon. Black-capped Warbler. — I con- sider this the most common species of the genus during migrations. Nehrling on Birds of Sottthcastern Texas. 1 1 47. Setophaga ruticilla, Szv. American Redstart. — Moves north- ward late in April and early in May, when the throng of Warblers mi- grate to their summer quarters in high northern latitudes. 48. Vireosylvia olivacea, Bo)i. Red-eyed Vireo. — A common sumrner resident in all the deciduous woods. 49. Vireosylvia gilva, Cass. Warbling Vireo. — Evidently a rare species, even during the migrations. 50. Lanivireo flavifrons, Bd. Yellow-throated Vireo. — Abundant and breeding. The first nest, beautifully constructed, I discovered April 28 in a high blackberry^bush about four feet above the ground, near Houston. It contained four fresh eggs and one of the Dwarf Cowbird {Molof/iriis ater obscurus). Nest and eggs in my collection. Many more nests were discovered during the months of Maj' and June, and many contained one and two eggs of the Cowbird. 51. Lanivireo solitarius, Bd. Solitary Vireo. — Rare during migrations. 52. Vireo noveboracensis, Bon. White-eyed Vireo. — A common summer resident in localities where Viburnum dei/tatiim, V. jnolle, V. pruncifolium, Rhamnus carolinensis^ Cornus Jlorida, laurel-oaks {^uercus imbricaria), and elms are growing, especially on the borders of woods, in open thickets, peach gardens, etc. 53. Vireo belli, Aud. Bell's Vireo. — A common summer so- journer. A not quite finished nest was discovered April 15 on a horizon- tal branch of a Vibiirnujn dentatum on the edge of a tliicket, about five feet above the ground. It contained three fresh eggs. The nests of this Vireo are more purse-shaped and deeper than any other Vireo nests I am acquainted with. 54. Laziius ludovicianiis exciibitoride.s, Cones. White-rumped Shrike. — A generally dispersed summer resident, but not abundant. Prefers to build in the hedges of the osage orange. 55. Ampelis cedrorum, V/'ei/l. Cedar Bird. — Abundant migrant. Observed flocks of from thirt\- to fifty as late as jNIay 6. None remain to breed. 56. Progne subis, Bd. Purple Martin. ^Abundant summer resi- dent. Arrives March i from the South. Breeds in large numbers under the wooden awnings of sidewalks, even in the business part of Houston and Galveston. Abundant also in the country where bird-boxes are put out for its convenience. Two broods are commonly raised in this latitude. 57. Petroclielidon lunifrons, La-cvr. Cliff Swallow. — Seen in great numbers during September, but does not breed in this region. 58. Hirundo erythrogastra, Bodd. Barn Swallow. — Large num- bers seen in the latter part of August, but not found breeding. 59. Tachycineta bicolor. Cab. White-bellied Swallow. — Com- mon during migrations. A few observed in summer on the borders of woods. 12 Neiirling c;/ Birds of Southeastern Texas. 60. Cotyle riparia, Boie. Bank Swallow. — A few pairs remain to breed in such localities as the banks of Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. 61. Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Bd. Rough-winged Swallow. — A very abundant summer resident. Often nests under the roofs of side- walks and on old buildings in Houston, but is more a companion to the preceding on the high banks on Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. 62. Pyranga rubra, Vieill. Scarlet Tanager. — A moderately com- mon bird during the migrations. Arrives from the South about April 15 and passes without lingering to its more northern breeding range. 63. Pyranga eestiva, Vieill. Summer Redbird. — A common sum- mer resident, particularly in oak woods. It is an elegant species, as are all the members of this family, but is more retired in its habits and quicker and more restless in its motions than the preceding. The song is more varied, louder, and wilder. The nest is usually built on the horizontal branch of an oak, from seven to twenty feet above the ground. It is a very open-worked inartificial structure, and the eggs cannot with certainty be distinguished from those of the Scarlet Tanager. 64. Astragalinus tristis. Cab. Goldfinch. — A very abundant win- ter sojourner. Feeds almost entirely on the seeds of the sycamore or button-wood {Plata)! us occidentalis). 65. Chrysoniitris pinus, Bon. Pine Finch. — A somewhat rare winter sojourner. 66. Passerculus savanna, Bon. Savann.\ Sparrow. — Common resident throughout the year. Breeds on the low grassy prairies, but the nest is difficult to find. 67. Pocecetes gramineus, Bd. Grass Finch. — Only to be found during migrations. None remain, so far as I know, to winter or to breed. 68. Coturniculus passerinus, Bon. Yellow-winged Bunting. — Seen occasionally during the winter months. 69. Ammodromus caudacutus. S-m. Sharp-tailed Finch. — Ob- served near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. Doubt- less breeds. 70. Chondestes grammicus, ^^«. Lark Finch. — This interesting, lively bird is the most common of its family in all suitable localities, that is, on the prairies, near woods. Departs for the South late in September and early in October; arrives from his winter quarters again in April. Breeds in May, June, and July, and two or even three broods are raised yearly. Nests in gardens on mulberry-trees, in the corners of rail-fences, in cotton fields on the ground, but most commonly on a low horizontal branch of an oak densely covered with T/llandsia^ on the borders of woods, where they are exceedingly difficult to discover. After breeding-time the birds assemble in large flocks. 71. Zonotrichia albicollis, Bon. White-throated Sparrow. — Rare and occurs only in winter. 72. Zonotrichia leucophrys, Sw. White-crowned Sparrow. — Abundant in winter. 73. Zonotrichia gambelli intermedia. Rido-. Gambel's Finch. — Not uncommon in winter. Jeffries on the Sesamoid of the Carpus in Birds. 1 3 74. Spizella socialis, Bou. Chipping Bird. — Abundant in October and November, and again in March. 75. Spizella pallida, Bon. Clay-colored Bunting. — Abundant in winter near thickets and in fields with brier-patches. 76. Spizella pusilla, Bo)i. Fikld Sparrow. — Not uncommon during winter. 77. Junco liiemalis, Sclat. Common Snowbird. — Abundant winter visitor. 78. Melospiza fasciata, Scott. Song Sparrow. — Common during the winter months. 79. Melospiza lincolni, Bd. Lincoln's Sparrow. Common in winter in the thick undergrowth on the borders of woods. 80. Peucaea cassini, Bd. Cassin's Finch. — A common summer resident on the open grassy prairies. It runs like a mouse through the grass, and is very shy and difficult to observe. A nest I never discovered. 81. Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Vieill. Ground Robin. — A rare sum- mer resident. A few pairs breed in the woods on Spring Creek. 82. Calaniospiza bicolor. Bon. Lark Bunting. — Abundant in winter on the prairies. 83. Euspiza americana, Bou. Black-throated Bunting. — A com- mon summer resident. Breeds abimdantly in all the prairie districts. 84. Cardinalis virginianus, Bon. Cardinal Grosbeak.— This well- known bird is the most abundant of the family and resident throughout the year. 85. Guiraca caeriilea, S-v. Blue Grosbeak. — Regularly dis- tributed summer resident, but nowhere abmidant. Nests discovered always in brier-patches in fields, on road-sides, and on the border of woods. 86. Cyanospiza ciris, Bd. Painted Finch. — Inhabits with the pre- ceding similar localities. Very common from April to October. Nest usually in blackberry-bushes, but always well hidden and not easy to find- These birds are very shy and exceedingly quick in all their motions. 87. Cyanospiza cyauea, Bd. Indigo Bird. — Observed only during the migrations. None I think remain to breed. {^To be concluded.) ON THE SESAMOID AT THE FRONT OF THE CARPUS IN BIRDS. BY J. AMORV JEFFRIES. In the Bulletin for October. 1S81, is a paper by Dr. Shufeldt entitled "■ On the Ossicle of the Antibrachium as found in some of the North American Falconida^," in which the author describes 14 Jeffriks o;/ ///(? Sesajnoid of the Carpus in Birds. the sesamoid ossicle at the distal end of the radius in the Marsh Hawk ( Circ7is hudsonius) as a new bone. Dr. Shufeldt says : "• It does not seem possible that a bone the size of one which I am now about to describe could have been entirely overlooked by ornithologists, yet after a careful perusal of such parts of the works of the most prominent writers, as refer to the skeletology of the upper extremity I fail to discover the barest mention as to the existence of any such an one." Now this bone was figui'ed, as it occurs in 'Aquila fucsa^ by Milne-Edwards in his famous work on the Fossil Birds of France, the publication of which beo"an in 1866, so that the bone as it occurs in the Falcojiidce can scarcely be considered unknown to anatomists. The "os promi- nens " as it occurs in the FalconidcB is a modification of the ses- amoid ossicle which very often occurs in the tendon of the tensor petagii longus where it passes over the carpus ;* its function here being that of a simple sesamoid over the carpus. In many of the FalconidcE \ this sesamoid becomes bound to the distal end of the radius, and lengthened out at right angles to the long axis of that bone, as figured by Dr. Shufeldt. By this means tne func- tion of the ossicle becomes very much altered. It no longer slides over the carpus, but serves, since the tendon of the extensor petagii longus includes only its free end, to keep that tendon ott'the carpus, thus avoiding friction at the joint. Again, since the ossicle attains considerable length, — 6 centimeters (millimeters.^) ac- cording to Dr. Shufeldt in Circus^ — it materially alters the action of the extensor petagii longus so that it tends much more to extend the hand and draw the thumb away from the index. In this way the extensor petagii longus seems to antagonize the slip of the flexor longus digitorum sublimis, and since its tendon is elastic, owing to the amount of yellow fibrous tissue in it, the action must be to a considerable degree automatic. My views of the functions of this ossicle are, it will be seen, very different from those of Dr. Shufeldt, who considers it to protect the carpus and greatly increase the area of the wing. This bone, standing up as it does on the anterior edge of the * This bone is described in Mivart's " Lessons in Elementary Anatomy," p. 320, fig. 289 ; and by Alix in liis " Essai sur I'Appareil locomoteur des Oiseaux," p. 403. Being out of town fuller references cannot be given. t In his " Essai sur I'Appareil locomoteur des Oisseaux," Alix figures (pi. 11. fig. 12) the carpus of a Kestrel with a simple sesamoid. RiDGWAV on Birds observed in Knox Co.^ Indiana. 1 5 wing, would seem to be particularly liable to injury, sufficient, we should think, to offset the amount it may protect the compact carpals below. The extra area covered by the wing on account of the ossicle is easily measured. It is simj^ly the area of a tri- angle, which has for its base the difference in altitude between the process of the metacarpus and the sesamoid ossicle, 3 millime- ters say, and for its altitude the distance between the carjDus and the origin of the extensor petagii longus, say 3.c; decimetres. Absolute measurements cannot be given since no Hawks are to be got in Boston at present. So the entire increase of area would be 3-75 square centimetres, and this increase is at the base of the wing, where it would least increase the resistance of the wing. This dif- ference becomes quite small in the ratio 3 ^ where a, V weight the area of one wing, represents hundreds of square centimeters. Yet the ratio is that of the supporting power of the wing to the weight of the body, other things being equal. In the above cal- culation it is assumed that Dr. Shufeldt meant millimeters not centimeters,* when giving the dimensions of the "os prominens." To sum up, the bone serves : (i ) To keep the friction of the exten- sor petagii longus muscle off the carpus. (3) To increase the power of that muscle to abduct the thumb. (3) To slightly increase the supporting power of the wing. (4) To protect the carpus ( }) . Here it may not be improper to state that during the winter of 1880-S1, the writer s/iozued a specimen of the carpus oi Accip- iter fnscHS^ and explained his views as here stated of the function of the " OS prominens," at a meeting of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. NOTES ON SOME OF THE BIRDS OBSERVED NEAR WHEATLAND, KNOX CO., INDIANA, IN THE SPRING OF iSSi. BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. Monteur's Pond, situated about ten miles east of Vincennes and two miles west of the village of Wheatland, on the O. & M. R. R., is of considerable extent, being about nine miles long by * [See Erratum on p. 64 of this issue. — Edd.] 1 6 RiDGWAY Oil Birds observed i)i Knox Co.^ Indiana. a mile in average width. It is rather a swamp, however, than a pond, probably less than half its area being open water, the remainder filled with trees, chiefly willows {Salix Jiigra) av- ei^ao'ing 50-60 feet high, mixed in places with a larger growth, chiefly ashes (^Fraxinus americana., F. sambncifolia and F. pnbescens), red maple, and swamp Cottonwood {Popnius heter- ophylla)^ the latter chiefl}^ around the margin of the pond, wdiere grow also swamp, white, and water oaks, sweet gums, and an occasional catalpa (C. speciosa) . The sun^ounding country, where not cleared, consists chiefly of original forest, of various oaks and hickories, "poplar" {Liriodendron) ^ beech, elm, and other trees in great variety, coniferous species being wholly absent. The pond is never very deep, probably nowhere or at any- time exceeding four feet, and in seasons of drouth becomes absolutely dry, then forming an excellent pasturage for the stock of the neighboring farmers. Even when filled with water, the latter is, in the season of vegetable growth, entirely hidden by a luxuriant growth of aquatic plants, rendering the passage of a boat, of any description, impossible, while numerous muskrat holes and the intricate submerged stems render wading ditficult and fatiguing in the extreme. For these reasons the pond was but slightly explored, while it was wholly neglected after the use of a boat became out of the question. I am therefoi-e quite ignorant as to what species may have been breeding in the recesses of the pond, my investigations having been wholly con- fined to the surrounding fields and woodland, the northern por- tion of the pond and its immediate ^•icinit\• having been the scene of my ornithological investigations from April 15 to ISIay 27. Notwithstanding the very vmusual lateness of the season I found on my arrival (Api'il 15) that man}^ of the migratory birds had preceded me, but subsequent arrivals were carefulh' noted up to Alay 6, and are presented herewith. April 15. Prairie Warbler {Dendrceca discolor). April 17. Yellow-throated Warbler (^Dcndreeca domhiica alhiloni), Yellow-thoated Vireo (^Laiiii'ireo flai'ifrons), Least Flycatcher {Empi- donax minimus). April iS. Prothonotary Warbler {Protonotaria citrea), Canada Fly- catching Warbler (^Alyiodiocies canadensis), Blue Yellow-backed Warbler (^Pariila americana), Scarlet Tanager i^Pyranga rubra). Summer Red- bird (-f. CBstizHi), Lark Finch {Chondestcs gramniica). Summer Yellow- RiDGWAY on Birds observed in Knox Co.^ Indiana. 1 7 bird {Dendroeca cesiiva), Maryland Yellow-throat {Geoihlypis trickas). White-eyed Vireo ( F". noveboracenst's) , Wood Thrush {Hyloctckla musie- lina). Black-throated Green Warbler {Dendroeca vireiis), Indigo Bird {Passerina cyanea). April 19. Great-crested Flj'catcher {Myiarc/ius crinitus). Kingbird {Tyrannies caroliucnsis), Catbird {Galeoscoptes carolinensis), Pine- ci^eeping Warbler {Dendrteca pi'nus). April 20. Golden-crowned Thrush (Stums auri'capt'llus), Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis fortnosa'). April 21. Red-eye Vireo ( Vireosylvia olivacea), Tawny Thrush {Hylo- cichla ftcscescens). April 22. Yellow-breasted Chat {Icteria virens). April 23. Blue-winged Yellow Warbler (Helminthofliaga f inns'). April 24. Warbling Vireo {Vireoslyvia gilva), Ruby-throated Hum- ming Bird {Troc/iiltis colubrt's), Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula')., Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroeca pennsylvanica) , Worm-eating War- bler (Helmintkotkertis Z'erjnivorus), Nighthawk (Ckordeiles popetue). April 25. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Zamelodia ludoviciana*), Blue Warbler (Dendroeca coerulea*), Hooded Warbler (Alyiodioctes mitratus), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). April 26. Black-throated Bunting (Spiza americana). Yellow-winged Sparrow (Coturniculus passerinus).. Wood Pewee (Contopus virens), Oak- woods Sparrow (Peuccea cestivalis illinoensis). April 30. Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroeca costanea), Long-billed Marsh Wren (Tehnatodytes palusfris). May 2. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dcndi-oeca ccerulescens), Black- and-yellow Warbler (D. maculosa), Chestnut-sided Warbler (D. pennsyl- fanica). Red-poll Warbler (D. palmarum). Mav 3. Blackburnian Warbler (D. blackburnicF). May 6. Nashville Warbler (Helminthophaga ruficapilla). Cape May Warbler (Perissoglossa tigrina), Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis Phil- adelphia.) May 7. Tennessee Warbler (Ilelminfhophaga peregrina). Among the migratory species which had ah'eady arrived by the 15th were the Large-billed Water Thrush {Sitirtis motaciUa)., numbers of which were heard singing in the swamp, the Black- and-white Creeper (JSIniotilta varia borealis)^ Blue-gra}' Gnat- catcher (Polioptila ccerulca) ., and a few^ others. The nesting season began much later than usual, as the fol- lowing list, of the earliest date on which the eggs of any species were obtained, will show.f * These all common on the date when first observed. t The difference between the season just passed in the arrival and time of nesting of the birds, may be illustrated by the fact that in the spring of 1880, Setophaga ruti- cilla was noted near Wheatland April i, while in the spring of 1878, eggs oi Protonotaria citrea were obtained near Mt. Carmel April 27- 1 8 RiDGWAY on Birds observed in Knox Co., I?idia?ia. April 27. Yellow-crowned Night Heron {Nycf/ierodius vioLaccus). April 30. Hairy Woodpecker (/'/cw.? z'lllosus), two sets; Grass Finch {Pocecetes gramtHeus). Ma J 2. Field Sparrow {Spizella fusilla), Chewink {Pipilo crvthroph- thalmus). Maj 9. Redbird {Cardinalis virgitnatius). May 18. Red-eyed Vireo (^Vireoslyvia olivacea). May 19. Prothonotary Warbler {Profotiotaria citrea), Wood Thrush i^Hylocichla mustelina). May 20. Acadian Flycatcher {Emfidonax acadiciis). May 22. Yellow-breasted Chat {Icteria virens), Maryland Yellow- throat ( GeiJ/f^/yjri/s /r/c^rt^) , Indigo Bird {Passerina cyatiea), Black-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzus erythrophthalmus). May 24. Green Heron {Buforides virescens). Although situated about 20 miles north and the same distance east of Mt. Carmel, the bird-fauna was entirely the same, allow- ing for differences in the character of the country, the environs of Wheatland being much less varied, and therefore not such as to attract so great a variety of species. Nearly all the charac- . teristic summer birds found further south were abundant near Wheatland, however, even Beuccea illinoensis occurring there. Among the more numerous species were the Cerulean, Blue- winged Yellow^, Kentucky and Prothonotary Warblers, all of which were quite as numerous as near Mt. Carmel. At the time of my arrival, the most abundant bird was probably the Cardinal Grosbeak, it being no unusual sight to see several males at one time along the railroad track, picking up grain dropped from passing cars, while the swamp and surrounding woods were filled with their sweet but monotonous whistlings. Later in the season, however, other species became rather more numerous, it being difficult to decide between the Redstart and Red-eyed Vireo, as to first rank in point of nimibers. Other species almost as well represented as those mentioned, were the Red- headed Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, and Red-winged Blackbird, and, for a brief season, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Cedarbird. Hawks were very plentiful, especially the Red- shouldered and Red-tailed, and on one occasion eight of the former (all adults) were observed soaring about, near together, uttering their clamorous cries. Barred Owls were exceedingly numerous among the trees growing in the swamp, and at night afforded much amusement by their '"family squabbles." Ducks RiDGWAY on Birds observed in Knox Co., Indiana. 1 9 and Geese which had been very plenty on the pond during the winter, had gone northward prior to the middle of April, except a few Mallards, Shovellers, and Blue-winged Teal, which re- mained until about the end of the month, as did also multitudes of Coots (^Fulica aynericana^. The following list of course includes onh^ a small proportion of the total number of species observed. Gray-cheeked Thrush {Hylocic/ila alictce.) — The exact date of arrival of this species was not noted, but was somewhere near the 20th of April. During the last week of April and the first three weeks of May it was very common, perhaps more so than any other of the small Thrushes. Specimens were shot May it,, and others were observed as late as the 28th of that month, the date of my departure. Tawny Thrush {Hyloc/ckla fucescens). — Arrived April 21 and re- mained until toward the last of May. Less common than H. alicice but frequenting the same localities and having nearly identical manners. Bewick's Wren {Tkryomattes bezi'icki). — Rather common, found only about the out-buildings of farms and in the village. House Wren {^Troglodytes aedon). — Less common than Bewick's Wren, and noticed only about brush-heaps and along old fences. Prothonotary Warbler {Profonotaria ciirea). —Very abundant among the "elbow-brushes" {Cephalanthus occidentalis) and willows in the pond, nesting in hollows of the latter. Blue-winged Yellow Warbler {Hclminthophaga piuiis). — Very abundant among the undergrowth in thick woods, chiefly in the bottoms. Golden-winged Warbler {Helmiuthophaga chrysoptera). — Not un- common for a few days during the early part of May. Tennessee Warbler {Helminthophaga feregritici). As usual, very numerous for several days, arriving May 7. Nashville Warbler {Helmi/if/iop/iaga ruficapilla). — Rather rare during the middle portion of May, arriving about the 6th. Cape May Warbler {Perissoglossa tigrina). Probably not uncom- mon, four specimens being obtained, all shot from the top branches of tall trees, and not recognized until after being shot. Black-and-yellow Warbler {Dendrceca maculosa). — Much the most abundant of the migratory species. Bay-breasted Warbler {Detidrceca castanea). — Rather common for a few days. Blue Warbler {Dendrozca ccerulen). — Very abundant summer resident, first noticed about the 25th of April. Diligent search failed to discover a single nest, though pairs evidently having nests were met with on every hand through the woods. Yellow-throated Warbler {Dendnvca domijiica albilora). — Unac- countably rare, only two having been obtained, and one or two others 20 RiDGWAY on Birds observed in Knox Co., Indiana. heard. I am at a loss to account for the scarcity of this spacies, unless, a be the rarity of sycamore {Pla/anus) trees in the locality under con- sideration. Since there is evidently a general misapprehension of the characters distinguishing this race from true D. dominica, it may be as well to state here that the latter is larger, with^a constantly and very decidedly longer bill., while the yellow over the lores is never absent. Var. albilora fre- quently has the yellow over the lores almost as distinct as in typical dominica, but the bill is always much smaller, and somewhat differently shaped. PiNE-CREEPiNG Warbler {Dcndfceca pintis). — Rather rare. Prairie Warbler {Dendrceca discolor^. — Heard singing among the bushes in an old field on the day of my arrival, and frequently afterward. Connecticut Warbler i^Oporomis ag-ilis). — Not uncommon about the middle of May, but very shy. Frequented the borders of the swamp, and escaped into the thick button-bushes when surprised. Kentucky Warbler (^Oporomis formosa). — One of the most abun- dant of the summer residents. Mourning Warbler {^Geothlypis piiiladelpkia). — Became suddenly very common May 6. Frequented chiefly brush-piles and old fences. Most of the specimens observed were males in fine plumage. Black-capped Yellow Warbler {Myiodioctcs pusillns). — Rare during migration. Canada Flycatching Warbler {Alyiodiocfes canadensis). — One of the most numerous of the migratory species; first noted April i8, but not common until a week later. Hooded Warbler (^Myiodioctcs mitrat/is) .—Rather common in deep woods, but much less so than in the vicinity of the Cypress swamp, further south. Solitary Vireo (Lanivireo solitarius). — Rare. Cedarbird {Afnpelis cedrorum). — Exceedingly numerous among the willows in the swamp, where feeding upon the larvae of Diabrotica 12- niaciilata infesting these trees. Summer Redbird (^Pyranga cestiva). Rather common, but owing to the comparative absence of high, dry woods, much less so than near Mt. Carmel. A female, killed at the same shot with her mate, resembled the male except in the tint of the red, which was of a brick-red rather than vermilion, the male also being in the parti-colored plumage of the immature bird, the red occupying, in both male and female, one-half or more of the plumage. The ovaries of the female were well developed. Grass Finch {Pooecetes gramineus') — Common in the meadows, a nest with four eggs being taken April 30. Lark Finch {Chondestcs gramniica^. Rather common, chiefly in fields near roadsides. White-crowned Sparrow {Zonofric/iia lencop/trys). — Became com- mon about the middle of May. White-throated Sparrow {Zonotrickia albicollis). — Very abun- dant up to the middle of May. and a female was started among some bushes RiDGWAY on birds observed in Knox Co.^ Indiana. 21 near the edge of the swamp about the 27th or 2Sth of the month, her actions and notes strongly suggesting a nest in the vicinity, but I was unable to discover one. Field Sparrow {^Sfizella pusilla). — A very common bird. Remark- able variations were noticed in the song of this species, several individuals repeating the usual song three times without stopping. Another had such peculiar notes that it was followed and shot for a strange bird. Oak-woods Sparrow {Peuccea cestivalis illinoensis). — Rare, and observed only on one occasion, on the 26th of Apr^l. The locality was a " woods pasture," about one-half cleared of trees, with occasional old logs and brush-piles on the open portion, and plenty of dead standing trees, the ground high and rolling. Immediately upon sighting the locality I thought of this bird, and at almost the same instant heard one sing. This one was shot, as he sat upon a brush-pile. Two or three others were heard at a distance, but I failed to discover them. Lincoln's Sparrow {Melospiza lincolni). — Very abundant about brush-piles in swampy clearings. Cardinal Grosbeak {^Cardiaalis XHrgi7iia7iiis). By far the most numerous of the resident Fringillid(E, and one of the most abundant of all birds. It was a very common thing to hear several males singing at the same time, and I once saw three males and two females near together on the railroad track, picking up grain scattered from the cars. Rose-breasted Grosbeak {^Zamelodia ludoviciana). — Exceedingly- common during the greater part of the month of May. The first were seen April 25. They were most numerous among the willows in the swamp, engaged in feeding upon a small green beetle {Diabrotica 12- viaculata) which infested the trees. They were also common in the sugar-maple groves, and were in full song during their stay. Blue Grosbeak {Giiiraca cceriilea). — A single specimen seen but not obtained (date forgotten). Bronzed Grackle ( ^tiiscalus furpurcus c^neus). — Very numerous, breeding among the willows in the sw^mp. The " love note" of this bird is decidedly more metallic and more musical than that of ^. purpureus. Red-headed Woodpecker {Mclanerpes erythrocephalus). — Much the most numerous of the Woodpeckers. Barred Owl (Sirt'x nebulosa). — Exceedingly numerous, the swamp resounding at night with their hootings. Cooper's Hawk {Accipi'ter cooperi). — Common, breeding. Red-shouldered Hawk {Biitco lincatiis). — Much the most numerous of the Hawks. On one occasion eight adults were observed circling together overhead, all uttering their clamorous cries. Mourning Dove (^Zenaidura carolinensis). — Abundant. All the specimens shot had the ends of the toes frozen off, showing that they had remained during the past severe winter. Wild Tmrkky li^Meleagris gallopavo america?ia) . — Common. Scarce- ly a day but what one or more were seen, and on one occasion a flock of 2 2 RiDGWAY on birds observed in Knox Co., Indiana. fourteen was met with. When surprised they fly into the swamp, where, alio'hting on the trees, they are secure from pursuit. The inhabitants pay no attention whatever to the game laws, and it is owing entirely to the safe retreat afforded by the swamp that the Turkeys have not been more nearly exterminated. Virginia Quail (Or/yx virginiana'). — Almost exterminated by the severe winter of iSSo-Si. Green Heron {Butorides virescens). — Abundant. A small colony had their nests in a second-growth thicket, some distance from the swamp. The nests (seven in number) were placed in saplings at 12-15 f^^t from the ground, and, with two exceptions, contained five eggs each. Yellow-crowned Night Heron {^Nyctherodius,xnolaceus). — Abundant, a colony of perhaps a hundred pairs having their nests among the tall ash and sweet-gum trees in a creek bottom, near the edge of the pond. The nests were mostly at a considerable height, and few of them readily accessible. They had just begun to lay, and were frightened away from the locality during a " wet .spell" by squirrel hunters. A female was shot from her nest April 27, and a perfect egg cut from her oviduct. Several fine specimens of the bird were secured, and it was noticed that the delicate, almost luminous, yellowish buff of the forehead very soon faded. American Woodcock {P/iilo/iela viinor"). — Common, breeding. Solitary Sandpiper (^Rhyacophilus solitarius^. — Common, and un- doubtedly breeding, about small ponds in the woods. SoRA Rail {Porzana Carolina). — Common among the sedges in the swamp. Florida Gallinule {Gallimila galeata). — Probably common in the swamp. A fine specimen with its neck broken was picked up on the railroad track near the depot in Vincennea, having been killed by flying against the telegraph wires. American Coot {Fulica americana). — Exceedingly numerous in the swamp during latter half of April and early part of May, but toward the last of the latter month the greate;- part had disappeared. Mallard {Anas boscas). — Very numerous at the time of our arrival and for a week or two afterward. A few pairs are said to breed in the swamp. Shoveller Duck {Sfafula clypeata). — Much the most numerous of the Ducks at the time of my arrival (April 15). Blue-winged Teal {^uerquedula discors). — Abundant, even up to the latter part of May, and undoubtedly breeding. Summer Duck {Aix sponsa). — Common and breeding in the swamp. Hooded Merganser {Lopkodytcs cucullatus). — More common than A. sponsa, breeding, like that species, in hollow trees in the swamp. Thick-billed Grebe {Podilymbus podiccps). — Very common in the swamp, where it was breeding. At the time of m^' arrival the Ducks had mostly departed for the North, while the Geese had entirely disappeared. Both had passed the winter in Brewster on the Acadian Owl. 23 the swamp, in immense numbers. A thorough exploration of the swamp would no doubt have added largely to the list of Water Birds, but I could not afford the time and labor necessary to accomplish even a partial explora- tion after the birds had begun breeding. NOTES ON THE HABITS AND CHANGES OF PLUM- AGE OF THE ACADIAN OWL {Nl'CTALE ACA- DICA), WITH SOME ADDITIONAL RECORDS OF ITS BREEDING IN MASSACHUSETTS. BY WILLIAM BRKWSTER. In the Bulletin for July, iSSi. I ji^ave an account of the breed- ing of the Acadian Owl at Tyngsboro', Massachusetts, with a de- scription of a set of eggs taken there by Mr. Perhani on April 5. Early in Jime of the same season Mr. Perham sent me a brood of four young Saw-whets which he had taken from the nest about the 15th of the preceding month. They were all in the plumage of JV. '■^albifi'oiis" and showed little individual variation, save in respect to size, the two females being slightly larger than their brothers. In their fresh, silky feathering they were beautiful little creatures, the warm sepia-brown of the upper parts harmon- izing well with the rich fulvous beneath, and their white foreheads showing in strong contrast with both. Nor were their manners less engaging than their plumage, for, unlike most Owls, they were perfectly gentle from the tirst. never attempting to bite o»- scratch those who handled them. With each other they were really aflectionate, often going through a caressing performance with their bills, and showing a mutual forbearance at meal-times which was very pleasing. They eat all kinds of meat with avidity, but seemed especially fond of mice. The latter were invariably skinned and the flesh torn in shreds and devoured, the skins being swallowed afterwards as dessert. I often saw them eject those peculiar pellets of bones, fur, and other indigestable fragments which all Owls and many Hawks are in the habit of depositing 2A. I^REWSTER 071 the Acadian Ozvl. about their haunts. The operation was a peculiar one. The Owl would gape several times, then the head would be violently shaken sideways, and finally the pellet, coated with mucous, would shoot forth, frequently falling- several inches in front of the spot where the bird was sitting. After it was all over the little fellow assumed an expression of relief and contentment which was very comical. Although not less grave and solemn than other Owls, their movements were much more animated and restless. They were continually flying or hopping from place to place, even in the day- time, and they had a frequent habit of oscillating the head, at the same time lengthening and shortening the neck. This was apparently done for the purpose of fixing the exact position of some distant object, as afterwards the bird usually flew to the top of some door or book-case towards which its eyes had evi- dently been directed. Their only cry at this time was a shrill bat-like squeaking, which was frequently given by all four at once. Altogether they were unusually interesting pets and when the time came for jDreparing three of them as specimens, I found it very hard to break up the aflectionate and attractive little family. I believe it is now generally admitted by ornithologists, that the so called "A^. alblfrons'''' is simply the young of TV. acadlca. Indeed, Mr Ridgway satisfactorily settled this point when he cited* the testimony of Dr. J. W. Velie of Chicago who kept a live '•'•albifrons''' "until it moulted and became a fine specimen of Nyctale acadlca.'''' But as no one seems to have published a detailed account of the transition it may be worth while to briefly record some observations made on the survivor of the brood just mentioned. This bird was placed in a large cage where it had abundant room to fly about, and was kept well supplied with food. Through June and July there was absolutely no change in its plumage, but on August i I noticed a few medially spotted feathers pushing their way through the uniformly browMi ones of the fore part of the crown. Through the next two weeks they gradually increased and developed until the full-face aspect of the head was that of an adult Saw-whet. At this stage there was no *Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's Birds N. Am., Vol. Ill, p. 45. Brewster on the Acadian Otvl. 25 indication of any second plumage on the other parts, but about August 15 a few streaked feathers appeared along the central line of the breast and abdomen, while a little later the moult began over the back and wings and quickly became general. Through the last two weeks of the month the new plumage gained daily, and by Sept, i the final stage was perfected and the bird had be. come a remarkably beautiful Saw-whet Owl. From this it appears that the '•'•albij'rons'" condition is simph' the first plum- age, which in the Saw-whet is apparently better defined (as con- trasted with the earlier downy stage and later autumnal plumage), as well as longer worn, than in most other Owls. The specimen just mentioned is still (at the date of this writ- ing, Dec. i) alive and well. It has become rather wilder and less gentle than formerly, and lately has acquired a habit of swel- ling its plumage and snapping the bill when closely approached. Shortly after the moult it began a new cry, which is now fre- quently heard at night and occasionally also in the day-time. This utterance consists of a series of five or six low, chuckling but nevertheless whistled calls, which remind one of that pecu- liar, drawling soliloquy sometimes indulged in by a dejected hen on a rainy day. I cannot reconcile these notes with descriptions of the saw-filing ones which are supposed to have given the spe- cies its name, but they perhaps represent the unfinished perform- ance of a young bird. The bat-like squeaking was discontinued before the bird began to whistle, and has never since been heard. At the time of writing the article already referred to I received the impression that the nest then mentioned was the only one that Mr. Perham had found. But I have since learned that, in- cluding the two taken the present season, he has actually examined no less than seven during the past ten years, all of which occurred in or near the township of Tyngsboro'. Most of these nests were, however, broken up by red squin^els before the full com- plement of eggs was laid. The nesting places were usually of the artificial sort which I have already described, but occa- sionally use was made of a deserted Flicker's hole. Mr. Perham frequently hears the notes of Saw-whets during the month of March, and believes that many pairs breed about Tyngsboro' every season. The region is a heavily wooded one and apparently oflers exceptional attractions to all kinds of Raptorial birds. 26 Brown on a JVezv Race of Pcuccca riijiceps. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW RACE OF PEUCy^A RUFICEPS FROM TEXAS. BY NAThA?^ CLIFFORD BROWN. Peucaea ruficeps eremcEca.* General aspect dull gray. Dorsal region graj'ish-ash, the feathers brownish centrally and with their shafts almost black. Top of head rufous, much admixed with grayish. A black frontlet, divided at the culmen by a white line, as in rujicef?> and var. boucardi. Breast and sides clear gray. Abdomen whitish. Crissum and flanks tinged with fulvous. An indistinct, dusky maxillary stripe. Length of fresh specimen, 6.25 ; extent, 8.62 ; wing and tail about 2.75. Sexes alike. The above description characterizes a bird very unlike Peuccea rzijicepshoth. in size and in coloration. It is much larger and en- tirely lacks the peculiar rufous tint of the upper parts seen in P. riijiccps. Var. boucardi^ which is simply a larger race of ruji- ceps, the present form therefore resembles only in size and in the distribution of its markings. Indeed it is so unlike both described races that, but for thorough investigations by Air. Robert Ridgway which fail to justify such a procedure, I should urge the claims of the new form to specific rank. Mr. Ridgway has with great kindness made a careful comparison of several of my specimens with all accessible material bearing upon the matter, and writes me that he finds the former insufficiently dificrentiated from ruji- ceps, through boucardi^ to stand as a species. An interesting fact, incidentally brought to light by Mr. Ridgway, is that of the few Mexican examples upon which Dr. Sclater based his Zorto- trichia boucardi^ those from Orizaba are apparently referable to the race I have named ereniceca. The National Museum pos- sesses one of the three original Orizaba skins. The specimens above described were taken, during the months of Dec, 1879 and Jan., Feb., and March, 18S0, at Boerne, Ken- dall Co., Texas. Some account of their habits may be found on another page of the present number of the Bulletin. * Eremozca = ^'p'qixos + ovKt'w. Brewster on Kcnnicoti's Oivl aiid some of its Allies. 27 ON KENNICOTT'S OWL AND SOME OF ITS ALLIES, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A PROPOSED NEW RACE. BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. Since the date of its first description in 1S67, Keniiicott's Owl {Scops asio keiinicotti) has remained a very rare bird, and orni- thologists have gained but little additional knowledge regarding either its distribution or variations of color. The prominent characters of Elliot's type were its large size and tawny or umber- brown plumage, and as the few specimens subsequently recog- nized have closely resembled it, this peculiar coloring has come to be regarded as constant and diagnostic. But not long since Capt. Bendire sent me a Screech Owl from Fort Walla W^alla, Washington Territory, which, although equaling kennicotti in size and resembling it in some other respects, was colored more nearly like S. asio in its gray dress. Being unable to reconcile the peculiarities of this bird with any of the standard descriptions, I set to work, at Capt. Bendire's request, to bring together a suffic- iently large number of specimens to determine its identity or re- lationship. In this I have at length succeeded, thanks to the kind assistance of Professor Baird and Mr. Ridgway of the National Museum, Mr. Allen of the Cambridge Museum of Comparative Zoology, Capt. Charles Bendire, U. S. A., Mr. H. W. Henshaw, Mr. Purdie and several other friends, all of whom have been most generous in placing their material at my disposal. The series now before me comprises about fifty specimens, and includes representatives of all the known North American forms of Scops except S. Jiainvieohis. Among the number are two typical kennicotti^ a fine suite oiasio, illustrating its numerous variations of plumage, and no less than nine examples referable to the large gray form already mentioned as coming from Fort Walla Walla. A comparison of the latter with asio and kenni- cotti shows that while a few of the grayer specimens bear a strong superficial resemblance to asio in its corresponding condition, the evidence of the series as a whole points to a stronger affinity 28 Brewster on Kennicotfs Owl and some of its Allies. with kcnnicotti. In regard to size, the}' are fully up to the standard of the latter, the difference from asio in this respect beino- so decided that the smallest male of the series is consider- ably larger than any female which I have from the East. More- over, the purely gray style is represented by only a small propor- tion of the number, the majority being more or less tinged with tawny-rufous, in this as well as some other respects indicating evident approaches to the supposed typical characteristics of ken- nicottl. In short, the intermediate character of several of these specimens is so unmistakable that, although the transition is not completely shown, they furnish ample evidence that the gray form actually does intergrade with brown kemticotti. The bearing of this testimony is not doubtful. Geographical considerations preclude our regarding the two birds as allied races, for one of the most typical examples of keniiicotti comes from Idaho (No. 59,o6S Coll. Nat. Mus., Dr. Whitehead), while I have a specimen referable to the gray condition from the coast of Oregon (Portland, Capt. Bendire), thus "showing that they cannot be as- sio-ned difterent habitats. Clearly, then, the only alternative remain- ino- is the assumption that kenfiicotti, like asio^ is dichromatic, the purely gi'ay birds from Fort Walla Walla representing the extreme of one phase, as the tawny brown type probably does that of the other. And considered in connection with its bearing on similarly variable allied forms, the hypothesis of dichromatism certainly offers a very easy and natural way out of the difficulty. Nor is there anything inconsistent in the fact that one or the other style apparently predominates in many sections of their mutual range, and in some is perhaps the exclusive representative, for a similar state of affairs is well known to obtain with other dichromatic members of this genus.* Assuming the preceding conclusions to be granted, the gray condition of kennicotti may be characterized as follows : — Scops asio kennicotti. Gray phase ; adult ( 5 , no. 6456 author's col- lection, Fort Walla Walla, W. T., October 22, 1881, Capt. Bendire). Ground-color above brownish-ash, darkest on the head, palest on the wings, with confused, often nearly obsolete transverse mottling and shaft-stripes of dull black, broadest and most numerous on the crown. Outer webs of scapulars and alula-coverts cream-color, the former tipped and narrowly * Mr. Ridgway has found that fully ninety-five per cent of the Screech Owls of the Wabash Valley, in southern Illinois, are red. Brewster on Kennicotf s Oxvl a7id some of its Allies. 29 margined with black. Secondaries and inner webs of primaries crossed by from six to seven bars of pale reddish-brown. Outer webs of primaries with broad, quadrate spots of brownish-white. Tail regularly but faintly barred with light reddish-brown. Feathers of the sides of head and neck thicklj' but minutely mottled with dusky upon a lighter ground. Lores nearly pure white. A somewhat broken facial-circle of black or chestnut spots and blotches. Beneath ashy-white, lightest on the abdomen, with numerous fine, regular, transverse bars of black and coarse shaft-stripes of the same color; the only immaculate space being that along the middle of the abdomen. Lining of wings and concealed silky plumage of sides under the wings, pale ochraceous. Tarsi, dull chestnut. Wing, 7.10; cul- men, .61; tarsus, 1.77; tail, 4.10; middle toe, .75; ear-tufts, 1.45. The above description is of a specimen representing the extreme grayish phase so far as shown by the series before me. Six oth- ers from the same locality vary a good deal in color and mark- ings,' some of them being very dark with coarse shaft-stripes, both above and below, while one or two have the dorsal surface nearl}' like that of asio in its corresponding condition. In all, however, the plumage of the under parts is somewhat different from that of asio., the transverse bars being usually much finer and more regular and the ground color ashy instead of clear white. These differences seem to be most strongly marked in the purely gray specimens which otherwise afford the nearest approaches to asio. Among the darker birds are tliree which may be considered as about intermediate between the extreme brown and gray phases. The first, from Mr. Henshaw's collection (Fort Walla Walla, Nov. 7, 1S80, Capt. Bendire) has the dorsal plumage dark brown with an umber cast, while the tibite, lining of wings, outer webs of scapulars, and numerous pairs of rounded spots forming a band or collar across the nape, are tawny-ochraceous of nearly as deep a shade as in typical brown birds. The dark shaft- stripes in this specimen are broader and blacker than in any of the others and the usual ashy cast beneath is replaced by an ochra- ceous one. The remaining two birds are similarly characterized but to a less marked degree. All three combine the gray and brown coloring of the respective extreme phases, precisely as do many of the eastern specimens before me, the gray and red condi- tions of kS. asio. The Portland specimen already mentioned, although in some respects an intermediate, is on the whole neai'er the gray than 30 Brewster 07t Kennicotf s 0~vl and so?ne of its Allies. the brown condition. Its general coloring is essentially similar to that of Mr. Henshaw's bird, but the ground shade above is darker and the scapular spots are confined to the edges of two or three of the outer feathers, while the ochraceous wash beneath occurs only on the sides, lining of the^vings, and tibiiB, the ground color of the under parts being othei'wise clear ashy-white. An unusually large female from Hellgate, Montana (No. 18,299, Nat. Mus.), which Mr. Ridgway very naturally treated as asio in the "Birds of North America" (Vol. Ill, ■^. 50), agrees closely with Capt. Bendire's specimens and with them must now be referred to kentiicotti. In the light of the present evidence it becomes necessary to re- arrange the typical characters of this Owl. I accordingly offer the following diagnosis : — Scops asio kennicotti. Wing, 6.40 to 7.60. Dichromatic, assuming either a gray or a tawnj-brown condition. Gray phase similar to that of asio, but with the plumage beneath thickly barred and streaked along the median line. Brown phase characterized by a general dusky-umber or tawny-ochraceous coloring unlike that of any other North American form.* The following table includes the most essential measurements of all the specimens of heunicotti vih.\c\\ I have examined, together with some taken at second hand, of Elliot's type of the race. Gray and Intermediate. 6457, W. B. $ ad. Ft. Walla Walla, W.T. Nov. 20, iSSi 6455, W. B. $ ad. '' " Apr. 25, 1S81. 7.07 82,330, Nat. Mus. $ ad. •' " Dec. 22, iSSo. 6459, W. B. J' juv. John Day River. Ore. Aug. 6, 1881. 30,624, C. Mus. $ ad. Ft. Walla Walla. W.T. Feb. 12, iSSi. H. W. H. ? ad. " " Nov. 7, 1S80. 6456, W. B. ? ad. " " Oct. 22, 1S81. 18,299, Nat. Mus. $ ad. Hellgate, Mon. - — 6466, W. B. ad. Portland, Oregon. Brown. 4.530, Nat. Mus. Washington Ter. 6.80 4.07 59,068, Nat. Mus. — Idaho. 6.67 3.65 59,847, Nat. Mus. $ ad. Sitka, Alaska. March, 1S66. 7.40 4.00 * The small quadrate spots on the primaries and the indistinct tail-bande, characters which have been held as diagnostic, are both shown by my series to be inconstant and of no varietal significance. Wi)ig. . Tail. 7-50 4.07 7.07 4-05 7.06 4-^5 6.92 365 7.00 4.22 7-05 wanting 7.10 4.10 7.60 4.10 6.40 3.82 Brewster o7i Kefinicotf s Oxvl and some of its Allies, 2>^ During the course of the preceding investigation I had occasion to compare a large number of Eastern specimens of Scops asio ■w'ith some California examples from Nicasio and Alameda County. Somewhat to my surprise, I detected several apparently constant ditlerences which, taken in connection with the pretty definitely settled fact that the California bird is not, like asio^ subject to dichromatism, seem to me to warrant the varietal sepa- ration of the two, I accordingly propose a new race as follows : — Scops asio bendirei,* var. nov. California Screech Owl. Ch. Sp. Similis ^e asioni, sed auribus brevioribus ; colore subtus magis cinerario, transversis lineis tenuioribus, pallidioribus, ac in medio baud interruptis. Nulla rubra conditione cognita. Adult 5 (No. 1,546, author's collection, Nicasio, California, April 24, 1S77, C. A. Allen). Above essentially similar to asio in its gray dress. Beneath ashy-white, every where thickly barred and streaked with black; the transverse bars being fine, numerous and regular, the shaft-stripes coarse and generally distributed from the throat to the crissum, both markings occurring as thickly on the median line of the breast and abdo- men as along their sides. Wing, 6.20; tail, 3.30; tarsus, 1.50; culmen, .60; ear-tufts, 1.15. Another adult from the same locality ( 5 , May iS, 1S7S, Coll. H. A. Purdie), measures, wing, 6.22; tail, 3.1S; ear-tufts, 1.05: while seven unsexed specimens from Alameda county furnish the following extremes : wing, 6.01-6.52 ; tail, 3.22-3.72; ear-tufts, i. 05-1. 25. The above detailed characters, so far as my series goes, are suflScient to distinguish the California specimens from any gray examples of asio taken in the Eastern States. The chief differ- ence is in the ground-color and markings of the plumage beneath. In asio the central line of the breast and abdomen is nearly always immaculate, while there is frequently a broad, entirely unspotted gular space : in beiidirei these parts are as thickly barred and streaked as are the sides, while the ashy tinge of the entire lower surface and the much finer character of the trans- verse pencilling gives the plumage a clouded appearance which, although difficult of description, is very characteristic. The ear- tufts, also, are usually shorter than those of S. asio. * As my material is not at present sufficiently comprehensive to enable me to define the limits of distribution of this race I leave the compilation of its synonymy to those who may have better opportunities in this respect. 3 2 Brewster on Kennicotf s Ozul and some of its Allies. Among the nine examples before me there is remarkably little individual variation, much less in fact than with any equal num- ber of asio which I have ever examined. The Alameda County specimens as a rule are leather more finely and faintly barred than the Nicasio ones and the ground-color beneath is of a slightly different shade, inclining more to clayey than ashy white. In one bird the under surface is decidedly dull clay-color, which is so generally and evenly distributed that there is positively no approach to clear white even on the throat, lores, forehead or ab- domen. But the essential characters already given are so well maintained on the whole that the description of the one chosen as the type will apply nearly as well to them all. This uniformity is doubtless largely owing to the absence in this race of any ten- dency to dichromatism, for much of the variation among the dichromatic ones can be traced to the combination in varying degrees of the colors of both phases, purely colored birds of either style being, at least in some sections, of comparatively rare occur- ence. It is of course to be expected that larger suites of speci- mens will furnish occasional aberrant ones some of which may approach asio; but, so far as the present material is concerned, the tendency of variation is rather towards kennicotti and '•^tricop- sis." Indeed, as will be seen by comparing my diagnoses, the general coloring and markings of bendirei are so nearly like those of kennicotti in its extreme gray phase, that were it not for their wide difference in size it might be difficult to separate some of the specimens. That bendirei grades into the larger bird at the point where their respective habitats meet is shown by a speci- men (No. 16,037, Nat. Mus.) from Fort Crook, Northern Cali- fornia, which is almost exactly intermediate in size, although more nearly like kennicotti in color and markings. As to our bird of the Southwest border, I believe that Mr. Ridgway is still vmdecided whether it really represents the tricopsis of Wagler or not, but he writes me that however this may turn out, he is now convinced that it intergrades with the form found over California at large and must hence be reduced to a variety of Scops asio. After a careful comparison of specimens I can unhesitatingly endorse this opinion, my Arizona examples oi '•'■tricopsis" differ- ing from some of the more faintly barred bendirei only in the purer ash and sharper streaking of their dorsal plumage. Save in cases where this fresh material has thrown new light ' Brown's Reco72Jwissance in Southwestern Texas. 33 on old data, I have deemed it unnecessary to go over any of the ground trodden by Mr. Ridgway in his elaborate and invaluable monograph of the genus Scops * but the bearing of some of the present testimony has proved so far reaching that I venture, in concluding, to suggest the following rearrangement of the North American Screech Owls belonging to the S. asio group. Dichromatic: erythrisnial phase bright rufous. Scops asio. Habitat, United States north of the Gulf States and east of the Rocky Mountains. Scops asio Jloridanus. Habitat, Florida and Southern Georgia. Scops asio 7naccalli. Habitat. Highlands of Guatemala, Eastern Mex- ico, and Valley of the Lower Rio Grande in Texas. Dichromatic: erythrismal phase tavjuy or reddish hrozvn. Scops asio kcnnicotti. Habitat, Northwest Coast from Sitka to Oregon and eastward across Washington Territory into Idaho and Montana. JVon-dickromatic: altvays gray in color. ^ Scops asio bettdirei. Habitat, Coast region of California. Scops asio tricopsis? Habitat, Western Mexico and the extreme south- western border of the United States. Scops asio maxzvellcE. Habitat, Mountains of Colorado. A RECONNOISSANCE IN SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. BY NATHAN CLIFFORD BROWN. The village of Boerne in Southwestern Texas, with its environ- ing country, was the field of my ornithological labors between December 3i, 1S79 and April 4, 1S80. Boerne is situated about thirty miles northwest of San Antonio, and less than that distance * " Review of the American Species of the genus Scops." Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. I, pp. 85-117. t This arrangement leaves a large portion of the Middle Province without any characteristic representative, maxivellce being an Alpine form apparently confined to the Rocky Mountains, while kennicotti and "tricopsis" respectively invade only its northern and southern borders. Our knowledge of the subject is not as yet sufficiently comprehensive to enable me to fill this gap, but all the available evidence goes to show that asio, at least as above defined, is not found to the westward of the Rocky Mountain range. 34 Brown's Reconnoissance in Soiithxvestern Texas. westerly from New Braunfels, where Messrs. Werner and Rick- secker made their collection, a few years ago.* It lies in a coun- tiy of hills and "'flats," scantily watered and largely unproduc- tive, be3'ond which timber and general vegetation rapidly dis- appear, as the westward-bound traveller nears the desolation of the Great Plains. Live-oak grows in scattering groves, the post- oak in more compact clusters, and cedar occurs in small "brakes " of some density. There are also, along the creek to which the village owes its existence, two or three small oases of deciduous trees admixed with vines, no one of them, perhaps, an acre in extent. The mesquite, which is so common on the prairies to the south and east, is not seen, but is replaced by a small variety of live-oak growing in the form of chapari-al. Throughout my stay in it, the country had a very inhospitable and dreary aspect, on account of the almost total lack of grass of any kind ; and by its absence the number of the local birds is of course materially diminished. In presenting a list of the birds observed in this locality, I wish to call especial attention to the curious admixture of geo- graphical races found here. Among the species which are sub- ject to climatic variation, severalare represented- by two distinct varieties and with them confused and indeterminable intermediate forms. In others but one constant form is found. And in a third class the bird occurs in a varying, transitional phase of plumage which, however, occasionally becomes typical of some described race. 1. Hylocichla unalascae (Gm.) Ridg. Dwarf Thrush. — Uncom- mon resident. Not heard to sing. Several of my specimens very closely approach the variety audnboni. I saw nothing of the eastern pallasi, which I have i-eceived from Mr. Geo. H. Ragsdale, of Gainesville. 2. Merula migratoria propinqua, Ridg. Western Robin. — Irreg- ularly abundant. 3. Mimus polyglottus (Liuii.) Boic. Mockingbird. — Rare resi- dent. 4. Sialia sialis (Z,/;/;/.) Haldcm. Bluebird. — -Comparatively com- mon during the winter. All of my specimens were in most beautiful plumage. Not one male in a dozen showed the slightest brownish edging to the feathers of the back. I was particularly struck with this in view of the fact that almost every individual in a large series collected in Alabama, in the winter of 1878, exhibited more or less of this brownish edging. *See Brewster, this Bull., Vol. IV, pp. 75-80 and 91-103. Brown's Reconjioissance in SontJnvester7i Texas. 35 5. Sialia arctica, Szi'a/'fis. Rocky Mountain Bluebird. — Abun- dant winter visitor. Generally in dull plumage. 6. Polioptila caerulea (JLi//n.) Scl. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — Apparently a common summer resident. Arrived March 8. 7. Reguhis calendula (^Linn.^ Licht. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. — Abundant up to the last week in March. S. Regulus satrapa, Lichi. Golden-crested Kinglet. — Not com- mon. Last seen about March 22. 9. Lophophanes atrocristatus, Cassi>i. Black-crested Tit. — Very abundant resident. 10. Parus carolinensis, ^«^. Carolina Chickadee. — Uncommon during my stay. Usually seen in pairs. 11. Certhia familiaris rufa {Bartr.) Ridg. Brown Creeper. — Rare. Onl3' two individuals observed : one Jan. 16, the other Jan. 29. 12. Salpinctes obsoletus {Say) Cab. Rock Wren. — I obtained a single female on March 4, in a canon of the Cibalo Creek. It was very shy and was secured with difficulty. 13. Catherpes luexicanus conspersus, Ridg. White-throated Wren. — About three pairs were resident in the canon above referred to. They lurked almost constantly in the interstices of the rocks, and had it not been for their delightful song would many times have entirely escaped observation. 14. Thryothorus ludovicianus {Gm.) Bp. Carolina Wren. — Uncommon resident. 15. Thryomanes bewicki leucogaster, Baird. Texan Bewick's Wren. — Very common resident. Sang throughout the winter. i6. Anthus ludovicianus {Gm.) Lickt. Titlark. — Abundant win- ter visitor. Became uncommon towards the last of March. 17. Neocorys spraguei {And.) Scl. Missouri Skylark. — Mr. Sennett having detected this species at Galveston,* it was, of course, to have been expected in the present locality. Since, however, I observed no examples until the i6th of March, it is to be inferred that the bird's winter habitat lies much farther to the south than has been supposed. I met with specimens up to within a few days of my departure, but never in abundance and, I believe, all upon one "flat" containing about twenty acres. While according to Dr. Couesf the manners and habits of this bird and the Titlai-k agree so closely during the breeding season, they were quite unlike at the time of my own observations. At Boerne the flight of the Skylark was peculiarly characteristic, being made slowly, at a height of but a few inches from the ground and with the regular, undulating move- ment of the Goldfinch. When several birds were associated together — as was usuall}' the case — they were invariably much scattered about upon the ground, and in flight never closed ranks sufficiently to form anything * See Orn. Lower Rio Grande, Bull. U. S. Gaol. Surv., IV, No. i, 1878, p. 10. t Birds Dak. and Mont., Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., IV, No. 3, 1878, p. 561. 36 Brown's Reconnoissance in Sonthxvestertt Texas. like a flock. The Tittarks, on the contrary, as I have also found them at the North, were birds of erratic and more rapid flight, frequently ascending to a considerable height and always preserving the semblance of a flock, however straggling their order. 18. Mniotilta varia {Linn.) Vie.ill. Black-and-white Creeper. — Rather common after March 13. 19. Helminthophaga ruficapilla (JV/ls.) Bd. Nashville War- bler.— Two specimens, — March 30 and April i. 20. Helminthophaga celata {Say) Bd. Orange-crowned War- bler.— Arrived the first week in March and thereafter was the most abundant of the Warblers. One of my specimens is a partial albino, the first, I believe, that has been detected in this peculiar phase of plu- mage. 21. Parula americana {Linn.) Bp. Blue Yellow-back. — Rare migrant. Arrived March 20 in full song. 22. Dendroeca coronata {Linn.) Gray. YelloVv-rump. — An abundant winter visitor, seen throughout my stay. 23. Dendroeca blackburnae {Gtn.) Bd. Blackburnian War- bler.— A single male taken March 31. 24. Dendroeca dominica albilora, Bd. White-browed Yellow- throat. — Uncommon migrant, first seen on March 19. The song of this variety is very different from that of its eastern analogue, and is a close reproduction of the Field Sparrow's familiar chant, without his decres- cendo termination. 25. Dendroeca chrysoparia, Scl. and Salv. Golden-cheeked Warbler. — Previous to the capture of my Boerne specimens, there were only about seven * skins of this elegant Warbler in existence. It was a rare bird at Boerne, and my own series was not brought up to a total of seven without special exertion. The first individual made his appearance on March 12. Within forty-eight hours from that time, under the influence of a biting norther, the mercury sank to 29° and hovered about that figure for several days. So that in his semi-tropical habitat this little bird is sometimes called upon to endure pretty severe weather. The remain- ing examples were taken at intervals up to March 24, after which I saw none. I found them usually in cedar brakes ; never more than a few rods distant from them. They were sometimes very shy, at other times easily approached, but almost always pursued their various avocations rather si- lently. I did not hear the song at all, until by this I was attracted to the last specimen that I procured. The notes were an exact counterpart of the song of Dendrceca discolor, as I heard it in Alabama, and, indeed, for the utterances of that bird I mistook them. By the few examples of this species hitherto existing in cabinets, the plumage of the adult male has been represented with much green on the *Four specimens were known before Mr. Werner explored Comal Co., in 1878. In his article on Werner's Birds (this Bull., Vol. IV, p. 77), Mr. Brewster does not state just how many were taken. Brown's Reco7t7ioissance in Sotithwestern Texas. 37 back. Four of my five males conform to this pattern of coloration, but the fifth is in a much more beautiful dress, undoubtedly showing the male bird in full perfection. In this specimen the back is deep black, glossy and continuous. Upon close examination, faint and irregular traces of greenish are perceptible, but in much too slight a degree to materially affect the groundwork. This high state of plumage greatly enhances the bird's beauty and renders its wearer one of the handsomest of the Svlvi- colidtB. 26. Dendroeca virens (Gm.) Bd. Black-throated Green War- bler. — An uncommon migrant, first seen on March 13. Found in hard- wood growth and never in company with the preceding sp^ecies. On March 25 I heard a male singing the plaintive song so familiar in northern woods. 27. Siurus motacilla {Viei'll.) Cones. Large-billed Water Thru.sh. — A single male taken, March 25, in one of the "oases" of the creek. 28. Lanivireo flavifrons (Vieill.) Bd. Yellow-throated Vireo. — A pair taken on March 25. 29. Vireo atricapillus, Woodk. Black-capped Vireo. — One speci- men, March 27. Could I have remained a few days later, other specimens would have undoubtedly been detected. 30. Vireo noveboracensis {Gm.) Bp. White-eyed Vireo. — Com- mon summer resident, first seen on March 13. 31. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (5w.) Cones. White- rumped Shrike. — Of irregular and uncommon occurrence. I obtained one specimen of ludovicianus proper. 32. Ampelis cedrorum {Vieill.) Bd. Cedar Bird. — Very irregu- lar in its occurrence, and never common. 33. Progne subis {Linn.) Bd. Purple Martin. — Common sum- mer resident. Arrived frorh the south, Feb. 17. 34. Petrochelidon lunifrons {Say) Laivr. Eave Swallow. — Common summer resident. Arrived about March 20. The canon, to which I have several times alluded, contained many nests of this bird. 35. Hirundo erythrogastra, Bodd. Barn Swallow. — Common summer resident. A single individual seen on March 4, but no others noticed until the loth of the month when there was a general arrival. 36. Stelgidopteryx serripennis {And.) Bd. Rough-winged Swal- low. — But two observed, — March 3 and 4. 37. Pyranga aestiva {Linn.) Vieill. Summer Redbird. — One specimen taken in April. 38. Astragalinus tristis {Linn.) Cab. Goldfinch. — Rather com- mon winter visitant. 39. Centrophanes ornatus {Tozvns.) Cab. Chestnut-collared LoNGSPUR. — This and the following species apparently do not winter here. I first met with them in the second week of February. They were often associated together, sometimes with the addition of a few Horned Larks. The present species, though not common, was the more numer- ous and lingered later, being taken up to March 2. 38 Brown's Reconnoissajice hi Sojithivcsteim Texas. 40. Rhynchophanes maccowni {La-vi-.) Bd. McCown's Long- SP^TR. — Uncommon migrant, taken between Feb. 11 and 21. 41. Passerculus sandwicliensis alaudinus {,Bf.) Ridg. Western Savanna Sparrow. — Common, throughout my stay, in cultivated fields. 42. PocEcetes gramineus confinis, Bd. Western Grass Finch. — Abundant in cultivated fields and less common elsewhere, throughout my stay. Several specimens were taken in plumage intermediate between this and the eastern form ; and one which can hardl_y be referred to any- thing \>\x\. gramincii!. proper. 43. Coturniculus passerinus ( Wih.) Bp. Yellow- winged Spar- row.— A single specimen, Feb. 14. 44. Chondestes gramniica (6'/iilomela and Erithaciis ritbecttla) ; in consequence of which (no other name having, apparently, been proposed for the group in question) it becomes neces- sary to rename the genus so long called Hehyiinthophaga. In proposing a new name, which I am very reluctant to do, I have selected the term Helmintkofhila, on account of its similarity to the one so long in use. It is proper to state here that my attention was called to this point by Dr. L. Stejneger, the eminent Norwegian ornithologist. Leaving out H. la-wrencei and H. leticobronckialis, which Mr. Brewster has pretty clearly proven to be hybrids of H. pinus and H. ckrysoptera, the known speciies of this genus are as follows : — 1. Helmintkofhila hackmani (Aud.). 2. Helminthophila chrysoptera (Linn.). 3. Helminthophila pinus (Linn.). 54 General Notes. 4. Helmiiithophiht rujicapilla (Wils.)- 5. HelmintJiofhila virghiice (Baird). 6. Helminthophila celata (Say). 7. Helminthophila feregri7ia (Wils.). 8. Heltninthophila lucice {Coo-per). — Robert Ridgway, Washington, D. C. Dendrceca pahnaruin again in Massachusetts. — The first capture of Dendrceca palmarmn in Massachusetts was that of a single bird taken by Mr. Arthur Smith at Brookline, about the middle of October, 1878. (See note by Mr. Ruthven Deane, Bull. Nutt. Club, Vol. IV, page 60.) I have the pleasure of announcing the capture of two additional specimens. The first was taken at Cambridge, September 13, 1880, and was shot on an apple tree while in company with several other War- blers. The second was shot at Belmont, September 7, 18S1, from the top of a yellow pine. The marked difference in the intensity of the yellow of the breast and under tail-coverts first attracted my attention to this bird. Never having met with D. palmarum hypochrysea in the autumn, I thought both birds to be of this variety until quite recently, when my friend Mr. William Brewster identified them for me and found them to be genuine D. palmarum. — Henry M. Spelman. Cambridge, Mass. Ampelis cedrorinn as a Sap-sucker.— The Cedar, or Cherry-Bird seems never to be very abundant in this section of the State; but early in the spring, when the birds first arrived from the south, I saw quite a large number of them, and observed what was to me a new habit. They resort- ed to the maple trees for the purpose of gathering the sap flowing from wounds made by the ice in the bark of the smaller branches. The birds would grasp a branch or twig with their claws, and partially swing them- selves under it and drink the sap where it hung in drops. For a week or more these birds were so plentiful and so intent upon their sap-gathering that one was almost certain to find a flock wherever there was a group of maples. I took considerable pains to ascertain if this habit was shared by any other bird, but did not observe a single instance. In the Eastern States I have often seen squirrels drinking sap ft-om the branches in this way. but never before saw it done by a bird. — F. E. L. Beal, Atnes. Jozva . Captvrk OF Plcctrophanes lapponicusiN Chester, South Carolina. — Mr. Leverett M. Loomis writes me that on January i, 1881, he shot a single individual of this species from a small flock of Shore Larks, which were feeding upon oftal in a barn-yard. There appears to be no previous record of the occurrence of this species in South Carolina. — ^J. A. Allen, Cambridge, Mass. Occurrence of Coturniculus lecontei in Chester County, South Carolina. — Near the town of Chester, S. C, on the dividing ridge between the Broad and Catawba Rivers, there is an "old-field" of some Getter a1 Notes. CC two hundred acres that has been Ijing out, until recently, for a number of years. Here and there are patches of newly-sown grain, but the greater portion is now in broom-sedge and weedy stubble and corn land. Near the middle there is a small "wet-weather branch," which empties into a large creek a mile distant. November ri, 1881, in this locality, in the weedy stubble, my first specimen of Le Conte's Bunting was secured. Nov. 16, a second was taken in the broom-sedge near the same spot. Nov. 17, a third was shot, and several others were seen. Dec. 3, three more were captured ; two in the broom-sedge, and the remaining one in the swamp grass bordering the "branch." Dec. 10, my last visit to the field, six additional specimens were taken, and as many more were seen. I am not aware that the species has hitherto been reported as occurring so far east as South Carolina. — Leverett M. Loomis, Chester, S. C. The Sharp-tailed Finch in Kansas. — Col. N. S. Goss, of Neosho Falls, Kansas, wrote me under date of Oct. 17, 1881, that he had killed what he thought was a male Nelson's Sharp-tailed Finch. Two days later he shot another, which he kindly sent me. The bird proved to be, as Mr. Goss supposed, Ammodrajnits caudacntns uelsotii. The birds were killed "at the edge of a slough, on the low bottom lands of the Neosho River, about two miles from Neosho Falls." This discovery is of special interest as indicating that the Sharp-tailed Finch, formerly supposed to be strictly maritime in its distribution, may be found locally over a wide range in the interior. — ^J. A. Allen, Cambridge, Mass. Note on Mitrephanes, a new Generic Name. — The name Mitre- phoriis of Sclater, P. Z. S., 1859, P- 44i i'^ preoccupied in Coleoptera by Mitrefhorus, Schdnh., 1S37, emended AlitrofJiorus, Burm., 1844. It may therefore be changed to Mitrephanes; type Mitrephanes phcEocercus (Scl.) ; including Mitrepliaties aiirantiive?ttris (Lawr.), if not also Mitrephanes fulvifrons (Grd.), and its var. fallcscens (Coues). — Elliott Coues, Washington, D. C. Nesting of Empidonax minimus and Helmintherus vcrmivorus in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. — Although instances of the breeding of the Least Flycatcher within the limits of Pennsylvania and New Jersey have been affirmed byTurnbuU and one or two other authorities, a precise record cannot perhaps be found that will prove it to breed as far south as Philadelphia. Having found a nest and clutch of eggs belonging to this species, June i, iSSi, and satisfactorily identified the parent birds by shooting them, it is thought that this notice may prove of interest as perhaps removing doubts as to the accuracy of Turnbull's statement. E. minimus escaped the notice of the writer till the spring of i88o, when two pairs were noticed in June in the suburbs of Philadelphia, but any nests which may have existed escaped my observation. The present year (1881) I first noticed them in Delaware County, Pa., two pairs taking up their abode in an orchard surrounding the house. Here the above men- 56 Genera] Notes. tioned nest was found, placed on a drooping branch of an apple tree fif- teen feet above the ground. The species was seen and heard singing about six miles west of Camden, New Jersey, in June, and again in July at the same place; is it not just therefore to suppose this pair had a nest near the spot? Worm-eating Warblers were noticed in full song in the vicinity of Mar- pie, Delaware County. Pa., as early as the last week in April, and whilst on a collecting trip in May I procured three males and a female in south- ern Chester County, and on dissecting the latter I was surprised to find in her oviduct a partly shelled egg. On the i6th of June, 1881, a ramble in the woods resulted in finding a brood of young of this species scarcely able to fly ; one of them is now in my collection and another just missed the same claim to immortality. The old birds were exceedingly solici- tous but so wary that three shots failed to procure either of them. Near Camden, New Jersey, I procured a female Worm-eating Warbler in the latter part of July, 1880; its actions and the time of year caused me to infer it had young near by. — Samuel N. Rhoades, Haddonjield, N.J. Cuckoos laying in the Nests of other Birds. — As far as my knowledge extends, there are only four instances known, in which the eggs of Coccygus americanns have been found in other bird's nests, namely, the two given by Nuttall, in nests of Catbird and one by Langdon in Robin's, and that mentioned by Ridgway in Coccygus erythropkthalmus. I was not a little astonished to find last Saturday, June 4. 1S81, an egg of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo in a Catbird's nest, and near by another one in the nest of a Black-billed Cuckoo. The Catbird's nc'^t contained only one egg of its rightful owner ; another Catbird's egg was found broken on the ground. The Cuckoo's egg was fresh, but the Catbird's ^^^ was in- cubated. The nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo contained besides the para- sitic eg'^, which was fresh, two eggs, both incubated, but one much more than the other, the embryo being fully developed. The parent bird {Coc- cygus erythrophtkalmus) was sitting, but left when the tree was ascended and stationed itself on a near tree to watch our movements. The circumstances attending the discovery of these two eggs make me think that such cases of parasitic Cuckoo's eggs might not be so very ex- ceptional and still evade the watchful eye of the collecting odlogist or of the observing ornithologist. I went out to look for nests of Empid- onax acadicus. I took my nephew, a lad of fifteen, with me to assist in taking down nests from trees. In passing a thicket by the wayside, he looked in and immediately called out, " a big nest, blue eggs." Judging from the surroundings, I replied without taking the trouble to look at the thino-, '• a Catbird's nest; let it alone." We passed on and after a little while a Catbird crossed our way. He saw the bird and I told him that this was the Catbird whose nest he had just found. He wondered that a bird of this size lays such large eggs. Inquiring how large the Q.g^ was, he showed the size with thumb and index. I smiled and said it was not ex- General Notes. 57 actl}- that big, but he insisted, and I concluded to walk back and look at the eggs, when the discovery was made. Who cares to look into each of the dozen of Catbird's nests we find in the course of a season ? We are satisfied to know that this is the nest of the Robin, the Wood-thrush, the Catbird; but we do not think of taking the trouble to look every time at their eggs or young. Still more likely to elude discovery would the strange egg be in the other Cookoo's nest. In this neighborhood at least are the Cuckoo's nests gen- erally amidst such a terribly entangled mass of wild vine that we do not care to go up for mere pleasure. I do not know how regular egg-collec- tors go to work ; other ornithologists may operate differently. My case may be no measure. I give it only to draw attention to the matter, and I have made up my mind to despise no more Catbirds's nests in future. — O. WiDMAN, St. Louis, Mo. [Mr. Widman has overlooked a note which appeared in an early num- ber of this Bulletin (Vol. II, p. no), where three instances of the lay- ing of our Cuckoos in other bird's nests are given. Years ago when I used to take many Cuckoo's nests each season in the apple orchards about Cambridge it was no uncommon thing to find an z^^ of the Black-billed species in a clutch of the Yellow-bills, and on more than one occasion, but less often, the situation would be reversed. An instance of the lat- ter kind came under my notice in 187S, when at Belmont, Mass., I found a nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo which contained, besides two eggs of the rightful proprietor, a single one of the Yellow-bill. Speaking from memory, and without consulting my notes on the subject, I should say that at least ten per cent of the Cuckoo's nests that I have found contained eggs of both species. But in no case have I ever seen the eggs of either kind in the nests of other birds. — William Brewster.] Mclanerpes erythroccphalits about Boston. — Massachusetts, at least the extreme eastern part, has shared in the flight of Red-headed Wood- peckers that has been i-eported as visiting Southern Connecticut last fall.* During the latter part of September, through October and into November, the oak groves in the suburbs of Boston were tenanted by numbers of these truly handsome birds. I should judge that about one-third were in full plumage, and their conspicuous dress attracting attention many were shot. Twelve years ago the individual occurrence of this species among us was thought worthy of record. Of late years, during the moaths above named, it has become a more frequent though irregular visitor, but never in such numbers as have recently shown themselves. In spring or summer it is rarely seen, yet an instance of its nesting in Brookline is given me by Mr. H. K. Job, who early in June, 1878, found five eggs in the hole of an apple tree. According to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, this Woodpecker is a common resident of Lewis County, N. Y.f May not our visitors have come from that direction? — H. A. Purdie, JVetvtoN, Mass. * Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. VI, pp. 78, 79. t This Bulletin, Vol. Ill, p. 123. 58 General Notes. The Barn Owl in Maine: A Retraction. — In the Bulletin for Jan- uary, 1S77, p. 28, I added the Barn Owl {Aliico Jfaiiimeus americaniis) to the catalogue of Maine birds, basing the record upon a specimen, which I had examined, in the possession of a taxidermist then of Portland. I very much regret to say that I now believe the account given me of this bird's capture within our state limits to have been false. Several other statements in relation to ornithology have since been made me by the same man, of a character so improbable and with such contradictor^' details that they can only be regarded as wilfully and utterly untrue. Their author has recently left the city under circumstances which dispel anv doubts which may previously have existed as to the reliability of his word. I cannot longer be responsible for a statement emanating from such a source, and wish to formally withdraw the name of the Barn Owl from the list of birds known to occur in Maine. — Nathan Clifford Brown, Portland, Maine. The Snowy Owl at Fort Walla Walla, W. T. — On November 10, iSSi, one of my men shot here a female of this species {Nyctea scan- diaca), which I have made into a fine skin. I reported the capture of one on December i, iSSo (see this Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. 128), and these two are the only records known to me for the Pacific coast. The occurrence of this species here seems to be much rarer than in the Eastern States. — Charles Bendire, Fort Walla Walla. W. T. Capture of the Golden Eagle in Crawford County. Penn- SYLYANIA. — A Golden Eagle (Aqiiila chryaaetiis caiiadoisis) was shot in Rookdale Township this (Crawford) County on December 10. under the following circumstances. A farmer, by the name of Hull, early one morning saw the bird fly from a carcass in his field to the woods some distance oft'. He conceived the idea that it would return to the carrion and at once made a blind of the rails of a fence near by. The following morning he repaired to the blind long before daylight with gun in hand, and, although he was well concealed and waited patiently until nearly noon, no bird put in an appearance. Nothing daunted, however, he repeated the watching on the second morning, and about eight o'clock was rewarded by the return of the bird, which he shot. The eagle was purchased by Mr. Roe Reisinger of our city and is now movinted. It is the first recorded specimen, I believe, of this species taken in this county. The sex I could not ascertain, as the entire contents of the bird's body were drawn by Mr. Hull before bringing it to town, but from the follow- ing dimensions I should judge it to be a young female : Extent, 83 inches ; wing, 24.50 inches; tail, 15 inches. Tail about two-thirds white. The black terminal zone was about four inches deep on outer quills and about one and one-half inches deep on the centre ones. The general color of the bird is brown, with wings almost deep black. The hood extends well down on the nape and is of a light tawny brown, approaching the golden hue probably as much as any of them do. The tarsus is well covered with feathers to the toes. On the whole it is a very clean and perfect specimen. — George B. Sennett. Meadville. Pa. General Notes. 59 .The Swallow-tailed Kite in Dakota. — On November 14, 1881, when a short distance west of Jamestown, Dakota Territory, I saw several Swallow-tailed Kites {^Elaitoides forficatus) flying around apparently in search of food. The day was clear and the Kites were much separated ; one even was seen alone skimming along an alkali lake, showing every indication of searching for food. On November 17, farther to the west, about midway between Jamestown and Bismark, near the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, I saw, some fifty more of these beautiful birds, but this time in a flock, and each movement being common with them all it was a glorious sight. The weather had changed from that of the 14th, and was now cloudy with a brisk wind from the northwest, accompanied at times by a slight shower of rain, but this change they seemed to enjoy. So easily did thev ride the storm, so beautiful were their evolutions, so much at home did they appear in mid-air, that when they had passed out of sight I was pained, for in this northern latitude such a sight is of very rare occurrence. — D. H. Talbot. Sioux City, la. A Remarkable Specimen of the Pinnated Grouse (^Ctipidonia ctipido). — W hile overhauling some Grouse in the Boston markets a few years since I came across a specimen which exhibits the following peculi- arities of plumage : Adult $ (No. 2691, author's collection, Boston Markets, February 27, 1S73 — said to have come from Iowa). Ground-color above warm, brownish- cinnamon. Shorter neck-tufts or pinnate coverts, bright reddish-brown. Breast, reddish-chestnut, becoming almost clear chestnut anteriorly. A band or collar of broad, stift" feathers extends continuously around the neck in front and across the lower portion of the jugulum about in a line with the neck-tufts. These feathers although less stiff than the longest ones in the neck-tufts, are nevertheless quite as much so as the shorter ones. They make a conspicuous ruff" which is mainly black mixed with a good deal of reddish-chestnut. The latter color on the shorter and overlapping feathers occurs in the form of narrow central stripes, which in some cases are nearly orange in tint; on the longer ones as a more or less broad, lateral marginning. I ofter the above description solely for the purpose of calling attention to this remarkable specimen for I am entirely at a loss to account for its peculiarities. Several who have seen it have suggested that it may be a hybrid between the Prairie Hen and the Rufted Grouse, but this hypothesis seems hardly a probable one, inasmuch as none of the combined charac- ters which would be expected in such an offspring are here presented. The ruff" does indeed rem.otely suggest that of Bonasa, but otherwise the bird shows all the well-marked structural characters of Cupidonia. To simply say that it is abnormal will hardly, satisfy the numerous inves- tigators of this pushing age of inquiry. — William Brewster. Cambridge, Alass. Wilson's Plover (yEgialites rvilso>iins) in New England. — Mr. W. A. Stearns sends me a letter from Mr. Arthur S. Fiske, dated Gurnet, Conn., Ang. 22. 1S77. '"This morning I shot a bird of this species on 6o General Notes. the beach at the south of the hotel. It vva.s alone, though there were several flocks of other Plovers near at hand. In note and actions it closely resembled the Piping Plover, but was larger and lighter colored. Capt. Hall called it the ' Pale Ring-neck,' and said he had seen it at the Gurnet before." The description given by Mr. Fiske (length 7.75 inches; bill fully I inch, black," etc.) leaves no doubt that the bird was Wilson's Plover.- — Elliott Coues. Washing-toii, D. C. Capture of Baird's Sandpiper on Long Island. — On September 22, 18S0, I shot a specimen of Tringa bairdi on Montauk, Long Island. The bird was in a flock of " Peeps" (£;-cw«ci'^5^«5/7/«5), feeding on the beach of Great Pond, a brackish lake often in communication with the Sound. It so closely resembled the '' Peeps" that I only noticed it on account of its larger size. The skin I preserved, though badly cut by the shot. — Daniel E. Moran, Brooklyn, JV. T. [This is apparently the first known occurrence of this species on the Atlantic Coast south of New England. — Edd.] An Addition to the Maine Fauna. — On Octobers, iSSi, I received from Mr. Alpheus G. Rogers, of Portland, an immature specimen of Rallus elegans, the King Rail, which he shot on Scarborough Marsh, on the morning of that day. This species is new to the State of Maine, and has occurred in New England only about half a dozen times. Its previous New England record is as follows : (i) Stratford, Conn., breeding. Linsley, Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, Vol. XLIV, No. 2, p. 267. (2) Portland. Conn., one specimen: (3) Saybrook, Conn., one spec- imen, Merriam, Rev. Birds Conn., p. 115. (4) Nahant, Mass., one spec- imen, Purdie, this Bulletin, Vol. II, p. 22. (5) Sudbury ISIeadows, Mass., one specimen, Purdie, this Bulletin, Vol. Ill, p. 146. — Nathan Clif- ford Brown, Portland, Maine. Capture of Lams leuropterus near Boston. — -In November last Mr. Charles I. Goodale showed me an immature specimen of Larus leticopterus in the flesh, which he stated was shot near Boston. The bird is now in my collection. — Charles B. Cory, Boston, Mass. The Great Black-backed Gull {Lams viarlnus) from a new Locality. — Mr. Howard Saunders, in his excellent synopsis of the LarincB (P. Z. S., 1S7S, pp. 155-212), p. iSo, in defining the known range of this species, says that there is '• no record from the American side of the Pacific," but that he had " examined undoubted specimens from Japan," this being considered " a very great extension of its previously known range." During the present year the National Museum has received specimens of this species, in alcohol, from Herald Island, in the Arctic Ocean, northwest of Behring's Straits, and from Port Clarence on the American side of the Straits, the former collected by Captain C. M. Hooper, of the U. S. Revenue Cutter " Corwin," the latter by Dr. T. H. Bean, of the National Museum. — Robert Ridgway, Washington. D. C. General JSfotes. 6 1 The Snake-bird in Kansas. — Prof. F. H. Snow, of the University of Kansas, writes as follows : " I have the pleasure of informing you of the capture of a specimen of the Snake-bird, Plotiis cinhi?iga, in the Solomon Valley in Western Kansas. It was taken in August of this year by C. W. Smith, Esq., of Stockton, and the skin is now in my possession." — ■ Elliott Coues, Waskingfon, D. C. Capture OF the Sea Dove 150 Miles from the Sea: — On Novem- ber Sth, 1S81, a Sea Dove {Alle nigricans), was shot in the Hudson River, at Lansingburg, by Alfred Benjamin of that village. The bird was mounted by William Gibson of the same place, and is in his col- lection. — Austin F. Park, Troy. N. T. Additions to the Catalogue of North American Birds. — The following list includes all the species that have been added to the North American fauna since the publication of the "Nomenclature of North American Birds." The numbers given these additional species indicate their position in the list; and I would suggest that any author publishing a species new to our fauna do the same, so that collectors and others may know its number. 440.* Buteo fuliginosus Scl. Little Black Hawk. 44b.** Buteo brachyurus Vicill. Short-tailed Hawk; White- fronted Hawk. 70S.* Pufliniis borealis Cory. Northern Shearwater. 717.* CEstrelata giilaris {Peale) Bretvstcr. Peale's Petrel. — Robert RiDGWAY, M'as/iingtoji, D. C. Notes on Some Birds of the Belt Mountains, Montana Territory. — The following observations were made in the southern range of the Belt Mountains, latitude about 46^ 30', some miles to the west and south of the head-waters of the Musselshell, from which the land, intersected by frequent smaller streams, gradually rises to the foot of the low mountains, which are mostly forest-clad and of some 6,000 feet elevation. The streams have little or no timber save in the moun- tains or among the foothills where scattering firs appear; but willows grow in dense thickets along the bank, striving apparently by numbers to make up for any lack in size. ^ The notes extend from June 22 to July 3, iSSo, three days excepted, when the writer was absent. All the birds were found within an area of a square mile, perhaps less, but the locality was unusually favorable, including several patches of burnt timber, a large open tract sti-etching up the moun- tain side to almost the summit, and two streams flowing in rather open canons with cluinps of willows on either bank. Several interesting birds which were sought for unsuccessfully at this tiine I have since found in the Belt Range, viz. Cinclus mextcanus, Cyaft- ocitta stelleri {macroloJ>ka?) and Tetrao ca7iadensis franhlini. Skins of most of the species mentioned were preserved. 02 General Notes. 1. Turdus migratorius propinqiius. — Common. A bird nesting June 25. 2. Turdus fuscescens. — Found only in the canons. Common. 3. Sialia arctica. — Nesting in deserted Woodpecker's holes. 4. Regiilus calendula. — Everywhere among the firs. 5. Parus montanus. — Common. It never whistles more than two successive notes, at least I have never heard it. 6. Sitta carolinensis aculeata. — One pair found breeding in the knot-hole of a large fir. Young hatched on or shortly before the 25 June. 7. Neocorys spraguei. — A pair breeding on a high, grass-covered knoll just outside the timber. The male was often observed flying high overhead, constantly shifting his position, but keeping at about the same elevation while uttering his song — a rather monotonous carol, unless one is sufficientlv near to hear the wonderful resonance of the blended notes. 8. DendrcEca auduboni. — Common. 9. Pyranga liidoviciana. — Rather common. A female observed nest-building June 26, the male meantime singing in a neighboring tree- top. July 3 the nest was apparently completed but without eggs. It was built in a fir some thirty feet from the ground and about midway on a small horizontal limb where several twigs projected out on either side. 10. Cotyle riparia. — Swallows apparently of this species were seen flying high overhead. Their homes were found lower down on the streams. 11. Vireo gilvus STvainsoni. — A common bird in the canons. 12. Carpodacus purpureus. — Two individuals observed. 13. Chrysoniitris pinus. — A flock of these restless little creatures appeared almost daily, uttering their querulous notes. 14. Pooecetes gramineus confinis. — Common on the grassy slopes. 15. Melospiza fasciata fallax. — Occasional among the willows of the streams. 16. Junco oregonus. — Apparently this form was not uncommon. 17. Spizella socialis. — Abundant in the patches of dead timber. iS. Cyanospiza anioena. — Not uncommon but confined to the willows etc. along the streams. 19. Sturnella magna neglecta. — Breeding on the grassy hillsides. 20. Picicorvus colunibianiis. — Occasional. Much commoner lower down among the scattered firs of the coulees. 21. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. ■ — A single bird shot July 2. It was almost full-grown, but in the " flufty " plumage peculiar to voung birds. 22. Contopus borealis. — One bird seen. 23. Contopus virens richardsoni. — Common. 24. Chordiles virginianus henryi. — In dead timber, common. 25. Picus villosns. — "^'oung of perhaps a week old were found on the 25th of June. 26. Picoides arcticus. — Rather common. 27. Picoides aniericanus dorsalis. — Two or three specimens noted. General Notes. ^^ 28. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. — One bird observed. 29. Colaptes niexicanus. ■ — ^ Common. The young of this species doubtless hatching on June 28, as an old bird was seen carrying out and dropping, a hundred or two yards from the nest, the fragment of an egg shell at that time. 30. Biiteo borealis. — -Hawks apparently of this species occasionally observed. 31. Bonasa umbellns umbelloides. — Not common. Is mostly found in the cotton-wood timber of the valleys. 32. Tetrao obscuriis richardsoui. — Not as common here as in some other localities of the Belt Mountains. They prefer rough and rocky ledges with only a moderate growth of fir to denser forests. Occasion- ally one finds them outside of the mountains, but only among the scattered clumps of fir growing on the high bluft's of some of the streams. Their " tooting" is a low, muffled sort of cooing, uttered without vigor, or any visible effort on the bird's part, which may be squatting on some rock at the time. 33. Tringoides maciilarius. — Found on the streams. — R. S. Wil- LiAM.s, Be>/foii, W. T. Rem.\rks on Some Western Vermont Birds. — The Red-headed Woodpecker {Melanerpes erythrocephaUis, Sw.), is a strangely erratic species. Mr. C. S. Paine has taken but a single specimen in the eastern part of the State, and five years ago it was a very rare species about here (Brandon). Now they are nearly as abundant as the common Golden- wings. At Orwell, only ten miles to the west, they outnumber the Golden-wings, and appear to be on the increase. Dr. C. H. Merriam mentions (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. Ill, No. 3, p. 124) their remain- ing in Northern New York during some of the severest winters known. I ha\e never observed them in this vicinity later than the 2d of October, except in one instance (January 7, 1S79), when I took a single specimen. At Rutland, sixteen miles south of Brandon, Mr. Jenness Richardson in- forms me that they are a resident species, being as abundant in winter as in summer. They were particularly abundant about here during August and September, 1S79, being attracted, no doubt, by the great abundance of black cherries {Prtn/iis serotina), which they appear to relish greatly. I have frequently observed this species to employ the same nest for several successive seasons. The Pileated Woodpecker {Hylotomtispileafus.Yid.), is by no means as rare as might be expected in so thickly populated a section. Not a year passes but that from one to five specimens are taken. I have notes of at least fifteen specimens, taken during the last four or five years, all of which oc- curred from the month of September to May, inclusive ; the last record being the capture of two young females, September 28, 1881. Of the remaining /'/c/f/^^, Spkyrapicus varius is a rather rare summer visitant; Picoides arcticus, a very rare winter visitant: while Pi'ciis pubescens and P. villosus are resident species, the former being by far the most abundant. 64 General ?\fotes. During the winter of i8So-Si, no less than seven specimens of the little Acadian Owl (^Nyctale acadica) were taken, all within a few days' time. Two specimens of the Snowy Owl {Nyctea scaiidiaca) were also taken at the same time. During the fall of 1879, '^ ^'^^ specimen of the American Raven {^Corvus corax carnivoriis) remained in this immediate vicinity for nearly a month, but successfully eluded capture. A single specimen of the Canada Jay {Perisoreus catiadensis) was taken in December, 1874. Although the recorded instances of the breeding of the Loggerhead Shrike (^Laniiis litdovicianus) in New England are rather numerous, the following notes may not be entirely devoid of interest. One rainy day last season (June 5, 1880) as I was seated on the porch of a neighbor's house, my atten- tion was attracted by a Shrike flying past several times. I watched the bird and saw it fly to the top of an old apple tree. The tree was not more than t-Mo rods from the house, and was densely overrun with a large grape vine. I climbed the tree, and, about twenty feet from the ground, found the nest, and, much to my disappointment, found no eggs, but four nearly fledged young. The old birds were very tame, and flew about within a few feet of my head. This season I visited the locality May 16, and was fortunate enough to find a nest and four fresh eggs. The nest was in an apple tree, perhaps three rods from the nest of last year; was composed of coarse sticks and weeds, very deeply hollowed, and lined with wool and twine. I took both parent birds with the nest, thus rendering the identification positive. A few days after this (Maj' 23, 1881) some boys told me they had found a " Cat Bird's " nest in an apple tree about a mile from the vicinity of the other nests. They had climbed the tree, and said " the old bird flew at them, and snapped her bill hard'." I knew this to be a Shrike, and, when I visited the place, had the pleasure of securing another nest, containing six eggs, with the female parent. The nest was much like the other, but was perhaps deeper, and lined entirely with feathers. The Great Northern Shrike {^Lanitis boreali's) is a rather rare species, being most frequently observed in spring. The Scarlet Tanagers {^Pyranga rubra) first made their appearance about here in the summer of 1S75, when a single pair nested. Since then they have gradually increased until probably twenty pairs nested the past season. Strange as it may seem, I have never taken the common Titlark {Aiiihus ludovicianus) during the spring migrations, although they are usually abundant in the fall. — F. H. Knowlton, Brandon, Vt. Erratum. — In Vol. VI, p. 199, lines 9 and 10. for "centimeters" read millimeters. BULLETIN NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. VOL. VII. April, 1882. • No. 2. ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS LATELY MADE BY MR. F. STEPHENS IN ARIZONA. BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. Early in 18S1 I wrote to Mr. Stephens asking him to get me some Arizona birds during the following spring and summer. He replied that he was on the point of starting by wagon for California, but that being provided with a camping outfit, and feeling under no necessity of hurrying by the way, he was willing to give his whole attention, for several months at least, to collect- ing in my interest. It was accordingly arranged that the journey should take in as great a variety of country as possible, and, that the most productive points should be thoroughly worked. The energy, intelligence, and conscientiousness with which this plan was carried out are sufiiciently attested by the material results upon which the present paper is based. The route traversed was substantially as follows : Leaving Galeyville on March 3, Mr. Stephens drove southward to Cave Creek, where a few days' collecting yielded a limited number of birds. At the end of this time he retraced his steps to Galeyville, and continuing northward, passed Camp Bowie, and crossed to the western side of the Chiricahua Mountains. Here a halt was made at Morse's Mill, after a journey of seventy miles by wagon- road from Cave Creek, although the distance is less than twelve 66 Brewster o?/ a Collection of Arizona Birds. miles in an air line. This place is described in the notes as being at the head of a caiion, in a sort of basin, elevated about seven thousand feet above the sea, and encircled b}' mountains which rise from two to three thousand feet higher. From some further remarks on the general character of the range, I quote the following: "The Chiricahua jSIountains are situated in the southeast corner of Arizona, some of the foot-hills even reaching the line of New Mexico and the Mexican state of Sonora. Several small streams run east and west from their summits, those of the former division emptying into the San Simon Valley ; of the latter into the Sulphur Spring and San Ber- nardino Valleys. The first two water-sheds are comprised in the Rio Gila system, while the San Bernardino Valley stretches soutlnvard, and water from it flows into the Pacific near Guaymas." "These valleys are usually grassy plains, but there are scatter- ing bushes, mostly mesquite, in some of them. The scrub oaks begin with the foot-hills ; they are evergreen, the leaves being insensibly replaced with new ones in May. A little higher the juniper (called 'cedar' by the people here) comes in. Still higher, on the north side of the hills, there is a little piiion and scrub pine, while the summits are heavily timliered with red and black pines. In the gulches some fir grows, and on the hillsides, mostly near the summits and facing the north, occasional patches of aspen." At Morse's Mill three weeks were verv profitablv spent, and on April I a start was made for Tucson, the next objective point. The route led through Sulphur vSpring Valle\'. Tombstone, and Cienega Station, and at all these places, as well as at some inter- mediate points, a longer or shorter stay was made for the purpose of collecting. These delays consumed so mucli time that Tucson was not reached until April i8. The country lying about this town and the neighboring station. Camp Low^ell, proved so rich in desii'able birds that it engaged Mr. Stephens' attention for nearlv the whole of the two succeed- ing months, during which, however, a brief visit was paid to the Santa Rita Mountains, where some important observations were made. The season practicalh- ended with June, for the wagon-join-ney, begun on the 29th of that month, across the arid plains and scorchiu"- deserts of middle and western Arizona, was attended Brew^ster on a Collection of Arizo?ia Birds. 67 with such privations, and often positive sutFering, that little atten- tion could be paid to birds, Mr. Stephens arrived at Yuma on July 15, and by August i reached his final destination, Riverside, California. The entire trip yielded about six hundred and fifty skins besides a fairly large number of nests and eggs. Under the terms of our agreement I had all the birds, a representative series of the nests and eggs, and the field-notes relating to both. This collection, embracing the results of four months' uninterrupted work in a re- gion as yet only imperfectly known, seems to me too complete in itself to be merely skimmed of its cream. Accordingly in prepar- ing the following paper I have included everv species which is represented among the specimens or mentioned in the collector's notes. It should be understood, however, that the latter were not kept with reference to this plan, and it is not unlikely that certain common birds, which are known to occur in Arizona, were inadvertently omitted. For similar reasons, the number of specimens obtained can seldom be taken as an exponent of the relative abundance of the species to which they belong, as a de- cided preference was given to the rarer kinds. Three species new to the ''North American" fauna have ali"eadv been announced (this Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. 252.). A few technical points require explanation. The catalogue numbers are usually those of the collector's field-book, but in certain cases — as of specimens taken as types, or with birds ob- tained by Mr. Stephens before starting on the present trip — I have used my own numbers, either alone (^r in connection with the original ones. This double system need cause no confusion, how- ever, for the field-numbers never reach 700, while those of my general catalogue are always above 5,000. Of the measurements, the length and stretch were taken in the field, the others from the dry skins. The biographical matter is of course based on Mr. Stephens' notes, which are sometimes paraphrased, some- times literally quoted, as convenience dictates. The frequent quotations of Mr. Henshaw's experience or opinions are always, unless otherwise stated, from his Report in Volume V of "Explo- rations and Survevs West of the One Hundredth Meridian." I. Turdus unalascae Gmel. Dwarf Thrush. — The only Hermit Thrush in tlic present collection is unmistakably refera- 68 Brewster 072 a Collection of Arizona Birds. ble to var. luialascce. In fact it gives nearly the same measure- ments as the smallest extreme in the large series examined by Mr. Henshaw.* Mr. Stephens marks it as the first which he has seen in Arizona where, however, it was found sparingly by Mr. Henshaw in October, 1873. 283, ? ad., Tucson, April 25. Length, 6.40; extent, 10.10; wing. 3.26; tail, 2.61 ; culmen, .52. "Bill dark brown, yellowish at base of lower mandible; legs pale brownish ; iris brown." 2. Turdus ustulatus Nutt. Russet-backed Thrush. — Under this heading I include with some hesitation, a Thrush killed May 17, in the Santa Rita Mountains. The specimen unfor- tunately was one of thi-ee or four which were accidentally destroyed while in the collector's possession, but Mr. Stephens is positive that it was referable to the above variety. As he is perfectly familiar with ustulatus., having previously met with it in California, there can, I think, be little doubt of the cor- rectness of his determination. This record, if accepted, will make the first for Arizona. 397, $ ad., Santa Rita Mountains, May 17. Length, 6.90; extent, 10.70; "Iris dark brown; bill black, bi-ownish at base of lower mandible; legs very pale brown." 3. Turdus niigratorius propinquus Ridg-w. Western Robin. — Robins were met with only in or near the Chiricahua Mountains, where perhaps a dozen individuals were seen. Tiie one mentioned, below is typical of the slightly differentiated, but still apparently constant western race. 75, $ ad., Morse's Mill, March 20. Length, 10; extent, 16.40; wing, 5. 38; tail, 4.36. "Iris dark brown." 4. Oreoscoptes montanus ( TT^-ixwj-.) ^<7/r^/. Mountain Mockingbird. There is no mention of this species among the notes made during the late trip. 6313 (author's coll.), $ ud., San Pedro River, Dec. 25, 1880. Length, 8.90; extent, 12.40. 5. Mimus polyglottus {Linn.) Boic. Mockingbird. — "Generally distributed and common, but not as abundant as in Southern California" (Camp Lowell). "Common in the val- leys ; thev are found but a short distance up the foot-hills of the mountain ranges" (near Tombstone). 181, $ ad., near Tombstone, April 8. Lengtli, 9.80; extent. 13.10: wing, 4.30; tail, 5.03. * See this Bulletin, Vol. IV, p, 137. Brewster on a Collectiofi of Arizotia Birds. 69 550. (J ad.. Camp Lowell, June 20. Length, 10.20; extent, 14.10; wing, 4.40; tail, 5.20. '"Iris golden brown; bill and legs black." 6. Harporhynchus bendirei Cozies. Bendire's Thrasher. — Mr. Stephens' notes contain few references to this species, and judging from the limited number of specimens which he ob- tained, it must be less abundant in Arizona than either U. crissalls or H. curzHt'ost7'/s palmeri, a status which is in strict accordance with Mr. Henshaw's experience. About half of the skins collected during the past season are labeled either Camp Lowell or Tucson, while the remainder were taken at various points directly north or soutli of the latter place, and not over twenty-Hve miles distant in either direction. Outside the limits of this desert region the bird was not anywhere met with, although it was common at Phoenix in February, 1S80. A nest taken June 16 near Tucson, and identihed by the cap- ture of one of the parent birds, was placed in a "cat-claw mesquite " at a height of about five feet from the ground. It is a deeply-hollowed, smoothly-lined structure, composed of fine gi'asses and soft, hemp-like vegetable fibres, which are protected externally, in a manner common to the nests of nearly all Thrash- ers, by a bristling array of interlaced twigs and thorny sticks. The interior cup measures two inches in depth by three in width. The two eggs which it contained, like those described by Dr. Coues. are readily separable from eggs of H. pahneri by their grayish-white instead of dull green ground-color. They are faintly marked with reddish-brown and lavender, the spots being- confined chiefly to the larger ends, wiiere many of them assume the character of blotches or dashes of color. These eggs measure respectively r.o2X-79 inid .96X.79- The greatest number of eggs found in any of the several nests examined by Mr. Stephens was three, but two seemed to be the usual com- plement. Of the birds before me four are in first plumage, a stage which, if I am not mistaken, has never been previously examined. The first of these (No. 426, twenty-five miles south of Tucson, May 22) was unable to fly, and was teken from the nest. It differs from the adult in the following particulars : The upper parts, with nearly the same ground-color, have a tinge of reddish-brown which, on the rump, wing-coverts, and tips and outer webs of the primaries and secondaries, shades into brownish- chestnut. The sprouting rectrices are also tipped with the same color. The under parts generally are warm fulvous, which becomes nearly pure cinnamon on the sides and crissum, and along the median line pales to 70 Brewster 071 a Collcct/o//^ of Arizona Birds. tulvous-white. The breast and abdomen are everywhere thicklv but finely spotted with dull black, these markings becoming finer and fainter where they border on the anal region. The remaining three (Nos. 538, 5 ; 539, — ; and 540. $ : twenty-five miles north of Tucson, June 16) have the wings fully developed, and were all out of the nests when shot. They are apparently of about the same respective ages, but nevertheless exhibit a good deal of individual variation. No. 538 has the breast and sides finely spotted with dark brown, but a ceurtral space extending forward along the abdomen nearly to the breast is entirely unmarked. No. 535 has large, rounded, but indistinct blotches of light brown, thickly and evenly distributed over the entire under parts, excepting the throat, anal region and crissum. No. 539 has a cluster of faint, sagittate spots on the centre of the breast, but otherwise is entirely immaculate beneath. All three are essentially similar above, and differ from No. 426 in having the crown, nape, back, wing-coverts and outer webs of the secondaries pale reddish-brown, which, on the rump, is only tinged with chestnut. The primaries are dark brown edged with hoary; the rectrices, dull black with a terminal band of pale reddish-chestnut crossing both webs of all the feathers, but niost broadly those of the outer pairs. The adults making up the rest of this series vary a good deal with the season at which they were taken. A specimen killed in February is clear grayish-brown above, with the breast and abdomen thickly spotted ; and one or two others shot early in May are nearly as deeply colored and dis- tinctly marked. But most of the breeding birds are either entirely im- maculate beneath, or with only a few faint specks scattered here and there upon the abdomen. Several of the latter are nearly as pale as my speci- mens of H. lecontci, and equally devoid of any special markings. This condition apparently is due mainly to the wearing ofi" of the tips of the feathers, although the continued action of the sun's rays doubtless lends its aid, and still further bleaches the plumage. 453, $ ad. Camp Lowell, May 30. Length. 10.30: extent, 13.30. 4987, (author's coll.) $ ad., Tucson, Feb. 28. 1S80. Wing, 4.25; tail. 4. 84; culmen (chord), .99. 423. (J ad., twenty-five miles south of Tucson. May 21. Length. 10.40; extent 14.20; wing, 4.30; tail, 4.92; culmen, i.oO. 425, $ ad., same locality. May 22. Length, 10.30; extent, 13.10; wing, 4.01; tail. 4.96; culmen, 1.05. 455, (J ad.. Camp Lowell. May 30. Length, 10.18: extent, 13.30; wing, 4.20: tail, 4.96: culmen, 1.05. 537, J ad.. t\vent\-five miles north of Tucson. June 16. Length, 10. lo: extent, 12.70; wing, 4.14: tail, 4. 78: culmen, i.oi. 583, $ ad., Camp Lowell. June 24. Length, 10.50; extent. 13: wing, 3.99; tail. 4.95; culmen, 1.05. 454, $ ad., Camp Lowell, May 30. Length. 10.10: extent. 12.70: wing, 3.95; tail. 4.43; culmen, i. ^29, § ad., twenty-five miles north oi'i'ucson. [une 16. Length. 10.20; extent. 12.10; wing, 3.63; tail. 4.50: culmen, i.oi. "Iris yellow: legs dull bluish." Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Birds. 7 •'■ 557, $ ad.. Camp Lowell. June 21. Length. 10; extent. 13.20; wing, 4.10; tail, 4.60; culmen, .95. 426, $ juv. first plumage, twenty-five miles south of Tucson, May 22. Length, 6.10; extent, 9.40; "Iris light gray; bill dark brown, lighter below; .legs pale bluish." Taken from the nest; wings and tail only partly developed. 538, $ juv. first plumage, twenty-five miles north of Tucson, June 16. Length, 10.10; extent, 12.50; wing, 3.77 ; tail. 4.59; culmen, .96. 539, — juv. first plumage, same locality and date. Length, 9.80; extent, 12.70; wing, 3.92; tail, 4.67 ; culmen, .92. 540, $ juv. first plumage, same locality and date. Length, 10; extent, 12.80; wing, 3.90; tail, 4.55; cidmen. .95. 7. Harporhynchus curvirostris palmeri Ridg%v. Pal- mer's Thrasher. — During the present trip this Thrasher was met with at various points in the desert region about Tucson and Camp Lowell, where it was one of the most abundant and char- acteristic summer birds. Its favorite haunts were barren wastes covered with cactuses and stunted mesquites ; but, like many other desert species, it occasionally visited the more fertile valle3's to drink at the springs and water-holes. At these latter places spec- imens were obtained without much difficulty, but on all other occasions they were exceedingly shy and war}-. In February, iSSo, Mr. Stephens found Palmer's Thrasher at Phoenix, and he also took winter specimens along the San Pedro River.* Numerous nests were taken. The one before me was placed in a cholla at a height of about seven feet. It is composed out- wardly of large twigs, and is lined with bleached grasses. Althougli by no means a rude structure, it sutlers bv comparison with the nest of H. boidirei. its construction being simpler, and all the materials much coarser. The three eggs whicli it con- tained were onlv slightly incubated on June 14. Thev measure respectively I.05X-S3, i.09X-<*^-2, and 1.0SX-S3. They are pale greenish-blue, finely and very evenly spotted with brown and lavender. The number of eggs making up this set was not exceeded in an\- of the others examined by Mr. Stephens. The series of skins embraces no less than twenty-two examples, and very fully illustrates all the variations of age and season. Among the number are several in the hitherto undescribed first plumage. The * Its distribution in Arizona is apparently limited to a comparatively small area which, according to Mr. Stephens' experience, is bounded on the east by the valley of the San Pedro ; on the west by a point " a few miles east of the Hassayampa, on the desert between it and Salt River." 72 Brewster on a Collect ion of Arizona Birds. voungest of these (No. 4S0. $'i. Camp Lowell. June 2). although well feathered, has the wings and tail undeveloped, and was taken from the nest. Its entire upper plumage is rustj brown with a chestnut tinge which deepens on the rump and outer webs of the secondaries to decided chest- nut brown. The general coloring of the under parts is pale fulvous with a strong tinge of rustj chestnut across the breast, along the sides, and over the anal region and crissum. The breast is obsoletely spotted, but the plumage elsewhere, both above and below, is entirely immaculate. An older bird (No. 577, Camp Lowell, June 23) with the wings and tail fully grown out, differs in having the back (excepting a narrow anterior space bordering on the nape), with the exposed webs and coverts of the wings, and a broad tipping on the tail feathers, bright rusty; —while in a third of about the same age (No. 6i.|, $, Camp Lowell, June 28), the rusty color, although paler, is uniformly distributed over the entire upper surface save upon the wings and tail feathers, which are only edged and tipped with that color. This last example is so faintly marked beneath that the plumage at first sight appears immaculate ; but a closer inspection reveals a few spots here and there among the central feathers of the breast. A fourth (No. 487, Camp Lowell. June 3). although apparently no older, has the breast and sides spotted more sharply than in any of the adults, while the rusty tinge above is chiefly confined to the rump, posterior half of the back, and the outer webs of the wing feathers. Several of these young birds are so nearly similar to specimens of //. bendirei in corresponding stages that they can be separated only with great difficulty. The stouter bill and entirely black lower mandible of palmeri may, however, always be depended upon as distinguishing characters; and, morever, the pectoral spotting of bendirei \^ usually (but not invariably) finer and sharper, and the rusty tinge above paler and less extended. The adults present a good deal of variation, most of which is apparently seasonal. Winter specimens have the lower abdomen, with the anal region and crissum, rich rusty-fulvous, while the markings beneath are similar in character to those of true curvirostris. and the spots equally distinct, numerous and widely distributed. With the advance of the season, a!id the consequent wear and tear of the plumage, the spots gradually fade or disappear. Indeed some of the June specimens are absolutely immaculate beneath, although most of them, like Mr. Ridg- way's types, have a few faint markings on the abdomen. In this condition the general coloring is also paler and grayer, and the fulvous of the crissum and neighboring parts of"ten entirely wanting. But although the evidence of this series tends to demolish several of the characters upon which palmeri has been based, enough remain to separate it from its ally the true curvirostris of Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The best of these, perhaps, is to be found in the different marking of the tail-feathers. In curi'irosfris the three outer pairs are broadly tipped with pure w'hite which, on the inner web. extends twice as deep, basally. as on the outer ones, and has its boundaric- every- Bkewstek on a Colhiction of Arizona Birds. 73 where sharply defined ; in palmeri the outer rectrices are, at the most, barely tipped with pale brown, which either extends squarely across both webs, or fades insensibly into the darker color of the feather. The bill of pahneri, also, is usually longer and more curved than that of curvirosin's. 8. Harporhynchus lecontei Bonap. Leconte's Thrash- er.— The great rarity of Leconte's Thrasher, even in the heart of the desolate regions where alone it has so far been found, is still further attested by JSIr. Stephens' experience during the past season, for although he searched for it carefully in all suitable places between Camp Lowell and Riverside (California), he met with only two individuals. These occurred about fifteen miles west of Maricopa, Arizona, in a locality which the accom- panying notes describe as follows : ''Near the middle of ' Fortv- five-mile Desert,' between Maricopa Wells and Gila Bend. No chollas or other cactuses in the immediate neighborhood, but some giant cactuses about a mile away in the hills ; a few mesquites and much scattering low brush in the vicinitv ; nearest water twentv miles away." Dr. Cooper is said to have found the species '•rather common'' in the desert between Fort Mohave and the San Bernardino Mountains, California, but Mr. Stephens has thrice traversed this route without seeing a single specimen. In a recent number* of the American Naturalist, however. Mr. E. Holterhort', Jr., speaks of seeing the bird "on the Colorado desert, at a station called Flowing Wells." and gives an interesting description of a nest and set of eggs taken there. "The nest was placed in a palo verde tree, and was a very bulky afiair, measuring externally nine inches in depth and six in width ; the hollow of the nest was full}' three inches in depth. It was so awkwardly situated that much of the base of the nest had evidently been filled in to firmly support the structure. The two eggs were somewhat smaller than those of H. redivlviis. lighter in color, and marked all over with finer reddish spots, thicker at the larger end." I am inclined to consider the Maricopa specimens above referred to as adults, although this is not so clear in the case of the male, portions of whose plumage suggest that of a young bird. B-oth are in worn, ragged condition, but there is no indication of any moult, save upon the wings and tail, where many of the feathers have been replaced by new ones which are conspicuous ainong the others by their fresher coloring. * Vol. XV, No. 3, March, 1881. 74 Breavster oh a Collection of Arizona Birds. (^n a former occasion* I urged the specific distinctness of this Thrasher frorja H. redi'vivus, and to this conviction [ still hold, although a compar- ison of additional specimens of both species inclines me to believe with Dr. Coues that Leconte's Thrasher is, on the whole, more nearly related to redtvhuis than to any other United States forin. 6i6, $ ad., near Maricopa Wells, July 5. Length, lo.So; extent, 12.30; wing, 3.85; tarsus. 1.27; tail, 5.35; culmen (chord). 1.30; bill from nostrils, .91 ; width below posterior angle of nostrils, .23. 617, $ ad., same locality and date. Length, 10.60; extent. 12: wing, 3. 78; tarsus, 1.32; tail, 4.91 ; bill (chord of culmen), 1.32; bill from nos- tril, .94; width below posterior angle of nostril, .24. '"Iris reddish brown ; bill black; legs nearly black. Stomach contained a small species of katy- did and some ants." 9. Harporhynchus crissalis Henry. Crissal Thrasher. — Not uncommon near Tombstone. Tucson and Camp Lowell. Dr. Coues. comparing this species with Le Conte's, Pahner's, and Bendire's Thrashers, concludes : f "and we are led to infer that when the "topography ' of the other three species is fully determined, it will be found no less extensive. For there is noth- ing peculiar in the economy or requirements of any one of the four in comparison with the rest." This view, however, is hardly supported bv the testimony of observers who have had the best opportunities of studying these birds. The Crissal Thrasher, according to Captain Bendire, J "'appears to prefer damp locali- ties near water-courses, and confines itself principally to spots where the wild currant is abundant." Mr. Henshaw .says : "Ac- cording to my experience, it is not a bird of the plains, but inhabits bv preference the rough sides of rockv canons or the hill-sides covered with broken debris, interspersed with straggling bu.shes." Mr. Stephens' evidence is not less explicit. He found the Crissal Thrasher in copses in valleys, and along streams. It was espec- ialh fond of well-shaded imdergrow th. and spent much of its time on the ground, searching for food luider the bushes. It never occiu'red among cactuses, and the only place where he saw it actually associating with Bendire's and Palmer's Thrashers, was at Camp Lowell, where the latter species, with other desert birds, came to drink at a water-hole and thus occa- sionalh' mingled with the Crissal Thrashers which inliabited the neighboring thickets. The contrast which these traits allbrd * This Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. 67. t Birds of the Colorado Valley, p. 74. X Birds of the Colorado \'alley, p. 75. Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Birds. 7S when compared with the ones characterizing the other tliree spe- cies named by Dr. Coues, is sufficiently apparent.* A nest received from Mr. Stephens is precisely similar to those found by Captain Bendire. The three eggs which it contained measure respectively, I.I4X-76. i.i4X-75i and i.oSX-77. Like all the specimens which have been previously reported the}- are entirely unspotted, and both in size and color closelv resemble eggs of the common Robin. yuv.. first plumage ($, No. 546, Camp Lowell. June 20). Above dull reddish-brown. Rump and a broad tipping on the tail, brownish-chestnut. Under parts nearly uniform, brownish-fulvous. Crissum chestnut, of nearly the same shade as in the adult. Maxillary stripes dusky brown. No trace of spots or other dark markings either above or beneath. Five other young birds in the series are essentially similar and call for no special comment. I cannot find any description of the first plumage of either H. rediviviis or H. lecontei, but with the exception of these, H. crissalis is the only North American species in the sub-familv Mimi- nce whose young are entirely unmarked beneath. It is interesting to note that with respect to the color of the upper parts, especially that of the rump, they resemble the young of both H. bendirei and H. palmeri. The individual variation presented by the adults before me is chiefly confined to the relative length and curvature of the bill, the general col- oring of all being nearly uniform, although the breeding birds are slightly paler than those taken early in the season. 166, $ ad., near Tombstone. April 5. Length, 12.10; extent. 12.30; " Iris light brown. .Stomach contained insects and a small lizard." 251. $ ad.. Tucson, April 21. Length. 12.60; extent. 12.60; wing, 4. 1 1 ; tail. 6.25; chord of culmen. 1.56. "'Iris light gruv, — almost white." 27S. (J ad.. Tucson, April 25. Length. 12.10; extent, 12.50; wing. 3.S4; tail, 6.20: culmen. 1.47. 309, $ ad.. Tucson, April 30. Length, 11.70; extent. 12.70; wing. 4.05; tail, 5.85; culmen. 1.53. 434, (J ad., Tucson, Ma\' 25. Length, 11.20; extent. 12.30; wing, 4.02; tail. 5._S2 ; culmen, 1.43. 503, $ ad.. Tucson. June 8. Length. 11.40; extent. 12.10; wing, 3.85; tail, 5.85; culmen. 1.46. 578. $ ad.. Camp Lowell. June 23. Length, 11.60: extent, 12.60: wing, 4.05; tail. 5.75; culmen. 1.45. 437, (J juv., first plumage, Tucson, May 26. Length, 11.30; extent, 12.40; wing, 3.92; tail, 5.50; culmen, 1.18. * In a recent letter Mr. Stephens adds: — "From my own observations I should characterize the respective haunts of the Arizona Thrashers as follows : H. lecontei is exclusively a bird of the deserts. H. bendirei is a desert bird approaching the valleys. H. palvieri occurs along the edge of deserts, occasionally appearing in valleys. H. crissalis haunts vallevs and broad canons, seldom venturing into the deserts." 76 Brewster on a Collect ion of Arizo)/a Birds. 595, $ juv.. first plumage, Camp Lowell. June 1^. Length. 11.60; extent. 12.50; wing, 3.S4; tail, 6.18; culmen, 1.35. 596, (J juv., first plumage, Camp Lowell. June 25. Length, 11.80; extent, 12.60; wing, 3.86; tail, 6.12; culmen, 1.40. 436, 5 ad., Tucson, Ma>' 25. Length, 11.80; extent, 12.40; wing, 3.90; tail. 5.90; culmen. 1.55. Parent of No. 435. 435, $ juv.. first plumage, same locality and date. Length, 11-30; extent. 12.20; wing, 4.02; tail, 5.55; culmen, 1.20. 546, 5 juv., first plumage. Camp Lowell. June 20. Length, 11.60; extent, 12.40; wing. 4.95: tail, 6.02: culmen. 1.3S. 55.V ? juv.. first plumage, Camp Lowell, June 21. Length, 11.30; extent. 12.20; wing, 3.73; tail." 5.65 ; culmen. 1.42. 10. Cinclus mexicanus Sxvains. American Water Ouzel. — The following notes relate to the only specimen met v\ith : "• My attention was called to the song of some bird which came from the mountain brook running past camp. There was a steep, rocky wall on the fiuther side, and the notes echoing from it. and mingling with the purling of the water, sounded exquis- itely sweet. On looking for the author. I noticed some ripples rolling out from behind the willovys that fringed the nearer shore, and soon discoyered an Ouzel dabbling in the shallow water. My shot woinided the bird, but did not disable its wings, for it repeatedly diyed, using them as propelling agents when beneath the surface. The sun shining on the air-bubbles that clung to its plumage made it look like a ball of silyer flying through the water. On the surface it paddled along yer\' much in the manner of a Phalarope." 79, $ ad.. Morse's Mill, Chiricahua Mountains, March 20. Length, 7.90; extent, 12.10; wing, 3.85; tail. 2.50. "Iris hazel. The flesh was dark and tough with a fishy smell. The inside of the skin looked like that of a small Wader. Stomach contained insects." 11. Sialia mexicana ^Swa/V/^. Western Bluebird. — A single pair, taken in the Chiricahua Mountains in March, are accompanied by the note, ••abundant in all kinds of timber." 12. Sialia arctica Swains. Arctic Bluebird. — This species is noted as •' rare in the low \alleys" among the Chirica- hua Mountains. A small flock was also seen near Galeyyille on "grassy plains." where ••they flew from one weed-stalk to another." They were •■restless and rather shy." The single specimen oljtainetl was sliot on this latter occasion. 13. Myiadestes townsendi {A/nl.) Cahan. Tow.nsrxo's Solitaire. — Three specimens were obtained in the Chiricahua Brewster on a Collection, of Arizona Birds. 77 Mountains, where they occurred sparingly among pirions. ''They are rather tame, and have a habit of sitting perfectly still for sev- eral minutes at a time. Flight slow. Food insects." A fourth, taken Mav 13, in the Santa Rita .Mountains, completes the series. 14. Phainopepla nitens {Swain.) ScL Black-crested Flycatcher. — The life history of this singular bird has been so fully given by Dr. Coues in " Birds of the Colorado Valley," that there is little chance of adding anything new. Most of the specimens obtained by Mr. Stephens are from Camp Lowell and Tucson, but he did not find it abundant at either of these points. He speaks of it as having " a sweet but not loud song," and remarks on its known fondness for mistletoe berries. " Iris red." 15. Polioptila cserulea {Linn.) ScL Blue-gray Gnat- catcher. — Eight specimens, representing the following localities : Chiricahua Mountains (two ^ , two 9 1 April 1-6) ; Tombstone ((J, April 5); Cienega Station (J', April 16): Tucson {$, April 20) ; vSanta Rita Mountains ( J* , May 20). 16. Polioptila igihxmbQB. Baird. Black-capped Gnat- catcher. — ■ This Gnatcatcher was observed at Tucson, Camp Lowell, and near Yuma, specimens being taken in all these lo- calities. A female shot at the first-named point on April 23 had evidently finished laying, but a nest found June 27 near Camp Lowell contained a perfectly fresh c^^^ while another taken at Yuma. July 15, had a single egg of its owner and one of the Dwarf Cowbird. These dates indicate that the species breeds at least twice during the season. The Yuma nest, although a delicate structure, will not compare with that of P. cc^riilea. It entirely lacks the exterior coating of lichens so effectively employed by the commoner bird, and in its general appearance closely resembles the Redstart's well-known domicile, being similarly felted of soft bark-strips and hemp-like vegetable fibres. It is lined with down from plants, a few feathers, and the hair of some small quadruped. Externally it measures 2.25 in width by 1.55 in depth; internally 1.45 by i. The c^^ is pale greenish-blue, coarsely and very evenly spotted with reddish-brovN-n. Its measurements are .53X-42. This nest was placed in a bunch of mistletoe, at a height of about eight feet from the groimd. It is accompanied by the male parent, who revealed its position by repeatedly entering the mistletoe. 78 Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Bii-ds. and showing other signs of anxiety respecting its contents. The position of the Camp Lowell nest is not mentioned. Juv., first plumage. $ (No. 619, Yuma, July 15). Crown pale cine- reous; rest of upper parts faded brown. The wings are uniform with the back, but all the primaries and secondaries have a broad white edging on their outer webs. The tail is dull black, with white areas on the outer rectrices corresponding in extent and purity with those of the adult. Be- neath, pale ashy white. A study of the large series of Gnatcatchers collected during the past season confirms the yiews which I lately advanced (this Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. loi) regarding the affinity of P. plutnbea and P. ''■melanura." and also affords additional evidence of the assumed specific distinctness of P. californica. The Yuma examples of P. plutnbea are quite as tvpical as those taken at Tucson and Camp Lowell, while seven specimens oi cali- fornica, collected at Riverside after Mr. Stephens' return to that place, still further attest the constancy' of most of the characters which I assigned to the latter bird. That relating to the brown edging of the secondaries will, however, have to be abandoned, for flumbea proves to be similarly characterized when in worn breeding dress; the supposed shorter tail of californica also is now shown to be an inconstant feature. All of the thi-ee voung males taken at Riverside have black lateral crown-stripes like those of immature flumbea. -67. (J ad., Tucson, April 23. Length, 4.60; extent, 5.80; wing, 1.85; tail, 2.I^; bill (from nostril), .25; tarsus, .67. "'Iris dark brown ;" lores ashy mixed with black; eyelids white. ^00, $ ad., Tucson, June 7. Length, 4.60; extent, 5. So; wing. 1.81; tail, 2.12; bill (from nostril), .25; tarsus. .65. Lores ashy mixed with black: upper eyelid white. :;64. $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 22. Length, 4.55; extent. 5. So; wing, 1. 84: tail. 2.19; bill (from nostril), .25: tarsus, .70. Lores black: both eyelids white. ;;67, $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 22. Length. 4.40; extent, 5.60; wing, 1.84; tail. 2.16; bill (from nostril), .26: tarsus. .70. Lores and super- ciliary line wiaite mixed with black. 581, $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 24. Length. 4.40: extent, 5.80; wing, 1.98: tail. 2.20; bill (from nostril), .28; tarsus, .70. Lores ashy. 618, $ ad., Yuma, July 15. Length, 4.40; extent, 5.80; wing, 1.90; tail, 2.1s: bill (from nostril), .26; tarsus, .68. Lores, with broad super- ciliary lines meeting across the forehead, white. 621, $ juv., first plumage, Yuma. July 16. Length. 4.40; extent, 5.60; wing, 1.76: tail, 2.13; bill (from nostril). .26: tarsus, .72. Sides of head ashy white; ill-defined, black, lateral crown-stripes partially concealed. 272, $ ad., Tucson, April 23. Length. 4.50; extent, 5.50; wing. 1.7S; tail, 2,21: bill (from nostril), .27; tarsus. .68. ''Had just finished laying." 4^8, $ ad.. Camp Lowell, May 31. Length, 4.50: extent, 5.50: wing, 1.86; tail, 2.13; bill (from nostril), .26; tarsus, 68. Brewster on a Collection oj Arizona Birds. 79 6oi. $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 27. Length, 4.60: extent, 5.50; wing, 1.74; tail, 2.1S; bill (from nostril), .27; tarsus, .70. '"Taken with the nest and one fresh egg." 619, 5 juv., first plumage, Yuma, July 15. Length, 4.40: extent, 5.60; wing, 1. 86; tail, 2.12; bill (from nostril), .26; tarsus, .70. 566, — juv., first plumage. Camp Lowell, June, 22. Length. 4.40; ex- tent, 5.60; wing, t.85; tail, 2.22; bill (from nostril), .27; tarsus, .68. For comparison I add measurements of the seven specimens of P. californica above mentioned. 656, (J juv., fall plumage, Riverside, Sept. 16. Length. 4.55; extent, 5.70; wing, 1.67; tail, 2.20; bill (from nostril;, .29; tarsus, .75. 658, $ juv., fall plumage, same locality and date. Length, 4.70; extent, 5.80; wing, 1. 89; tail. 2.21; bill (from nostril) .26; tarsus, .75. 688. $ juv., fall plumage. Riverside, Sept. 23. Length, 4.50; extent, 5.90; wing. 1.73; tail, 2. 11; bill (from nostril), 30: tarsus, .75. 657, 5 juv., fall plumage, Riverside, Sept. 16. Length, 4.60; extent, 5.80; wing. 1.85; tail, 2.14; bill (from nostril), .30; tarsus, .72. 686, $ juv., fall plumage. Riverside, Sept. 23. Length, 4.45 ; extent, 5.90; wing, 1.92; tail, 2.17; bill (from nostril) .30; tarsus. .75. 687, $ juv., fall plumage, same locality and date. Length. 4.50: extent, 5.80: wing, 1.85; tail, 2.20; bill (from nostril), .28; tarsus, .70. 655. $ juv., fall plumage, Riverside, Sept. 16. Length, 4.45 ; extent, 5.75; wing, 1. 86; tail, 2.15; bill (from nostril), .28; tarsus. .75. 17. Regulus calendula {Linn.) Licht. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. — "•Common among the Chiricahua Mountains, espec- ially in deciduous timber. I think a few summer and breed." The following specimens are identical with eastern ones : 28, $ ad.. Cave Creek. Chiricahua Mountains. March 8. Length. 4.60; extent, 6.50; wing, 2.32. 122, (J ad.. Morse's Mill. March 28. Length. 4.20: extent. 6.90; wing, 2.38. 18. Lophophanes inornatus ( Gaw^.) Cass. Plain Tit- mouse.— AJentioned in Air. Stepliens' notes as rare on the foot- hills of the Chiricahua Mountains, but no specimens are included in his collection. 19. Lophophanes woUweberi Bonap. Wollweber's Titmouse. — This species was abundant in the Chiricahua Moun- tains, where a fine series was collected. They were usually seen in flocks of six or eight, and often associated with other small birds. They were rarely met with excepting in the groves of "scrub oaks," but their food appeared to be wholly insects. A single pair taken in the Santa Rita Mountains in May are unaccompanied bv any special remarks. 20. Pai'us meridionalis Sd. Mexican Chickadee. — In a late number of the Bulletin (Vol. VI, p. 252) I briefly oO Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Iiirds. announced this important addition to the North American fauna. The series obtained by Mr. Stephens comprises nine specimens, all of which were taken near Morse's Mill. They occurred upon the sides or summits of the surrounding mountains, at elevations varying from seven to ten thousand feet, and were usually found in pairs, although they not unfrequently associated with other birds, among which are mentioned Psaltriparus plunibeus^ Lo- phophanes ivoliweberi, Sitta pvgtncea^ and Peticedramus oliva- ceus. Thev were for the most part silent, but occasionally uttered a "^chee-ivee-ivee^'' as well as notes reseinbling those of P. montanus. Previous writers have compared this species with P. atricapillus. but to me it seems nearer related to P. motita)ins. With the latter it agrees in certain peculiarities of size and proportions, while the general coloring and markings of the two are so similar that almost the only appreciable points of diiference are presented by the white forehead and head-stripes of montanus. These characters are, of course, enough to instantly sepa- rate the birds, but their importance is somewhat weakened by the fact that one of my specimens of inertdionalis (No. 124) possesses a head-stripe which, though ill-defined and considerably shorter, is nevertheless similar in appearance and position to that o^ tnonta?n/s. While it would be rash to argue any varietal affinity on the strength of this single specimen, the outcropping of such a w"ell-marked characteristic certainly shows a close relationship between the two species, unless indeed No. 124 be legarded as a hybrid. 65, J ad., Morse's Mill, March 18. Length, 5.20; extent, 8.50; wing, 2.74; tail, 2.60. " Iris dark brown. Stomach contained insects." 82, $ ad.. Morse's Mill, March 21. Length, 5.10; extent, 8.10; wing, 2.73 ; tail, 2.62. 83, S ^'^■' same locality and date. Length, 5.10; extent, 8.50; wing- 2.90; tail, 2.69. 99, $ ad., Morse's Mill, March 24. Length, 4.70; extent, 7.90; wing, 2.63 ; tail, 2.42. 103, $ ad., same locality and date. Length, 5.10; extent, 8.60; wing, 2.76; tail, 2.65. 104, $ ad., Morse's Mill, March 25. Length, 5.10; extent, 8.30; wing, 2.75; tail. 2.40. 105, $ ad., same locality and date. Length, 5.10; extent. 8.20; wing. 2.66; tail, 2.56. 124, $ ad., Morse's Mill, March 29. Length, 5.10; extent, 8.70; wing, 2.85; tail, 2.68. 125, $ ad., same locality and date. Length, 5; extent, 8.20. 31. Psaltriparus plumbeus i5?a/>,\ tail, 1.95. J^KEWSTER Oil a ColLctioii of Arizoia Birds. 85 -99' $ 'i<^'-r Tucson, April 2S. Length. 440; extent, 6.70. 326, $ ad., Tucson, May 4. Length, 4.30; extent, 7 ; wing, 2.20; tail, 1.93. 340, $ ad., Tucson, May 7. Length, 4.40; extent. 7 ; wing, 2.21 ; tail, 1.93. 410. $ ad., Santa Rita Mountains, May 19. Length, 4.10; extent, 6.90; wing, 2.22; tail. 1.S2. 516, $ ad., Tucson, June 10. Length. 4.30: extent, 7; wing. 2.12; tail. i.S.s. 524, $ juv., first plumage. Tucson, June 11. ••Taken from nest, which also contained a young Molothnis afer obsctirus." 197, $ ad., Cienega Station, April 15. Lengtli, 4.10; extent, 6.40; wing, 2.12; tail, 1.78. ''Iris dark brown; bill black above, bluish beneath; legs black." 206, $ ad., Cienega Station. ^Vpril 16. Length, 4.40; extent, 6.50: wing, 2.17 ; tail, 1.80. 20S, $ ad., Cienega .Station. April 16. Length, 4.20; extent, 6.60; wing, 2.09: tail, 1.S2. 217, 5 '^cl-> Cienega Station, April 17. Length, 4.30; extent, 6.70: wing, 2.21 ; tail, 1.84. 218. $ ad., Cienega Station. April 17. Length, 4.10; extent, 6.60; wing, 2.10; tail, 1.85. 22S, $ ad., Tucson, April 19. Length. 4.30: extent. 6.70; wing, 2.10; tail, 1. 85. 230, $ ad., Tucson. April 19. Length, 4.30: extent, 6.70; wing, 2.07; tail, 1.84. 256, $ ad., Tucson. April 21. Length. 4.20; extent, 6.60. 260. $ ad., Tucson. April 22. Length. 4.30: extent. 6.60; wing. 2.08; tail. 1.85. 261, 9 ad., Tucson, April 21. Length. 4.30; extent, 6.70; wing. 2.25; tail, 1.92. 279, $ ad.. Tucson. April 25. Length. 4.30; extent, 6.70: wing, 2.10; tail. 1.82. •• About to lay." 433, $ ad., Tucson, May 25. Length. 4.50; extent, 6.50. "With nest and three eggs ; set completed." 449, $ ad., Tucson, iNLiy 29. Length, 4.40; extent, 6.90; wing, 2.11 ; tail, 1.77. -'W^ith nest and three egg.s ; set completed." 439, $ juv., first plumage, Tucson, May 26. Nearly feathered, but unable to tly. ••Taken from a deserted nest of Ait n'pariis Jiaviceps.'" 471. $ juv., first plumage, Camp Lowell, June i. Length. 4.20; ex- tent, 6.60; wing. 2.10; tail. 1.71. Fully feathered. 32. Helminthophila celata lutescens Rldgzv. Western Oraxge-crowxed \Varf,li:r. — ^V few were seen late in April near Tncson. Although not perfectly typical of lutescens., both of the Orange-crowned Warblers obtained by Mr. Stephens are clearly referable to that race. They are not quite as yellow beneath as Nicasio (California) .specimens, but thej' come within a shade of it, and are brighter by. many shades than any of the same sex among m.\ ea-tern examples; while in the \ividness of the bo Lucas oh the Os Proniitiois, olive-green on the upper parts, they tlillv equal any ot" the California fe- males. The supposed difference in the tail markings of these races does not hold in the series before me, for a male from Nicasio has the edging on the inner webs of the rectrices quite as broad and pure as that of any of the Florida ones. The loss of this character, however, would be of little consequence, as the two forms could be readily separated by the wide dif- ference in their general coloring. Mr. Henshaw considers his Arizona specimens true cclata, and lutescei/s is now for the first time announced from that Territory. 290, 5 ad., Tucson, April 26. Length. 5; extent, 7.30: wing, 2.45; tail, 2.10. "Iris dark brown; bill blacky, lighter at base below; legs dark brown. Not common." 291, $ ad., same locality and date. Length. 4.70; extent, 7.10: wing, 2.37: tail, 2.09. Same remarks. ( To he co7if/>iHed.) NOTES ON THE OS PROAIINENS.* BY FREDERIC A, LUCAS. My attention was lirst directed to this bone by Dr. Shufeldt's article in this Bulletin for October, 1S81, and subsequently b}- Mr. Jeflries' paper in the number for January, 1SS3. With the view of ascertaining in what birds the os prominens is present, and what is its use, I have since examined quite an extensive series of birds. Lack of time has prevented as extended an examina- tion as could be wished for ; and as regards discovering any spec- ial use for this sesamoid, it must be confessed that the results of the investigation are not wholly satisfactory, being rather negative than positive in their character. But such as they are, they are submitted, in the hope that they may prove of service to some better skilled physiologist. Through a lack of good material Dr. Shufeldt failed to dis- cover the existence of the os prominens in any of the Owls, but it would seem to be specially characteristic of the Bubo)iid(r, since it is present in one particidar shape, and with a constant mode of articulation, in the following species of that family: Ketupa ccylonensis^ K. javanensis^ Btibo ignavus^ B. be7iga1- * The name "os prominens," proposed by Dr. Shufeldt, has been adopted by me because it seems eminently proper that so large a sesamoid, frequently equalling the patella in size, should receive a distinctive appellation. Lucas oh the Os Promhieiis. 8' ensis, B. virgitiiajiiis^ Scofs brasilianjis, S. asio^ Nyctca scan- diaca, JVitiox albigularc^ Asio otiis, Syrnhnn nebulosuin^ and 6\ urale/ise. It is not ^^resent in Sirix Jlammea or 6". perlata^ and should it prove to be present in other genera of the Buboni- dcc than those noted above, it may serve as an additional, though trivial, point of distinction between the families Btcbonidcv and Stris-idcc. Left wing of Bidyo viigiiiiaiuis, from below (reduced one third), radius; ii, ulna; c, cuneiform; s, scapho-lunar ; osp, osprominens; epa, tendon of extensor patagii longus. The accompanying cut, drawn from a fresh specimen of B . virgniiaiius^ explains the form and position of the os prominens. It will be noticed that it is situated on the anterior surface of the distal end of the radius, and runs almost parallel with that bone, instead of standing erect as in the Balconidce. The radial portion of the tensor patagii longus terminates in the os promi- nens, and is not continued to the first metacarpal. Apart from the- Owls above noted, this bone has been found in Otogyps calviis^ Hctcrospizias meridioualis^ Buteo melano- IciicHS^ B. peiiiisylvaiiicus^ B. lineatus^ Circus gould/\ Ast?i- rina pucheratn^ and Haliivctiis albicilla. A. Os prominens of Otogyps calviis, full size. B. " " " Bubo virginianiis, seen from above to show articulation with radius, full size. oo Lucas o« ///t- Os P)-o))iiiic)is. It is absent in Polyborns t/iarus, ^lilvago chunango. and the following peculiar forms which were examined to see if thev would throw any light upon the subject : Nyctibius, Strigops. jVestor^ Megapodiiis^ Ocvdromus^ and Atagen. Neither was an}' trace of it to be found in two specimens of Pandioii haliiv- etiisixoxw N. Africa and the Duke of York group. Dr. Shufeldt's theory that the os prominens is for the purpose of extending the wing area struck me, as it did Mr. Jeffries, as being untena- ble, from the fact that the increase of surface thus obtained was too slight to be of any value.* The first proposition of Mr. Jefiries' summary is that the bone serves to keep the friction of the extensor patagii longus from the carpus. Were this the case it ought surely to be present in the Albatross and Gull, birds which in a fresh breeze are continually flexing and extending their wings according to the direction of their flight and the var3-ihg force of the wind. But in both these birds the OS prominens is absent, f and moreover, as we see in the Owls, it may be so situated as not to prevent the friction of the ulnar por- tion of the tendon. Second, that it serves onlv to a limited extent to increase the power of the extensor patagii longus to abduct the thumb, is shown by the tact that in the majority of cases that ten- don is inserted in the first metacarpal. The exceptions to this, so far observed by me. are in Otogyps calvus and Haliccetits al- bicilla, where there is a strong tendon running from the os prom- inens to the first phalanx of the thumb. The third proposition has already been considered, and the fourth (that it protects the carpus) must be rejected, both for the reason given by "Sir. Jctlrics. and because as we see it in Owls it frequentlv does not lie over the carpus at all. Only in Otogyps calvris does the os prominens seem to exist as a simple sesamoid, and in that l^rd it is imbedded in the tendon of the extensor patagii longus. and glides over the scapho-hmar. Were I to venture a suggestion it would be that *The English Sparrow, which is but an indifferent flyer, can be deprived of one-half of the secondaries and one-fourth of the primaries of both wings, in the long axis of the pinion, without apparently impairing its flight. See Pettigrew. 1 1 find that this statement must be modified in regard to Gulls, if not retracted alto- gether, for since this paper was written I have found the os prominens in Larus glaucus and /,. domhiicanus. It is present as a small, elongated, trihedral prism, imbedded in the tendon of the extensor patagii longus, and playing over the flattened surface of the scapho-lunar. Hav on Birds nf the Lozver Mississippi. 8f) by its servinj4- as a point of attachment for the tensor patagii h)n- gus, that tendon is freed from all dnties save that of "puckering up" the anterior margin of the wing ; but, as stated i)efore. that theory is by no means entirely satisfactory to me. A LIST OF BIRDS FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, OBSERVED DURING THE SUMMER OF iSSi, WITH BRIEF NOTES. BY (). P. HAY. During the summer of iMSi the writer and two companions spent a little more than a month in the South, especially in the State of Mississippi, travelling and studying its zoology. Our primary object was to collect fresh-water fishes ; and to this yve devoted the greater part of our time and efforts. Incidentally, however, we collected and made obsei-\'ations on other animals. Hence this list of birds and the few notes concerning them. I did not intend to publish this list until I had opportunity to make additions to it ; but the recent publication by Dr. F. W. Langdon of his field-notes on birds observed by him. early in the spring, at a point a little farther south, has made it seem proper that I should contribute mv little toward making known the or- nithology of this region. Ouj' observations and collections were made of course under difficulties, and no attempt was made to secure nests and eggs, or, in any special manner, notes on the breeding habits of birds. Still, on account of the season when our trip was made, this list may be of some value as indicating that the birds observed are summer residents. The number of species recorded is not large, but I include only birds that I am reasonably sure were seen. In nearly all cases the bii'ds were shot, and identified by means of descriptions. Others were seen, but as they were not identified with certainty, they are not included in the list. The birds noted as found at Memphis, Tenn., were really seen in Arkansas just across the river from Memphis. Most of our other notes yvere obtained at Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. 90 Hay 071 Birds of the Lower Mississippi. The nomenclature adopted is that of Mr. Robert Ridgwa} . issued b\ the U. S. National Museum. 18S1. 1. ' Hylocichla miistelina (Gtnel.) Bai'rd. Wood Thrush. — This species was seen and specimens were shot at Memphis and at Vicksburg. Its song was frequently heard; and it would appear to be quite common. 2. Mimus polyglottus (Z,/««.) Boie. Mockingbird. — Very abun- dant at all points visited. At the time we were at Vicksburg, July i. the young had no.t.yet left the nest, as negro bojs were offering them captured in their nests for sale. In the "History of N. A. Birds" Dr. Brewer has stated that the Mockingbird in the South nests early in April, and that the young birds appear a month later. If this is the case these birds must remain in the nest six weeks or two months. I was informed that u law in Mississippi prohibits the keeping of these birds in confinement. 3. Galeoscoptes carolinensis {Li)i)i.) Cuban. Catbird. — This bird was quite common at Memphis. I did not note it at any point farther south. 4. Harporhynchus ruf us (/,/;/ ;/.) Caban. Brown Thrush. — A sin- gle specimen seen at Jackson. 5. Sialia sialis {Linn.) Haldem. Bluebird. — Seen in considerable numbers at Memphis, Vicksburg, and Jackson. 6. Lophophanes bicolor {Ltn?i.) Bonap. Tufted Titmouse. — Spec- imens of this species were obtained at Memphis and at Jackson. It may be worth noting here that it occurs as tar north as Indianapolis, and I ha\e seen it here during the present winter. 7. Parus carolinensis. ^/<^r/. Carolina Chickadee. — Seen only at Memphis. 8. Thryothorus ludovicianus {Gm.) Bona p. Carolina Wren. — We observed this active bird at Memphis and at Jackson, at both of which places it appeared to be very abundant. 9. Mniotilta varia {Linn.) Vi'eill. Black-and-white Creeper. — Observed at Memphis and Jackson. It will probably be found to breed at both these points. 10. Protonotaria citiea. {Bodd.) Bai'rd. Prothonotary Warbler. — Specimens of this species were shot at Memphis, and others were seen at Jackson. 11. Parula americana {Li>i>i.) Bp. Blue Yellow-backed War- bler.— This was found to be one of the most common of the smaller birds at Memphis, Vicksburg, and Jackson. We were constantly shooting them while hunting for other species. In the "History of N. A. Birds" it is said to be nowhere abundant; but a da\'s liunt in the Mississippi lowlands would. I think, convince any otnithologist that this is an error. 1 have no doubt whatever that it breeds all through the South, although we found no nests. Audubon was probably correct in saying that it breeds in Lou- isiana, however much he ma\- have erred in regard to the strnctuie of the nest. Hay 0)1 Birds of the Loxver Mississippi. <^\ 12. Oporornis formosa {U'ils.) Baird. Kentucky Warbler. — This sprightly little bird was observed, and specimens were handled, at both Vicksburg and Jackson. 13. Geothlypis trichas {Lin>i.)Caba>i. Maryland Yellow-throat. — A specimen was shot at Memphis; others were seen. 14. Myiodioctes mitratus (G;«e/. ) ^«£f. Hooded Warbler. — Spec- imens, male and female, of this bird were obtained at Jackson. It appeared to be moderately common. 15. Setophaga ruticilla {Lintt.) Szvazns. American Redstart. — During our stay at Hopefind, Ark., opposite Memphis, a number of spec- imens of the Redstart were seen. Afterwards, while at Jackson, about July 10, a male and a female were killed. Their presence so far south at this season, and in such numbers, would indicate that they breed here, Up to this time I am not aware that it is known to breed south of the Po- tomac River and Illinois. The finding of the nest and eggs in Mississippi may be expected. 16. Vireosylvia olivacea {Li>tn.) Bo?iap. Red-eyed Vireo. — Very abundant at all the stations visited. Its clear, musical notes could be heard everywhere in the deep forests. A specimen was shot at Vicksburg. which had apparently just become fledged. Memphis. Vicksburg, Jackson. 17. Vireo noveboracensis (G/«(^/.) Bonaf. White-eyed Vireo. — Specimens of this Vireo were obtained at Memphis and at Jackson. 18. Lanius ludovicianus, Linn. Loggerhead Shrike. — A specimen of Shrike was seen at Jackson ; but, as it was not shot, I am unable to say wiiether it belongs to this variety or to exciibttoroidcs. 19. Progne subis (/-/V/;/.) Baird. Purple Martin. — Common about Vicksburg. 2c. Hirundo erythrogastra, Bodd. Barn Swallow. — This species was observed to be quite common about Jackson together with the ne.\t. 21. Tachycineta bicolor {Vieill.) Cuban. White-bellied Swal- low.— -Seen flying about the outskirts of Jackson. 22. Cotile riparia {Linn.) Boie. Bank Swallow. — Seen at various points along the Mississippi River near Memphis. 23. Pyranga aestiva {Linn.) Vieill. Summer Redbird. — A male of this species was shot at Memphis, another at Vicksburg, and a male and a female at Jackson. It is apparently a very common bird. 24. Spizella pusilla {Wils.) Bonap. Field Sparrow. — A single specimen of this species was shot at Jackson. Its occurrence there at that season was hardly to be expected. This individual may have been left behind in its winter quarters by its migrating comrades; or it may be that the species will be found to breed even as far south as Jackson. 25. Cardinally virgjnianus {Briss.) Bonap. Cardinal Grosbeak. — One of the- most conspicuous birds at every point visited. 26. Passerina cyanea (Linn.) Gray. — Indigo Bunting. — The Indigo Bird was observed at Memphis, and again at Jackson. 92 Hay ou Birds of tJie Lower M/s's/ss//>/>/. 27. Passerina ciris {^Liiiu.) Gray. Painted Bunting. — This beau- tiful bird was seen at the crossing of tlie Vicksburg and Meridian R. R. o\'er the big Black River, and again at Jackson. Females were shot at both places, but the males eluded capture. They seem to be quite common. 2S. Spiza americana ( Gw. ) Bo)iaf>. Black-throated Bunting.— Seen in the lowlands along the river in Louisiana opposite Vicksburg. J9. Agelaeus phoeniceus {Linn.) Vieill. Red-wing Blackbird. — Very abundant in the swamps in the vicinity of Vicksburg. 30. Sturnella magna {Linn.) Sxvains.. Meadow Lark. — Not many were seen. One specimen at Vicksburg. and another along the railway while en route to Jackson. 31. Icterus spuriiis (Linn.) Bonap. Orchard Oriole. — Many of these were observed, and some shot, in Louisiana opposite Vicksburg. 32. Icterus galbula (Linn.) Cones. Baltimore Oriole. — Qj^iite common at Memphis and at Vicksburg. 33. Quiscalus purpureus {Bartr.) I^icht. Purple Grackle. — Com- mon at Memphis and at Vicksburg. 34. Corvus frugivorus, Bartr. Common Crow. — Seen at Memphis, Vicksburg, and at several intermediate points along the river. 35. Cyanocitta cristata {Linn.) Sfrickl. Blue Jay. — A common bird at Memphis and Vicksburg. 36. Tyrannus carolinensis {Linn.) Tmnn. Kingbird. — A very common bird at Memphis and Vicksburg. 37. Myiarchus crinitus {Linn.) Caban. Great Crested Fly- catcher.— Seen at all points visited. Apparently more common than at the North. 38. Contopus virens {Linn.) Caban. Wood Pewee. — This bird was found to be quite common at Memphis and at Jackson. 39. Empidonax acadicus {Gmcl.) Baird. Acadian Flycatcher. — A specimen was shot at Jackson. 40. Trochilus colubris, Linn. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — h. single specimen was shot at Vicksburg. 41. Chaetura pelasgica {Linn.) Baird. Chimney Swift. — Seen flying about at Jackson. 42. Chordeiles popetue {Vieill.) Baird. Night Hawk. — ^Observed at Jackson. 43. Campephilus principalis (Linn.) Gray. Ivory-billed Wood- pecker.— No specimens of this species were seen, but their existence in the denser and less frequented forests in the neighborhood of Vicksburg and at other points, was confirmed by hunters and trappers. It is possible that the bird referred to here is the Logcock {Hylotomus pileatus), but as special mention was made by my informant, a professional hunter, of the white bill, I think the Ivory-billed Woodpecker must have been seen. Doubtless the other bird also occurs. 44. Picus pubescens. Linn. Downy Woodpecker. — A single indi- vidual of this species was obtained at Vicksburg. Ha^' o)i Birds of tJie Lo-joer Mississippi. 93 45. Melanerpes erythrocephalus {Linn.) S-v. Red-headed Wood- pecker.— This Woodpecker is apparently not so common as at the North, but it was observed at Memphis, Vicksburg. and Jackson. 46. Colaptes auratus {Linn.) Sxv. Yellow-shafted Flicker. — A not uncommon bird about Vicksburg. 47. Ceryle alcyon (Z/;/;/.) Boie. Belted Kingflsher. — Qiiite com- mon. Seen at Metnphis and Vicksburg and intermediate points along the river. 48. Coccyzus americanus {Linn.) Bonap. Yellow-billed Cuc- koo.— Apparently common. A specimen was secured at Vicksburg. 49. Coiiurus carolinensis (Linn.^ Kuhl. Carolina Parakeet. — None were seen by ourselves. Inquiry concerning this rapidly disap- pearing species was made of various persons, and especially of hunters. It is still occasionally seen; but, for the most part, it maintains itself in the dense cane-brakes and forests, away from contact with man. I heard of its having been seen recently along the Mississippi River, about half way down the state of Mississippi ; also that it had been seen in south- eastern Arkansas. A gentleman in Jackson stated that he had, within a year or two, seen a flock of Parakeets pass over that city. These items, together with the information obtained by Dr. F. W. Langdon, communi- cated in his recent paper, would indicate that this bird has not vet disap- peared from the Mississippi Valley. .^o. Scops asio {Linn.) Bonap. Little Screech Owl. — A single individual of this species, in the shabbiest of plumage, was shot along the Big Black River between Vicksburg and Jackson. 51. Buteo lineatus (G;«.) 5^n/-(f. Red-shouldered Hawk. — A speci- men of this hawk was shot and brought to me by a hunter at Jackson. 5 J. Cathartes aura {I^inn.) Illig. Turkey Buzzard. —A common bird everywhere. Seen in great numbers at Jackson in company with the next. 53. Catharista atrata {Wih.) Less. Carrion Crow. — Not ob- served at any place but Jackson, although doubtless common everywhere. Readily distinguished from the Turkey Buzzard by its smaller size and its manner of flight. 54. Zenaidura carolinensis {Linn.) Bonap. Mourning Dove. — Common everywhere. Memphis, Vicksburg, Jackson. 55. Meleagris gallopavo americana {Bartr.) Coues. Wild Tur- key.— None were seen, but hunters stated that they were quite abundant, even in the immediate vicinity of the city of Jackson. In the spring of 1S80 I saw a fine gobbler that had been shot by a party of hunters in the pine woods of Kemper County, near the eastern border of the State. 56. Ortyx virginiana {Li»7i.) Bonap. Bob White. — The call notes of these birds were frequently heard as we passed down the river. At Vicksburg they appeared to be abundant in the bottom lands. We were extremely sorry that we could procure none of their skins. 57. Ardea herodias Linn. Great Blue Heron. — Several of these birds were seen flying about in the swamps near Vicksburg. 94 Brewster on So?{thern Birds. 58. Herodias alba egretta ( G';;;^/. ) /?/V/^:t'. American Egret. — A number of this snow-white species were observed in the swamps across the "lake" from Vicksburg. One was shot, and was found to have the long dorsal train of plumes. 56. Oxyechus vociferus {Linn.) Reich. Killdeer.— Observed only at Vicksburg. Will probablv be found to breed here. 60. Philohela minor {Gmcl.) Gray. Americ.\n Woodcock. — One specimen was shot at Vicksburg. 61. Sterna antillarum {Less.) Coucs. Least Tern. — This beau- tiful little Tern was very abundant on a sandy point across the ■•lake," or old bend of the river, opposite Vicksburg. We were told that these birds lay their eggs on the bare sand, and that these eggs hatch in an extraor- dinarilv short time. IMPRESSIONS OF SOME SOUTHERN BIRDS. BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. Looking back on my first winter in the South I can recall no pleasanter experience than that of a stay of some four weeks at St. IMary's, a town situated on the very border line of Southern Georgia. This place was then scarcely known to Northerners, although the crowded Florida steamers, on their way across Cumberland Sound, passed within sight of it and occasionally even touched at its wharf for some chance freight or a supply of fuel. But the village still retained a primitive quiet and sim- plicity that was all the more restful from its contrast with the bustling world outside. Now there are rumors of a railroad and daily trains from Savannah, with all the accompanying dese- crations. It is a pity that the march of modern improvements cannot spare a few such peaceful spots, but the *•• levelling process " seems universal and inevitable. A Northerner passing his first spring in the South \\\\\ miss the marked distinction between the seasons upon \\ hich he has been accustomed to rely. The vegetation does indeed take a partial rest during the w inter months, but it is checked rather than suppressed, and the reign of sumnier begins without that interval of preparation which we call spring. Most of the trees BiiEWSTEii on So7ithcr)i Birds. 95 are evergreen, but some of them, curiously enough, assume bright autumn tints and cast their leaves in April. This at least is true of the live-oaks and magnolias : during my stay at St. Mar3''s one of the latter, a remarkably fine tree which I often passed in my daily walks, was at one time nearl}- denuded, while the ground beneath was strewn with scarlet and orange- tinted. leaves. By the middle of April the fields and forests wore that mature appearance which we associate with August and early Sep- tember. At noonday cicadas shrilled in the sultry woods, and crickets chirped all night long in tlie shrubl)ery about the house. Yet few birds had begun to nest, and many of the northern ones still lingered. I saw Yellow-rumped Warblers, Blue Yellow- backed Warblers and Cedar Birds nearly to the end of April, and a White-throated Sparrow as late as May 2. Many of the Blue Yellow-backed Warblers remained to breed, or rather ivere breeding., for long before this (on April 9) I had found a nearly finished nest. The local birds, however, did not mingle with the strangers, the former being found in pairs, and only where the trees were hung with Spanish moss ; Vt^hile the latter oc- curred in all kinds of timber, and in flocks made up largely of Redstarts, Kinglets, Black-poll W^arblers and other northern species. The same was true of the Catbirds, Brown Thrushes, Pine Warblers, Towhees and several others. It was especially marked in the case of the Towhees, for the resident individuals belonged to a difiei'ent and readily recognizable race. One needed but to pass the boundaries of St. Mary's to be fairl}' in the country, for the village had not then overflowed its limits, and the few outlying plantations were scarcely less wild and unkempt than the woods which surrounded them. One of my favorite haunts was the "Bay-gall" (I could never learn the origin of this name), a tract of swampy forest less than a quarter of a mile distant from the house at which we were staying. This place was sure to be alive with birds, and I rarely entered it without making some pleasing discovery. My first visit was on April 6, the day after our arrival. As I approached the woods a Red-bellied Woodpecker started from a solitary tree within a few feet of my head, and alighting at the base of one near by scr;;mbled hurriedly up, dislodging the scales of loose bark in his ascent. He was immediatelv joined by his mate and 96 Brewster on Southern Birds. the two began a game of hide-and-seek around the trunk and among the branches, uttering a rolling ~Jcor r' rroo ver}- like that of a Flicker. . Forcing my way through the bramhlv outskirts. I entered the swamp and paused a moment to look around. Grand old water- oaks and sweet-gums thickly hung with Spanish moss cast a dense shade over the ground beneath, and the few sunbeams that struggled through flickered in the gloom like dying torches. There was little undergrowtli, and the eye could penetrate far in every direction. In the branches above Blue Yellow-backed Warblers were singing incessantly, and occasionally the note of a Great-crested Flycatcher echoed sharply among the trees. There were other sounds ; the rolling tapping of Woodpeckers, the shrill cry of the Blue Jay ; and, from the clearing outside, pleasantly softened by distance, the songs of Mockingbirds and Cardinal Grosbeaks. Passing deeper into the forest I came to an opening where the morning sun lay warm on a thicket of bushes that surrounded a shallow pool. Here I found an interesting little company of tired migrants resting after the fatigues of their last night's jour- ney and preparing for that still before them. There were six or eight Hooded Warblers, all males in full spring livery, a num- ber of Worm-eating Warblers, a female Frothonotary Warbler, and several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Redstarts. All were busily engaged in catching insects, but occasionally one of them would pause to sing a few notes in a listless undertone. The Frothonotary was the first that I had ever met with, and it was the only one that I saw at St. Mary's. The Hooded and Worm- eating Warblers were common for a week or more afterwards, when all departed for some more noithern breeding-ground. During subsequent visits to the "Bay-gall" I met many inter- esting birds, several of which were new to me. Occasionally I would startle a Chuck-will's-widow from its noonday slumbers on some mossy knoll, and if a chance shot through the leaves succeeded in stopping its erratic, bat-like flight, there was the pleasure of smoothing its soft plumage and admiring the rich brown coloring before consigning the bird to the paper wrapper that formed its temporary tomb. I believe I never shot one \\ ith- out indulging myself in this way. There is much to be learned, too, from the examination of a freshly-killed bird. P^or instance. Brewster on Southern Birds. 97 I had never known tlie wonderful beauty of this Goat-sucker's eye until I held the bird in my hand, and the size of its mouth would hardly be suspected from the examination of a dried skin. On April 17 the Acadian Flycatchers arrived. I was first made aware of their presence by their emphatic queef eep which so closely resembled that of Traill's Flycatcher that I immedi- ately suspected the identity of the singers, although it was some time before I could get a sight at one. They had another note also which was much like the whistling of wings. I afterwards satisfied myself that this sound was a vocal one. I never left the '"Bay-gall" without reluctance in the days when I was perhaps the only invader of its secret recesses ; and now, in recalling it, the feeling is scarcely less strong. But the country about St. Mary's held other attractions which must not be neg- lected. The open space surrounding the town was bordered on the north by a pine forest that stretched an indefinite number of miles into the interior, and my walks often tended in this direc- tion. Following some grass-grown road that wandered aimlessly among the trees, I often paused to watch the gambols of the Brown-headed Nuthatches which fairly swarmed in these woods. They are exceedingly social little birds, and it was no uncommon thing, even in the middle of their breeding season, to see five or six rollicking together. In their motions they closelv resemble Sitta canadensis, and they have the same habit of exploring the ends of the pine branches and hanging head downward, like Titmice, among the tufts of pine needles. But they are decidedly more active, and their notes are shriller, more varied and alto- gether unlike those of either the Red or White-bellied species. VVkick-xvhick-xv/iee'c'e' ivhick-wkicker-w/iicker is the usual ut- terance, but when several come together their shrill excited piping altogether baftles description. These little companies were bv no means wholly composed of Nuthatches, but usually included a more or less numerous escort of Pine Warblers, Bluebirds, Titmice and Woodpeckers. As the motley troop rambled through tile woods, its members were continually chasing one another from tree to tree, chirping, calling and singing as their various moods dictated. I noticed that the Bluebirds usually led the van, while the Woodpeckers invariably brought up the rear. Unlike the Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy and Golden-winged species, whicli inhabited all sorts of timber, the Red-cockaded 9<^ Brkavsteh 0)1 Southern Birds. Woodpecker was exclusivel}- a bird of the pines. It- was not common about St. Mary's and I had difficulty in s^etting as many specimens as Iwanted. Its notes to my ear abiiost exactly resem- l)led those of Sitta pitsilla. On the ist of Mav I started a female from her nesting-hole, which was about thirty feet above the ground in a large and apparently perfectly sound pine. I was unable to climb the tree but the liird acted as if her eggs had already been laid. The pine lands of the .South haye an open park-like character that is a continual surprise to one accustomed only to New Eng- land forests. The trees rarely stand in close proximity to one another, and they are often so widely scattered that the general eflect is that of an opening rather than a forest. Unless a hum- mock interrupts the view, the eye may sometimes roam for half- a-mile in ever}' direction over a perfectly level plain, interspersed with occasional trees whose tufted heads throw waving shadows upon the bright green beds of saw-palmetto that cover most of the ground beneath. Were it not for the half-wild cattle that range at yvill through the country, the palmetto would probabh' usurp every inch of ground ; but these creatures keep it within reasonable limits, and many spaces- of closely cropped grass and stunted blueberries intervene. About such places I used to find the Bachman's Finch, a retiring little bird which might easily be over- looked by one unacquainted with its habit of skulking among the heritage and lying concealed until nearly trodden on. But no one w ith the slightest ear for bird music can long remain in igno- rance of its presence after the breeding-season has set in, for the male possesses vocal powers of a very rare order. His song is a prolonged, leisurely chant composed of several distinct bars or sets of notes, with brief pauses between, as if the bird stopped to take breath. The final notes of each bar have sometimes a rising, sometimes a falling, inflection, and the tone is varied in the most subtle manner. Now it has a full bell-like ring that seems to fill the air around ; next it is soft and low and inexpressibly tender : now it is clear again, but so modulated that the sound seems to come from a great distance. The whole performance is very simple and I hardly know the secret of its charm. To be fully appreciated it should lie heard in the soft twilight of an April eyening, when the still woods are filletl with dusky shadows. At such times it has nio\ed me more deeply than I care to confess. Brewster on Soift/ier?/ Birds. 99 The male always sings from an elevated perch, usually a dead twig close to the trunk of a southern pine. He sits per- . fectly motionless and is unaccountabh' hard to see. I have often stood directly beneath one for several minutes, vainly straining mv eyes in the direction from whence the sound came, and perhaps finally discovered him within ten feet of my head in plain view. The ventriloquous character of many of his notes increases this difficulty. If disturbed in the midst of his song, he pitches to the ground beneath and at once seeks shelter in the grass. Another characteristic inhabitant of these grassy openings was the Meadow Lark. It was much tamer than our northern bird, and its notes had a wild, ringing inflection that harmonized well with the surroundings. In the thicker groves I often heard the voice of the Summer Tanager {Pyraitga cestiva^. His song is rich, flowing, and not unlike that of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, although some of its notes recall those of the Robin. The call-note used by both sexes is a pecidiar chuck'I-chuckl''7it. The bright colors of the male make him a conspicuous object among the branches of the southern pine which, at least in Georgia, is his favorite tree. The Yellow-throated Warbler also was sure to be met with in these walks. His song to my ear has a far-a-wa\ sound, even when the bird is near at hand. It is simple and monotonous, but nevertheless sweet and plaintive. This bird has all the habits of the Pine \\ arl^ler, with which it often associates. A totally dirterent phase of bird-life was presented when, as was often tlie case. I visited the plantations. The flelds themselves rarely oflered an\thing more attractive than Yellow-winged Sparrows. Grass Finches and, late in April, migratory troops of Bobolinks that settled among the last year's weeds for a moment before resuming their northward journey with rollicking snatches of song. But the fence corners and similar neglected places around the outskiits of the cultivated lands were filled with bushes over whicli trailed Cherokee roses, trumpet-vines and other luxuriant creepers. In these places I was sure to find Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Catbirds, Brown Thrushes. White-eyed Vireos and the brilliant little Painted Buntings. Next to the always self-assertive Mockingbird the White-eyed Vireo ^\•as perhaps the most conspicuous inhabitant of such thickets. Not that he was often seen, but at almost any time of lOO Brewster on Southern Birds. the da} one might hear his emphatic, jerkv little strain, coming from half-a-dozen points at once. I noticed that the note varied considerably from that which we hear in New England, and, moreover, scarceh- two of the southern birds sang exactly alike. Some individuals even seemxd to have a talent for mimicry. One that I remember imitated the note of the Loggerhead Shrike so closely that I was completely deceived. The nest of this bird is a wonderfully delicate and beautiful structure. One that I got at St. Mary's contained its complement of four eggs on April 26. I discovered it twelve days previouslv when the birds were busilv employed on the framework. The male took an equal part in this task and it was amusing to see him try to sing with his bill full of moss or bark. The Painted Buntings or Nonpareils, as they are universally called by the townsj^eople, arrived April 23 and through the re- mainder of the month were abmulant. I used to find them in flocks about the openings where thev spent much of their time on the ground. They were timid rather than shy, flying to the thick- ets upon the slightest alarm, but when once conscious of being pursued, it was difiicult to get a shot at one. The brilliant plumage of the adult male makes him a conspicuous object either on the ground or in green foliage, but it is no easv matter to see one among the flowers of the trumpet-vine where they often seek ref- uge, apparently fully conscious of the protection aflbrded by the clusters of scaidet blossoms. The young males during the first N'ear are colored precisely like the females. They sing, and for aught I know, breed, while in this condition. The song is a low, pleasing warble very un-Finch-like in character. I should com- pare it to that of the Canada Flycatcher, but the notes are less emphatic, though equally disconnected. The bird almost inva- riably sings in the depths of some thicket, and its voice ceases at the slightest noise. Both sexes have a sharp chirp of alarm which closely resembles that of the Indigo Finch. IMost of the Nonpareils left St. Mary's by May i, but a few pairs remained up to the time of my departure, when thev were apparently preparing to breed. Another familiar inhabitant of these thickets \\ as the Towhee Bunting. Two distinct races of this bird were to be met with during the same walk, but never, so for as my observation went, actually in compam . The Red-eved or northern foim. cry- throphtJialnnis j^roper. apparently occurred only as a winter Brewster on So7itJier72 Birds. lOl visitor, while var. alleni represented the resident or local race. The latter was chiefly a bird of the oak scrub, although it was also to be found in open j^ine woods where it haunted the beds of saw-palmetto. Its note diftered widely from that of erythro- p}ithal}}ius; the '•^cheivink'" was shorter and harsher, and in addition to this cry, both sexes occasionally uttered a sharp, clear whistle that sounded like a sportsman's call to his dog. I am not sure that I heard the song, or at least identified it. These Tow- hees were hard to obtain, for they were shy and retiring, rarely venturing far from their secure retreats. The irides of all the specimens that I examined were brownish-yellow or dull, opaque amber ; never white, as is said to be the case with examples from Southern Florida. It would be difficult to find a j^lantation in the South that did not have one or more pairs of Mockingbirds. About St. Mary's they were especially abundant, and nowhere more so than in the gardens of the village. Here they were half-domesticated, building their nests in the shrubbery that surrounded the houses, and hopping about, like Robins, upon the grass-plats and gi^av- elled walks. An orange tree directly in front of the windows of my room was appropriated by a remarkably fine singer. There is a noticeable difference in the performances of most males, but the voice of this bird possessed a compass and perfection of tone that I have never heard equalled. His repertoire included the notes of nearly all the birds of the surrounding region besides many of the characteristic village sounds, and most of the imita- tions were simply perfect. Moreover he was continually adding to his accomplishments. An interesting instance of this oc- curred one afternoon, when several of us were sitting on the veranda. A Greater Yellow-leg passing over the town was attracted by my answering whistle, and circled several times above the house reiterating his mellow call. The Mockingbird up to this time had been singing almost uninterruptedly, but at the sound of these strange notes he relapsed into silence and re- treated into the thickest foliage of his favorite tree ; after a while we heard him trying them in an undertone. The first note came pretty readily, but the falling inflection of the succeed- ing three troubled him. Whenever I ventured to prompt he would listen attentively, and at the next attempt show an evident improvement. Finally he abandoned the task, as we thought in I02 Brewstek 0)1 Southern Birds. despair, and at sunset that e\'ening for the lirst and only time during ni}' stay his voice was missing in the general chorus. But at daylight the next morning the garden rang with a perfect imitation of the Yellow-leg's whistle. He had mastered it during the night, and eyer after\vards it was his favorite part. The dis- comfiture of the rival males in the neighborhood was as amusing as it was unmistakable. Each in tin^n tried it. but not one of them succeeded. Another frequenter of the village shrubbery was the Orchard Oriole. His flute-like voice, which bears some resemblance to that of the Fox Sparrow, could be heard almost any time after April lo. Our garden offered especial attractions to these Orioles, for the hedge of wild olive trees that bordered it on two sides was overrun with Cherokee roses and trumpet-vines among which they found a congenial shelter. They were fond, too, of sipping the honey from the trumpet-flowers, and it was no un- common thing to see half-a-dozen collected about a single clus- ter. In this occupation they were almost invariably joined by numerous Hummingbirds ; — and such a group, with its setting of green leaves and scarlet and white blossoms, formed the prettiest picture imaginable. To our garden also came the Blue Jays : bold, familiar birds very different in bearing from the outcast that boys and would-be sportsmen pursue so relentlessly in the northern woods. Every- ^yhere at the South this |ay is as much an inhabitant of the cultivated grounds as of the forests, and if not actually encouraged, it is universally tolerated. In Jacksonville I have heard them screaming among the live-oaks that shade the busiest streets, and at St. Mary's they were scarcely less tame and confiding than the Mockingbirds. Tlie average Georgian is indifferent to the shooting of most of the birds that inhabit his- plantation ; but it is little short of a crime in his eyes to take the life of either a Turkey Buzzard or a Mockingbird. The killing of one of the for- mer is considered an offence against the State, which protects tliem on account of their services as scavengers. But the Mock- ing birds are treasured as personal property, and any interference with them is sure to l:>e promptly resented. The natural result of this sentiment is that both species are universally abundant and familiar. The Buzzards, especially, arc ubiquitous. At Brewster on Suit hem Birds. 1 03 all hours of the da}, in every kind of weather, they float over the cities, villages, plantations, pine woods, hummocks, cypress swamps, salt marshes and even the beaches of the Sea-islands. Go where you will, it is almost impossible to look upward without seeing the picturesque forms drifting about in the sky. Some are soaring almost beyond the reach of human vision. Others at a lower elevation cross and recross each other in interminable mazy lines ; while still others glide across the landscape passing just above the tops of the trees. Both species occurred at St. Mary's, but the Black Vulture was much the less common. It associated freelv with the Turkey Buzzards, among which it could be recognized at almost any distance by its differ- ent color, shape and manner of flying. The tail is so short as to be altogether out of proportion with the body and wings, while its square tip gives it the appearance of having been cut oft'. This bird's flight is heavy, awkward and generally straight for- ward, although it occasionally soars. The wings are flapped every few seconds in a hurried, nei'vous manner that seems to betoken a lack of power or confidence. The flight of the Turkey Buzzard, on the contrary, is a picture of repose in mo- tion. The bird rarely mcwes its wings, save to alter their inclination, and its dark form drifts through miles of space without the slightest perceptible eflbrt. The impression of entire freedom from exertion which its movements convey, is curiously in accord with the general enervating influence of southern life and its surroundings. Its impassive flight may per- haps be regarded as the most characteristic feature of a southern landscape, as it certainly is one of the most attractive. But the observer who would keep this impression untarnished \\\\\ be wise to refrain from looking too closely into the useftil side of the bird's character. The Buzzard's flight will not bear comparison however with that of the Swallow-tailed Kite. The latter is equally easy and graceful of wing, and. in addition, its movements are characterized by a certain dash and energy of purpose that one looks for in vain in the calm, emotionless flight of the Vulture. I hardly know a more attractive sight than that presented by one of these Kites playing about an opening in the woods. For a moment it floats motionless, as if suspended by an invisible wire ; the next, it glides close over the ground crossing and recrossing every yard 1 04 Chamberlain on Birds of New Br7ins-jcick. of space. The long, thin wings, firmly set, cleave the air like knife-blades and the forked tail, spread to its fullest, is inclined to one side or the other as the bird changes its swift course. When it turns, the snowy head and breast are contrasted against the green background and its steel blue back glances in the sun- light. Finally rising to a level with the tree-tops it is gone as it came, like a beautiful vision. But my space is exhausted, although many interesting birds remain to be mentioned. Perhaps at some future time I may take up the threads where this sketch leaves them. NOTES ON SOME OF THE RARER BIRDS OF SOUTHERN NEW BRUNSWICK. BV MONTAGUE CHAMBERLAIN. 1. Sialia sialis. Bluebird. — About the middle of March, 1877, Mr. Harold Gilbert saw one at Mount Pleasant, a suburb of St. John. Some time early in June, 1879, ^'^'^- J- W. Banks saw one at Milledgeville, with food in its mouth, apparently for its young. On April 26, 1S81, Mr. Henry Gilbert shot one at Rothesay, nine miles north of St. John. 2. Dendrceca pennsylvanica. Chestnut-sided Warbler. 3. Dendrceca castanea. Bay-breasted Warbler. 4. DendrcEca blackburnae. Blackburn's Warbler. — These three species are but rarely found here. In my note-book is a record of one of each taken during the summer of 1881, and I can learn of none others having been seen or heard. 5. Vireo noveboracensis. White-eyed Vireo. — Mr. Harold Gilbert shot one specimen of this bird at South Bay. a few miles northwest from St. John, on May 24, 1S77, and this is the only known instance of its occurrence in this vicinity. 6. Pyranga rubra. Scarlet Tanager. — I saw an adult male of this species sitting on a fence in the suburbs of St. John on June 20, 1S79, and have examined two specimens taken near Hampton during the summer of 1880. 7. Ammodromus caudacutus. Sharp-tailed Finch. — On June 21, 1881, five individuals of this species were taken by Mr. H. A. Purdie, Mr. Fred. W. Daniel and myself, on a marsh near Hampton. This marsh is watered by the Kenebecasis, a tributary of the St. John, and lies some twenty-five miles up the former river. The junction of the two rivers Chamberlain on Birds of Nexv Brunszvick. 1 05 takes place about five miles from the mouth of the St. John. The marsh is some twenty miles, air line, from the nearest point on the Bay of Fundy shore, and at the time we visited it, the water running past it did not taste in the least brackish.* 8. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. Towhee. — A specimen, now in the collection of the Natural History Society of St. John, was shot at Irish- town on May 8, 1881, by Mr. J. Belyea. 9. Zamelodia ludoviciana. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — I have ex- amined the skin of one of this species taken near Hampton in June, 1879. 10. Passerina cyanea. Indigo Bunting. — There is a skin in the collection of James McGivern, Esq., said to have been taken about six miles north of St. John in June, 18S0. I can learn of no other occurrence of this bird near here, though I have frequently seen specimens taken on the western, or Bay of Fundy shore of Nova Scotia. 11. Zenaidura carolinensis. Mourning Dove. — This bird has been but rarely met with here ; one taken at Hampton in June, 1880, one at Rothesay on September 30, 1881, and one at Milkish on October 17, 1881, are the only specimens I have heard of. 12. Ardetta exilis. Least Bittern. — Between the spring of 1877 and the fall of 1880 there were five individuals of this species taken on the Bay of Fundy shore, about ten miles to the eastward of St. John. 13. Micropalama himantopus. — Stilt Sandpiper. — The only known occurrence of this bird in this vicinity is of three seen by Mr. F. W. Daniel on the sand flats back of St. John on September 8, 1881. He secured one of them, which is now in the museum of the Natural History Society. 14. Reciirvirostra americana. Avocet. — Mr. William Ellis of St. Martins, a village on the shore of the Bay of Fundy, says he has shot one or more of these birds each year for the last five years, usually meet- ing two together. A specimen taken by him in 1880 is in the museum of the Natural History Society. 15. Himantopus mexicanus . Black-necked Stilt. — I procured one of this species in September, 18S0, from Mr. John Ellis of Mace's Bay, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, lying some thirty miles to the westward of St. John, and was told by Mr. Ellis that several had been taken there during former years. 16. lonornis martinica. Purple Gallinule. — Since obtaining the male, announced by Mr. Wm. Brewster in this Bulletin for July, 18S1, I have had the good fortune to get possession of a female which was shot near Gagetown, a village on the St. John River, about forty miles from its mouth. The bird was taken in the early part of September, 1S80. 17. Chen hyperboreus. Snow Goose. — One of these birds was taken at Gagetown in December, 1880, and sent by me to Mr. E. O. Damon of Northampton, Mass. 18. Anas boscas. Mallard. — A pair in the museum of the Natural History Society were shot near Hampton by the late Col. Otty some fifteen years ago. The only late occurrences of this species are of one mounted * [See p. 122 of this issue. — Edd.] Io6 Batchelder on Birds of the Upper St. "John. by J. H. Carnell, taxidermist, and a flock of some six or eight seen bj Mr. Henry Gilbert on the Kenebecasis River in August, iSSo, from which he obtained a male and female. 19. jSithyia vallisneria. — Canvas-back.- — Carnell has mounted one of this species taken within the Province, and E. C. Sutton, Esq., of Sut- ton, who is familiar with their appearance, saw a flock on the St. John River, about four miles from the city, several times during the fall of 1S79. 20. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus. American White Pelican. — One of these birds in the collection of the Natural History Society was shot on the shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Pt. du Chene by Mr. Robert Bustin, and I have very good authority for announcing the occurrence of another at Cape Spencer, some five miles east of St. John, during the first week in April, 1881. NOTES ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF THE UPPER ST. JOHN. BY CHARLES F. BATCHELDER. During the spring of 1879 Messrs. W. A. Jeffries and J. Amory Jeffries spent some time at Grand Falls, New Brunswick, collecting and studying the birds of that neighborhood ; and at about the same time Mr. J. Dwight, Jr., and myself were similarly engaged at Fort Fairfield, Aroostook Co., Maine. Owing to the limited time of our stay the number of species obsei'ved was not large, but as it included almost all the com- moner summer residents, — the species really characteristic of the fauna of the region — it has been thought worth while to lay the results of our obsei"vations before the public, especially as the fauna is in some respects peculiar. One might be led to expect, from the latitude of the region, that the fauna would be thor- oughly Canadian in its character. Our experience shows, how- ever, that it has a strong tinge of the Alleghanian. Grand Falls is situated on the right bank of the St. John River at about N. Lat. 47° 03', and W. Long. 67° 50'. The river below the falls runs through a narrow valley, almost all of which is under cultivation. On the higher land above the falls and about the town are farms devoted chiefly to hay, potatoes and buck- wheat. The country is hilly, and is scantily watered, the few Batchelder on Birds of the Upper St. John. 107 rapid streams and brooks draining directly into the river. There are no lakes or ponds, except a few insignificant puddles, although there are occasional cedar swamps and "barrens." The tribu- tary streams below the falls have cut narrow steeply walled ravines in their passage to the river. These were cold and damp, and apparently without birds. In some places forests of hard woods exist, tall maples, elms and birches that have no doubt stood there for ages. There is but little underbrush in these woods, and they have a rather park-like aspect. The second growth and the woods on the low lands along the river consist of firs, spruces and hemlocks of all sizes, and often have an almost impenetrable underbrush. Where fires have spread large tracts are stripped of their' woods, and are covered with fallen trunks overgrown with vines, with here and there tall dead "stubs" still standing. Mr. W. A. Jeffries' observations extended from May 21 to June 19. He was joined by his brother on the 9th of June. During the ten days following this latter date the weather was cold — there was a frost June 15, and rain fell every day except the 9th and the 15th. Fort Fairfield is twenty miles south, of Grand Falls. It is situated on the Aroostook River, about five miles in an air line west of its junction with the St. John. It is in a rolling country containing but few ponds and swamps, and watered merely by small brooks which empty into the Aroostook River. The river itself is broad, with a rapid current, and flows between banks which though not very high, are yet never swampy. Much of the original forest has been removed, especially in the neigh- borhood of the town and along the river, where the stretches of wooded land are interspersed with clearings, pastures and cul- tivated fields, large crops of buckwheat and potatoes being raised on the fertile soil. The woods are mostly evergreen — the several species of ^(5//«.) Vieill. Scarlet Tanager.— Not rare in the hard woods at Grand Falls. The people there call them "war-birds." We did not see them at Fort Fairfield, though we have reason to think that they occur. At Houlton Mr. McLeod says they are "rare. They arrive May 29. I have not found the nest, but have a young one taken here. They remain all summer." Htccnt letter atun. Dr. Coues' New Check List and Dictionary.*^ — Judging from ad- vance sheets lately received, this new treatise by Dr. Coues will occupj' a previously unclaimed place among ornithological works ; for, as its title indicates, it is much more than a catalogue of North- American birds. Its novel feature is a dictionary of etymology, orthography and orthoepy of scientific names, to which is devoted the lower portion of each page of the running list. In this department the generic, specific and varietal names — duplicated from the text above with the addition of the diacritic- al marks for quantities, accents and division of syllables — are exhaust- ively treated; their derivation and meaning being explained, their construction scrutinized, their spelling revised, and their applicability in each particular case carefullj' considered. The erudition and scholarly research involved in this undertaking must be apparent to the most casual reader. The practical value of the work is equally plain, and perhaps it is not too much to say that it calls for a fuller measure of gratitude on the part of ornithologists than anything which its versatile author has hitherto produced. A detailed consideration of the Check List proper must necessarily be deferred until the appearance of the complete work; pending this, we may simply say that the plan followed by Dr. Coues is essentially to make a second edition of his original list, with all the required additions and corrections to date, and such revision of nomenclature as seemed desirable *The Coues Check List of North American Birds, revised to date and entirely rewritten under direction of the author, with a Dictionary of the Etymology, Orthography and Orthoepy of the scientific names, the Concordance of previous lists, and a Catalogue of his Ornithological Publications. Boston : Estes and Lauriat. 1882. I vol. roy. Bvo. pp. 165. 112 Recent Litcrattire. and practicable. Ten species are subtracted, and one hundred and twenty added, while names are changed for various reasons in probably more than a hundred cases. A simple system of reference numbers forms a concordance of the present and original edition, as well as with Baird's list of 1858 and Ridgway's of 1880. The total number of species and varieties enumerated is eight hundred and eighty-eight. It should be mentioned that the introductory portion of the work in- cludes an analysis of the present list as compared with that of 1874, and an important chapter entitled " Remarks on the use of names." The latter is devoted to a general consideration of the technique of Greek and Latin scientific names and the principles governing their derivation, spell- ing and pronunciation. The book ends with a catalogue complete to date of the author's ornith- ological publications. We understand that the edition will be offered to the public before the close of the present month. May it meet with the cordial reception which it so richly merits. — W. B. Nests and Eggs of Ohio Birds. — It is always a pleasure to record the progress of this notably meritorious work — a pleasure which we trust will be ours until the completion of the design which the authors have thus far carried out so successfully. As we have before remarked, there has been nothing since Audubon in the way of pictorial illustration of American Ornithology to compare with the present work — nothing to claim the union of an equal degree of artistic skill and scientific accuracy. We have no knowledge of the financial aspects of the case; but, as such a work is necessanly expensive, we can only trust that it continues to receive the support it so richly deserves. It is, we believe, sold only by subscription. The last number which has reached us is a double one, being parts 10 and 11, dating Oct. 1S81 and Jan. 1S82, containing Plates XXVIII-XXXIII, and pages 107-118. Plate 18 is perhaps the first in which the authors have introduced a bird — being the head of the Purple Martin protruding from the orifice of the C gourds so frequently put up in the South for its accommodation. This figure shows that Mrs. Jones can draw and paint a bird as well as its nest and eggs — and we should not be surprised if other birds appeared with their nests in future numbers. The temiptation thus to enlarge upon the original plan of the work must be at times almost irresistible. Plate 29 is Ensfi'za mnericana, the simple nest of which gives less scope for the artist's skill than the elaborately finished surroundings of the Song Sparrow's nest of Plate 30. The ex- tremes of size and coloring of the eggs of Melospiza are well portrayed, a.s are those of the Thrasher, the rough exterior of whose nest fairly bristles on Plate 31. One of the most artistic pictures of the whole series is the lowly nest of Helmintkop/iaga p/tiiis (Plate 32), with its character- istic surroundings at the foot of a slight bush clump. It is interesting to note in this case the curious " protective mimicry " by which the ne>-t resembles a bunch of dead leaves and dried bark strips blown and caught among the roots of a bramble. One would have sharp eyes who would Recent Literat7ire. II3 at first glance see it was something else. The last plate (33) represents the nest of the Summer Tanager, furnishing a good illustration of a "sad- dled" nest — by which we mean one placed directlj' upon a large horizontal bough, only confined by a few slight upright twigs. The text consists, as usually heretofore, of a folio to each plate, and continues to be prepared by Dr. Howard E. Jones. We find it to be a perfectly reliable account of the objects represented. The authors evidently have spared no pains or expense in maintaining the high standard of excellence they set for them- selves at the beginning. — E. C Prof. Macoun's Report of Exploration.* — We hear so seldom from our friends of the Dominion, as far as ornithology is concerned, that the present contribution would be welcome as an index of their activity, even were it of less importance than we find it to be. It is diflficult to cite the brochure correctly, as it has no title-page and bears no date or place of publication, and may be an "extra" of a portiori of some more exten- sive government publication. However this may be, the pamphlet which reaches us through Professor Macoun's kind attentions is the report of the Surveyor General to the Minister of the Interior, consisting chiefly (pp. 8-40) of Professor Macoun's own report of his explorations during the summer of iSSo of that portion of the Souris River Valley lying within British Territory and of the adjoining region to the west and north — that is to say, north of our territories of Dakota and Montana. The region is one seldom examined even incidentally in the interests of ornithology, and the present paper possesses decided value, as the observer appeared to have paid special attention to the distribution of birds in the wide area traversed. After a resume of the leading ornithological features of the region is presented an annotated list of the species secured, 109 in number. This list may be profitablj' examined in connection with the article on the birds observed along the parallel of 49° by the Northern Boundary Com- mission in 1873 and 1874. We feel at liberty to call attention to some manuscript alterations made by the author in our copy. For Cotui-niculus passerinus read Zo7iotrichia albicollis: for Myiarchus crinitus, read Tyran- 71US verticalis; for Archibutco lag-opus, read A. ferrugineus, the range of which is thus carried beyond any point hitherto given; for Tringa canu- tiis read T. bairdi; for Podi'lymbiis podtceps, read Podtceps californicus. We could wish the report were better printed; but poor presswork is the usual fate of public documents, English or American. — E. C Knowlton's Revised List of the Birds of Brandon, Vermont.! — This is a briefly annotated list of 149 species occurring in the immediate * Extract from a Report of Exploration by Professor John Macoiin, M. A., F. L. S. Report of Department of Interior (n. d., n. p. Ottawa, 1881? 8vo, pp. 48.) t A Revised List of the Birds of Brandon, Vt. and vicinity. By F. H. Knowiton. The Brandon Union (newspaper), February 10, 1882. See also, by the same author :— A Partial List of the Birds of Brandon, Vt. The Brandon Union, December 13, 1878. Remarks on some Western Vermont Birds. Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, January, 1882, pp. 63, 64. 114 Recent Literature. v'icinitv of Brandon. The author sa3's : "A few more species doubtless occur, especially among the Waders and Swimmers, but as thej have never been actually noted, they have been rigidly excluded." An examin- ation of the List shows that, with perhaps one or two exceptions, he has succeeded in adhering to this principle, the result being a very reliable list as far as it goes. The further application of this rule doubtless accounts for the fact that many of the species are not stated to breed that yet no doubt do so. The chief interest of the List lies in its bearing upon the extent of the AUeghanian fauna in the Champlain valley. The breeding of such species as DeiidrcEca striata and Zo?iotrictiia Ictico^ttrvs. the occurrence of Pertsoretis catiadensis and Picoides arcficiis, and the absence of Ortyx virginiana and one or two other species, are almost the only exceptions to an other- wise strictly AUeghanian fauna. A number of species, especially among the migrants, would seem, from what the writer says, to be by no means numerous at this locality, and no doubt his statements are strictly in accordance with his experience. We have reason to believe, however, that a more thorough search might reveal greater numbers of some of these species. It is to be regretted that Mr. Knowlton's List could not have appeared elsewhere than in the columns of a newspaper, both for the sake of giving it a more permanent form, and of avoiding the typographical errors inevitable under such circumstances. It niay be worth while here to mention that by a slip of the pen Mr. Knowlton has recorded Wilson's Plover {Oc/itfiodromus xuilsonius) instead of Wilson's Snipe. — C. F. B. Krukenberg ox the Coloring Matter of Feathers.* — This paper, the first of a series, seems to be the product of more careful work than previous publications on the subject. The author first states positively that the color may change after growth, the feather becoming lighter or darker as the case may be, but postpones deciding whether the change is the result of external or internal causes. Judging from the effects of stimulants upon Canaries -with fully grown feathers, I have no doubt that internal changes play an important part. At least, almost white Canaries will become very yellow, gray sometimes appearing, if properly fed. Turacin, a red or purple-violet pigment, found in the feathers of the Musoptiagida; is first considered. Attention was first called to this pig- ment by Verreaux, who found that the purple-violet in the wing feathers of Coryttiaix albicristatns was destroyed by wetting, but returned on drying. Later it was observed that the water in which these birds bathed became colored dark red. Facts worthy of consideration by all sys- tematic ornithologists. Turacin is soluble in weak alkalies, insoluble in acids, and slightly soluble in water, especially if warm. It may be precip- itated as an amorphous red powder by the action of acids. In solution the * Dr. C. Fr. W. Krukenberg. Die Farbstoffe der Federn, in Dessen Vergleichend- physiologische Studien. I Reihe, V Abth., 1881, s. 72-92. Plate III. Recent Literature. 11^ spectrum of Turacin is marked bj two absorption bands, between D and E, much resembling those of oxyhemaglobin. Carbon dioxide and oxygen, however, have no effect on the color or the spectrum. As to its chemical composition the author differs from his predecessors in that he denies the presence of nitrogen, though copper and iron are both present in con- siderable quantities. By the action of concentrated sulphuric acid two products are formed, named a Turacein and ^ Turacein by the author. Zoonerythrin, another red pigment of much wider distribution, is foimd in red feathers, as those of tlie Flamingo and the Cardinal Gros- beak. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, bisulphide of carbon, and the like, from which it can be precipitated by evaporation. The solution of this pigment is often favored by first digesting the feather in a trypsin or pepsin solution. Unlike Turacin, Zoonerythrin has no absorption bands, but all is absorbed beyond E. Zoofulvin, a yellow pigment of much the same solubility as the pre- ceeding, occurs in the yellow feathers of the European Oriole, the Canary, and the like. The spectrum has two bands between F and G which vary in position according to the solvent used. As yet Dr. Krukenberg has been unable to extract any green, blue, or purple pigment from feathers, so that he agrees with Bogdanon that blue feathers have no pigment as proved by transmitted light. Of this any one can at once convince himself by holding the feather of a Bluebird im- mersed in water between himself and a window. — ^J. Amory Jeffries. Minor Ornithological Papers. — i6i. The Ruddy Duck (yErhmo- tura ritbida). By Spencer Trotter, Chicago Field, Vol. XIII, p. 23. — Brief general account, including reference to their occasional great abundance in Chesapeake Bay. 162. Bibliographical Manuals of American Naturalists. Chapter II. Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A. By William Hosea Ballou. Ibid., XIII, pp. 92, 103, 123, 189, 205, 221. — Rather more tha.j 400 titles of papers and works, relating mainly to ornithology. 163. Nomenclature of ttie North American Grouse. By Spencer Trotter. Ibid., XIII. pp. 314, 315. — Common and scientific names of North Ameri- can Grouse, with their principal synonymy and habitats. 163. The California Quails in Missouri. By H. Clay Ewing. Ibid. XIII, p. 413- — Six or seven pairs, turned out near the junction of the Missouri and Osage Rivers in March 1S79, raised broods the following season near where they were liberated. 164. Bibliographical Manual of American Naturalists. Chapter III. The Literature of Prof. Edzvard D. Cope. By Wm. Hosea Ballou. Ibid. XIV, pp. 19, 20. — Contains a few ornithological titles. 165. Can the Pinnated Grouse be successfully propagated^ By H. W. Merrill. Forest and St ream, XN\, Feb. 10, iSSi, p. 28. — Believes they can be "successfully propagated" with proper '-regard to cover, food and range." ,166. Pine Grosbeak {Pinicola enurlcdtor, L., V.) and Robin {^Turdus migratorius, L.) in Wititer [/;/ Nova Scotia^. By. J. Matthews Jones. Il6 Rrcent Literature. 7^/^., XVI, March 13. iSSi, p. b6. — The former '-quite common" ; small flocks of the latter frequent the spruce woods every winter, in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax peninsula. 167. The ''Crane's Back" By J. C. Merrill. Ibid., XVI, March 10, 1S81, p. 105. — A Cree Indian account of the napite-shu-utle. a bird said to migrate by taking passage on the backs of Cranes. The bird is believed to be a Grebe. 168. A Hawk new to the United States. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid., XVI, Apr. 14, 18S1, 206.— From Oyster Bay, Fla., provisionally referred to Biiteo fuliginosits. (See this Bull., VI, Oct. 1881, p. 207.) 169. Ttie Pine Grosbeak. By Chas. E. Ingalls. Ibid., XVI. Apr. 14, 1881, pp. 206, 207. — Observations on its habits in winter in Massachusetts. 170. Our utiigue- Spoon-billed Sa?idpiJ>er, EurinorJiynchiis pygmcetis (Linn.). By Tarleton H. Bean. Ibid., XVI, Apr. 21. 1881, p. 225.— Brief general history of the species, with record of its capture at Plover Bay, Eastern Siberia, and Point Barrow, Alaska. 171. Domesticated ^uail. By Henry Benbrook. Ibid., XVI, May 5, 18S1, p. 266. — Ortyx virginianus successfully reared in captivity to the third generation. Believes that under favorable circumstances they could be bred "as easily as Turkeys." 172. Great Carolina Wren. By William Dutcher. Ibid., XVI, July 14, 1881, p. 473. — Record of its capture at Greenville, N. J., within four miles of New Yoi'k City. 173. The Rail we shoot. [By George B Grinnell.] Ibid.. XVII, Sept. 22, 1881, pp. 146, 147. — Classification, diagnoses and habitats of the Ral- lidcE of the United States. 174. Range and Rotary Mo-oeme7tts of LimicolcE. By W. Hapgood. Ibid., XVII, Oct. 20, 1S81, pp. 225-228. — An important and suggestive paper on the migrations and range of American Limicolce. The greater part of the species of this group are noticed at length. The paper relates especially to the winter haunts of these birds, and the conclusion is pretty fairly sustained that many of them pass beyond the tropics to winter in the Southern Hemisphere. 175. Migration of Shore Birds. By M. H. Simons. Ibid., XVII, Nov. 10, 1881, p. 288. — Apropos of Mr. Hapgood's paper (see No. 174). the writer calls attention to the fact that many kinds of Shore Birds win- ter in Florida and the other Gulf States. "Didymus." under the same caption, has some pertinent suggestions in reference to Mr. Hapgood's paper. 176. The Herring Gull and the Ring-bill on Georgian Bay. By Rev. J. A. Langille. Ibid., XVII, Nov. 17, 1S81, p. 307.— On the habits, etc., of these species at their breeding haunts in Georgian Bay. 177. Beechnuts and Woodpeckers. By C. Hart Merriam, M. D. Ibid., XVII, Dec. I. 1881, p. 347. — A reply to several pseudonymous articles in previous numbers of this journal {Forest and Stream) in reference to the Red-headed Woodpecker's habit of eating beechnuts. Other notes on the same subject, by various contributors, follow in this and succeeding numbers. Recent Literature. II7 17S. The Enemies of Game Birds. By Adolphe B. Covert [and others]. Ibid., XV^II, Dec. 8, 18S1, p. 366, Dec. 22, p. 407, and Dec. 29, p. 428. — Various enemies are mentioned, among whom the Red Squirrel is prominent. 179. Habits of Woodpeckers. By W. Beeke [and others]. Ibid., XVII, Dec. 15, 1881, p. 3S7. — In reference to their laying up stores of heechnuts for winter use, particularly refers to the Red-headed Wood- pecker. iSo. Inquiries about the Snotv Grouse [lege Goose]. By William Dutcher. Ibid., XVII, Dec. 22, 18S1, p. 407. — In refei-ence to the distri. bution of Anser liyperboreiis on the Atlantic coast, and to the change of plumage in the Blue Goose (yA. cceriilescens) in captivity. iSi. The Sparrozv Curse in Australia. Ibid., XVII, Dec. 22. 1S81, pp. 407. 408.— Abstract of a "progress report" of a government commission appointed to investigate "alleged injuries caused to fruit growers, gar- deners, farmers and others by [the imported] Sparrows." The analysis of the testimony taken is suggestive reading in its bearing upon the ••Sparrow Pest" of our own country. 1S2. The Snozv Goose and Blue Goose. By C. S. Wescott. Ibid., •XVII, Jan. 5, 18S2, p. 447. — Respecting their specific diversity, and on the occurrence of the Snow Goose in Delaware Bay. This is followed by a communication (under the same caption) from Arthur Edward Brown, who states that seven Blue Geese have lived seven years in the Philadel- phia Zoological Garden without showing any material change of color. 183. Der Schxvalbemveih (^Naucleriis forftcatus). Von H. Nehrling. Or)iithologisches Centralblatt, VI. No. 2, 15 Jan. iSSi, pp. 9. 10. — Account of its habits, etc., as observed in Texas. 184. Der Gelbkopf starling oder Gelbkopftriipial i^XanthoccpJialus icterocephalus Baird). Von H. Nehrling. Ibid., VI, No. 11. i Juni, 1881, pp. 81-84, No. 13, I Juli, 1881, pp. 97, 98. — General history. 185. Die Wandcrtaiibe \^Ectopistes migratorius'\. Von Chas L^ Mann. Ibid.. VI, No. 21, I Nov. 1S81, pp. 164-166. (Aus : Jahresber. des Na- turhist. Vereins in Wisconsin 1S80-81.) — On the great numbers destroyed by pigeon hunters for the market. Contains interesting statistics of the slaughter and the manner in which it is prosecuted. 1S6. Zivei amerikanisc/ic Prairicfinken. Von H. Nehrling. Monats- schrift des DeutscJien Vereins zum Schuke der VogcHvelt, VI Jahrg.. No. 3, Miirz, 18S1, pp. 58-64. — General account of the "Lerchenfink i^CJiondes- tcs grammica Bp.)" and the "Savannenfink {Passerc/tlus savanna Bp.)." 187. Ornithologische Bcobachtungen aus Texas. II. Von H. Nehrling. Ibid., VI. No. 5, Mai, 1881, pp. 111-121. (See this Bulletin. VI, p. 109.) iSS. Nordamerikanische Vogel im Freileben gcschildert. Von H. Nehrling. Die geficderte Welt. ZeitscJirift fUr Vogelliebhaber, -Zuchter und -Handler, X Jahrg., 1881. — Under this title Dr. Nehrling contributes a series of well-written popular articles on various North American birds. In the present volume are the following: (i) Das Rubingoldhahnchen lyReguIus calendula Lichtst.), I.e. pp. 14-16, 24-26. (2) Der blaukdpfige I 1 8 General Notes. oder Brewer's Starling, ScolecopJiagus Bretveri, Nehrl. iS. cvanoccpk- alus Cab. . . . ). pp. 44-46, 57, 58. (3) Der Kentuckysiinger oder Busch- sanger {Sylvia-Opornis [sic] — forntosa Wils. . . . ), pp. 100-102, (4) Die Einfiedlerdrossel ( T^wr^f^w i'«//rt5// Cab. ... J, pp. 173, 174. (5) Der Gold- oder Kukukspecht {Colaftes auratus Swns. . . . ), pp. 228-230, 240, 241, 251-253, 265, 266. (6) Der Scherentyrann, Scheren- oder Gabel- schwanz (^Milvulus forficatus. Swains. . . . ), pp. 325, 326, 333-335. (7) Der blaugraue Fliegenfanger oder Miickenfiinger {Poliopt/la ccerulea Scl.), pp. 368-370, 380, 381, 393. (8) Der Satrap oder das Gelbkron- goldhahnchea {Regtilus satrapa, Lichsts. . . . ), pp. 435, 436. (9) Die Bergdrossel {Oreoscoptes montaiius Brd. . . . ), pp. 528-530. 189. Rocky Mou7itains-Huttensa)iger oder Stcinschmdtzcr ( • • ■ Sialia arctica Swns.) Ritie Vogehtudic aits den Fclshigebergeii. Von Fr. Trefz. Ibid., p. 81. >meral ITotc?. Description of a Nest of the Water Ouzel. — The nest of the Water Ouzel {Ci'/icltis mexicanus) is perhaps not so well known as to make the following description of one wholly uninteresting. The nest when found was in good condition, and had evidently been used the past season. It was built under a slightly overhanging wall of limestone, on a ledge projecting seven or eight inches from the wall, and about four feet above low-water mark, the deepest part of a swift mountain stream flowing di- rectly beneath. The material of construction was a bright green moss, forming a rather conspicuous object for some distance along the opposite bank. The nest has a nearly spherical interior seven inches in diameter. The entrance is triangular, one side of the triangle forming the top and being three and one-half inches across and three inches above the lower angle. The most exposed side of the nest varies from three to four inches in thickness, the top and remainder being only an inch and a half through. At time of finding, the interior of the nest was perfectly clean, but out- side, just below the opening, the rock was discolored for some distance by excrement of the birds. Side by side with this nest was an older one par- tially destroyed, and 1 fancied I could see traces of still another on the same ledge not far off. The birds had evidently li\ed in the locality for some time. — R. S. Williams, Gold Run, Montana. The Short-billed Marsh Wren in New Hampshire. — On the 24th of August, 1881, while investigating the recesses of a fresh water marsh at Rye Beach, N. H., I found a colony of Short-billed Marsh Wrens (C/V- tothorus stellaris) in a small meadow about a mik- from the sea. One bird was shot, and five or six others seen and heard. General Notes. 1 1 9 Mr. Wm. Brewster in 1872 found this bird in the same vicinity, but in a locality about five miles farther inland. These two records extend the northern range of the Short-billed Marsh Wren, and give it a place among the birds of New Hampshire. — Henry M. Spelm.-^N, Cainbridge, Mass. Early Arrival of the Yellow-rump ix Southern Maine. — This morning — March 21, 18S2 — -I found a solitary Yellow-rumped Warbler {Deiidrceca coronata) flitting about in a struggling growth of spruces, on Cape Elizabeth. His arrival is unprecedentedly early for this vicinity. The Yellow-rumps usually reach Portland in the last week of April, sometimes not until after May i, and up to to-day I have never seen one before April 21, which was the date of their appearance in 1879. ^J little friend of this morning was probably only an accidental and tem- porary visitor. Snow still lies from two to three feet deep in the woods, and much blustering, wintry weather must be expected, before the earliest Warblers come to us in earnest. — Nathan Clifford Brown. Portland, Maine. Late Stay (probable Wintering) of Dendrceca pinus in M.'^ssa- CHUSETTS. — A few individuals of the Pine-creeping Warbler remained so late with us the last season, that their courage deserves a record. I found four of them on December 5, 1881, in company with Chickadees, in a rocky run thickly set with maples and alders. There were no pines, but a small bunch of them not far away. I shot one, according to rule, to make sure of the species. Being desirous of ascertaining if the}' proposed to spend the winter in that cheerful company, on January i, 1S82, I sent a young friend, who is well posted and a good observer, to the locality, and he reported seeing two of the Warblers so near at hand, perhaps twenty feet, as to make the identification positive. I intended to look for them again in February, but was unable to do so.— F. C. Browne, Framingham, Mass. The Hooded Warbler in Western New York. — From various points in the dense forest, on the balmy days of May. comes the common and familiar song of the Hooded Warbler, — che-reek, cke-reek, c/ie-reek, chi-di-ee, the first three notes with a loud bell-like ring, and the rest in very much accelerated time, and with the falling inflection. Arriving early in May, this is one of oin- common summer residents throughout the dense upland forests, occupying the lower story of the woodland home, while the Ccerulean Warbler occupies the upper. Here let me say that in addition to its alarm note, a sharp whistling or metallic c/iip which is very clearly characterized, the Hooded Warbler has two distinct songs, as different as if coming from diflierent species. Never shall I forget how I was once puzzled by this trick. I was strolling in a thick forest, near the corner of a slashing, in an evening twilight in June, when I was sur- prised by a strange whistling melody, — tvhce-reck,-whee-ree-ceh — with I 20 General Notes. a marked emphasis on the second syllable, and a still more marked one on the last. Part of the time this utterance was somewhat varied, a few notes being sometimes added, and again a few being dropped. My cu- riosity was greatly excited, for I had supposed myself familiar with the voices of all the birds in the neighborhood ; but it became too dark to identify the bird. For nearh' a week I went to that spot every day, always hearing the song, but never being able to get a clear sight of the bird. It seemed exceedingly shy. In vain did 1 crawl on hands and knees among the undergrowth to get near to it; for just as I would seem about to gain a good view of it the song would cease at the point under observation and come from one more distant. Just as I was about to give the matter up one evening, down came the singer, stage by stage through the thick foliage, and alighting within a few feet of me and in clear sight, gave the full effect of his whistling song. I have since heard the same song a number of times and in different places from the Hooded Warbler. So I conclude that in the case of this species there are, occasionally at least, two distinct and altogether different songs. The Hooded Warbler is one of those which make their home on or near the ground. Here it keeps itself for the most part well concealed among the foliage of the thick undergrowth, having a rather slow and dignified movement for a bird of its kind. It builds its nest from a foot to eighteen inches from the ground, generally in the upright or somewhat leaning fork of a little bush. I once found it on a beech limb, lying on the ground, but still retaining the dry leaves. It is somewhat bulky, but quite neat, the lower part being of dry or skeleton leaves, the upper part, especially the high and well-defined rim, of long fibrous bark, as that of the grape-vine, ash, basswood, or elm, laid almost as nicely as coiled cords, the whole structure being bound too-ether by a webby material, and lined with fine grasses, bark-fibres, and horse-hair. In location, material, and structui-e, it is quite unique, and, like most other birds' nests, is a much more certain means of identi- fication than the eggs themselves. These, two to four in number, varying from .63X.52 to .75X.50, are clear white, delicately specked and spotted, sometimes even blotched, with reddish, brown, and lilac. In form and coloration the eggs are very variable. Thej' may be found fresh from the last week in May till the middle of June. A second set may be found in July. The male aids in incubation. Confined to the eastern part of the United States, and barely entering the southern part of New England, Western New York, and Central New York where il is quite common, must be about the northern limit of this species. — ^J. H. Langille, K)iovjlesville. Orleans Co.. N. T. Breeding of the Pine Grosbeak {Pinicola ejiucleator) in Lower Canada. — Last summer I had the rare good fortune to accompany,* as his guest, the Hon. Judge H. E. Taschereau (Chief Justice Supreme Court of Canada) on his annual salmon fishing excursion to the Godbout River, which empties into the St. Lawrence from the- north, about six miles from the Pointe des Monts where the river widens into the Gulf. , General Notes. 121 One rainy afternoon about the middle of July, while the Judge was catching salmon at the famous "Upper Pool" on the Godbout, Mr. Nap. A. Comeau and I climbed a high and densely wooded hill that rises from the western border of the pool, and when near the summit saw a Pine Grosbeak, in the slate and golden plumage, hopping about amongst the branches of a large Balsam {Abies balsamea). I was within twenty feet from the bird, but having only a rifle was unable to secure it. Mr. Comeau, who lives at the mouth of the Godbout, told me that this species was by no means rare here, and that he regarded it as a resident. He has since written me that he shot several after I left, and that "the bird is quite common here both summer and winter." Although he has never taken its nest, he says "I have no doubt they breed here, and I have often seen them in the early part of the fall while out trapping. They seem to be fond of keeping near streams and lakes." Dr. Coues found the Pine Bullfinch breeding on the Labrador Coast, and I have no doubt that it breeds all along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and perhaps extends even as far west as the Saguenay, along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. It is asserted, on high authority, that it breeds in some parts of Northern New England. — C. Hart Merriam, M.D., Locust Grove, N. Y. COTURNICULUS LECONTEI, C. HENSLOW^I, AND CiSTOTHORUS STELLA- Ris IN Florida.- — Mr. C. J. Maynard has kindly placed at my disposal the following notes made during his recent trip to Florida. In November, iSSi. he spent three weeks collecting at Rosewood, a small settlement on the northern edge of the Gulf Hummock, about eighteen miles northeast of Cedar Keys. Around the outskirts of this town were a number of old fields, grown up to rank grass and tall weeds, but nevertheless perfectly dry. Here he found Leconte's Buntings, Henslow's Buntings, Yellow- winged Sparrows, and Short-billed Marsh Wi-ens, associating together in comparative numbers ranking in the order in which their names are men- tioned. The first C lecoutei was shot November 4. Shortly afterwards they became so abundant that as many as twenty were sometimes , seen in a day, but notwithstanding their numbers, it was by no means easy to obtain specimens. The chief difficulty arose from their excessive tameness, for they could rarely be forced to take wing, while in the long grass it was impossible to see them at a greater distance than a few yards. Indeed so very fearless were they that on several occasions Mr. Maynard nearly caught them in his insect net. All four species were apparently established for the winter. The detection of Leconte's Bunting at Coosada, Alabama, by Mr. Brown,* and more recently in Chester County, South Carolina, by Mr. Loomis,t has prepared us to expect it almost anywhere in the Southern States, but I believe that this is its first Florida record. The occurrence * See this Bulletin, Vol. IV, p. 8. f See this Bulletin, Vol. VII, pp. 54-55. 12 2 General Notes. of Henslow's Bunting is also of importance, as confirming Audubon's more or less discredited statement that it wintered numerously in Florida ; while that of the Short-billed Marsh Wren is interesting from the excep- tional character of the locality and the distinguished society in which the little bird was found. — William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass. AmMODRAMUS CAUDACUTUS. — A SOMEWHAT INLAND RECORD ON THE Atlantic Coast. — On June 21, 1S81. in company with my friends Messrs. Chamberlain and Daniel, of St. John. N. B., I found a few pairs of Sharp-tailed Finches in the tall grassy marshes bordering the Kene- becasis River at Hampton, which is about twenty miles to the north of the above named city and the Bay of Fundy. and about at the head of tide water. The birds were singing, and undoubtedly breeding, but a severe hunt for their nests was unsuccessful. Although a closely allied variety {nelsoni) is known to occur in certain western States. I think our maritime form has not before been observed away from the immediate coast on the Atlantic seaboard. It might however be looked for up our rivers and creeks as far as or a little above the flow of tide water. See this Bulletin, II. pp. 27, 28; III. pp. 48. 98; V, p. 52. — H. A. PuRDiE. Ne-ivton, Mass. The White-throated Sparrow in Winter near Worcester, jyi^ss. — I saw White-throated Sparrows {Zonofrichia albicoUi's) at difterent dates during December, 1879. I also saw some on January i. 1S80. I. myself, had not observed it before, though possibly it may not be uncom- mon.— J. A. Farley, Worcester, Mass. PeucvEA ruficeps eremceca. — In Gillespie County, Texas, which ad- joins Kendall Co. on the north, where Mr. Nathan C. Brown's specimens were taken, I collected on April 24, 1878, a pair of Sparrows which Mr. J. A. Allen identified as Peuccea ruficeps. From the fact that Mr. Brown collected no typical ruficeps it is more than likely that my specimens were var. eremceca. My specimens were sent to the late Greene Smith, Esq., Peterboro, New York, and are Nos. 961 and 962 in his Museum. — G. H. Ragsdale. Gainesville, Texas. The Canada Jay at Portland, Maine. — A specimen of the Canada Jay {Perisoreus canadensis) was killed in Scarborough on October 15, 1880, by Mr. Luther Rellon, of Portland, and delivered into my hands a few hours af^r its capture. The specimen is worth noting from its being the first that I have ever known to occur in the vicinity of Portland, although its kind is said by Professor Verrill (Proc. Ess. Inst.. Vol. Ill, p. 151) to winter commonly at Norway. Maine, only forty miles farther north. — Nathan Clifford Brown, Portland, Maine. The White-throated Swift Breeding on Belt River, Montana. — About the middle of last Jul}-, while hunting on Belt River, I happened to approach the edge of the high limestone clift's which rise above the (iencral Notes. I 23 stream for several miles after leaving the mountains. Watching the Violet- green and Crescent Swallows, which were abundant, for some time, I was about to leave, when I noticed a Swift evidently flying directly towards me. It passed only a few jards overhead, displaying at the same time the extensive white throat-patch of Cypselus saxatilts. Further search revealed some half a dozen altogether. A small opening in the rock which a bird of this species was seen to enter and reappear from several times, I approached, near enough to hear a vigorous twittering at each visit of the parent bird, from which I presume the joung were well advanced. This is the only species of Swift I have yet seen in the Territory. — R. S. Williams, Gold Rim, M. T. Capture of the Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaetus canadensis') near Columbus, O. — December 13. 1881, I received a male specimen of the Golden Eagle, killed five miles west of the city. This bird, according to information which I have gathered from various sources, had caused the farmers in the neighborhood in which it was killed a great amount of annoyance. A reward was offered, and published in our city papers, for the capture of a ••Bald Eagle" (as they called it), which had killed several young calves. By further inquiry I ascertained that the bird was seen eating at two of the calves, but was not seen in the act of killing them. — Oliver Davie, Columbus,, O. The Little Blue Heron in Maine. —During the summer of iSSi a small white Heron took up his abode in a dense swamp bordeiing the eastern side of Scarborough Marsh. He foraged regularly about the neigh- boring ponds and rivers, and before autumn had been seen and unsuccess- fully shot at by many covetous gunners. In September, however, he fell captive to the wiles of Mr. Winslow Pilsbury, and now reposes in the cabinet of Mr. Chas. H. Chandler, of Cambridge, Mass. Before writing Mr. Chandler, to ascertain the species represented by his specimen. I learned that Mr. Henry A. Purdie* had seen the bird and pronounced it the Little Blue Heron (^Florida ccerulea). No previous instance of its occurrence in Maine is on record. — Nathan Clifford Brown, Port- land, Maine. Baird's Sandpiper on Long Island, N. Y.- — a Correction. — In the Bulletin for Januarj', 1S82, p. 60, it is stated that the record of a specimen of this species from Long Island is apparently' its first from anv point south of New England. A note to the editors from Dr.'E. A. Mearns calls attention to a previous record of the species for Long Island in an article by Newbold T. Lawrence, entitled "Notes on Several Rare Birds Taken on Long Island, N. Y.," published in "Forest and Stream," Vol. X. No. 13. p. 235, May 2, 1S78, as follows : — * It should be stated that Mr. Purdie, with characteristic courtesy, declines to publish this note as, after discovering his prior knowledge of the specimen, I requested him to do. 124 General Notes. ^^Tritiga bairdii, Baird's Sandpiper. — Four specimens taken at Rocka- waj. The first two in September, 1872, shot on a small piece of meadow, out of a flock of Tringa minutilla. The third was taken August 26, 1873, while snipe shooting on a low strip of sand that separates the ocean and bay. Mj attention was first called to it by hearing a peculiar long-drawn whistle, and soon after I perceived a small snipe flying very high. The next moment it darted down and settled among my decoys, where I se- cured it. The fourth was taken in the same locality as the first two, Sep- tember 20, 1874. Three of the above specimens were males." — Edd. Pelidna suBARquATA ON THE MAINE CoAST. — I have to thank Mr. C. H. Chandler of Cambridge, for allowing me to view a mounted speci- men of the Curlew Sandpiper, which he shot on the beach at Pine Point, Scarborough, Cumberland Co., on September 15, 18S1. The plumage is immature — probably a bird of the year. It was in company with Peeps, but its larger size and lighter coloration were noticed, hence this visit to American shores is registered. The species is new to the Maine fauna, at least this is the first instance of actual capture within the limits of that State.* — H. A. Purdie, Ne-wton., Mass. The King Rail in New England. — It seems that in making up the New England record of the King Rail {J^allus elegans)\ 1 overlooked a note on this species, published in "Forest and Stream" of March 11, 1S80. In this note Mr. Jno. H. Sage announces the capture of a female specimen at Portland, Conn., September 17. 1879. — Nathan Clifford Brown, Portland, Maine. Purple Gallinule {lonornis martinica) in Rhode Island. — Mr. Newton Dexter states that some years ago Mr. P. W. Aldrich showed him a fine Purple Gallinule just received in the flesh from Westerly, R. I. Mr. Dexter bought, and now has the bird. He is not able to give the exact year, but thinks it was in 1857. — Fred. T. Jencks, Providence, R. I. Note on the Habits of the Young of Gallinula galeata and PoDiLYMBUS PODiCEPS. — Mr. N. R. Wood, who collected quite a number of young Grebes and Gallinules this summer at Montezuma Marsh, near Clyde, N.Y., tells me that the little Gallinules use the thumb to aid them in moving about. The thumb in the young of this bird is quite long and sharp, and the nestlings, when unable to walk, hook it into any yielding substance, and drag themselves along. The young Grebes are more vigorous than the Gallinules, and progress by little hops. — Fred- eric A. Lucas, Rochester, N. T. * See Brewer, Proc. Bost. Soc Nat. Hist. XVII, 1875, p. 446. t This Bulletin, Vol. VII, p. 40. General Notes. 1 25 Rhynchops nigra. — An early Record for the Massachusetts Coast. — Champlain,* while cruising along the sandj shores of Cape Cod on a voyage of exploration in July, 1605, makes mention of the Black Skimmer, as his narration, p. 87, shows. " We saw also a sea-bird with a black beak, the upper part slightly aquiline, four inches long and in the form of a lancet; namely, the lower part representing the handle and the upper the blade, which is- thin, sharp on both sides, and shorter by a third than the other; which circumstance is a matter of astonishment to many persons, who cannot comprehend how it is possible for this bird to eat with such a beak. It is of the size of a pigeon, the wings being very long in proportion to the body, the tail short, as also the legs, which are red ; the feet being small and flat. The plumage on the upper part is gray-brown, and on the under part pure white. They go always in flocks along the sea- shore, like the pigeons with us." That this species was found on our shores early in this centin-y is proved by the older natives of the Cape telling me, since the bird's recent occurrence, that "them cutwater or shearwater birds used to be with us summer times." Also Mr. Brewster informs me that Nantucket fishermen assert that Skimmers bred on Muskegat Island fifty years ago. — H. A. Purdie, Ne.ivton, Mass. Notes on the Habits of the Kittiwake Gull. — Some fishermen whom I lately employed to get a few Kittiwake Gulls on the winter fishing grounds oft' Swampscott, Massachusetts, gave me thefollowing interesting account of the habits of this species, and the way in which 7ny specimens were procured. A number of small schooners sail from Swampscott every winter morn- ing, and reach the fishing banks, which are some twelve miles off" shore about daybreak. The men then take to their dories, and buckets of bait — general!}' cod-livers or other refuse — are thrown out to attract the fish to the spot. Of this custom the Kittiwakes — or "Pinny Owls," as these men invariably call them — are well aware, and swarms of them quickly collect around the boats to pick up the morsels before they sink. They are very tame, and if one of the flock is shot the others hover over it as Terns will do on similar occasions. The usual way of taking them, however, is with hook and line, the bait being allowed to float off" on the surface, when it is quickly seized by one of the greedy horde. In this manner great numbers are annually taken by the fishermen, who either skin and stew them or use the flesh for bait. I was assured that a '"Pinny Owl" stew is by no means an unpalatable dish. After the morning fishing is at an end the vessels start for their an- chorage in Swampscott harbor, and the fish are dressed on the way. This gives the Gulls another chance which is not neglected, for the entire flock * Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, translated from the French by Charles Pomeroy Otis, Ph.D., with historical illustrations, and a Memoir, by Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, A. M. Vol. II, 1604-1610, Boston, published by Prince Society, 1878. 120 General Notes. follows closely in their wake. When the catch has been a large one, and the work of cleaning the fish is continued at the anchorage, they remain about the spot for hours picking up this offal directly under the sides of the vessels. Here again the poor birds are often mercilessly slaughtered by city gunners who shoot them for sport or practice, leaving the dead and wounded to float out to sea with the ebbing tide. The fishermen admit that their numbers have greatlj' diminished of late years, but they are said to be still very abundant through the winter months. — William Brewster, Cavibridge. Mass. Sterna forsteri breeding off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. — An impression seems to prevail among ornithologists that Forster's Tern breeds only in the interior of North America. At least I cannot learn that Dr. Coues' comparatively recent ruling* to that effect has been publicly corrected, or that it is generally known that the bird nests on the Atlantic Coast. f On this account it may be worth while to state that during a visit to Cobb's Island, Va., in July, 1880, 1 found Forster's Terns breeding in moderate numbers on all the neighboring islands. They nested apart from the other Terns, but often in company with Laughing Gulls, on the salt marshes or on marshy islets, where their eggs were almost invariably laid on tide-rows of drift-weed that fringed the muddy shores. The largest colony seen in any one place comprised perhaps twenty-five pairs, but it was more usual to find from six to a dozen mingled with a countless number of Gulls. I was late for the eggs, but secured a few far advanced in incubation, besides several downy young and many adult birds in full nuptial dress. ^ — William Brewster, Cavi- bridge, Mass. Note on the Foot of Acciimter fuscus. — On the plantar surfaces of each foot of the Sharp-shinned Hawk two papillae may be noticed, which differ from the others, more properly described as pads, in their greater length and more symmetrical form. These pads are placed at the second phalangeal joint of the third toe, and at the third phalangeal joint of the fourth toe, that is, at the bases of the penultimate phalanges of the third and fourth toes. These papillae are shown to be modified pads, the same as those at the other two joints, by the less developed papillae of Circus, Asiur, and others. This transition can readily be traced in the sketches of the feet given in the systematic works on Hawks, though the special prominence of the papillae in the Sharp-shinned Hawk does not seem to be particularly noted. On removing the skin, however, a marked difference at once comes in view. While all the pads are nearly obliterated, the papillae still remain as solid cones of connective tissue (.''), having much the same shape and sizes as the entire papillae. These cones * Birds of the Northwest, 1874, pp. 679, 680. t Mr. Sennett and Dr. Merrill found it breeding on the Lower Rio Grande in Texas. (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 1878, pp. 65, 66; Merrill, Ornith. Southern Texas, 1878, p. 172.) General Notes. 12^ or cores are internally connected with the superficial fascia of the toes and seem to straddle the flexor tendons running below. On noting the structural difl"erence, the cause or function of these papillae at once becomes a point of interest. Why have these two pads been modified into long papillae (.12 inch in a dried specimen), and provi- ded with a solid core.? Now the foot o{ Accipiter is so constructed that the first toe opposes the second toe, and their claws move in nearly par- allel arcs. This is not the case with the third and fourth toes, which are longer and not opposable to one another. Thus the claws can be op- posed to nothing except the middle portions of the toes to which they belong. But when the claw is thus flexed a small space well adapted for grasping twigs and feathers is formed by the papillae, the penultimate phalanx and the claw, the point projecting beyond resembling the feet of certain Crustacea and lice. Hence the function of the papillae would seem to be to aid the third and fourth claws in grasping small objects, and it is an interesting point to notice that the foot of Accipitei' fuscus is thus drawn in North American Birds, by Baird, Brewer and Ridgway. How far the same considerations hold in other species I cannot say, but as mentioned above, allied forms seem to possess the character to a less degree. — J. Amory Jeffries, Bostofi, Mass. Supplementary Notes on two Texas Birds. — In a recent paper* on a collection of birds made in southwestern Texas, I referred a series of HylocicJila uttalascce to the restricted form, with the remark that several specimens closely approached var. audiibom. Upon reading the article, an esteemed correspondent wrote me that one of these aberrant examples, which had passed into his hands, appeared to him to be true audiiboni. In this opinion, after a reexamination of the specimen, I concur. The bird in question has a wing of 3. 82 inches, which, though decidedly under the average oi auduboni, is more than should be allowed tinalasccB proper.\ Here, then, is another species, besides those previously cited, which is represented by two distinct varieties in the tract of country explored. The single specimen of Cofunit'culus passerinus taken in the same lo- cality represents the western variety pcr/>aUidus, under which, by an over- sight, it was not included. ^ — Nathan Clifford Brown, Portland, Me. * This Bulletin, Vol. VII, p. 33. t For an excellent review of the races of H. t/nalascce, by Mr. H. W. Henshavv, see this Bulletin, Vol. IV, p. 134. Several errors, perhaps typographical, are apparent in the tables of measurements given in this paper. For example, the bill of var. pallasi is said to average .53 inch, whereas the largest specimen of that form is afterwards credited with a bill of only .51. Again, var. nanus [i. e., unalasccB) does not appear from the table of extreme measurements to have been found with a smaller bill than .49, though it had previously been said to average .48. The difference in length of bill exhibited by the three races of this species is almost microscopic. A much more tangible character, not mentioned by Mr. Henshaw, lies in the disproportionate slenderness of the bill of the western varieties. In a rather large (wing 3.67) example of unalascce before me, the bill measured across the base of the culmen is but .20 wide, while in a specimen of var. pallasi of the same size it is .25 wide. 120 General Notes. Addenda to the Preliminary List of Birds ascertained to OCCUR IN THE ADIRONDACK REGION, NORTHEASTERN NeW YoRK.* — 178. Dendroeca striata {Forst.) Baird. Black-poll Warbler. — In the collection of the late A. Jenings Dayan (of Lyons Falls, N.Y.) is a female of this species that he killed in the town of Lyonsdale in Lewis Co., May 23, 1S77. 179. Dendroeca pinus ( Wilson) Baird. Pine-creeping Warbler. — Mr. Dayan took a fuU-plumaged male Z>. ^/««.'; at Lyonsdale, Lewis Co., May 8, 1877. I have never observed the species within the limits of the Adirondack Region, and it must be regarded as a rare bird here. 180. Asio accipitriiius {Pallas) Neivton. Short-eared Owl. — I have seen two specimens of the Short-eared Owl that were taken within the limits of the Adirondack Region, in Lewis County. They were both killed east of the Black River Valley — one in the town of Greig. and the other in Lyonsdale. 181. Nyctiardea grisea naevia {Bodd.) Allen. Night Heron. — I have seen a Night Heron that was shot at Crown Point (in Essex Co.) on Lake Champlain. There were two of them together, and both were killed. 1S2. Calidris arenaria {Linn.) Illig. Sanderling. — On the 5th of October, iSSi Mr. O. B. Lockhart killed, from a flock, four Sanderlings at Lake George, in Warren Co. (Dr. A. K. Fisher.) 183. Chen hyperboreus {Pallas) Boie. Snow Goose. —Dr. A. K. Fisher writes me that he saw a flock of one hundred and fifty or two hun- dred Snow Geese on Lake George (in Warren County) Nov. 19, 1881. In company with Mr. O. B. Lockhart he rowed out to within a hundred yards of them, when they were frightened by another boat and took flight, showing plainly the black tips of their primaries as they left. 184. Phalacrocorax dilophiis {Siv. and Rick.) Nuitall. Double, crested Cormorant. — Mr. F. H. Knowlton, from Brandon, Vermont, writes me: "I shot, on September 24, 1879, at St. Regis' Lake [Frank- lin County], two miles from Paul Smith's, a young female example of Graculus dilophiis. The bird was not wild and was easily shot from the shore." 18";. Dytes auritus {Li?i?i.) Ridgxvay. Horned Grebe. — On Little Tuppers Lake (Hamilton Co.). Oct. 22, 1881. Dr. A. K. Fisher and I saw about eight Horned Grebes and I killed one of them. While crossing Raquette Lake, the same day. Dr. Fisher shot another. At Big Moose Lake (in Hamilton and Herkimer Counties) we saw this species every day from Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, iSSi. Nov. 5 I shot one out of a flock of nine. They were all in the plain fall dress, so that the size alone enabled us to distinguish yoimg from old. In all the iris was of a bright orange red. They are excellent divers and can remain under water an astonishingly long period. — C Hart Merriam.M.D.. Locust Grove., N. T Errata. In Vol. VII. page 26, line 6, for "An indistinct, dusky" read "A black." Same page, foot note, for "ovKew" read '•oiKeto." * Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VI, pp. 225-235. BuLi.NuTT. Onith.Club..Vol.vii.,No.3. Plme 7. Jeffries « &UK€.. del. 77^ ^eitatype Prin^ng Co. TUTranont StBtssdm. BULLETIN NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. VOL. VII. July, 1882. No. 3. THE COLORS OF FEATHERS. B\ J. AMORV JKFFKIES. Feathers have been stiuHed from the earhest days of the micro- scope, indeed long before the modern microscope came into existence. Malpighei. Hooke and Leeiuvenhoek all wrote on the subject, and not a little of our knowledge dates from their time. Since then authors have constantly written on feathers and their colors, until the papers on the subject may be counted by hun- dreds. Accordinglv little that is new can be expected from this short article, nor even a history of the literature of the subject. A'ly onlv object is to give an idea, so far as is known, how the colors of feathers are produced, the literature of the subject being out of the track of most American ornithologists. Color may be the result of an}- one or more of the following causes : a pigment, interference and diffraction of light in their various phases, fluorescence, and phosphorescence. Of these causes only three have been called upon to explain the colors of feathers, the last two apparently playing no part. The fluores- cence noted by Dr. Krukenberg in solutions of certain feather- pigments probably plays no part, or at most an insignificant one. in the colors of feathers. Pigments act by absorbing all rays of light but tliose which enter into their color, that is turn them into luat. 130 Jeffries on the Colore of Feathers. Interference acts in sc\cral dificrent ways, all of \\hich are based on the same principle, and so films may be taken as an example. If a l)eam of light. .\'V (figure i). is allowed to fall on any thin plate, or film, part of the rays will be reflected in the direction yz. the angles byx and ayz being ccpial. I'he rest of the ravs will pass through the film to the other surface, being slighth refractetl in their course. Here part will be reflected, and being again refracted at the first surface, will emerge in a line x{.'^' nearly coincident \yith yz^ the balance passing out into the air. Now the wayes composing the white light of two beams vz and ivz' will run together and partially obliterate each other, after the manner of ripples on water. Accordingly certain wayes will be obliterated, and since white light is due to the blending of Ayayes of the different colors, the light reflected from tiie film w ill be that of the colors not interfered with, the wayes thus oblit- erated depending upon their length and the thickness of the film trayersed. So as we look at the film from difierent points the conditions yary. and \vith them the resultant color. Interference may also produce colored light b\' means of fine particles difl'used through another substance, as milk in water, the particles in the air, and the like. Colored light produced in this way is knoyyn as opalescent, the transmitted light tending to the red end of the spectrum, and the reflected to the other por- tions. This residt can be obtained by mixing black and white grains, an experiment which all haye tried as school l)o\s. b\ soaking chalk in ink. the result being a bluish color. Diffraction acts apparently by bending the light rays ditlerent amounts, and thus spreading out the spectrum. Explanations of the yarious phenomena of this sort are difficult, and need not be entered into here. Feathers are classed, according to their appearance, into ordi- nary, metallic and iridescent, the ]:>eculiarities of \vhich are well known and so need not delay us. The ordinary feathers are colored by simple pigments, by con- trast of light and darkness and mechanically, as in the case of the Bluebird (ySlalla sialis). Pigments of yarious colors are known to occur in feathers, and ha\e receiyed special names, as turacin. zoonerythrin. zoofuhin. zooxanthin, zoochlorin. zoomelanin. These eyenly distritmted, as turacin. zooner\ thrin. and zoofuhin. or in patches, as zoomelanin. impart their respectiye colors to the Jeffries on the Colors of Feathers. 131 feather parts in whicli they exist.* The color of the mass of the feather may. however, owing to various colors in the small feather parts, he diflerent from that of any part. Of these pigments none seem to be peculiar except turacin. This pigment is altered bv wetting the feathers, and comes from the feathers into the water in which the birds bathe, a fact of consid- erable interest, since the birds maintain their normal color, thus necessitating a new supply of pigment. White feathers are the result of the light being reflected as a ^vIlole from the finely (li\ ided feather-parts. Some grays are the result of small black nodes in the barbules, which nodes are of con- siderable size, and do not disperse the light, being distributed along the barl)ules. Other gra\s are the result of a small quan- tity of black pigment. Yellow feathers colored with zo(")fulvin receive their hue from this pigment, wliich is prettv evenly distributed through the texture like a d\ e. Red feathers, as those of the Flamingo. Cardinal Bird, and the like, are so colored by a red pigment similar ttj the \ellow one. Brown feathers are colored b\- a brown pigment in the feathers, whicli is for tlie most part collected in patches within the cells of the feather. Violet pigments are said by some to exist, while others have never lieen able to extract them, so the causes of this color still remain in doubt. Green featliers owe their color to various causes. In some it is due to a green pigment, as Turacoverdin or zoochlorin. in others it is said to be due to a mixture of yellow and blue dots. The (dive-greens are sometimes produced bv a yellow pigment over- Iviuij a dark lirown or black. * Descriptions of the various pigments may be found in ; Krukenberg, Dr. C. Fr. W. ; Vergl.-phys. .Studien, i R, v. Abth .1881, SS. 72-99, u. 2 R, I Abth., 1882, SS. 151-171. Bogdanow, A., Note sur le pigment destouracos. Compt. rend., T. LIV, 1862, pp. 660- 663. Etudes sur les causes de la coloration des Oiseaux. Compt. rend T. XLVI, 1858, pp. 780, 781. Church, H. H., Researches on Turacine, an animal pigment containing copper. Chemical News, vol. XIX, 1869, No. 496. Blasius, W., A. D. Sitzungsb des Vereins f. Naturwiss, zur Braunschweig. Braun- schvveigische Anzeigen, 1877, Nr. 29. 13- Jeffries oh the Colors of Feathers. All the above pigments seem to be l)leiule(l and nsed in gaudily colored birds much after the manner of paints by artists. So that a great variety of colors mav be produced from a few pigments b\- the skilful hand of nature. Metallic feathers, properly speaking, are those which partake of the characters shown In' the red crests of the Woodpeckers. The metallic appearance is limited to the barbs, the barbules not showing this peculiarity, and being quickly shed. If a feather from the crest of a Woodpecker, say Piciis pubescetis. be exam- ined, it will at once be noticed that the red barbs have few if anv barbules, and that the barbs themselves are enlarged. Such barludes as are present, are not red but black, and onl\- serve to diminish the effects of the red parts. They would seem accordingly to be pvoperlv classed among useless hereditary organs. That the red color is due to a pigment is proved b\ dissolving it out and by its persistence when examined by trans- mitted light. But what causes the brilliancy which has led to their being called metallic' This is due to the extreme smooth- ness of the barbs, the horn-cells of which they are composed being fused together and solid. Thus the unabsorbed rays of the beam of light which strikes them are reflected as a whole, instead of 'being sent in everv direction by the walls of the cells as in most cases. The metallic feathers difler from ordinary feathers in the same wav that window or glass paintings difler from ordi- nary pictures. Thev simply give ott" much more light, and thus produce more marked eflects on our eyes. The colors of metallic feathers seem to be limited to the red end of the spectrum, the colors varying from yellow or orange to red ; blue, green or purple feathers cr)n?,tructed on tlii -"rinciple do not seem to abound. So far we have onlv had to deal with pigments, and all has been plain sailing, but the various accidental colors shown by feathers are far more ditflcult of explanation. Not only are the parts extremely small, but the entire subject of accidental colors as regards organic structures has been in large part dealt with from a theoretical point of view. The c|uestion has not been how is the feather part made, but what kinds of structures will produce such color eflects. Accordingly divers opinions have been expressed on the subject, the most probable of these we shall now endeavor to sketch out. Jeffries on the Colors of Peat hers. I 33 Blue colors seem to be accidental, that is. the result of other causes than pigments. Not only have all etibrts to extract the pig-ments failed, but blue feathers appear gray when examined bv transmitted light. Again, no blue can be found in transverse sec- tions of blue feather parts. This method of studying the colors of feathers is worthy of more extended use than it has yet had. B}- this means all physical effects of the outer coat are avoided, and tlie exact position of the pigments can be seen. Sections are cjuickly prepared by fastening the feather on to a piece of pith with collodion, and mounting sections pith and all. The pith keeps the sections on end, a result otherwise difficult to obtain. Grav-blues, such as thcjse seen in DeJidrceca cceriilesceiis, are due to opalescence. The feather is full of fine granules of black or darkish pigment, which in a manner already described produces a blue color. Brilliant blues, as those shown b\- Sialia stalls, Cyanosplza cva//ea. Ca^reba l/iclda, and the like, do not seem to be suscep- tible of a like explanation. The color is too intense and pure to be produced in such a small space by opalescence. So most authors have simply ascribed it to some other form of interfer- ence, as a thin outer plate, which would seem on examination to be the true cause. Figure 2, drawn from a section of a Bluebird's barb enlarged about one thousand diameters, will give an idea of the structure found in such cases. The central cells are full of some dark pigment, probably zoomelanin, while the surface is bounded by a transparent layer of horn varying from ^Tji^^Tr to -^-^^^ of an inch in thickness. Thus we have a contri\ance not ill ada'' • ^o the production of interference colors, the black pigment ai)sorl)ing all rays which are not reflected by the horn coat on the outside. Yet there arc decided difficulties in this view. Thin as it is, the outer horn coat is thick comparefl to the length of light waves, and again the blue color is constant. How- ever, in spite of these objections, the color must be ascribed to the action of the outer coat of cells. The structure of other bright blue feathers is much the same, though difierences in minutiae exist. Thus the outer layer of cells, the external walls of which form the outer coat of the barb, are devoid of pigment in the Blue Jay. (Fig. 3.) 134 Jeffries on the Colors of Feathers. Here it is of interest to note that the barbs of the brown female Indigo-bird difier but sHghtly from the bright blue barbs of the male. In the female the pigment is more difluse, and the outer horny coat is thicker and less dense and lustrous. The above feathers with their smooth outer coat are connected with true iridescent feathers by an intermediate group. I refer to the highly-colored blue and green feathers of sucli birds as Chlo- rophanes atrocr/status (Fig. 2) and Ccereba hicida. In these the ends of the barbs are enlarged and the barbules reduced to a min- imum, after the manner of the Woodpeckers; unlike them, how- ever, the surface is rough, each cell being rounded out. When examined under a microscope such barbs appear as if covered with a mosaic of gems. Sections show, whatever may be the shape of the barb, that the walls of the iridescent parts are ex- tremely thin, so thin that exact measurements cannot be made wath the instruments at my disposal. The thickness got when reduced to fractions of an inch, is approximately totj^txtj^ of an inch, a film sufficiently thin for all purposes of interference. Many of these feathers when magnified show that the color is not uniform, but that all the colors contribute their quota to the final color. The figure of a section of a barb of Chlorophanes atrocristatits will give some idea of such a feather. In this case the final color seems to be the result of mixing the light reflected from the dark fin(\ with that from the yellow triangular part. W^e now naturally come to the true iridescent feathers, of which the Peacock may be taken as an example. The irides- cent barbules are made up of flat, wonderfully thin cells, ananged end to end. as shown in figure 5. When examined with trans- mitted light, they are seen to be films full of a brownish pigment more or less evenly dispersed through the mass. Wlien cut in sections and looked at on edge they resemble, even under quite high powers, the edge of a piece of paper. Here we have the most admirable contrivance for the production of iridescent light, the plates being fully thin enough, and all white light which may get through the walls being taken up by the brown pigment within. All the parts of the eye are constructed on the same plan, and only provided with brownish pigments, hence the color must be due to variations in the thickness. Here it is well to notice that the colors are quite constant. Brewster on a CoUectio?! oj' Arizona Birds. 1 35 The brilliant colors of these feathers have often been ascribed to irregularities of surface, the traces of the cell cavities beino- mistaken for pits on the surface That this is an error is at once shown by examining a section. Before leaving the subject I cannot refrain from calling atten- tion to the wonderful diversity of means einployed, as well as their complexity in the production of feather colors. Amono- the Parrots we have the most skilful painting combined with ac- cidental colors. Yet all ornithologists base specific differences on slight variations of color, and this in spite of the fact that birds may change their color according as they are wet or drv, owing to the nature of their food, or to slight diflerences in the quantity of pigment. In this they are no doubt often right, but when we come to varieties based on the very fiiintest distinctions of color and form, we may well pause till more is known of avian physiologv. EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. I^/£: I. Diagramatic representation of the effect of a fihn on light. Fig. 2. Transverse section of a barb of CJilorophanus atrocrhtatiis; Hartnack 3-9 im. the light part j-ellow, the dark part dark brown. Fig. ?. Transverse section of a barb of Cyanociifa crisfafu. Mart. 3-9 ''"• Fig. 4. Same of Cyauospiza cyanca $ . Fig. J. Two sections of a barbule of a Peacock. Fig. 6. Section of barb of Sialic/ sialis much magnified. ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS LATELY MADE BY MR. F. STEPHENS IN ARIZONA. BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. ( Conthiued from p. 9./.) 33. Peucedramus olivaceus ( Giraud) Cones. Olive- headed Warbler. — The Olive-headed Warbler, one of Giraud's famous '■'sixteen" Texas species, has found an unques- tioned place in our fauna only on the strength of three Arizona specimens, taken by Mr. Henshaw at Mount Graham, in Septem- 13^^ Brewster o)i a Collect ion of Ariz. -dux Birds. ber, 1874. Accordingly the accjuisition of the fine series cata- logued below can scarcely fail to be a matter of much interest. As will appear from the accompanying data, Air. Stephens met with the bird in only a single locality in the Chiricahua Mountains where it was apparently not uncommon in March : init he writes of a previous specimen (an adult male) taken among the Santa Catarina Mountains, in February, iSSo. a date which seems to imply that the species winters in the latter range. His obserya- tions throw no light on its still unknown breeding haunts. The specimens obtained during the past season were found in pine woods on the mountain sides at an eleyation of from ten to twelve thousand feet. Although individuals often occurred not far from one another, two were rarely seen in actual com- panionship. The only exception to this is noted under date of March 24, when a small flock was met with .on a steep slope near the summit of one of the mountains. In their actions these Warblers reminded Mr. vStephens of Donirceca occidoitalis. They spent much of their time at the extremities of the pine branches where they searched among the bunches of needles for insects, with which their stomachs were usually well iilled. ()c- casionalh one was seen to pursue a falling insect to the ground, where it would alight for a moment before returning to the tree above. The only song heard consisted of •• a few low notes" which were rarely uttered, but a peculiar '^cJfecrp" was repeated at frequent intervals. The examples before me illustrate a fact which I do not find mentioned by previous writers, viz.. that during the first year the males wear a plu- mage similar to that of the females. I have three in this condition; two of them, although in unworn dress, are absolutely undistinguishable from adults of the opposite sex; the third (No. 77). however, has the throat appreciably tinged with the brownish-saftVon of the adult male. The females show some variation in respect to the dusky patch on the side of the head. In most of them it is confined to the auriculars. and even there is much mixed with yellow; but No. 46 has a continuous, dull-black stripe extending from the bill thiough the eye. and spreading over the auriculars in a broad, well-marked patch. Nos. 94 and loi difter from the others in having the crown so slightly washed with olive-green that the whole upper surface is nearly uniform, a condition which I take to be the immature one of this sex. The adult males show but little individual variation. Both sexes and all ages have the basal half of the lower man- dible light brown. 44. $ ad., Morse's Mill, Chiricahua Mountains, March 14, Length. 5.10: extent, 9: wing. 3.1.;; tail, .3.35; cuimen. .56; tarsus, .72. Brewster 07i a Col/cction of A?-izot?a Birds. 1 37 4i, (J ad., same locality and date. Length, 5.40; extent, 9.20; wing, 3.16; tail, 2.55; culmen, .55; tarsus, .69. Iris dark brown. 72, J ad., Morse's Mill, March 19. Length, 5.40; extent, 8.90. 91, $ ad,, Morse's Mill, March 24. Length. 5.40: extent, g; wing, 3.08; tail, 2,50; culmen, ,55; tarsus, .75. 92, $ ad., same locality and date. Length, 5.20: extent, 8.90. 102, $ ad., Morse's Mill, March i-:,. Length, 5.30; extent, 8.80: wing, 3.10: tail, 2.44; culmen, 56; tarsus, 75. 77, J im., Morse's Mill, March 20. Length, 5.20; extent, 8,90; wing, 3.03; tail, 2.37; culmen, ,55; tarsus, .77. In plumage of the $. 90, $ ini., Morse's Mill. March 24. Length, 5.10; extent, 8.50: wing, 2.85; tail, 2.30; culmen, .56; tarsus, .71, Same remarks. 103, (J im., Morse's Mill. March 25. Length, 5.10; extent. 8.50; wing, 2.90; tail, 2.33; culmen. .57: tarsus. .67. Same remarks. 46, 5 ad., Morse's Mill. March 1 1. Length. 5.20; extent. 8.50; wing, 2.93: tail, 2.35; culmen, .56; tarsus, .73. 47, 9 ad., same localit\' and date. Length, 5: extent. 8.30: wing, 2,87; tail. 2.1S: culmen, .58; tarsus, .73. 8i, $ ad., Morse's Mill, March 21. Length. 5; extent, 8.50: wing, 2.76; tail, 2.35; culmen, defective; tarsus, .72. 93, $ ad., Morse's Mill. March 24. Length. 5.20; extent, 8.80. 94, 5 ad., same locality and date. Length. 5: extent, 8.20: wing, 2.84: tail, 2.18; culmen, defective: tarsus, .71. loi, $ ad., Morse's Mill. March 25. Length. 5.10: extent, 8.50: wing. 2.87; tail. 2.22; culmen. .58: tarsus. .75. 34. Dendroeca aestiva {GmrL) Baird. Yem.ow War- bler. 210, $ ad.. Cienega Station. April 16. Length. 5: extent. 7.50: wing, 2.75; tail. 2.20; tarsus, 74. '-Iris dark brown; bill dark liorn color above, lighter below ; legs pale bi'own. Common in the migrations." 35. Dendroeca coronata (Z/«/^.) Gray. Yeleow-rumped VVarbeeh. — Chiricalnia Mountain.s ; a sinole specimen, taken March 26, From its general dispersion over North America, the Yellow-rumped Warbler was of course to be expected in Arizona, at least as a visitor, but I cannot learn tiiat it has been previously detected within the limits of that Territory. Mr. Stephens, however, sends me an adult female which must be referred to coroitata^ although it is in some respects peculiar, if not intermediate between that species and audtiboiii. The wing-bands are as distinctly separated as in coronata (with females and immature males of both species this character is not always well-defined), and the throat, generally, is equally white, but on its left side, adjoining the max- • illary line, there is a small patch of the faintest possible yellow. The light superciliary stripes, which should be at least indicated in female coroiiata, are also entirely wanting. 114. $ ad., Chiricahua Mountains, March 26. Length. 5.50; extent. 8.70; wing. 2.98; tail. 2.52. '"Iris brown." 130 Bkkwster on a Collect io)i of Arizona Birds. 36. Dandroeca auduboni ( Toxvns. ) Baird. Audt'box's Warbler. 343- J '^^■- Tucson, May 7. Length, 5.80; extent, 9.52: wing. 3.05 ; tail. -:-7,v '"Iris dark brown; bill and legs black." 37. Dendroeca nigrescens {Toxvns.) Baird. Black- throated Gray Warbler. — On April i. Mr. .Stephens se- cured five males of this species amonfjc the Chiricahiui Aloinitains. The only additional specimens in the collection are two females taken late in the season (No. 203, 9 ad., Cienecra Station, April iv No. 357. Santa Rita Moimtains. IMav 12.). 38. Dendroeca townsendi (N'ntt.) Baird. Townsexd's Warbler. 2.98, $ ad., Tucson, April 28. Length, 5.10; extent. 7.70; wing, 2.45. •'Iris dark brown ; bill and legs black ; soles of the feet \ellow. Among mesquites." 373. $ ad.. Santa Rita Mountains. May 13. Length, 5.30: extent. 8.10: wing, 2.64. 374. 5 ad., same locality and date. Length. 4.90; extent, 7.40; vving, J. 44. "Iris dark brown ; soles of feet yellowish. Water oaks of foot-hills : ver}- fat." Even the most adult males of this species seem to have the throat-patch slightly sprinkled with yellow. At least I have yet to see one with the black absolutely pm-e and unmixed. 39. Siurus naevius (Bodd.) Cones. Northern \^'ater Thrush. — A single specimen taken May 4. at Tucsosi. It was among willows on the borders of a stream. This example differs from New England ones in being darker above and less yellowish beneath. In these respects, as well as some minor ones, it resembles a rather peculiar style from West Virginia to which I once called attention.* Mr. Ridg\\'a\- kindl\- furnishes the following opinion regarding its relationship with .S. uotabilis. "The Siurus tVom Tucson is very different in proportions tVom the type of iiotahilis. with which I have compared it, but it inav be a small individual of that t'orm. The wing is about the same length, but the bill and tail are very much shorter, and the tarsi more slender. The color above is grajer, the streaks beneath much narrower, and the spots on the throat much smaller." Notcibilis. based as it is on a single specimen, and instituted in a species which varies to an unusual degree in size, color and markings, seems to me, however, to be, at best, a very doubtful race. 329, (J ad., Tucson, May 4. Length. 6.20: extent. 9.50; wing, 3.10; tail, 2.32; tarsus, .85; culmen. .64. -'Iris brown; bill black above, brown below; legs light brown. Verv fat. .Stomach contained insects." * Annals N.Y. Lyceum Nat. Hist., Vol. Xt, p. 136. Brewster o)i a Collection of Arizona Birds. 1 39 40. G-eothlypis macgillivrayi (^ ?/(/.) ^^'''''''^''- Macgilli- VRAv's Warbi.er. — Two specimens collected at Tucson (9 April 20, $ June 8). -T have not found it common in either Arizona or New Mexico." 41. Geothlypis trichas {Linn.) Caban. Maryland Yellow-throat. — Mr. Stephens found this species '"abun- dant along streams." an experience at variance with that record- ed by Mr. TIenshaw. who met with it but twice while in Arizona. The only specimen taken ag^rees closelv with some examples from the Truckee River, Nevada, and differs from mj eastern representatives, in having the upper parts jellowish-olive instead of olive-green; the crown- band much broader and creamy white in color; the wings and tail longer; the yellow beneath richer, and extending more over the abdomen. Mr. Ridgway has already called attention* to some of these diffei-ences which, as he now writes me, would be enough to warrant the varietal separation of the western bird, were it not that specimens from both sections of the country occasionally var\- in such a manner as to invalidate any charac- ters that could at present be proposed. With the acquisition of better series, however, it is probable that the representatives of two regions, as yet undefined, will be found to present sufficiently constant characteristics to deserve distinctive names. 219. $ ad., Cienega Station. April 17. Length, 5.40: extent, 6.90; wing, 2.16; tail, 2.40; culmen. .55. ••Iris brown; bill black, bluish be- neath ; legs pale brown." 42. Icteria virens longicauda {Lazvr.) Cones. Loxg- TAILED CiLvr. — This bird was observed only in the vicinity of Tucson. The first specimen was taken April 30. and it soon afterwards became abundant. 310. (J ad.. Tucson. .Vpril 30. Length. 7.50: extent. 9.40: wing, 3.12: tail. T,.s,2. ••Bill and legs black." 318, $ ad.. Tucson. .May 3. Length, 7.70; extent. 9.60: wing. 3.05 : Length. 7.30: extent. 9.70; wing. 3.12; Length. 7.10; extent. 9-4): wing, 3.15: tail. 3.36. 43. Myiodioctes pusillus pileolatus {Pall.) Ridgw. PiLEOLATED VVarBLER. Although Mr. Henshaw referred all his Arizona Black-capped Flycatch- ers to pusillus. mine are absolutely typical oi pileolatus: in fact they are brighter than some specimens from Nicasio (California), the yellow below being richer, and the upper surface more yellowish, while the bill is equally tail, 3.61. 335- $ ad.. Tucson. Ma tail, 3.45, y.i.$ ad.. Tucson. June * Hist. N. A. Birds, Vol. I, 1874, pp. 297-298. 140 Brewster on a Collection of An'zon.i Birds. narrow and several shades lighter in color. Compareti with eastern ex- amples they of course present an even greater contrast. Dr. Coues was undoubtedly right in saying (Birds of the Colorado Valley, p. 327) that pileolatus "is not confined to the Pacific coast region"; but I cannot agree with him in thinking it an inconstant form. On the contrary, I find its characters, as proposed by Mr. Ridgway, so well maintained that any one of my western birds can be separated at a glance when placed in a series of twenty-one specimens from the Atlantic States. 221, $ ad., Cienega Station, April 17. Length, 4.70; extent, 6.80; wing. 2.17; tail, 2.23; width of bill below nostiiis, .12. "Iris brown ; bill dark above, pale brown below. Common here in willows and underbrush along streams." 257,^ ad., Tucson, April 21. Length, 4.90; extent, 7; wing 2.27; tail, 2.30; width of bill below nostrils, .12. 44. Setophaga picta Sxvains, Painted Red.start. — During" the past season this beautiful species was met with only among the Chiricahua and Santa Rita Mountains, but in 1876 Mr. Stephens found it in New Mexico, a Territory from which I believe it has not previously been reported. In the Chiricahua Mountains it was not uncommon after March 21, and many spec- imens were taken near Morse's Mill, at an elevation of fully seven thousand feet. rhey occurred most numerously among pines, in a canon where thev had been previously observed in April. iSSo. Tliis experience, it will be observed, differs some- what from that recorded l)y Mr. Henshaw, who says: 'Tt ap- pears not to inhabit the high moimtains nor the extreme lowlands, but to occup\' an intermediate position, and to find the rocky hills covereil with a sparse growth of oak most congenial to its habits." In the vSanta Rita Moimtains. where it was rather common in Mav. Mr. Stephens had the good fortune to find its previously unknown nest and eggs. The nest, which is now before me. is large, flat and shallow. It is composed of bark, coarse fibres from weed-stalks, and fine, bleached grasses, the latter, with a few hairs, forming a simple lining. The cup measures 2.10 in- ches in width bv i inch in depth : while the external diameter of the whole structure is rather more than 5 inches, and its depth about i.^o. The eggs, which were three in number, measure respectively .64 X.5 1 ; .64X-5o: and.66X-49- They are clear, dead white, delicately spotted with light reddish-brown, the mark- ino-s beino" sparselv distributed over the general surface of the ehiy 7. Length, .^.30: extent. 9: wing. 2.76; tail, 2.25. 'A^erv fat. Would not have laid for a long time." 3^4. J ad.. Santa Rita .Mountains. Ma\ 11. Length. 5.10: extent. 8.80; wing. 2.S2 ; tail, 2.27. 'Tris brown: bill nearh' black, bluish at base below: legs lead-color." 47. Vireo huttoni Stephens! 7v?y-. //r^-. Stephens' \'ireo. Cn. Sp. — (J $ Similis L. //ulloni s^td rostro robustiori. alls longioribus. Supra griseo-cinereus, infra fusco-albidus. Urop_\gio et niarginibus cau- dcE sordide virenti-olivaceis. Alis albo bifasciatis ; remigibus albo-mar- "■inatis. Loris et orbe circum-oculari (macula fusco-brunnea in palpebra superior! excepta), cinereo-albis. Adult J (No. 5,728, author's collection — collector's No.. 41 — Chiricahua Mountains, iVrizona, March 14, 1881. F. Stephens). Bill stout; wings from .30 to .40 inches longer than tail. Above grayish-ash ; the crown. * U. S. Geo!. Surveys W. 100 .VIerid., 1879, pp. 291-253. Brkwstkr 0)1 a Collect ion of Arizona Birds. 1 43 vertex ami side>^ of he;ul and neck nearlv pure; tlie back faintlv tinged with olive; the rump and an edging on the tail-feathers, dull olive-green. Wings with two nearly confluent bands on the coverts, and the outer edges of the inner secondaries, broadly white; outer quills edged more narrowly with the same color. Beneath brownish or smoky-white, with a mere wash of yellowish on the sides and crissum. Upper eyelid duskv brown : remainder of orbital region, with the lores, ashv-white in decided contrast with the nearly clear cinereous of the head generallv. Linino- of wings white. Z>/mi'?/s/oMs. Length. 5.20: extent. S. 50 : wing. 2.90; tail. 2.2^; cul- men, .50. Habiiat. Arizona and New Mexico. Four additional specimens otYer no variations aftecting anv of the char- acters above detailed. In its generally dull, grayish coloration, with little traceof olive or yellow shades, this Vireo is curiously like V. pusillits. but the under parts are obscured with brownish, while the differences in size and proportions are too evident to require detailed comparison. From the smaller, much brighter-colored V. Imttoiii. which is unmistakably its neai-est L'nited States relative, it may be distinguished by the following diagnoses. V. huttoni. — Wing. 2. 28 to 2.37. Olive-green above and olivaceous- yellowish beneath. No clear white anywhere. V. huttoni step/ieiisi. — Wing. 2.55 to 2.90. Grayish-ash above with no decided olive-green excepting on the rump and tail. Beneath brownish- white, untinged with yellowish excepting On the sides and crissum. Wing-bands pure white and nearly confluent. It will be observed that the above diflerences are closely parallel to those which separate V^i'reo brlli i\ud ]' . ptisilliis. while they are in no respect less important. Indeed were I disposed to eni)ihasize cei^tain ]ieculiarities presented in the wing-fornuila of my type, it would not be difficult to make out an equally good case of speciflc distinctness, but unfortunately, the relative length of the wing-quills (including the spurious primaries) proves to be quite as variable in V. /iiittoiii ixuA its Arizona race, stepkensi, as I find it to be in V. piisi/lns and V. belli, and, I might add, in all closely allied species which I lia\e so far studied. In short, I am convinced that this feature, it" evei" of an\' diagnostic \alue. is so with only a small pro- portion of the birds to wliii'h it has been so tVeeh' and confidently applied. In naming this \'ireo after its discoverer. Mr. F. Stephens, I have paid but a deserved compliment to that gentleman's zeal and energy as a field ornithologist. He notes the bird as ''not uncommon in scrub-oaks" among both the Chiricahua and Santa Rita Mountains. He also writes me that he has taken specimens in New Mexico, where, near Fort Bayard, a nest with four eggs was obtained in 1876. In both Territories it seems to be confined to the mountain ranges, where it undoubtedly breeds in all suit- able localities. 144 Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Birds. 41. J ad.. Morse's Mill, Chiricahua Mountains. March 14. Length. 5.20; extent, 8.50; wing, 2.90; tail, 2.25; tarsus. .73: culmen. .50; depth of bill at nostrils, .15. '"Iris brown." 50. $ ad., Morse's Mill. March 16. Length, 4.90; extent. 8: wing. 2.55; tail. 2.20; tarsus, 73: depth of bill at nostrils, .15. 118, $ ad.. Morse's Mill, March 28. Length. 5; extent. 7.90; wing, 2.68; tail, 2.30; tarsus. .70; culmen, .50; depth of bill at nostrils. .15. 140, $ ad., Chiricahua Mountains, March 31. Length. 5.10; extent, 8.40; wing. 2.65; tail. 2.25; tarsus, .73; culmen. .49: depth of bill at nos- trils, .15. 353. (J ad., Santa Rita Mountains, May 11. Length. 5; extent. 8.10; wing, 2.74; tail, 2.25; tarsus, .70; culmen, .48; depth of bill at nostrils, .15. Seven California specimens of V. huttoni measure as follows : — 1443, (J, Nicasio. Wing. 2.35; tail, 2.20; tarsus, .75; culmen, .50; depth of bill. .11. 1445, (J, Nicasio. Wing, 2.31; tail, 2.15; tarsus, .76; culmen, .51; depth of bill, .11. 1444. 5, NicasixD. Wing, 2.35; tail, 2.25; tarsus. .76: culmen, .49; depth of bill. 10. 1446. 5- Nicasio. Wing, 2.32; tail. 2.28; tarsus, .74; culmen, .50; depth of bill, .14. 6800, (J, Berkeley Co. Wing. 2.37; tail. 2,30: tarsus, .75; culmen. .46; depth of bill. 11. 6801, $, Berkeley Co. Wing. 2.28; tail. 2.15; tarsus. .75; culmen, .51 ; depth of bill. .11. 6339, $, Riverside. Wing. 2.34: tail. 2.14: tarsus, .75; culmen, .52; depth of bill, . 14. 48. Vireo pusillus Cones. Lea.st Vireo. — An abundant summer species frequenting willows , along streams and. near Tucson, thickets of mesquites. "'It is active, restless and very noisv." Numerous nests were taken. The only one sent me is a shal- lower, but nevertheless rather more elaborate structure, than that of V. belli to which, however, it bears a strong resemblance. It is mainly composed of fibrous shreds, apparently obtaineti from the stalks of some herbaceous plant. The lining is of delicate, bleached grasses, which are. very neatly arranged. The eggs are white with a cluster of small black spots about the larger ends. The clutch comprised three, a number which was not exceeded in any of the other nests. The notes relating to this set are as follows: "Tucson. June 11. Nest pensile between the forks of a small mesquite branch, about five feet from the ground, in a Brewster o?i a Collection of Arizona Birds. 1 45 thicket of weeds and brush. Incubation commenced. Female shot. This species seems to abandon a nest if it is fovmd before an}' eggs are laid." 205, $ ad., Cienega Station, April 15. Length, 5; extent, 7.10; wing, 2.21: tail. 2.25. "Iris dark brown; bill dark above, light below; legs dark." 235, $ ad.. Tucson, April 19. Length. 5.10; extent, 7.30; wing. 2.23; tail, 2.25. 262, $ ad.. Tucson. April 22. Length. 6; extent. 7.10; wing. 2.28: tail, 2.34. 27.V $ ad.. Tucson. April 25. Length, 5: extent. 7; wing, 2.21; tail, 2.25. 276, $ ad., same locality and date. Length, 4.90; extent, 6.90; wing, 2.1S; tail, 2.25. 282. (J ad., same locality and date. Length. 5: extent. 7.10; wing, 2.30; tail, 2.30. 461, $ ad.. Camp Lowell. May 31. Length, 5; extent. 6.90; wing, 2.21 ; tail, 2.25. "'Laying." 499. 5 ad., Tucson, June 7. Length, 5 ; extent, 6.90. Skin lost. 5S9, $ ad.. Camp Lowell. June 24. Length, 4.80; extent, 6.80; wing, 2.21 ; tail, 2.25. 49. Vireo vicinior Cones. Gray Vireo. — The only indi- viduals met with were a male and female — apparently a mated pair — which were taken at Tucson, on April 26. ''Thev were in low brush and were ver\' shy." 286, $ ad., Tucson, .\pril 26. Length, 5-6o; extent, 8.20; wing. 2.63; tail, 2.67 : tarsus, .80. 287, $ ad., same localit\ and date. Length, 5.60; extent. 8.30; wing, 2.58; tail. 2.70; tarsus, .80. ''Iris dark brown; bill plumbeous, darkest above; legs light plumbeous." 50. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (6'xt'.) Cones. Whi rE-RL'.viPED .SnRi:<.E. — "Comm.jn and generally distribu- ted." It is unfortunate that so much prominence has been given to the white rump o( excubitorides as a distinguishing character, for I have jet to see a good series of Shrikes from any Western locality, excepting, possibly, Ar- izona, which did not afford a considerable percentage of dark-rumped birds; and conversely, it is h\ no means difficult to find light-rumped specimens ii; the East. The same instability also affects most of the other characters which have been assigned to excubitorides, as is sufficiently shown by the various conflicting rulings of the authorities regarding the precise definition and limits of distribution of this troublesome race. The only differential points which seem to me to hold good with any number of specimens, are the lighter, purer ash of the upper parts as compared with those of hidoviciomts. and the smaller and very much weaker bill. 146 Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Birds. But if these alone are to be depended upon, it becomes necessary to limit the distribution o{ ludovicianus proper to tlie Gulf States, Georgia and the Carolinas. if not strictly to Florida, and to refer all representatives from the United States at large, east of California, to excubitorides: and this course, I believe, will ultimately have to be adopted. The proper position of the dark California form which is so curiously like ludovicianus remains to be satisfactorily determined. 51. Ampelis cedrorum ( Vlelll.) Balrd. Cedar Wax- \viNG. — Met with but once, at Galeysville, where on January 12. 1S81. several were shot from a small flock. Tvlr. Henshaw took a single specimen near Camp Apache, in September, 1S73. =;3. Progne subis (^Llnn.) Balrd. Purple jM.\rtin. — ^'Common." 438? $ ^d., Tucson, May 26. Length, 7.6: extent. 15.7: wing, 5.45. "Iris dark brown ; bill black; legs blackish." 53. Petrochelidon lunifrons {Say) Laxvr. Clipf Swal- low.— At Yuma. "'Thev were breeding abundanth' along a bluti'abo\-e the town. 54. Tachycineta bicolor {Melll.) Cahan. White-bel- lied Swallow. — ''Common in the migrations." 1915, $ ad., Cienega Station, April 15. "Iris dark brown : bill black; legs brown." '55. Tachycineta thalassina ( -Szcvr/V-s-. ) Cahan. \'iolet- GREEN SwALLO\V. -"CcJUimon." 212. $ ad., Cienega Station, April 16. "Iris dark brown : bill and legs black. 56. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (-4//(/. ) 7)*a//-t)^. Rough- winged Swallow. — Common. Breeds. 211. $ ad.. Cienega Station. April 16. " Iris and legs dark brown." v7. Pyranga ludoviciana ( IVlls.) Bp. Louisiana Tan- ager. — Santa Rita Moinitains. ••The\- frequent oaks, and are not very common." 408, (J ad., Santa Rita Mountains, May 18. Length. 7.30; extent, 7.60; wing, 3.80; tail, 3.17. "Iris dark brown; bill blackish horn-color above, greenish-yellow below." 58. Pyranga hepatica Sivalns. Li\er-colored Tana- ger. — This Tanager was not uncommon in the Santa Rita Moun- tains, where the first specimen was taken on May 12. -"They range from the foot-hills, through the oaks to the lower pines on the mountains." 359, 5 ad., Santa Rita Mountains, May 12. Length. 7. So; extent, 12.10; wing, 3.75. "Bill black above, bluish horn-color below : legs lead- color ; iris brown. Batciielder on Birds of the Upper St. John. 1 47 377j $ ^d., Santa Rita Mountains, May 14. Length, 8.20: extent, 12.70; wing, 4.20. 380, $ ad., Santa Rita Mountains, May 14. Length, 8.10; extent, 12.40; wing, 4.07. "This bird would have laid in about ten days." 386, $ ad., Santa Rita Mountains, Maj 15. Length, S. 20; extent, 12.80 ; wing, 4.10. 59. Pyranga aestiva cooperi /?/(/^w. Cooper's Tanager. — Mr. Stephens found this bird rather common at a point about five miles south of Tucson, wliere it frequented the cottonwoods along a small river. He also informs me that in May, 187^ he took sev- eral specimens on the Rio Grande River, between Albuquerque and Mesilla. and some others on the Gila, in New Mexico, during Mav and June. 227, $ ad., Tucson, April 19. Length, S. 10; extent. 12.40; wing, 3.83; tail, 3.50. "Tris brown; bill pale horn-color: legs pale brown. Skin very tender. The first seen this season." 268, $ ad., Tucson, April 23. Length. 8.20: extent. 12.40. 297? $ ad., Tucson. April 27. Length, 7.90: extent, 12.20; wing, 4; tail. 3.60. 515, $ ad.. Tucson. June 10. Length. 8.10; extent. 12.20: wing. 3.85; tail. 3.60. 522, (J im. Tucson. June 11. Length. 8: extent. 12.20: wing, 3.78: tail. 3.46. In inixed yellow and red plumage. 526. (J ad., same locality and date. Length, 8.10: extent. 12.50: wing, 3. 89: tail. 3.45. 579. J ad.. Camp Lowell. Jime 23. Length. 8: extent. 11.60; wing, 3.99; tail. 3. 58. 339, 5 ad.. Tucson. May 7. Length, 7.90: extent. 12.20; wing, 3.75 : tail, 3.39. NOTES ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF THE UPPER ST. JOHN. BY CM ARISES F. RATCHEI.DER. {Concluded from page 1 1 1 .^ 41. Carpodacus piirpureua ( G/«.) 5^. Purple Finch. — Common. 42. Astragalinus tristis {Li?i7i.) Cab. Goldfinch. — Common. Though somewhat beyond the limits of my subject, I quote the following from Mr. McLeod's notes : "This winter [1876-77] they have been abun- dant, although the season is very severe. I have seen them at this time of year but once before." The Goldfinch has been supposed not to winter north of Massachusetts. 14^ Batchei.der on Birds of the Upper St. yohn. 43. Chrysomitris piniis (JVi'ls.) Bp. Pine Finch. — Seen in Maj at Grand Falls. Mr. H. A. Purdie tells me that he observed it at Iloulton in June, 1878. 44. Passerculus sand"wichensis savanna ( Wi'is.) Ridgxv. Savanna Sparrow. — Common in the pastures at Grand Falls. At Fort Fairfield it was common. It was found in grassy fields, especially along the roadsides. 45. Pooecetes gramineus (Gw.) Bd.. Grass Finch. — Common at Fort Fairfield. Some seen in the open fields at Grand Falls. 46. Melospiza fasciata (Gni.) Scott. Song Sparrow. — Abundant at Grand Falls. It was common at Fort Fairfield. 47. Melospiza palustris {Wils.) Bd. Swamp Sparrow. — ''Not common" at Iloulton. Not found at Fort Fairfield or Grand Falls. 48. Junco hyemalis {Linn.) Scl. Black Snowbird; "Bluebird." — Verv common at Fort Fairfield. At Grand Falls it was very abundant everywhere. 49. Spizella socialis ( Wils.) Bp. Chipping Sparrow. — This bird was quite abundant at Grand Falls. The nests found were not the loose structures they are in Massachusetts, but were well lined with hair. It was rather common at Fort Fairfield. 50. Zonotrichia albicoUis (Gm.) Bp. White-throated Sparrow. — Very abundant at Grand Falls wherever there was dead wood on the ground. At Fort Fairfield also it was ver^' abundant; this bird and Junco hyemalis were the commonest species. The nests were apt to be in a clearing near the edge of woods, and frequently were in damp places. They were often inider a fallen bianch. or at the foot of a sapling, and were but slightly concealed. The White-crowned Sparrow is probably onl\ a migrant through this section. W'ith regard to its abundance, however, I quote the following from Mr. McLeod's notes : "These Sparrows make their first appearance from May loth to iSth. Some seasons they are very abundant, scores of them at a time feeding in my garden. By June i they have disappeared. In the autumn I have seen but one flock of them." 51. Zamelodia ludoviciana {Linn.) Cones. Rose-breasted Gros- beak.— Common in low hard woods at Grand Falls. Rather common at Fort Fairfield, apparently more so than in eastern MasNaciiusetts. Rather common at Houlton. 52. JJolichonyx oryzivorus [Linn.) Sivains. Bobolink.— Appar- entlv not rare at Fort Fairfield. Found in grassv fields and meadows near the river. Not observed at Grand Flails. At Iloulton ••arrives by the 25th of May, common by June 15." Jul\- 2. on our return from Fort Fairfield, Mr. Dwight and I saw them at several places along the St. John River above Fredericton. 53. Agelaeus phoeniceus {Linn.) Vieill. Red-winged Blackbird. — "Qiiite common at Eel River, ten miles from Iloulton" (R. R. McL.). It does not occur at Fort Fairfield or Grand Falls. Ratchelder 072 Birds of the Upper St. John. 1 49 54. Quiscalus purpureus aeneus Ridg-tv. Crow Blackbird. — Com- mon at Fort Fairfield, in the town, along the river, and about a small pond back in the woods. At Grand Falls it was not uncommon about the town. "Very common" at Houlton. ^5. Corvus corax Linn. Raven. — Rare at Grand Falls. Not met with at Fort Fairfield. '-Very rare" at Houlton. ^6. Corvus americanus And. Crow. — Common. 57. Cyanocitta cristata {Linti.) Sir/'ckl. Blue Jay. — Common at Grand Falls. At Fort Fairfield it was rather common, but shy and seldom seen. s8. Perisoreus canadensis {Linn.) Bp. Canada Jay. — At Houlton : "very common. These birds do not often appear in the thickly settled part of the town, but are very abundant around the lumber camps in this vicinity." This no doubt explains the fact that the species was not seen by anv of us at Grand Falls and Fort Fairfield.* 59. Tyranniis carolinensis {Linn.) Bd. Kingbird. — Rather com- mon at Fort Fairfield. At Grand Falls several were seen, but it was not common. 60. Myiarchus crinitus {Linn.) Cuban. Great Crested Fly- catcher. — In June, 1878. Messrs. H. i\.. Purdie and Ruthven Deane ob- served a pair nest-building at a point in New Brunswick about six miles east of Houlton. 61. Sayornis fuscus {Gm.) Bd. Pewee. — One was observed at Fort Fairfield, June 28. ••Very rare" at Houlton. 62. Contopu3 .borealis {Swaina.) Bd. Olive-sided Flycatcher. — Common in the woods at Grand Falls. This species was rather common at Fort Fairfield. We usually saw them perched on the tops of tall dead trees in clearings. They were rather shy. 63. Contopus virens {Linn.) Cuban. Wood Pewee. — At Fort Fair- field it appeared to be not uncommon. It was not met with, however, at Grand Falls. 64. Empidonax flaviventris Bd. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. — At Fort Fairfield this species was rather common in wet evergreen woods, especially in those that had small streams flowing through them. It was not observed at Grand Falls. Messrs. Purdie and Deane found it rather common at Houlton in June, 1878. t 6v Empidonax trailli {And.) Bd. Traill's Flycatcher. — Not common at Grand Falls, fhey were to be found mostly where there were scattered dead trees. We did not find it at Fort Fairfield. Mr. H. A. Purdie informs me that it was not uncommon at Houlton in June. 1878. 66. Empidonax minimus Bd. Least Flycatcher. — Very abundant in hard woods at Grand Falls. At Fort Fairfield it was rather common. 67. Caprimulgus vociferus Wils. Whip-poor-will. — Mr. McLeod * For an account of the nesting- of this species at Grand Falls, see this Bulletin, Vol. VII, p.—. t For descriptions of the nesting of this species at Houlton and Fort Fairfield see this Bulletin, Vol. Ill, pp. 166-168, and Vol. I\". pp. 241, 242. 1^50 Batchelder on Birds of the Upper St. John. notes that there are a few at Houlton during the summer. The species was neither seen nor heard at Fort Fairfield and Grand Falls. 68. Chordeilespopetue ( F/e///.) ^df. Night-hawk. — Very abundant at Grand Falls. At Fort Fairfield it was common; they frequented burnt lands. 69. Chaetura pelasgica {Lhni.) Bd. Chimney Swift. — At Fort Fairfield they were common, breeding both in chimneys and in hollow trees. Common in the burnt country at Grand Falls. Not many were breeding in chimneys, the people disliking to have them there. 70. Trochilus colubris Linn. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — Common at Grand Falls. At Fort Fairfield it was apparently rather com- mon-— we saw several. 71. Ceryle alcyon {Linn.) Boie. Belted Kingfisher. — Rather common at Fort Fairfield. At Grand Falls it was to be seen wherever there was good fishing ground. 72. Picus villosus Li)i7i. Hairy \Voodpecker. — Common. 73. Picus pubsscens Z-/««. Downy Woodpecker. — At Fort Fair- field this species was much less common than P. villosus. It was not uncominon at Grand Falls. 74. Picoides arcticus (>STt'^/«.s-.) Gray. Black-backed Three-toed WoODPECkER. — Common at Grand P'alls in burnt cedar swamps. At Fort Fairfield we shot two, all we saw. 7v Sphyiopicus varius {Linn.) Bd. Yellow-bellied Wood- pecker.— Common- — the commonest Woodpecker — at Fort Fairfield. They were generally found about recent clearings, or in the more open mixed woods. At Grand Falls they were common in hard woods. 76. Hylotomus pileatus {Linn.) Bd. Pile.\ted Woodpecker. — At Grand Falls half a dozen pairs were seen. Probably there is too little of the heavy tbrest left in the immediate neighborhood of Fort Fairfield to suit their tastes, as we did notmeetwith them. "Common" at Houlton. 77. Colaptes auratus {Linn.) Sw. Golden-winged Woodpecker. — Rather common at Fort Fairfield. Not common at Grand Falls. 78. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus {Wils.) BJ. Black-bii.led Cuck- oo.— Mr. McLeod records this bird in his notes, but without comments. It was not seen at Fort Fairfield or Grand Falls. 79. Strix nebulosa Forst. Barred Owl. — "Very common" at Houlton. We were shown a mounted specimen by Mr. Frank P. Orcutt at Fort Fairfield. He considered it the commonest Owl. 80. Nyctale acadica {Gm.) Bd. S.\w-whet Owl. — This bird is not uncommon at Houlton. Mr. Frank P. Orcutt told us that it was tolerably common at Fort Fairfield. 81. Bubo virginianua {Gm.) Bd. Great Horned Owl. — "Very common" at Houlton. Mr. Orcutt said it was rather common at Fort Fairfield. 8z. Circus hudsonius {Linn.) Vieill. Marsh Hawk. — Rare at Houlton. One seen at Fort Fairfield. 83. Accipiter cooperi Bp. Cooper's Hawk. Not common at Grand Falls. Not obser\-ed at Fort Fairfield or Hcnilton. Batchelder on Birds of the Upper St. yohn. I51 84. Accipiter fuscus (Gm.) Bp. Sharp-shixned Hawk. — "Not common"' at Houlton. 85. Falco sparverius Li7in. Sparrow Hawk. — Commonest Hawk at Grand Falls. Not met with at Houlton or Fort Fairfield, though Mr. Orcutt considers it common at the latter place. 86. Buteo borealis {Gm.) Vieill. Red-tailed Hawk. — Not com- mon at Grand Falls. Not observed at Fort Fairfield. "Common" at Houlton. 87. Buteo pennsylvanicus ( H^i/jv.) Bf. Broad-winged Hawk. — Not common at Grand Falls. It was found breeding at Houlton, but not met with at Fort Fairfield. 88. Haliasetus leucocephalus {Linn.) Savig. Bald Eagle. — "Not common" at Houlton. 89. Bctopist8,3 migratorius {Linn.) Sxv. Wild Pigeon. — Breeding at Grand Falls, but not common. 90. Canace canadensis {Linn.) Bp. Spruce Partridge. — At Houl- ton "mostly found in the deep fir thickets, or in the swamps of firs and cedars." Not met with at Fort Fairfield and Grand Falls, though of course it occurs there. 91. Boiiasa umbellus (Linn.) Stepk. Ruffed Grouse. — Rather common at P^ort Fairfield. At Grand Falls only a few were seen — in the hard woods. 92. Ardea heroclias Linn. Great Blue Heron. — "Common" at Houlton. 93. Nyctiardea grisea neevia ( Z?(^rA/. ) ^4//('//. Night HERon. — "Not common" at Houlton. 94. Botaurus lentiginosus {Montag.) Steph. — Bittern. — "Com- mon" at Houlton. One seen at Grand Flails. 95. Philohela minor (Gm.) Gray. Woodcock. — One seen on Little River Flats near Grand Falls. At Fort Fairfield we saw. a specimen in the collection of Mr. Frank P. Orcutt, who considered it rare in that neighborhood. "A few breed in the vicinit_v" of Houlton. 96. Rhyacophilus solitarius {Wih.) Ca^s. Solitary Sandpiper. — At Grand Falls some were seen along the river June 9 (J. A.J.J. 97. Tringoides macularius {Linn.) Gray. Spotted Sandpiper. — At Fort Fairfield it was very numerous along the Aroostook River, and was also noticed in one or two other places. It was abundant along the rivers at Grand Falls. At Houlton too it was very coTiimon. 98. Porzana Carolina (Z/w«.) Bd. Carolina Rail. — One seen at Fort Fairfield, June 20, in a wet meadow partlv grown up with alder bushes (J. D. ). 99. Anas obscura Gm. Black Duck. — "Very common, breeding" at Houlton. 100. Aix sponsa [Linn.) Boie. Wood Duck. — "Qiiite common" at Houlton. 101. Clangula glaucium amsricana (^/i.) Ridgiv. Golden-eye.— A few seen at Grand Falls. 152 BiCKXEi.L on Hylocichla alicliX bicknelli. 102. Mergus merganser americanus (^Cass.) Ridgxv. Sheldrake. — Not uncommon at Grand Falls. 103. Mergus serrator Linn. Red-breasted Merg.\nser. — "Very common, breeding." at Houlton. 104. Larus argentatus smithsoniaiius, Cones. Herring Gull. — At Houlton it is common on the neighboring lakes, where it breeds. 105. Podilymbus podiceps {Littn.) La-Mr. Pied-billed Grebe. — Rare, breeds, Houlton. A SKETCH OF THE HOME OF HTLOCICHLA ALICI^^ BICKNELLI, RIDGVVAY, WITH SOME CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE ALLIES OF THIS NEW RACE. ^\ EUGENE P. BICKXEI.I.. That there remained unrecognized at this hite day a bird reg- ularly inhabiting one of the most popidous portions of our coun- try ; or, indeed, that a species of eminently boreal habitat during its breeding season, and not known to occur at all at such time within the limits of the United States, should have a representa- tive race regularly breeding in our midst, are facts for which we were little prepared. Air. Ridgway's I'ecent paper* announcing these facts being necessarily of a technical nature, and confined to a formal description of the new Thrush, it has been thought well on the present occasion to allude more particularly to the char- acter of the locality inhabited by the bird, and to some of its asso- ciates thei'e, in connection with other sequential considerations. As the general physical character of the Catskill Alountains and the faunal features of the region will be treated by the writer else- where, it will be unnecessar\ to extend the range of the present relation from the summit of Slide Mountain in Ulster Co..t where the new race was discovered. On June 15, 1881, nearing the summit of this mountain, the forests of a more northern latitude were forcibly suggested. A shower had fallen during the ascent, and the sun was still obscured, ♦ " Descriptions of two new Thrushes from the United States." Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 374, pp. 374-9. t The highest peak of the Catskills, — 4,205 feet ahitude. Bkknei.l on Hylocichla aliciie 5/ckncIle. 1 53 while a sharp wind from the northwest piercing tlie wet woods and sighing among the balsams, blasted and weather beaten, heightened an impression of remoteness and desolation. The evergreens, constituting the principal arboreal growth, extended ofl'on all sides, clothing the rocky and moss-grown slopes, and presenting the striking contrast of a young and fragrant second growth clustering about the branchless and spiny trunks of their sires tottering in decay : or. with tangled and matted branches outlined here antl there, as we approached the summit, against a gray and cheerless sky. Owing to the comparatively short life of these trees, that high portion of the mountain where their tribe had pitched was brought into grim contrast with its surroundings. Old age and deatli, continualh present invading their i-anks, had everywhere left their traces ; flourishing clusters had been stricken in their fellowship, groups and gatherings had been divided and scattered, and like a contagion the destrover had spread among their hosts. But the younger generations are con- tinually forming their associations, and with green and fragrant grouping fllling in deserted chambers and screening the devasta- tion that has gone before, although onlv to furnish material for its continuance in the future. All this, with an occasional under- growth of greater or less luxuriance, gave a diversified and some- what open character to the surroundings, entirely dissimilar to that of the environing forest ; conditions, wdiich, in conjunction with humiditx and elevation, have brouglit this mountain top into some relation witli the swampland of a more northern region. Reaching a more elevated portion of the ridge where the ground was more level and the surface less rock\ , that north- woods tree, the Paper Birch {Bet/ila papvracea) occasionally appeared, and more abundantlv the Mountain Ash. Almost the only remnant of the dense mountain forests below was the Yellow Birch {I3e- tula Iiitea) which, joining the undergrowth, persisted with small and stunted stature to the summit. On all sides were to be seen the white blossoms of \ihur)n())i /a}itai/oidcs wh\c\\, though also found in the \'allev woodlands, had there long since flowered and was now bearing green fruit. Another characteristic shrub was AmelancJiicr cai/ade?/s/.s oligocarpa ; lower down had been found the var. botrvapiian, but here, the northern form was well marked, seeming almost specifically distinct. In the deep, damp moss, co\ering and filling in the rocks beneath the balsam growth. 154 BiCKXELi. on Hvlo.ichla al/cLc bickfielli. ami relieving the ruggedness ut" the slopes, northern plants were growing in greater or less profusion. The Dwarf Cornel {Cor- mts canadensis) grew in such close luxuriance in congenial spots, that its snowv bracts imparted an almost uniform whiteness to whole heds. With, or near it. blossomed the Wood vSorrel ( O.v- alis acetosella) with delicately violet-veined petals, and the ap- propriately-named Gold-thread ( Coptis trlfalla) of evanescent bloom but shining evergreen lea\es, and the little Star Flower i^Tr lent alls americana) were often also associates. Excepting the pale \ellow bells of Clintoizia borealis^ and the purplish tinge, or veining. of the blossoms of several other species, all the plants noticed in bloom at this time upon the mountain bore flowers of some shade of white. The more open ground about our course along the ridge supported a luxuriant aiid graceful growth of that lovelv fern Aspidinm spinttlositni. and with it, in openings about the suminit, grew abundanth the Moimtain Gol- den-rod {Sdlidago thyrsoidea) which, although \ et man\ weeks from bloom, heralded a roval emblem to light the mountain's brow ere the white locks of winter should again possess it. At the elevation where these plants hrst appeared the trees nowhere attained more than a medium stature, those which seemed ]>est to liave siu'mounted the difficulties of their situation, the Balsam and the Paper Birch, never rising to a height of more than, perhaps, twenty-five feet. This growth completely encom- passed the range of vision, but an occasional scantiness in the foliage permitted glimpses of surrounding mountains rolling off" like huge green billows into the blue distance. From these evergreens came the leisiueh- call of the Canada Nuthatch {Sitta ca?iadcnsis) . and on closer approach the low, plaintive notes of the little Yellow-bellied Flycatcher {Emp/do- nax Jiaviventris) . The brief warble of tlie Black-and-Yellow Warbler i^Deiidroeca rnac/ilosa) told of the presence of its unseen author in the surrounding trees, while among the undergrowth the less frecjuent. but louder and more sustained song of the Mourning Ground- warbler ( GcotJilypis Philadelphia) showed that this species, which had been left at the foot of the uKJuntain, had here reappeared. At intervals, faintly mingling with these songs, from some hidden fastness below, came the fantasia of the Winter Wren, a melody that seemed to pass from the spirit of unclaimed nature, voicing some mvster\- of the mountains. BiCKXEl.L 071 Hylocichla aUcicc bicknelli. 1 55 The clamor of a pai"t\- oi Blue Jays occasionally arose and tiled away in the forest, but here, in this mountain solitude, their screams seemed more subdued than in less primitive regions, and lacked that suggestion of consciousness which individuals con- stantly within human hearing, seem to accjuire. Busily roaming Chickadees (^Par//s atricapilhis) at times came about our path, and the Snowbird ( Jitnco /lyemal/s) was present with its simple song. Olive-backed Thrushes {Hylocichla ustidata szvain- soni) too, were constantly to be heard, and iinalh'. guided bv its near song, one was followed up and secured. A moment later another Thrush darted across the path, and disappearing through a young balsam growth, immediately began to sing a few rods off. The song was different from that of the bird which had just been shot, so much so, in fact, as to be remarked even by my guide. It seemed to be more uniform in character, with less variation and definition of the notes : as I wrote in my note-book at the time— more suggesti\e of the song of //. fuscescois. A conspicuous point of diflerence was that it was more subdued in tone, in fact of a somewhat ^•entriloquous nature. On examining the bird, in hand, although 1 had thought myself familiar with all our eastern JJylocicJihr. I must confess to having been puz- zled. It was obviously neither the Olive-backed nor the Hermit Thrush, the only species of our own smaller Thrushes which from the distribution of their group (as then understood) could possibly be expected to occur. 1 at once noted its general resemblance to the Gray-cheeked Thrush, but it seemed impossible that this Hud- sonian bird could be tbimd so far south at this season ; and though a second specimen pointed more sti'ongly towaid it. it was not until I had reached home and made actual comparisons, that I could feel satisfied that its true relationship was w'ith that species. I had long noticed certain somewhat constant diflei'ences between examples of a//c/- some, sxuainsoni was supposed to hold, viz.. the more southern- born individuals of the species, but that it represents a link spe- cifically connecting the two. the facts already presented refute. As it occurs with true alicice on the autimm migration most specimens of the new form are paler and more browm'sh in color above, and their general size is nearly that of sivai/iso}?i* and these differences mav be regarded by some as approaches towards the latter species. In both species there is a wide individual var- iation, but the closest approach of each towards the other never exceeds that limit within which each may vary without its spe- cific distinctness being compromised. I have yet to see a speci- men of either which would admit of the slightest question as to its identity. I speak thus of adult birds. In such closely related spe- cies the young must almost necessarily approximate, and to these we must appeal foriight on the things that have been — on the question of origin — whether one has been deri\'ed from the other, or both species from a common ancestor. .Such obscure insight into this point as I have l)een permitted seems to indicate that the latter alternative Avill lie foimd to be the more correct, but. for the present, from lack of the necessar\- data this impor- tant subject is proscribed. It is unnecessarv here to repeat the diagnosis of tiie new form of HylocicJila alicice given liy Mr. Ridgway in the paper before cited. As this writer states, the race breeds "probably in other mountainous districts of the northeastern United States" than the single localitx where it was discovered, and it seems very singular that up to the present time we have no knowledge of its occur- rence in the summer season elsewhere, even in regions where the two congeneric species with which it was here associating — 11. * Though averaging of greater length, in proportions this bird averages smaller than swainsoiii, and some specimens are much smaller than any I have seen of the latter species. The wide difference from true allcicE here implied may be illustrated by the following extreme measurements given by the birds of my series : — alicice, length, 8.00; extent, 13.12; wing, 4.35; tail, 3.40. bicknelli, " 0.55 ; " 10.56 ; " 3.40 ; " 2.60. Beckham on tJic Birds of Bayou Sara. Louisiana. \Z^C) nanus* and //. s-uainsoni — are well known to he cominon sum- nier residents. The occurrence of a representative of H. alicice m the United States at all during its Ijreeding season is a matter of surprise, especially when we recollect the boreal distrihution of the typical form during that period, and readf that so far towards the north as the Yukon and the Great Slave Lake it occurs "only as a bird of passage to and from more northern breeding grounds." Additional information respecting the distri- bution of the new race will be awaited with great interest. SHORT NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF BAYOU SARA, LOUISIANA. 15V CMAIII.ES WICKI.IFFE BECKHAM. As the avian tauna of the lower Mississippi Valley is now receiving some attention. ;{; it seems well thatlshoidd contribute my mite of information to the general fund. Bayou Sara and the adjoining town of St. Francisville. in the parish of West Feliciana, are situated on the east bank of the JVlississippi River, 170 miles above New Orleans bv that stream and about So miles in an air line northwest of it. It is 30 or 40 miles north of Baton Rouge, near which place Dr. Langdon made his observations in Apiil. iSSi. The following notes were made principally on and near •AVyoming," two miles from the river, the plantation of Ex-Gov. R. C. Wicklifte, a place possessing peculiarh' agreeable ornithological associations on account of its former owner, Gen. Dawson, having entertained Audubon as his guest for several months. It will be remembered that the type specimen ot Buteo harlani was captured here. * See "The Coues Check List of North American Birds," p. 24. t Birds of North America, p. 12. \ Field Notes on Louisiana Birds. By Dr. F. W. Langdon. lournal of the Cincin- nati Society of Natural History, July, 1881, pp. 145-155. A List of Birds from the Lower Mississippi Valley, Observed During the Summer of 1881, tvith Brief Notes. By O. P. Hay. Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VH, pp. 89-94. l6o Beckham on the Birds of Bayou Sara. Loit is/ana. The topugraphv is much mure interesthig, and is quite thfferent froai that farther south and that immediately opposite on the west side of the river. A level plateau, lOO feet above the levee, begins about a quarter of a mile from the river and extends back into the State of Mississippi. This plateau is deeply cut by numei'ous creeks and ravines, the banks of which are generally densely wooded, with water-oak, sweet gum, cedar, prickly ash, magno- lias, etc. All of the level ground on top is in a state of cultiva- tion ; cotton being the principal crop. A few miles farther up the high ground does not extend so near the riyer, tlie intervening space being occupied by several small lakes and swamps — a great resort for water birds of all kinds. On account of the high water I did not have an opportunity of visiting this interesting field. My observations extended only over a period of five days from April 15th to 19th, 1882, inclusive, but a great deal of ground was canvassed in that time : nearly the wiiole of each day being- spent in the field. A good many birds were shot, but few were preserved, as taxidermy was necessarily subordinateil to field-work. Dr. Langdon in his interesting paper particularly remarks the absence of the Catbird, Black-and-White Creeper, White-browed Yellow-throat, Kentucky Warbler, Large-billed \^'ater Thrush, and the Redstart. l)ut I found all of these at "Wyoming," together with many others not noted by either him or Mr. Hay, the Catbird and Kentucky Warbler being particularly abundant. The writer was gi^eatlv assisted in his work In Mr. Robert W^ederstraudt of '-Wyoming," a young man whose unusually close and accurate observations of birds and bird-life rendered his help peculiarly \ahiable. Many of the following notes are credited to him entirely. 1 ha\e followed the nomenclature of the Smithsonian list of 1881. 1. Hylocichla mustelina ( Gm. ) Bd. Wood Thrush. — Common in woodland, and several seen in the yard near the house. 2. Merula migratoria (Z,.) S-w. aud Rich. American Robin. — Not ob.served. They appear here in large numbers early in February to feed on the fruit of the -'wild peach." and hundreds are shot for the table. They leave early in March. 3. Mimus polyglottus (/,. i Boie. .Mockingbird. — \&r\ abundant, both in the town about gardens and yards, and in the country. P'requent- ing open ground exclusively. P'our sets of eggs were taken ; two perfectly fresh, and two about half incubated. .Mr. Wederstraudt called my atten- tion to a curious foraging habit of this bird. ^Ve noticed one hopping Beckham on the Birds of Bavou Sara. Louisiana. l6l along the ground in an open grassy place, pausing at every three or four hops to extend and close its wings. It repeated this several times until a grasshopper was flushed, when the bird immediately "reached" for it, and having captured it, made ofl:' to a neighboring bush to eat it. Mr. Weder- straudt sajs that he has observed this interesting performance many times. 4. Galeoscoptes carolinensis {L.) Cab. Catbird. — Abundant in the shrubbery in the creek bottoms. None were seen near the dwellings. 5. Harporliynclius rufus (Z,.) Cab. Brown Thrasher. — Abundant in same places as the last. Three clutches of three eggs each were taken, in one of which incubation was verj^ far advanced, and on the 19th a nest was found containing two young nearly able to fly. 6. Sialia sialis (/..) Haldcm.. Bluebird. — Observed several pairs in town and in the country. Not as common as in Kentucky. 7. Polioptila caerulea (Z,.) Scl. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — A conmion, and, on account of its active and noisy habits, conspicuous bird. 8. Lophophanes bicolor (X.) Bp. Tufted Titmouse. — Not very common. Frequenting principally the tops of trees. 9. Parus carolinensis And. Carolina Chickadee. — But few ob- served. A pair bred in a hole in a cedar post within twentv yards of the house last j-ear. 10. Thryothorus ludovicianus (G';«.) Bp. Carolina Wren. — Very abundant everywhere. A clutch of three eggs was taken on the 19th from a nest in a small recess formed by the junction of several timbers, under the piazza, which was frequented at all times of the day. The nest was empty on the i6th, one egg was deposited on the 17th, one on tlie iSth, and one on the 19th. I saw neither of the old birds about the place at all, and it was only by capturing the female on the nest at night, that the eggs were positively identified. A pair ha\e bred about this piazza for many years, I am informed. 11. Mniotilta varia (X.) V. Black-and-white Creeper. — X male, the only one seen at all, was captured in a dense wood on the 17th. \z. Parula aniericana (Z.) Bp. Blue-yellow-backed Warbler. — Very abundant. A persistent but weak vocalist. 13. Dendroeca aestiva (Gm.) Bd. Summer Yellowbikd. — Com- mon in open places. 14. Dendroeca blackburniae {Gw.^ Bd. Blackburnian Warbler. — Common in large trees about open ground. 15. Dendroeca dominica albilora Bd. White-browed-yellow- THROATED W.\rbler. — A male, the onlv one seen, was shot out of a mag- nolia tree on the loth. In all of my Kentucky specimens of this bird the anterior portion of the superciliary line has a trace of yellow. In this one no yellow is perceptible. 16. Dendroeca pinus ( IF/y.";.) Bd. Pine-creeping Warbler. — Ap- parently not uncommon. Preferring open ground. In song. 17. Siurus auricapillus {L.) S-w. Golden-crowned Thrush. — One specimen captured in a thicket on the 15th. 18. Siurus motacilla {V.) Coi/es. Large-billed Water Thrush. 1 62 Beckham on the Birds ofBayju S.rra. Lo?(ls'ia)ia. — Heard one singing in a densely wooded ravine on the 17th. Mr. Weder- straudt has often seen them in pairs along the smaller water-courses. 19. Oporornis formosa {Wils.) Bd. Kentucky Warbler. — One of the most abundant inhabitants of the dense growth along the ravines. Two or three were often heard singing at the same time. 20. Geotlilypis trichas (Z.) Cab. Maryland Yellow-throat.— Abundant in the usual places. 21. Icteria virens (Z.) ^(f. Yellow-breasted Chat. — Very abun- dant. In full song. 22. Myiodioctes mitratus (G;«.) .'l//f/. Hooded Warbler.— P\nind in same places, and almost as abundant as the Kentucky Warbler. An inhabitant of the undergrowth principally. In song ; its note being uttered at intervals of 15 or 20 seconds as it hops from branch to branch in pursuit of insects. 21. Setophaga ruticilla {L.) Szv. — Redstart. —A single specimen, a male, captured in a swamp. It was in company with a female. 24. Vireosylvia olivacea (Z.) ^/. Red-eyed Vireo. — Very abun- dant exerywhere. 25. Vireosylvia gilva (F. ) Cass. Warbling Vireo. — Heard one singing in a shade tree in Bayou Sara on the. 15th. 26. Vireo noveboraceusis {Gm.) Bp. White eyed Vireo. — \cvy abundant and voluble everywhere. 27. Lauius ludovicianus L. Loggerhead Shrike.— Not observed. Mr. Wederstraudt says that they are not uncommon here in tlie fall. He once saw one kill and devour a small bird in a thorn tree. 28. Ampelis cedrorum (F.) Bd. Cedar Wax-wing. — Observed several small flocks. Said to be very abundant here in winter when num- bers are shot for the table. Known here as the ''ortolan" — the fourth bird, I believe, embraced under that comprehensive name. 29. Progne subis (Z.) Bd. Purple Martin. — Common about Ixnou Sara an'd St. Francisville. 30. Stelgidopteryx serripannis {Aud.) Bd. Rough-winged Swal- low. — Very abundant. Beginning to breed. Several holes examhied but no eggs found. One was shot out of a dead tree. 31. Pyranga eestiva (Z.) F. SuiMmer Redbird. — Abundant about dwellings and open ground. In song. T,2. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna ( IVi'/s.) Ridgiv. Savan- na Sparrow. — Common in old wet fields. (Jne indiNidual captured, a female, had a very large tiunor on the bill and ^e\eral t-maller ones on the toes. 33. Zonotrichia albicollis {Gm.) Bp. V\'iiite-throatkd Sparrow. — Abundant in parties of six or eight in the luidergrow th about open places in the low lands. 34. Peucaea aestivalis illinoensis Ridgiv. Oak-woods Sparrow. — Two specimens of this interesting form v>ere taken; both males. One was shot from the top of a small bush near the edge of an old corn lield: the other from the top of an isolated pine on the edge of a cottoii Held. Beckham oh the Birds of Bayou Sara. Louisiana. 1 63 Both were singing when shot. No others were observed. This. I believe. is the most southeasterly "record" of the form. l^. Melospiza palustris ( IV/is.) Bd. Swamp Sp.\rrow. — Not un- common in the usual places. 36. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Z.) V. Chewink ; Towhee. — Abun- dant. Locally known as the "Joree." 37. Cardinalis virginianus {Br/ss.) Bf. CapvDi.nal Grosbeak.— Very abundant. Took a set of three fresh eggs on the 17th. Nest as usual. 38. Passerina cyanea (Z,.) Gray. Indigo Bunting. — Rather com- mon about open places, but very shy. Not in song. 39. Passerina ciris (Z.) Gray. Painted Bunting ; Nonpareil. — First seen on the i6th. A male in lull song captured on the 19th — the only two seen. Mr. Wederstraudt, who has trapped them, using a captive male as a decoy, says that the same individual is alvvavs to be found within a few hundred feet of the place \\herc first observed. I saw several males in confinement in New Orleans, and observed that the red of the under- parts was heavily blotched and obscured by yellow, and attributed it to immaturity, but was informed that it was due to the confinement. They are called "Pops" here, the derivation of which name-I could not make out. 40. Agelaeiis phceniceus (i^-) V. Red-and buff-shouldkred Blackbird. — Abundant in swampy places. 41. Sturnella magna (X.) S%v. Meadow Lark. — Common in old fields. Their note seemed to ine to be different from that of the Kentucky bird. 42. Icterus spurius {L.) Bp. Orchard Oriole. — Common about open ground. 43. Icterus galbtila (Z.) Coitcs. Baltimore Orkle. — Observed several singing in shade trees in Bayou Sara and St. Francisville. 44. Quiscalus purpureus (Bar/r.) Licht. Purple Crackle. — A common Crackle about the river and bayou at Bavou Sara is referred to this form, as the one found forty or fifty miles down the river is according to Dr. Langdon the Purple, and not the Bronzed Crackle. 45. Corvus frugivorus /?y me. Go\'. Wicklifle says that twenty years ago it was quite com- mon here at times in large flocks, and Mr. Wederstraudt has several times observed it within the last few years, but never more than two or three together at a time. About eighteen months ago he saw one in an orchard near "Wyoming." 63. Scops asio {L.) Bp. Little .Screech Owl. — Found here, according to Mr. Wederstraudt. 64. Bubo virginianus (Gw.) Bp. Great-horned Owl. — Given as a common inhabitant by Mr. Wederstraudt. 65. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis lyGm.) Ridgxv. American Os- prey; Fish Hawk. — Often seen here, according to the natives. 66. Halicetus leucocephalus (Z,.) Savig. Bald Eagle. — Said to occasionally occur here. 67. Cathartes aura (Z-.) Illig. Turkey Buzzard. — Common. 68. Cathariata atrata (JV/ls.) Bess. Black Vulture; Carrion Crow. — Very abundant. I flushed thirty or forty, one day, from the car- cass of a dead hors't. Beckham on the Birds of Bavou Sara^ Louisiana. 1 6c; 69. Zenaidura carolinensis (Z.) Bp. Mourning Dovk. — Abundant about open places. I took a clutch of two fresh eggs on the 19th from a nest on a iiorizontal limb of a water oak, eight feet from the ground. 70. Ortyx virginianus (Z.) Bp. Bob -white; American Quail. — Abundant in pairs about cultivated ground. Thej are not much hunted here as the shooting is very difficult, for when fluslied thev immediately make for the thickets. 71. iirdea herodias L. Great Blup: Heron. — One was seen on the igth flying towards the swamp. 72. Herodias alba egretta (Gfn.) lUdg-w. American Egret. — A flock of eight was observed on the 19th flying towards the swamp. 73. Eutoiides virescens f'Z.) Bp. Green Heron. — A common bird about the creeks and ponds. 74. Oxyechus vociferus (Z.) Reich. Killdeer. — Saw a party of eight on the creek. They were very tame. 75. Philohela minor {Gin.) Gray. American Woodcock. — Not observed. Said to be common here in the fall, when they are hunted in the cotton fields at night with torches. 76. G-allinago media wilsoni {Tcinin.) Ridgw. Wilson's Snipe. — Not observed, but said to be common here in early spring. 77. Rhyacophilus solitarius (W/ls.) Cass. Solitary Sandpiper. — Two individuals were several times noted about a pond of stagnant water. 78. Tringoides macularius (Z..) Gray. Spotted Sandpiper. — Several times observed along the creeks. 76. Rallus elegans ylKff. Red-breasted Rail. — One several times seen in a small pond thickly overgrown with small trees, water-lillies etc.. 80. Rallus virginianus L. Virginia Rail. — One seen in same place as the last. Both eluded capture. 81. Fulica americana Gm. American Coot. — Not observed, but said to be common here in fall and early spring. Known here by the Creole name of "Poulet Dean," 82. Anas boschas L. Mallard. — Not observed, but it is said to be common here during the migrations. 83. Querquedula discors (Z.) Stcpk. Blue-winged Teal. — Two were shot out of a flock of eight on the i6th on Alexander's Creek. 84. Aix sponsa (Z.) Bote. Wood-duck; Summer Duck. — Not ob- served, but common in the swamp, I am Informed. 85. Pelecanus f iiscus Z. Brown Pelican. — Said to breed in the lakes above Bayou Sara. 86. Podilymbus podiceps (Z.) Lawr. Thick-billed Grebe. — Not observed, but. well known here. ■* job Nehrling on Birds of Southeastern Texas. LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT HOUSTON, HARRIS CO., TEXAS, AND IN THE COUNTIES MONT- GOMERY, GALVESTON AND FORD BEND. BY H. NEHRLIXG. {^Continued from p. ij.) 87. Molothrus ater Gray. Cowbird. — Very abundant throughout the \'ear. They come in large flocks into the streets of the city in the winter months to search for food; they also associate at that season with ScolecopJiagiis cyanocephaliis Cab. I have never seen anywhere else such numbers of these birds as here, and in the breeding season most of the nests of our small birds contain eggs of this parasite. 87a. Molothrvis ater obscurus Ctf«e5. Dwarf Cowbird. — -A com- mon bird during the breeding season. It is smaller than its near relative: and quicker in its motions. Moves usually in flocks of from two to ten. I first observed the bird when it was just leaving the nest of I.anivirco jiavifrons. Bd., and found its &^% in it, besides four of the Vireo's. The egg is smaller and not so thickly sprinkled as that of the common Cowbird. 88. Xanthocephaliis icterocephalixs Bd. Yellow-headed Black- bird. — Very common in marshy localities from the latter part of October to March and April. I think some remain to breed, as I observed small Aocks during May in the low prairie districts overgrown with reeds and other water plants. The best opportunity I ever had to study the breeding habits of this beautiful but very locally distributed Blackbird was in the Calumet Marshes near Kensington, about eighteen miles south of Chicago, where I discovered in a single day about fifty nests among the reeds. Dur- ing the w'inter months they associate with Molothrus ater. Agelceus phce- niceus. and ScolecopJiagiis cyanocephaliis: many migrate further south, and in cold winters only a few remain near Houston. 89. Agelaeiis phoeniceus Vieill. Red-wixged Blackbird. — Com- mon in swamps, but not so abundant as I have found these birds to be in Wisconsin and Illinois. May 6, 18S1, I discovered a nest in a somewhat strange position, in a blackberry-bush {Rubus vi'llosns) on the edge of a thicket; there was no swamp within a mile. This was in the northern part of Harris County. Only a few remain to winter, the greater part migrating farther south. 90. Sturnella magna S-cains. Meadow L.\kk. — Common summer soiourner, and very abundant during winter; inany thousands are killed in the latter season by pot-hunters. During summer the Meadow Lark is strictlva prairie bird, always to be looked for on the open grassy saxannas : Nehrling 071 Birds of Soittheastern Texas. 167 I never found the bird breeding in a cotton field or corn field. In winter, however, they phange their habits, and in large flocks visit the sugar-cahe, cotton, and corn fields. 91. Icterus spurius Bp. Orchard Oriole. — Common during mi- grations. 91a. Icterus spurius affinis Coucs. Southern Orchard Oriole. — Very common summer sojourner ; breeds in all suitable localities, especially in peach gardens. The bird is decidedlj' smaller than the northern variety ; it is also more active and quicker in its motions. The song is much more varied, and louder, quicker and more beautiful, reminding one of the song of the Baltimore Oriole. The nest is smaller, but it is built of the same materials — green grasses, lined with cotton. May 8, 1S81. I discovered a very curious but not quite finished nest near Spring Creek, only a few yards from a dwelling. For several days I had observed a pair of these birds carrying fresh green grasses to a laurel oak (^«erc/« imbricaria), that was densely covered with large hanging bunches of Spanish moss {Tillandsia usyieoides) \ they disappeared every time into a bunch of moss, 3'et I could see no nest. At last, on taking down the bunch of moss, I was surprised to find a beautiful structure in my hands. The grasses and moss were all woven firmly together ; the entrance was on the side. 92. Scolecophagus ferrugineus Swains. Rusty Blackbird. — Very rare. A few seen in March, iSSi, among flocks of the following species. 93. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus Cab. Brewer's Blackbird. — During winter the most common of the family IcteridcB. They are very abundant in Houston from the early part of November to April, when they disappear for the north ; by the end of that month only a few remain to breed in suitable localities. I found several nests May 5, 1881, in thick, small oaks near the Rose Hill Post Office in the northern part of Harris County. The}' were built in the tops of young post oaks (.^uercits obtusi- lobn), about twelve to fifteen feet from the ground, and contained from two to five eggs each. The nests were composed exteriorly of strong slender plant stems and coarse grasses, and were lined with fine grasses. These birds are very unsuspicious and bold during winter, running about in even the most crowded city streets, and also frequenting dooi--yards. On cold days they are easily cavight. I had a pair over a year in a cage ; they soon became reconciled to confinement, and were lively, interesting pets. 94. Quiscaliis purpureus aeneus Iiidg-zv. Bronzed Grakle. — The most abundant of all the Blackbirds during the breeding season, arriving from their more southern winter qiiarlers early in March. None remain, so far as my observations go, during winter. Thej' breed abundantly in the larger gardens of Houston, especially in the mountain cedars {Juni- penis occideiitalis texatia)., and the live and water oaks (^^ttercus virens et ^. aquatica). In the thick young oak grove near Rose Hill Post Office I found a large colony of about two hundred pairs breeding and in their company also the Boat-tailed Grakles {^uiscalus major) and Brewers Blackbirds [Scolecophagus cyanocephalus'), but each species, had its own 1 68 Nehi{LIN'G 071 Bii'ds of Sonthcasiern Texas. limited nesting range. Everv nest was built in the top of a slender oak and all the nests examined were neat, strong, and large structures ; they were constructed of plant stems, slender grasses, fragments of corn-husks, intermingled with sheep's wool, and lined with finer grasses. In some nests a layer of mud was also to be found. 95. Quiscalus major Vieill. Boat-tailed Grakle. — Qiiite regu- larly distributed over the coast region of Texas. I found the birds breed- ing in the colonies of the Little Blue Heron {Florida ccerulea) and the Snowy Heron {Gai'zctta candidissima), on the button bushes (^Ccfhalaii- thus occidentalis) standing in the water. May 6, 18S1. I observed a colony of about twenty pairs near Rose Hill Post Office. They were all busily engaged in building their nests in the tops of young oaks. Only a few nests were finished, and only one contained eggs, four in number. Nest composed of weed stalks, grasses and sheep's wool, lined with finer grasses; cavity very shallow if compared with nests of ^liscalus furpiireus ccueiis and Scolecophagus cyauocephalus. The male has a few very fine song- like notes, different from those of every other Blackbird. 96. Corvusfrugivorus i?rt;'/'r. Common Crow. — In winter numbers are to be observed on Galveston Bay, near bayous, and on the sugar cane fields near the Brazos. In spring they scatter over the country, breeding in all suitable localities, but the}' are then nowhere common in the coast region. 97. Cyanocitta cristata Strickl. Blue Jay. — A very common res- ident; breeds abundantly in all woody localities; also often in gardens on mountain cedars and sometimes on the beautiful Japan medlars (^Eriobo- trya japonica^. Very bold and tame when well treated, coming then into door-yards and even into houses. 98. Milvulus forficatus ^ir. Scissok-t ailed Flycather; -'Texan Bird of Paradise"; "Fork-tail." — Very common summer sojourner; breeds frequently' in the '"bosquets" on the prairies, on the borders of woods, on isolated trees in the fields, and even in gardens. As the nest in this part of Texas is in most cases placed in trees, densely covered with Tillandsia, it is almost impossible to discover it. These beautiful birds are not at all retiring in their habits ; in man}' instances they are so tame as to breed in close proximity to dwellings. They arrive from their winter quarters late in March, sometimes in the first days of April. Very often two broods are raised yearly. I found fresh eggs as late as July 4. The nests in the coast region are built partly of grasses but especially of gray Spanish moss. In September, after the breeding season, they gather in large flocks, visiting the cotton fields, where multitudes of cotton worms {Aleiia argillacea) and their moths abound, on which they, with many other small birds, eagerly feed ; early in October they depart for the South. 99. Tyrannus carolinensis Temm. Kingbird. — Common summer resident. Arrives from the South late in March or early in April, when the beautiful native yellow jessamine {^Gehemiujn sempervirens) fills the air with its pleasant odor. Nests commonly in the honey locust (G/e