neal ae | atl * ROE We Nalarvn eye wane ee Vim ANA Aa. aamasaananaaner hore 7 is g * a 7 he Tn ne cnARURRRAAARR 1 ESRC AM Amann AANA aA BK ot AA RAR RAR MAB. Ba! anne aa CA RAARANAR, , mA Rach ala oF NERA. BA | sara mm ee r ~ i y oe ams Pr Pr Bir rane xg Crier AVA AR RARAA Sy AN; eaaayy fe sale ‘ “wr mare a ag A feel BP ERMEGReRG apenas aoe a Ae ae A Val os ‘ oto Mesttnastansroein, Dgarnan ee . Sa : Ayan ‘ “see Ce ana al A poe he eee Palen. i ny " A aot ae Annan AARA.- nae : wee a = ) x “ 2 ) 2D yw 2S » Ds) >» Dap) 2 > D> > 3.22 DD » SAAL RA : 5 RET te ) >. > as) OF >. “ges n° oD yy 2 Ss > Sp) PP SD ag > aD > > De (#5 pp har 2 % 5 1d 3 u ae “ ig b) } 3 Mibrary of the Museum Or COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, AT HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Pounded by private subscription, in 1861. Deposited by ALEX. AGASSIZ. Mee OLD SERIEs, CONTINUATION OF THE New SERIES VoL. XIV. BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB Vou. VI ‘The Auk A Quarterly Journal of Oriithology EDITOR, jo Aa ALL EN ASSOCIATE EDITOR, C. F. BATCHELDER PUBLISHED FOR The American Ornithologists’ Union NEW YORK iL. Ss. Fos TER Vm 1889 4 t IM t bf ‘ a | TG Tt LE0UCOK C08, eu Pea yadidanao 5 ’ oh 2 > ; ; rr CONTENTS OF VOLUME: VI. NUMBER I. PAGE THE BooMING OF THE BITTERN. By Bradford Torrey a: Tue MAIN Divisions oF THE Swirts. By Frederic A. Lucas S) A SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS OF THE GULF COAST oF FLoripa. By W. £. D. Scott . . 5 1 An ACCOUNT OF THE BREEDING HABITS OF Pufinus quidabons IN THE ISLAND OF GRENADA, WEST INDIES, WITH A NOTE ON Zenaida rubripes. By George N. Lawrence : : 19 BirpDs OF CARROLL County, INDIANA. By Barton W. erie yy 22 A List oF THE BIRDS COLLECTED BY MR. C. J. MAYNARD IN THE IsLanps oF LirTLE CAYMAN AND CAYMAN Brack, WeEsT IN- pies. By Charles B. Cory . ‘ : : > Ie NoTeEs ON THE Hapsits, NESTS, AND EGGS OF Di pagipis obscu- rus fuliginosus RIDGW., THE SooTY Grouse. By Caft. Charles E. Bendire : : : 32 ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF Hee gee Claman. TiAgeneeueRTnS. By Walter Faxon j 3 : 39 REMARKS UPON ABNORMAL Souene OF PLUMAGE OBSERVED IN SEVERAL SPECIES OF Birps. By Geo. N. Lawrence . a AG NOTES ON THE BiRDS OF WHITE Top MOUNTAIN, VIRGINIA. By William C. Rives, Fr., M. D. 5 : : 2 WSO A New NAME FOR THE SPECIES OF Sporophila FROM TEXAS, GEN- ERALLY KNOWN AS S. morellett. By George N. Lawrence 53 SIxTH CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION 55 RECENT LITERATURE. Cooke’s ‘Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley,’ 58; Nelson’s Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska, 61; Jordan’s New Manual of Vertebrates, 63; Sharpe’s ‘Birds in Nature,’ 63; Birds of Nova Scotia, 64; Publications Received, 65. iv Contents of Volume VI. GENERAL NOTES. The present Status of Forster’s Tern as a Bird of New England, 66; Notes on Brewster’s and the Blue-footed Gannet, 67; H7¢strzonzcus histrionicus on Long Island, New York, 67; Chen cerulescens in Massachusetts, 68; Baird’s Sandpiper in Central New York, 68; The Northern Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) in the Franconia Mountains, New Hampshire, 68; Occurrence of the Western Sandpiper (Ereunetes occidentalis) in Numbers on the Coast of Massachusetts, 69; Sandpipers at Sea—A Correction, 69; Re- markable flight of Killdeer (Zgtal¢tés vocifera) near Portland, Maine, 69; Note on @gialitis meloda circumcincta, 70; The Turkey Buzzard in Massachusetts, 70; Krider’s Hawk (uteo borealis kriderit) on the Coast of Georgia, 70; First Description of the Egg of Glaucidium phalenoides, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, 70; [A New Generic Name for the Elf Owl], 71; Sphyrapicus yuber Breeding in Coniferous Trees, 71; Occurrence of Traill’s Flycatcher near Washington, D. C., 71; Early Appearance of Empidonax minimus at Portland, Maine, 71; Second Occurrence of the Prairie Horned Lark in Eastern Massachusetts, 71; Molothrus ater in Massachusetts in December, 72; The Cowbird as a Fly- destroyer, 72; Notes upon the Sudden Appearance in Numbers of the Evening Grosbeak at Fort Wingate, New Mexico, 72; Log- gerhead Shrike at Bridgeport, Connecticut, 74; First Occurrence of the Philadelphia Vireo near Washington, D. C., 74; Unusual Nesting Site of Dendroica virens,74; A Rare Bird in Chester Co., South Carolina, 74; A Peculiar Nest of Czzclus mexicanus, 75; Troglodytes aédon, House Wren, Breeding ina Sand Bank, 76; Sanxicola enanthe in Louisiana, 76; Summer Birds at Bridge- water and Moultonboro’, New Hampshire, 76. CORRESPONDENCE. The proper Name for the Genus Melanzfztta of Schlegel, 79. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituary.—Henry Stevenson, 79; Count August Friedrich Marschall, 80; Nicolas Michailovitch Prejevalsky, 80; Thure Kumlien, 81; William T. Breese, 81; Supplement to the A. O. U. Check-List, 81; Abridged Edition of the Check List, 81; Birds that are to be Discussed at the Next Meeting of the A. O. U., 82; A Uniform Method for Measuring Birds, 82; Incorporation of the A. O. U., 82; Nuttall Ornithological Club, 83; Second Congress of the International Ornithological Committee, 83; Metric System in Ornithology, 84; Recent Ornithological Explorations, 84. NUMBER II. PAGE DESCRIPTIONS OF SUPPOSED NEW BiRDS FROM WESTERN NorTH AMERICA AND Mexico. By Welliam Brewster . c 0 - 85 ON THE SUMMER BirpDs OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. By Walter Faxon . 3 2 : A j 5 ‘ - 99 Contents of Volume VI. NOTES ON THE GENERAL Hasirs, Nests AND EGGS OF THE GENUS Passerella. By Capt. Charles E. Bendire : ; NOTES ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF THE RESTIGOUCHE VALLEY, Nrw Brunswick. By Fokn Brittain and Philip Cox, Fr. Nores oN WESTERN Nortu CaArotina Birps. By W. A. a les and F. A. Fef/ries : ; : 3 ADDITIONS TO THE CATALOGUE OF THE Bae OF Aas WITH NOTES IN REGARD TO THEIR Hapits. By WV. S. Goss . : : Birp Notes From LITrLe GULL ISLAND, SuFFOLK Co., N. Y. By Basil Hicks Dutcher H 5 : - F : 5 Birp Nores From Lone JIsLAND, NEw York. By Welliam Dutcher : b ¢ é : : ; : ; GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF BiRD MuiGRATION. By Wetmer Stone 5 ; : 4 3 P : ‘ NOTES ON THE hae OF THE iwinteioy sve Istanps. By Dr. Louzs P. Bishop DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPOSED NEST AND Bees OF Day ichta auer- ula, HARRIS’s SPARROW. By Capt. Charles E. Bendire A SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS OF THE GULF COAST OF FLoripa. By W. £. D. Scott : : : : Recorps oF RarE Birps At Key West, FLORIDA, AND VICINITY, wITH A NOTE ON THE CAPTURE OF A DOVE (Geofrygonu mon- tana) New To NortH America. By W.£.D. Scott . THE CLAPPER RAILS OF THE UNITED STATES AND West INDIES CoMPARED wiTit fallus lougirostris OF SouTH AMERICA. By George B. Sennett : : : ‘ RESTORATION OF AN AUDUBONIAN FORM OF Geothilypis iyiches TO THE AMERICAN AVIFAUNA. By &. M. Hasbrouck RECENT LITERATURE. Supplement to the A. O. U. Code of Nomenclature and Check-List of North American Birds, 168; The Abridged A. O. U. Check-List, 169; Warren’s ‘ Birds of Pennsylvania,’ 170; Ridgway on New or Little known American Birds, 171; Bendire on the Nests and Eggs of Rare Species of North American Birds, 173; Lawrence on a New Species of American Bird, 173; Stejneger on the Japanese Creepers, 173; Beckham on the Birds of Southwestern Texas, 173; Minor Ornithological Publications, 174; Publications Received, 184. GENERAL NOTES. Sterna paradisea—A Correction, 186; The Wood Ibis in Indiana, 186; Additional Notes on the Bittern, 187; ZTrénga batrdii on Long Island Sound, 189; Note on the First Plumage of Colz- nus ridgwayt, 189; Another Saw-whet Owl (Wyctala aca- dica) in the District of Columbia, 189; A Fishing Screech Owl, 189; Brewer's Blackbird near New Orleans, 190; The - Chestnut-collared and Lapland Longspurs on Long Island, N. Y., 190; Breeding of Hadéa ludovictana in Niagara County, New . 160 LOE - 167 vi Contents of Volume VT. York, 191; Calamosfiza melanocorys on Long Island, N. Y., 192; Loggerhead Shrike at Bridgeport, Conn. —A _ Correction, 192; Helminthophila pinus, H. chrysoptera, H. leucobronchialis, and H. dawrenceé in Connecticut in the Spring of 1888, 192; The Connecticut Warbler in Vermont, 193; WZyadestes townsendt¢ Apparently Wintering in Wyoming, 193; Another Western Bird in South Carolina, 194; Bicknell’s “Thrush Breeding in Vermont, 194; Some Rare Rhode Island Birds, 194; Some Rare Virginia Birds,194; Costal Variations in Birds, 195. SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. Linnean Society of New York, 196. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituary.—Thure Ludwig Theodor Kumlien, 204; S. Lowell Elliott, 206; Richard Spaulding Wray, 206; Maynard’s ‘Eggs of North American Birds’ and ‘Contributions to Science,’ 206; ‘Ornitholo- gists’ and OGlogists’ Semi-Annual’, 206; ‘Hawkeye Ornithologist and Odlogist’, 207; ‘The Curlew,’ 207; A List of the Birds of Minnesota, 207; California Ornithological Club, 207; Kent Scien- tific Institute, 208; Officers of the California Academy of Sciences, 208; Specimens for Examination at the Next Meeting of the A. O. Was 208 Ornithological Explorations, 208; Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, 208. NUMBER III. PAGE DESCRIPTION OF SUPPOSED NEW SPECIES OF HUMMINGBIRDS BELONG- ING TO THE GENERA Amazilia AND Eriocuemts. By D. G. Elliot, 1s Ike So, Lib 209 SoME ACCOUNT OF THE BirDS OF SOUTHERN Caammaw. FROM THE MSS. or A. HaGERup. Edited by Montague Chamberlain. Nores oN West INDIAN Birps. By Charles B. Cory : BIRDS OBSERVED AT SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA. By W. A. Feffrtes : : : : c : ON THE HIATUS EXISTING BETWEEN THE SERENE Rawers OF THE LOGGERHEAD AND WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKES. By G. #. Ragsdale . S 6 4 6 : . F Picicorvus columbianus (WILS.), eran S NumoRacea. Irs NEsT AND EGGs,xETc. By Capt. Charles E. Bendire . SuMMER Birps oF EasTLAND County, Texas. By &. M. tees brouck A Birp WAVE. iB Philip Co $r. 6 : ' ON THE SpeciFic IDENTITY OF Luzeo Beenie AND Bingen Poe ginosus, WITH ADDITIONAL RECORDS OF OCCURRENCE IN FLorI- pa. By W. #. D. Scott. s 5 ; ; Contents of Volume VT. A SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE BirDS oF THE GULF Coast oF FLoripA. By W. EZ. D. Scott. : : : : : : AN UNDESCRIBED Susspecies or Dryobates pubescens. By C. F. Batchelder AN Unusual FLicut or KILLpEer PLover (42 gialitis vocifera) ALONG THE NEw ENGLAND Coast. By Dr. Arthur P. Chad- bourne. A New Species or Duck From Texas. By George B. Sennett RECENT LITERATURE. Cory’s Birds of the WestIndies, 265; Sclater’s Catalogue of the Mesomyodian Passeres, 266; Sclater and Hudson’s ‘Argentine Ornithology,’ 268; Gould’s ‘Birds of New Guinea,’ 269; Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley, by W. W. Cooke, 270; Pub- lications Received , 272. GENERAL NOTES. The Florida Gallinule Breeding in Vermont, 273; The Killdeer Plover (4gvalitis voctfera) wintering on the New England Coast, 274; The Wild Turkey inthe North Carolinia Mountains, 275; Buteo brackyurus in Florida, 275; A Hawk bearing a Legend, 276; Micropallas whitneyi, Elf Owl, taken in Texas, 276; Antros- tomus vociferus in Porto Rico, 276. The Olivaceous Flycatcher and Phoebe in Colorado, 276; The Ravenas a South Carolinian, 277; The Lapland Longspur near Chicago in June, 278; He/- minthophila backmani on the East Coast of Florida, 278; The Inter- breeding of Helminthophila pinus and H. chrysoptera, 279; Den- droica coronata feeding upon Oranges, 279; Recent Capture of Kirtland’s Warbler in Michigan, and other Notes, 279; Poloptila Plumbea at Palm Springs, California, 280; Winter Notes from Portland, Maine, 28o. CORRESPONDENCE. A Suggestion tothe A. O. U. Committee on the Revision of the Check-List of North American Birds, 28r. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituary.—Dr. Jerome Henry Kidder, 282; ‘Birds of Pennsylvania,’ 283; Nehrling’s ‘North American Birds,’ 283; Audubon Ornitho- logical Club, 284; Report of the Ornithologist of the U. S. De- partment of Agriculture, 284. NUMBER IV. THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE WILD PIGEON (Ecfofpistes migrato- rius) AS A BIRD OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH SOME NOTES ON Irs Hasits. By William Brewster vii to 72) mn Vili Contents of Volume VI. SoME ACCOUNT OF THE BIRDS OF SOUTHERN GREENLAND, FROM THE MSS. or A. HAGeERup. Edited by Montague Chamberlain - 291 DESCRIPTION OF THE NEST AND EGGs oF Megascops asto maxwellie, THE Rocky MOouNTAIN SCREECH OwL. By Caft. Charles E. Bendire . : 4 : : ‘ 3 i 5 A 4 . 298 NoTreEs ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF ENGLEWooD, NEw Jersey. By Frank M. Chapman . 9 - 302 NOTES ON THE BLUE-WINGED WARBLER AND ITS neues (Helms phila pinus, H. leucobronchialis, H. lawrence AND H. chrysop- tera) IN CONNECTICUT. By Hdwin H. Eames . 6 . - 305 List oF THE Birps oF FuLToN County, Kentucky. By ZL. Ofley IEG PUG, 6 0 : ; 0 é oe Tae : - 310 A SECOND SPECIMEN OF ones BITTERN (Botaurus San By W.E.D. Scott é ‘ : ‘ : : : a Bly A SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS OF THE GULF Caner oF FLroripA. By W. E. D. Scott . . 3 5 : : 0 Biz RECENT LITERATURE. Barrow’s Report on the English Sparrow in North America, 326; Davie’s Nests and Eggs of North American Birds, 328; Birds through an Opera Glass, 330; Stone’s Catalogue of the Musci- capidee in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy of Natu- ral Sciences, 330; Bergtold’s List of the Birds of Buffalo and Vicinity, 331; Keyes and Williams’s Preliminary Catalogue of ue Birds of Iowa, 332; Taylor’s Catalogue of Nebraska Birds. 332; Shufeldt’s Recent Contributions to “the Osteology of North es Birds, 333; Gould’s Supplement to the Trochilidz, 3345 Publications Recieved, 334. GENERAL NOTES. A New Duck for Massachusetts. Momonyx domitnicus, 336; Phala- ropus lobatus and Phalaropus tricolor, 336; Nesting Habits of the Parrakeet (Conurus carolinensis), 336; Melanerpes carolinus Eating Oranges, 337;. The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) in Connecticut, 338; Mortality among Eave Swallows, 338; The Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendrotca dominica) near Washing- ton, D. C., 339; Troglodytes aédon, House Wren, Building in a Hornets’ Nest, 339; Birds near Springfield, Massachusetts, 340; Notes from Minnesota, 340; Notes from Wyoming, 341. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituary.—Eugen Ferdinand von Homeyer, 341; The Seventh Con- gress of the American Ornithologists’ Union, 341; Recent Ex- plorations, 342; A New Publication, 342. OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 1888-89. Expiration of Term. ANTLIUIBINn Wo Jon YEAPSC Tinoco doo 5DaGn 6obes0 ob soL4 pieraeenign: November, Coves, Erxiorr, \ VACewPretd ents: sae neon caves “ec RipGway, ROBERT, MiGs AMIS (C5 IRENA, SiGe, eu gioode5nc0 pbuoGooobO OUGd Bis c DiERCHERE WIRETAM,) «297 CQS7200-6 oi + ljei= 6 ses =< 26 sioiess)-)-1 ‘ ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. ERIS ADE Roya A TeV ANVI fo) ava letove oy stayaichessiane hotavarseecetiars slatheia oreke November, Cory, (CHB. ETAS ITE ata Beh eRe Cn ee SATEIEAE CC) Tee DUEACNID Balint: (Grtctrsice acta te torara srareyrobsres ckcdate rote ace bake euetcher see els ee SPHINN S ETP AcUviaye leloDuNUR Ves VAP yoreronen ancy cue accra evsioieucheces stave we serch eee eels “ IDA IRENE GD OR'GE MN era crerecare are cle leer eee cae ve MGI Nadet Ma NstOMUNSeo peo soode coodD sabe oneDoe Wisteroten ale Ge SHREIND GH RY oly ONEVARID lay arevetersie siorokel hoietalavetaers lotersiai eis ele ercie 3 EDITORIAL STAFF OF ‘THE AUK.’ ALLEN, ay: TSC WI ENGITAT) COIS ROG TEOCEO RICE RE. Le eee »-.-. November, BARGHBEEDER, C./P., Associate Ledttor.+¢:ssccheccccacss a COMMITTEES. Committee on Publications. ALLEN, J. A., Chazrman. Cougs, ELLrorr. Ripeway, RoBEerT, Secretary. MERRIAM,'C. Hart. BREWSTER, WILLIAM. Committee of Arrangements for the Meeting of 1889. ALLEN, J. A., Chairman. EL.Liort, D. G. _DuTcHER, WILLIAM. MEeRRIAM. C. Harr. RipGway, RoBERT. 1889. 1889. 1889. 1889. 1889. 1889. 1889. 1889. 1880. 1889. 188ge 1889. 1889. x Active Members. MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS UNION. DECEMBER, 1888. ACTIVE MEMBERS. [Omission of date indicates a Founder. } Date of Election. ATDRICH Hone CHARLES.) Websters Slitiya ll oiwasereeettlt-lrleielel-teyelatei iets -- ALLEN, J. A., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 77th St. and 8th Ave., New York (CGiGfooos cad gens gocqas 000g GOOD oa DOds boGgOnOCUo dood te eee — IBVMGE IY, Talo 1b, Gig SOweM Shin, Wen Work City. oncgccogonsocus 00000000 == + BAIRD, Prof. SPENCER Es, Washington, Da (@y-.-- - --1- - ie ee lel Barrows, Prof. W. B., Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C..... 1883 BATCHELDER, CHARLES F., Cambridge, Mass..-.--.--.....---..-s-- = BELDING wees StOCKtOnel @alleerdleriielicietlleeeiiia cece ati eet eee 1883 BENDIRE, Capt. CHARLES E., U. S. A., Smiths. Inst., Washington, DDC is taicbcietatereie eran cunseten ee tel eile mvarartne oveel muon Tolle lie reve orate enero —_ BICKNELL, EUGENE P., P. O. Box 2958, New York City.--......-.... — tBREWSTER, WILLIAM, Cambridge, Mass.....------.2---+ +--+ scenes — IBRON A, INUAIEUST (Oo, WormileinGl, -IMI@.q09550 00000000 000000 000000500000 = BRYANT, WALTER B., Sain JMramerseo, Call, coogncccsbedncacc00c0c00e 1888 CHAMBERLAIN, MONTAGUE, 5 Somerset St., Boston, Mass......-...- = CHAPMAN, FRANK M., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 77th St. and 8th Ave., New York City...--.e. ee ee cece ee cece cece cece eee e rece eens 1888 CooxeE, Prof. W. W., Burlington, Vt...-.-.------+-s++- +++ ee eeee ee 1884 t+ Cory, CHARLES B., 8 Arlington St., Boston, Mass....-....---..-- et | Couges, Dr. ELLiorT, Smiths. Inst., Washington, D.C...-....-.... = DEANE, RUTHVEN, 2 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill.....---....---.-.-. 1883 DuTcuHER, WILLIAM, 51 Liberty St.. New York City......-..-..---- 1886 DwiGHuT, JONATHAN, Jr., 2 East 34th St., New York City............ 1886 ELLioT, DANIEL G., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.,77th St. and 8th Ave., New Woe (Ciisfoo5acoocodbod0sQ99odons ooRcHERdSn OD dDHE OC bOOSOCOS oe FisHer, Dr. ALBERT K., Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. . INOS, not, Soo, Clhamnjpaiigia, Wloococonesacvoasesadcadsedaaca0s eee Foster, LyMAN S., 35 Pine St., New York City...---++--+-.-eeeee, 1888 GILL, Prof. THEoporeE N., Smiths. Inst., Washington, D. C......... 1883 t Goss, Col. N.S., Topeka, Kans.......+2-- cece cree cet e eee e eens 1883 GRINNELL, Dr. GEorGEB., ‘Forest and Stream’ Ones pia 1883 HrnsHaw, Henry W., Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, D. C.-..-1883 *Hoiper, Dr. J. B., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York City.---.-.---- — Jerrrigs, Dr. J. AMory, 91 Newbury St., Boston, Mass--.---------- 1883 LaneGpon, Dr. F. W., 65 West 7th St., Cincinnati, O..-...........- 1887 LAWRENCE, GEORGE N., 45 East 21st St., New York City.........--- 1883 LAWRENCE, NEWBOLD T., 51 Liberty St., New York City......-..-.- 1883 *Deceased. +tLife Member. Flonorary Members. xl McIERAITH, uHOMAS. Hamilton, Ontario, Canies..-.cctcevccccvrece — MEARNS, Dr. EDGAR AY, U.S, A. Hort Snelling, Minn.-.-......... a MerriAM, Dr. C. Hart, Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C... — + Merrivt, Dr. JAmes C., U. S. A., Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, IP. a. c.cHowe DO OOO MOU eB EDOD DEOL DOM OOS 6 ORCA DOGS DETTE Paar aE 1883 INFERRING, Ele, olsm Norton Aves, Milwaukee," WilSelsle cee «le closes) sle- se 1883 NELSON EVER piulmSenvaAlle; AMI ZO ete ere fol= cielo elelelsls) 21s) efa\sla\e\s\ «16.212 1883 PRENTISS, Dr. D. W., 1101 14th St., N. W., Washington, D. C...... a RUDI eeAemVVieStuNewitOmem VicaSStioterestaliel-tlstelelersiets si clele stevereiele ereie aie — RipGWAY, ROBERT, Smiths. Inst., Washington, D. C............... — RoBerts, Dr. THoMAsS S., 27 N. 8th St., Minneapolis, Minn......... 1883 PSN Gis ONT obd- EOrtlenmid)jn © Cael s otlejavelstatete aleleia alelales ¢ielora'se fra eiel=\ «inin s 1883 SAUNDERS, Wo. E., 188 Dundas St., London, Ontario, Can......... 1883 EOI WiYo Io ID. UWair oro Syornmnes. Meio oo coos duos oecnnacvod Hoos ouC 1886 SENNETT, GEorGE B., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 77th St. and 8th Ave., INE MAonalko Cnn cio signt ciedan doy esons COC 64 0c Cons SCRrO Cer NemaE 1883 SHUPEEDT, Dr ROBERT W., U.S, A’, Fout Wingate, N. M:.-......- —_ STEJNEGER, Dr. LEONHARD, Smiths. Inst., Washington, D. C...... 1884 +TRUMBULL, GURDON, 970 Asylum St., Hartford, Conn............. 1888 > Nene NaNO, IDNs |o Mle, (Collonsaloypis., (lores co5c concooueueuo GoouGEnUde == WiIpMANN, M. OTTo, 3826 So. Broadway, St. Louis, Mo............. 1884 HONORARY MEMBERS. Date of Election. BocaGE, Prof. J. V. BArBoza pu, Royal Museum, Lisbon, Portugal.1883 BuURMEISTER, Dr. HERMANN VoN, Director National Museum, Buenos AMINES dood onepcoddoede Gags nbecon boob ouoduH coONmOES UouatC 1884 CasBanis, Prof. Dr. JEAN, Alte Jacobstrasse, 103a, Berlin, Germany. .18383 Dresser, Henry E., Topclyffe Grange, Farnborough, Beckenham, Kent, DMBMNGlS Soésc6b obdn. CoCo BR ODOO BUOb ed aooeUE OdoUSE nods 1883 Finscu, Dr. Orro, Delminhorst, near Bremen, Germany ........... 1883 GATKE, HernricH. Heligoland, via Bremen, (GOMMEIN os cob ob odode 1884 GiGLIoL!, Dr. Henry HiLtyer, Royal Superior Institute, Florence, JIS Se pelea Coole Ba Uae Blog biccer eae ERG ieee Uae Eee te ee os 1883 GuNDLACH, Dr. Juan, Ingenio Fermina, Bemba, Cuba.............. 1883 GuRNEY, JOHN Henry, Northrepps Hall, Norwich, England........ 1883 HARREAUE Or Gustav NBreMmen, GELMATIY «10 scess- «04s sclecieriie 1883 LOVEE eAVIATAAN ©) GCIPAWAIEAUND @Oiltmilial owe lira Glilcitavefetralrele elek alec avreretoist clearer iene oc raf 1883 Hux ey, Prof. Tuomas H., 4 Marlborough Place, Abbey Road, Lon- GOI, INS Wis o:SlnS COORG DOO OO OOD OOO OTERO en Se oriny an bo ua 1883 MMAUss. Dr. PER DINAND, Stuttrart, Germany.....\0-.....ecceeces-ss 1883 MILNE-Epwarps, Prof. ALPHONSE, Rue Cuvier, 57, Paris........... 1883 NEwToN, Prof.»ALFRED, University of Cambridge, England......... 1883 Parker, Prof. WILLIAM KITCHEN, Crowland, Trinity Road, Upper NiO tinonw le On COMERS AW etetaeiers ile =i tere Jotaln w ctelcsatatmie wicte aol oie. s cic 2 1883 * Deceased. t Life Member. xii Corresponding Members. PELZELN, Dr. AUGUST VON, 13, Royal Zool. Museum, Vienna....... 1883 SALVADORI, Prof. Count Tommaso, Royal Zo6l. Museum, Turin, Iill\osos Go0caudogccnDbedG 000c Bacall ns ahenerete oychohictio orale cVanett ene 1883 SALVIN, OsBERT, Hawksfold, Fernhurst, Haslemere, England....... 1883 SAUNDERS, Howarp, 7 Radnor Place, Hyde Park, London, W...... 1884 *SCHLEGEL, Prof. HERMANN, Leyden, Holland.............-....--- 1883 SCLEATER, Di PHILIP ume, 3 danoverm oq. london Vielen 1883 SEEBOHM, HENRY, 6 Tenterden St., Hanover St., London, W....-.... 1884 SHARPE, RICHARD BowWDLeER, British Museum, South Kensington, lBonavelovemnene oma scodac odo ners cMoEAC S onan o OAS obbGco ao06 00 1883 TACZANOWSKI, Dr. W., University, Warsaw, Russia.............:. 1884 WALLACE, Prof. ALFRED RUSSEL, Nutwood Cottage, Hrith Hill, Coglaliauiner, Dinglaivelosoocacedoq0seeb00o0005000 00c0D00b 0005 1883 CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. Date of Election LNIeAMGG IDiito (Co Hoy losrsiauicls, Gemimeimy oosoacsovcs00gccd0n0cnbocue 1884 ANDERSON, Dr. JoHn, India Museum, Calcutta..-.................. 1884 BALDAMUs, Dr. EpuARD, Moritzwinger, No. 7, Halle, Germany..... 1884 BERLEPSCH, Count Hans von, Miinden, Germany......-........... 1883 BEAKISRONG Capt BEOMWAS Wels ondontl@ bios etreeitt se treeeer 1883 BinAmpsorio, Wi do, Aves Clluln, ILoméomocccocssod¢0cc800c0e05 000000000 1884 PL NSROS, ID irs IRGAOLsE, IBIAS WnIGh, Gernnaiaiysoooogodcs ss0as0000606 1884 ILA US, IDim, Widen ne, IRONS Nels, Germneiny7ssoccscccucov0esb0000c 1884 *BoGpANow, Prof. Dr. Mopresr N., University of Moscow, Moscow, 1884 BROOKS H Wei eee Mallon Ontario @antatclarresmlel ie trek lettin einer 1886 BULLER, Sir WALTER Lawry, 8 Victoria Chambers, Victoria St., Wesiiinguner, ILomcom, Ss Woods “gsgacdocccgucaneon0eKg000 1883 BureAu, Dr. Louis, Ecole de Médicine, Nantes, France.. ba00c0 SS BurLer, Lieut.-Col. E. A., Herringfleet Hall, Lowestoft, Beles. - 1884 leuraranasorin., ID es \o, Iesyckom, InlolliginGl s5cacc0ed0009 500000 Gbe0000000 1886 Co.L_etTT, Prof. RoBEer?’, Zodlogical Museum, Christiania, Norway .1883 (COOP, ID its lo Coy Jalaywarals, Callitormia cocecosoccccva00 0000000006 1884 CORDEAUX, JOHN, Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, England...... 1884 DALGLEISH, JOHN J., 8 Athole Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland....... 1883 Davin, L7 Abbé ARMAND, Rue’de Sevres, 95, Panis .----- ec >a 1883 Dusois, Dr. ALPHONSE, Museum Nat. History, Brussels............ 1884 Duces, Prof. ALFREDO, Colegio del Estado, Guanajuato, Mexico....t884 Ecut, ADoLF BACHOFEN VON, Nussdorf, near Vienna............-..- 1884 DANIO), IDE, Wikcsror,, Geneva, Srymtienlaingls ooo 600 5000090000005000000 1884 FIELDEN, Lieut.-Col. H. W., West House, Wells, Norfolk, Eng- IEMaGlodonthonue sonnoosdc's ooeabobodUsooUbOaeODOD OO Odom OOOH OOS 1884 FERRARI-PEREZ, Prof. FERNANDO, Naturalist Mexican Geol. Expl. Comimnssionm 2ueblonVMiexmiComemeeetael aici eiteiee herria 1885 FREKE, Percy Evans, Rosemount, Dundrum, County Dublin, Ire- Woe PRE ISIE Aries aL ACR ECS An nla eo ORC GIST DOM oro oOo 1883 * Deceased. > Corresponding Members. X1il Gapow, Dr. Hans, The New Museums, Cambridge, England........1884 GINTANNER DG ote Galle wo wAtzer| atid ure melt cleleoeicts sities +o c\e< 1884 Gopman, F. Du Cans, 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish Sq., London..1883 Gopwin-AusTEN, Lieut.-Col. H. H., Shalford House, Guilford, Eng- UAT cleeerciennstctarc ray cyatate oie istaravel shovel hotels intievete aie elovatieve ee ieiele Pe ysteteroib:eieh ae 1884 GRANDIDIER, ALFRED, 6 Rond-Point des Champs Elysées, Paris....1883 Gurney, Joun Henry, Jr., Keswick Hall, Norwich, England........ 1883 *Haast, Dr. JuLius von, Christ-church, New Zealand........-..... 1884 ‘“Haroirt, Epwarpb, Broadwater Lodge, Broadwater, Worthing, Sussesx, Mmedeincls osococunp cogs agaeeoonoocosu done saoH Godane 1854 HarTING, JAMES Epwarp, Linnean Society, Burlington House, Pic- cadilly, SOG Ommbevereromaretete tate retelotayekelionatoianelalete ce alle/elecs tsyeraicr ft cote cirelioveite 1883 Harvie-Brown, Joun A., Dunipace House, Larbert, Stirlingshire, Syovonttl Gani lene enn. a0 GENE AO Ee OISO CLS USING IS IR Geka ORC TCE ett 1883 HAYEK, Dr. (GUGM AiOINTS Waicinuis.comogcanm casdes dodoocec oseauen bod 1884 Hiowuin, IDR Tinins wehinamcasEccepo op obnn Deb des GccocdCoeebSonoeaae 1884 Islommpyasin, IDs 15 10, WOIi5 SuOMlo, (CoOneainyicocodcugucccad5 50455005055 1884 KRUKENBERG, Dr. HE. W-,)Wiirzburs, Germany.---).-'.-.--.--...- (884 Krtper, Dr. THEOBALD J., University Museum, Athens, Greece.... 1884 LAYARD, E. L., H. B. M. Consul, Noumea, New Caledonia......... 1884 NENCHAROANE a VOBERT Wimimlpess Iam ital er qe etelolatere c=) atelate)<) of =i 1886 MaparAsz, Dr. JuLius von, National Museum, Budapest, Hungary, 1884 MarmeGre_en, Dr. A. J., University, Helsingfors, Finland. .......... 1884 PONWARIS CENIAU Tam Gina ACL VWialilizeile 2 aee Valemin Aleta) atelorete) allel=/2/-)-0212)-. 1888 Jerrries, Wn. A., 78 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass...-...+++-+-++--- 1883 Jenks, Prof. J. W. P., 31 George St., Providence, R. DWAka ister havsh oe eshte 1888 JENNINGS, ALLEN H., 201 Oak Ave., Baltimore, IMG eetiatial e: heenhaens 1886 Jounson, AvpertT I., Hydeville, Vt..--.-..2-200 02sec cece eee e eee 1885 JoHNson, FRANK, Parkville, Kings Co., N. Y---+ +--+ eeeee ee ee ee eee 1888 Jonson, LoRENZON., Evanston, Ill.-----+ sees eee eee ee eee eee ee eee 1888 Jounson, Prof. O. B., Seattle, Washington Territory.-.-.---.---.--. 1885 *Deceased. Assoctate Members. XVil Jounson, Ropertr W., Colorado Springs, Col........s.. sees eeee+s 1888 Jonrs, Lynps, Grinnell, lowa.. 2.0. sscceccesscestesscer seen veees 1888 JORDAN, A. HH. B:, Willsborough, Essex Co., Ni Yie+-+0+ 0c. enen ss 1888 JORDAN, Prof. Ds 5S.) Bloomington, End... esses sce ae de ne 1885 JJOWR IS Wen Srrobldalss Iban MVSlnvbolettoy on IDs (Gig oonodcordonco Uoepone 1883 KENDALL, W. C., Breeponrt. Cumberland sor Meiers ss eeimiscles «+ 1980 Hevesi ©. Rs, Wes Moines; Lowes. ice ae aleleidviele eile \-'tia\eidiels oso «ins 1885 INTHGGe IMSS eis (Cinseis IN, lucent (Copan, MC chopoosoousnaeor 1888 ISON G GEORG) GORD ON INEWip Ollilignicn Mets lcletelaellerenelelie: olele rela s/c) steel al /a/e 1888 ISN OWIRONG Heide, Uso Neat. MOUS) Washime tom Dh (Cee. as cicl)e clels« 1883 INMOMNE GUSHAV ET Lan CaAromdelet st... INew Orleans yl asverucla+ c+ /jelclels ois 1886 PS GUVUSU ENN ao LET UES WLI een Vill Sve! elcteten sila) Japellepelaliailey evevelle a orale) a] siete) «wie le 1883 IL ANI, (CHEONRILIDS, Io, (Cemmlovhiclets, IMPS: oodo ghoaddcnucnobouD mouanoar 1885 IL Airy, IRONS IDs Ie, IMMUNE AO, IMANISGISG oo.ccoocb0 GocKeD Omid noes Bae 1885 LAWRENCE, FRANK M., Moriches P. O., Suffolk Co., N. Y...-...-... 1888 LAWRENCE, Rost. B., Mills Building, New York City.............. 1883 LAWRENCE, Wm. M., 51 Liberty St., New York City................ 1888 IBUND ENG) Eh Ole CHAR TERI Ss: Iuiitalon IN VGsiie!=)= eo elehelel elec -l- (e)elersiol ele) +e «eel 1884 PATE OSH ANWAR TNIV seb AVS Oy AERC Sior obec ove eieeraceehelletotepel silerty s\eavey Pale cs ucUele ott 1885 IEQOMIIS OLINEA.. PalmntnlTo ck Concho Coy wears retells leleleieier 1s cle leis 1887 LOOMIS, Ibias IM[s5 (Chaves, sis (On cnbonos congue once bone boop anee 1883 ISUCNC PO REDERIC Av. Uy 1S. Nat. Muss, Washington, ID ©)... 1... = 1888 MABBETi GIDHON, ROdmey,) letters onl C Or) MUISS! 4. fe) elec lll) + «eel are 1S88 IMTAGIKASZ, IZ JN Tele. IRACiHOybla INIOWAL Syeolikiatooqaosoddnpunooaeuoogcc 1885 Macoun, Prof. J., Geol. and Nat. Hist. Surv., Ottawa, Can.......... 1883 MUARIAA IT CASS eS MER Maiallnettets ISAIMISAS= + oot elelcloere aleclo - « coor 1888 MeErRRIAM, Miss FLORENCE A., Locust Grove, Lewis Co., N. Y...... 1885 MUD RIVA, IGONRI Re eae, MlhiKcoocdceornausodosupuaouopGuaooOUpC 1883 MErcannn, Wi Cy, 20 Cortlandt St., New York City.......2-..--.. 1SS6 IMITLIL DIR, Go Sep |fity IRSwer DOO, IN, Voces gnoecacccoocuuconoe Peet a detec 18S6 MILLER, Mrs. OLIVE THORNE, 236 Greene Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y....- 1887 Minor, H. D., Care of St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba R. R. Co., Sy Ba Biintigvesaaecneaetrodor tO con REC RC RErO eID GRO eR ICEG CeIn recech ota: 1883 MOORD | LEReY. 1ogn judson Places Philadelphia, Pa. ....l\s--)- « 1886 Morcom, G. FrEAM, 870 North Park Ave., Chicago, Ill............. 1886 Morris, Geo. SPENCER, Olney, Philadelphia, Pa...............-.-- 1887 MORRIS, INGE, Ob, Sjombareaielel, MISS ccesvoeoceposeed) cana cece uur 1888 MORTIMER: BINipAMIN. box 206s oamatond, Hla, ee cle- «occ cede ees 1888 Murpocu, JoHN, Smiths. Inst., Washington, D. C.................- 1883 NICHOLAS, GEORGE LAWRENCE, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Lexington Ave.. INKS Si@ydie: (CHATS G Reo op CRAG DEE p nC EUG LE rc orice cea 1888 NORRIS, J. PARKER, 723 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa............... 1886 NoRrON, RICHARD, Cambiridee, Mass. 2... .- 5 00s oes wees = 1888 QEERHOUSER, HARRY ©.) Red Bank, N. Jo... 1+ -c.65ccecsteecs cannes 1888 * Deceased. Xvill Associate Members. Onc ye EuMMnR We. @larence,iSinelbyi©omlviossrsen tee tee aorta 1888 Paine, Aucustus G., Jr., Champlain Fibre Co., Willsborough, N. Y.1886 PANEER iS; Berkeley, Cal eye tects een eon ieee eee eee eee 1888 IPAM Wives fs ShuNekss WIS, VASIMiMerttoM, IDs Goosnscos¢on0seo4- 1888 PANNEPACKER, D. E., 2513 No. 12th St., Philadelphia, Pa........... 1888 AR PAUSE LN) Ha5)3 ts Oaydnunan iil dameemliqowy i Nemec eee cit ere 1885 PARKER MARRY Go, Chester: Delaware Conlbac sees e ence ener 1886 PEACOCK Vi Eye Meinysiillien Callacgs doousopnodannospouggeoadoousens 1888 IWENINOGCKS, | ©.) |-pucennett Sqa i @hester Won peagea eaten aerate 1888 PaRrINS, Cease 12,5 Islameonel, (Coming sooascbsose00ddn soo 0cbocanun dos 1888 PERERSON ye 23, «lt, Waisistevoresneities arene ec cessce ea ariel crete ee ete 1885 PIERS. NR THUR 2 SO Sta james tOt:. Momtredlei Cane eee esi aeeee 1888 JEAENPDY Neo Ey ORGuB UO wnohel aI Gyoobnmonue ns NOsoo ssa adouiaooeoaso acco 50 1886 PLEASANTS, J. H., Jr., 606 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Md............ 1888 POPENOR, row 135 /\c, Miamnatiinim., IKAmGAGsca56 sogcc00ccoccoobnbosos 1886 INAGEIDNIEI, (Cro Iles Ganimesvuilo, WesemSoscodecaubsosccb0ccacous0ns0dcs 1885 RUN EIEIO, We Ss, 26 Comm Sits, Witica, IN, Wonooscctecsnuad fcc ae 1888 RARHEUN, MRANK Re, 40) Lirankliiam Sts, Amibticns INE Yor cre eer eee 1883 RUMVSON, CAL WIN Ion INORG, (COminsssocscocvccodsuuccoo0cgcgc000 1885 INESSEM MI OvRUSH Sap oTcild own ©llestein Commearereecnneeetcereare 1888 RUCE SMRAN Ke 12s, Eaanstonn © ook @oel lleeeicnr eerie eae eee 1886 RICHARDS, JOHN Bion, 8 Barnaby St., Fall River, Mass............. 1888 RICHARDSON, JENNESS, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York City........ 1888 RICHMOND, CHas. W., U. S. Geol. Surv., Washington, D. €.....- 3. 1888 RIBCKER, RNS, GOOIS On AEN Ste Stale Ouisey MLO nemr ie aeerior ei 1888 SIUC, Ian SOLU (OeAMee, Io Yoooppocconcconasooooudogonsoucc0Ks 1885 RILEY, Prof. €. V., U. S: Entomologist, Washington, Di €....25... 1885 INSinposa Die, Minis (Can |iray ISRO, IR Ioopebccooocccdg on sogdonvon des 1885 Rospsins, Wo. A., 178 Garfield Place, Brooklyn, N. Y.-..+++.....-- 1888 ROT Wo 1hy GOR 10) Stor ING Wis WWeasioutinsttorn, ID. Gocascansgcoses 1888 ROOsEV ELA, MinoOpORn, Oyste say.) Oueeasi Gen WiN i Yee or ens acer 1888 INWSSREIE, (GwOs Co, UAA WY Wilh Sit, WBIrIe, PM.00c0000000c Ison OOD 6.0.0.0 1888 SAGE, HizNRY M., 1010 Chapel St., New Haven, Conn...--.-----. 1885 SICOnee, WG IES) SPARS Sits, Otaenyyer, (Calicocsncocovdasancopesnsscs 1883 SII) AN TIUAE Won AEM EONS ING |cese cogaoccccaunsonououqndacn0ouse 1888 SEITER, PHIL. J., 44 So. Main St., Waterbury, Conn. --.--..--.----- 1888 DisimEMON, CieOs Jal, Sexrmmowir, C@itits ooncssavasoasoosoag000uscos00N 1888 SHORES, Dir. H. 1., Soldieis, Home, TWaimptoml) Vase. . sees 2 1883 SLADE, JOHN A., 1134 Herkimer, St., Brooklyn, N. Y.-..-..---..---- 1888 ESMALIL, DDGAR AY. Elasenstowwinls Midis rete te) elle iste) eelells\leleltele tes) l= 1883 SMITH, Horace G., Jr., 2918 Lafayette St., Denver, Col.......---.. 1888 SmitH, Dr. Hucu M., U. S. Nat. Mus., Washington, D. C.........- 1886 SMITH, 5. SIDNEY, 59 Wall St., New York City.........-........... 1885 SORNBORGER, JEWELL D., Andover, Mass.....----.-++sesssseeeeees 1888 SPELMAN, H. M., 62 Sparks St., Cambridge, Mass.........-.......- 1883 GiniivIps 1Dyies (Ge, IR Crombes willl, Pa coscoodcdsobocnng boas oo0K dow oboDE 1887 STANTON, Prof. J. Y., Bates College, Lewiston, Me................-- 1883 *Deceased. Associate Members. X1X STEPHENS, F., Ballena, San Diego Co., (Chale chs. bh CIE OIE CO COICO IO 1883 Stone, Witmer, Fisher’s Lane, Germantown, Pa..--+++++++ee+eee 1885 Stuper, JAcos H., 103 W. 14th St., New York City..----++-++--%-- 1885 Swirt, EDWARD A., Elmira, N. Y..-..---+-csscavciscccecscessrcecss 1888 SWINBURNE, JoHN, St. Johns, Apache Co., Ariz. .-++.+eeeeeeeeeeees 1887 DaArBor, D. H., Sioux City, Towa)... 0. 6. cece ce were since s secre 1885 TATLOCK, JOHN, Jr., Prudential Ins. Co., Newark, N. J.-+++-.+++++++- 1887 Taytor, ALEx. O. D., 124 Bellevue Ave., Newport, R. I-------+---- 1888 THOMPSON, ERNEST E., 86 Howard St., Toronto, Can.......-...+-+. 1883 ‘THOMPSON, FRANK J., Menagerie, Central Park, New York City..... 1885 THorNE, Capt. PLATTE M., 22d Inf., U. S. A., Ft. Keogh, Montana. . 1885 THurRBER, E. CARLETON, Alhambra, Los Angeles Co., Cal.....--- 1886 “‘Roiiny, ILS) gg (Calls INIGS ode coop oboe e cuocobUdonDenooon Ame bod UC 1887 Toppan, Geo. L., 138 Jackson St., Chicago, Ill.-..---+ sees eee eee eee 1886 TorreEY, BRADFORD, Melrose Highlands, Mass...------+-+++++++++++5 1883 TOwNSEND, C. H., Smiths. Inst., Washington, D. C......++-++++0+- 1883 Gira AG VA le RID) Hye Hyals tela ant hom @Onimersreelelela\etet«lls «) +1 gteliel/ere)'*) «l'=1-) ==) 1885 TROMBLEY, JEROME, Petersburg, Mich...-----+--++ sees ee eee cere ees 1885 Trotter, Dr. Spencer, Prot. Nat. Hist., Swarthmore College, Sigsmintlovamota, Ieblngo boo oobuoooodcudpUdcode ub aoOoUC DUMOODUR bE 1888 TurNeR, Dr. M. H., Hammondville, Essex Co., N. Y.-..-.----+----- 1885 VAN CorTLANDT, Miss ANNIE P., Croton Landing, Westchester Co., INE Re Se bee er ye eae aroun cols smere sere estore ecateielsiedeterniclelaperecieus 1885 VeELIE, Dr. J. W., Academy of Sciences, Chicago, Ill....+...+-.----- 1886 SWiaenwiOr, (el. Gs, Miomurcall, (Cainonoc dans odcnuocuac00e0 augndouModdsc 1883 VERRILL, ALPHEUS H., 86 Whaley Ave., New Haven, Conn.....-.-- 1888 Vitaro, Dr. JuAN, Prof. Nat. Hist., Habana Univ., Habana, Cuba...1888 VOORHEES, CLARK G.. 59 E. 75th St., New York City........-.----- 1888 MENS WiORLH Dao box Ooms tlcanttOnds (Comer letersi +) -\-fer*) «) 01 -1-)=1= 1885 WAKEFIELD, J. R., Dedham, Mass..-.--. +--+ eee ce eee cece ete eeeeeee 1885 WALKER, Dr. R. L., Mansfield Valley, Pa..-.--..-------2++sseeeeee 1888 WV Ninian), Dips IBS JIG, West (ln@suer, Ikblogoodoonc.5 c00u0 000DUD ooo b0UG 1886 WEBSTER, FREDERIC S., 1345 Pa. Ave., Washington, D. C......-..-- 1886 We ts. Dr. JoHN A., Englewood, N. J.+--- sees eee cece eee cece eee 1888 West, Lewis H., Roslyn, Queens Co., N. Y...--++++.+02e0- eteeeeee 1887 WHEELER, Davin E., St. Paul’s School, Concord, N. H.........----- 1888 AWILLARD, ©. W.,-West DePere, WiS..--.------2-- se eeee ee en ce cane 1883 WILLIAMS, ROBERT S., Great Falls, Montana.......----.--+-++-eeees 1888 WINTLE, ErNeEsT D., 11 Hospital St., Montreal, Can......-.--+++--- 1887 WoLFe, WALTER M., Box 162, Kearney, Neb...--+++-+-e eee ee cress 1888 WOOD, No IBlss. Bene) Ios ING Noo coco cepa u ob bene dopH oImocooK.LoUd 1887 *Woop, Dr. Wittt1am, East Windsor Hill, Conn......--++-+-.--eees 1883 WooprvuFF, Lewis B., Yale University, New Haven, Connect 1886 WriGut, Capt. J. W. A., Livingstone, Ala-...---+see eee eee eee eee 1888 ZEREGA, Louis A., 111 East 72d St., New York City.....---+---.--- 1884 * Deceased. is) - ' r vn | Hi - - . f : i . % etna re 3 P PF 7 ng -, 5 ele TL Ets ANU Ka ASOUARTERLY()]OURN AE OF ORNITHOLOGY. MO. Vi. JANUARY, 1880. No. I. THE ‘BOOMING’ OF THE BITTERN. BY BRADFORD TORREY. On the 30th of May last Mr. Walter Faxon and I spent the afternoon in some large meadows in Wayland, Massachusetts where we had the good fortune to witness the musical performances of Botaurus lentiginosus under peculiarly favorable conditions. These performances, highly curious in themselves, are not de- scribed, so far as I know, in any of our standard ornithological works. Audubon had never even heard them; and neither Wilson, Nuttall, Brewer, nor Coues,—nor any of their corres- pondents,—appears ever to have seen them. Clearly the Bittern’s reputation as a recluse—a ‘‘shady character,” as Dr. Coues calls him—is well deserved. Yet even he, it would seem, feels now and then an impulse to make a show. On the present occasion, at all events, he may fairly be said to have taken the platform ; coming forth from his hiding-place amid the tall meadow grass, and whether he knew it or not, offering to a pair of inquisitive Yankees as protracted and open a view as they could have desired of his most intimate mysteries. Our first bird, and principal performer, was a pumper, not a stake-driver; that is to say, his notes resembled precisely the noise of an old-fashioned wooden pump. We were on the railway, which runs through the meadow at an elevation of perhaps seven feet above it, and after listening to the bird for some time, and discussing between ourselves his probable distance from us, we walked up the track, hoping to locate the sound more definitely. 2 Torrey, the ‘Booming’ of the Bittern. [ January By and by this grew so near that we began to wonder whether we might not obtain a sight of its author. We swept the field with our opera-glasses, and presently descried the bird’s head erect and motionless amidst the grass. Except for the eye, which we were near enough to see plainly, it might have been a stick. Soon it stirred, and then all at once the fellow commenced pump- ing. The action was only partially visible, of course; but after ti had been repeated several times, the Bittern started towards the remains of a last year’s hay-cock, which was still high enough to be entirely above the grass, and while we held our breath he mounted it, looking furtively in all directions, and putting one foot before the other so slowly that we could barely see it move. It was an admirable display of one of the Bittern’s most character- istic and useful accomplishments,—the art of imperceptible motion. He got fairly upon the hay at last, where we could see everything but his toes (these he obligingly showed us afterwards) and then he fell again to pumping, and kept at it for at least an hour. ‘This operation, as well as I can put it into words, is as follows. First the bird opens his bill quickly and shuts it with a click; then he does the same thing again, with a louder click; and aftez from three to five such snappings of the beak, he gives forth the familiar trisyllabic pumping notes, repeated from three to eight times. With the preliminary motions of the bill the breast is seen to be distending ; the dilatation increases until the pumping is well under way, and as far as we could make out, does not subside in the least until the pumping is quite over. It seemed to both of us that the bird was swallowing air,—gulping it down,— and with it distending his crop; and he appeared not to be able to produce the resonant pumping notes until this was accomplished It should be remarked, however, that the gulps themselves, after the first one or two at least, gave rise to fainter sounds of much the same sort. The entire performance, but especially the pump- ing itself, is attended with violent convulsive movements, the head and neck being thrown upwards and then forwards,—like the Night Heron’s when it emits its gwow, only with much greater violence. The snap of the bill, in particular, is emphasized by a vigorous jerk of the head. The vocal result, as I say, is in three syllables ; of these the first is the longest, and, as it were, a little divided from the others, while the third is almost like an echo of - the second. ‘The middle syllable is very strongly accented. 1889. | Torrey, the ‘Booming’ of the Bittern. 3 When our bird had been at work for perhaps half an hour a train of cars came along, and as we were sitting squarely upon the track, we of course had to move. This we thought would put an end to the show; but the Bittern held his ground, and as soon as the train had thundered by resumed his amusement, which looked, I am bound to say (and I doubt whether anybody could see it without receiving the same impression), unpleasantly like the contortions of a seasick patient. Between the acts he put himself into various positions; frequently assuming the hump- backed attitude in which the artists have commonly represented him ; at other times raising his long neck straight into the air, his body with it, and standing as erect and statue-like as any soldier. Now he faced us; then he stood sidewise; and again he fairly turned his back on us. He was twelve and a half rods away, as nearly as we could tell by pacing; and our opera-glasses, magnifying three diameters, reduced the distance to about seventy feet, while the sun’s position was such as to afford us every possible advantage. This exhibition lasted for something more than an hour, after which the bird suddenly took wing, and flew down the meadow for a short distance, and on alighting in the grass pumped im- mediately! Within a few minutes he rose again, and again pumped instantly upon alighting. This I thought surprising, in view of the great exertion required, both in rising from the ground and in pumping; but it is, perhaps, analogous to the habit of smaller birds, who in times of excitement are given to breaking out into song the moment they strike the perch. As we walked down the railroad, on our way back to the station, three Bitterns were in the air at once, and at the same moment a fourth was making music in the meadow on the other side of the track. One of the flying birds persistently let his legs dangle, instead of drawing them up behind him in the ordinary manner. He was high in the air, and I suspected was engaged in showing off, though I have never read of the Bittern’s having any such custom. The second musician, as good luck would have it, was a stake- driver. The imitation was as remarkable in this case as in the other, and the difference between the two performances was manifest instantly to both Mr. Faxon and myself. The middle syllable of the second bird was a veritable whack upon the head 4 Torrey, the ‘Booming’ of the Bittern. [ January of a stake. I have no difficulty whatever in crediting Mr. Sam- uels’s statement that, on hearing it for the first time he supposed a woodman to be in the neighborhood, and discovered his error only after toiling through swamp and morass for half a mile. On this one point at least, it is easy to see why authors have disagreed. The fault has not been with the ears of the auditors, but with the notes of the different birds. Our stake-driver, however, like the pumper, made use of but three syllables, whatever Mr. Samuels’s birds may have done, and the emphasis—the whack—was unmis- takably upon the second. In speculating upon the probable method by which these extra- ordinary sounds are produced, I have had in mind the following considerations :— 1. The quality of the notes,—resonant, yet curiously hollow and confined, as if emitted under water or under eround, as so many writers have taken for granted. 2. The distention of the breast, zot of the throat. 3. The violent contortions of the bird. 4. The strong resemblance of the notes to pumping. This, it ought to be said for the benefit of readers who may never have heard them, is not a resemblance to the sounds occasioned by the giving forth of the water, but to those caused by the suction of the air in the tube before the water is brought up. " 5. The similarity in kind between the full pumping notes and the fainter preceding ones. 6. The fact that when a man takes air into his stomach, as some men have the knack of doing, the act of gulping is accom- panied by a sound extremely like the Bittern’s, while the belching of the air out again is attended by a noise quite unlike any which the bird utters. 7. The fact that it is possible to imitate the Bittern’s notes (in miniature, of course) by certain quick openings and shuttings of the lips, the breath meantime being inhaled. That this imitation is not imaginary I have satisfied myself by the following tests: First, I tried it upon Mr. Faxon himself, who pronounced it good as to tone and accent, and especially as to the echo-like effect of the final syllable. Then I tried it upon a man who had never heard the bird, and he exclaimed at once, ‘*Why, that sounds like an old pump !” In view of these things I am inclined to believe (1 speak for 1889. Torrey, fhe ‘Booming’ of the Bittern. 5 myself alone): rst, that the sounds are not caused entirely by any ordinary exertion of the vocal organs, but are connected in some way with the distention of the crop. 2d (and somewhat less confidently), that they are produced by the drawing in of the breath, not by the giving of it forth, after the crop is full, the inhalations being attended by forcible openings and shuttings of the beak. That they are not produced under water, or with its help, is sufficiently evident from the fact that our bird remained upon the hay-cock throughout. His bill was never for an instant near any water. During the hour or more that we sat upon the railway we had abundant opportunity to compare impressions ; and among other things we debated how the notes to which we were listening could best be represented in writing. Neither of us hit upon auything satisfactory. Since then, however, Mr. Faxon has learned that the people of Wayland have a name for the bird (whether it is in use elsewhere I cannot say) which is most felicitously onomato- poetic; namely, plum-puddn’. 1 can imagine nothing better. Give both vowels the sound of z in fzdZ; dwell a little upon the plum; put a strong accent upon the first syllable of pudd’n’ ; especially keep the lips nearly closed throughout; and you have as good a representation of the Bittern’s notes, I think, as can well be put into letters.* The preliminary clicking of the bill, mentioned above, is doubt- less the noise that Naumann heard from the European Bittern, without suspecting how it was made. When he got close enough, he says, he sometimes heard a low sound precede the bellow, ‘‘as if the surface of the water had been beaten with a reed.” Thoreau heard it also, at least on one occasion. He writes in his journaly : ‘¢The stake driver is at it in his favorite meadow. I followed the sound, and at last got within two rods. When thus near, I heard some lower sounds at the beginning like striking on a stump or a stake, a dry, hard sound, and then followed the gurgling, pumping notes fit to come from a meadow. This was just within * T am aware, of course, that Nuttall and nearly or quite everybody else who has ever described or written the notes, has placed the accent upon the last syllable. Why there should be this discrepancy is to me inexplicable; but there is no point to which Mr. Faxon and I have attended with more carefulness, both on the day in question and since, and there is none on which we are more fully agreed. + Summer, p. 193. 6 . Torrey, the ‘Booming’ of the Bittern. [January the blueberry and other bushes, and when the bird flew up alarmed, I went to the place, but could see no water, which makes me doubt if water is necessary to it in making the sound. Perhaps it thrusts its bill so deep as to reach water where it is dry on the surface.” This notion that water is somehow employed in the formation of the sounds seems always to have been pretty general, although Sir Thomas Brown, whose ‘Pseudodoxia Epidemica’ was pub- lished in 1646, treats it even then as a vulgar error. He says*: “That a bittor maketh that mugient noise, or as we term it, bumping, by putting its bill into a reed, as most believe, or as Bellonius and Aldrovandus conceive, by putting the same in mud or water, and after awhile retaining the air by suddenly excluding it again, is not so easily made out. For my own part, though after diligent inquiry, | could never behold them in this motion. Notwithstanding, by others whose observations we have expressly requested, we are informed that some have beheld them making this noise on the shore, their bills being far enough removed from reed or water; that is, first strongly attracting the air, and unto a manifest distention of the neck, and presently after, with great contention and violence excluding the same again.” + The only American author who has treated the subject as an eye-witness, so far as I can learn, is Dr. C. C. Abbott,{ and his account of the ac¢tzoz of the bird is limited to a single sentence. ‘“In this case,” he says, ‘‘the bird’s beak, when it uttered the cry, was not quite withdrawn from the water, and its voice, therefore, was materially modified by this fact”! He makes no allusion to any motion of the head, nor to the inflation of the breast, although the bird was ‘‘within ten paces.’’§ * Book IIT, Chap. XXVII, 4. For this reference, as well as for much else, I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Faxon. + Upon the point of the similarity between the notes of Botaurus lentiginosus and those of B. stellaris the only direct testimony I have seen is that of Nuttall and Sir John Richardson, two Englishmen who may be presumed to have heard both birds. Nuttall says (Water Birds, p. 61): “Instead of the dup or doomp of the true Bittern, their call is something like the uncouth syllables 'Aump-au-gah, but uttered in the same low, bellowing tone.” Richardson's words are (Fauna Boreali-Americana, Pt. II, p. 374): “Its loud booming, exactly resembling that of the common Bittern of Europe.” { ‘Waste-Land Wanderings,’ p. 130. § A much more circumstantial though not altogether intelligible description is fur- nished by Count Wodzicki, in ‘Naumannia, Vol. II, Part II, p. 48, 1852. The bird, of course, is ZB. stellaris. ‘‘I saw the female ten paces from the male standing in shallow 1889. ] Torrey, the ‘Booming’ of the Bittern. 7 Some years ago Mr. William Brewster mentioned to me that he had once detected a Bittern in the act of pumping; and whilst preparing this article I wrote to him requesting some account of the matter. This he has very kindly sent me, and I conclude my paper with his note. His observations, so far as they go, will be seen to confirm those of Mr. Faxon and myself in all essential particulars. ‘The only occasion when I have actually seen the Bittern ‘pump’ was in Rock Meadow, Belmont, Mass., May 16, 1868. The bird was well out in the open meadow among short, green grass growing in perhaps two inches of surface water. I got within less than thirty yards of him before he took alarm and crouched. Previous to this he favored me with several per- formances in plain sight. He would extend his neck, then draw- ing in his head suddenly, would throw it out with a jerk as if he were afflicted with violent nausea or were trying to get rid of some obstruction in his throat, at the same time uttering the peculiar pump-er-lunk. After repeating the movement and its accompanying vocal notes several times in rather quick succession, he would stand nearly erect for a few moments before beginning again. As he stood with his back partly towards me I could not see his breast or throat distinctly, but I am sure he did not fill the latter with water while I was watching him, for not once did his bill descend low enough to get even a hurried sip. ‘©You are heartily welcome to make any use you see fit of the above. Iam sorry it is so meagre, but I was too untrained an observer at the time to take very full notes, and twenty years is a long time to send the memory back. What little I have said, however, is, I am sure, a correct description of the episode.” water, with neck drawn in and crop inflated, in a dolce far niente, like a Florentine dilettante who in half-slumber listens to the most beautiful melody. This enraptured female with half-closed eyes had good cause to admire her richly gifted vz77woso, for he was a basso like Lablache. The artist was standing on both feet, his body horizontal and his bill in the water, and then a rumbling began, the water spirting about all the time. After afew sounds I heard the # of Naumann; the bird lifted his head, threw it backward, and thrust his bill into the water, and then he uttered a roar so fearfully joud that I was frightened. This explained why some notes, which are heard but seldom and only at the beginning, sound so loud: they are those that the bittern pro- duces when he has taken the water deep into the neck and throws it out with unusual force. The music went on, but the bird no longer threw his head backward, and I heard these loud sounds no more.”” I make no comments upon this narrative, being entirely at a loss what to say. An extract from it will be found in the ‘Standard Natural History, Vol. IV, p. 176. S) Lucas, the Main Divisions of the Swifts. [January NoTe.—Since the foregoing paper was written I have learned, through the courtesy of Dr. Stejneger, that Mr. Frank H. Nutter contributed an account of the Bittern’s pumping to the ‘Odlogist’s Exchange’ for April, 1888 (Vol. I, No. 4). I subjoin it in full. ‘“By the way, did you ever see a Bittern while engaged in its serenade? It is a ludicrous performance. One favored me with it once within easy range of my telescope. After standing in a meditative position for some time it would slowly raise its head and stretch up its neck till its bill pointed nearly straight upwards, when it commenced by several times opening and shutting its big beak with a snap that was plainly heard, though five or six hun- dred feet distant; it then uttered the characteristic notes from which it takes its common name of ‘stake-driver’ or ‘thunder- pumper’; and truly it seems much like pumping, for each syllable seems to originate deep in the interior of the bird and to be ejected only with the greatest muscular exertion, puffing out its feathers and working its long neck up and down, as if choking to death. After a short season of meditation to recuperate its strength, the performance is again repeated, and doubtless to its mate, engaged in her maternal duties, it is the sweetest of music.” THE MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE SWIFTS. BY FREDERIC A. LUCAS. Since Dr. Sclater’s paper on the genera and species of Swift (P. Z. S., 1865, pp. 593-617) they have been allowed to remain in the two subfamilies, Cypselinze and Cheeturinz, into which he there divides this group. Dr. Sclater’s divisions are founded solely on external characters, and he is very careful to state that he has paid but little attention to the species of the genera Co/- localia and Dendrochelidon. In a footnote Dr. Sclater refers to a paper by Dr. Bernstein (Acta Academiz Leopoldino-Caroline, Vol. 26, p. 15) as showing conclusively that Collocaléa is in every point of view strictly Cypseline, and most nearly allied to Dendrochelidon. While I have not read Dr. Bernstein’s paper 1889.] Lucas, the Main Drvistons of the Swifts. 9 it is impossible for me to coincide in his view of the relationship of Collocalia, although fully agreeing with him in regard to its being in every point strictly Cypseline. Collocalza, for whose skeleton I am indebted to my friend Mr. C. F. Adams, is a member of the Cheturine group of Swifts, and so nearly resembles in structure our common Chimney Swift that it would be difficult on structural grounds to separate them generically. The members of the genus Dexdrochelidon on the other hand stand by themselves among the Swifts, the characters separating them from their relatives, as represented by AZ¢cropus apus, M. subfurcatus, Panyptila saxatilis, Chetura pelagica, and Col- localia fuctphaga are well marked. An entire skeleton of Den- drochelidon is unfortunately not at hand, but Prof. Alfred Newton has most kindly loaned me a skull and sternum of LD. mystacea and two sterna of J. wallacez, which with some wing and leg bones furnish an abundance of good differential characters.* The skull alone would be quite sufficient to separate Dendrochelidon from the other Swifts and the other bones furnish strong corro- borative testimony. Viewing the cranium of Denxdrochelidon from its dorsal aspect, the rostral portion is seen to be both narrower and longer than in either Micropus, Panyptila, Chetura, or Collocalia. The mass of the ecto-ethmoid, so prominent in other Swifts, does not project beyond the outline of the frontals. There is no lachrymal in any of the skulls of Dezdrochelidon at my disposal, though this little bone is present in Micropus subfurcatus and Collocalia fuct- phaga. A decided structural difference exists between Dexdrochelidon and the other Swifts in the frontal region from the fact that in Dendrochelidon the nasals are posteriorly narrow, and simply -abut against the frontals, while in the other Swifts an external process of the wide nasals is carried upward and backward, over- lying the frontals. In this respect the adult Dexdrochel¢don much resembles the younger stages of other Swifts, in which the external and internal processes of the nasal ossify first, forming a crescentic bar of bone bounding the nasal opening. Later on the ascending process ossifies, forming a tri-radiate bone, extremely well marked in Paexyptzla. The interorbital portion of the frontals *See, however, foot-note on page It. IO Lucas, the Main Divisions of the Swifts. [January is comparatively wide, slightly suggesting Caprzmulgus in its outline. Viewed from below the elongation of the rostrum is very noticeable while the pre-maxillaries are seen to run well back- ward, thus contrasting with the other Swifts and once more sug- gesting Caprimulgus. Dendrochelidon has the characteristic unciform maxillo- palatines of the Swifts, but the palatines and vomer differ totally from the Cypseline pattern. The pre-palatine bar is narrow, in- stead of wide, the external palatine notch is wanting, and the trans-palatine portion is entirely different in shape from that of the other Swifts, being not unlike Caprimu/lgus. The anteriorly T-shaped vomer of the other Swifts is replaced by a vomer that is scarcely expanded at all distally. Ventral aspect of crania of 1. Antrostomus vociferus, 2. Dendrochelidon mystacea, 3. Chetura pelagica, all enlarged to the same absolute size. v, vomer; mx, maxillo-palatine; 7, prepalatine; ee, ecto-ethmoid; 7//, trans- palatine; fo, pterygoid; g, quadrate; s, sphenoid; 4¢, basi-temporal. One maxillo-palatine is omitted to better show the vomer. Owing to foreshortening the length of the rostral portion of the skull of Dendrochel- zdon is apparently not so great asit is in reality. The sphenoid of Denxdrochelidon partakes of the general elon- gation of the skull, and the articulations of the pterygoids with the sphenoid are brought well forward, and form a rather sharp angle with one another. This is a departure from the Cypseline structure, in which the pterygoids are closely applied to the basi- temporal, and a step toward the Passerine arrangement. 1889. ] Lucas, the Main Divisions of the Swifts. II While retaining the general characters of the Swifts, the shoulder girdle of Dexdrochelidon departs widely from the typical Cypse- line pattern. The xiphoid margin of the sternum instead of being convex is slightly concave, and instead of being imperforate presents on either side. a subtriangular fenestra occupying the place of the notch found in Passerine birds. ‘These fenestra are not to be confounded with the sternal vacuities so constantly found in the Swifts, for large, irregular fenestra are present in the body of the sternum ; but the marginal fenestre are such as would be formed were the external xiphoid process of a Passerine bird united with the body of the sternum by a bar of bone. The outline of the carina is more convex than in any of the other Swifts, and recalls the Caprimulgine sternum. The coracoid is moderately long, much longer than in any of the allied forms, its length, in comparison with the total length of the sternum, being 58% in D. wallacez, and 74% 7x D. mystacea, while in MWicropus apus it is 3%, in Collocalia fuciphaga ?35, and in Chetura pelagica pfy. The furcula is also longer and the hypoclidium better developed than in other Swifts, the furcula resting upon the anterior edge of the carina. The scapula is more decurved than in any other Swift except Collocalzia, but ex- perience with other forms shows that the scapula has but slight taxonomic value. Unfortunately there is no humerus among the bones in my possession, but from the proportions of the other bones of the wing it would not be surprising if the humerus should prove to be longer and less strongly marked than the usual Cypseline pattern.* The radius and ulna, instead of being considerably shorter than the second metacarpal, are considerably longer, while they are also more concave toward one another than in other Swifts. The *Since the above was written, Dr. W. K. Parker has very kindly sent me for examin- ation askeleton of D. coronata. This corresponds in the respective portions of its skeleton with the species already examined, while the humerus proves to be as sur- mised, much more slender and much less rugose than in the other Swifts. The differences of proportional length between the wing bones of J/icropus apus and Dendrochelidon mystacea can be well expressed in figures by calling the length of the metacarpals oo. They are as follows: M., apus. D. mystacea. Chetura. Collocalia. Metacarpals 100 100 100 100 Radius 76 IIo 75 88 Humerus 56 95 60 63 WZ Lucas, the Main Divisions of the Swifts. [January ‘tarsus’ is much shorter and wider in Dexdrochelidon than in any of its relatives, and the anterior and posterior surfaces in- stead of being deeply grooved for the reception of tendons are decidedly convex. The first metatarsal is well developed and is placed well up on the ‘tarsus,’ the ungual phalanges are not of the regular Cypseline pattern, and the phalanges, within the penultimate, instead of being short or obsolete are moderately long. Finally the ‘tarsus’ is shorter than even the first digit, while in all other Swifts it is longer, notably so in Chetura. From the preceding notes it may be seen that marked differences separate the genus Denxdrochelidon from the other Swifts, while in some points it seems to incline towards the Goatsuckers. Some of the distinctions existing between Dexdrochelidon and the other Swifts are merely differences of degree, but others are differences of kind, so that Denxdrochelidon not only differs from its rela- tives, but possesses structural characters of its own that appear quite equal to those of the rest of the Swifts combined. These differential characters are greater than those existing between the Thrushes and the Wrens, or even, I should say, between the Crows and the Swallows, so that although the material at hand is small, it is quite sufficient to warrant the formation of a new family for the members of the genus Dendrochelidon. The name proposed for this family is Dezdrochelidonide. The precise status of the Swifts may well be called a little un- certain, although the tendency certainly is to consider them as an order. Mr. Gill’s term of super-family has been applied to the Swifts by Mr. L. Stejneger and may safely be used. Osteologi- cally the group may be diagnosed as follows. Super-family MrcRopoDOIDEA. Palate zgithognathous ; maxillo-palatines unciform ; manubrium rudimentary; xiphoid margin of sternum entire, costal process small; coracoid short, not implanted in a groove, epi-coracoid feebly developed; furcula widely U-shaped, hypoclidium small, epiclidium obsolete. The two families into which this super-family is divided may be differentiated as follows. Rostral portion of cranium Nasals Ecto-ethmoid Vomer Palatines Posterior margin of sternum Tarsus Ulna Phalanges Scort, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Micropodide. broad; tri-radiate, overlapping frontals ; wide; anteriorly much _ ex- panded, T-shaped ; exteriorly notched ; convex, imperforate ; longer than first digit; shorter than second metacarpal ; except ultimate and penultimate, very short or obsolete ; ’ Florida. 13 Dendrochelidonide. moderate. forked, abutting against frontals. narrow. scarcely expanded. unnotched. slightly concave, with two foramina. shorter than first digit. longer than second metacarpal. not shortened. The Afcropodide apparently fall into two groups according to the development of their phalanges: JZécropodine.—Number of phalanges 2,3,3,3. Cheturine.—Number of phalanges 2, 3, 4,5. It is my earnest desire, at some future day, to treat of the Swifts in greater detail, but osteological material is very difficult to pro- cure, and at present the matter must rest. I should be very grate- ful for any assistance in this respect, and in closing desire to express my thanks to Mr. Adams, Dr. Baur, Dr. Mearns, Dr. W. K. Parker, and Professor Newton for their kindness in providing me with the material on which this paper is based. A SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS Ob Lak GUILE] COAST OF FLORIDA. BY W. E. D. SCOTT. (Continued from p. 379-) Pheenicopterus ruber. AMERICAN FLAMINGO.—This species was of regular though rare occurrence as as ummer migrant as far north as Tampa Bay. The last birds killed there were four in number, all but one immature, in the year 1885, by Mr. Stuart of Tampa. 14 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [January Of late years the birds have been so persistently persecuted in the region between Cape Romano and Cape Sable, and north from the former point to Sanibel Inlet, that they are now rare even at those points, though ten years ago resident there and not atall uncommon. Mr. Atkins while at Punta Rassa in 1885 and 1886 obtained several authentic records of the occurence of the Flamingo in that region. Some four years ago a party of ‘plume hunters,’ I am most credibly informed, killed in a single season, and during a single expedition after plumes a large number of these remarkable and beautifully colered birds. This was the main flock, and was well known to the spongers and other frequenters of the coast, in the region about Cape Romano. It seems, from information that I can gather, that the Flamingoes bred somewhere between Cape Romano and Cape Sable and south of that point quite recently, that is within five years, and a few may still find a nesting-ground on the Gulf Coast as numbers are seen every season, though the birds are not nearly as common as they once were and have become very shy from the repeated attacks upon them. Ajaja ajaja. RRosEATE SPOONBILL.—The record in regard to the species in question is even more shocking than that of the Flamingo. The Roseate Spoonbill was ten years ago an abundant bird on the Gulf Coast of Florida, as far north at least as the mouth of the Anclote River. The birds bred in enormous rookeries in the region about Cape Romano and to the south of that point. These rookeries have been described to me by men who helped to destroy them, as being frequently of many acres in extent and affording breeding ground to thousands of Roseate Spoonbills. The birds bred in January and were in the best plumage late in November and in December. They do not seem to have bred north of Charlotte Harbor, so far as I am able to ascertain, but immediately after the breed- ing season was finished, and as soon as the young were able to shift for themselves, there was a great dispersal of the birds tothe northward, particularly along the coast, though they were common at points in the interior. As late as the season of 1880 in March I found the birds in great numbers at all the points I visited south of the mouth of the Anclote River, and even north of thatZpoint they were of occasional occurrence. In Old Tampa Bay and at John’s Pass in March of the year in question I saw the birds daily and once at least two hundred alighted on a sandbar where I was watching some Peale’s Egrets (Ardea rufescens) and were so tame and unsuspicious that I approached withintwenty feet before they flew, and the flight was only for a short distance when they again alighted. All this is changed. I have spent the past four winters and two sum- mers in Florida. My old hunting grounds have all been carefully re- traversed, some of them many times, and the Roseate Spoonbill is almost as great a stranger to me as to my fellow workers who live the year round in Massachusetts. I have seen two near Tarpon in all the time referred to, about a dozen once on Old Tampa Bay, and during my trip to Charlotte Harbor in 1886 1889. ] Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. 15 perhaps twenty in all. They were in every case so wild and frightened at the s¢g#¢ of a human being that the only way one could identify them was by the wonderful blush pink of their feathers in the light. Iam firmly convinced that this change is directly attributable to the demands of the feather market for the skins of these gorgeous birds, and feel sure that it is only the question of a few more seasons of ‘plume hunters’ when this species will be almost as mythical in Florida, as the traditional Phoenix Guara alba. Wuitr IBis.—An abundant resident at most points on the Gulf Coast, but apparently preferring the fresh-water regions, especially in the breeding season, though I have frequently found them in rookeries, associated with various Herons, Cormorants, etc., where the water was brackish. For many years the southeastern end of Lake Butler, near Tarpon Springs, has been a favorite breeding place for these birds, and I found vast numbers of them breeding there in April of the present year (1888). The nests were similar to those of the smaller Herons, which were also breeding abundantly at this point, except that they were lined with leaves and were more carefully built. Four eggs were generally the number of a full set, though once I found five in the same nest, and three were now and then the full number. The eggs were mostly laid, and had been incubated from a day or two to a week, when I visited the rookery on April 24, 1888. These birds I found equally common at Panasoffkee Lake, the points visited on the Withlacooche River, and at many points in Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. . Guara rubra. ScarRLeT IsBis.—Mr. Atkins of Key West writes me under date July 21, 1888, ‘‘I enclose the letter referring to the (Scarlet] Ibis. Mr. Hart is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a truthful and reliable man and I have not the least doubt of what he writes in regard to the [Scarlet] Ibis.” The following I quote from this letter of Mr. T. E. Hart to Mr. Atkins, dated from Fort Ogden, Florida, May 13, 1888. “T have done very well collecting plumes this season, but have not made a skin this year; have seen some fine Everglade Kites and Spoon- bills and Rails, but was a long way from the boat and could not pack them; saw one Scarlet Ibis but did not shoot it. I was in a Heron rookery and saw it coming and thought it was a young White Ibis as its color was hid by the tops of the trees. I kept watching it coming along and when it got to an open place it hovered for a moment, and before I could shoot it, it dashed off ata right angle and I saw it no more. Joe saw one the same day. I could not have been mistaken in the bird. It was of the size and shape you wrote and was of a dark blood color. It was not more than sixty feet from me and was a pertect beauty.” I have perfect confidence in the above records and present them without hesitation as being of deep interest. Plegadis autumnalis. GLossy Isis.—Apparently rare on the Gulf 16 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [January Coast. The only records I have are two birds, sex unknown, taken at Fort Meyers, on the Caloosahatchie River, in the spring of 1886. These two are in my collection and are numbered 5244 and 5245. The local hunters in Hillsboro and Hernando Counties do not seem to have any knowledge of ‘‘Copper-colored Curlews,” except such of the hunters as have travelled in the southern portion of the State. Tantalus loculator. Woop Isis.—Common resident and frequents the cypress ponds, small streams, and rivers. It is rarely to be found on or close to salt water. Mr. Stuart of Tampa told me that several hundred ofthese birds bred in a rookery about eight miles from Tampaas recently as the spring of 1885. The breeding season was at its height about the last of March. This rookery has been broken up by local hunters and no birds breed there now, nor have I met with the species nesting in Florida. Botaurus lentiginosus. AMERICAN BITTERN.—A rare summer resident but abundant at certain points in the autumn, winter, and spring. Ihave no record of the species breeding in Florida, but meet with the birds now and then throughout the warm months. Botaurus exilis. Least BITTERN.—Common resident. Many breed both in the fresh and salt water marshes, though the former seem to be preferred. The breeding season in the region about Tarpon Springs is in May and is completed, the young birds being able to fly, by the last of June, or first week in July. Ardea occidentalis. GrEAT WuitTeE Hrron.—The regions between Cape Romano and Cape Sable and to the south of the latter point seem the localities preferred by this species, and here they are resident and breed. The breeding season is said to be in December and January. Mr. Atkins has kindly given me numerous records of their occurrence at Key West, and I have a note of one seen at the mouth of the Anclote River in April, 1887. Ardea wuerdemanni. WURDEMANN’s HERON.—Mr. Stuart of Tampa has collected between Capes Romano and Sable some ten or more individuals of this species which I have personally seen. Most of these were in the colored phase and presented considerable individual variation, the details of which I am unable to place on record here, as I put off taking notes in this matter, being hurried at the time of my visit, and since then these valuable birds with many others have been destroyed by fire. Two of Mr. Stuart’s birds were in the white phase, being pure white everywhere except on the last two or three inches of the their outer primaries, which were in color blue and marked much like the primary quills of Ardea cérulea in its white phase of plumage. For the notes I have on the breeding of this species, I am indebted to Mr. Stuart, who kindly placed them at my disposal. Mr. Stuart started in the early part of November, 1886, for the region alluded to above, and found Wiirdemann’s Heron breeding at that season. Some of the birds had eggs in their nests, and some had young almost ready to fly so that it is fair to presume that the birds begin to breed about October 1. The 1889.] Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. 17 birds were solitary in their nesting habits, and not at all common, and very shy. Mr. Stuart described the half-grown young to me as similar to those of A. ward? of a like age, but as he did not appreciate their value, he preserved no skins of them. I wish to allude in this connection to a bird which I took near Tarpon Springs on July 31, 1886. With some hesitancy, I am obliged to consider the specimen in question, No. 5305 of my collection, an adult male in worn full plumage, as a hybrid between Wiirdemann’s and Ward’s Heron. It is of a considerably lighter and more smoke-colored blue than any Ward’s Heron which I have. It has the decidedly white underparts streaked with black, and dusky gray and even rusty color characteristic of wuerdemannz. The crown patch from the forehead is streaked with bluish dusky. The plumes of the lower neck are almost pure white. There are so many characters of Wiirdemann’s and Ward’s Heron com- bined in this bird, that this seems the only reasonable category to place it in, at least till we have further light on the subject. Ardea wardi. WaArp’s Heron.—For recent remarks on this species I refer the reader to ‘The Auk’ of April, 1888, pp. 183-184. I have before me a series of some thirty Ward's Herons in all stages from the fledgling birds taken from the nest to those in full adult breeding plumage. Of the latter, there are nineteen in number, and it is my purpose to give a slight summary of certain features said to charac- terize this species. Ad/ of these nineteen birds are in very fine, unworn, adult plumage, they having been taken at the beginning of the breeding season. Eleven of them, without any apparent correlation to sex, have the crown patch streaked and suffused with bluish black or bluish brown. Eight have the crown patch untinged and pure white. In the eleven that have the crown patch streaked, there is every degree of variation presented from an almost obscured crown patch to one only faintly streaked or suffused. This streaking or suffusion usually begins on the forehead and extends for a greater or less distance backwards till lost in the white of the extremity of the crown patch. Avery considerable percentage have some of the long occipital plumes not wholly black, but blue or whitish. Of the nineteen birds in question only ¢hree have pure black shoulder- knots, and the other szxteex present every phase between shoulder-knots slightly streaked with white to those heavily and conspicuously striped with that color. There is alsoa very considerable individual variation in the relative amounts of white and black on the underparts of these nine- teen birds. These points have been briefly noticed to show what a wide range of variation these birds have in the coloration of special parts. and as conflicting somewhat with recent descriptions. Mr. Atkins has found the species not infrequently at Key West and has lately sent me a young bird of the year from that point, indicating its breeding at or near that island. Ardea egretta. AMERICAN EGRET.—A rather common resident, though not nearly so abundant as in former years. Breeds, according to locality and range, from late in January till June and even July. 18 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [January Ardea candidissima, SNowy Hrron.—A common resident and once abundant, but it has been so systematically persecuted and destroyed that it is yearly becoming more rare. It breeds, according to locality, from early in March till late in June. It is particularly difficult to give accurate data as to the natural breeding time of this and others of the smaller Herons, for they are hunted just during the period of the full per- fection of the plumes with such unremitting perseverance by the cruel plume hunters that scarcely a ‘rookery, + no matter how small, escapes. So that the poor survivors of these massacres are constantly seeking new nesting grounds, andI have found Herons about Tarpon Springs and other points, breeding date zz August, and this species, A. cerulea, and A. tricolor ruficollis had fresh eggs as late as the 15th of that month. Ardea rufescens. REDDISH EGRET.—Locally this bird is still common. The breeding season begins late in March in Old Tampa Bay, and is at its height by the middle of April. These birds, so far as I am aware, always breed in rookeries where the adjacent waters are salt, and I have never seen them frequent the fresh water ponds even to feed. Mr. John W. Atkins, of Key West, tells me in a recent letter that the dark phase of plumage is the commoner of the two at that locality, though he constantly sees the white phase as well, and he believes the birds breed on the islands. For further remarks on this species the reader is referred to ‘The Auk,’ April, 1888, p. 184. I am indebted to a friend in this locality for the information that this species in its dark phase still breeds in numbers at rookeries at St. Martin’s Keys, about forty-five miles north of Tarpon Springs, in the Gulf. Ardea tricolor ruficollis. Lours1aNA Hrron.—The most common of all the Herons, frequenting both salt and fresh water. The breeding season begins about the same time of the year as the last. Ardea cerulea. LirrLeE BLuE HeEron.—Still a common species. Frequents both fresh and salt water, but there seems to be a preference for the former. Breeds in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs from early in April to late in August. See, in this connection, the remarks on the breeding of A. canxd¢dzssima, which also refer to this species. Ardea virescens. GREEN HERON.—Common, but not so gregarious as the several preceding species. Resident and breeds, generally in the vicinity of fresh water ponds. Breeds from late in April to July, in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs. Nycticorax nycticorax nzevius. BLACK-cROWNED NicHur HErRon.— Rather common resident, and some breed. Nycticorax violaceus. YELLOW-CROWNED NicHr Hrron.—Common locally. Breeds in May and June about Tarpon Springs. [Zo be continued. | 1889. ] LAWRENCE, Breeding of Puffinus audubont, etc. 19 AN ACCOUNT OF THE BREEDING HABITS OF BRUINS AUDUBON VN THE ISLAND OF GRENADA, WEST INDIES, WITH A NOTE ONVZABLNAIDA TK OBELPLS. BY GEORGE N. LAWRENCE. I HAVE received a letter from Mr. John G. Wells in which he writes as follows: ‘‘I had an outing on Easter Monday, and was fortunate enough to procure a bird new to our fauna, a description of which I enclose, and skins go by book post, which I trust will reach you safely, and that I shall soon have the pleasure of read- ing your decision on them.” The birds sent proved to be Puffinus audubonz. The following letter from Mr. Wells, dated Grenada, April 23, 1888, gives an account of his finding and procuring specimens of it while breed- ing, and also some facts connected with its life history. ‘‘About eight or ten years ago numbers of dried birds used to be brought in to the market at Greenville for sale ; they were young birds and very fat. The men who sold them said they were the young of the ‘Diablotin,’ and were caught in holes, on a small island to the eastward called Mouchoir Quarré. I endeavored to procure a live one but without avail, and in fact so many improbable stories were told concerning this bird, that I looked upon the ‘Diablotin’ as a myth, and concluded that the dried birds were the young of some species of Gull. My interest in the matter has, however, been recently revived. On Easter Monday last (2nd April, 1888) I paid a visit to a small islet called Labaye Rock, about a mile off the Port of Greenville, a place where I had been on many previous occasions. On exploring the Rock, a young bird was discovered in a hole under a stone; it was covered with Cown; in fact it seemed like a ball of fat en- closed in down. One of the boatmen pronounced it to be a young ‘Diablo- tin’; this, as you may suppose, caused me to make a thorough search, with the happy result that I found an adult bird with a young one in one hole, and a full-grown female and one egg inanother hole. The birds on being brought out into the light appeared to be quite foolish, and beyond a feeble attempt to bite seemed to make no effort to escape. I kept them alive for some days; they would take no food during the day, remaining perfectly quiet, but at night they fed on scraps of fish, and at intervals uttered a peculiar cry resembling a cat howl. 20 LAwRENCE, Breeding of Puffinus audubont, etc. [January “They evidently lay but one egg, as only one young was found in each hole, and the egg which I got was highly incubated; itis of a dull white color and measures 2// X 12!/. “The name ‘Diablotin’ in this case is not to be depended upon, as the fishermen and boatmen about here seem to apply that name to any strange sea bird which they meet. ‘«The bird appears to be a Petrel, perhaps a well-known species, but it is new to me, and I believe has not been noted from this island. Isend you by book post the skins of an adult female and the young bird found in the same hole.” Dr. Henry Bryant found it to be abundant in the Bahamas. His accounts of its breeding and of the size of the egg agree closely with that given by Mr. Wells. It appears to be also quite com- mon in Bermuda, and several accounts of its capture there while breeding, may be found in Baird, Brewer and Ridgway (Water Bind stot uNe PAC ov sOlemll) The general coloring of the nestling sent by Mr. Wells is dusky gray, whitish on the abdomen. It seems large for a bird in its downy stage of plumage, measuring 9? inches in length. The adult measures in length (fresh) 13% inches; in ‘Water Birds of North America’ it is stated to be about 11 inches. These specimens are in the National Museum. The ‘Diablotin’ formerly inhabiting the Island of Guadeloupe, W. I., of which a very full history is given by Pére Labat, in his ‘Voyage aux Isles de l’Amerique,’ published in 1724, and com- prising seven quarto pages, was a very different bird. It has been considered extinct there for a long time, and I think has not been satisfactorily identified with any known species. Pére Labat gives a full and interesting account of its habits, the hunt (chasse) after it on the ‘Souphriere’ of Guadeloupe, with a description of its size and plumage; there is also a plate of it. It appears by his description and the plate, that the entire plumage was black ; the shape of the bill in the plate is unlike that of a Petrel, but much resembles that of a Raven, but it may be improperly drawn. What the species was is a problem very desirable to be solved. While breeding they were constantly pursued by the natives for food, when found in their holes there was no difficulty in their capture, as they made no efforts to escape. It would seem as if finally all were killed by persistent persecution, thus being a parallel case to that of the Great Auk. 1889. | LAWRENCE, Breeding of Puffinus audubont, etc. WN = As this old work is not very accessible to students, | have thought best to give the translation of a few extracts from it. He says— ‘¢This bird is about the size of a pullet; its plumage is black ; it has the wings long and strong, the legs rather short, the feet like those of a duck, but furnished with strong and long claws, its bill is long of a good inch and a half, curved, pointed, extremely hard and strong; it has large eyes near the top of the head, which serve them admirably well during the night, but are nearly useless in the daytime, as they cannot endure the light nor discern objects, for when it is surprised by the day outside of its retreat, it knocks against anything with which it comes in contact and finally it falls to the ground. ‘¢These birds live on fish which they procure during the night at sea; when through with their fishing, they return to the moun- tain, where they take to their holes like rabbits, and until night has come again do not return to the sea. ‘he flesh is blackish with. a little scent of fish, otherwise it is good and very nourishing. ‘“It begins to appear towards the end of September. They are then found in pairs in each hole. hey remain until the end of November, when they disappear.” He gives a very full and particular account of the search after them, and says: ‘‘In spite of the dangers and inconveniences of this hunting, my curiosity tempted me to accompany five negroes.” They were assisted in finding the birds by dogs, and each hunter carried a pole seven or eight feet long with a hook at the end. They procured about two hundred birds; such numbers being obtained, easily accounts for their extermination. Notre ON Zenazda rubripes. I avail myself of this opportunity to correct an error which oc- curred in the ‘Catalogue’ of Grenada Birds.* I received from Mr. Wells a male of Zenatda rubripes after 1 had finished writing the catalogue. The account of its receipt and description was written on a slip of paper to be inserted in the catalogue in its proper place, but by inadvertence it was put under Augyptila wellsi, p. 625, instead of under Zexaida rubripes, p. 624. * Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. IX, 1886, p, 625. PY 2 EVERMANN, Birds of Carroll County, Indiana. {January BIRDS OF CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA. BY BARTON W. EVERMANN. | Concluded from Vol. V, p. 351. | 73. Coccyzus americanus. YELLOW-BILLED Cuckoo. — A common summer resident, arriving about the middle of May. Fresh eggs June 30, 1885. 74. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. BLACK-BILLED CucKoo.—A common summer resident. Until 1884, the Black-billed seemed quite rare, but since then it has appeared to be more abundant than the Yellow-billed. 75. Ceryle alcyon. KINGFISHER.—A common summer resident, com- ing early, and remaining latein the autumn. A set of six eggs taken May 18, in which incubation had proceeded perhaps a week. 76. Dryobates villosus. HaAtry WOODPECKER. 77. Dryobates pubescens. Downy Wooppecker.—-These two familiar Woodpeckers are common residents of the County. 78. Sphyrapicus varius. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.—A_ rather rare resident, most common in the spring. I have specimens obtained December 15, 1884, and January 11, 1885. 79. Ceophlceus pileatus. PILEATED WoOODPECKER.—Formerly a not uncommon resident, but I have seen none in the County for several years, and I have no doubt they have left 1t permanently. 80. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Rrp-HEADED WoOODPECKER.—Our most abundant Woodpecker, usually going south in the autumn, but frequently remaining with us all winter. ‘This it did during the winter of 1851-82 in great numbers. I saw one in the southern part of the County, January 14, 1888. 81. Melanerpes carolinus. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.—A common resident, about as abundant in winter as in summer. $2. Colaptes auratus. ‘YELLOWHAMMeR.’— An abundant resident and one of our most valuable birds. Full sets of eggs may be found by May 4. In May and June, 1885, I obtained thirty-seven eggs in forty-nine days from a ‘Yellowhammer’ which had its nest near my house. The eggs were in seven sets, five, five, five, six, seven, four, and five eggs respectively.* 83. Antrostomus vociferus. WuHrIP-POOR-WILL.—Not uncommon asa summer resident, arriving from April 20 to May 1. S4. Chordeiles virginianus. NIGHTHAWK. — An abundant migrant, especially noticeable in the autumn. 85. Chetura pelagica. CHIMNEY Swirr. —An abundant summer res- ident, arriving about the last week in April. April 27. 1884. Asan instance of *See Davie’s ‘Nests and Eggs of N. A. Birds,’ p. go. 1880. ] EVERMANN, Srrds of Carroll County, Indiana. 23 peculiar nidification of this species I would mention the following. A pair fastened their nest in 1884 upon the inside of the door of an out- house at the Vandalia depot in Camden. ‘The birds entered the building through small holes made in the gables. This building was in daily use, but those who visited it were cautioned by the railroad agent to open the door with care so as not to jar the eggs from the nest. Four eggs were laid, one of which was jostled from the nest, the other three hatched, and the young were reared in safety. Vhe nest was repaired and used again in 1885, and again in 1886, a brood being reared each season. Mr. R. S. Phipps, the Vandalia agent, informs me that the nest was not used in 1887. 86. Trochilus colubris. HumMMinGBirpd. —A common summer resi- dent, arriving about May 8. 87. Tyrannus tyrannus. KincBirp.—the Kingbird is an abundant summer resident. It is first seen in the spring about the last of April. April 29, 1883; April 30, 1884; April 22, 1885. 88. Myiarchus crinitus. CRESTED FLYCATCHER.—A common suinmer resident. Arrives about the last of April. May 3, 1883; April 28, 1884; April 28, 1885. 89. Sayornis phebe. P&were.—A commonand familiar summer resi- dent. First appears about the middle of March. March 17, 1884; March 31, 1885. Building by March 26, 1884. go. Contopus virens. Woop PEWEE.— Summer resident; common. Comes about April 24. Nest found June 18. gt. Empidonax flaviventris. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.—A rare migrant. g2. Empidonax acadicus. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.—This little bird is an abundant summer resident, arrives about May 15, and has full sets ot eggs by Juners. This is one of the most frequent victims of the Cowbird. 93. Empidonax pusillus traillii, TRAILL’s FLYCATCHER.—Rare ; prob- ably a summer resident. June 10, 1885. 94. Empidonax minimus. Lrast FLYCATCHER. — Summer resident, but not common. 95. Otocoris alpestris praticola. PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. — Up to 1879, very rare; since then becoming more common every year, until it is now acommon resident, most abundant, however, in winter and early spring. ; 96. Cyanocitta cristata. Briur JAy.—An abundant resident, beginning to nest as earlyas April to. 97- Corvus corax sinuatus. AMERICAN RAvEN.—The Raven was at one time a common resident, but now seems to have entirely disappeared. 98. Corvus americanus. AMERICAN CRow.— An abundant resident. Nest with three eggs April 16. 99. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. BoBoLinK.—A rare spring migrant. Not noticed until 1883. May 6, 1883 and 1884. ; 100. Molothrus ater. CowBirp. — An abundant summer resident, arriving about March 31. Among the victims of the Cowbird’s parasitic 24 EVERMANN, Birds of Carroll County, Indiana. [January habit I have noticed the following :—Cardinal Grosbeak, Towhee, Red- eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Oven-bird, Worm-eating Warbler, Summer Yellowbird, Warbling Vireo, and Maryland Yellowthroat. tor. Agelaius pheeniceus. RED-wWINGED BLACKBIRD. —In suitable places, this is one of our most abundantsummerresidents. Returns from the south as early as February 12. 102. Sturnella magna. MEADOWLARK. — An abundant summer resi- dent, from the middle of March to late in October. Occasionally a few remain all winter. 103. Icterus spurius. ORCHARD OrIOLE.—From the last of April to September a common resident, growing more abundant of late years. 104. Icterus galbula. BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—Summer resident, some- what more common than the last. Arrives about April 24. 105. Scolecophagus carolinus. Rusty BLACKBIRD. — Spring and autumn migrant, but not often seen. 106. Quiscalus quiscula zneus. BRONZED GRACKLE.—A very abun- dant summer resident, returning from the south about March 15 and remaining until quite late in the autumn. 107. Carpodacus purpureus. PuRPLE FINcH.—Frequently seen late in the autumn and early in the spring;— probably a winter resident. October 12 and 19, 1878: January 25, 1879; April 22, 1884. 108. Loxia curvirostra minor. AMERICAN CROSSBILL.—An irregular winter visitant. Not noticed in the County until about the middle of March, 1883, when a few wereseen near Delphi. About adozen were seen in the evergreens in the Court-yard in Delphi December 26, 1884. Four or five were seen in Camden, March 27, 1885, another April 13, anda large flock heard flying northward over Burlington, April 23, 1885. 109. Loxia leucoptera. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. — A very rare winter visitor. I saw asingle female at Burlington, March 8, 1885, and killed it with a stick. Several others had been seen a few days before in the same place. Some were caught in a trap, but were let go again. Another female was seen at Camden, March 16, 1885. These, together with my records of its appearance at Bloomington, February 6, 10. and 23, 1883, and Mr. F. M. Noe’s Indianapolis record of about the same date, are, as faras [ am informed, the only records of the occurrence of the White-winged Crossbill in Indiana. 110. Acanthislinaria. REDPOLL.—My only record of the occurrence of this species in Carroll County is that of a fine male which I shot at Camden, November 5, 1878. I saw another at Bloomington, December, 1882. These are the only records I have for Indiana. Ill. Spinus tristis. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. — Resident, abundant during the summer. 112. Spinus pinus. PiNe Siskrn.—A rare winter visitant. 113. Plectrophenax nivalis. SNOWFLAKE.—A rare winter visitant. My record of its occurrence in Carroll County shows :—January 15, 1884, saw two (@ and @ ) near Pittsburg, both of which I got: January — , 1885, 1889. ] EVERMANN, Birds of Carroll County, Indiana. 25 two seen in the eastern part of the County ; January — , 1885, a large flock seen in the eastern part of the County by Mr. J. C. Trent; February 13, 1885, three seen near Camden, two of which I got; February 23 and 24, 1885, two or three seen in the northwestern part of the County, two of which I secured. 114. Poocetesgramineus. VESPER SPARROW.—An abundant summer resident, arriving last of March. 115. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. SAVANNA SPARROW.— Migrant, not common. 116. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus. GRASSHOPPER SPAR- Row.—A very rare summer resident. 117. Chondestes grammacus. LARK FINcH. Until recently very rare, but now getting to bea rather common summer resident. 118. Zonotrichia leucophrys. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.—An abun- dant migrant in March and April, and September and October. 11g. Zonotrichia albicollis. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.—With the last an abundant migrant. 120. Spizella monticola. TREE SpARROW.—A common winter resi- dent. 121. Spizella socialis. CHIPPING SPARROW.—A common summer res- ident. 122. Spizella pusilla. FreLtp SPpARROW.—Common summer resident. 123. Junco hyemalis. SLATE-COLORED JUNco.—An abundant winter resident. Appears about the middle of October. 124. Melospiza fasciata. SonG SpARROW.—An abundant summer resident, and a few remain all winter. 125. Melospiza lincolni. JLINCOLN’s SPARROW.—A very rare migrant. 126. Melospiza georgiana. SwAmp SPARROW.—A rare migrant. 127. Passerella iliaca. Fox SpARROw.— A common early migrant. March 30, 1884; March 18, 188o. 128. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. TowHrr.—An abundant summer res- ident. I do not think anyever remain all winter. March 19,1884; March 26, 1885. 129. Cardinalis cardinalis. CARDINAL.—A common resident. 130. Habia ludoviciana. ROoSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. — Summer resident, not very common. Most common during the migrations. May 5, 1884. 131. Passerina cyanea. INDIGO BuNTING.—A common summer resi- dent. 132. Spiza americana. DickcIssEL.— Common summer resident, growing more common each year. 133. Piranga erythromelas. ScARLET TANAGER.—A common summer resident, arriving about May 5, 1884; April 23, 1885. 134. Prognesubis. PurPLE MArTIN.—A common summer resident. Arrives from the south as early as March 28. P 135- Petrochelidon lunifrons. CLiIrF SwALLow.—This Swallow is an abundant summer resident. April 18, 1884. 26 EVERMANN, Birds of Carroll County, Indiana. [ January 136. Chelidon erythrogaster. BARN SwALLow. — This is also abun- dant during the breeding season. April 24, 1884; April 16, 1885. 137. Tachycineta bicolor. TREE SwALLow.—Migrant, not very com- mon. 138. Clivicola riparia. BANK SwALLow.—An abundant summer resi- dent. April 6, 1884; April 8, 1885. 139. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. ROUGH-wINGED SWALLOw.—Sum- mer resident, but less common than the preceding. 140. Ampelis garrulus. BoHEMIAN WaxwiNc.—I remember seeing a flock of half a dozen Waxwings on the cedar trees in my father’s yard several years ago when I was a boy, which I felt sure were not the com- mon Cedarbird with which I was quite familiar. Idid not know at the time what they were, but I am now certain they were Bohemian Wax- wings. They were seen in winter when there was a very heavy snow. 141. Ampelis cedrorum. CEDAR Waxwinc.—A tolerably common summer resident. 142. Lanius borealis. NorRTHERN SHRIKE.—Apparently a rare winter visitor. I have a fine male which I shot near Camden, January 19, 1884. I saw another January 8, of the same year. 143. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. —Until recently a very rare resident, becoming more common since 1882. Seen oftenest along the hedges in the western (prairie) part of the County. Set of six eggs taken west of Pittsburg, May 10, 1884. 144. Vireo olivaceus. RED-EYED VIREO.—An abundant summer resi- dent. Returned from the south May 5, 1884; May 4, 188s. 145. Vireo philadelphicus. PHILADELPHIA VIREO.—A rare summer resident. 146. Vireo gilvus. WaARBLING VIREO.—A rather common summer resident. May 2, 1884; May 6, 1885. 147. Wireo flavifrons- YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. — A common migrant. May 5, 1884. 148. Vireo solitarius. BLUE-HEADED VIREO.—A common migrant. May 10, 1884. 149. Mniotilta varia. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER.—A very rare summer resident, but common during the migrations. April 26, 1885. 150. Protonotaria citrea. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.—A rare sum- mer resident. J have seen it at but two places in the County,—one near Camden, and the other in the Maple Swamp already mentioned in con- nection with the Great Blue Heron. , I first met with this delightful Warbler during my visit to this swamp May 21, 1883. It seemed to be the height of the breeding season, several pairs of birds were seen, and five nests of nice fresh eggs were secured. Another visit was made to the swamp May 21, 1885. Several unfinished nests were found, but laying had not yet begun. A number of Prothono- taries were seen chasing about, across and around the open spaces among the trees. The males were in full song, and I do not remember to have witnessed anything in bird-life more beautiful and interesting.* *See ‘Ornithologist and Odlogist’ for July, 1886. 1889. ] SVERMANN, Birds of Carroll County, Indiana. 27 On May 7, 1885, I saw a single male ina small swamp near Camden. It is now in my collection. This seems to be a very rare species in Indi- ana, and its distribution in the State a little peculiar. As far as I know ithas been noted only at points near the Wabash River. 15t- Helminthophila pinus. BLUE-wINGED WARBLER.—A rather rare summer resident. I saw a nest of young just able to fly in July, 1879. Specimens taken May 4, 6, 11, and 21, 1885, and May ro, 1884. 152. Helminthophila chrysoptera. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER.—One specimen shot near Camden, May 6, 1885, is the only one I have seen in the County. 153. Helminthophila ruficapilla. NAsHvILLE WARBLER.—A common migrant. Common May 4-7, 1885. 154. Helminthophila peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER.—Migrant, usually less common than the preceding species. May 22, 1883. Very common May 14-19, 1885. 155. Compsothlypis americana. PARULA WARBLER.—A common migrant,—especially in spring of 1885, from May 4 to May to. 156. Dendroica tigrina. Cape May WarsBLER.—Not a very common migrant. May 22, 1883; May 12, 1884: May 8-14, 1885. 157. Dendroica zestiva. YELLOW WARBLER.—Summer resident, not common. May 8, 1884; May 4 and 9, 1885. 158. Dendroica cerulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.— Migrant, a few seen almost every spring. May 7, 1884; May 5, 188s. 159. Dendroica coronata. MyrrLe WARBLER.—This is perhaps the most abundant Warbler during the migrations. It is the first to arrive in the springand remains latestintheautumn. April 30, 1878; May 22, 1883; April 20, 1884; April 15, 1885; October 5, 1878. At Bloomington, Indi- ana, this Warbler is a rare winter resident. 160. Dendroica maculosa. MaGNoLiIA WARBLER.—A common mi- grant. May 4, 1878; May 24, 1883; May 7, 1884; May 7, 12, and 18, 1885. 161. Dendroica czerulea. CERULEAN WARBLER.—A common. sum- mer resident, but most abundant during the migrations. May 21, 1883; May 5, 1884; May 6, 1885. 162. Dendroica pennsylvanica. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.—Com- mon migrant. May 22, 1883; May 7, 1884; May 4, 1885. 163. Dendroica castanea. BAy-BREASTED WARBLER. — Tolerably common migrant. May 4, 1878; May 22, 1883; May 5, 1884; May 5, 1885. Very common from May 5 to May 20, 1885. 164. Dendroica striata. BLACKPOLL WARBLER.—A rather common migrant. May 21, 1883; May 21, 1885. Morecommon some seasons than others. 165. Dendroica blackburniz. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.—One of the less common Warblers in this State. May 24, 1883; April 28, 1885. 166. Dendroica dominica albilora. SycamMorE WARBLER.—Summer resident, but not often seen. May g, 1883; April 20, 1884; April 23, 1885. 167. Dendroica virens. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.—A com- 28 EvERMANN, Birds of Carroll County. Indiana. [January mon migrant. May 3, 1883; May 5, 1884; April 28, 1885,—common until May 12. 168. Dendroica vigorsii. PINE WARBLER.—A rare migrant. A pair which I shot near Camden April 29, 1885, are the only ones I ever saw in the County. 16g. Dendroica palmarum. PALM WaARBLER.—A rather common spring migrant in some parts of the County. May 3, 1878; May 8, 1884; April 21, 1885. I have never noted it in the autumn. 170. Seiurus aurocapillus. OVvEN-BirD.—A common summer resident. May 4, 1885. Nest with full complement of eggs May 28, 1883. 171. Seiurus noveboracensis. WATER-THRUSH. — A rare migrant, possibly breeds here. 172. Seiurus motacilla. Louis1ANA WATER-THRUSH.—A rather rare summer resident. May 6, 1885; July, 1581. 173. Geothlypis formosa. KrNrucKy WARBLER.—Probably a rare summer resident. 174. Geothlypis agilis. CoNNEcTICUT WARBLER.—A rare migrant. May 21, 1883; May 21, 1885. 175. Geothlypis philadelphia. Mournrnc Warsier.—With the last a rare migrant. May 21, 1885. 176. Geothlypis trichas. MaryLAND YELLOWTHROAT.—A common summer resident.. May 11, 1878; May 5, 1884; April 24, 1885. Found nest with five fresh eggs May 22, 1883. Saw young able to fly June 12, of same year. 177. Icteria virens. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Summer resident, but rather rare. Not seen prior to May 8, 1883, when I saw a pair or two near Burlington. In the summer of 1884 I saw them again in the same locality and another pair near Camden; another pair was found nesting near the Tippecanoe River in the western part of the County, May 5, 1885. 178. Sylvania mitrata. HoopED WARBLER.—Not very common mi- grant. Several seen May 5-18, 1885, near Camden. 179. Sylvania pusilla. Witson’s WaRBLER.—One killed near Cam- den, May 18, 1885, is the only specimen I have seen in the County. 180. Sylvania canadensis. CANADIAN WARBLER. Rather rare mi- grant. Took two near Burlington, May 24, 1883; several others obtained May 12-18, 1885, near Camden. 181. Setophaga ruticilla. AMERICAN REDSTART.—A common summer resident, apparently growing less common. May 3, 1883; May 6, 1884; May 4 and 6, 1885; nest and eggs June 13, 1883. 182. Anthus pensilvanicus. AMERICAN Pipir.—A very rare. migrant I saw a dozen or more March 19, 1879, while the snow still lay upon the ground. They were along the water’s edge on Deer Creek above Cam- den. ‘These are the only ones I have ever seen in the County. 183. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. CATBIRD.—As elsewhere east of the Mississippi, one of the most common and familiar birds. May 3, 1883; April 27, 1884; April 23, 1885. Full sets of eggs are to be found usually by May 21. : 18So. | EVERMANN, Birds of Carroll County, Indiana. 29 184. Harporhynchus rufus. Brown THRASHER.—This is also a com- mon and well-known summer resident, returning from the south about the first of April. April 3, 1884. Full clutches of eggs May 4, 1885. 185. Thryothorus ludovicianus. CARoLINA WREN.—A rare resident, but apparently becoming more common from year to year. I do not re- member to have seen this Wren until 1877, and from then up to 1879, I regarded it as a very rare bird. But in 1883-85 it seemed very much more common. October 10 and November 16, 1877; February 27, 1879; Febru- ary 8 and 24, 1884. 186. Troglodytes aédon. Housrt Wren.—A tolerably common sum- mer resident. In 1884, first seen April 28; common next day. In 1885, it returned just a week earlier. 187. Troglodytes hiemalis. WINTER Wren.—A rather rare resident, most frequently seen in winter; but I am quite certain it breeds here. 188. Cistothorus palustris. LLONG-BILLED MARSH WREN.—A spring and autumn migrant, apparently quite rare. 189. Certhia familiaris americana. BROWN CREEPER.—Winter resi- dent except for a few weeks in midwinter when it goes further south. Not very often seen. February 1 and 15, 1879; April 6 and 23, 1884; April g, 1885. 190. Sitta carolinensis. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.—A common permanent resident. Igt. Sitta canadensis. RED-BREAsSTED NuTHatcu.—I think this may be regarded as a rare resident. In August, 1878, I saw some three or four young near Burlington just able to fly. May 3, 1883, I saw one, and another on May 7, 1885. 192. Parus bicolor. Turrep Tirmouse.—One of our most common permanent residents. 193. Parus atricapillus. CHICKADEE.—A permanent resident, more common than the next. 194. Parus carolinensis. CAROLINA CHICKADEE — Permanent resi- dent, but not common. 195. Regulus satrapa. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.—Migrant late in the autumn and early in the spring,—probably a few remain all winter. April 9, 1885; November, 1877. 196. Regulus calendula. RuBy-cROWNED KINGLET.— With the pre- ceding, a tolerably common migrant. October 5, 1878. 197- Polioptila cerulea. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.—A somewhat common summer resident. April 23, 1884; April 22, 1885. Full sets of eggs obtained May 17 from two nests which I saw the birds begin building May 5. I think from what I could see without climbing to the nests each day, that they were completed on the 12th and the first egg laid in each on that day. 198. Turdus mustelinus. Woop THRusH.—An abundant and delight- ful summer resident. May 3, 1883; April 28, 1884; April 23, 1885. Full sets of eggs June 17, 1882; May 24, 1883. 199. Turdus fuscescens. WILSON’s THRUSH.—Spring and autumn migrant, not very common. April 9, 1885, especially common. 30 Cory, Birds of Little Cayman and Cayman Brack. [January 200. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni. OLIVE-BACKED THrusH.—Migrant with the last, not common. 201. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Hermit TuHrusu.— With the last a tolerably common migrant. October 5, 1878; March 30, 1884. 202. Merula migratoria. AMERICAN Roprin.—One of our commonest and best known summer residents,—leaving so late in the autumn and re- turning so early in the spring as to almost appear a permanent resident. Our January or February ‘thaw seldom fails to bring a few back to us. I desire to call attention to a nesting habit of the Robin which is spoken of in the books as ‘‘unusual,” that is the habit of constructing their nest upon a rail in the fence. This I have from childhood noticed to be a very com- mon place for the Robin to put its nest. A place near the end of the rail where it is crossed by those of the next panel is usually selected, and gen- erally about the fifth from the ground in an eight-rail fence. I have fre- quently known the same old nest to be repaired and used for two or even three years. 203. Sialia sialis. BLUEBIRD.—A common summer resident; a few probably remain in sheltered places throughout the winter. February 12, 1884; March 7, 1885. Until within the last ten years nearly every cleared field in this part of Indiana contained the stumps of the many trees that had been felled in clearing the land. Many of these stumps contained, small hollows from three to six inches in diameter, and from one to two or three feet deep. As long as the stumps remained, these hollows were a favorite nesting place for the Bluebirds. But now that the stumps have been removed, the Bluebirds have betaken themselves to deserted wood- pecker holes in trees, or to rotten fence posts. A LIST OF THE BIRDS COLLECTED BYe MiReaC air MAYNARD IN 2H ISvANDS OF Elwin CAYMAN AND CAYMAN BRACK, WEST INDIES. BY CHARI.ES B. CORY. THE AviIFAUNA of the [slands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brack is apparently quite different from that of Grand Cayman. Only five of the resident species of Grand Cayman appear to be found in either of the smaller islands. No Cezturas or Icterus occurs on either Little Cayman or Cayman Brack, and the Mimocichla instead of being ravzéda seems to be the Cuban form, M. rubripes. Several Cuban species occur in Cayman Brack and 1889. ] Cory, Birds of Little Cayman and Cayman Brack. eH Little Cayman which have not been observed on Grand Cayman, notably the AZ¢émocichla already mentioned, Quéscalus gundlachi and Chrysotzs leucocephala. LITTLE CAYMAN. Dendroica palmarum (Gwmel.). Dendroica discolor ( Vzezd/.). Dendroica vittellina Cory. Dendroica czrulescens ( Gme/.). Dendroica aurocapilla (Azdgw.). Geothlypis trichas (Zzzz.). Certhiola sharpei Cory. Vireo caymanensis Cory. Ampelis cedrorum Vzezd/. Euetheia olivacea (Gmel/.). Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Zzzz.). Elainea martinica (Zzzz.). Tyrannus dominicensis ( Gwed/.). Actitis macularia (Zzzz.). Sula cyanops (Swzdev.). CAYMAN BRACK. Mimocichla rubripes ( Zemm.). Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Zzzz.). Dendroica palmarum ( Gvze/.). Dendroica discolor ( Vzezd/.). Dendroica vittellina Cory. Helmitherus vermivorus ( Gmel/.). Compsothlypis americana (Zzzz.). Seiurus noveboracensis ( Gwe/.). Seiurus aurocapillus (Zz77.). Setophaga ruticilla (Zzzz.). Certhiola sharpei Cory. Chelidon erythrogaster ( odd.). Vireo alleni Cory. Vireo caymanensis Cory. Euetheia olivacea ( Gvze/.). Quiscalus gundlachi Cass. Elainea martinica (Zzzz.). 32 BENDIRE, on the Habits of the Sooty Grouse. [January Pitangus caudifasciatus (2) Ord.). Tyrannus dominicensis ( Gme/.). Crotophaga ani (Lzzz.). Chrysotis leucocephala (Zzzz.). Columba leucocephala Zzzz. Columbigallina passerina (Zzzv.). Zenaida amabilis Lozap. Actitis macularia (Zzzz.). Arenaria interpres (Zzz.). fEgialitis semipalmata (Zozap.). Ardea virescens (Zzz7.). Sula cyanops Suzdev. NOTES ON THE HABITS, NESTS; AND PGGSTOn DENDRAGAPOGS, OLS CORUGS \PULMG NOSGTS, Wan SOONG GOW sis: BY CAPT. CHARLES E. BENDIRE. TuE Sooty Grouse, better known on the Pacific coast, how- ever, under the names of Blue Grouse and Pine Hen, has a wide range of distribution. Ridgway, in his ‘Manual of North American Birds,’ gives its habitat as ‘*‘ Mountains near Pacific coast from California to Sitka, Alaska.” It is found, however, equally abundant in suitable localities throughout the entire inte- rior mountain system of the Northwest, as far east at least as the western spurs of the Bitter Root Range of Montana, fully Sco miles from the sea-coast, throughout the entire Blue Mountain and Cascade Ranges of Oregon, as well as through the moun- tains of Washington and Idaho Territories, and northern Nevada. These birds from the interior, beginning from the eastern foot-hills of the Cascade Range (vicinity of Fort Klamath, Oregon), and throughout the remaining localities mentioned, are, however, much lighter and paler colored than the type specimens of D. obscurus fuliginosus Ridgway, which were obtained in the vicinity of Sitka, Alaska, but are nevertheless referable to this form rather than to D. obscurus (Say). 1889. ] BENDIRE on the Habits 07 the Sooty Grouse. 23 I have met with the Sooty Grouse in all the above-mentioned localities in the Northwest, and have had excellent opportunities to observe their habits. As a game bird, considered from a sportsman’s point of view, it has no peer, and its flesh, in gastro- nomic value, is of an equal order of excellence. Although a resi- dent throughout the year, wherever found, the Sooty Grouse is seldom seen during the winter months, spending almost the entire time in the tops of tall, bushy fir and pine trees, which it leaves only for a short time about the middle of the day to procure water from some little mountain spring. Their presence in a tree selected by these birds as a roosting and budding place can, however, be readily detected by a close observer, especially when the ground, as it almost invariably is at that time of the year, is covered with a foot or two of snow. The food of the Sooty Grouse during the entire winter consists almost exclusively of the buds and tender tops of the pine and fir branches, as well as of fully grown pine needles. In picking these off, a certain amount is usually rejected, or dropped by ac- cident, and I have seen fully a bushel or more scattered about the base of a single tree, which I attributed at first to the work of squirrels, till I found out otherwise. The use of such food im- parts to the flesh of these birds at this season a strong, resinous flavor, not particularly relished by me at first. After finding such a tree used asa roosting place, it still remained to locate the birds, which generally proved to be a more difficult matter than one would anticipate. When they found themselves discovered they would usually remain perfectly motionless, and it was no easy matter to see a bird among the dense branches. [If sitting on a good-sized limb, they would crouch lengthwise on it, leaving very little of their body exposed to view from below, and if one went off some little distance the foliage of the lower limbs would hide the bird equally effectively. Single families only are found together during the winter, say from eight to twelve birds, and frequently but two or three. I have scarcely ever seen larger packs together at any time. They certainly do not pack in the late autumn in the manner.of Sage Fowl ( Ceztrocercus urophas- zanus) and Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pediocetes phastanellus colum- btanus), both of these species having been observed by me on more than one occasion in packs numbering over a hundred. I first met with the Sooty Grouse on Craig’s Mountain near 34 BENDIRE ox the Habits of the Sooty Grouse. [January Fort Lapwai, Idaho, on the Nez Percé Indian Reservation, and was told by both trappers and Indians that these birds did not remain there during the winter, in which belief I consequently shared at that time. I was also told that when a covey had been located in a tree, by being careful always to shoot the bird sitting lowest, the whole lot might be secured successfully. This may be so, but somehow it always failed with me; usually after the second shot, often even after the first, and certainly at the third, the remaining birds took wing, and generally flew quite a distance before alighting again, nearly always placing a deep canon between themselves and me. At Fort Lapwai, Idaho, in the early fall of 1870 and of 1871, on two or three occasions I found a few of these birds mixed in and feeding with large packs of the Sharp-tailed Grouse. This must, however, be considered as an unusual behavior, as I never noticed it anywhere else subsequently, although both species were equally abundant in other localities where I met them frequently in after years. The favorite locations to look for the Sooty Grouse during the spring and summer are the sunny, upper parts of the foot- hills, bordering on the heavier timbered portions of the moun- tains, among the scattered pines and the various berry-bearing bushes found in such situations and along the sides of canons. According to my observations these birds are scarcely ever found any distance within the really heavy timber. Inthe middle of the day they can usually be looked for with success amongst the deciduous trees and shrubbery found along the mountain streams in canons, especially if there is an occasional pine or fir tree mixed amongst the former. The cocks separate from the hens after incubation has commenced, I believe, and keep in little com- panies, say from four to six, by themselves, joining the young broods again in the early fall. At any rate I have more than once come on several cocks in June and July, without seeing a single hen amongst them. High rocky points near the edges of the main timber, amongst juniper and mountain mahogany thickets, are their favorite abiding-places at that time of year. The young chicks are kept by the hen for the first week or two in close prox- imity to the place where they were hatched, and not till they have attained two weeks’ growth will they be found along the willows and thickets bordering the mountain streams. Their food consists at first, principally of grasshoppers, insects, and tender plant tops, 1889. | BENDIRE, on the Habits of the Sooty Grouse. 35 and later in the season of various species of berries found then in abundance everywhere, as well as the seeds of a species of wild sunflower, of which they seem to be very fond. It is astonishing how soon the young chicks learn to fly, and well, too, and how quickly they can hide and scatter at the first alarm note of the mother bird which invariably tries by various devices to draw the attention of the intruder to itself and away from its young. A comparatively small leaf, a bunch of grass, anything in fact will answer their purpose; you will scarcely be able to notice them before they are all securely hidden, and unless you should have a well-trained dog to assist you, the chances are that you would fail to find a single one, even when the immediate surroundings were open. After the young broods are about half grown, they spend the greater portion of the day, and, I believe, the night as well, among the shrubbery in the creek bottoms, feeding along the side hills in the early hours of the morning and evening. During the heat of the day they keep close to the water, in shady trees and the heavy undergrowth. They walk to their feeding grounds, but in going to water they usually fly down from the side hills. The love note of the cock has a very peculiar sound, hard to describe. It can be heard at almost any hour of the day in the spring, often in the beginning of March when there is still plenty of snow to be found, and it is kept up till well into the month of May. It is known as hooting or booming. The cocks when engaged in this amusement may be found perched on hori- zontal limbs of large pine or fir trees, with their air-sacks inflated to the utmost, wings drooping and the tail expanded. They pre- sent then a very ludicrous appearance, especially about the head. When at rest, these air-sacks, of a pale orange yellow color in the spting, are only noticeable by separating the feathers on the neck and upper parts of the breast, but when inflated they are the size of a medium orange and somewhat resemble one cut in halves. This call is repeated several times in rapid succession, decreasing in volume gradually, but can at any time be heard at quite a dis-. tance. It appears to be produced by the sudden forcing of a por- tion of the air in the sack quickly through the throat, and is quite misleading as to the exact locality where uttered, the birds being expert ventriloquists. I have frequently hunted in vain to locate one while so engaged where there were but a few trees in the vicinity ; and although I searched each one through carefully 26 BENDIRE ox the Habits of the Sooty Grouse. [January and with a powerful field glass to assist me, I had to give it up, completely baffled. It is beyond me to describe this love call accurately. Some naturalists state that it resembles the sound made by blowing into the bunghole of an empty barrel, others find a resemblance to the cooing of a pigeon and some to the noise made by whirring a rattan cane rapidly through the air. The latter sound comes in my opinion nearer to it than anything else. The closest approach to it I can give in letters, isa deep, guttural mzahum, the first letter scarcely sounded. The accounts of the nesting habits of the Sooty Grouse are somewhat vague, the number of eggs to a set being variously given as from eight to fifteen. Ihave personally examined quite a num- ber of the nests of this Grouse between May 6, 1871, and June 25,1883. The largest number of eggs found by me in a set was ten, in two instances, three sets contained nine each, seven sets contained eight each, and five sets seven eggs or less, the latter probably incomplete, although some of these sets of eggs were advanced in incubation. I think that eight eggs is the ordinary number laid by these birds. Eggs may be looked for from April 15 to the latter part of May, according to altitude. The earliest date on which I ob- tained eggs of this Grouse was April 18, 1877, when a set was found by Lieut. G. R. Bacon, 1st Cavalry, containing seven fresh specimens. This nest was placed in a willow bush growing under a solitary pine tree, in a small ravine, five miles northwest of Camp Harney, Oregon. This nest was composed entirely of dry pine needles, picked up in the immediate vicinity. A nest found by me April 22, 1877, about four miles west of Camp Harney, was placed under the roots of a fallen juniper tree, in a grove of the same species, growing on an elevated plateau close to the pine belt. This nest was well hidden, a mere de- pression in the ground, and composed of dry grasses, a few feath- ers from the bird’s breast, and dry pine needles. The nine eggs were about half way imbedded in this mass, and nearly fresh. As a rule, most of the nests found by me were placed in sim- ilar situations under old logs or the roots of fallen trees, and generally fairly well hidden from view, and amongst the more open pine timber along the outskirts of the forest proper. Oc- casionally, however, a nest may be found some little distance from 1889. ] BENDIRE on the Habits of the Sooty Grouse. 37 timber and in the lower parts of mountain valleys. I found such a nest on April 26, 1878, amongst some tall rye-grass bushes, in a comparatively open place and within a yard of Cow Creek, a small mountain stream about four miles east of Camp Harney. There was no timber of any size, only small willow bushes, within two miles of this nest. The nest was placed partly under one of these rye-grass bushes, and the bird sat so close that I actually stepped partly on her and broke two of the eggs in doing so. This nest contained eight slightly incubated eggs. It was com- posed of dead grass and a few feathers. The most exposed nest, without any attempt at concealment whatever, that came under my observation, I found on June 8, 1876, on the northern slope and near the summit of the Cafon City Mountain, in Grant Co., Oregon, at an altitude of about 6800 feet. I was returning from escort duty to Canon City and sent the party with me around by the stage road which wound in zigzag turns up the steep mountain, myself and one of my men taking a much shorter but far steeper Indian trail which inter- sected the wagon road again on the summit. Near this intersecting point the trail passed through a beautiful oval-shaped mountain meadow of about an acre in extent, and near the summit of which stood a solitary young fir tree. No other trees were growing nearer than thirty yards from this one. The meadow itself was covered with a luxurious growth of short, crisp mountain grass and alpine flowers, altogether as lovely a spot to take a rest in as could well be found. Arriving at this point, and knowing that the party would not be along for more than half an hour at least, I dismounted and unsaddled my horse to let him have a roll and a good chance at the sweet mountain grass, of both of which opportunities he was not slow in taking advantage. Throwing the saddle in the shade made by the little fir, I lay down to take a rest myself. I had a fine setter dog with me, who had been ranging along both sides of the trail and who came up wagging his tail just as I had settled myself comfortably. ‘Rock,’ my setter, had approached perhaps within two feet of me at a pretty brisk lope, when all of a sudden he came to an abrupt halt, fairly freezing and stiffening in his tracks, and made a dead point alongside of me. I could not understand at first what this all meant, even my horse thought it worth the while to stop eat- ing, and with its ears pointed forward was looking in the same 38 BENDIRE, ox the Habits of the Sooty Grouse. [January direction. ‘Rock’ was fairly trembling with excitement, but kept to his point. Jumping up quickly, I looked to the right and rear, thinking that perhaps a rattlesnake might be coiled up in the grass, and saw at once the cause of my dog’s strange behavior. It was only a poor Sooty Grouse sitting within three feet of me on her nest containing two chicks and seven eggs on the point of hatching. It was as touching a sight as I had ever seen, the poor bird, although nearly scared to death, with every feather pressed close to her body, and fairly within reach of the dog, still persisted in trying to hide her treasures ; and her tender brown eyes looked entreatingly on us rude intruders, and if eyes can speak, hers cer- tainly pleaded most eloquently for mercy. She let me almost touch her before she fluttered off the nest, feigning lameness, and disappeared in the neighboring undergrowth. Count- ing the eggs, and examining one of the young chicks which apparently had only left the shell a few minutes before, I at once vacated this vicinity and took up a position some fifty yards in an opposite direction from what the bird had taken, to watch further proceedings. The grass was so short that it did not hide the bird which, after perhaps ten minutes’ waiting, came slowly creeping and crouching towards the nest and covered the eggs again. I did not disturb her further, and hope that, although her selection of a nesting site so thoroughly exposed was not judicious, she succeeded in rearing her brood in safety. None of the eggs inthe nest touched each other; they were all about half covered or imbedded in the material out of which the nest was made—dry grass, pine and fir needles, and a few of the bird’s feathers pre- sumably plucked out by herself. Incubation lasts about eighteen days. Females predominate in numbers. The weight of full grown cocks varies from two and a half to three pounds; I have never obtained one that weighed more. Hens weigh from one and three-quarters to two and a half pounds ; the latter weight, however, is rare. Many of the young broods are fully grown by August 15. They afford excellent sport, lie well to a dog, often letting you almost step on them before taking wing, and are strong and swift flyers. Their ordinary note very much resembles the cackling of the domestic hen. The Indian name of the Sooty Grouse on the Northwest coast is tyhee cullaw-cullaw, chief bird. As stated before, according to my own observation, the usual 1889.] Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. 39 numbers of eggs laid by the Sooty Grouse is about eight, and occasionally as many as ten are found in a set. heir ground color varies from a pale cream color to a creamy buff, the latter predominating ; in a single set before me it is a pale cinnamon. The eggs are more or less spotted over their entire surface with fine dots of chocolate or chestnut brown; these spots vary con- siderably in size in different sets of eggs, ranging from the size of a No. 3 shot, to that of mustard seed. Vhese markings are generally well rounded, regular in shape, and pretty evenly distributed over the entire egg. They never run into irregular and heavy blotches such as are frequently found in the eggs of the Canada Grouse (Denxdragapus canadensis), which approach the pattern found amongst the eggs of the Willow Ptarmigan (Za- gopus lagopus) much nearer than the former. In the eggs of the Sooty Grouse all these markings, as well as the overlying ground color, can be readily washed off when the eggs are still quite fresh, leaving the shell of the egg a very pale creamy white in reality. The largest egg in the series in the National Museum collection measures 2.08 X 1.35 inches; the smallest 1.78 & 1.28 inches. Average size about 1.86 X 1.31 inches. The shape of the majority of these eggs is ovate ; some may be called short ovate and others elongate ovate. There is no perceptible difference between the eggs of the Sooty Grouse and those of Dexdragapus obscurus, the Dusky Grouse, as well as those of Dendragapus obscurus richardsontz, Richardson’s Grouse; their habits are also essen- tially the same. ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. BY WALTER FAXON. Durinc the summer of 1888 I spent a month (June 17 to July 16) in Berkshire, and made as complete lists as possible of the birds found in the extreme southern part of the county, and near the northern border, especially on the Saddle-Back or Graylock range of mountains. These lists, together with Mr. William 40 Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. [ January Brewster’s* account of a nine days’ exploration of the region about Graylock in June, 1883, will, I believe, give a fair notion of the summer Passerine birds of the County. Southern Berkshire. Yen days were spent in Sheffield, a southern border town, whence excursions were made into the neighboring towns of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The vil- lage of Shetheld lies along the Housatonic River, 675 feet above the sea, in an alluvial interval, seven miles in breadth. The val- ley is abruptly closed on the west by the massive wall of the Ta- conic Mountains, which here culminate for southern Berkshire in the Dome, or Mount Everett, at 2624 feet. On the east the valley is bounded by the lower and less precipitous range of the Hoosacs. The valley of the Housatonic, trending north and south, like that of the Connecticut, has attracted several birds that give a distinctly southern cast tothe fauna. I refer to the presence of such birds as the Yellow-breasted Chat and Orchard Oriole, and to the com- parative abundance of the Grasshopper Sparrow, Mourning Dove, etc. The likeness to the avifauna of the Connecticut Valley at Springfieldt is further shown by the rarity of the White-eyed Vireo, White-bellied Swallow, and Redstart, so common in the eastern counties of Massachusetts. The mountains of southern Berkshire nowhere much exceed an altitude of 2600 feet, and are nearly destitute of spruce and fir. Their sides are for the most part clothed with a heavy second growth of chestnut, oak, birch, maple, etc. The loftiest sum- mits are barren ledges of mica-schist and quartz, sparsely covered by low, prostrate pitch pines, gray birches, red oaks, scrub oaks, and mountain ashes. Such conditions of vegetation would doubt- less attract but few Canadian birds, even if the height of the moun- tains were much greater than itis. Nevertheless, the presence of a few northern forms leaves a perceptible Canadian impress on the fauna of these mountains, when compared with that of the underlying valley. The Wood Thrushes of the valley are sup- planted in a large measure by Hermit Thrushes. Nashville War- blers and Blue-headed Vireos, seldom seen in the low country, become tolerably common, while the dense undergrowth of moun- *Notes on the Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. By William Brewster. Auk, I, Jan. 1884, pp. 5-16. + Catalogue of the birds found at Springfield, Mass., etc. By J. A. Allen. Proc. Essex Inst., [V, 1864. Saf Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. 41 tain laurel affords a congenial home to the Black-throated Blue and Canadian Warblers. Indeed I have nowhere found the former bird more abundant than in the mountains of southwestern Berkshire and northwestern Connecticut. On the highest mountain tops, such as the Dome of the Taconics and Bear Mountain,* the Snowbird breeds in company with the Hermit Thrush, Chestnut-sided and Nashville Warblers and Towhee. The Towhee is very common on all the barren summits of the Taconic range in southern Berk- shire, much more so than in the valley below. Lorthern Berkshire. During my stay in northern Berkshire, from June 28 to July 16, I lived at a farmhouse in the Notch Road, near the boundary line between North Adams and Adams. Most of the time spent here was devoted to exploring the Saddle- Back Mountains. By this name I designate the well-defined range midway between the Taconics and Hoosacs, which culminates in Graylock Peak in Adams, 3505 feet above the sea, the loftiest mountain in the State. A good carriage road was built in 1885 to the summit of Graylock. Leaving the Notch Road in North Adams, the way ascends for about a mile and a half through open pasture land, entering the forest on the northwestern flank of Mt. Williams, from which point it passes through an almost unbroken forest on the western side of the crest of the main ridge to the summit of Graylock, a distance of about four miles. After cross- ing Money Brook, nearly three miles from the summit (altitude, 2480 feet), the forest is the primeval growth of black spruce, with some admixture of yellow and canoe birch, sugar maple, etc., and, towards the summit, balsam fir. The Graylock turnpike has thus opened an easy path through the most interesting part of the Saddle-Back range, but ere long there will be reason to deplore the construction of this avenue which is to the lumberman only an invitation to strip the crest and western slope of the range. With the destruction of this forest some of the most interesting birds of the region will, doubtless, abandon Massachusetts as a breeding-ground for ever. When one considers the very moderate elevation of the Saddle- Back range and the comparatively small area of coniferous forest oftered by it, the number of northern birds that breed there is rather surprising. I believe the only truly migratory Canadian species *The highest mountain in Connecticut, 2354 feet. 42 Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. [January found during the breeding season in the White Mountains of New Hampshire that have not been detected in Berkshire are the Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warblers, and the Philadelphia Vireo. The Red-bellied Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Mourning Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, and Hairy Woodpecker quite unexpectedly proved to be much commoner about Graylock than I have found them among the White Mountains. Others, on the contra1y, are comparatively rare, as the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher,* Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden- crowned Kinglet, and Bick- nell’s Thrush. From an ornithological point of view the Saddle-Back range is but an outlier of the Catskills. On reading Mr. Bicknell’s notes on the summer birds of the southern Catskillst I was struck with their dppositeness to the Graylock list. I believe the only Catskill bird not yet found on Graylock to be the Blackpoll Warbler, discovered about the summit of Shde Mountain, the highest peak of the Catskills (4205 feet). After finding the Bicknell’s Thrush on the summit of Graylock I confess to having looked with some confidence for another waif from the Catskills in the shape of a Blackpoll Warbler. Though unsuccessful, I believe that this bird will yet be found on Graylock by some future explorer.{ ‘Che absence of the White-throated Sparrow and Nashville Warbler from Mr. Bicknell’s list is surprising. Perhaps not even in the Catskills do two distinctly typical faunz come into such sharp contact as on the Saddle-Back range of northern Berkshire. The top of Graylock is only about 2800 feet above the Hoosac River at North Adams. Yet within this narrow vertical range we pass from a pure Alleghanian fauna characterized by such birds as the Bluebird, Wood Thrush, House Wren, Brown Thrasher, 4«eHew~\W-arbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Field Sparrow, Towhee, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and Quail to a Canadian assemblage which includes the Hermit, Swainson’s, and Bicknell’s Thrushes; the Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, and Red-bellied Nuthatch; the Black- *A pair of Yellow-bellied Flycatchers was 5een on Graylock by Mr. Brewster, June 28, 1883. I neither saw nor heard this bird in 1888. +A Review of the Summer Birds of a part of the Catskill Mountains, etc. By Eu- gene Pintard Bicknell.. Trans. Linn. Soc. N. Wewleptog 2: { “Dendreca striata has been seen in North Adams in August with young so im- Prine that they must have been of local origin.” ‘T. M. B[rewer]. Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, III, July, 1878, p. 138. 1889. | Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. 43 burnian, Black-throated Blue, Black-and-yellow, Yellow-rumped, Tennessee, Mourning, and Canadian Warblers ; the White-throated Sparrow, Snowbird, Pine Finch, and Red Crossbill; the Olive- sided Flycatcher, and the Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. Under such conditions of compression there is naturally some inter- mingling of species representative of the two faune. Mr. Brewster* justly questions whether altitude be the sole factor regulating the distribution of birds on mountain slopes, and whether artificial causes, like the destruction of forests or the replacement of coniferous by deciduous trees, may not lead to a re- adjustment of faunal lines. This must be true especially in the case of a mountain of such moderate height as Graylock. | think that any one who has ascended this mountain by several routes will admit that the character of the surface and the vegetation have more to do with the distribution of the birds than temperature or other purely climatic conditions. If one should draw a line around the Saddle-Back range to indicate in a general way the limit of the Canadian faunal area, it would bear no closer relation to the altitudinal contour lines than do the isothermal lines across a continent to the parallels of latitude. Onthe North Adams side of the mountain the Canadian birds descend to a much lower level than they do in Williamstown. Not far from the North Adams Reservoir I found in some spruce and hemlock woods the Her- mit Thrush, Black-throated Blue, Black-and-yellow, and Canadian Warblers, and Snowbird, evidently on their breeding-ground, within about halfa mile of, and on the same level with the Yellow- breasted Chat, Towhee. and Brown Thrasher. The Wood Thrushes of the beech forest in the northern ravine of the Hopper compared with the Hermit Thrushes and other northern birds found at the same altitude on the opposite side of the ‘Mountain Pasture’ or height-of-land, afford another illustration of the influence of vegetation on the distribution of birds. When these mountains were in their primitive state and uniformly covered with forest, the correspondence between altitude and faunal regions was with- out doubt much closer than it is now. List oF BIRDS OBSERVED IN SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE (SHEFFIELD, AND VICINITY), JUNE 17-26, 1888. 1. Actitis macularia. SPoTTED SANDPIPER.—A few seen on the Housa- tonic River. * Auk. I, p. 16. 44 Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. | January 2. Bonasa umbellus. Rurrep Grouse.—Common, especially on the mountain sides. 3. Zenaidura macroura. MourniInG Dove.—Rather common. 4. Circus hudsonius. MArsH Hawk.—Two seen. 5. Buteo borealis. RED-TAILED HAwK.—Two seen. 6. Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck HAwxK.—A pair established on Black Rock, a high cliffin the Taconic mountains, northwest of Isaac Spurr’s. 7. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. BLACK-BILLfFD CucKoo.—Not rare. 8. Ceryle alcyon. BreLtTep KINGFISHER.—Three or four seen. g. Dryobates pubescens. DowNy WoopPpECKER.— One seen, in the village of Sheffield. : 10. Colaptes auratus. GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER.—Common. tr. Antrostomus vociferus. WHIP-POoOR-WILL.—Common. 12. Chordeiles virginianus. NIGHTHAWK.—Common. 13. Cheetura pelagica. CHIMNEY SwiFr.—Common. 14. Trochilus colubris. RuByY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. —Two or three seen. 15. Tyrannus tyrannus. KINGBIRD.—Common. 16. Myiarchus crinitus. CRESTED FLYCATCHER.—NOt rare. 17. Sayornis phebe. PrEwrr.—Abundant. 18. Contopus virens. Woop PEwrerE.—Abundant. 19. Empidonax pusillus traillii, TRAILL’s FLYCATCHER. — Three or four seen in alders near water-courses. 20. Empidonax minimus. Lrast FLycaTcHER.—Abundant. 21. Cyanocitta cristata. BLurEJAy. Rather common. 22. Corvus americanus. AMERICAN CrRow.—Common. 3. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. BoBoLink.—Abundant. 4. Molothrus ater. Cowsirp.—Not uncommon. 25. Agelaius pheniceus. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.—Common. 6. Sturnella magna. MEADOWLARK.—Not rare in the interval mea- dows of Sheeffild. 27. Icterus spurius. OrCHAkD OrIOLE.—Three or four, in full song, in Sheffield. A male, in second-year plumage, seen in Pittsfield, June 27. 28. Icterus galbula. BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—Common. 29. Quiscalus quiscula (zneus?). Crow BLAcKBIRD.—Not uncommon The impropriety of using a gun in the places where I saw the Crow Blackbirds prevented a positive determination of the subspecies. 30. Carpodacus purpureus. PurRPLE FiINcH.—Common. 31. Spinus tristis. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.—Common. 32. Poocetes gramineus. BAy-wINGED SPARROW.—Common, 33. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna.—SAVANNA SPARROW.— Abundant. 34. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. —Common. 35. Ammodramus henslowi. HENSLOw’s SPARROW.—Two pairs ina low, wet piece of ground in Sheffield. They were not shy. The males sometimes sang in the grass and sedge, wholly out of view, at other times 18So. | Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. 45 mounted on tall weeds, shrubs, or low trees. Mr. Maynard compares the song to the syllables seé-wzck, but to my ear there was a liquid sound in the first part—/eé-s7c, with a strong accent upon the first syllable. When heard at a very short distance it seemed almost tri-syllabic—/’-leé-s/c. The song is delivered rapidly, the head thrown back as the notes are emitted. 36. Spizella socialis. CHIPPING SPARROW.—Abundant. 37. Spizella pusilla. Fretp SPARROW.—Common. 38. Junco hyemalis. SNowsirp.—Not uncommon on the summit of the Dome of the Taconics (or Mt. Everett), 2624 feet above the sea- level. Also found on the top of Bear Mt., Salisbury, Conn. (altitude, 2354 feet), June 24. 39. Melospiza fasciata. SONG SpARROW.—Abundant. 40. Melospiza georgiana. SwAmp SPARROW.—Not uncommon in suit- able localities. 41. Passer domesticus. House SpARRow.—Common in the village of Sheffield. 42. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. TowHrEr.—Common, especially on the barren summits of the Taconic Mts. 43. Habialudoviciana. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.—Rather common. 44. Passerina cyanea. INpIGO-BrrRD.—Common. 45. Piranga erythromelas. ScARLET TANAGER. — Rather common. Known in Berkshire as the ‘English Robin.’ 46. Petrochelidon lunifrons. EAvE SwaALLow.—Common. 47. Chelidon erythrogaster. BARN SwALLow.—Common. 48. Clivicola riparia. BANK SwALLow.—Common, breeding in the banks of the Housatonic River. 49. Ampelis cedrorum. CEDARRIRD.—Common. 50. Vireo olivaceus. ReD-EYED VIREO.—Abundant. 51. Vireo gilvus. WARBLING ViIREO.—Common. 52. Vireosolitarius. BLUE-HEADED VIREO.—Notvery common. Metwith at Guilder’s Pond, on the west side of the Dome, and in some other places. 53. Vireo noveboracensis. WHITE-EYED ViIR&0.—Only two specimens observed. ¢ 54. Mniotilta varia. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER.—Common. 55. Helminthophila ruficapilla. NAsHvILLE WARBLER.—Rare at low- er levels. not rare on the mountains. 56. Compsothlypis americana. BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER. -— Not common. 57- Dendroica estiva. YeELLow WARBLER.—Common along the wil- lowed shores of streams near the village. Seldom observed elsewhere. 58. Dendroica cerulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.— Common on the Taconic Mts. from their base to summit. Wherever the mountain sides presented a fine growth of maple, chestnut, etc., with a dense under-growth of mountain laurel (Kalmza latifolfa), the drawling notes of this bird were sure to be heard. Indeed I have nowhere found them more abundant than here. They are equally common in similar places in the northwestern part of Connecticut. 46 LAWRENCE, Abnormal Coloring of Birds Plumage. | January 59. Dendroica pensylvanica. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.—Common, extending up to the highest summits of the Taconic Mts. 60. Dendroica blackburnie. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.—But one specimen observed, a male in full song, in a grove of white pines in Shef- field, June 20. 61. Dendroica virens. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WarRBLER.— Not rare in pine woods. 62. Seiurus aurocapillus. GoLDEN-CcROWNED THRUSH. — Common wherever there are woods. 63. Seiurus noveboracensis. WATER-THRUSH.— One observed, June 17, on the edge of a small stream near the village of Sheffield. Although the place was often visited afterward, I failed to see or hear the bird again. I did not meet with this species later in northern Berkshire. 64. Geothlypis trichas. MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.—Common. 65. Icteria virens. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.—One pair, Sheffield. 66. Sylvania canadensis. CANADIAN WARBLER.—Not uncommon on the Taconic Mts. of southwestern Berkshire and Litchfield Co., Conn. 67. Setophaga ruticilla. AMERICAN REDSTART.—Rare. 68. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. CaTBirRD.—Common. 69. Harporhynchus rufus. Brown THRASHER.—Not rare, although not nearly so common as in eastern Massachusetts. 70. Troglodytes aédon. Housz Wren.—Common. 71. WParus atricapillus. CHIcKADEE.—Not many were seen. 72. Turdus mustelinus. Woop THrusH.—Common. 73. Turdus fuscescens. WiLson’s THRUSH.—Common. A few ob- served well up towards the summit of the Dome. 74. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. EaAsterN Hermir THRusH.—Com- mon on the Taconic Mountains where it replaces to a great extent the Wood Thrush which is found only sparingly on the mountain sides. Also found to be abundant on Bear Mt., Salisbury, Conn. 75. Merula migratoria. AMERICAN Ropin.—Abundant. 76. Sialia sialis. BLUEBIRD.—Common. ( To be continued.) KEMARKS UPON ABNORMAL COLORING OF PLU- MAGE OBSERVED IN SEVERAL SPECIES OF BIRDS. BY GEO. N. LAWRENCE. As it might be of interest and call’forth similar observations by others, I have concluded to put on record the instances that have 1889. ] LAWRENCE, Abnormal Coloring of Birds’ Plumage. 47 come under my notice of abnormal coloring in several species of birds. Mr. Ruthven Deane (Vol.I, No. 1, of the Bulletin of he Nuttall Orn. Club) has an interesting paper on albinism and melanism among North American Birds. The cases to which |] am about to call attention would seem to proceed from quite a different cause from that producing albinism or melanism. In 1862 (Ann. Lyc. of Nat. Hist., Vol. VII, p. 475) I described as new a Parrot from Panama, under the name of Pszftovius subceruleus ; this specimen, in its general plumage, is of quite a uniform pale blue, and in color differs from any other American Parrot. When Dr. Otto Finsch of the Bremen Museum was preparing his great work on the Parrots (‘Die Papageien’) published in 1865, he requested to see certain specimens of the family in my collec- tion; with this I complied, sending the above-named specimen with others. At that time he considered P. subceruleus to be a valid species and gave a figure of it in his book. In 1871 (Ibis, p. 94) Mr. Salvin says of this specimen: ‘‘Dr. Finsch considers this bird to belong to a good species. For my own part, without having seen the original specimen, I cannot but think that the blue coloring of the plumage is accidental, and due to a deficiency in the yellow element of the normally green color of the feathers. Mr. McLeannan, who shot the specimen from which Mr. Lawrence took his description (the only one, I believe, that has ever been obtained) considered it only a variety of B. tovz, with individuals of which species he found it associating. I notice that in some specimens in our series of 2. fovz, the feathers ~ of the back are bluer than in others. B. swbcerulea may only show an extreme development of this tendency.” Several years have elapsed since this specimen was described, and no similar ones have been obtained. Mr. Salvin has offered two plausible theories to account for the peculiar plumage of this Parrot. Since then, what I consider to be a very similar case, has come immediately under my notice, which induces me to think there is a cause for the last theory advanced by Mr. Salvin. A brood of Canary Birds was raised by a member of my family, in which there was a great disparity of colors. The male parent bird was of a very light yellow, with pure white wings and tail, the female was of a dark greenish color (of the variety known as 48 LAWRENCE, Abnormal Coloring of Birds’ Plumage. {January green Canaries). One of the brood was entirely white, the other three were all of the dark green color of the mother, without a particle of white in their plumage. I recollect that the idea then occurred to me, that all the white element of color from the male was concentrated in one individual of the brood, which should have been disseminated to some extent among the others. I did not consider the white bird to be an albino, and as it was very beautiful we intended keeping it, sup- posing it to be a male, but soon after being fully fledged, it un- fortunately escaped.. The others we thought -were probably females, and having no claims to beauty they were given away. For the case of the Parrot to be parallel to that of the Canaries, all the others of the brood should have been without any blue color, but that they were so can only be a matter of conjecture. Another instance of the blue color being predominant, is that of a specimen of Vzreolanius which was sent me from the Smithsonian Institution some years ago, as possibly a new species. I found it to be an abnormally colored example of V. pzulchellus. The usual plumage of this species is as follows: above of a rather light clear green; the head and hind neck light blue; the under plumage of a pale yellowish green; the throat and inner margins of the quills pale yellow. The specimen under exam- ination is of a uniform light blue color above, and of a pale whitish blue below; the throat and inner margins of the quills whitish. This seems similar to the two cases above mentioned. For quite a long time [ have had in my possession an example of Procnias tersa, which is entirely of a clear light yellow— much resembling a Canary Bird in color,—and having a few very "pale dusky bars on the sides. ‘These bars, although nearly obsolete, enabled me to determine the species, as they are a strongly marked character, in the normal plumage of both sexes. In the regular _ plumage of the female of this species, the only yellow color is on the abdomen and under tail coverts, the rest of the plumage being green. The male is verdigris-blue, with a white abdominal stripe, and no yellow whatever in its plumage. I can only attribute this abnormal coloring to a similar cause to that which produced it in the other cases. I procured in Fulton Market, a specimen of 7ympanuchus americanus, male, which was of an unusual color. The rufous coloring which exist in the neck tufts, and in some individuals 1889-] LAWRENCE, Abnormal Coloring of Birds’ Plumage. 49 in the upper plumage, of all normally colored birds, pervades nearly the entire plumage of this specimen. All the usually light markings are tinged with bright light rufous; the entire under plumage is deep rufous; the dark bars and the under tail coverts are of the usual color; the neck tufts are deep rufous tipped with black, none of the feathers being light buff as some of them are in normally colored birds; the throat is tinged with rufous. It was in good condition, weighing 24 pounds. The rufous coloring of this specimen may be due to the same cause as in the preceding cases, but perhaps it is open to doubt. The inference seems a fair one, that sometimes from some un- known cause, a certain color which is normal in a species, or in one of the parents, is concentrated in one individual of a brood, to the exclusion of it from the others. The great change of plumage—which was a gradual one—in the bird about to be described, is due to a very different cause. Several years ago, a green Parrot was received at the Central Park Menagerie, to which Mr. Conklin called my attention, as it was marked with a few conspicuous scarlet and yellow feathers. As it was in one of their large wire enclosures, I could not examine it closely, and for some time was unable to determine the species. I found it to be an example of Chrysotzs vittata, the body of which in its normal plumage is entirely green, except that it has a narrow band of scarlet on the front. I watched it with much interest, as I found that most of the feathers were gradually changing color. It was two or three years before it died, when Mr. Conklin sent it to me. By that time the scarlet and yellow coloring had increased so much as to occupy the entire plumage of the body, except the head and neck, and these are marked with scattering feathers of scarlet. If it had lived a little longer all its plumage would probably have been scarlet and yellow, except the wing and tail feathers. The scarlet coloring much exceeds that of the yellow; the specimen is of brilliant plumage. Dr. A. B. Meyer has an article (Sitzungb. K6n. Preuss. Akad. Wissensch. Berlin, 1882, No. 24) on this change of plumage, which he terms ‘‘xanthochromism in Parrots.” In referring to this paper the editors of the Ibis (1883, p. 116) say: ‘‘Hence xanthochromism in Parrots seems, to a certain extent, to supplant the albinism of other birds.” 50 Rives, Birds of White Top Mountain, Virginia. ryaneary My opinion is, that the change is caused by the birds being in confinement. In the Maximillian collection, now owned by the American Museum of Natural History, there is an example of a Parrot— also normally green—in which most of the feathers have changed to yellow ; it is labelled ‘* Chrysotzs amazonica var. domestica.” I think from the name, it is evident that Prince Maximillian considered the yellow coloring of this Parrot to be due to domestication. NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF WHITE TOP MOUN- TAIN, VIRGINIA. BY WILLIAM C. RIVES, JR-, M. D. Tue Wuiret Tor and Balsam Mountains in southwestern Vir- ginia, are the loftiest in the State, and none of equal elevation lie vetween them and New England. They may be regarded as orming the limit to the northward of the ‘Land of the Sky,’ tor although wholly in Virginia, they are within a short distance of the North Carolina line and are directly adjacent to its moun- cain region. The altitude of White Top was given by Professor Guyot as 5530 feet, but according to the more recent observa- tions of the U. S. Geological Survey its height is 5673 feet, and that of the Balsam (also called Mt. Rogers) 5719 feet. The former mountain may be easily reached by means of a road which runs from Seven Mile Ford on the Norfolk and Western Railway, over its eastern shoulder into Ashe County, North Carolina. With the intention of visiting it,our party left Glade Spring, a station on the railway at the height of 2088 feet, on July 25, 1888, and arrived the same evening at Miller’s, a few hundred feet below the ghighest point. | Among the birds noticed on the journey, I caught a glimpse, while crossing the Iron Moun- tain about 4000 feet high, of one which appeared to be a Chest- nut-sided Warbler (Denxdrotca pensylvanica). About the lower part of White Top grow many magnificent trees, oaks, sugar maples, poplars (Liérzodendron tulipifera) of remark- 1889. | Rives, Birds of White Top Mountain, Virginia. 51 able height, hemlocks, beeches and various lesser kinds, among them a species of mountain magnolia. Deciduous trees, eyen of large dimensions, are to be found nearly up to the summit. One birch tree of unusual size, less than a thousand feet from the top, we measured roughly, and estimated its circumference at twenty-three feet. On its southern exposure, the crown of the mountain is a beautiful grass field, affording excellent grazing for cattle and a congenial place for the numerous Snowbirds in which to construct their nests. On the northern side it is wooded and somewhat precipitous, while the extreme summit is covered with a thick groyvth of a species of balsam known locally as the lash- horn, and is carpeted with beds of moss and the pretty flowers of Oxalis acetosella, strongly reminding one of the Adirondack woods. As my stay was short, three nights only being spent at Miller’s, my ornithological investigations were chiefly confined to the upper 1000 feet of the mountain, which, it might be supposed, would be of special interest. Fusco hyemalis carolinensis was, as I have intimated, abundant, and, I was informed, breeds there plentifully, the nests being usually found in the grass field I have referred to. I was shown one nest in a depression in the grass near the summit, containing three young birds recently hatched, and was told that one containing eggs had been seen the preceding Saturday, July 21. These were of course second broods. The feeble lisping notes of the Golden-crowned Wrens (Regulus satrapa) betrayed their presence, in the lashhorns at the top, and they proved to be quite common, sharing that elevated abode with a few Black-throated Green Warblers (Dendroica virens). The latter birds were exceedingly common lower down, being numerous among the deciduous trees, and not at all confined to the balsams, as Mr. Brewster found them on the Black Mountain. The Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica cerulescens) was not very common, not nearly so much so as JD. vzrexs, which was perhaps partly due to the comparative absence of large laurel brakes from this part of the mountain, although even in apparently suitable localities they were not abundant. One or more Blackburnian Warblers (Dendroica blackburnte) were also observed, and were, I sus- pect, not uncommon, and the Black-and-white Creeper ( AZxzo- tzlta varta) was seen quietly occupied as usual in its industrious 52 Rives, Birds of White Top Mountain, Virginia. | January search for food. I was surprised not to find the Canada Warbler (Sylvania canadensis). The fine mountain variety of the Blue-headed Vireo ( Vzreo solitarius alticola) was common in the woods, and I frequently heard their pleasing notes, varied occasionally with the peculiar unmusical sounds which Vireos are in the habit of making. Brown Creepers ( Certhia familiaris americana) were seen about the hemlocks growing on the edge of a laurel brake. A Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) was noted, and a rather large-sized Hairy Woodpecker (probably vzllosus). he Red-bellied Nuthatch (.Sz¢#ta canadensis) was rather common although shy; its presence was often disclosed by its Gaxzk Gazxk, when by carefully looking for the source of the notes the little bird would frequently be seen hopping along some tree trunk or its branches after its characteristic fashion. Robins (AZerula migra- torta) were to be found even above 5000 feet, as not far from the top I caught a young bird in my hand, greatly to the distress of the parent bird which uttered vigorous complaints until I let it go. Ihada glimpse of a Ruffled Grouse (Loxasa umbellus) which, J believe, is not uncommon. I was unable to identify any Ravens, but on inquiring learned that they were often seen in this region, the difference between them and the Crows, which are also to be met with, being distinctly recognized. I noticed two Turkey Buzzards ( Cathartes aura) sailing about in the air at a considerable height. An animal described to me under the somewhat mysterious name of ‘mountain boomer,’ proved to be nothing more alarming than Sczarus hudsontus. It was quite common, and was an additional indication of the Canadian character of the fauna. On the day of leaving the mountain my attention was attracted by the melodious song of a bird whose notes I did not recognize. I psent some time in trying to obtain sight of it, but in vain, al- though at times it must have been within a short distance. It was not improbably the Winter Wren ( Zroglodytes hiematts), with whose song I had not previously had the opportunity of making myself familiar. The Balsam, its dark crest covered with conifere, of which it has a much more extensive growth than White Top, adjoins that mountain on the east, and an excursion to it might have disclosed other interesting species ; it seems, however, to be rarely visited, 1889. | LAWRENCE ox Sporophila morelleti sharpet. 53 and the long and hard ascent with little or no path would have needed more time than I had to devote to it. On the descent of White Top I heard a Quail (Colinus vir- ginianus ) at an elevation of 4500 feet ; it is common in the lower country where I saw one and heard others whistling. 1 observed a Yellow-bellied Woodpecker (Sphyrapicus varius) aboye 4000 feet. Ina clearing at the base, there were some Chimney Swifts (Chetura pelagica). Inthe country between the upper part of the mountain and the railway, or at Glade Spring and its vicin- ity, were noticed the Yellowbird, Dove (one of which was seen sitting on its nest), Catbird, Red-headed and Golden-winged Woodpeckers, a number of Purple Martins, the Kingbird, Ruby- throated Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, Indigo-bird, Green Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, and some other species, and the notes of the Wood Pewee and Maryland Yellow-throat were heard. A NEW NAME FOR THE SPECIES OF SPOR- OPHILA FROM TEXAS, GENERALLY KNOWN AS S. MWORELLE TZ. BY GEORGE N. LAWRENCE. Sporophila morelleti sharpei. Spermophila albigularis LAwR., nec SPIX. Spermophila morelleti SCu., nec Bp. Spermophila parva SHARPE, nec LAwre. I described this species in 1851 (Ann. N. Y. Lyc. Nat. Hist., Vol. V, p. 123) as an inhabitant of Texas, under the name of Spermophila albigularis Spix. Mr. P. L. Sclater (P. Z.S., 1856, p. 302) decided that it was not different from S. more/letz, Bp. (Cons. Av., Vol. I., p. 497). With this decision I did not feel satisfied, as none of the numerous specimens received from Texas had the black band on the throat, which exists in the full- plumaged male of S. moredletz. It has thus remained until Mr. Sharpe in his investigation of the Fringillide for Volume XII of the British Museum Catalogue, at page 124, considered it to be 54 LAWRENCE ox Sforophila morellet? sharpet. {January identical with my S. farva from Western Mexico (Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sciences, Vol. II, p. 382), and as it could not retain the name of adzgular¢s, placed it under S. parva. With his determination I cannot agree, and am sustained in my opinion by all our ornithologists to whom the specimens have been submitted. Besides being from very different localities, the two species appear to differ as stated below. The type of S. parva being a female, I have made the comparison with specimens of that sex. Four fine female specimens from Lomita, Texas, kindly loaned me by Mr. G. B. Sennett, are all at first sight larger in appear- ance than S. parva, though the wings of each species are of the same size; the wing-coverts of S. skarpfez are whitish at their ends, forming two decided bars across the wings, whereas in S. parva only the middle coverts end in whitish, though more nar- rowly, and the greater coverts have their sides and ends margined with duller white; in S. farva the tertiaries are more conspicu- ously margined with dull white than those of S. sharpez; the upper plumage of S. Jarva is of a warm light brown, that of S. shurpet being decidedly ash-colored; the entire under plu- mage of the latter is of a light fulvous color, that of S. parva being whitish with just a tinge of fulvous on the breast; the taie of S. parva is shorter and the feathers are much broader; the bill of S. Aarva is lighter in color than that of S. sharped. The most mature males of S. skarpe? are grayish above, with the crown and sides of the head black, and the back blotched with black ; the under parts are pale fulvous white with an indistinct collar of black, though this latter character is seen in but few specimens. In the true S. morellet¢ the upper plumage is jet black, with the rump more conspicuously pale fulvous, than in S. sharpez; the under plumage is light fulvous, with a strongly marked black collar across the lower part of the throat and the upper part of the breast. Types in American Museum of Natural History, New York. In my opinion the Texas bird requires to be named, and I have conferred upon jt that of my friend, Mr. R. B. Sharpe, as he is the only one who has recognized it as being distinct from S. morellett Bp., based on Guatemalan specimens. 1889. | Sixth Congress of the Amertcan Ornithologists Union. s J ef 5 SIXTH CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITH- OLOGISTS’ UNION. Tue SixtH Concress of the American Ornithologists’ Union was held in the Lecture Room of the U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C., Nov. 13-15, 1888, the President in the Chair. The meeting was attended by twenty Active Members, and seven- teen Associate Members, making a total attendance of thirty-seven, a number considerably in excess of the attendance at any previ- ous Congress of the Union. The Secretary’s report comprised, besides the usual statistics relating to membership, a concise review of the work of the Union during the five years of its existence, showing how great has been its influence on the progress of ornithology in North America. The membership of the Union was stated to be as follows :— Active Members, 45; Honorary Members, 25; Corresponding Members, 65 ; Associate Members, 159. The Union had lost by death during the year one of its founders, Dr. Joseph B. Holder,* five Corresponding Members, and three Associate Members. The Corresponding Members were Dr. Modest N. Bogdanow + of Moscow, Mr. Harry Pryer { of Yokohama, Colonel N. Prijeval- ski§ of St. Petersburg, Count A. F. Marschall § of Vienna, and Mr. Henry Stevenson§ of Norwich, England; the Asso- ciate Members were Mr. Charles W. Beckham || of Wash- ington, Mr. Thure Kumlien§ of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Prof. Charles Linden** of Buffalo, N. Y. The Treasurer’s report upon the finances of the Union showed for the first time a small balance in the treasury, ‘The Auk’ hay- ing proved self-sustaining. The report of the Council covered various matters of business, which were later duly acted upon as noted in the department of ‘Notes and News’ in the present number of ‘The Auk.’ * See Auk, Vol. V, April, 1888, p. 220. 7 See Auk, Vol. V, 1888, p. 333. { Ibid., p. 332. § For obituaries see ‘Notes and News’ of the present number of “The Auk.’ || See Auk, Vol. V, 1888, p. 445. {1 See ‘Notes and News’ of the present number of ‘The Auk.’ ** Auk, Vol. V, 1888, p. 220. 56 Sixth Congress of the American Ornithologists Union. [January The election of officers resulted in the re-election of the incum- bents of the previous year, except that in the Council Mr. Thomas Mcllwraith was elected as the Canadian representative, Mr Cham- berlain, who had hitherto filled the position, at present living in the United States. Four Active Members were elected, as follows : Walter E. Bryant, of San Francisco, Cal.; Frank M. Chapman, Assistant in Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History, New York City; Lyman S. Foster, of New York City ; Gurdon Trumbull, of Hartford, Conn. Five Corresponding Members were also elected, as follows: Anastasio Alfaro, San José, Costa Rica (Director of the Costa Rica National Museum) ; Sandford B. Dole, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands; Harry V. Hen- son, Yokohama, Japan; Valdemar Knudsen, Kanai, Hawaiian Islands; Frederic Ringer, Nagasaki, Japan. One hundred and ten Associate Members were elected.* The usual reports of progress were made by the several standing committees. Dr. Merriam, Chairman of the Committee on the Geographical Distribution and Migration of North American Birds, gave an extended account of the work as now carried on under his direction as a part of the work of the Division of Eco- nomic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, very fully explaining and illustrating the methods of investigation adopted, by means of maps, diagrams, and system- atically arranged data. He announced that ‘Bulletin No. 2,’ con- sisting of Prof. W. W. Cooke’s ‘Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley in the years 1884 and 1885,’ was printed and about ready for distribution (since issuedt), and that ‘Bulle- tin, No. 1,’ on the House Sparrow, was in press. Several other ‘Bulletins’ on special subjects are already in an advanced stage of preparation. Dr. Coues, Chairman of the Committee on Avian Anatomy, read a report prepared by Dr. Shufeldt, Secretary of the Commit- tee, on the work of the latter during the past year. In the absence of the Chairman of the Committee on the Pro- tection of North American Birds, Mr. George B. Sennett, Mr. Allen made a brief report of the work of the Committee, which was 4 The names of the new Associate Members, so far as they have qualified to date, will be found in the membership lists issued with the present number of ‘The Auk.’ + See the present number of ‘The Auk,’ p. 58. 1889. ] Sixth Congress of the American Ornithologists’ Union. ey) supplemented by remarks from two other members of the com- mittee, namely, Col. N. S. Goss of Kansas and Mr. William Dutcher of New York. Efforts were being made to influence legislation in the direction of more efficient legal protection for birds, and the Committee was also continuing its good work of enlightening the public by the dissemination of much needed in- formation on the subject of bird protection. In the absence of Dr. George B. Grinnell, Chairman, Mr. Dutcher read the report of the Committee appointed last year to co-operate with the Committee of the New York Academy of Sciences in procuring funds for the erection of a suitable monu- ment to the memory of Audubon. The report stated the action of the Committee in the matter and the amount of funds raised for the object in question. Two days of the session were wholly devoted to the presenta- tion and discussion of scientific papers. Several of them proved of special interest, leading to protracted and profitable discussion. At the close of the third day a number were read merely by title, owing to the lack of time for their presentation in full. A list of the papers is as follows, those read simply by title being marked with a star. The Shape of the Bill in Snail-eating Birds, by Prof. W. B. Barrows. Additions to his List of Kansas Birds, with Notes on their Habits, by Col. N. S. Goss. Notes on the Birds of the Magdalen Islands, by Dr. L. B. Bishop. The Eastern Margin of the Habitat of Staurnella neglecta, by Prof. J. W. McGee. Bird Notes from Little Gull Island, N. Y., by Basil Hicks Dutcher. Notes on the Destruction of Grasshoppers by Flocks of Swainson’s Hawks, by Dr. C. Hart Merriam. Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y., by William Dutcher. The Flight of Birds, by Dr. Elliott Coues. Food of the English Sparrow, by Prof. C. V. Riley. The Helminthophile in Connecticut during the Spring of 1888, by Dr. L. B. Bishop. Notes on Sfzzella arenacea, by Dr. C. Hart Merriam. On the position of Chamea in the Sys- tem, by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt (read by Dr. Coues). Notes on the Nesting Habits of Leach’s Petrel, by Dr. L. B. Bishop. Graphic Representation of Bird Migration, by Witmer Stone (read by Mr. Thompson). On Studying the Habits of Birds, by Ernest E. Thompson. Remarks concerning the Destruction of Multitudes of Small Birds near the South End of Lake Michigan 5 8 Recent Literature. [January by a Storm which Overtook them in Migration, in May, 1888, by Dr. C. Hart Merriam. ‘The Relationship of the Large Florida Herons, by W. E. D. Scott. Notes on a Collection of Birds from the Vicinity of Quito, by J. A. Allen. On a Collection of Birds made in Bolivia by Dr. H. H. Rusby, with Field Notes by the Collector, by J. A. Allen. *The Booming of the Bittern, by Bradford Torrey. *Remarks on the Three-toed Woodpeckers, by Dr. L. Stejneger. *Nesting Habits of Clarke’s Crow, by Capt. C. E. Bendire. *Notes on the Southern Breeding Range of Pzzz- cola enucleator, by Philip Cox. *The Anhinga, by Col. N.S. Goss. *The Main Divisions of the Swifts, by F. A. Lucas.f *The Summer Birds of Berkshire Co., Mass., by Walter Faxon.t The meeting proved, in point of attendance and in the number and character of the papers presented, the most successful thus far held, and from a social point of view left little to be desired, the Washington members giving their visitors a most cordial welcome. On Tuesday evening a reception was given them by Dr. and Mrs. Coues, and another on Wednesday evening by Dr. Merriam and Mr. Henshaw. It was voted to hold the next meeting in New York City, on the second Tuesday in November, 1889. RECENT LITERATURE. Cooke’s ‘Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley.’{—This Report forms ‘Bulletin No. 2’ of the Division of Economic Ornithology of the U. S. Department of Agriculture—a work that has been long and ‘‘clamorously” awaited. To quote from the editor’s ‘Prefatory Letter,’ the report ‘‘consists of two parts: (1) an introductory portion treating of the history and methods of the work, together witha general study of the subject of Bird Migration, including the influence of the weather upon the movements of birds, the progression of bird waves and causes affecting the same, the influence of topography and altitude upon migration, and the + Published in the present number of ‘The Auk.’ + U.S. Department of Agriculture. | Division of Economic Ornithology. | Bulletin No. 2. | — | Report | on { Bird Migration | in the | Mississippi Valley | in | the years 1884 and 1885, | by | W. W. Cooke. | —| Edited and Revised by Dr. C. Hart Mer- riam. | —| Washington: | Government Printing Office. | 1888, 8v0, pp. 313, with Map. 1889] Recent Literature. 59 rates of flight in the various species; and (2) a systematic portion in which the five hundred and sixty species of birds known to occur in the Mississippi Valley are treated serially, the movements of each during the seasons of 1884 and 1885 being traced with as much exactness as the records furnished by the one hundred and seventy observers in the dis- trict permit.” The labor of elaborating and compiling this report has evidently been very great, not only the data from this large number of field observers having been collated, but much matter relating to distribution having been incorporated from published sources. Part IJ thus contains a very large amount of information bearing upon the migrations and breed- ing ranges of the birds found in the Mississippi Valley. Under the head of ‘Theoretical Considerations’ (pp. 11, 12), the author states his belief that the autumnal migration is ‘‘the result of two causes— the approach of winter and the failure of the food supply,” and that the spring migration is due to ‘‘a strong home love—an overpowering desire to be once more among the familiar scenes of the previous summer.” In respect to the autumnal migration, it is considered obvious that the fail- ure of the food supply is the primary cause of the movement, ‘‘since it is well known that single individuals of species which retire far to the south often remain behind, and, favored by an abundance of food, withstand the most severe weather.” The impulse that leads to the return of birds in spring to their summer homes is doubtless not to be wholly accounted for by what has been called ‘‘love of home,” to which theory the editor in a foot- note (p. 11) takes strong exception. He attributes this movement to fail- ure of ‘‘the food supply,” to unfavorable ‘‘climatic conditions,” ‘‘to physio- logical restlessness” induced by ‘‘the approach of the breeding season,’ and to an inherited ‘‘irresistible impulse to move at this particular time of the year.” Thereasons given for the autumnal movement clearly afford a satisfactory explanation, since in most instances were migratory species to remain in winter at their accustomed breeding grounds few would escape total extinction. The reasons for the return movement are more complex and less obvious. Lack of food can hardly be assumed as one of them. Increase of temperature at their winter quarters, as spring advances, must render the lower latitudes at this season uncongenial, and at the same time awaken the periodic activity of the reproductive system, which ‘‘sives rise to physiological restlessness,” and imparts ‘‘the irresistible impulse to move at this particular season of the year” toward the breed- ing habitat of the species. While it is assumed that birds are directed thither by the ‘‘unerring instinct” of ‘‘inherited memory,” the ultimate choice of a particular district by the different individuals may be deter- mined by a true home love, which beyond question leads birds to the same fields and nesting trees for many successive years, and possibly also their descendents for generations. If, however, we may reason from birds to migratory fishes, whose migra- tions are quite as exact and methodical as those of birds, it would seem that there is still something to explain in regard to the return of birds 60 Recent Literature. [January to practically the same locality year after year to breed. In the efforts of the Fish Commission to restock our exhausted rivers with fish it has been found that such migratory species as the shad, when placed as fry in rivers remote from the habitat of their parents, return the next year not to the home of their ancestors, as ‘inherited habit’ would seem to de- mand, but to the very rivers where they were turned out as fry. Such phenomena seem to introduce a new problem into the question which may well receive serious consideration. Migration, as is well known, is by gradual stages, occupying many weeks, and often several months, and is largely influenced by meteorelogic conditions, which govern the ever varying rate of progress, periodically accelerating or holding in check the onward movement, and giving rise to what are known as waves of migration. The beginning of return migra- tion in spring is coincident with the first ‘warm wave,’ which may occur earlier or later according to the season. ‘This first advance is usually soon checked by a falling temperature, and the movement remains station- ary during its continuance, the retardation being governed by the length and intensity of the period of cold. With an immediately succeeding warm wave the northward journey is resumed, to again soon receive a more or less decided check by an alternating cold wave; and so on, with a greater or less number of repeated checks and impulses, till the various species of migratory birds have reached their summerhomes. While all this has long been known in a vague way, Professor Cooke has now given us the history of the spring migration during the years 1884 and 1885 for alarge number of birds inhabiting or passing through the broad region of the Mississippi Valley, and has traced in detail many ‘bird waves,’ with their concomitant meteorologic conditions. It is thus demonstrated that in general the migratory movements of birds in spring are governed by atmospheric changes, notably the alternation of warm and cold waves, the former favoring and the latter retarding or wholly checking movement, according to their severity. As these alternating cold and warm atmos- pheric waves depend upon atmospheric pressure,— the direction of winds being toward an area of low barometer,— and pass across the country from the west toward the east, warm winds blow from the south over the region south of a ‘storm centre’ or area of low barometer. Thus the waves of bird migration during the spring movement are not only necessarily from the south northward, but are coincident with a warm atmospheric wave and a southerly wind; and the wave of migration varies in magnitude with the duration of the warm atmospheric wave and its intensity as regards temperature. While these are the favorable conditions for bird migration, birds move more or less under the ordinary conditions of the weather proper to the season, and are only held incheck by the unfavorable conditions of a cold wave, accompanied by northerly winds and a sometimes fatal reduction of temperature. Professor Cooke gives the average rate of movement of certain birds based on the data collected, from which it appears that the Baltimore Oriole 1889.] Recent Literature. 61 passed from Rodney, Miss., to Oak Point, Manitoba, a distance of 1298 miles, in 48 days, giving an average rate of progress of 27 miles per day. ‘The records for 58 species during the spring of 1883 give an average rate of 23 miles per day. But of course the rate of progress is not uni- form for even the same species, it being greater over the northern portion of the route than over the southern, and much greater during some days than others, according to whether the conditions for movement are favor- able or otherwise. Also, as would be expected, the late migrants move more rapidly than the early ones. While Professor Cooke has thus thrown much light upon the manner and coincident phenomena of migration, and made a most valuable con- tribution to our knowledge of the subject, his limitations in respect to the quality and number of the data at hand give a somewhat pioneer character to his work. His observers were too few and the greater part too un- trained to give a satisfactory basis for the task so energetically under- taken; yet his report is a remarkably successful effort, considering the embarrassing circumstances under which he has labored; and we believe that the editor, in his prefatory letter, does not overrate its importance in considering it ‘‘the most valuable contribution ever made to the subject of Bird Migration.” It gives one a vivid forecast of what may be looked for in forthcoming reports on the same subject, based on the work of many more observers, covering a much longer period. In closing this notice it would be a grave omission not to call special attention to the model work of Mr. Otto Widmann at St. Louis (see pp. 33-37), andalso the important assistance rendered by Prof. D. E. Lantz, of Manhattan, Kansas. A dozen observers like Mr. Widmann, scattered at proper intervals, would give a fairer basis for generalizations than hundreds of observers of the grade on whom Professor Cooke was obliged to depend for many of his data. This should stimulate the more experi- enced and well qualified field ornithologists to contribute to the fullest degree possible to the furtherance of this important investigation.—J. A. A. Nelson’s Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska.*— Following close upon Mr. Turner’s ‘Contributions to the Natural History of Alaska’ (see Auk, Vol. V, pp. 409, 410) comes Mr. E. W. Nelson’s ‘Report’ upon his natural history work in the same Territory during the years 1877-1881. Two thirds of this carefully prepared volume, or some 210 pages and 12 colored plates, relate to Alaskan ornithology. Mr. Nelson arrived at St. Michaels, June 17, 1877, which place was his head- quarters, and where he passed the greater part of his time, till the last of * Report | upon | Natural History Collections | made in| Alaska | Between the years 1877 and 1881 | by Edward W. Nelson. | — | Edited by Henry W. Henshaw. _ | — | Prepared under the direction of the Chief Signal Officer. | — | No. III. | Arctic Series of Publications issued in connection with the Signal Service, U. S. Army. | With 21 Plates. | — | Washington: j Government Printing Office. | 1887 [= 1888]. 4to., pp. 337. (Birds, pp. 19-2930, pll. i-xii, colored.) 62 Recent Literature. [January June, 1881. Two months of the winter of 1877-78 were spent in explor- ing the Lower Yukon River and the adjacent coast region. In May, 1879, a trip was made to the Yukon delta, and in February, 1880, a long journey was made up the coast to Sledge Island, situated just south of Bering Straits. In November of the same year an extended expedition into the interior was undertaken, during which the Anvik River country and the region about the head-waters of the Innoko River were explored. While the principal object of these expeditions was the study of the ethnology of the districts visited, zodlogy and geography received much attention. Finally, in the summer of 1881, Mr. Nelson made a trip on the U. S. Revenue Steamer ‘Corwin,’ as naturalist of the expedition, to Bering Sea and the Siberian Coast. The collections gathered at Saint Michaels and on the various expeditions in Alaska, included ‘‘over two thousand bird skins and fifteen hundred eggs.” The author says, ‘‘To complete the report I have made free use of the skins contained in the Smithsonian collections, obtained by other collectors in Alaska, and the literature on that region has yielded many notes and facts."of interest. The author’s aim has been so far as possible to embody herein all of im- portance that is known concerning the birds of Alaska, but for unavoid- able causes he has been compelled to curtail that portion relating to the swimming birds subsequent to the ducks and geese.” Mr. Nelson’s expeditions entailed great exposure and hardship, with most lamentable results to his health, which gave way very soon after his return to Washington in November, 1881. When compelled to desist from work and seek a more favorable climate in the far West, his ornitho- ogical report was well advanced toward completion, but the final touches, and the revision its long-delayed publication has occasioned, had to be made by another hand. This revision and the eGitorial supervision fortu- nately fellto Mr. H. W. Henshaw, whoappears to have given very careful attention to the final preparation and publication of the work.* The ‘Introduction’ to Mr. Nelson’s report treats of the ‘General Char- acter and Extent of Alaska, with the Faunal Subdivisions,’ of which four are recognized, as follows: 1. Sitkan District, strictly limited to the coast directly affected by the warm southward-flowing Japanese current. 2. Aleutian District, consisting of the Aliaska Peninsula and the Aleu- tian chain of islands. 3. Alaskan Arctic District, limited to the narrow treeless coast belt along the Arcticcoast. 4. Alaskan-Canadian District, embracing the wooded interior. The number of species treated is 267 (if we have counted them cor- rectly—they are not serially numbered ), the text devoted to each vary- ing from a few lines to several pages, largely based on the author’s speci- mens and field notes. The life history of many of the species is treated . at length, as is especially the case with several of the Puftins, Geese, Ducks, Phalaropes, Sandpipers, Ptarmigans, etc., from the standpoint *It appears that the results of Mr. Nelson’s ethnological work will form the subjec of a special volume on the preparation of which he is still engaged. 1889. | Recent Literature. 63 of the writer’s personal experience with them, these biographies being, moreover, very pleasantly written. The immature and other special plu- mages of many of the species are also described at length. The twelve plates, drawn by Messrs. R. and J. L. Ridgway, are not satisfactory pro- ductions, the original colored drawings having been very faultily ren- dered by the lithographer. Besides the extended bird matter, the work contains a very important report on the mammals, with the identifications and technical notes by Mr. F. W. True; another on the fishes, with notes by Dr. T. H. Bean; and a third on the Diurnal Lepidoptera, in conjunction with Mr. Harry Edwards.—J. A. A. Jordan’s New Manual of Vertebrates.*—The fifth edition of President Jordan’s ‘Manual of the Vertebrates’ of the northeastern United States is practically a new work, not only being entirely rewritten and greatly enlarged, but so far extended in scope as to take in not only a considera- bly enlarged area (Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, and the Provinces of Can- ada), but the marine species of the Eastern Coast from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. While presenting the same size and appearance externally as former editions, it contains probably double the amount of text, through the use of smaller type anda much larger type bed. The plan of the work is also essentially modified, and its general character greatly improved, through the fuller diagnoses given, and the analytical keys be- ing based on structural characters instead of on artificial distinctions. The order of arrangement is also inverted, the fishes being treated first and the mammals last. The latest conclusions seem to be given in re- spect to questions of classification and nomenclature, and the work thus authoritatively brought down to date. For birds the arrangement and nomenclature of the A. O. U. Check-List is adopted. The reception given former editions shows that the work meets a want, which the new edition must fill toa much greater degree than has been the case hereto- fore, thus rendering the ‘Manual’ still more worthy of the large patron- age itis sure to receive. The bird partis especially to be commended, in so far as such limited space can give salient and distinctive charac- ters, it being indeed a multum in parvo.—J. A. A. Sharpe’s Birds in Nature.+— The present volume is elegantly gotten up, as regards typography, paper, and exterior, with elaborate designs in *A Manualof the Vertebrate Animals of the United States, including the District north and east of the Ozark Mountains, south of the Laurentian Hills, north of the southern boundary of Virginia, and east of the Missouri River, inclusive of’ Marine Species. By David Starr Jordan, President of the University of Indiana. Fifth Edi- tion, entirely rewritten and enlarged. Chicago: A.C. McClurg and Company. 1888. 8vo, pp. ili + 375. +Birds in Nature. By R. Bowdler Sharpe, F. L. S., F. Z.S., Zodlogical Depart- ment, British Museum, etce., etc., etc. With Thirty-nine Colored Plates, and other Illustrations, by P. Robert. Boston: Estes & Lauriat. 1888. 4to.pp.v-+ 78. 64 Recent Literature. [January the way of initial letters and tail-pieces for each chapter, and with full- page plates redundant in paint. The book is apparently intended as an ornamental gift-book for the holiday season. The text is no discredit to the eminent author whose name appears on the titlepage, and his biographies of the forty species of European birds treated form entertaining and instructive matter for the general reader, for whom they were doubtless intended, rather than for professional ornithologists. Mr. Robert’s contribution of plates and tail-pieces will scarcely bear criticism from the technical standpoint, most of them having been too evidently copied from rather badly stuffed museum specimens, including their de- fects, with a back-ground which may be called striking rather than art- istically effective. Doubtless the book will not lack admirers among the class it is intended to entertain.—J. A. A. Birds of Nova Scotia.* — This annotated list is the latest contribution to the bird lore of the peninsular Province, by one whose name is already known in that connection. Mr. Downs has given us ‘‘as the result of sixty-six years of practical field work,’ a list of 240 species of birds, of which 4 are added on authority, 3 on the grounds of probability, and 3 without a word of comment, reducing those presumably observed by the writer to 230. The number seems very small, as it would be an easy matter to name over twenty additional species that certainly should have been found; indeed reference to the published papers of another Acadian naturalist (Dr. J. Bernard Gilpin) shows that nearly a dozen species have been omitted in the Birds of Prey and the Shore-birds alone. It is diffi- cult to understand why Mr. Downs should leave out such species as the Wheatear, Bicknell’s Thrush, Ipswich Sparrow, etc., since he was not confining himself to his own personal observations. The last-named omission is the more strange since the species is probably without excep- tion the most peculiar and characteristic of the whole Acadian avifauna. Our author apparently not realizing that the only value of such a list must come from its explicitness and accuracy, records without qualifica- tion such remarkable occurrences as those of Plegadis autumnalis, Anas penelope, Ardea cerulea, etc., omitting the usual data and references, without which the records have little, if any value. This carelessness with regard to localities and dates neutralizes the value of what might otherwise have been a most interesting series of records. A notable example is his brief reference to the finding of three ‘‘Great Auks”’; doubt- less the facts have been recorded elsewhere, but no careful writer would think of embodying them in his work without giving the proper refer- ences. Similar remarks will apply to his notes on the Labrador Duck, Purple Gallinule, Blue Grosbeak, and several other species. His method of indicating the breeding species (by number in an appen- dix) isa great mistake; the remarks that are supposed to be thus tabu- *Birds of Nova Scotia. By Andrew Downs, M. Z. S. Edited by Harry Piers. Proc. and Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Nat. Sci. VII, pt. ii, 1888, pp. 142-178. 1889.] Recent Literature. 65 lated, should have appeared in full under the names of the species to which they refer. The general appearance of the article is excellent, and the typography almost beyond criticism, while the reserve stores of information hinted at by the brief notes are such that we cannot but hope that in the near future we may be favored with a more carefully compiled and fully anno- tated list that will do yet greater credit to one who has had sixty-six years of practical field work and was the correspondent and friend of Audubon and Waterton.—E. E. T. Publications Received. — Barboza du Bocage, J. V. (1) Sur quelques Oiseaux de l’Ile St. Thomé. (Jor. de Sci. Math. Phys. e Nat. de Lisboa, XLVIII, 1888.) (2) Oiseaux nouveaux de I’Ile St. Thomé. (Ibid.) Bryant, W. E. Description of a new subspecies of Song Sparrow from Lower California, Mexico. (Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., 2d Ser., I, pp. 197- 200. ) Jordan, D. S. A Manual of the Vertebrate Animals of the Northern United States, etc. 5thedition. 8vo., pp. iii +375. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co. 1888. Lawrence, G. N. Description of a New Species of Bird of the Genus Catharus, from Ecuador. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1887, p. 503.) Nelson, E. W. Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska between the years 1877 and 1881. Edited by H. W. Henshaw, 4to. pp. 337. 21 plates. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1887 [=1888 ]. Newton, Sir Edward. Presidential Address before Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, with Appendix containing List of the Birds of the Mascarene Islands, including the Seychelles. (Trans. Norfolk and Nor- wich Nat. Soc., IV, pp. 537-554-) Reichenow, Dr. A. Die Begrenzung Zoogeographischer Regionen vom ornithologischen Standpunkt. (Zool. Jahrb., Il, Abth. f. Syst., pp. 671-704.) Sharpe, R. B. (1) On two apparently undescribed Species of Sturnus. (Ibis, 1888, pp. 438-440.) (2) On two new species of Starlings. (Ibid., pp- 476, 477-) (3) Diagnoses of some new Species of Birds obtained on the Mountains of Kina Balu by Mr. John Whitehead. (Ibid., pp. 478, 479.) (4) Note on the Genus Rectes. (Ibid., pp. 435, 437.) (5) Further Descriptions of new Species of Birds discovered by Mr. John Whitehead on the Mountains of Kina Balu, Northern Borneo. (Ibid., pp. 383-396, pll. ix-xii.) (6) On a New Species of Accéfzter from Liberia. (Notes from the Leyden Museum, X, pp. 199, 200.) (7) On anew Species of Llainea fromtheIsland of Fernando Norohna. (P. Z. S., 1888, p. 107.) {8) Descriptions of some new Species of Birds from the Island of Guad. alcanar in the Solomon Archipelago, discovered by Mr. C. M. Woodford. (Ibid., pp. 182-185.) (g) Notes on Specimens in the Hume Collection of Birds. No.6. On some Species of the Genus Digena. (Ibid., pp. 246- 247-) (10) List of a Collection of Birds made by Mr. L. Wray in the 66 General Notes: ': [January Main Range of Mountains of the. Malay Peninsula, Perak. chek pp- 267-281, pl. xv.) Sharpe, R. B., and P. Robert. Birdsin Nature. 4to. 39 col. pil Boston: Estes & Lauriat. 1888. Shufeldt, R. W. Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of Arctic and Sub-arctic Water-birds. Pt. I. (Journ. Anat. & Phys. XXIII, pp. 1- 39 pll. i-v.) Stejneger, L. (1) Notes on European Marsh-Tits, with Description ot a new Subspecies from Norway. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1888, pp. 71-76.) (2) Further Contributions to the Hawaiian Avifauna. (Ibid., pp. 93-103.) (3) Notes on the European Crested Titmice. -(Ibid., pp. 113,114.) Zeledon, J.C. Descripcion de unaespecie nueva de ‘‘Gallina de Monte.” (Ann. de Mus. Nac. de Costa Rica, 1888.) American Field, XXX, Nos. 10-23, 1888. American Journ. Sci., XXXVI, Oct.-Dec., 1888. American Naturalist, XXII, Aug.-Dec., 1888. Audubon Magazine, II, Oct.-Dec., 1888. Canadian Record of Science, III, No. 4, 1888. Forest and Stream, XXXI, Nos. 7-20, 1888. . Hoosier Naturalist, III; No. 6; Nov., 1888. Journal Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist., XI, Nos. 2, 3, 1888. Naturalist, The, a Month. Journ. Nat. Hist. for North of England, Nos. ROE 161, 1888. Ornithologist and Odlogist, XIII, Nos. 9-11, Sept.-Nov., 1888. Ornis, IV, Heft 4, Oct., 1888. Ottawa Naturalist, II, Nos. 6, 7, 1888. Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1888, Pt. 2, Mch.-Sept. Proceedings U. S. Nat. Mus., 1887, pp. 497-771; 1888, pp. 1-128. Swiss Cross, IV, Oct.-Dec., 1888. Zoologischer Anzeiger, Nos. 287-293, 1888. Zoologist, XII,. Oct.-Dec., 1888. GENERAL NOTES. The Present Status of Forster's Tern as a Bird of New England.— In an article on the Terns of the New England Coast published some ten years ago* I spoke of Sterna forsterz as a species which ‘‘though rare, is of perhaps too regularoccurrence to be classed among the accidentals, for one or two specimens are reported nearly every season, usually dur- ing the month of September.” Since the appearance of this article, how- ever, I have heard of the capture of but a single additional specimen, a young bird in autumnal ss taken Oe: 2; 1888, ey ilies lo Ge Calhowia a a = ; * Bull, N. O. C. IV, “8719, 14. 1889.] | . General. Notes. 67 at Monomoy sland, near Chatham, Massachusetts, and now in my col- tion. It would seem, therefore, either that Forster’s Tern has ceased to visit the New England coast at all regularly or frequently, or that its occurrence in small numbers during several successive seasons prior to 1879, was purely fortuitous. The former is perhaps the more probable hypothesis, for nearly all our water birds have decreased in numbers dur- ing the past decade, and none among them more considerably than the Terns—the chosen victims of the millinery collectors.—WILLIAM BREw- STER, Cambridge, Mass. Notes on Brewster’s and the Blue-footed Gannet. — Early in October, 1888, Mr. E. J. Reed of Guaymas, Mexico, did me the very great kindness of capturing alive, and presenting me with aspecimen each of the above- named birds (Sula brewsteriand S. goss¢). They were taken at San Pedro Martir Isle of the Gulf of California, and expressed to Fort Wingate, New Mexico, where they arrived on the 16th of the month, the Blue- footed one having died on the passage, while Brewster's was as lively as if he had just been taken. In comparing them with Colonel Goss’s admirable description of these two new species, published in ‘The Auk’ for July, 1888, I found them to correspond very closely. Points of the most interest were the dark brown irides in S. drewster¢, with their limiting circle of white, the strongly pectinated mid-anterior claws, and the beautiful shade of pur- plish ultra-marine blue of the feet of S. goss?. After its fast of certainly four or five days I expected to see the surviv- ing Gannet drink a quantity of water, and perhaps eat anything that was offered to it; but, no, upon being placed in a large bath tub of fresh water, it started to vigorously splash and preen itself, as a duck will do under similar circumstances, and then suddenly ceased without appar- ently drinking a drop, disgusted I imagine at its being fresh. I had to force it to eat a few ounces of venison, not having a fish at hand to give it; indeed, I myself have not seen a fresh fish for over four years. The bird was placed next out in the sun, where it seemed to enjoy itself, and arranged with its beak its wetted and rumpled plumage. If one at- tempted to handle it, however, it struck out vigorously with its sharp- pointed bill, and could inflict quite an ugly wound, as one of my hands will still testify. Next morning my Garnet was more cheerful than ever, but circumstances induced me to kill it with chloroform, and I removed the skins from both specimens and forwarded them to Mr. Robert Ridgway for identification. Upon dissection they proved to be females, and a casual examination of the viscera in each satisfied me that Macgillivray’s account of this part of their anatomy, as given in Aububon, is a fairly accurate one for Suda, though I saw enough besides to satisfy me that a far more thorough description of the structure of these birds is demanded.—R. W. SuHuFrEeLptT, Fort Wingate, New Mexico. '-Histrionicus histrionicus on Long Island, New York.—I wish to record the capture of a specimen of Histrionicus histrionicus taken on Long 68 General Notes. [January Island, New York, Nov. 22, 1878. The bird was a male, not quite, but almost in mature plumage, and was shot in the bay south of Freeport, Long Island, and on account of its oddity brought to me. The specimen is now in the collection of the Long Island Historical Society.—Gro. B. BavGer, Haywards, California. Chen cerulescens in Massachusetts.—On October 26, 1876, 1 bought of Mr. Tufts, taxidermist, of Lynn, Mass., a mounted Blue Goose, the skin being still fresh, which is now in my possession. The specimen, a young female, with white on chin only, was shot “‘in or near Essex Creek, West Parish, Gloucester, Mass., Oct. 20, 1876.”—Wmn. A. JEFFRIES, Loston, Mass. Baird’s Sandpiper in Central New York.--While collecting at Onon- daga Lake, N. Y., August 27, 1888, I secured a Baird’s Sandpiper (Zriznga bairdiz). Thisappears to be the tenth for New York State; of the others, six have been recorded from Long Island (‘Forest and Stream’, Vol. X, Now 13) ip. 235, May 2, 18785) Ba N- O20.) Vols Ville yp. 123 hcS2i me amu Vol. II, p. 273, 1885), one from Locust Grove, Lewis County, by Mr. Hen- shaw (Auk, Vol. II, p. 384, 1885), and two from Fair Haven, Cayuga County, by Frank R. Rathburn (O. & O., Vol. VII, p. 133, 1832). More stragglers—if such they are—of this bird may be expected from the lakes of western and central New York, during the fall, as numbers of shore- birds visit them at that season.—Morris M. Green, Washington, D. C. The Northern Phalarope (Pkalarofus lobatus) in the Franconia Moun- tains, New Hampshire.—About five years ago, in September, while fishing on Profile Lake, Franconia, N. H.,I observed a bird sitting on the water, feeding on winged ants, of which thousands lay on the surface. The bird was fearless, allowed me to approach it in my canoe so closely that I could easily reach it with my landing net (handle not three feet long), and was not alarmed at several attempts I made to put the net gently over him. I observed him for nearly half an hour, constantly within a few feet of him, and then left him. I did not know the bird, and several friends, ornithologists, afterward expressed a wish that I had captured or killed him for examination. On September 22, 1888, while fishing on Lonesome Lake (about two miles from Profile Lake, on Mt. Cannon, nearly 3000 feet above sea- level), I saw another specimen of the same bird swimming duck-like among the sedges on the edge of the lake. He was equally fearless, allowing me to approach within hand reach, without alarm and without ceasing his employment, which was feeding on the seeds of the sedges. There was no mistake, in either case, as to what the bird was eating—in one case ants, in the other seed. In the latter case J greatly enjoyed watching the rapid and graceful action of the bird as he picked off the seeds, frequently stretching up, almost standing on the water, and reach- ing to seeds on high sedges. After ten minutes I concluded with great 1889. ] General Notes. 69 reluctance to kill him, which I did by striking him gently on the head with a short stick. Ornithologists who examined him pronounced him the Northern Phalarope. At their request I make this note of the facts. —W.C. Prime, New York City. Occurrence of the Western Sandpiper (Hreunetes occidentalis) in Num- bers on the Coast of Massachusetts.—Among some Waders collected in 1888 on Monomoy Island, near Chatham, Massachusetts, I find four unmistakable specimens of Hreunetes occidentalis. Three of them, all females, were taken by Mr. Jj. C. Cahoon, one July 19, the other two Sept. 19. The fourth, a male, was shot Sept. 1 by Mr. Whiting. The July bird is an adult in richly colored and but little worn breeding plu- mage. The others are young in summer dress. Mr. Cahoon tells me that he killed many specimens of the EF. occéden- talis at Monomovy during July, August, and September, 1888, but suppos- ing at the time that they were merely large, long-billed examples of £. pusillus, he preserved only the three above mentioned. His impression is that they were nearly as numerous at times as &. pusillus. There is, I believe, but one previous record of the occurrence of EF. occidentalis in Massachusetts, viz., that by Mr. Henshaw* of the capture of a speci- men on ‘‘Long Island, Boston Harbor, Aug. 27, 1870.”—WILLIAM BREw- STER, Cambridge, Mass. Sandpipers at Sea—A Correction.—On looking at my note on ‘Sand- pipers at Sea’ in ‘The Auk,’ Vol. III, I find at commencement of the first paragraph on page 132 ‘‘The fastest run up to 12 M. on May 8, was 582 miles.” This should read ‘‘The dzs¢tauce run”, etc. 582 miles a day foran old French steamer would be pretty good work.—Wmn. A. JEFFRIES, Boston, Mass. , Remarkable Flight of Killdeer (#g7alitis voctfera) near Portland, Maine.— On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 28, 1888, several flocks of Killdeer were seen by Captain Trundy, of the U.S. Life Saving Service, near his station, on the extreme point of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Twenty birds, which were shot down without difficulty, were sent to Portland and offered for sale at one of the markets. On the following day, Captain Trundy tells me, hundreds of the Plover were to be seen along the shores of the Cape, and on Richmond’s Island, a mile or two west of the station. They disappeared on November 30, leaving strag- glers behind, however, the last of which was shot by one of the Life Say- ing crew on December 4, and kindly presented to me. Such a flight of Killdeerin Maine—where the bird is well known to be rare—has probably not occurred within the memory of living sportsmen. It is doubtless to be attributed to the violent northerly storm that pre- vailed in eastern North America on November 25, 26 and 27.—NATHAN CLIFFORD Brown, Portland, Maine. *Auk, Vol. II, No.4, 1885, p. 384. 70 General Notes. [ January Note on A®gialitis meloda circumcincta.—In looking over the back numbers of ‘The Auk’ which have accumulated on my desk during my late long absence from America, I find a notice* of the occurrence of Ee gialit’s meloda ctrcumcincta on the Atlantic coast, by Mr. J. A. Allen. Amongst other examples of this variety, Mr. Allen writes that he has examined ‘‘two skins of typical czrcumctncfa” taken by myself in Scarbo- rough, Maine. It is proper for me to state that I had never made mention of these examples, for the reason that I doubted the validity of the so-called ‘inland form.’ The evidence of such Maine birds as have fallen into my hands is certainly against it. I cannot remember that I have ever seen more than three specimens, taken on the coast of Maine, in which the neck band was wholly interrupted in front; and while the band, when complete, is not always so broad as in the skins examined by Mr. Allen, it is often so. The two forms distinctly intergrade in Maine. According to Mr. Allen,t they come very near intergradation in New Jersey. One cannot help believing, from the numerous instances, published and unpub- lished, of the occurrence of czrcumczncta on the Atlantic coast, that the same thing may be true of other localities. All this, of course, is not enough to deprive the belted bird of its name; but it is perhaps enough to render itsright toa separate name doubtful.—NaTHAN CLIFFORD BROwN, Portland, Maine. The Turkey Buzzard in Massachusetts.—Thursday morning, Sept. 9g, 1888, a farmer in West Falmouth, Mass., shot in his barnyard a fine specimen of the Turkey Buzzard (Cathartes aura). I happened to to be in the town when the bird was shot, and secured it. It is a female in very good plumage. The bird was seen by several persons about the town before it was shot, and from them I learned that it came from the north. It had evidently not eaten much recently.—Epwarp C. MAson, Arlington, Mass. Krider’s Hawk (Buteo borealis kridertz) on the Coast of Georgia.— Mr. W. W. Worthington has just sent me a perfectly typical specimen of Kri- der’s Hawk, which he took on Sapelo Island, Georgia, February 16, 1888. The bird is a young or, at least, immature male. IfI am not mistaken, this subspecies has not been found before in any of the Atlantic States.— WILLIAM BREWSTER, Cambridge, Mass. First description of the Egg of Glaucidium phalenoides, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.—On May 2, 1888, my collector took an adult female and one egg of this Owl at Cafion del Caballeros, near Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The locality is high and at the base of the more precipitous mountains. The nest was in a hollow tree, and contained but a single fresh egg. The egg is white, shaped like that of a Megascops, measures *Vol. III. p. 482. olencs 1889.] General Notes. 71 1.05 X .go inches, and is in my collection with the parent bird. It will be observed that in size it is very close to the egg of WZ. whitneyz.—Gnro. B. SENNETT, Vew York City. [A New Generic Name for the Elf Owl. |—MMicrofallas, Strigidarum genus novum = Mrcrathene, Coues, 1866, nec Micrathena, Sundevall, Arachn.—E.L.iotr Cours, Washington, D. C. Sphyrapicus ruber Breeding in Coniferous Trees.—In the July number of ‘The Auk’ (Vol. V, No. 3, p. 234) I stated that I doubted very much that this species ever bred in coniferous trees of any kind. Ina letter recently received from Mr. A. H. Anthony, a well-known western ornithologist, he informs me that S. ruber was a rather common species in Washington County, Oregon, during 1884 and 1885, and that he found a pair nesting in a big fir stub, fully fifty feet from the ground. He writes me that as he was unable to take the eggs he did not molest the birds, but that there could be no doubt of their identity, as he watched them from the first day’s excavating till they began to incubate.—C. E. BenpirE, Washing- ton, D. C. Occurrence of Traill’s Flycatcher near Washington, D. C.—Three specimens of Empidonax pusillus trazlliz taken this spring, are probably the first ever obtained from this locality. Although this Flycatcher is men- tioned in every list of the birds of the District of Columbia and vicinity as occurring here, there is no evidence that the authors had ever seen the bird or taken aspecimen. One was taken by the writer on May 13, 1888, at Potomac Run, Alexandria County, Virginia, another by Mr. Ridgway at Laurel, Maryland, on May 18, and the third by myself on the 1gth, in Virginia, opposite Georgetown, D. C. Several others were subsequently seen and identified.— WILLIAM PALMER, Washington, D. C. Early Appearance of Empidonax minimus at Portland, Maine.—The spring of the year 1888 was a bad season for early arrivals at Portland, most of the earlier birds being very much delayed. Yet some did come early, and I think the most remarkable example was the Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus). Previously its earliest recorded arrival was May 5 (N. C. Brown, Proc. Port. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1882, p. 12), but on the morning of May 2, 1888, a chilly day with the thermometer only 36° Fahrenheit, and snow falling steadily, I saw one in a large orchard inside the city limits.—JoHN C. Brown, Portland, Maine. Second Occurrence of the Prairie Horned Lark in Eastern Massachu- setts. —In recording* not long since the capture of three specimens of Otocoris alpestris praticola at Revere Beach, Massachusetts, I ventured *Auk, Vol V, No.1, Jan., 1888, pp- III, 112. 72 General Notes. [ January to suggest that this form might prove to be a regular if rare migrant through the eastern portions of our State. Some added probability is given this surmise by the fact that I have just taken two more perfectly typical examples of Arazicola at Great Island near Hyannis, Mass., Dec. 15, 1888. Both are males, one an old, the other a young bird. They were in flocks of O. alpestrzs which very possibly contained still other specimens of praticola, but I had neither time nor inclination to settle this point definitely by shooting a large number of birds, the only possi- sible way, for the two forms could not be distinguished when living. As it was I killed twenty-three alfestrzs to get the two pratzcola, but none of the former were wasted.— WILLIAM BREWSTER, Cambridge, Mass. Molothrus ater in Massachusetts in December.—On Dec. 8, 1888, I shot two female Cowbirds in Belmont, Mass. For records of this bird in Massachusetts in January, see ‘The Auk,’ Vol.V, 1888, p. 207.—WALTER Faxon, Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, Cambridge, Mass. The Cowbird (Molothrus afer) as a Fly-destroyer. — On the 20th of October my little son shot a male Cowbird, winging it slightly; the bird was exceedingly active and fought most vigorously when taken in the hand, pecking savagely, but the moment it was placed on the floor, or on a table, it quieted down, and would step promptly and fearlessly up to an extended hand. and if a fly were presented, pick it off and stand patient- ly to wait for more. It caught flies with unerring snaps of its beak, as they flew around its head, buzzed against the window panes, or rested on the floor or table top; it drank freely of water, and delighted in picking up fine grains of earth and sand between its meals of flies. My children began to feed it promiscuously, butit refused everything except flies. They took it from room to room, when it was turned loose, and at once began its incessant war upon flies, soon catching every one that was not roosting on the ceiling. Finally after six or seven days of this captivity the supply of live flies gave out, and the bird was taken into the summer kitchen where these insects were in the greatest abundance and where large numbers were dead, having been whipped by the servants and the chil- dren; the Cowbird ate very heartily of these dead flies, and the next morning was found dead in its cage, in which it had been regularly shut up and covered every night. It became fearless, and was easily taken up in the hand, after it had been in the children’s hands about a day; it would stand facing them on a table top, and take flies from their hands as rapidly as they could be passed over.—HeEeNrRy W. ELLiott, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DG: Notes upon the Sudden Appearance in Numbers of the Evening Gros- beak at Fort Wingate, New Mexico.—For four years and more (1884-1888) I have made constant and careful observations during all seasons upon the birds that are to be found in the country about Fort Wingate, New 18896] General Notes. 9h) Mexico. Much of this time I have rambled over this region almost daily, collecting birds and mammals and making extended notes upon them. During the first three years the Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes ves- pertina) was not to be found in the vicinity during either the vernal or autumnal migrations, and I never so much as heard its note. My mind was about satisfied that the species was-not a visitant to this part of the range of the Rocky Mountains, when the doubt was suddenly dissipated last month (October, 1888) while I was out collecting in the pine forests about two miles from the station. There I met with a little party of four individuals, all females, and in wretched plumage; three of these were secured. A little later and in a different locality, this time some two miles in the opposite direction from the Fort, | came upon a very hand- some pair, and succeeded 1n taking the male. He was an old one in fine autumnal feather. I saw no more of them until yesterday (Nov. to, 1888), at which time I was with my gun in the cedar woods quite close to my house. The day was clear and the temperature moderate, though heavy frosts had occurred on the two preceding days and nights. The woods were actually alive with Robins (Md. m. propingua), feeding upon the cedar berries, and I soon discovered that numbers’ of Evening Gros- beaks were with them. At first I met with these latter in small flocks, from five to ten in number, but as I came into more favorable localities, they appeared in straggling parties consisting of from thirty to a hundred individuals. They mingled with the Robins both in the trees and in the loose flocks that kept passing overhead, and frequently gave vent to their loud and shrill whistle. There was no trouble in approaching them, while feeding upon the berries, as they appeared to be quite unsuspicious and not easily alarmed. My collecting basket soon contained a fine assortment of these truly beautiful creatures, they being in rich autumnal dress, and only occasionally was one to be met with that had not quite completed this plumage. The females differed considerably in their col- oring, while in some of the males I observed that the rich orange band ofthe forehead and superciliary line was carried around in diminishing breadth to fairly meet the stripe of the opposite side at the occiput and completely blend with itthere. In the males, too, the plumage of the legs is black, with the feathers each narrowly bordered with yellowish green; this feature is not usually described by ornithologists. Only a few moments ago I made up some half dozen skins of these birds, and my two sons each made a pair moreapiece, all carefully selected. Iwas nota little surprised to find my experiences both in this and in shooting the speci- mens to be at complete variance with those of Dr. Merrill, as mentioned by him in a recent issue of ‘The Auk’ (Oct. 1888, p. 357). Neither I nor ’ my sons found any difficulty whatever in making capital skins of these specimens, and lam quite sure I did not lose more than a feather to a bird in those that I prepared, and the skin in none of them appeared to me to be unusually thin. Moreover, some of them were killed with No. 8 shot, and in falling bumped down through the pine trees without any apparent damage, and only with the loss of a feather or two. It is diffi- 74 General Notes. [January cult for me to account for this difference in our observations, infinitely the more so when the statement comes from the pen of such an accurate describer as is Dr. Merrill. This extraordinary flight of these Grosbeaks here, convinces me that either the bird is inclined to be at times very erratic in its migrations, or else it may have to do with the approaching season, perhaps indicating a coming winter of unusual severity. An excellent series of skeletons rewarded my collecting, and as I pre- dicted in my letter in the October ‘Auk’, the secondary palatine processes are absent, the entire skull much resembling that part of the skeleton in Coccothraustes vulgaris, as figured for us by Huxley.—R. W. SHUFELDT, Fort Wingate, New Mexico. Loggerhead Shrike at Bridgeport, Connecticut. — The following are the records of the Loggerhead Shrike at Bridgeport, Conn.: late in August, 1880, one seen; late in August, 1885, two seen together; August 29, 1888, two seen together, one of which I shot. Mr. J. A. Allen pro- nounced this a Lantus ludovicianus exeubitorides and a bird of the year. All these birds were seen at the sea beach. The gizzard of the one killed was filled with grasshoppers.—C. K. AVERILL, Jr., Bridgeport, Conn. First Occurrence of the Philadelphia Vireo near Washington, D. C.— This bird is certainly rare with us, having until this spring escaped notice though expected and looked for. While collecting on the evening of May 17, 1888, on the Virginia side of the Potomac near the new bridge, I took a specimen which was industriously feeding with Red-eyed Vireos in the willows on the marshy bottom lands. — WILLIAM PALMER, Washington, /0E (Ex Unusual Nesting Site of Dendroica virens.—There stands, a little aside from a public road on Cape Elizabeth, Maine, on the top of a small hil- lock, some distance from any woods, a small pagoda of two stories, which is almost nightly filled by noisy pleasure-seekers. About it a grape-vine grows luxuriantly, and Here, scarcely ten feet from the ground and only six from the floor of the piazza, a pair of Black-throated Green Warblers built their nest in the spring of 1888. Placed on the main stem of the vine, and so surrounded by leaves and twigs as to be absolutely invisible from the outside, it was nevertheless in plain sight the moment one stepped inside the sheltering vine upon the piazza. When I found the nest on June 29 it contained two eggs and one young bird, and on July 1 the eggs had hatched.—JoHN C. Brown, Portland, Maine. A Rare Bird in Chester Co., South Carolina. — J had been waiting all the morning of Oct. 11, 1888, for the cessation of the heavy gale and driving rain that had begun during the previous night, for I was anxious to get out into the woods and see what effect the storm was having: on the 889.]. * General Notes. 45 returning migrants. By midday the wind had subsided and the rain had become a mere drizzle. Shortly after 1 p.m. [ventured out, directing my steps to the nearest woods. But few birds were found, and I continued my search until I came to an extended body of scrubby black-jacks, pines, and red cedars about a mile and a half from home. Here I discovered a small gathering of Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and several species of Warblers. I drove the gathering about through the low growth, shooting the birds that were not instantly recog- ognized, until [reached an edge bordering on an old-field where I noticed a small bird fly into a low cedar. It was promptly shot. A glance was sufficient to reveal the fact that it was wholly new to me. I saw that it was a Warbler and a Dendroica. I began to revolve in mind the distinc- tive characters of each member of the genus until I had eliminated all save one —the one I had suspected it to be, for I had in memory Mr. Maynard’s illustration of the female Kirtland’s Warbler (‘The Birds of Eastern North America,’ pI. xvii). I hastened home to my library, and found that I had worked it out truly and that I had indeed ‘‘the rarest of all the Warblers” inhabiting the United States. This, if I have read the records aright, is the third instance of Den- droica kirtland? having been taken in the Atlantic States, and the second of its capture in South Carolina.—LEVERETT M. Loomis, Chester, S. C. A Peculiar Nest of Cinclus mexicanus.—In an exceedingly interesting collection of nests and eggs recently received from Mr. Denis Gale, of Gold Hill, Colorado, a gift to the National Museum at Washington, D. C., an interesting Water Ouzel’s nest, deserves mention. Usually the Ouzel’s nest is a domed, oven-shaped structure, ten to twelve inches through at its base, and from seven to eight inches high. The nest now before me, No. 23,685, Nat. Mus. Collection, taken in Boulder Co., Colorado, May 31, 1888, and containing three fresh eggs at the. time, was placed against one of the stringers, and close up to, and under the plank platform of a bridge, which saved the birds the trouble of doming it, in fact there was no room to do so. A full view of the interior can be had. The front face of this nest is five and a half inches high, by eight and a half inches wide. The depth of the nest gradually diminishes so that the rear of it is barely two inches high by eight inches wide. A side view of the structure gives it almost a triangular appearance. Out- wardly the nest is principally composed of decayed plant fibres and lichens (Hypzum sp.?) used in a wet condition, and considerable sandy clay is mixed in amongst the outer portions of the structure which is covered all around with this material excepting at the entrance. This is near the top of the nest, four inches from the base, in the centre of the structure, and is two and one-half inches wide and one and a half inches high. The inner lining ofthe nest is composed of pine needles and stalks - of grasses, amongst which that of the timothy grass (Phleum pratense) is plainly distinguishable. The inner cavity of the nest is three and a quarter inches wide by two and one-half inches deep, circular, and com- pactly built—Cuas. E. BenpirRE, Washington, D. C. 76 General Notes. [ January Troglodytes aédon, House Wren, Breeding ina Sand Bank. — Of all the quaint places this familiar little busybody could choose in which to lay its eggs and rear its young, one might imagine a sand bank, the common home of Bank Swallows and Kingfishers, to be the most singular and unusual. The fact that a House Wren might be found thus breeding may not be surprising to all observing ornithologists, but it certainly must be to most of them. On August 1, 1888, while Dr. B. H. Warren, State Ornithologist of Pennsylvania, and I were driving up one of the ravines leading from the beautiful Bay at Erie, Pennsylvania, the Doctor’s keen eye caught sight of a House Wren as it darted into a Kingfisher’s hole in the almost perpendicular bank about ten feet from the roadway. By the aid of a fence rail and easy digging the young, already able to fly, were caught in the hand, and the nest secured. I had already been in- terested in observing a pair of Wrens that had taken possession of a Blue- bird’s nest in the hollow limb of an apple tree in the dooryard of my summer house, but the taking for its own domicile this home of our large Kingfisher cast completely into the shade all I had known of the bird’s housekeeping achievements, in which tin pails, kettles, skulls, and the like had figured.—GEo. B. SENNETT, Wew York City. Saxicola cenanthe in Louisiana. —I have in my collection a mounted specimen of Sanxzcola enanthe, a male in winter plumage, or a young male, which was shot within the limits of the City on September 12, 1888. Several others were seen on the same day, but only this one was procured. The bird is entirely out of its range.—GuSTAVE Koun, Mew Orleans, La. Summer Birds at Bridgewater and Moultonboro’, New Hampshire.—In connection with Mr. Faxon’s list of birds observed at Holderness, New Hampshire (See Auk, Vol. V, p. 149), the following observations of my own made at Bridgewater and Moultonboro’, N. H., may be of interest, as they seem to give quite different results. Bridgewater is about six miles to the southwest of Holderness, and Moultonboro’ about twelve miles to the east-southeast. Birds observed at Bridgewater, N. H., Fuly 12—Seft. 4, 1883. Ardea herodias.—One or two seen. Ardea virescens.—Not common. Actitis macularia.—Not common. Bonasa umbellus.—Common. Circus hudsonius.—Not common. Halizetus leucocephalus.—One seen. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus.—Common. Ceryle aleyon.—Not common. Dryobates villosus.—Quite common. Dryobates pubescens.—Quite common. Sphyrapicus varius.—Seen several times. Colaptes auratus.—Quite common. 1889. ] General Notes. yy) Antrostomus vociferus.—Quite common. Chordeiles virginianus.—Very common. Chetura pelagica.—Common. Trochilus colubris.—Not common. Tyrannus tyrannus.—Common. Sayornis pheebe.—Quite common. Contopus virens.—Very common. Empidonax minimus.—Quite common. Cyanocitta cristata.—Not common. Corvus americanus.—Quite common. Dolichonyx oryzivorus.—Not common. Agelaius phoeniceus.—Not common. Icterus galbula.—Quite common. Carpodacus purpureus.—Common. Spinus tristis.—Common. Poocetes gramineus.—Common. Spizella socialis.—Common. Spizella pusillaa—Very common. Junco hyemalis.—A few on high hills. Melospiza fasciata.—Common. Pipilo erythrophthalmus.—Several seen on hills. Habia ludoviciana.—Not common. Passerina cyanea.—Very common. Piranga erythromelas.—Common. Progne subis.—A few seen. Petrochelidon lunifrons.—One colony seen. Chelidon erythrogaster.—Common. Ampelis cedrorum.—Common. Vireo olivaceus.—Very common. Vireo flavifrons.—Not common. Vireo solitarius.—Common. Mniotilta varia.—Quite common. Helminthophila ruficapilla.—Common. Compsothlypis americana.—Quite common. Dendroica estiva.—Not common. Dendroica coronata.—A few young seen Aug. 16. Dendroica maculosa.—One seen Sept. 1. Dendroica pennsylvanica.—Not common. Dendroica virens.—Very common. Dendroica vigorsii.—One shot Aug. 21. Seiurus aurocapillus.—Common. Geothlypis trichas.—Quite common on side-hills. Setophaga ruticilla.—Quite common. Galeoscoptes carolinensis.—Common. Harporhynchus rufus.—Common. Sitta carolinensis.—Quite common. Parus atricapillus.—Common. 7 8 General Notes. [January Turdus fuscescens.—Quite common. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii—Common. Merula migratoria.—Common. Sialia sialis—Common. Birds observed at Moultonboro’", N. H., Fuly 21—August TX, 1885. Urinator imber.—Several seen; one young in down captured. Ardea herodias.—Tracks and one feather. Actitis macularia.—A few seen. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus.—Common. Dryobates pubescens.—Not common. Colaptes auratus.—Quite common. Antrostomus vociferus.—Not common. Chordeiles virginianus.—Not common. Chetura pelagica.—Very common. Tyrannus tyrannus.—Quite common. Myiarchus crinitus.—A few seen. Sayornis phceebe.—Common. Contopus virens.—Quite common. Empidonax pusillus traillii.mA few seen. Empidonax minimus.—Not common. Cyanocitta cristata.— Quite common. Corvus americanus.—Quite common. Dolichonyx oryzivorus.—Quite common. Agelaius phoeniceus.—Not common. Carpodacus purpureus.—Not common. Spinus tristis.—Common. Poocetes gramineus.—Very common. ‘ Zonotrichia albicollis.—Two heard singing. Spizella socialis.—Common. Spizella pusilla.—Common. Junco hyemalis.—Quite common on mountains. Melospiza fasciata.— Common. Melospiza georgiana.—Not common. Pipilo erythrophthalmus.—Quite common. Passerina cyanea.—Very abundant. Piranga erythromelas.—One heard. Progne subis.—Common. Chelidon erythrogaster.—Very common. Ampelis cedrorum.—Very common. Vireo olivaceus.--Common. Vireo solitarius.—Not common. Dendroica coronata.—A few on Ossipee Mt. Dendroica pennsylvanica.—One seen. DenGroica virens.—Not common. Seiurus aurocapillus.— Quite common. Geothlypis trichas.—Quite common. 18809. | Correspondence. 79 Setophaga ruticilla.—Quite common. Galeoscoptes carolinensis.—Quite common. Harporhyncus rufus.—One seen. Sitta carolinensis.—Quite common. Parus atricapillus.—Common. Regulus satrapa.—A few seen on Ossipee Mt. Regulus calendula.—A few seen. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.—Quite common. Merula migratoria.—Common. Sialia sialis.—Common. One each of Halieetus leucocephalus and Vireo gilvus was observed at Centre Harbor in passing through. — Francis H. ALLEN, West Rox- bury, Mass. CORRESPONDENCE. [ Correspondents are requested to write briefly and to the point. No attention will be paid to anonymous communications. | The proper Name for the Genus Melanipitta of Schlegel. Epirors oF THE AUK :— Dear Sirs: In the 14th volume of the ‘‘Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum,” p. 449, published in 1888, Dr. P. L. Sclater has pro- posed to substitute Coracopitta for Melanipitta of Schlegel (type P2tta lugubris Rosenb.), the latter name being preoccupied. I would call attention, however, to the fact that as early as 1885 I replaced Melan- tpitta by Mellopitta for the same reason, my name consequently hay- ing the priority over that of Dr. Sclater. The change was made in the ‘Standard Natural History,’ IV, Birds, p. 466. Yours very truly, LEONHARD STEJNEGER. Washington, D.C., Dec., 1888. NOTES AND NEWS. Mr. Henry STEVENSON, of Norwich, England, a Corresponding Mem- ber of the A. O. U., died August 18, 1888. In 1864 he was elected a member of the British Ornithologists’ Union, and was one of the founders, and for many years President of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, to whose ‘Transactions’ he was a frequent con- tributor, as also to the pages of the ‘Zoélogist.” As an ornithologist he is perhaps best known as the author of a work entitled ‘The Birds of Norfolk,’ Vol. I of which appeared in 1866, and Vol. II in 1870, the work remaining unfinished at the time of his death. ‘‘To those who en- 80 Notes and News. [ January joyed his friendship, Mr. Stevenson was a delightful companion; his powers of observation seemed almost intuitive, while his genial nature endeared him to all.” Count AuGust FRIEDRICH MARSCHALL, a Corresponding Member of the American Ornithologists’ Union, died October 11, 1887. in his eighty- third year. Duringhis long scientific career he was particularly interested in geology, but zodlogy is also indebted to him for many valuable contri- butions, one of the most important of which is his ‘ Nomenclator Zoolo- gicus’ (Vienna, 1873). As an original ornithological author he was not prolific, most of his contributions to ornithology consisting of excerpts from other authors relating to birds belonging to the Austro-Hungarian fauna. With August von Pelzeln he was joint author of the ‘ Ornis Vin- dobonensis’ (Vienna, 1882). News from Central Asia travels slowly, and beyond the mere notice that our distinguished Corresponding Member, the celebrated Russian traveller, General Prjevalsky, is dead, but little is as yet known as to the particulars of the sad event. We gather the following notes chiefly from a recent account by his friend Mr. Venjukoff. Nicolas Michailovitch Prjevalsky (also often written Przewalski) died in Karakol on Noy.1 ( Oct. 20), 1888, while engaged in the preparations for his departure to Thibet, in the full vigor of his manhood, being only fifty years of age. While still a young man he manifested great interest in travel and exploration, and shortly after leaving the Military Academy he was entrusted with the exploration of the valley of the Ussuri in east- ern Siberia (1867-1868). Since then he has undertaken four great expeditions to Central Asia in which he gained a world-wide fame as one of the most intrepid, indomitable, and successful travellers who ever attempted to penetrate to the ‘back-bone’ of the Eurasian continent (1870-1873, China; 1876-1877, the Central Asian desert region, discoy- ering the position of Lake Lob-nor; 1879-1880, exploring Kuku-nor and northeastern Thibet; 1883-1885, studying the orography of the Kuen- lun, from the sources of the Yellow River to Khotan). But unlike many other travellers, whose only aim is to ‘ discover’ new countries, he also studied their natural history, and if we consider the enormous difli- culties of transportation in those regions we can but admire his truly Rus- sian pluck in bringing back to St. Petersburg 30,000 specimens of natural history objects, of which 5,000 specimens were birds, representing 430 species, besides 400 eggs. ‘The short intervals between his great expedi- tions did not leave him time to work up all of this enormous material, yet he found leisure to publish several important ornithological papers, chief among which are his ‘Materials for the Avifauna of Mongolia and the Tangatan Country’ (published in 1876, and translated in Rowley’s ‘Orni- thological Miscellany,’ Vol. II), and a paper ‘On new species of Central- Asian Birds’ (Ibis, 1887, pp. 401-417), for, as Prjevalsky himself observes, ornithology was one of the chief objects of his special investigations. It is the more to be regretted that he should not have lived to undertake the 1880. | Notes und News. oD i last-planned expedition to the capital of Thibet. As the Russian author- ities are determined not to abandon the expedition, it is to be hoped that it will be carried out in the spirit of its originator. We notice with great satisfaction that the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences has begun a work which will be a grand monument to the lamented explorer, the first part of a great work, in Russian and German, entitled, ‘ Wissenschaftliche Resultate der von Przewalski nach Central Asien unternommenen Reisen’, having just appeared, containing a portion of the mammals (/eodentia). THurRE KuMLIEN, of Milwaukee, Wisc.,an Associate Member of the A O. U., and one of the older ornithologists—a valued correspondent of the late Professor Baird and Dr. Brewer—died recently at his home near Mil- waukee. A fuller notice of his life and ornithological work is necessa- rily deferred, the required data having unexpectedly failed to come to hand. Wicu1AM L. Breese, recently elected an Associate Member of the A. O. U., died athis home in Islip, Long Island, Dec. 7, 1888, in his thirty- seventh year. Mr. Breese was a well-known Wall-street broker, of the firm of Breese and Smith, anda son of Commodore Breese. Although little known as an ornithologist, he having published but little, the study of birds was one of his pastimes, and he had brought together quite a collection of the birds of Long Island. He was prominent in social, yacht- ing, and athletic circles, and highly esteemed. AT THE meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union recently held in Washington the matter of revising the proposed additions to the A. O. U. Check-List of North American birds, together with sundry suggested changes of nomenclature made since the publication of the Check-List, was referred to the Committee on Publications, with authority to publish the results of their work at the earliest practicable date, as a ‘Supplement, to the A. O. U. Code and Check-List, and uniform with it as regards mat- terandtypography. The Committee held a six days’ session, ruling upon upwards of one hundred distinct questions. The status of the newly described species and subspecies, and the claims to admission of a num- ber of extra-limital species were duly considered, as also a number of proposed changes in generic, subgeneric, and specific names. The preparation of the manuscript was provided for, as also the early publi- cation of the report, in the hope of issuing it early in the year 188o. The Union also voted that hereafter it shall be the duty of the Commit- tee on Publications to act in a similar manner at each meeting of the A. O. U. onthe proposed additions and changes of nomenclature made dur- ing the preceding year, and that it shall make provision to have laid before it the material (specimens and other evidence) by consideration of which the merits of each case may be respectively determined. Tue Councit of the A. O. U. decided at its late meeting in Washingtou to issue an abridged edition of the Check-List, consisting of the scientific and common names, the serial numbering. and the ‘concordance.’ omitting ) é 2 Notes and News. | January the bibliographical references and the habitats; the abridged edition, however, to include the additions and changes of the ‘Supplement.’ inter- polated in their proper places. It will be printed on fine paper, and on one side of the page only, in order that it may be conveniently used for labelling purposes when desired, or the blank pages, when the list is used merely for a check-list, may be utilized for additions or other notes. This abridged list is already in the hands of the printer, and its publication may be looked for during January, 1889. IN ORDER to add interest to the next meeting of the A. O. U., to be held in New York City next November, and also to advance our knowledge of certain obscure groups of birds, the Union decided to instruct the Com- mittee of Arrangements for that meeting to make this a special feature of the meeting. The Committee decided to select the genus O/ocoris (the Horned Larks), the Red Crossbills (Zowxéa curvirostra group), and the Thrushes known as Turdus alicie and Turdus alicie bicknellz, as the groups to be considered at the New York meeting. Mr. Robert Ridg- way will have the matter especially in charge, fo whom, as the time for the meeting approaches, it is hoped abundant material may be forwarded. Probably at the close of the meeting an informal sort of indoor ‘field- day’ will be arranged for the examination and comparison of the material thus brought together, in which examination all the members present can participate. It is hoped members will freely loan such material as they may have, bearing upon these groups, that light may thus be thrown upon the status and relationship of some of these obscure forms. THE DESIRABILITY of adopting some uniform method of measuring birds having been brought to the attention of the Council of the A. O. U., by a letter on the subject addressed to it by Col. N. S. Goss, the Council appointed a Committee, consisting of Dr. Coues, Mr. Ridgway. Mr. Cory, Dr. Merriam, and Dr. Stejneger, to prepare a report on the subject to be presented at the next meeting. The Committee at its first session dis- cussed the matter at some length, deciding some general matters, and referring special points to a subcommittee, consisting of Mr. Ridgway and Drs. Merriam and Stejneger, with instructions to prepare directions, illustrated with diagrams, for taking measurements of the bill and tail, in reference to which it is found that the systems employed by different authors widely vary. It is thus evident that a uniform method is highly desirable, and it is hoped the Committee will be able to formulate one which can be commended for general adoption. THE CoMMITTEE of the A. O. U. appointed at the Boston meeting to incorporate the Union under the laws of the State of New York (see Auk, Vol. V, p. 97), found that incorporation under the laws of this State would render it necessary to hold the annual meetings of the Union always in the State of New York. This being contrary tothe desire of the Union, the Committee advised incorporation under the laws of the District of Columbia, where it would be subject to no such restriction. In accord- ance with this suggestion the necessary steps to incorporate in Washing- 1SSo. | Notes and News. 5 3 ton were taken during the late session of the Union in that city, and a certificate of incorporation was duly received and filed, the Union at once entering upon its career as a corporate body. AT A MEETING of the Nuttall Ornithological Club on December 3, 1885, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Wil- liam Brewster; Vice-President, William A. Jeffries; Secretary, Arthur P. Chadbourne; Corresponding Secretary, H. A. Purdie; Treasurer, C. F. Batchelder; Editor, Montague Chamberlain. The readers of ‘The Auk’ will be gratified to know that the Nuttall Club, to whose fostering care this journal long owed its existence, con- tinues with advancing years to gain in strength and activity. The atten- dance at the meetings has been much fuller and more regular of late years, although a large proportion of the members live at some little distance from Cambridge. The following are Resident Members of the Club: Edward A. Bangs, Outram Bangs, C. F. Batchelder, A. C. Bent, Frank Bolles, William Brewster, William S. Bryant, Arthur P. Chad- bourne, Montague Chamberlain, Charles B. Cory, Walter Faxon, N.A. Francis, Joseph L. Goodale, J. Amory Jeffries, William A. Jeffries, Fred- eric H. Kennard, Charles R. Lamb, Edward C. Mason, Henry A. Purdie, Henry M. Spelman. Tue Second Concress of the International Ornithological Commit- tee will be held at Buda-Pest in the spring of 1889. The President of the Committee, Dr. Rudolf Blasius,and the Secretary, Dr. Gustav yon Hayek, have issued a circular note to the members of the Committee, setting forth the objects of the Congress and suggesting subjects for considera- tion. In addition to the report on the work of the Committee during the last five years, which will be submitted, it is proposed to bring forward the following questions for action: (1) The establishing of an interna- tional classification and nomenclature of birds for general adoption. This involves an agreement in respect to a system of classification, and the principles on which nomenclature shall be based. The scheme fur- ther includes the preparation of a new ‘Hand-list of Genera and Species’, that of the late Dr. G. R. Gray, completed in 1871, having become in a measure obsolete through the lapse of time and the progress of the science. It is proposed that the labor of its preparation be divided among numerous specialists, who will act as collaborators, the publica- tion of the work to be superintended by the Committee. (2) To se- cure additional observers, in districts not as yet properly covered to aid in determining the principal lines of migration. (3) Recommendations and suggestions respecting legislation for the better protection of birds, particularly during the spring migration and the breeding season. (4) The determination of the status of the different groups of birds as regards their economic relations to agriculture and forestry. Besides the above the Committee recommend the adoption of the metric system of measurement in all works relating to ornithology; and also to use scien- tific names of birds in all scientific publications, in addition to the ver- nacular names, in case the latter are used.‘ 4 Notes and News. | January The members of the Committee are requested to send in their answers to these proposals, and also to submit others for discussion, to either the President or Secretary not later than the end of February of this year. The course of the official representatives of the Committee in bringing forward these important questions for consideration at the next Inter- national Congress is certainly commendable, and likely to yield impor- tant results. THE question of the adoption of the metric system in ornithology, mentioned above, was discussed by the Council of the A. O. U. at the meeting recently held in Washington, and the matter of its adoption in ‘The Auk,’ was referred to the Committee on Publications. It was here again discussed at length, but the motion to adopt. was finally lost, much to the surprise of some of the members advocating it. It would seem, however, that a reform of such evident desirability, must sooner or later meet with general favor. In the April number of ‘The Auk’ (Vol. V, p. 224) reference was made to various ornithological expeditions sent by Messrs. Godman, Brewster, and Sennett to different parts of Mexico. The collectors there mentioned have nearly all returned, and have had in the main excellent success ‘Mr. M. A. Frazar has just reached the United States after an absence of two years, spent, in the interest of Mr. Brewster, in Lower California and Northwestern Mexico, his explorations extending eastward as far as Chihuahua. The amount of ornithological material gathered by him during this period, it may be safely said, greatly exceeds that collected by any other single pair of hands during an equal length of time, and must afford the basis for a very important contribution to our knowledge of these portions of Mexico. a Further southward Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Smith have been collecting for Mr. Godman, in the States of Guerrero and Tobasco, part of their time only, however, being devoted to birds. But several thousand skins of birds are included in their rich harvest, many of them collected in the higher mountainous parts of the State of Guerrero. Mr. Godman has also had Mr. William Lloyd at work in the State of Chihuahua, and Mr. W. B. Richardson in the States of San Luis Potosi and Tamau- lipas. Messrs. Priour and Grover have also sent large collections to Mr. Sen- nett from the States of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. Thus large portions of the Republic of Mexico have been visited during the past year by able and well-trained collectors, the results of whose labors must yield many novelties and much detailed information respecting Mexican ornithology. Mr. Cory, it may be added, is still continuing his work in the West Indies. One of his collectors, Mr. E. B. Gallinger, however, unfortunate- ly fell a victim to yellow fever before fairly entering upon his explorations. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we understand, are to sail soon for the island of St. Vincent, being under an engagement to thoroughly explore first the fauna of this island, and later that of other islands, for Mr. Godman. THE AUK: AEPO WU Ae) Bie wa OU RN Ak (Or CRNITHOEOGY: MOL, Vil. APRIL, 1880. No. 2. DESCRIPTIONS OF SUPPOSED NEW BIRDS FROM WESTERN NORTH AMERICA AND MEXICO. BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. Psittac ula cyanopyga pallida, new subspecies. SupsPec. CHAR.—Similar to P. cyanopyga, but with the bill rather stouter, the green of the upper parts duller and more ashy, that of the lower parts lighter and yellower. dad. (No. 14,389, collection of W. Brewster, Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, March 8, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Apple-green, darker and somewhat olivaceous on the crown, occiput, nape, back, and wings, tinged faintly with ashy on the sides of the neck, nape, and back; rump and outer webs of greater wing-coverts deep, shining, turquoise blue; axillaries and under wing-coverts a lighter shade of the same; outer webs of all except the outer four primaries and both webs of most of the secondaries tinged with verditer blue. Basal half of both mandibles horn color, terminal half yellowish white; wing, 3.50; tail, 1.57; bill: length from nostril, .53; greatest depth of upper mandible, .27; greatest depth of lower mandible, 33 inch. Q ad. (No. 14,390, collection of William Brewster, Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, March 8, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Wholly lacking the blue on wings, axillaries and rump; otherwise precisely like the male. Wing, 3.50; tail, 1.65; bill: length of culmen from nostril, .55; greatest depth of upper mandible, .25; greatest depth of lower mandible, .32 inch. Twelve specimens of this form, all taken the same day from the same flock, differ very constantly, in respect to the characters above pointed out, from five examples of P. cyanxofyga in the National Museum. Of the latter, three are from Mazatlan, one from Jalisco, and one from Manzanilla Bay. 86 BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April Empidonax pulverius,* new species. —SIERRA MADRE FLYCATCHER. Spec. Cuar.— Similar to &. cézerztius Brews., but much larger, the bill slenderer, the coloring of the under parts darker and more uniform. & ad. (No. 14,387, collection of W. Brewster, Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Mexico, June 23, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Above faded, somewhat gray- ish hair-brown, the pileum and nape tinged with olive, the forehead de- cidedly grayish, the feathers of the crown with dark brown centres; wings and tail dark hair-brown (almost clove-brown on the wings), the outer webs of the outer tail feathers brownish white to the shaft excepting at the tip, the secondaries and inner primaries narrowly, the greater and middle wing-coverts broadly, tipped (and near the apices margined also) with brownish white; bend of wing, under wing-coverts, crissum, flanks, and a narrow space on the centre of the abdomen pale yellow; remainder of under parts nearly uniform dull brownish gray, with a tinge of yellow- ish olive, most pronounced on the jugulum and middle of the breast, ap- parently wanting on the middle of the throat (the darkest colored area beneath) which with the nearly concolored sides of head and neck is scarcely lighter than the back. The eye is encircled by a well-marked white or whitish ring, interrupted by a dusky space on the upper eyelid. Lower mandible wholly straw-yellow. Wing, 2.93; tail, 2.60; tarsus, .62; length of culmen: from base, .53; from feathers, .44; from nostril, .36; width of bill at nostril, .20 inch. 2 ad. (No. 14,388, collection of W. Brewster, Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Mexico, June 6, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Similar to the male, but the entire upper parts tinged slightly with olive; the under parts lighter, with the entire abdomen and flanks pale brownish yellow, the throat with some whitish, the ring around the eye continuous and broader. Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.47; tarsus, .65: length of culmen: from _ base, -55; from feathers, .40; from nostril, .30; width of bill at nostril, -19 inch. Habitat. Sierra Madre Mountains of Chihuahua (Pinos Al- tos), Mexico. Although this Flycatcher has a bill nearly as narrow, propor- tionately, as average specimens of the Z. obscurus group, and a general coloring quite as dark as 2. hammondz, the dark extreme of that group, its wholly yellow under mandible and general, albeit very faint, yellowish tinge beneath attest its closer affinity with the yellow-billed Apzdonaces of the faviventris-difficeles type, with which it is connected through the intermediate form cinerttius. It is impossible, however, to regard it as a subspecies of diffiicilis, for 1 have perfectly typical specimens of both pz- * Pulverius = dust-colored, 1889. | BRewsTeER, Descriptions of New Birds. 87 vertus and difficelés taken in late June at Pinos Altos where both unquestionably breed in close proximity, if not in the same thick- ets. The specific distinctness of Azlvertus from cineritius is less certain but probably not open to much doubt. My series of pulvertus includes seven adults — five males and two females — all collected at Pinos Altos in June. Of these, the male above described represents the dark* or gray extreme, the female the opposite light or yellowish extreme. The variations in size are trifling. The wings of the other five birds measure respectively (g) 2-98; (3) 2-943 (fh) 3:04; (o>) 2-953 (9 ),-2:75 inches. Empidonax griseus, new species.—GRAY FLYCATCHER. Sussp. CHAR.—Nearest &. obscurus, but larger and much grayer, the bill longer, the basal half of the lower mandible flesh colored in strong contrast to the blackish terminal half. & ad. (No. 16,889, collection of W. Brewster, La Paz, Lower California, Feb. 5. 1887; M. Abbott Frazar). Above, with sides of head, neck, jugu- Jum, breast, and body, smoke-gray, darkest and somewhat brownish on the crown, palest and decidedly ashy on neck, sides of jugulum, and breast; lores and forehead mixed with whitish; a narrow, nearly pure white ring encircling the eye; wings and tail hair-brown, the upper wing-coverts and all the quills, except the seven outer primaries, broadly tipped and edged with ashy white, which also forms a conspicuous border onthe outer webs of the outer pair of tail feathers, not extending quite in to their shafts, however; under wing and tail coverts, crissum, and middle of abdomen, breast, and throat clear, but slightly ashy, white interrupted over a narrow space on the upper part of the breast by a band of smoke-gray, rather lighter than that of the sides of the breast which it connects, Wing, 2.77; tail,2.45; tarsus, .72; length of culmen: from base, .62; from feathers, .45; from nostril. .40; breadth of bill at nostril, .21; breadth midway between nostril and tip, .12 inch. © ad. (No. 16,900, collection of W. Brewster, La Paz, Lower Califor- nia, Feb. 11, 1887; M. Abbott Frazar). Colored like the male, but smaller. Wing, 2.60; tail, 2.19; tarsus,.70; length of culmen: from base, -60; from feathers, .44; from nostril, .36; breadth of bill at nostril, -18; breadth midway between nostril and tip, .13 inch. flabitat. Lower California (La Paz, Triunfo, San José del Cabo), Arizona (?), and southern Sonora, Mexico (Alamos). * This specimen is in rather worn breeding plumage, whereas the female, although _a breeding bird, is in nearly perfect plumage, a fact which doubtless has much to do with ‘the difference between them, 88 BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April My series of this form is large, comprising no less than sixty- five specimens from Lower California, and thirteen from Alamos in western Mexico.. Among these there is surprisingly little indi- vidual variation in respect to the characters above pointed out, although the general coloring varies considerably with season. Autumnal birds have the upper parts faintly olivaceous, the under parts suffused with pale yellow, but the deepest colored specimens do not at all closely resemble the much darker and browner &. 06- scurus. The peculiar coloring of the under mandible is not subject to seasonal variation but, on the other hand, it is not uniform, some specimens having only the extreme tip dark, while in others the yellowish is confined to the basal fourth of the mandible. Only one bird inthe entire series has the lower mandible uni- colored (light brown) from base to tip. On the whole the gen- erally large size and especially long, slender bill are probably the best characters of &. gréseus. Turning now to &. obscurus, 1 find—among some fifty speci- mens from various parts of the western United States—much vari- ation in coloring and excessive variation in the size and shape of the bill. Examples from southern Arizona and New Mexico are the lightest and grayest, and have the longest and narrowest bills. In some the bill is colored as in /. grzseus; indeed several ap- proach the latter very closely and are probably referable to it. Nevertheless #. grcsews seems to be quite as distinct from EF. obscurus as is the latter from &. hammondz. Indeed the material before me furnishes a series, apparently unbroken and very nicely graduated, connecting the largest, grayest specimen of grzseus on the one hand, with the smallest, most olivaceous examples of hammondi on the other, the middle links of the chain being the specimens referable to obscurus. In almost any other group—save perhaps the Juncos—such a series would be. conclusive proof of specific identity; but among Hmpcdonaces forms shown by differences of habits, color of eggs, etc., to be perfectly distinct, are so often difficult of separation in the dried skin that ornithologists have learned to regard extremely slight peculiarities of form or color as good specific characters. Hence it is probably wisest to let the birds just mentioned stand, at least for the present, as full species. In this connection a question of synonymy occurs, vzz., the possi- ble necessity of using the name odscurus for the bird which I have 1889. ] BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. 89 christened grzseus. Tyrannula obscura of Swainson was based on a Flycatcher from Mexico, which is described (Philos. Mag. 1827, p- 367) as *‘Above olive gray, beneath yellowish white; wings short, brown, with two whitish bands; tail brown, even, the outer feather with a pale yellow margin. Length, 54; bill, With this descrip- tion Baird—not without evident hesitation and the provisional re) HeAwiy == wiNeSai241*); tall. 2.5015) tarsi, oy. 10 5 yw : 710 proposal of another name—identified* a bird which most subse- quent writers have followed him in calling Hmpzdonax obscurus. It is evident, however, that Swainson’s diagnosis applies more nearly to &. grzseus, which is grayer above, yellower beneath (in autumn), and longer billed than the #. obscurus of Baird. The bill of ov¢sews, however, does not, in the most extreme examples before me, reach anything like .7o inch in length, while the wing is longer than 2.50 and invariably much longer than the tail, exceed- ing it by fully one quarter of an inch in the majority of specimens. The under parts, also, are never plain, the breast and sides being distinctly grayish at all seasons. These discrepancies have seemed to me of sufficient importance to warrant the assumption that the name odscuraus cannot be safely taken for the Flycatcher which I have called grzsews. Obviously it can serve no longer for Baird’s | bird which must stand hereafter as &. wrightiz.t . Melospiza lincolni striata, new subspecies.—FORBUSH’S SPARROW. Sussp. CHAR.—Similar to JZ. lzncolnz, but with the superciliary stripe and entire upper parts more strongly olivaceous, and the dark streaks, especially on the pileum, back, and upper tail-coverts, coarser, blacker, and more numerous. & (No. 14,391, collection of W. Brewster, Comox, British Columbia, Sept. 8, 1888; E. H. Forbush). Above dull, slightly brownish olive; wings and tail taded clove-brown; all the upper coverts and most of the quill and tail feathers, as well as the feathers of the crown, bordered out- waidly with chestnut, this broadest and richest on the inner secondaries, palest on the primaries and tail feathers, reduced to the narrowest possi- ble margin on the feathers of the crown; entire upper parts streaked and spotted with black, most coarsely and thickly on the pileum, back, and upper tail-coverts where the light ground color is confined to the edges of the feathers and occupies much less than half of the total exposed surface of the plumage; middle and greater wing-coverts with buffy tips and black * Pac. R, R. Rep. Vol. IX, p. 200. + Baird, l. c. go BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April (concealed) inner webs; middle pair of tail feathers with broad, black, shaft stripes extending from base to tip; superciliary stripe and sides of neck grayish olive, streaked (finely and sparsely on the superciliary stripe. more sharply on the neck) with blackish; lores dusky; sides of head below the eye rusty olive; a well defined malar stripe and a broad band across the chest tawny buff; sides, flanks, anal region, and under tail- coverts lighter and duller buff; remainder of under parts white; throat, breast, sides, flanks, and under tail-coverts streaked sharply with black; the malar stripe bordered above by a short, black line, below separated from the white of the throat by a broader as well as longer stripe of nearly confluent black spots; there is also a very distinct black line extending about half an inch back from the posterior corner of the eye; bill dark horn color, lighter at base of lower mandible; tarsi and feet light brown. Wing, 2.35; tail, 2.23 inches. Q (No. 14.392, collection of W. Brewster, Comox, British Columbia, Sept. 8, 1888; E. H. Forbush). Differing from the male above described only in having the chestnut edging on the feathers of the crown a trifle broader, the olivaceous of the upper parts, especially of the superciliary stripe, stronger, the white of the throat tinged with buffy. Wing, 2.30; tail, 2.23 inches. Lincoln’s Finch has been repeatedly cited as a good example of a ‘hard and fast’ species, which, although of wide distribution, is not subject to geographical variation. The specimens above described, with another male taken at the same place and season, show, however, that it has not been able to resist the potent modifying influences of the Northwest Coast Region. These influences have worked in quite the usual way, deepening the normal ground coloring and broadening and intensifying the normal markings. ‘The differences are well marked and easily recognized. Indeed in a series of nearly one hundred specimens of Zézcoln¢ from various parts of North America and Mexico I have found only three which approach the new form at all closely. Two of them may be referable to it, one coming from the Victoria Mts., Lower California (L. Belding, Feb. 20, 1883), the other from the Kowak River, Alaska (July 20, 1885). The third bird is labelled simply ‘‘Missouri River, 1843.” If not a straggler from the Northwest Coast — by no means an impossi- bility — it represents a depth of coloring and coarseness of mark- ings at once extreme and exceptional in /zzcolnz verus. Euphonia godmani,* new species.—GODMAN’s EUPHONIA. Sp. CHar.—Most nearly like #&. menuta, but larger, the bill much *To Frederick DuCane Godman. 1889. | BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. gI stouter, the yellow patch on the pileum broader and paler, all the secon- daries and most of the primaries with the inner webs largely white; less white on the abdomen. &@ ad. (No. 51,515, collection of U. S. National Museum, Mazatlan, Mexico, March, 1868; Ferdinand Bischoff). Forehead and fore part of crown pale yellow; rest of upper parts (including the exposed surfaces of the closed wings and tail), sides of head, including the lores and a narrow space above the eyes, chin, throat, jugulum, and neck all around, glossy violet, mixed with steel blue on the lower back, scapulars, and wing- coverts, and nearly or quite clear steel blue on the primaries, secondaries, and tail feathers ; under wing-coverts, crissum, and under tail-coverts white, just perceptibly tinged with yellowish; tibiz whitish; rest of under parts rich chrome yellow, the feathers of the abdomen with much concealed white; inner webs of the outer and next to outer pair of tail feathers white from the base to within about .o8 inch of the tip; third pair of feathers with a short white stripe confined to the margin of the inner web; all the other feathers wholly dark; first primary with a narrow white margin on the basal half of the inner web; second primary with this white margin occupying nearly half the inner web for two thirds its length; third primary with the white extending nearly to the shaft on the basal third of the feather, thence tapering to nothing on the margin just half an inch short of the tip; all the remaining primaries, as well as the secondaries (but not the tertials which are wholly dark colored), with the entire inner web white to the shaft for about two thirds of the distance from base to tip. Wing, 2.29; tail, 1.36; length of bill along culmen from base, .40; length of bill from feathers, .26; depth of bill at nostrils, .19; width of bill at rictus, .25 inch. Bill (in dried specimen) nearly white at base, shading towards the tip into dark horn color. Habitat. Coast region of western Mexico (Mazatlan and Alamos). In addition to the type, which belongs to the National Museum, I have before me another specimen, similar in every way (except- ing that the bill is wholly dark horn color save for a small light space near the ¢zf of the lower mandible), taken by Mr. Frazar at Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, March 16, 1888. This bird measures : wing, 2.21; tail, 1.44; length of culmen from concealed base, .35; length of culmen from feathers, .25 ; depth of bill at nostril, -19; width of bill at rictus, .25 inch. Although Mr. Ridgway considers this new species most closely allied to &. mznzima, the only other member of the genus which similarly combines a white crissum with a yellow forehead, I cannot help thinking that it will prove to be nearer Z. affinzs. I have not been able, it is true, to compare the latter with .»od- Q2 BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April manz, but judging from descriptions the only important differences are that affinzs has a yellow crissum, a narrow black, frontal band and no decided purplish except on the throat and head. (‘‘Atro- cerulea, capite et gutture paulo purpurascentiortbus ; fronte anguste nigra.’)* Inthe size and shape of the bill the two ap- pear to agree closely. The bill of mzzzzma, on the other hand, is very much slenderer than in godmanz, and this difference seems to me of more importance than color, especially as the crissum of godmant is tinged slightly with yellow, a fact which indicates probable variations in this character. Progne subis hesperia,t new subspecies.—WESTERN MARTIN. SuBsp. CHAr.—Female differing from female szdzs in having the abdo- men, anal region, crissum, and under tail-coverts pure white, nearly or quite immaculate, the throat, breast, flanks, forehead, fore part of crown and nuchal collar grayish white, the feathers of the back and rump con- spicuously edged with grayish or pale brown, the bend of the wing and the under wing-coverts mottled profusely with whitish. Male indistin- guishable from the male of szdzs. 6 ad. (No. 15,394, collection of W. Brewster, Sierra de la Laguna, Lower California, June 4, 1887; M. Abbott Frazar). Entire plumage dark purplish blue; wings and tail black glossed with purple; the under surface of the shafts of all the wing and tail feathers broccoli-brown ; feathers of crissum whitish at base. Wing, 5.56; tarsus, .57; tail, 2.07; culmen from nostril, .32 inch. Q ad. (No 15,395, collection of W. Brewster, Sierra de la Laguna, Lower California, June 4, 1887; M. Abbott Frazar). Forehead, crown as far back as posterior corner of eyes, and nuchal collar brownish white ; wings and tail slaty black with a faint purplish gloss; the under shafts of all the quills broccolibrown as in the male; remainder of upper parts dark purplish, all the feathers, including the scapulars, conspicuously tipped with brownish white; beneath ashy white, the chin, jugulum, and throat slightly tinged with smoke-gray, the breast with much concealed slate-gray, only the tips of the feathers being white, the flanks nearly pure slate; most of the feathers of the under parts with shaft lines of slaty, but these so fine that they are nowhere very conspicuous, while on the anal region and crissum they are nearly wanting; under wing-coverts and feathers of bend of wing beneath broadly tipped with white. Wing, 5-44; tarsus, .61; tail, 2.83; culmen from nostril, .34 inch. Hlabitat. California (Ojai Valley ) and Lower California (Sierra de la Laguna). *Biol. Centr. Am. Vol. I (Aves), p. 258. t+Hesperius = western. 1889.] BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. 93 As will be seen from the above description the characters upon which this subspecies is based are presented solely by the female, all the males (thirty in number) in my Lower California series being, as far as I can discover, absolutely inseparable from eastern males of /. swbzs. The differences in the females of the two forms are sufficient, however, to afford excellent subspecific char- acters. Female szézs is essentially unicolored above—although some specimens show traces of a brownish nuchal collar and are more or less grayish on the forehead. Beneath it has the throat, jugulum, sides of body, and most of the breast dull slaty or brown- ish, the feathers of the anal region and crissum with broad slaty centres, while the only approach to an immaculate white area is a small patch on the middle of the abdomen. The under wing- coverts are always, as far as I have seen, plain dark slate, although there is usually a little whitish on the bend of the wing. De- scribed in equally general terms the female of hesferza may be said to have the forehead, fore part of crown, nuchal collar, and entire under parts ashy white, the darker markings and shades described in detail above being only apparent on a critical exam- ination. My series of hesperza contains two spring males ina plumage about intermediate between that of the females of swdzs and hesperza ; they are evidently young birds in the second year. Mr. Batchelder has two females from the Ojai Valley, California, which are practically identical with my Lower Californian speci- mens. Compsothlypis pulchra, new species. BEAUTIFUL PARULA. Spec. CHAar.—Most nearly like C. xigrilora, but with the white wing- bands broader (sometimes fused into a single broad, white patch), the white spots on the tail nearly twice as extended, the outer web of the outer tail feather margined with white, the yellow beneath extending further back on the abdomen, the sides and most of the flanks, as well as the throat and breast, strongly tinged with orange brown. & ad. (No. 14,379, collection of W. Brewster, Hacienda de San Rafael,* Chihuahua, Mexico, May 8, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Above of the same ashy blue or blue gray color as C. americana with a bright olive green dorsal patch precisely as in that species; wings and tail generally similar to those of americana but with even more white, this on the * This Hacienda, according to Mr. Frazar, is on the direct road from Alamos (Sonora) to Jesus Maria (Chihuahua), just inside the western boundary of the Province of Chihuahua. It is situated just below the oak belt in a semi-tropical region. 94 BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April greater wing-coverts extending back nearly to the tips of the overlapping middle coverts and forming an almost confluent wing-patch; white on the tail about twice as extensive as in americana, edging the outer web of the outer feather from the base nearly to the tip, occupying the inner web of this feather to the shaft for a space half an inch in length, and the inner web of the next feather for a space one quarter of an inch in length; sides of head as in C. nzgrilora, the eyelids and lores equally black, ‘‘this color extending asa narrow, frontal line to meet its fellow across base of cul- men, and also reaching back to invade the auriculars on which it shades through dusky to the general bluish’; under wing and tail coverts, crissum, and extreme posterior part of abdomen,.and flanks, white, re- mainder of under parts rich chrome yellow, tinged with brownish orange on the throat, jugulum, breast, sides, and fore part of the flanks; throat and jugulum bordered on each side by a white line, broadest at its poste- rior extremity, narrowing to nothing on the sides of the throat. Wing, 2.30; tail, 1.75; culmen from nostril, .29 inch. Q ad. ‘No. 14,380, collection of W. Brewster, Hacienda de San Rafael. Chihuahua, Mexico, May 14, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar).° Similar to the male, but smaller; the general coloring paler; the lores slaty, not black, the throat scarcely tinged with orange, the wing-bands narrower and not merged. Wing, 2.10; tail, 1.61; culmen from nostril, .29 inch. This beautiful Warbler, of which Mr. Frazar has sent me no less than thirty-two specimens, all taken at the same place and season as the types above described, is evidently most nearly re- lated to C. xigrzlora, with which it agrees perfectly in respect to the black lores and eyelids and the slaty auriculars. In at least two respects, however, — the extent of the white spots on the tail and the decided brownish orange tinge of the throat, breast, and sides—it presents a curious approach to americana, but the white on the tail is even more extended than in amerzcana, while the orange beneath is considerably paler. Its only point of marked resemblance to its nearest geographical allies, ¢zsa/ar¢s and gray- sont, is the extension of the yellow of the under parts over most of the abdomen. ‘There is some variation in this respect, however, as well as in the amount of white on the wings. In fact only a few specimens have the wing-bars actually fused as in the type of the male. The white line bordering the sides of the throat and jugulum is evidently inconstant also, for it is found in only three or four of my specimens. Dendroica nigrifrons, new species. —BLACK-FRONTED WARBLER. Spec. CHAR.—Male similar to D. audubont but with the forehead and sides of the crown and head nearly uniform black, the interscapulars so 1880. | BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. 95 coarsely spotted that the black of their centres exceeds in extent the bluish ashy on their edges and tips, the black of the breast patch wholly unmixed with lighter color. Female with the general coloring, especially on the head, darker than in female audubonz; the dark markings of the breast and back coarser and more numerous; the entire pileum, inclu- ding the yellow crown patch, spotted finely but thickly with slaty black. 3d ad. (No. 14,381, collection of W. Brewster, Pinos Altos, Chihuahua. Mexico, June 5, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Forehead, sides of crown, sides of head generally, and fore back black, the feathers of the forehead and superciliary line from the nostrils to the occiput, as well as the inter- scapulars, edged with bluish ashy, so narrow and faint on the forehead and superciliary line as to be discernible only on the closest inspection; a portion of both eyelids white: hind back, nape, and sides of neck dull bluish ash, everywhere spotted or streaked with black; rump pale lemon yellow; middle of crown, chin, throat, and a patch on each side of the breast gamboge yellow; a patch of black unmixed with any lighter color occupies the remainder of the breast, extending backward from its point of junction with the yellow of the throat.go of an inch in the middle and 1.50 on the sides; middle of abdomen, crissum, under tail-coverts, and flanks ashy white, the flanks streaked with black; wings as in audubont, tail similar to that of azdubonz but with the white more restricted. Length,* 5-753; extent,* 9.62; wing, 3.12; tail, 2.34 inches. 2 ad. (No. 14,382, collection W. Brewster, Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Mexico, June 5, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Above dull ashy tinged with hair-brown on the pileum, nape, and back. Interscapulars with large, central black spots varying in shape from broad lanceolate to ovate; hind back similarly but less coarsely marked; nape immaculate; entire pileum, including a central yellow crown patch, sharply but rather finely streaked and spotted with dark slaty; wings and tail marked and colored as in female audubout; ruinp chrome yellow; beneath ashy white, the throat (but not the chin or jugulum) and a small patch on either side of the breast pale canary yellow, the flank tinged with wood-brown; entire breast spotted coarsely with black, the spots occupying the centre of the feathers near their tips, and varying in shape from cordate to broad ovate. Length, 5-753; extent, 9.50; wing, 3.10; tail, 2.35 inches. So juv. first plumage (No. 14,383, collection W. Brewster, Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Mexico, July 13, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Above broccoli- brown variegated with grayish, the feathers everywhere with broad central stripes of dull black; sides of head plain hair-brown; tail as in adult male; exposed surface of folded wing uniform with back, the concealed (inner) webs of the quills clove-brown, the coverts dark slaty, the outer edges of the greater coverts, and both webs of the middle coverts tipped and edged with rusty white, forming two conspicuous but widely separated bars; beneath ashy white, tinged faintly with buffy, the entire plumage, *Measurements of fresh specimen by Mr. Frazar. 96 BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April including that of the throat, abdomen, and under tail-coverts thickly and coarsely streaked with dull black; under wing-coverts and lining of wings buffy white, without spots; eyelids buffy white; throat tinged with faint yellow but no yellow on crown, rump, or sides of breast. Habitat. Sierra Madre Mountains (Pinos Altos) of Chihua- hua, Mexico. This Warbler is perhaps the most beautiful and interesting bird discovered by Mr. Frazar in Mexico. It is evidently closely al- lied to D. audubonz, so closely in fact that the two may prove to intergrade. No indications of such intergradation are afforded, however, by my large series of awdubonz from western Mexico, all the specimens of which appear to be typical. Of D. xigrifrons Mr. Frazar took only five examples, including the three above described; the remaining two being an adult male (wing, 3.10; tail, 2.30 inches) and a young bird in first plumage, both shot at Pinos Altos, July 13, 1888. The former is closely similar to the type, but has the nape less spotted and the black of the head a trifle duller. . Thryophilus sinaloa cinereus, new subspecies. —ASHY WREN. Sussp. CHar.—Similar to 7. szzaloa, but the bill stouter, the upper mandible dark instead of light horn color, the general coloring above deeper and browner, that of the underparts, especially the breast and sides, more ashy. & ad. (No. 14,385, collection of W. Brewster, Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, March 28, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Above dark sepia, the rump, upper tail-coverts, tail, and outer edges of the wing quills decidedly rusty; tail feathers with about twelve narrow, transverse, black bands, less than one third the width of the light interspaces, the terminal three broken and ill- defined, all the others sharp and distinct; outer two primaries with plain drab edges; outer edges of all the other wing quills with blackish, trans- verse spots or short bars about half the width of the tight interspaces ; superciliary line and throat white; middle of abdomen ashy white; both throat and abdomen with fine, indistinct, dusky spots sparsely distributed ; crissum and under tail-coverts white, barred heavily with black; breast and sides light hair-brown with a grayish tone, the middle of the breast lighter, yet decidedly grayish, the flanks still darker with a rusty tinge; sides of head mottled black and white, the black bordering both edges of each feather, the white forming a broad shaft stripe; lores dusky; bend of wing and under wing-coverts white mottled with dusky; upper man- dible (in dried specimen) dark (slaty) horn color; lower mandible flesh, color, slightly dusky at tip; legs and feet flesh color tinged with brown. Length, 5.75; extent, 8.00; wing, 2.45; tail, 2.14; length of culmen from nostril, .423 depth of bill at nostril, .17 inch. 1889.] BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. 97 @ ad. (No. 14,386, collection of W. Brewster, Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, March 6, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Closely similar to the male but smaller. Length, 5.25*; extent, 7.25*; wing, 2.07; tail, 1.70; length of culmen from nostril, .42; depth of bill at nostril, .16 inch. This form is so very nearly allied to 7: sézaloa that I should not have ventured to separate it had I not had an opportunity to make a direct comparison of the twenty-four specimensf collected by Mr Frazar with seven examples of szzadoa (including Baird’s type) in the National Museum. Of the latter four are labelled ‘*Mazatlan,” two ‘‘Plains of Colima,” and one simply ‘‘Sinaloa.” All seven have the upper mandible scarcely darker than the lower and of a very light horn color whereas in my birds, with- out a single exception, it is very dark slaty horn color in sharp contrast to the flesh colored under mandible. The coloring of the upper parts of my specimens is variable and in some examples not appreciably different from that of Baird’s type although my lightest, reddest extremes are very much duller or darker above than the lighter birds in the National Museum series of szaloa, while all my specimens, without exception, have the under parts, especially the sides and flanks, considerably duller and grayer. The distinct barring of the tail shown by both types of cézereus is a feature subject to excessive variation in my series at large and evidently quite worthless as a diagnostic character. In general terms the differences which separate 7hryophélus stnaloa cinereus from 7. stnaloa verus may be said to be closely parallel to, and of about the same constancy and value as those which distinguish Zyroglodytes aédon aztecus from 7. aédon verus. Grayson describes} the eggs of 7. s/zaloa as ‘‘usually five in number and marked with small specks of a brownish color.” All of the sixteen eggs (representing four sets of four eggs each) taken by Mr. Frazar are plain bluish white without the slightest trace of spots or other marking. Polioptila nigriceps restricta, new subspecies.—BLACK-FRONTED GNAT- CATCHER. Supsp. CHAR.—Similar to P. x/griceps but with the black of the pileum *These measurements taken by Mr. Frazar from the fresh specimen. t Of these five were taken at Alamos, Sonora, in February and March; the remain- ing nineteen at Hacienda de San Rafael, Caihuahua, in May, 1888. ¢ Memoirs Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. Vol. II, Part III, No II, p. 268, 98 BREWSTER, Descriptions of New Birds. [April restricted to the forehead and fore part of the crown, the hind crown and occiput concolor with the back, the black of the lores mixed with bluish ash. & ad. (No. 14,384, collection of W. Brewster, Alamos, Sonora, Mex- ico, March 7, 1888; M. Abbott Frazar). Above light blue-gray; beneath white. nearly pure over the middle of the abdomen and throat, tinged elsewhere with bluish gray, especially on the flanks and sides which are only a few shades lighter than the back; forehead and crown to about -20 inch behind the eye lustrous black; lores mixed black and gray, the former predominating; entire lower eyelid and a small spot on the upper eyelid white; outer tail feather white, except basally fora little less than one third of the outer web and one half of the inner web; next feather with the white reaching nearly to the base on the outer web and on the inner web .85 inch back from the tip; the third feather with the white extending back about two thirds of the length of the shaft on the outer web, .43 inch on the inner web. The fourth feather is missing but in another specimen it, also, is narrowly white-tipped. The tail, with the exception of the white areas just described, is black. The wings are clove- brown with a broad outer margin of whitish on the inner secondaries. Wing, 1.87; tail, 2.11; culmen from nostril, .31; tarsus, .72 inch. Flabitat. Southern Sonora (Alamos), Mexico. All of the seven black-capped Gnatcatchers collected by Mr. Frazar at Alamos agree closely with the specimen just described and differ from two Mazatlan specimens (one of them Baird’s type) of zzgriceps in the characters above mentioned. There is some variation inthe amount of black on the pileum, but this seems to be due to differences of age only, four of the seven specimens being in full breeding plumage. None of them have the black extending much further back than in the type. All have the lores more or less mixed with gray, and in two specimens (both, how- ever, immature) the gray predominates over the black. The type of zz¢gréceps, as Baird has said (Rev. Am. Birds, p. 69), has the entire under parts, including the flanks, white, but it is in very worn plumage, while my birds are in fresh feathering, a fact which may account for this seeming difference. Three female Gnatcatchers taken at Alamos with the males just mentioned are probably of the same form, although they differ from female cerulea only in having the tarsi rather longer and stouter and the lores lighter colored. One of them has the lores, as well as a distinct superciliary stripe, nearly pure white and hence agrees closely with P. dzléneata. 18S9.] Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshtre County, Mass. 99 ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. BY WALTER FAXON. | Concluded from Vol. VI, p. 46.) List oF BIRDS OBSERVED ON AND NEAR GRAYLOCK MOUNTAIN, JUNE 28—JuLY 16, 1888. 1. Actitis macularia. SporrED SANDPIPER.—Several seen on Hopper Brook and Green River, Williamstown. 2. Bonasaumbellus. RuFrep GrousE.—Common in woods nearly to the summit of Graylock.* 3. Buteo borealis. RrED-TAILED HAwK.—Rather common. 4. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. BLAcCK-BILLED CucKoo.—A few seen in the Notch and one on the Graylock carriage road, 2100 feet above the sea-level. 5. Dryobates villosus. Harry Woopprecker.—Rather common on the Saddle-Back range, from an altitude of about 2500 feet to the sum- mit of Graylock, 3505 feet. 6. Dryobates pubescens. Downy WooppPEcKER.—Rare. Only one or two were seen. These were at the head of the Hopper, about 2000 feet above the sea-level. 7. Sphyrapicus varius. YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. — Several specimens seen at different times on the Graylock carriage road, between two and three miles from the summit. Approximate altitude, 2800 feet. 8. Colaptes auratus. GOLDEN-WINGED WoOODPECKER. — Common about the base of the mountains and in the Notch. Also found on Gray- lock at an elevation of about 2800 feet, but at this altitude Dryobates v7l- losus is the commonest Woodpecker. g- Antrostomus vociferus. WHIP-POOR-WILL.—A few were heard in the Notch, altitude 1200 feet. 10. Chordeiles virginianus. NIGHTHAWK.—A few were seen in the Notch. 11. Chetura pelagica. CHIMNEY SwiFT.— Common. Frequently seen flying about the summit of Graylock. 12. Trochilus colubris. RuBy-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.— Observed several times in the Notch. * Colinus virginianus undoubtedly occurs at the base of the Saddle-Back range. I heard from trustworthy sources that a Quail’s nest was found in the Notch, North Adams, during the season of 1888. t Although Ceophleus pileatus was not seen by me, the peculiar mortise-like holes which Mr. Brewster assures me are solely the work of this bird, were often noted. Mr. Brewster met with the birds themselves in the Hopper in 1883. IOO Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshtre County, Mass. [April 13. Tyrannus tyrannus. KINGBIRD.—Common in the open, culti- vated country. 14. Myiarchus crinitus. CRESTED FLYCATCHER.—Rare. A pair were repeatedly seen near the Graylock carriage road, 2100 feet above sea-level, and a few at lower levels. I5. Sayornis phoebe. PEWEE.— Rather common in the cultivated lands. 16. Contopus borealis. OLIve-sIDED FLYCATCHER.—Not rare on the mountain sides. Most often found where the timber has been partly cut off. 17 Contopus virens. Woop PEwEE.—Common. A few were found on Graylock at an altitude of 2800 feet. 18. Empidonax pusillus traillii. TRAILL’s FLYCATCHER.—Several ob- served in the willows along the shores of the Hoosac River in North Adams. Shot a male, evidently nesting in the neighborhood, in a thicket of willows on Notch Brook, July 12; altitude about 1200 feet. 19. Empidonax minimus. Lrasr FLycaTcHER.—Not very common. Found chiefly in the farming lands. 20. Cyanocitta cristata. BLUE Jay.—Common up to summit of Gray- lock, where they often came to feed on the refuse thrown from the door of the mountain house. 21. Corvus americanus. AMERICAN Crow.—Very common.* 22. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. BoBOLINK.— Common. Breeds in the Notch as high as 1400 feet above the sea-level. 23. Molothrus ater. Cowsirp.—A few were seen near the village of North Adams. 24. Icterus galbula. BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—Not rare in the settled portions of the country. 25. Carpodacus purpureus. PurPLE FINCH.—Common. Found on the Saddle-Back Mountains from the base to the summit of Graylock Peak. 26. Loxia curvirostra minor. AMERICAN RED CROSSBILL.—On the 14th of July, in the ‘saddle’ or depression between Graylock and Bald Mt., a small flock of Red Crossbills flew by but a short distance above my head. I saw them again near the same spot on the following day. Ap- proximate altitude, 3000 feet. 27. Spinus tristis. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.—Common where the land has been cleared of the forest. 28. Spinus pinus. PINE Siskin.—On the morning of July 16 a few Siskins were seen near the old Adams path on Graylock, about 3000 feet above the sea. 29. Poocetes gramineus. BAy-wINGED SPARROW.—Common in the cultivated land in the valleys. ‘ * Corvus corax was recorded from Williamstown in 1877 by Professor Sanborn Ten- ney (Amer. Nat., XI, 243, 1877; c/. Brewster, Auk, I, ro, foot-note, 1884). Tradition points to a cliff on the eastern side of Ragged Mountain in Adams as an old breeding place of the Raven. This cliff is still known in the neighborhood as the ‘ Raven Rocks.’ 18S9.] Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. IOI 30. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. SAVANNA SPARROW. — Common at lower levels at the base of the Saddle-Back range of moun- tains, and observed in the Notch as high as the Graylock toll-gate, 1560 feet. 3t. Zonotrichia albicollis. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.—In ascend- ing Graylock by the turnpike, this bird was not met with until within two miles of the summit (altitude about 2800 feet). From this point to the summit it is common. Its notes are preéminent in the bird music of the top of Graylock, where it is known and cherished by the keepers of the summit-house as the ‘Mountain Lark.’ On the eastern slope of Graylock, in the Notch, especially in the cleared land on the south of the ‘Bellows-Pipe’ or height-of-land, the Whitethroat descends to a much lower level than on the western side of the range. 32. Spizella socialis. CHIPPING SPARROW.—Common wherever the land is tilled. 33. Spizella pusilla. FreLp SpaAaRRow.—Common in the pastures of the valleys and mountain sides. 34. Junco hyemalis. SNowsirp.—Common up to summit of Gray- lock. Observed, June 28, on the ‘Winter Road’ from North Adams to the Notch, only 370 feet above the village of North Adams. Here the birds were apparently on their breeding-ground. They are more abundant, however, at higher levels. They are called.‘Snowbirds’ here, as in east- ern Massachusetts. 35. Melospiza fasciata. SONG SPARROW. — Common wherever the land has been cleared. I found it in Wilbur’s Clearing, or the ‘Moun- tain Pasture,’ on the carriage road to Graylock (2200 feet), and on the southern side of Graylock, where the forest has been felled, at a consider- ably greater altitude. Not found on the summit. 36. Passer domesticus. Housr Sparrow.—Only found in populous villages like North Adams and Williamstown. 37. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. Townrer.—Not uncommon in favorable places, e. g., the shrubby pastures on the ‘Winter Road’ in the neighbor- hood of the North Adams Reservoir and _ the cleared ‘sprout-land’ on the southeastern side of Graylock. Here it is found in the favorite haunts of the Mourning Warbler, and extends up to a high level, in fact as far as the forest has been cut off. Mr. Brewster found but one pair of Towhees during his visit to this region in 1883.* It is probable that they are increasing with the disappearance of the forest. 38. Habia ludoviciana. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. — Rather com- mon. Noted on the mountains as high as 2500 feet. 39. Passerina cyanea. INDIGOBIRD.—Common in the more open country. Seen in the clearing on the summit of Graylock. 40. Piranga erythromelas. ScARLEY TANAGER. — Rather common. Seen on Graylock at an altitude of over 3000 feet. * Auk, I, 13, 1884. 102 Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. [April 41. Petrochelidon lunifrons. EAVE SwaLLow.—Common. Accord- ing to Dr. Emmons, this bird first appeared in Williamstown in 1825.* 42. Chelidon erythrogaster. BARN SWALLOw.—Common. Often seen flying about the summit of Graylock. 43. Tachycineta bicolor. WHITE-BELLIED SwWALLow.—A few were seen in the village of North Adams, the only ones observed by me in Berkshire County. 44. Ampelis cedrorum. CEDARBIRD.— Common in the cultivated lands. 45. Vireo olivaceus. RED-EYED ViIREO.—Abundant wherever there are deciduous woods. 46. Vireo gilvus. WARBLING ViIREO.—Not uncommon in the villages, as in Williamstown and North Adams. Seldom seen elsewhere, and never except near dwellings. 47. ° Vireo solitarius. BLUE-HEADED VIREO.-—Not uncommon in heavy woods on the sides of the mountains. 48. Mniotilta varia. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER.—Not uncommon at lower levels. Not noted above about 2000 feet. 49. Helminthophila ruficapilla. NasHviILLE WARBLER.—Not rare. A -good many were found in the pastures in the Notch and in the ‘Moun- tain Pasture’ (2200 feet). A few were seen along the Graylock turnpike up to within about a mile of the summit. 50. Helminthophila peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER.—On the morn- ing of the 15th of July, near the point of divergence of the Williamstown and Adams paths on the southwestern side of Graylock Peak (altitude, about 3000 feet) I was surprised to hear the characteristic song of the Tennessee Warbler. [soon found the bird in a thick growth of black spruce, balsam fir, and mountain ash. Impeded by the dense under- growth of hobble-bushes and by fallen logs, and losing the clew of song (for the bird became silent soon after discovery), I was unable to follow the bird and secure it. The next morning I again discovered it on the same path, half way between the former place and the summit of the mountain, but failed in my attempt to shoot it. My identification of the bird in both instances was absolutely certain. The only record of this bird’s summering in Massachusetts that I can find is that of a bird, nest, and eggs, said to have been secured near Springfield by Professor Hors- ford.t This record seems to have been generally discredited. It is not included by Mr. Bicknell in his list of the summer birds of the Catskills. Tennessee Warblers seem to show much diversity in their choice of a summer haunt. In 1887 Mr. Bradford Torrey and myself found two males in full song through the breeding season in some pasture land largely grown up to black spruce in Franconia, New Hampshire, at a high level (some distance above the Profile House Farm). In the latter part of May, 1888, my brother discovered it near the same place and also in an exten- sive larch swamp in the lower part of the same town, where Mr. Torrey * Amer. Jour. Sci. and Arts, XXVI, 208, 1834. + Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, Hist. N. A. Birds. Land Birds, I, 207, 1874. 1889. ] Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. 103 found it again in the latter part of the following month. Mr. William Brewster * detected it in a white spruce and larch swamp in Anticosti, July 11, 1881, and he informs me that at Lake Umbagog he has generally observed it during the breeding season in larch swamps, but sometimes on mountain sides—always among coniferous trees. Dr. C. H. Mer- riamf states that in the Adirondack region, where it breeds, it generally prefers hard-wood areas, and Mr. J. A. Allen{ reports it as not uncom- mon toward the middle of July, near Denison, Iowa, ‘‘in low groves of bur- and other oaks.” 51. Compsothlypis americana. BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER.— Very rare. I identified only one specimen, high up on the wall of the Hopper, about 2000 feet above the sea-level. ; 52. Dendroica estiva. YELLOW WARBLER. Seen only near the vil- lage of North Adams. But it must be borne in mind that I spent very little time in the lower country of Northern Berkshire. 53- Dendroica cerulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.— Quite common on the mountains up to at least 3000 feet. Prefers woods with a good share of deciduous trees, maple, birch, beech, oak, etc. Among the innumerable specimens seen, but two were females. 54. Dendroicacoronata. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.—NOt rare in the black spruces on Graylock from about 2800 feet to summit. One with a quick ear for the song might count on finding three or four specimens dur- ing a day spent on the mountain. I believe the only other record of this bird in Massachusetts during the breeding period is Winchendon, Wor- cester County (Brewster, Awk, V, 391, Oct., 1888). 55. Dendroica maculosa. BLACK-AND-YELLOW WARBLER.—Common. Noted from about 1000 to 2200 feet. Prefers somewhat open country with a second growth of spruce. Hence, although belonging to the Canadian fauna more strictly than the Canadian Warbler, it is not so common at high levels as the latter. 56. Dendroica pensylvanica. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.—Common in the mountain valleys, and extending well up on the sides of the mountains. 57- Dendroica blackburnie. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.—Commorn on the Saddle-Back range from the Notch nearly to the summit of Graylock. On the Graylock carriage road D. blackburnie and D. virens are the commonest of the Warblers. 58. Dendroica virens. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.—Com- mon. Distribution similar to that of D. blackburnie. 59. Seiurus aurocapillus. GOoLDEN-CkOWNED THRUSH. —- Common. Found nearly to the summit of Graylock. 60. Geothlypis philadelphia. Mourninc WARBLER. — Common. ‘Noted ataltitudes from 1000 to 3500 feet, one pair at least being established * Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XX, 370. + Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, VI, 227. { Mem, Boston Soc, Nat. Hist,, I, 494. 104 Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. [April in the edge of the clearing on the summit of Graylock. Especially abundant where the forest has been cut on the south side of the ‘Bellows-Pipe’ in Adams. Wherever the land has been recently cleared, but not appro- priated for pasturage or tillage, the Mourning Warbler is found, the most characteristic tenant of the dense ‘sprout growth’ that forms the vanguard of the succeeding forest. By widening the domain of this lovely bird the wood-cutter atones, in a measure, for the destruction he causes. The voice of the Mourning Warbler is full. The song that I most often heard resembles the syllables ¢hzs-ree, thir-ree, thur-ree (some- times the repetition was four times instead of three). A refrain consisting of three notes, with the accent upon the last, or of two notes with a strong accent on the first, the voice falling on the second, was sometimes ap- pended. At other times the form of the song was quite different, con- sisting of but five notes, the penultimate note strongly accented, the last pitched on a lower key. The last two notes together are equal in time to one of the first three. Something in the mode of delivery of the latter song suggests the song of the Water-Thrush, as Mr. Maynard* has observed. As far asI could determine, the same bird always followed one score. The Mourning Warbler, like the Golden-crowned Thrush, or its nearer relative, the Maryland Yellow-throat, is much given to an ecstatic aérial song that defies description. On the first of July I dis- covered a nest of this bird. It contained four young birds. On the seventh the young had flown and the nest was secured. It was placed about ten inches from the ground ina clump of young beech saplings. The body of the nest is composed of strips of bark and dry leaves, with a lining of fine black roots and horse hair. Many dead leaves are fastened to the outside. But slightly attached to the saplings the nest rests upon a loose platform of dry spruce twigs. The inside diameter is about two inches. Of large size and slovenly construction the nest is not a very creditable specimen of Mniotiltine architecture. 61. Geothlypis trichas. MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.—NoOt rare, but not so abundant as G. philadelphia. Found to some extent in the same localities with the latter, but oftener at a lower level and in more culti- vated country. 62. Icteria virens. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.—I was somewhat sur- prised to find a pair of Chats near the North Adams Reservoir (altitude, about 1080 feet), within half a mile of Hermit Thrushes, Black-and-yellow, Black-throated Blue, and Canadian Warblers, and Snowbirds, at the same elevation. 63. Sylvania canadensis. CANADIAN WARBLER.—Rather common on the Saddle-Back Mountains, breeding as high as the summit of Graylock. The lowest level at which it was observed was about 1000 feet above sea- level, near the cascade on Notch Brook, North Adams. 64. Setophaga ruticilla. AMERICAN REDSTART. — Not very common, and not found far up on the mountains. Much less abundant than in Eastern Massachusetts. * Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XIV, 362. 18So. ] Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. IOS 65. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Carsirp.— Common in the lower and more open country. 66. Harporhynchus rufus. Brown THRASHER.—Not common. Not seen above an altitude of 1050 feet (North Adams). 67. Troglodytes aédon. Housrt Wren.—This bird was observed in its half-domesticated state near farmhouses in Williamstown, and a few were found remote from human habitations on the mountain sides where the forest had been cut off and where the dead stubs seemed to afford them a congenial home. In such places the Olive-sided Flycatcher also is pretty sure to be found. The Wrens are quite shy in such localities, seem- ing to retain the primitive habits of their race. 68. Troglodytes hiemalis. Winter WreN.— Common in suitable localities on the Saddle-Back Mountains above 2000 feet. At this season they were very confiding, and seemed to take great pride in introducing me to their large and noisy families. a 69. Certhia familiaris americana. AMERICAN BROWN CREEPER. — Common in the coniferous forest of the Saddle-Back Mountains. 70. Sitta carolinensis. WHITE-BELLIED NuUTHATCH.—Not common. Killed one near the carriage road not far from the summit of Graylock, July ro, and saw a pair with young in the Hopper, July g. 71. Sitta canadensis. RED-BELLIED NuTHATCH.—Common on the mountains. Observed from about 2100 feet to the summit of Graylock, in fact wherever there were old black spruces. Like its White-bellied cousin this bird at times repeats its nasal ank for a protracted period and with rapidity, suggesting to my ears the call of a pygmy Flicker. This seems to be its song proper. 72. Parus atricapillus... Cuyi1cKADEE.—Rather common. 73. Regulus satrapa. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.—During my first ascent of Graylock on June 28, I discovered the Golden-crowned Kinglet in full summer song in the thick second growth of black spruce through which the carriage road passes before emerging into the ‘Mountain Pas- ture.’ Approximate altitude, 2200 feet. I afterward found the Kinglet to be a not uncommon bird at this place and higher up on the mountain in the primitive spruces. It has been recorded from the summits of the Catskills by Mr. T. M. Trippe* although Mr. Bicknellf failed to identify it in the same region at a later date.} * Amer, Nat., VI, 47, 1872. * Trans. Linn. Soc. N. Y., I, 144, 1882. tSince this was written Mr. William Brewster has published an account of the breeding of the Golden-crowned Kinglet in Winchendon, Worcester Co., Mass. (Auk, V, 337, Oct., 1888). In Dr. Emmons’s catalogue of Massachusetts birds (Hitchcock's ‘Report on the Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and ZoGlogy of Massachu- setts’, 1833) this bird is marked as breeding in the State. As professor in Williams College, almost within the shadow of Graylock, Dr. Emmons had ample opportunity to know of the bird's presence on the mountain in the breeding season, although his authority in this case seems to have been universally discredited. In thesecond edition 106 Faxon, Summer Birds of Berkshire County, Mass. [April 74. Turdus mustelinus. Woop Turusu.—Common at lower levels and extending high up in the beech forest at the head of the Hopper. Also found sparingly at other points on the mountains. Noted on the Graylock carriage road near the three-mile board, altitude, 2400 feet (?). 75. Turdus fuscescens. W1Lson’s THRUSH.—Common in the lower. cleared portions of the country, and observed at leastas high as 2000 feet from the sea-level on the cleared portions of the mountain sides. 76. Turdus alicie bicknelli. BICKNELL’s GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.— On the third of July I visited the summit of Graylock, for the first time under favorable conditions of weather. I had barely reached the top when the chant of Bicknell’s Thrush was heard issuing from the thick growth of spruces, firs, and mountain ashes that skirt the clearing. The singer was perched upon oneof the larger spruces, perhaps twenty feet from the ground. AsI approached nearer he darted into the dense undergrowth of hobble-bushes and mountain maples. He proved to be so shy that it was not until my second subsequent visit to the mountain top (July 6) that I succeeded in shooting him. I therefore had ample opportunity to hear the song at short distance, for the bird was not chary of song when well concealed by intervening tree-trunks and foliage. The song is very much like that of Wilson’s Thrush in quality of tone, but quite different in form. In neither regard does it bear any close resemblance to the song of Swainson’s Thrush. It is intro- duced by two or three low clucks only to be heard at a short distance, which seem to the listener to be involuntary, mechanical sounds, like those that precede the song of the Whip-poor-will. The bird was shot while singing. The alarm or call-note of this species resembles the Veery’s, although distinguishable. It is entirely different from the abrupt whistle of the Olive-back. All of the Mylocichle are as readily distinguished by their call-notes as by their proper songs. What I take to be the equivalent note of the Hermit Thrush is not the low chuck com- monly heard while the bird is on its migration, but a peculiar sound which always suggests to mea Finch rather thana Thrush. The Bicknell’s Thrush on Graylock remained in the same place to my knowledge for four days in early July, in constant song. I do not doubt, therefore, that its nest. was near by. The condition of its testes, moreover, denoted a breeding bird. I failed to find a nest, however, nor did I see or hear another specimen although I visited the summit of Graylock on five subsequent days and carefully explored the other high points of the range. of this catalogue, 1835, Dexdroica maculosa and Sitta canadensis, both common in the Graylock region in summer, are also marked as breeding in Massachusetts, although not admitted in this 7o/e to recent lists until Mr. Allen’s revised catalogue of 1886, on Mr. Brewster's authority. In the light of the recent testimony to the accuracy of Emmons’s catalogue it is worthy of note that Dezdroica castanea is also marked by him as “breeding, rare.” Is it not possible that in Dr. Emmons'’s day, before the destruc- tion of the great coniferous forest of Graylock had gone very far, this bird found a congenial breeding ground there, as it still does in the White Mountains of New Hampshire? 1889. ] BENDIRE ox the [Habits of the Genus Passerella. 107 77. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. SwaAINson’s THrRusH.—Not uncom- mon on the Saddle-Back range from about 2800 feet up to the summit of Graylock, 3505 feet. Met with sparingly as low as 2000 feet. 78. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. EaAsrern Hermir THrusuH.—Com- mon at elevations from 1000 or 1200 feet to 2g00 feet. 79. Merula migratoria. AMERICAN RoBIN.—Common. Frequently seen on the mountains even to the summit of Graylock. 80. Sialia sialis. BLUrEBIRD.—Rather common in the settled parts of the country. ERRATA. Inthe first part of this paper, Vol. VI, Jan. 1889, p. 42, line 14, for ‘‘oppositeness” read *‘appositeness”; line 30, omit ‘‘Yellow Warbler.” NOTES ON THE GENERAL HABITS, NESTS AND BGGS OF (LEE “GENUS PASS 2 R772 LA. BY CAPT. CHARLES E. BENDIRE. Tue Genus Passerella was established by Swainson in 1837, and an excellent synopsis of it may be found in Mr. H. W. Hen- shaw’s able article in the ‘* Bulletin” of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. III, Jan., 1878, pages 3 to 7 inclusive. According to the latest classification, that of the A. O. U. Code and Check-List, this genus is divided into four forms, one species proper and three races, as follows: I. Passerella iliaca (Merr.), Fox Sparrow. Il. Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis (Gmel.), Town- SEND’S SPARROW. III. Passerella iliaca megarhyncha (Baird), Tuick- BILLED SPARROW. IV. Passerella iliaca schistacea (Baird), SLATE-cOLORED SPARROW. Regarding the breeding habits of Passerella tliaca, the hand- some and well-known Fox Sparrow, familiar to all eastern ornithologists during its migrations, | am unfortunately unable to add anything that is new, from personal observations, and I can- not find any positive records in the bird literature accessible to 108 BENDIRE ox the Habits of the Genus Passerella. [April me that its nests and eggs have been taken by collectors within recent years. It does not appear to breed within the limits of the United States excepting in the Territory of Alaska. In addition to the authorities given by Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway in their ‘History of North American Birds,’ Vol. II, pages 50 to 53 inclu- sive, Mr. M. Harvey states in ‘Forest and Stream,’ Vol. VII, p. 99, that it breeds in Newfoundland, where it is called Hedge Sparrow, sometimes building its nest on the ground, and some- times in bushes. Mr. M. Abbott Frazar saw a pair at Hegaska, Labrador, in August, 1884, with their young, and Mr. Ernest E. T. Seton in his list oh.the birds of Manitoba in ‘The Auk,’ Vol. Il, July, 1886, p. 324, writes that it breeds abundantly on Duck Mountain, Manitoba, but says nothing about taking their nests and eggs. Col. N. S. Goss tells me that he found these birds breeding on Bryon Isle, one of the Magdalen group in the Gulf of St. Law- rence in July, 1879 or 18S0, but he was too late for eggs, they having then fully fledged young. It appears to be abundant during the breeding season throughout the greater portion of British North America, reaching well up to the Arctic Circle. According to Mr. Robert McFarlane the Fox Sparrow nests on the ground as well as in low trees and bushes. Eggs of this species were taken at Moose Factory, Hudson Bay Territory, as early as June 2, 1860, and at Fort Resolution, Great Slave Lake, June t, 1864. Most of the nests found by Mr. McFarlane were placed in low bushes, a foot or two from the ground; in one instance a nest of this species was found in a small tree eight feet up. The nests are constructed out of coarse dry grasses exter- nally, lined with finer material of the same kind, as well as hair, moss, and feathers. A nest now before me, No. 4411, National Museum collection, collected by C. Drexler at Moose Factory, June 2, 1860, containing four fresh eggs, was placed ina pine bush, two feet up, and well concealed from view. On the outside this nest is five inches wide, by three inches deep, inside three inches wide by two inches in depth. Sir John Richardson states that the eggs are five in number, of a pale, mountain-green tint, and marbled with irregular spots of brown. Judging from the records here, I am inclined to believe that four eggs usually completes a set, and that five is rather an exceptional number. In the eggs of this species before me, 36 1889. ] BENDIRE on the Habits of the Genus Passerella. 109 in number, the ground color appears to be a pale bluish as well as grayish green in some cases, which undoubtedly has faded to a certain extent. This ground color is occasionally almost entirely hidden and overlain by a uniform brownish suffusion of different degrees of intensity ranging from Prout’s to chocolate brown (see Ridgway’s ‘Nomenclature of Colors’), giving such eggs an evenly colored appearance resembling somewhat the darker colored phases or types found most commonly in the eggs of Calcarzus lapponicus. About ten per cent show this pattern. Eggs in which the ground color is plainly and readily perceptible, are irregularly blotched and speckled to a greater or less extent with various shades of chocolate, umber, and vandyke brown, ecru drab, cinnamon rufous, and lilac gray. The difference in these eggs, as regards their markings, is very great, scarcely any two out of different nests being exactly alike. The largest egg in the number before me measures 1.00 X .68 inch, the smallest .80 x .61 inch. The average is .80 X .63 inch. The distribution of the Fox Sparrow during its migrations is well enough known, as well as its general habits while with us as a winter visitor. I took a single specimen, a female, on Oct. 8, 1885, at Fort Custer, Montana, which I believe marks about the western limit of its range, during its migration. The specimen showed scarcely any trace of rufous, but was, on examination by Mr. Robert Ridgway, referred by him to this species. It is now in the collection of Mr. Manly Hardy, Brewer, Maine. Il. Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis (Gmel.), TowNsENp’s SPARROW. This bird was first described by Gmelin in 1788, under the name of Emberiza unalaschcensis, and seems to be confined in its habitat to the Pacific coast region, breeding, as far as is known at present, throughout British Columbia and Alaska Territory, and passing in its migrations well into southern California. Till recently it was supposed to be confined to the western slopes of the Cascade Range in Oregon and the Sierra Nevada in Calitor- nia, but I found it abundant at Fort Klamath, Oregon, on the eastern slope of the Cascades, during the fall of 1882, and spring of 1883, but did not find any evidence of its breeding there, and am inclined to think that it is only a migrant. A number of IIo BENDIRE on the Habits of the Genus Passerella. { April specimens of this form, collected by me there, are now in the collection of the National Museum at Washington, D.C. I have taken it in the fall as early as Sept. 2, and as late as Nov. 15, 1882. None seem to winterthere. In the spring of 1883 I took specimens as early as March 19, before the snow had all disap- peared. They seem to travel in small companies, seldom more than six would be seen together, and it was rare to see them associate with other species. “They were usually found in dark, damp thickets, laurel and evergreen especially, near streams, where they might be heard industriously scratching amongst the dead leaves in search of food. ‘They are essentially terrestrial in their habits, and not particularly shy. Their usual call note is a faint szzp several times repeated. They are not as good song- sters as either P. z/zaca or P. tliaca megarhyncha, and about on a par with P. 2/Zaca schistacea in this respect. In their summer homes they may possibly appear to better advantage. The credit of the discovery of the nest and eggs of this sub- species belongs, I believe, to Mr. Alphonse Forrer, a well- known California naturalist, who obtained three sets of their eggs for me at Seewash, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on May 14 and 24, 1876, and June 7, 1877. A nest and three eggs of this species were also taken by Mr. E. W. Nelson, at St. Michaels, Alaska, June 5, 1880, and a nest and two eggs by Mr. W. J. Fisher, at Kadiak, Alaska, in the spring of 1883. The nest taken by Mr. Nelson, now before me, No. 21,351, U.S. National Museum collection, is a handsome, compact, and solid structure, composed outwardly principally of moss, leaves, and plant fibres, well woven and incorporated together ; it is lined with fine bits of dry grasses and the black hair-like fibres of a species of hypnum moss. Its exterior diameter is about five inches ; depth, three inches ; interior diameter, two and a quar- ter inches ; depth, two inches. Their nest is usually placed in dense undergrowth and laurel thickets from six inches to one and a half feet from the ground, always well concealed and at no great dis- tance from water. ‘lhe number of eggs to a set is from three to four. Their ground color varies from a faint greenish gray to pale bluish green, a trifle more pronounced than in eggs of P. tliaca. This is due possibly, however, to their cleaner and better preparation and more recent collection. ‘The eggs are blotched and speckled with irregularly shaped markings of vandyke and 1889. ] BENDIRE on the Habits of the Genus Passerella. Tetel claret brown, as well as several paler shades approaching lilac gray and vinaceous rufous. Of the twelve specimens of this form now before me, the largest measures .gS X .70 inch, the smallest 204 X .62 inch. Average .89 x .65 inch. Passerella iliaca megarhyncha (Baird), ‘lHick-BILLED SPARROW. This peculiar race was first described by the late Prof. S. F. Baird in 1858 from specimens obtained by Mr. J. Xantus, near Fort Tejon in southern California. The habitat of this form is given as the mountains of California, including the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, to which at least southwestern Oregon must now be added, as I found it as a summer resident and breed- ing about Fort Klamath, Oregon. Adult and young birds, nests and eggs, from that locality, taken by me during the summers of 1882 and 1883, are to be found in the National Museum collection. This bird makes its appearance about Fort Klamath, Oregon, during the first week in April, and remains mostly till late in October; an occasional straggler may be encountered as late as Nov. 10. I think it arrives somewhat later than Townsend’s Sparrow in the spring. In its general habits it resembles the other forms of this genus, but it is a much better songster than either ‘Townsend’s or the Slate-colored Sparrow. Mr. H. W. Henshaw, in his paper on this genus referred to previously, says : ‘**Probably resident wherever found,” but I am quite satisfied that it is only a summer resident at Fort Klamath, and that it spends the winters southward. It does not seem to-be common about there, and from its retiring habits, spending most of its time on the ground, in the thick undergrowth along the streams, it is difficult to observe it at its ease, and were it not for the noise these birds make, by their constant scratching amongst the fallen leaves in search of food, their presence would be still harder to ascertain. Their nests are placed in various situations, Aa@/mZa thickets, service-berry and willow bushes, as well as thick, scrubby ever- greens, being preferred. They are always well hidden, and may be found from a few inches to six feet from the ground; none were found by me directly on the ground. Eggs may be looked for about June 12, and as late as July 15. Theusual number laid is three or four, and but one brood, I think, is reared in a season. A nest found July 13, 1882, near Fort Creek, Klamath Valley, It BENDIRE on the Habits of the Genus Passerella. [April National Museum No. 18,725, containing four eggs almost hatched, was placed in aservice-berry bush about three feet from the ground, on the border of a dense pine grove. This nest is composed externally of coarse plant fibres and dry willow bark, and is lined with fine grasses and a few horse-hairs. It is not as compactly built as nests of Townsend’s or Slate-col- ored Sparrows. Its exterior is five inches wide by two and one half inches deep; inner diameter, three inches; depth, one and a quarter inches. It was evidently deeper originally, and has been much compressed and flattened in packing. Another nest, taken July 5, 1883, was likewise found in a ser- vice-berry bush, growing on the banks of Wood River and partly overhanging it. This nest was placed about eight inches from the ground. It also contained four eggs, with medium- sized embryos. The female allowed me almost to touch her, and did not appear to be very much distressed at her loss, hopping around on the ground and undergrowth in the vicinity, uttering an occasional szzp till she was shot. This bird had also previously been found breeding by Mr. L. Belding of Stock- ton, Cala., on June 7 and 14, 1879, at Big Trees, Calaveras County, California, and several specimens of the eggs collected by him are now before me; and, as far as I know, the credit of the first discovery of the nest and eggs of the Thick-billed Sparrow belongs to this gentleman. In the twenty specimens of the eggs of this species now before me the ground color varies from a pale grayish green to grayish blue. The markings on the majority of these eggs seem to be finer and more evenly and regularly distributed over the entire egg than in the other forms already mentioned, with a tendency to running longitudinally. The spots and blotches vary from walnut-brown and burnt umber to fawn color, lilac, and mouse- gray in different specimens. The largest egg of the series meas- ures .gS X .68, the smallest .82x.61 inch. The average is .87 x .65 inch. Mr. Charles H. Townsend found this Sparrow quite common about Mt. Shasta, California, during summer in 1883 and 1884, where it frequented the chaparral tracts and bushes scattered through the pine country, and where it bred, as indicated by the number of immature birds met with. I have never met with these birds north of Fort Klamath, and this point marks probably their northern breeding limit. 1889. | BENDIRE on the Hlabits of the Genus Passerella. L132 Passerella iliaca schistacea (Baird), SLATE-cOoLORED SPARROW. This form was discovered by Lieut. F. T. Bryant, U. S.A., on the headwaters of the Platte River, Colorado, in July, 1856, and first described by the late Prof. S. F. Baird in 1858. Its range extends from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, across the great Basin to the western spurs of the Sierra Nevada in California and the eastern slopes of the Cascade range in Oregon ; during its migrations, at least, I obtained it in the latter range in the vicinity of Fort Klamath, but only as a straggler. Mr. F. Stephens collected a specimen in February, 1880, in the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona, which marks the most southern point of its range as far as known at present. I have found it nesting as far north as the Palouze River in Whitman County, Washington Territory, in Lat. 47°, Long. 41° west of Washington, where I took a nest containing three eggs of this form and an egg of Molothrus ater, the Cowbird, on June 18, 1879. This locality marks the most westerly point where the latter species has been found as yet, I believe. My most westerly record where I found the Slate-colored Sparrow breeding, is on the headwaters of the Des Chutes or Fall River in Crook County, Oregon, June 13, 1882. While this bird certainly covers an extensive range during the breeding season, it seems to be extremely irregularly dis- tributed. I have found it fairly abundant in some sections and entirely absent in others, although apparently equally suitable to it. Mr. R. Ridgway found it very plentiful in Parley’s Park in the Wahsatch Mountains, Utah, and was the first naturalist to discover its nest and eggs. According to my own observations it is not so much a forest-loving bird as the two preceding forms, and seems rather to prefer the willows and rose thickets along the streams in the more open country, but is generally most abundant close to the foot-hills of the mountains. I have had excellent opportunities to observe it during four seasons while sta- tioned at Camp Harney, Grant County, Oregon, where I found ita common summer resident and took a number of its nests and eggs. ‘Lhe Post (now abandoned) was located in the mouth of a canon on the southern slope of one of the spurs of the Blue Mountains. A small mountain stream, appropriately named 1I4 BENDIRE ox the Habits of the Genus Passerella. [ April Rattlesnake Creek from the numbers of these amiable reptiles found in its vicinity, flowed along the eastside of the Post, and sank a couple of miles below on the plain, forming the Harney Valley. The banks of this creek were fringed on both sides by dense willow and wild rose thickets, amongst which larger trees of various species were occasionally interspersed. These thickets furnished acceptable homes for the Slate-colored Sparrow, as well as for numerous other species, and quite a number of them bred right about the houses, in fact they were much more abundant for some reason in the immediate vicinity of the Gar- rison than at any other locality in that region. Possibly a more abundant food supply was found about there, or greater security from rapacious birds and mammals, owing to the proximity of the Post, may have had something to do with this fact. Here I found them quite tame and unsuspicious, much more so than the two preceding forms, and I have often seen them hopping around amongst the fowls and feeding with them. They usually arrived in that vicinity about the last week in March or the first week in April, and were amongst the earliest summer visitors to make their appearance. The greater part of the day was spent by them on the ground, scratching amongst the manure heaps or fallen leaves, searching for larve, small worms, insects, grain, and seeds of different kinds. Like the other forms they are quite terrestrial in their habits. They remained till late in October, and an occasional specimen was met with in the more sheltered portions of Harney Valley, near Malheur Lake, well into November. Opera- tions for housekeeping were usually commenced in the latter half of May and throughout the beginning of June. I have, however, found one nest containing three fresh eggs as early as April 17, 1877. Some pairs at least, if not all, rear two broods in a season. While the female is covering her eggs, the male may frequently be heard giving vent to his nuptial song, in the early morning and just before sundown. His lay, however, is rather weak and ofsmall compass, very much resembling that of Welospiza fusciata montana. He delivers it while perched onsome small twig, over- looking the thicket in which the nest is placed and generally close to it. Their usual call note is a repeated ¢z7A, ¢z/p. The nests of this form are bulky, but exceedingly well con- structed affairs. The material composing the outer body is used at least in a very damp, if not in a positively wet state. It is 1889. ] BENDIRE on the Habits of the Genus Passerella. 15 thoroughly welded together in this condition, forming when dry a compact, solid structure which will retain its shape perfectly. They are rather deep for the small size of the bird, and cup-shaped. The finer finishing touches are attended to by the female, which fits the material used as the inner lining of the nest carefully in its place. As a rule two or three days are consumed in the con- struction of a nest, but I have positive evidence, in one instance at least, that a pair of these birds built an entirely new nest, and did it well too, between sunrise and sunset of the same day, and an egg was deposited in it that evening. A nest now before me, No. 17,662, National Museum collection, taken by me at Camp Harney, Oregon, May 20, 1878, is outwardly constructed of various coarse plant fibres, willow bark, and marsh grass, and lined with fine grass tops taken from a species of rye grass. The outside of the nest is four and a half inches across by four inches deep ; the inner diameter is two and a half inches, the depth two inches. About one third of the nests examined by me (some fifty in number), were lined inside with more or less horse- hair, and a couple, in addition, with feathers. The Slate-colored Sparrow, according to my observations, pre- fers to nest in willow thickets, next in dense wild rose bushes, and occasionally in a bunch of tall rye grass, but always close to water. ‘The nests are generally placed some little distance fram the ground, rarely at a greater height than three feet, and are invariably well hidden. But a single instance came under my observation where the nest was placed directly on the ground; in this case it was hidden by an overhanging bunch of some species of swamp grass. The usual number of eggs laid by these birds is four, although three are not infrequently found. I found but two nests in fifty containing five eggs, the latter were evidently very uncommonly large sets. Incubation, as nearly as I was able to determine, lasts from twelve to fourteen days; both sexes assist. The ground color of the majority of the eggs of this form is a pale malachite-green, varying to olive buff and pale grayish green. The markings vary from burnt umber, chocolate and chestnut brown, to Indian and pale heliotrope purple, lilac, and lavender gray. Asa rule the spots and blotches are better defined in shape and more evenly distributed over the egg than in the other forms of this genus, in no case obscuring the ground color 116 BRITTAIN AND Cox, Pestigouche Valley Birds. [April completely. The largest egg of the series, comprising 115 speci- mens, measures .96 X .68 inch, the smallest .74 x .60 inch. This egg, however, is abnormally small, the remaining ones in the same set coming fully up to the average size, which is .88 x -63 inch. The shape of the eggs of the genus Passere//a is ovate, with very little variation in this respect. Comparing the eggs of this genus with those of Zonotrichia and Melospiza, to which they are most closely allied, it will be found on a critical compari- son that, aside from their uniformly larger size as a whole, there is also more difference in the coloration and markings than would appear to the superficial observer; in a word, the general pattern varies to a considerable extent, and while occasionally sets of eggs of these different genera may resemble each other rather closely, the greater number show very distinct characteristics of their own, which are easily enough noted by the odlogist, but not so readily described. NOTES ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF THE RESTI- GOUCHE VALLEY, NEW BRUNSWICK. BY JOHN BRITTAIN AND PHILIP COX, JR. THE REsTIGOUCHE RIvER flows easterly through the extreme northern part of New Brunswick, and before emptying into the Baie des Chaleurs, forms for sixty miles the boundary between New Brunswick and Quebec. The greater part of the valley is in about latitude 48° N. The country is undulating, in some places mountainous, and almost an unbroken forest. Winter is very severe ; snow falls to a great depth and lingers until May; while chilly east winds, from the icy Gulf, make spring late and cold. Summer, however, is warm, except near the sea, where it is tempered by cool breezes ; yet the nights, even in July, and far up the valley, are occasionally frosty and cold enough to form ice. About 110 miles of the valley, namely from the mouth of a tribu- tary called the Wagan, to Campbellton, situated at the head of the estuary, were pretty thoroughly investigated, and although the 1889. | BRITTAIN AND Cox, Festigouche Valley Birds. 117 number of species observed is comparatively small, yet it is hoped that the record of the occurrence of some may prove of interest to the readers of ‘The Auk.’ The observations were made in July, 1888. Merganser americanus. AMERICAN MERGANSER. — Quite common. Very destructive to young salmon. Totanus solitarius. SoLiTARyY SANDPIPER.—Rare. Actitis macularia. SporreD SANDPIPER.—Not uncommon. Bonasa umbellus togata. CANADIAN RuFFED GRousE.— Common. Many large broods of young about half-grown were seen. Accipiter velox. SHARP-SHINNED HAwxk.—Rare. Accipiter cooperi. Cooprer’s Hawx.—Common. Buteo borealis. RED-TAILED HAwK.—Very rare. Halizetus leucocephalus. WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.—Not uncommon. A nest was observed in a cliff about two hundred feet above the level of the river. ; Pandion haliaétus. AMERICAN OspREY.—Quite common. Bubo virginianus. GREAT HoRNED OwL.—Several young ones just on the wing were observed. They were very tame. Ceryle alcyon.. KINGFISHER.—Very common. Dryobates villosus. Harry WoopPECKER.—Uncommon. Dryobates pubescens. DowNy WooDPECKER.—Very rare. Picoides arcticus. BLACK-BACKED THREE-TOED WoOODPECKER.— Rare. Sphyrapicus varius. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.—Rare. Colaptes auratus. FLICKER.—Common around fields. Chordeiles virginianus. NiGHTHAWK.—Not common. Only seen in the vicinity of old burnt lands and settlements. Chetura pelagica. CHIMNEY SwirT.—Common, nesting in trees. Tyrannus tyrannus. KINGBIRD.—Seen only in the neighborhood ot houses near the mouthof the river. Very rare. Contopus borealis. OLIvE-sIDED FLycaATCHER.—Common. Contopus virens. Woop PEWEE?—From its note thought to be this bird. Empidonax minimus. Lrast FLycaATCHER.—Common. Cyanocitta cristata. BLuE JAy.—Common. Perisoreus canadensis. CANADA JAy.—Not common. Corvus americanus. Crow.—Local. Scolecophagus carolinus. Rusty GRACKLE.—Rare and local. Quiscalus quiscula. BRoNZED GRACKLE.—Very rare. Pinicola enucleator. PINE GrosBEAK. —This bird has been regarded asan exceedingly rare summer resident, some ornithologists even doubt- ing that it nests within the limits of the Province. At nearly every camping ground, however, and at other points, we either saw or heard it, and a few miles below the mouth of the Kedgwick found a nest containing one egg and three young. The nest was placed in a crevice of a rock, 118 BRITTAIN AND Cox, festigouche Valley Birds. [April under a projecting shelf, and was partly concealed by weeds. The loca- tion was a cool one, for it was within a few feet of the water, on moist rock, and well protected from the sun’s rays. The outside diameter of the nest was four inches, inside diameter two and three quarters, and depth three. The outer part was made of frayed strips of cedar bark, which became finer towards the interior, the latter being lined with fine vege- table fibres, runners of Fragaréa vesca. No hair or fur, feathers or down, could be noticed, nor did the structure evince any great degree of skill Enlarge the diameter, wind a few hairs around the inside, daub a little clay here and there, and it would be mistaken for a Robin’s nest. We packed the egg away in cotton wool until it could be blown, but when examined next morning it had already hatched. One male bird was collected. Carpodacus purpureus. PurRPLE FiINcH.—Common; often met im company with the preceding species in the localities mentioned. Loxia curvirostra. AMERICAN CROSSBILL.—Not uncommon. Spinus tristis. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. — Occasionally met with near settlements. Spinus pinus. Prine Fincu.—This species has heretofore been regard- ed as only a casual summer resident, but we found it quite common, especially about lumber camps and anglers’ quarters where flocks of ten to fifteen were often seen. It is very tame. Zonotrichia albicollis. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.—Abundant. Spizella socialis. CHIPPING SPARROW.—Only seen about Campbell- ton. Junco hyemalis. JuNco.—Very common. Melospiza fasciata. Sonc SPARROW.—Common. Melospiza georgiana. SwAMP SPARROW.— Rare. Chelidon erythrogaster. BARN SwaLLow.—Rare. Tachycineta bicolor. TREE SwaLLow.—Rare; only in vicinity of settlements. Clivicola riparia. BANK SwaLLow.—A small colony at the the mouth of the Kedgwick. Ampelis cedrorum. AMERICAN WaAxwinc.—Common in places burned over a few years ago, where wild cherries and June-berries are to be found. Vireo olivaceus. RED-EYED VIREO.—Common. Vireo solitarius. SOLITARY VirREO.—Observed at but one point. Helminthophila peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER.—Very rare. Dendroica estiva. YELLOW WARBLER.—Rare; seen principally in the vicinity of settlements. Dendroica coronata. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.—Rather common. Dendroica maculosa. MAGNOLIA WARBLER.—Quite common. Dendroica virens. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.—Rare. Seiurus aurocapillus. OvEeNBiIrD.—Quite common. Seiurus noveboracensis. Water THRUSH.—Met with frequently. Geothlypis philadelphia. MourNING WaRBLER.—Not uncommon in the upper part of the valley, but unobserved on the lower river. 1889. ] JEFFRIES, Western North Carolina Birds. 119 Geothlypis trichas. MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.—Rare. Sylvania canadensis. CANADIAN WaArBLER.—Occurring occasionally. Setophaga ruticilla. RepDsTART.—Common. Troglodytes hiemalis. WinrerR WreN. Abundant locally. Sitta canadensis. REp-BREASTED NUTHATCH.—Quite common, with young just on wing. Parus atricapillus. BLAck-cAppED CHICKADEE.—Not uncommon. Parus hudsonicus. HupsonrAN CuHICKADEE.—Not uncommon. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Hermir THrusu.—Observed every- where. Merula migratoria. Rosin.—Very common. NOTES ON WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA BIRDS. BY W. A. JEFFRIES AND J. A. JEFFRIES. On the 14th of May, 1888, with the prospect of two weeks to ourselves, we arrived at Sylva in Jackson County, North Carolina. Sylva is a small settlement on Scott’s Creek, about three miles above its junction with the Tuckasseegee, a tributary of the Ten- nessee, at an elevation of 2000 feet. The Plott Balsams on the north and northeast, rise to 5000 and 6000 feet. King’s Mount- ain, due south, is 3000 feet high. The valleys in the neighborhood are all cleared and planted, usually to corn; grass is a rarity. Heavy timber covers the hill- sides, dotted here and there with clearings, or patches of tall charred trunks affording good feeding grounds for Colaptes auratus and Ceophleus pileatus. The life of a hillside farm is short, owing to the crude methods of the farmer. The surface of the soil is little more than scratched with a ‘bull tongue’ plough ; a heavy plough suitable for such work is unknown. This results in bad washing of the soil, which soon becomes too much gullied for service. On the 14th, immediately after our first futile attempt to make a meal off native fare, we hired horses and rode for twenty miles, going towards the northeast. On this ride we saw two Robins; three Robins only were seen by us below Franklin. We saw also several flocks of from six to twenty SAzzus tréstis; similar flocks 120 JEFFRIES, Western North Carolina Birds. [April were seen for the next ten days. Soon after sundown the temper- ature fell rapidly, a sharp frost destroying the newly set apples, and killing the entire crop of beans, a staple of the country. May 15 we drove down the creek, following the road run- ning at the base of the hills to Dillsborough. On the shore of the creek in the village a pair of Actztzs macularéa had settled down for the summer. Three or four pairs of Zyrannus tyrannus were seen in orchards but were not common. Thickets along the river bank were well tenanted by Galeo- scoptes carolinensis. Thryothorus ludovictanus pre-empted many of the old willow stumps. Sayornzs phoebe seemed to be breeding, yet we could notfinda nest. Hmpzdonax acadicus, Cardinalis cardinalis, and a few Vireo noveboracensis were also resident. The second growth along the roadside was alive with Vzreo olivaceus. We believe the total numbers of this species to equal that of any found by us; as far as Franklin it was the bird of the woods and second growth. Spzzella socialzs, then breeding, was abundant, working well into the woods, where we took sev- eral on foggy days, not being able to make certain of our bird — without. Nearly all specimens were curiously stained below, pre- sumably by the reddish soil. Paras carolinensis seemed to be the regular form of Chickadee, yet P. atr¢capillus was taken on May 15, a little below Sylva, on the brushy edge of a hillside coy- ered by a second growth of oaks and scattered pines. A few Podz- optila cerulea and Dendroica estiva were noted. Passing through Dillsborough, our road ran for some distance along the Tuckasseegee. Cl¢vécola riparia and Chetura pela- gica were abundant. We failed, during our stay, to take a single specimen of the Rough-winged Swallow, which, if present, must have been rare. On the afternoon of the 15th it began raining and continued, with rare intervals of sunshine between heavy showers, until May 25. ‘This interfered seriously with our col- lecting, driving the birds to shelter and silencing them. The flight of warblers did not pass entirely until the roth. Before that date we took Dendroica maculosa, D. striata, D. blackburnia, D. dominica, D. virens, and D. estiva (resident). D. pennsylvanica was seen but not taken. Cuckoos, locally known as ‘rain crows,’ were abundant, C. americanus and C. erythrophthalmus being present in seem- 1889. ] Jerrries, Western North Carolina Birds. I2I ingly equal numbers. C. americanus nested May 23. Their notes, in suitable places, could be heard hourly during our stay. Mytarchus crinitus, Parus bicolor, Mniotilta varia, Conto- pus virens, Setophaga ruticilla, Spizella pusilla, Colinus virginianus, Passerina cyanea, were among the common forms. Cathartes aura, Corvus americanus, and Trochilus colubris were not common. LZ2lo erythrophthalmus, much disliked by the farmers, showed a decided preference for the borders of corn fields. Our endeavors to find the Mockingbird were not successful. The bird was said to be common; several times we were told that a ‘mocker’ was ina certain place and sang all night. Several tramps after the ‘mocker’ proved the bird so called was either a Brown Thrasher or a Chat. Men who had lived in Sylva for years, moving from the coast, assured us that the ‘gray mocker’ had never been seen by them, although the ‘mockingbird’ was not rare. Our negative evidence on the Wild Turkey would show that al- though formerly abundant it is now certainly rare. A man driy- ing the year round for a living for over three years, going often as far as Highlands, said he had never seen one yet. The capture of a Wild Turkey is town talk for six months. At Franklin, though assured it was common, we concluded that a single brood only was the cause of all the stories we heard. Our drives and walks brought to light the following birds: Stalia stalis, Turdus fuscescens, Dryobates pubescens, Empi- donax minimus, Sttta carolinensis, Icterus galbula, and Geoth- lyprs trichas. May 24 we drove to Franklin; the day was hot but beautifully clear. Zurdus mustelinus, nowhere rare, became abundant as we ascended; several nests were taken on the very edge of the road in plain sight of every passer by. Leaving Franklin, May 25, on the way to Highlands, we met our first Zhryothorus bewitckiz, and took a female /Juzco hyemalis just outside Franklin, at the roadside; it was alone. This speci- men is decidedly brownish above, least so on back of occiput and head, most so across shoulders, which contrast distinctly with the grayish blue of neck. Franklin is much lower than Highlands, where we saw many /uzco hyemalis carolinensis, and took a pair. 122 Goss, Additions to Catalogue of Kansas Birds [April On making sufficient elevation to find Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Robins, a decided increase both of numbers and species at any one spot was easily noticeable. ‘his increase held good until a lower level beyond Highlands was reached. Vireo solitartus alticola was easily found by its song in the open hard woods of the tableland near Highlands, where most of our birds were seen, though found also at an elevation approxi- mately 500 feet lower as we left the plateau. They proved shy, flying from tree-top to tree-top well out of range. A single speci- men reminds us strongly of V. cass¢zzé as taken at Santa Bar- bara, California. ; At the level of Highlands, exactly such species as Mr. Brew- ster has previously mentioned were taken, and none other. Coz- topus borealzs was still on his hemlock-top, and rhododendron swamps through which the road was cut proved several times to be well filled with Denxdrotca cerulescens. On leaving home our intentions were to go well into or over the ‘Smokies,’ but incessant rains and sickness finally drove us back to pure water. Few northern digestions could accomplish the feat of properly nourishing a man on native fare. ADDITIONS TO THE CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF KANSAS, WITH NOTES IN REGARD TO THEIR HABITS. BY N. S. GOSS. 4Echmophorus occidentalis. WESTERN GREBE.—For this addition to our list, we are indebted to Prof. F. H. Snow, who reports that a young male was killed November 3, 1887, on the Kansas River, at Lawrence.* The birds are quite common on the northwestern part of the continent, breeding in reeds, ponds, and lakes east to northern Dakotaand Manitoba, wintering along the Pacific coast south into Lower California, but this capture is the first mention that I can find of their appearance east of the Rocky Mountains south of their breeding grounds. I have noticed this large species at San Diego several times, and in the winter and early *#See Auk, Vol. V, p. 201. 1880. ] Goss, Additions to Catalogue of Kansas Birds. 123 spring of 1882, I had a good opportunity to observe them on the waters of Puget Sound. The birds ride the water lightly, and their silky plu- mage, slender build, long waving necks and graceful carriage can but attract the attention of the most indifferent of observers. Like all of the race they are expert swimmers and divers, and can quietly sink out of sight in the water without an apparent motion, but their ordinary man- ner of diving is to spring forward with a stroke of their feet, almost clearing the water and disappearing about three feet from the starting point. They are at home on the waves, and it is almost impossible to force the birds to take wing, but when in the air they fly with great rapidity, with neck and feet stretched out to their full extent, and in alighting, often do not attempt to slacken their speed, but strike the water with partially closed wings with a force that carries them on the sur- face from twenty to forty feet. Their nests are usually built on broken down reeds or rushes growing in water from two to three feet deep, and made of decayed vegetation brought up from the bottom. Eggs, two to five, dull bluish white. A set of four eggs collected at Devil’s Lake, Dakota, June 1, 1884, measures 2.20 X 1.47, 2.26 X 1.47, 2.30 X 1.49, 2.32 X 1.50 inches. In form they vary from elliptical ovate to elongate ovate. Two sets of eggs, one of four, the other of five, taken by Capt. Charles E. Bendire, May 28, 1883, on a marsh in Klamath County, Oregon, average 2.31 X 1.52. He writes that they often lay seven eggs, and possibly more. Oidemia perspicillata. SurF Scorer.—A rare visitant; captured Octo- ber 29, 1887, on the Kansas River, above the dam, at Lawrence, by Mr. A. L. Bennett of Emporia.* This species of Sea Duck is abundant upon both coasts, and during the breeding season quite common upon the large northern inland waters; breeding from Sitka, Alaska, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence north to the Arctic coast. Their food consists largely of shell-fish (the mussel is a favo- rite, the shells of which appear to digest as easily as the animal within them) and fishes, and various forms of life also help to make up the bill of fare. Their flesh is coarse, and rather rank in flavor. The birds are at home as well in the surging surf as upon the smoother waters, resting and sleeping at night out upon the open waters. They rise from the surface in a running, laborious manner, but when fairly on the wing fly rapidly, and in stormy weather hug close to the water. While feeding they are very active, constantly and rapidly diving one after the other, a continual disappearing and popping up. Picicorvus columbianus. CLARKE’s NUTCRACKER.—Mr. L. L. Jewell of Irving kindly sent me for examination a portion of the skin saved from a male bird shot Aug. 13, 1888, by Mr. Chas. Netz near the south line of Marshall County. Dr. Cooper met with a straggling pair at Fort Kear- ney, Nebraska, and Mr. G. S. Agersborg, a pair in southeastern Dakota, but like the Kansas visitor, accidental wanderers. It is seldom found *See Auk, Vol. V, p. 202. 124 DutcHer, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. [April below an altitude of 4000 feet. This bird has the actions and habits of several species. Like the Jays, it is at times noisy and in flocks; and when upon the ground it hops about in the same manner. It clings like the Woodpeckers to the side of a tree while it hunts in old excavations, interstices of the bark, etc., for the various forms of life found therein; and its flight is similar to theirs. In clasping with its sharp claws the cones on the pines, and other coniferous trees, in order to pry with its bill for the seeds, it often hangs head downward, swaying back and forth, with the ease and movements of the Titmice. It is a very shy bird, and at or near its nesting place, silent. f In May, 1879, my brother found the birds breeding near Fort Garland, Colorado; it was too late in the season for their eggs, but in one nest he found two young birds; he says the old bird sat very close, only leaving when touched by his hand. The nest was built near the end of a hori- zontal limb of a pine tree, about ten feet from the ground, in an open, conspicuous situation. It was bulky, and coarsely constructed of twigs, sticks, strips of bark, rootlets, grass, moss, etc., and very deeply hollowed the bird, when on it, showing only part of her bill and tail, the latter point- ing almost directly upward. At a distance the nest would have been taken for a squirrel’s nest. Capt. Charles E. Bendire writes me that in the month of April, 1876-1878, he found in the vicinity of Camp Harney, Oregon, quite a number of _ their nests, similar to the one described above, at a height of from twenty- five to seventy-five feet from the ground, a few with eggs, and gives the following dimensions of four eggs: 1.30 X .92, 1.26 X .95, 1.22 X .95, I.20 X .goinches. He says the usualnumber is three; the ground color, light grayish green, irregularly spotted and blotched with a deeper shade of gray, principally about the larger end; the shape is elongated oval, considerably pointed at the smaller end. The following birds, taken in the State, were in the Goss Ornithological Collection at the time of the publication of my Revised Catalogue. Phalznoptilus nuttalli nitidus. FRosTED Poor-wiLL.—A _ single specimen, a female, shot by me at Neosho Falls, September 23, 1881, entered as Phalenofptilus nuttallz, has been since identified as this form. Grus canadensis. LirrLE BROwN CRANE.—This bird was omitted by oversight from the catalogue. It is not uncommon during migration. BIRD NOTES FROM LITTLE GULL ISLAND, SUF- HOWMKCOM INE xe BY BASIL HICKS DUTCHER. LittLE GuLi ISLAND is a member of the chain of islands that extends across the eastern end of Long Island from Orient Point, the northeastern extremity of Long Island, to Watch Hill, Rhode 1889]. Durcuer, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. 125 Island. It lies between Great Gull and Fisher’s Islands, about one fourth of a mile E. N. E. of the former, and four miles W. S. W. of the latter. Between Little Gull and Fisher’s Islands runs the ‘Race,’ the principal channel for vessels passing into and out of the Sound. Little Gull is probably one hundred yards long by fifty broad, and is composed of coarse gravel overstrewn with large bowlders. The light-house, with the dwelling house of the keepers, is built on a cylindrical turret of stone, about thirty-five yards in diameter and four high. The light is a fixed white light of the second order (burning three wicks), and is supplemented in foggy weather by a second class steam siren, giving blasts of five seconds duration, with intervals of forty seconds. The light is said to be visible seventeen miles, and the siren can be heard probably five or Six. Great Gull Island, situated W. S. W. of Little Gull, as de- scribed above, contains some fourteen or fifteen acres, and is composed of sand, with a shore line and broad outlying reef of rocks. The surface of the island is hilly, having an altitude of probably twenty-five feet at its highest point, and is covered by a growth of coarse grass, with here and there a small clump of bushes. Ina hollow on the north side of the island is a small fresh-water swamp, dry and overgrown with cat-tails in the fall. Great Gull Island was purchased by the Government to serve as a garden for the keepers of the Little Gull Light, but it was so overrun with mice that it was useless for that purpose. And now its sole use is as a breeding place for Terns and as a convenient and suitable spot for credulous people to search for the buried treasures of Captain Kidd. I secured a specimen of the resident mouse, which proved to be a juvenile Arvicola riparius. List oF BIRDS OBSERVED AT LITTLE GULL AND GREAT GULL Is- LANDS, AuGusT 6-16, 1888. 1. Stercorarius pomarinus. POMARINE JAEGER, AND 2. Stercorarius parasiticus. PARASITIC JAEGER.— These species, taken together, were among the most common seen on the trip. From three to ten individuals could be seen any day at the fishing grounds, flying around among the Terns, chasing them about and compelling them to drop their fish. Every day on the ‘slack’ of the tides, when the bluefish bait seemed to be more abundant than at other times, the Terns would go over in crowds from 126 Dutrcuer, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. [April Great Gull to the ‘Race’ to fish, and though no Jaegers could be seen in the air before the arrival of the Terns, no sooner would the latter begin to fish than the Jaegers would gather around to pursue their regular busi- ness of robbery. As soon asa Jaeger would spya Tern witha fish in its bill off he would start in pursuit, and dodge and dart as the Tern would, the Jaeger was always right in its track, pressing it closer and closer, until, despairing of ever eluding its pursuer, the poor Tern would drop the fish, which would be caught by the Jaeger before it reached the water. Although the Terns were swift and graceful flyers they were no match for their larger and more powerful enemies, who, when not engaged in pursu- ing the Terns, might sometimes be seen resting singly or in flocks of four or five on the surface of the water. Chas. B. Field informed me that the Jaegers, or ‘Hawks’, arrived about the same time as the bluefish,and stayed as long as the bluefish were there, but that he never saw them in the winter. When J arrived at Little Gull both Jaegers and Shearwaters were very tame indeed, not seeming to pay the least attention to us when we went out among them after bluefish; in fact, I was told that a bird of one of these species had, a short time before, been knocked down with an oar. But after we had shot three or four of them, they seemed to grow wilder. The Jaegers while on the wing keep the tail widely spread, in the shape of a fan, the long feathers, when the birds have them, being kept close together. The jaegers and Shearwaters could be easily distinguished from each other by their generally different appearance. Two specimens of S. Jomarznus and one of S. parastticus were secured. Their stomachs contained fish-bones. 3. Sterna hirundo. Common TERN.—This species was by far the most abundant seen on the trip; the number of individuals I should esti- mate somewhere around five thousand. They were everywhere, at all times, and almost exclusively on the wing; it was a rare occurrence to see one at rest, and when one did alight it was almost always on the top of some rock, or on the surface of the water, Rest I suppose they did, but it must have been at night, since in the daytime, as I have said, they were always in motion. The condition of the rocks wouldalso seem to indicate that they did roost at night, and that they used the rocks for that purpose, as the tops of the largest bowlders were completely covered with the drop- pings of the birds. The Terns were very jealous of any intruders on Great Gull, no matter who they were. The angry birds would congregate in one large flock directly above the object of their wrath, and attempt to annoy him by every means in their power. They would scream at him, circle around him, then poise in the air, set their wings, and come down like a shot, as if to transfix him with their bills, then when within a few feet would suddenly open their wings and swerve off, only to repeat the performance again andagain. While this holds true inevery other instance, in the case of man the Terns had learned by sad experience that he was not to be approached 1889. ] DurcHuerR, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. 127 without cause, and, unless we should lie still for quite a while in the grass, or else shoot a Crow or an unwary and over-confident Tern for a decoy, our chances of getting many were not large. This unfortunate habit of worrying over whatever came in their way or even over their own dead, however, was fatal to them, for if we could by any means bring down one bird we could get all the others we cared for, by simply using the first bird as a stool. Quite a number of nests were found, although not so large a number as I judged there would be, after seeing the birds. I suppose, however, that some of the birds were the ‘young of the year’ that had learned to fly. The nests were all on the west end of the island, none being seenon the other end, and but few on the upland. Most of the nests were built of the dried grass of the island, some having a few dried reeds mixed in with the grass, while those built just at the edge of the bank, where the sand was bare of stones, were merely the slightest depressions in the sand; the eggs being laid in the sand, I presume, to save the bird the trouble of building a nest, as most of the grass nests were among the rocks on the shore just above high-water mark. The quantity of material used in different nests varied up to abouta pint. The number of eggs in dif- ferent sets was generally from one to four; most of the nests having two or three, several one or four, and one, five. The eggs in aset of four, acci- dently stepped on, were all perfectly fresh, while some nests found, con- tained both young and eggs together. The young, however, seem to stay but a short time in the nest, as all those obtained were running around and trying to hide among the rocks. Ina nest found containing a young bird and an egg, the bird must have been out but a very short time. as it was stilldamp. No eggs were collected on account of the difficulty in identifying them. The Terns, as far asI know, were never on their nests in the daytime. and Chas. B. Field said that he had never seen one sitting, night or day. The eggs could not be identified by their coloring either, as they varied all the way from white up to a burnt umber, and from having very few spots to being almost completely covered with them. One abnormal egg had a ground color of light blue. But four or five nests were found on the upland, and the ants were at some of these. I should not be surprised if ants were the cause of the birds breeding almost exclusively on the shore, as there was good building material on the upland, just as handy as that on the shore, if not more so. 4. Sterna dougalli. Rosrkatrre TERN.—The ‘Rosettes,’ as the Roseates are called at Little Gull, are there considered quite rare; the keepers in- forming me that few are ever shot in the course of a season. During my stay I noticed but five; only three of which I am absolutely certain were Roseates, as] had them in my hands; the other two, however, I feel justified in calling Roseates by the extreme purity of their breasts and bellies, by the length of their tails. by the darkness of their bills, and by the fact that they seemed fully grown in every respect. The habits of the Roseates did not differ, so far as Icould see, from those of the Common 128 Durcuer, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. [April Terns, nor was there any separate colony of nests that might have be- longed to the Roseates; all the birds seemed to nest together without discri- mination as to kind. I set snares on several nests in the hope of catching the birds aliveand so identifying the eggs, but was unsuccessful in every case. The snares, which were nooses made of thread, would be found in the morning beaten down; whether this was done accidently or purposely by the birds I do not know; but it seems to me most likely that the Terns unwittingly pushed down the nooses with their feet as they settled .on their nests. In the eighty-six nests examined, and there were prob- ably over double that number on the island, the eggs all differed in such an endless variety of colors, that the Roseates’ eggs could not be distin- guished from those of the Common Tern. But two specimens were secured. 5. Puffinus borealis. Cory’s SHEARWATER.— But two individuals of this species were noted, one of which was secured. The Shearwaters seemed always to keep in company with the Jaegers, and to be engaged in the same occupation,—that of robbing the Terns. In fact their habits all through were much the same as those of the Jaegers, although I cannot say positively that I] ever saw one alighton the surface ofthe water. Speak- ing of the Jaegers and Shearwaters collectively, Chas. B. Field said that they stayed while the bluefish were there, but as he had not before dis- tinguished one species from the other, he could not be certain whether only one stayed, or whether both remained. It is probable, however, that both remain all summer. The stomach of the specimen secured con- tained only fislf bones. 6. Oceanodroma leucorhoa, or 7. Oceanites oceanicus. Lracn’s or WILSON’s PETREL.—Petrels, one or both of these species, were very common in the ‘Race,’ or anywhere at some distance from land. But two individuals were noted near Little Gull, while farther to the north, out in the roadstead, they were very com- mon, and rather wild. Most of those seen while I was crossing over to New London seemed to be feeding, and to be working westward at the same time.* , 8. Ereunetes pusillus. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.—An individual of this species was picked up dead at the foot of the tower on August 8, hav- ing killed itself against the Light during the night. Before] was ready to skin it the insects instituted a prior claim on the body, so theskin was not preserved. ‘This individual was the only one seen on the trip. g. Actitismacularia. SporreD SANDPIPER.—The ‘Tip-ups’ were very numerous, continually feeding around the shores of both islands, and at low tide flying along from rock to rock, stopping a moment on the top of each to pick up insects. 1 was informed that they bred on Great Gull, Chas. B. Field showing me a place where he found a nest in the earlier part of the season. *Later.—Aug. 17.—Chas. B. Field secured and gave me a Petrel that proved to be the last-named of these species, thus warranting what has heen said above to be true of Wilson's, if not of Leach’s Petrel, 1889.] DutcueR, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. 129 1o. Arenariainterpres. TuRNSTONE.—F locks of these birds could be seen at almost any time flying around the islands, and alighting on the rocks to feed. They seemed to prefer the larger rocks to the shore, and especially those that werein the water. So common were the Turnstones on Great Gull that the Terns did not seem to pay the least attention to them. I presume the Terns had learned that the Turnstone. unlike al- most every other visitor, did not go for the purpose of killing them or their young, or of robbing them of their eggs. Two specimens shot proved to be so fat as to render good skinsimpossible; in fact a few hours after they were killed the feathers of the breasts of both birds were matted with oil. The keepers at Little Gull consider these birds very pooreating, so never kill them for food. rr. Circus hudsonius. MArsu HAwk.— A single specimen was seen and secured on Great Gull, August 12. The bird was first flushed from the swamp, where he had probably been feeding. As we had no guns with us when he was first flushed, we left him undisturbed, but returned later in the day better prepared. As we approached the island a large flock of Terns were observed hovering over asmall depression near the summit. We very cautiously approached the spot around which the Terns were fly- ing, suspecting that they were worrying the Hawk. This conjecture proved true, but the bird was so engaged in feeding, or was so intimidated by the Terns, that he did not rise until we were within twenty feet of him; and then flew off very slowly, keeping within afew feet of the ground. Some cold lead, however, soon put an end to his career. In the stomach I found the remains of a mouse and of a Yellow Warbler. This Hawk is known at Little Gull as the ‘Mouse Hawk.’ 12. Pandion haliaétus carolinensis. AMERICAN OspREyY.— Several individuals of this species were seen in Gardiner’s Bay. while we were en route for Little Gull; and one or two were seen fishing around that island. It was the exception rather than the rule, however, to see them so far out; they seem to prefer to stay nearer the main land. 13. Ceryle alcyon. BELTED KINGFISHER.—Chas. B. Field informed me that he saw one around Little Gull early on the morning of August 12. 14. Corvus americanus. AMERICAN Crow.—Four unlucky Crows some time in the spring before the Terns arrived, decided to take up their. residence on Great Gull Island. By what motives they were actuated I do not know. It might have been that they came in search of food, or they might have been seeking solitude. Ifthe first conjecture be true they must have gotten plenty of that that they sought; for the island was well stocked with the eggs and young of the Terns. If the last conjecture be true they were sadly disappointed, for no sooner had the Terns arrived than they fell on the Crows and persecuted them relentlessly until we put an end to their misery. Leave the island they could not, for did one at- tempt to rise a horde of Terns was at him almost before he had risen above the grass, and screaming, diving,and dashing at the unfortunate bird, would soon drive him back to the earth again, and then, as if not content with that, would continue to worry him long after he had settled down. 130 DutcHeER, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. [April The Crows were in a sorry plight indeed, for the Terns, not satisfied with worrying their victims at a distance, even went so far as to peck out the poor birds’ feathers; and between the exuvie that the Terns had dropped upon them, and the light patches where the feathers had been picked out, the Crows presented a rather mottled appearance. From the upper mandible of one Crow a piece of the sheath and bone, half an inch long andan eighth deep, had been gouged out. undoubtedly by the lower mandible of a Tern. This incessant persecution had rendered the Crows so tame that we could always approach to within twenty-five feet of them before they would fly. And Chas. B. Field told me that on one occasion he caught one in his hand, the bird preferring rather to be caught by the man than to be chased by the Terns. 15. Ammodramus maritimus. SEASIDE SPARROow.—An individual of this species was found onthe concrete, August 7, having struck the tower the night before. 16. Melospiza fasciata. SONG SPARROW.—This species was quite com- mon on Great Gull, and could frequently be heard singing. It seemed to prefer the swamp and its immediate vicinity to the more elevated parts of the island. Onespecimen was shot from some bushes around the edge of the marsh. 17. Chelidon erythrogaster. BAkN SwALLow.—Almost every day while I was at Little Gull Island flocks of these birds could be seen on their southward migration. These birds and those of the succeeding species seemed, in their flight, to follow the line of the islands, from the mainland to Fisher’s Island, from Fisher’s to Little Gull, Little Gull to Great Gull, Great Gull to Plum, and so to Long Island. 18. Tachycineta bicolor. TREE SwALLow.—All that has been said of the preceding species will apply also to this. 19. Clivicola riparia. BaNK SwaLLow.—Although no birds of this species were seen, Chas. B. Field said that they had bred abundantly on Great Gull earlier in the season,—a statement that was well verified by the large number of holes in the sand banks that overlooked the shores of the island. Mr. Field also said that about as soon as the Swallows had dug out their homes, some folks, who should have been better employed, came over from Connecticut and amused themselves by digging out the holes that the Swallows had made, thus compelling the birds to excavate new ones. 20. Mniotilta varia. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. —A bird belong- ing to this species was picked up from the concrete August 9, having committed suicide against the tower the night before. 20. Dendroica estiva. YELLOW WARBLER.—Standing on the concrete at the foot of the tower on foggy nights and lookiny upward, we could see around the lantern a broad halo of light, probably one hundred feet in diameter. Outside of this halo was totaldarkness. This phenomenon, I presume, was caused by the reflection and refraction of the light by the minute particles of water in the vicinity of the lantern; and the darkness beyond was due to the fact that very little, if any, of the small portion of 1889. | DutcuER, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y. Lex light that penetrated beyond the fifty-foot limit reached the eye. The mi- gration, which had just begun when [ arrived, could be splendidly observed by means of this patch of light. The birds could be seen flying to and fro in all directions, generally keeping within the ring, as if reluctant to leave the region of light and go into the darkness beyond. Although it would be an easy thing to distinguish the different families from each other in the strong light of the lantern, it would take a good deal of practice to tell the species apart. One species, however, was easily distinguishable as the birds flew back and forth,—the Yellow Warbler. It was, indeed, a pretty sight to see these birds flitting around, their yellow breasts and bellies illumined by the rays from the lantern. J identified but one other species in the halo, the Redstart. Chas. B. Field said, however, that he could sometimes in the migrations distinguish Robins and Catbirds. He also remarked that in the fall migration all the birds struck ontheW. 5S. W. side of the lantern, instead of on the E. N. E., as it might be supposed they would. All the birds that were picked up from the concrete were also on the W.S. W. side of the tower, showing that they very probably struck onthatside. In the morning after every cloudy night, various Warblers, that had either been weakened by striking and had not the strength to go on, or had been caught by daylight and stopped to feed, would be seen flying around the shores of the island. Three species were thus observed, Black-and-white Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Redstarts, of which the second species was most common. In fact the Yellow Warblers were seen on both Great Gull and Little Gull Islands. But few birds of any kind struck during my stay, probably because, althougha number of the nights were foggy, none were stormy. 22. Setophagaruticilla. AMERICAN REDSTART.—As remarked in the preceding note, one individual was observed flying around the light Another was shot while it was feeding around the shores of Little Gul on the morning of the 8th. 23. Merula migratoria. AMERICAN RoBin.—While after Terns one day, on Great Gull, Chas. B. Field saw a Robin, and although I did not see the bird myself I place perfect faith in his identification. He also in- formed me that Robins sometimes struck the light. BIRD NOTES FROM LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. BY WILLIAM DUTCHER. 1. Oceanodroma leucorhoa. LEAcH’s PETREL.—Three Petrels are in- cluded in Giraud’s Long Island list, as follows: Wilson’s, Fork- tailed, and the Least, the two latter being now known as Leach’s and the Stormy Petrel. Mr. Lawrence included these, and added the Tropical 132 Durcuer, Bird Notes from Long Island, Wie. TH [April Fulmar, now known as the Black-capped Petrel, a straggler of this species having been taken at Quogue, L. I., in 1850.* That the Stormy Petrel (Procellaria pelagica) was included on insufficient grounds is in- dicated by our present knowledge of its distribution. The general re- semblance to each other of the three species of this family included by Mr. Giraud in his list is so great, and as they are not usually found near the shore, it is not strange that they have been confounded in the earlier records. My. Giraud considered Leach’s Petrel rare, as he records it in the following words: ‘‘Is of rare occurrence on the shores of Long Island.” + The only specimen of this species that I have been able to procure, thus far, is a male, which struck Fire Island Light on the night of May 4, 1888, between the hours of 10 P.M. and 2 A. m. The weather was thick, with a brisk southwest wind. 2. Oceanites oceanicus. WILSON’s PETREL.—Of this species Mr. Giraud says: ‘‘Are not uncommon off Sandy Hook, within sight of land, and occasionally stragglers are seen coasting along the shores of Long Island.” { Petrels are not uncommon off the Long Island coast during the summer months, and that they are mostly of this species I am led to believe from the present evidence. Gunners and baymen on the south side tell me that they have seen Petrels off shore while bluefishing, but that they rarely see them near the surf line, or on the bays, except after very heavy blows. A letter written by Mr. W. L. Breese, § who owns and resides on an extensive estate called Timber Point, near Islip, L. L., proves that they are sometimes found in Great South Bay. In a com- munication to Dr. A. K. Fisher, June 25, 1888, he says: ‘‘I saw a flock of about twenty-five Petrels in the bay, this week, the only ones I have ever seen down here. Ido not know what they were doing here so late in the season and so far up the bay.”|| July 20, 1888, Mr. N. T. Lawrence, B. H. Dutcher, and the writer sailed through Rockaway Inlet in a bluefish smack, for the purpose of ascertaining what Petrels, if any, were to be found off Rockaway Beach and Coney Island. We went out on the last of a strong ebb tide and with a very light breeze, that hardly filled our gapping sail. When about a mile off shore we saw a single Petrel, which passed us out of gunshot, flying parallel with the shore. Ina short time this or another individual passed us going inan opposite direction. Until we were nearly two miles off shore we saw single individuals at short intervals, always just skimming the tops of the long ground-swells, appar- ently in search of food. When about two and one half miles off shore, we changed our course and sailed parallel with the beach; almost imper- ceptibly the Petrels became more numerous. We would see a pair flying in company, or a small flock of six or eight scattered in an irregular but * Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist., Vol. V, p. 220. + Birds of Long Island, p. 372. tIbid., p. 371. \Deceased since this was written. See Auk, Vol. VI, p.8z. || About eight miles northeast from Fire Island Inlet and near the main land. 1889.] Dutcuer, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y. 133 following manner. Sometimes one or two would rest for a moment on the water, floating buoyantly, like a tossing cork. Where the ebbing tide made slick, greasy looking streaks on the water, and alsoin eddies where drift and floatage gathered, these birds seemed most fond of congregating, evidently for the particles of food they there found. We remained on the ocean about three hours, when the gathering wind and ctouds warned us to return to the more quiet waters of the bay. While the wind was light the Petrels were quite shy and would rarely come within gunshot, but as the breeze became stronger and the water rougher, they seemed to lose their fear of our boat and we could sail within gunshot without difficulty. Six specimens were secured, all proving to be of this species. Many more could have been shot, but unfortunately we were without a landing-net and so could not recover them. While returning to the beach we saw them in gradually lessening numbers, the last one being just inside the mouth of the inlet. While feeding, their movements were extremely graceful. On finding floating matter they would hover over it, dropping their feet to the water and apparently patting it, and, with partially ex- tended wings, bend their necks so that their bills would point downwards ata right angle to the body. During the early part of August, Petrels were common at the entrance to Long Island Sound, as per report of Basil Hicks Dutcher ;* the onlyone he secured was of this species. That they sometimes wander westward through the Sound is established by the recoid made by Robert B. Lawrence, of one taken near Sands Point, Queens Co., August 7, 1881. ‘ 3. Phalacrocorax carbo. CoRMORANT.—September 24, 1888, I received in the flesh a magnificent specimen of this species from Chas. B. Field, who had shot it two days previously near the Little Gull Island Light. He subsequently wrote to me in answer to inquiries, ‘‘There were two of them, both alike. We havea much smaller kind, all black. I often see the large kind, both alone and with the smaller black ones. I do not know that I have ever seen a flock without a few of the large ones (like specimen sent) with them. I have seen in one day, perhaps thirty of the large ones, but they are not so plenty as the small ones. Both kinds are very wild and hard to get at.” With the aid of observations which Mr. Field has promised to make in the future, and the specimens he hopes to procure of both the Cormorants credited to’ Long Island, I trust soon to be able to define their status in that district. 4. Anas boschas + obscura. Hysprip.—March 17, 1888, Andrew Chi- chester, a professional South Bay gunner and bayman, sent to me from Amityville, Suffolk Co., the above-indicated very beautiful hybrid. His letter accompanying it I give in full: ‘‘I send you a Duck different from anything I ever saw in my experience as a gunner. It looks to me like a mongrel, half Mallard and half Black Duck. It was in a flock of five, I think. They came in wide, so I only shot at the one, and I did not see *See antea, p. 128. { Forest and Stream, Vol. XXVII, p. 428. 134 Durcuer, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y. [April hat it was different from a common Black Duck until I picked it up, so I cannot tell whether the remainder of the flock were similar to it or not.” Mr. F. M. Chapman has kindly prepared the following description of this hybrid for record. ‘‘In the male hybrid between doschas and obscura there is, on the whole, a fairly equal division of the characters of both parents; the crown, hind-neck, and nape areas in boschas; the sides of the head, the throat, and neck resemble more those of odscura, but there is a wash of green on the first named region, and the chin is blackish. The lesser and median wing-coverts and tertials are similar to those of boschas, while the speculum is that of obscura, with the terminal border of white more as in doschas. The upper and lower tail-coverts resemble those of doschas, but the tail differs very slightly from that of obscura. Below the ground work is nearly as in odscuwra, but there is a suffusion of chestnut over the entire breast.” 5. Histrionicus histrionicus. HARLEQuIN DucK.—Since my previous records* of this species, one other specimen has come to my notice. Dr. Wm. M. Smith, Health Officer of the Port of New York, has in his pos session a mounted specimen which was shot during the winter of 1887-88, in the vicinity of Swinburne Island, Lower Bay, New York Harbor, by one of the hospital employees stationed there. It was alone when secured. 6. Crymophilus fulicarius. ReED PHALAROPE.—Capt. Scott, early in September, 1886, found on the beach at Montauk a specimen of this species, dead. The skin was sent to me for identification with the statement that, ‘‘The bird is rare here.” No other records were obtained until October 22, 1888, when Mr. William L. Baker, one of the crew of the Ditch Plain Life Saving Station, near Montauk Point, sent to me, in the flesh, a male Northern Phalarope, and a female Red Phalarope, with the follow- ing very interesting letter: ‘‘October 22, Montauk, Long Island. You will find enclosed two birds which I killed while they were feeding in the surf abreast of this station. I wish to know what they are, as I have never seen any like them before. They came here about ten daysago. They are the most graceful little fellows on the water that I ever saw, and they seem to be experienced surfmen, for the surf seems to be their home altogether.” Subsequently he wrote: ‘‘There were four of them, two large and two small ones. Both of the latter and one of the former were killed. The fourth one remained about an hourand then disappeared. There are men who have been at this station for the past twelve years; I have been here nine years, and we do not remember seeing any such birds on Montauk before.” Mr. Giraud remarks of them: ‘‘This is another species with which our acquaintance is very limited. The specimen now before me was shot on the beach at ‘Quogue,’ and I have seen a few others that were procured in that vicinity.”’+ 7. Phalaropus lobatus. NortHERN PHALAROPE.—Since my last record of this species in May, 1884,} 1 have obtained a number of records and * Auk, Vol. III, p. 434. +Birds of Long Island, p. 245. tAuk, Vol. III, p. 436. » 1889. ] Durcner, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y. 135 also specimens, both in spring and fall, all from Montauk Point, the ex- treme southeastern end of Long Island. It would seem from this fact that these Phalaropes do not, in migrating, follow the outline of the coast, as most of the Limicolz of Long Island do, but in coming northward in the spring leave the coast in the neighborhood of Delaware or lower New Jersey and by taking a northeasterly route reach Cape Cod. During the southward migration the reverse obtains. A few only of the great body of these migrants approach the land, even at Montauk, except in case of heavy and adverse winds. September 3, 1886, three individuals struck Montauk Point Light, one of which was sent to me by the keeper, Captain J. G. Scott. He informed me that there were about twenty of the same kind of birds about the light and that some of the same species were seen on the beach the next day. He stated they are not uncommon in August and September. May 5, 1888, two specimens were sent to me by Captain Scott. Hereported about fifty around the light when these struck, and that there were ‘‘Lots of them hovering about the light from midnight to four A. mM.” Captain Scott thought these a new species, as he had not before seen them in their spring plumage, and consequently did not recognize them as the same species of ‘web-footed snipe’ that he had seen, not uncommonly, in the fall of the year. Both of the specimens sent to me were females in very high plumage. The ova in both were very small. May 29, 1888, three additional specimens were sent to me from Montauk, which: struck the tower that night, duringa fog, with an east wind. There were about twenty in the flock. The specimens were all males, but were not in such high plumage as the females that were migrating nearly a month in advance of them. That they were adult birds and would have bred was indicated by the testes, which were about fully developed. August 13, 1888, the return migration had commenced, as three out of a flock struck the same light at 3 A. M. and just in advance of a southeast storm which commenced shortly after. The specimen taken October 22, 1888, by Mr. Baker, is the latest sea- sonal record that Ihave. How much longer this pair would have remained it is hard to conjecture, but it is fair to suppose that if the food supply continued satisfactory to them, only a marked and unfavorable change in the weather would have hurried them on their southward journey. The status of this Phalarope on Long Island may be briefly described as fol- lows: In the spring, rather rare except when driven shoreward bystorms. In the fall, not uncommon in the eastern and middle south shore, and rare at the western end of the Island. On the Sound side of the Island I have only one record,—of one which was caught alive by the keeper of Little Gull Island Light, some years since.* Mr. Giraud says of them:f ‘‘With us, it is seldom observed. The last * An additional Sound record may be found in Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. V, p. 117 of one taken Sept. 29, 1879, at Flushing, Queens Co., by C. A. Willets, the record being made by Robert Lawrence. + Birds of Long Island, pp. 248, 249. 136 DutcHer, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y. [April individual that I met with, I came upon while engaged in shooting Terns on the inner beach, in the latter part of June. I observed it ata distance in company with a party of small Sandpipers, which I was scrutinizing through a glass that always accompanies me in my collecting tours. Appearing longer than its associates, and too small for the Yellow-shanks, or other familiar species of which we have spoken, I immediately set about ascertaining to what species it belonged--and as I advanced, was much pleased to find that an opportunity offered to secure another specimen ofone of the rarest of our birds. It was very gentle, and seemed to have no disposition to take wing, although I had arrived quite near. It wasstand- ing in a shallow pool of water, and during my observations remained in a listless attitude, scarcely changing its position until alarmed by the ex- plosion of the cap of the first barrel of my gun, which missed fire—when it sprung up, uttering a low whistling note; and while passing slowly from me, with the other barrel I secured it. On dissection it proved to be a male, and from its plumage I considered it the young of the year. In its stomach I found particles of shells and sand.” Mr. Giraud’s inference that the speci- men in question was of the ‘‘young of the year” seems hardly correct in view of the fact that the date he gives is ‘‘the latter part of June.” It is probable that it was a more than usually dull plumaged adult male bird. 8. Tryngites subruficollis. Burr-BREASTED SANDPIPER.— Mr. Giraud considered this species on Long Island, as ‘‘Nota very common bird, though its occurrence is by no means unusual. Almost every season a few are observed along the southern shores of Long Island, and during autumn we occasionally find it in our markets stripped of its feathers, and exposed for sale along with the Pectoral Sandpiper.”* My first specimen of this Sandpiper was not secured until August 28, of this year (1888), when one was presented to me by Mr. Frank M. Lawrence of Mastic, Suffolk Co. He subsequently wrote: “It was shot by a lad who sent it to me to iden- tify, and as it was a strange bird to me I forwarded it to you. He shot it on the meadows on the north side of the bay. It was alone.” The only other specimen of this species that has come under my personal observa- tion was one shot by Capt. W. N. Lane, in midsummer some twelve years since. It was presented to Mr. George Lawrence Nicholas and is now, I believe, in the Princeton College collection. Other late records for Long Island have been made by Mr. N. T. Lawrencet and Mr. DeL. Berier.{ g. Picoides arcticus. ArcTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. — While ona visit to Sag Harbor, Suffolk Co., partially for the purpose of orni- thological research, I visited the taxidermic studio of Messrs. Lucas and Buck. While looking through their stock of skins and mounted birds I found a specimen of this species. Neither Mr. Lucas nor Mr. Buck could remember from whom they had received it, as large numbers of birds in * Birds of Long Island, p. 231. + Forest and Stream, Vol. X, p. 235. * Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. VI, p. 126. 1889. | DutcHer, Bird Notes Jrom Long Island, N. Y. 137 the flesh are sent to them from the surrounding country, of which they keep no record. Mr. Lucas was very positive, however, that it had been received in the flesh, from Long Island, during the winter of 1887-88. His reasons for his belief were that he knew from the make-up of the skin and the material used in its preparation, that it was his own handiwork. Furthermore, he said, his firm never received any birds or skins other than from Long Island. He was almost certain that they had had _ this species of Woodpecker before. The specimen is now in my collection, No. 1028. This record adds a new member of the order Pici to the Long Island list, it not being included in the lists of either Messrs. Giraud or Lawrence. to. Contopus borealis. OLIve-sIpED FLycarcHer. — During the night of August 19, 1888, an individual of this species struck Fire Island Light and was sent to me by Mr. John G. Skipworth, 1st Asst. Keeper, with forty-two other birds of various kincs. Wind west, rather squally, with rain and fog. This makes the third specimen to be recorded from Long Island, the prior records having been made by Mr. N. T. Lawrence* and Mr. Del. Berier:} My correspondent, Mr. A. H. Helme, of Miller’s Place, Suffolk Co who is well known to very many members of the Union, tells me that he has seen this Flycatcher on Long Island but has never taken a specimen. 11. Calcarius lapponicus. LAPLAND LonGspur.—Mr. John Hendrick- on shot one October 18, 1888, at Long Island City. He informs me that it was alone, and was secured as it flew up from among some weeds growing on the edge of a drain. From the fact that Horned Larks (Ofo- coris alpestris) were first seen that day, he thinks it not unlikely that the Longspur had migrated southward in their company. This is the earli- est autumn date of which I have any record. 12. Spiza americana. DickcisseL.— At the time when Mr. Giraud was collecting data for his list of Long Island birds, the Black-throated Bunting must have been a not uncommon bird. This is the only infer- ence that can be drawn from his statement: ‘‘About the middle of May the Black-throated Bunting arrives on Long Island from the South. It prefers the grain, grass and clover fields, where it continues its oft- repeated chirrup until the early part of August, then becoming silent. In the early part of September it migrates southward.”t The Lawrence col- lection contains a male anda female specimen from Long Island. Mr Helme, of Miller’s Place, was so fortunate as to secure two specimens this fall, both of which he considered migrants. They were also the first that he had ever shot on Long Island. The first one, a young male, was secured September 29, and the second was taken October 10. Mr. Helme * Forest and Stream, Vol. X, p. 235. t Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. V, p. 46. The specimen recorded by Mr.N. T. Law- rence in ‘Forest and Stream’ was subsequently recorded by Mr. Robert Lawrence in Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, p. 116. {Birds of Long Island, p. Ioo, 1844. 138 DutcHeR, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. Y. [April was crossing the field in which he obtained the specimen September 29 when he saw what he supposed were three individuals of this species. They, however, flew before he had a chance to secure either of them. He returned to the same field about noon and flushed one which was in com- pany with some Song Sparrows. It flew into an apple tree when he secured it. It proved to be a male, and the exact counterpart of the one first shot. The above are the only Long Island records that I am cogni- zant of since the Giraud and Lawrence lists were published. 13. Lanius ludovicianus. JoGGERHEAD SHRIKE.—The first record of this species on Long Island was made by Mr. N. T. Lawrence in 1878.* No other records have been made since, that Iam aware of. I have the pleasure of adding a second record; a male, young of the year, taken August 28, 1888, at Springs, Suffolk Co. It was sent to me in the flesh by a correspondent, Mr. Daniel D. Parsons, who occasionally sends me birds, especially those that are new or strange to him. His letter of trans mittal stated that the Shrike ‘‘was alone, and was shot from the highest branch of an apple tree, in the middle of a field. I never saw one like it before.” From the date of capture, and also from the locality—near the extreme eastern part of the Island—it is probable that this specimen was bred on Long Island or in the adjoining State of Connecticut. 14. Helminthophila peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER.—This species was introduced into the Long Island list by Mr. George N. Lawrence.t In his collection, now in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, there is one specimen, a male, from Long Island. Since the above I can find no other records from that locality. I have had the pleas- ure of adding to my collection four specimens from Long Island, from the lighthouses. Sept. 23, 1887. Sex ? Fire Island Light. Wind, N.N. E., very fresh; partly cloudy. Sept. 1, 1888. Sex gf Fire Island Light. Wind, N. W., light; cloudy. 3 aC 8B GG & GG Ge a4 6 GG co cc 6c BON eLO dees ‘«* @ Montauk Point Light. “ N. N. E., moderate; cloudy. 15. Dendroica castanea. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER.—Mr. Giraud said of it: ‘‘*The Bay-breasted Warbler is among the last of the Genus that arrives among usin spring. During some seasons it occurs in con- siderable numbers, but in general it is by no means plentiful.”{ The Lawrence collection contains two examples, a male and a female, from Long Island. Mr. A. H. Helme, who is an indefatigable and very care- ful collector, kindly permits me to record the specimens of this species that he has taken at Miller’s Place, Suffolk Co., since he has been collect- ing. May 29, 1882,a male; May 16, 1884, a male; September 12, 1888, one, sex not given. September 14, 1888, he was sure he saw another, but *Forest and Stream, Vol. X, p. 235. tAnn. Lyc. Nat. Hist., Vol. VIII, p. 284, 1866. tBirds of Long Island, p: 62. 1889. | STONE, Graphic Representation of Bird Migration. 139 it was not secured, and on the 29th of the same month he secured one making his second specimen for this fall. I have never met with it in any of my collecting trips, nor has my son, nor have I ever found a light, house specimen, although I have received and examined carefully hun- dreds of Warblers from the lights during the past few years. 16. Geothlypis formosa. Kentucky WARBLER.— Mr. Giraud says: ‘«The specimen in my possession was shot in the woods at Raynor South, and a few others have been procured in the same section. On no other part of the Island have I observed it, and I consider it with usa very scarce species.”* In the Lawrence collection in the American Museum, there is one specimen, a male, labelled, ‘‘Raynor South, May 18, 1834.” Since the lists of Giraud and Lawrence were published no other record has been made; therefore, it gives me pleasure to record a specimen, a male, which was sent to me by Mr. Skipworth from Fire Island Light, where it struck during the night of August rg, 1888; wind west, squally, with rain and fog. 17. Sylvania mitrata. HoopED WARBLER.— ‘‘With us, the Hooded Flycatching Warbler is not abundant” is the note of Giraud.t In the Lawrence collection in the American Museum, there is but one speci- men, a male, from Long Island. The only specimen*that I have in my collection, and also my only record from Long Island, is of one that struck Fire Island Light, during the night of September 1, 1888. Wind, N. W., light; cloudy. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF BIRD MIGRA- | TION. BY WITMER STONE. Every ONE interested in bird migration no doubt notices the steady increase in species and individuals as the spring advances, the number reaching its maximum some time in May, and then falling off and becoming uniform during the early summer when the birds have completed their migrations and are busy building their nests and rearing their young. Again in the latter part of summer the number increases, reaches its maximum in Septem- ber, and then steadily decreases until winter, when the mini- tuum is reached. *Birds of Long Island, p. 50. tIbid., p. 48. 140 STONE, Graphic Representation of Bird Migration. [April I have always desired to collect sufficient data to form some definite idea of this rate of increase and decrease during the different seasons of the year; and for some years past have con- ducted observations chiefly with this end in view. ‘To estimate the number of individual birds in a given locality at any time, especially during the migrations, is wellnigh impossible, and therefore the only investigations that could be carried on were with regard to the number of species. Living in a locality fav- orable for ornithological investigations I have noted for several years the species of birds seen on each day from January to June inclusive, and, with the assistance of several others interested in the subject, have accumulated a considerable amount of data. On some days in winter no birds were observed at all,—the En- glish Sparrow of course excepted—on other days perhaps only a Snowbird or a Crow was recorded. In spring, too, on rainy days the number of species noted was very small, while on clear days when the migration was at its height upwards of fifty species were sometimes recorded on a single morning. Similar observa- tions were carried on in the fall, but owing to the difficulty in recognizing many species at that season on account of the thick foliage of the trees, the results were much less accurate and there- fore less interesting. While I said above that an estimate of the number of individ- uals was hardly possible, this is perhaps not strictly the case. For, as the number of individuals of a given species increases, the probability of seeing that species every day increases, and hence by taking an average of the number of species seen per day for each consecutive week, the results obtained must show an increase in regard to individuals as well as species. Moreover, the comparison of the total number of species seen in each con- secutive week would show the increase in regard to species alone. After noting the dates of arrival and departure of each species seen during the year, the result may be represented as in Fig. 1 (a small portion of the spring migration, 1888, at Germantown, Pennsylvania), the horizontal lines representing the time of the birds’ stay, and the vertical columns the consecutive weeks. The horizontal lines represent, of course, only the probable continu- ous presence of a species, for very few birds are actually seen every day from their arrival to their departure. Now by count- ing the number of lines crossing a given column it is easy to see 1889. ] STONE, Graphic Representation of Bird Migration. I41 the number of species that occurred in the locality during that week. And a curve constructed from these results (Fig. 2, A) will show the variation in the number of species during the period that the investigations cover. By using the actual number of i ee T#rch iz, Sco=""40000 ili sy Tle be sees Fig. 1. Portion of Chart showing the birds recorded at Germantown, Pa. Spring, 1888. species seen during each week, as recorded in the notebook, a curve may be constructed which will be quite similar though less regular, since the meteorological conditions here play an import- ant part. For instance, on a cold or rainy week the number of species observed will be less, simply because it was impossible to make many observations. A curve (Fig. 2, C) constructed on the average number of species seen per day, for each week, will, as stated above, show the variation in regard to both individuals and species. Looking at curve A, Fig. 2 or 3, representing the variation in the number of species recorded at Germantown, Pa., during the spring migration of 1888, we see the number at a minimum through the winter, until about the middle of February. At this time the first increase is noticed, caused by the arrival of the Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Robins, and Bluebirds. Then the number is stationary until the second week of March, when a gradual increase begins which continues more rapidly during April and still more rapidly during the first week of May. The number finally reaches its maximum in the second week of that month and then decreases rapidly until it again becomes station- 142 Stone, Graphic Representation of Bird Migration. [April ary in June. These variations represent first the arrival of such early birds as the Meadowlark, Dove, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, etc., in the middle or latter part of March : then the Kinglets, Towhee, Chimney Swift, etc., in April, and finally in May the vast influx of Warblers and other birds, many of which remain but a few days and then pass on to the north; leaving us by the second week of June with only the summer residents. The departure of the several winter visitants during March and April is more than balanced by the arrival of species from farther south. 38S r a eee ed 29 Z HENGE TE ESS ESE a : || ze ES ob | me Ta 3 ts S/S a PY NLL Amami Bees co Bena | iS LEae es ie = Z = ia ie od we _- NE WEIS SES See NI Tay WEA IEE] AGES LIM IES AES UN Fig. 2. Spring Migration at Germantown, Pa., 1888. A. Curve showing the number of species present. B do. based on the actwal number of species recorded each week. Co do. based on the average number of species seen per day, for each week. T. Curve of temperature variation, spring, 1888. DS § EE | N N, It will be seen from curve B, Fig. 2, that the number of species actually seen never equalled the number of species that were present, though it came very near it about the 1st of March and again about the middle of April. The prominent ‘drops’ in this curve during the winter and early spring will be found to correspond to spells of severe weather at those times. By comparing the three curves of Fig. 3, the remarkable simi- larity of the spring migration for the past three years can readily be seen. The number of species seen in the different years varied considerably, but this is more a function of the time that was op cla ie == Pad leds) RRS EE Ze Es Bes Ee Pale he oa fo] | ete a FA el BSE I Ee Bs i Hae oN ASIN [eee ‘uoyeisiut Sutids Ssujinp “vq ‘uMo}UvULIIy je juaseid satoads jo sequinu 24} SuIMoys soaIng °€ “Brg > eee Sh - 2 Eads | ee ee | igen i 2 RSE aaa Eee Za eEEE EEE EEE A Et gs Q Le SS SS Za Tee a ae Spee (qeeeeeo see PEER EEE eee els | oy Taree [Soo aoe ee 144 BisHop ox Birds of the Magdalen Islands. [April available for making the observations. The general form of the curves will be seen to be very similar; the first increase always takes place in the middle of February; and the greatest increase during the last week of April and the first week of May; while the maximum is reached in the second week of the latter month. Finally, comparing curvesA and T and Band T, Fig. 2, we see that there is no remarkable resemblance between the temperature variation and the increase in the number of species; but quite a striking resemblance between the temperature variation and the number of species actually recorded. This is especially the case during the winter and early spring when it will be noticed that almost every sudden increase in the number of species seen was accompanied by a corresponding rise in temperature, and vzce Versa. Such investigations and comparisons as the above seem to me to form one of the most interesting branches of the study of bird migration; and though the observations here recorded are too few to establish any general laws, I think that similar investiga- tions carried on for a number of years would bring to light many important facts in regard to the subject, and would perhaps show that bird migration is much more regular than is generally supposed. NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. BY DR. LOUIS B. BISHOP. THE FOLLOWING list is compiled exclusively from notes taken by my friend, Mr. Robbins, and myself between June 21 and July 18, 1887. The unfavorable weather during most of this period together with the time lost in travelling among the islands proba- bly caused us to overlook many species; but I am at a loss to account for our failure to find such birds as Ampelzs cedrorum, Empidonax minimus, Poocetes gramineus, and Parus atricap- tllus Which were found by Mr. Cory to be tolerably common in 1878, particularly as both of us looked carefully for several of 1889. | Bisuop on Birds of the Magdalen Islands. 4 s 45 them. Teal were observed on two occasions by Mr. Robbins, but he was unable to determine the species. I have endeavored to give as nearly as possible the dates of breeding of the differ- ent species, hoping that they may be of assistance to odlogists intending to visit these islands. ‘The Magdalen Islands are so well known to naturalists that any description of them here would be out of place, and the present status of the different species breeding at the Bird Rocks has been so well defined by Mr. Lucas in ‘The Auk’ for April, 1888, that any further comment is un- necessary. e 1. Colymbus auritus. HorNep GREBE.—One seenin a small pond at East Point on June 29, and the fragments of an egg of some species of Grebe were found on the beach near by. The people living on the islands call this bird the Water-witch. It undoubtedly breeds, but is not at all common. 2. Urinatorimber. Loon.—One seen in the waters of the Gulf off Grosse Isle on June 25. Probably breeds. 3. Fratercula arctica. Purrin.—Breeds abundantly in twisting bur- rows on the top of Great Bird Rock, and in the crevices of the cliffs on Bryon Island. 4. Cepphus grylle. BLAcK GuILLEMoT.—Breeds abundantly in scat- tered colonies on most of the islands of the group. None were seen on the Bird Rocks. 5. Uriatroile. Murre.—Common. Breeds on Bryon Island and the Bird Rocks. Aboutadozen specimens of the lately eliminated species U. ringvia, or, as at present considered, phase of plumage of U. frozle, were breeding on the cliffs of Great Bird Rock. As far as we were able to judge trom the limited time at our disposal they were in pairs, and seemed to be entitled to the rank ofa distinct species. An egg obtained by Mr. Robbins from one of these peculiarly marked birds could not be distin- guished from those of the other Murres. 6. Urialomvia. Brunnicu’s Murre.—Breeds abundantly on Great Bird Rock. Six Murres shot from the top of the Rock were of this species, and none of the common Murres were seen there. 7. Alcatorda. RAZOR-BILLED AuK.—Breeds, but notin large numbers, on Great Bird Rock, Bryon Island, and Entry Island. On Great Bird Rock this species with Fratercula arctica breeds principally near the top of the cliffs, leaving the lower ledges for the Gannets, Kittiwakes and Murres. 8. Rissa tridactyla. KirTiwAKe.—Breeds abundantly on Great Bird Rock, but was not observed elsewhere among the islands. g. Larus marinus. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.—A flock of between twenty and thirty in the adult plumage was observed on asand bar on the West Point of Amherst Island, July 9. No evidence of the breeding of this species could be obtained. 146 BisHop ox Birds of the Magdalen Islands. [April 10. Larus argentatus smithsonianus. AMERICAN HERRING GULL.— Single individuals were seen at various dates. Probably it does not breed, although a few may on East Point. 11. Sterna hirundo. Common TERN.—Breeds abundantly on the sand beaches of most of the islands. 12. Oceanodroma leucorhoa. LrAcH’s PETREL.—Breeds in small numbers on Great Bird Rock, Bryon Island, and probably on most of the other islands, although we were unable to findnests. I am indebted to Mr. Lucas and Mr. Palmer for the knowledge ofthe presence of this species on the Bird Rocks. 13. Sulabassana. GANNET.—Breeds abundantly on the Bird Rocks. The fishermen and others collect large numbers of Murres’ and Gannets’ eggs almost daily during the breeding season. 14. Phalacrocorax dilophus. DouBLE-cRESTED CORMORANT.—It is with great hesitation that I include this species, as none were seen by either Mr. Robbins or myself.