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BOOK 598.?9746.M55 1R el
MERRIAM # REVIEW OF BIRDS OF
COMNFCTiruT

3 T1S3 00m7MbM M

A REVIEW

OF THE

BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT.

BT

C. HART MERRIAM,

NEW HAVEN :

TUTTLE, MOREHOUSE & TAYLOR, PRINTERS.

1877.

h..

[From the Transactions op the Connecticut Academy, Vol. IV, ls77j.

A Review of the Birds of Connecticut, with Remarks on
THEIR Habits. By C. Hart Merriam.

Read June 20, 1877.

The little State of Connecticut, forming, as it does, the soutlnvest-
ern corner of New England, and lying between the forty-first and
forty-second parallels (exactly 41° to 42° 3' N.), and extending, in an
east and west direction, from the meridian Vl° 55' to Ta° 50' Avest lon-
gitude, contains an area of but 4,074 s(juare miles. Nevertheless it is
highly probable, so favorably is it situated, that no equal area in the
country can boast a greater number of species of birds than may be
found within its limits. Indeed, nearly half the total number of
species in the United States have already been detected inside its
borders, and it is certain that future investigation will decidedly
increase this number.

Zoologically speaking, Connecticut belongs to that division of
country known as the AHeghanian Fauna. Still, as Mr. Purdie has
said,* its southern border has an evident tinge of the Carolinian, and
I may add that this " tinge" runs up the valley of the Connecticut
Rivej-, extending completely through the State, and even into Massa-
chusetts.

Some years ago Prof. A. E. Verrill stated that whenever such
birds as the Crossbills, the Spruce Partridge and the Canada Jay
" breed abundantly in any region, it may safely be considered as
belonging to the Canadian Fauna."f With equal truth it may be
said that whenever such birds as the Worm-eating, Blue-winged Yel-
low, and Hooded Warblers, together with the Large-billed Water
Thrush and Yellow breasted Chat, breed regularly and in considerahle
nuinhers^ the region may safely be included in the Carolinian Fauna.
That these species are so found in southei-n Connecticut — notably
about the mouth of the Connecticut River — is now too well known
to need further confirmation.

The dividing lines between the several flxuna? are always more or
less irregular, and never very sharply defined. The distribution

* Am. Nat., vol. vii. No. 11, p. 693, Nov., 1873.
f Proceed. PJssex Inst., vol. iii, p. 138. 1883.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 1 July, 1877.

2 C. H. MerricDii — Birds of Connedicxit.

of those species l)y whicli the different faunte are distinguished, is
unqnestioiiably governed, in great measure (as shown by Professor Ver-
rill),* by the temperature during the breeding season, of the regions
in which they commonly breed. Hence the dividing lines between
faunae do not follow, when placed on the chart, such smooth, regular
curves as serve to represent the isothermal lines (which show the
average temperature for the entire year), but more nearly coincide
with lines drawn to indicate the average temperatm-e during the
months of April, May, and June, — the period in which the great
majority of singing birds breed. It has been stated by Professor
Verrill that " a line drawn upon the map of Eastern North America
representing the mean temperature of 50° F., during these three
months, will coincide with the southern boundary of the Canadian
Fauna, as previously determined from the examination of the birds
breeding in that sub-division. Another line representing the tem-
perature of 65° will represent the soiithern boundary of the Allegha-
nian Faiina,"* as distinguished from the Carolinian.

The fact that, during the thirty-four years that have elapsed since
the publication of Linsley's ^'■Catalogue of the Birds of Coniiecticut,''''
no enumeration of the birds of this State has appeared, is sufficient
excuse for the present attempt. Moreover, the Connecticut Acad-
emy resolved, some time since, to publish a series of papers on the
fauna of this State, and Professor Verrill did me the honor to request
that I should prepare, as the first of this series, " A Review of the
Birds of Connecticut," which I have done as well as the limited
time at my disposal would permit.

In the year 1861, Dr. William Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Conn.,
published, in the Hartford Times, a series of twenty-one admirable
and most interesting articles on our " Birds of Prey," and it is nmch
to be regretted that he did not, in like manner, take up the remaining
groups. A few brief notices of the occurrence of some of the rarer
species within our limits have, from time to time, appeared in the
American Naturalist and Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club,
but nothing like a systematic list of the birds oi' the State has been
attempted.

My object has not been to give the largest possible number of
species, but to re])resent faithfully our true knowledge of the Avi-
fauna of Connecticut. An acknowledged fault with most local lists
is that their authors include, not only those species Aviiich have
actually been detected, but also those which, from their occurrence

* Am. Jour. Rci. iuid Arts, vol. xli, ]>. 210. (Sooond Rcrios,) ISHfi.

/U

C. If. Mcn-t'fn/t — ninfs of <\iiiii<cticut. 3

ill neigliborino- districts, may, at somo fiitiirc time, be- looked for
with a degree of success directly proportionate to the ornitlio-distri-
butional knowledge of the writer. In the preparation of the follow-
ing list I have scnipidonsly examined the evidence on wliich each
species stands, and have rigorously excluded all those whose occur-
rence rests on insufficient proof

In a note, under each genus or family, will he found those species
which should, and ])rol)ably do, occur, but which, owing to the small
number of collectors in this State, have not as yet been detected.
Information has been solicited from all, so far as I have been able to
ascertain, who are familiar with our birds — Avhether active collectors
or not — and I take this means of expressing my thanks and gratitude
for the many favors received, believing, at the same time, that they
should not be regarded as mere personal favors, but as real contribu-
tions to science, for in preparing this list I act but as the exponent
of the present state of our knowledge concerning the Inrds of Connec-
ticut. I am indebted to my friends, Mr. George Bird Grinnell, Mr.
A. J. Dayan, Prof Wm. D. Whitney, Dr. Wm. H. Hotchkiss, Mr.
Thomas B. Osborne, Mr. E. B. Wilson, Dr. F. W. Hall, Walter R.
Nichols, the Stadtmtiller Brothers, Robert F. Morris, and P>ed. Sum-
ner Smith, for information relating to species found in the immediate
vicinity of New Haven; to Capt. O. N. Brooks, of Faulkner's Island
Light, for a list of the water birds of that portion of the Sound ;
to Messrs. W. W. Coe and John H. Sage, of Portland, Erwin
I. Shores, of Suffield, and J. N, Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., for notes
on the species observed in the Connecticut V^ alley ; to Dr. William
Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Conn., for valuable information on the
time of occurrence and relative abundance of many of the rarer
species — especially in regard to the Hawks and Owls ; to Prof G.
Brown Goode, of Middletown, Conn., not only for throwing open for
my inspection the cases of birds contained in the Museum of Wesleyau
University, but also for laboriously searching the Museum Catalogue
for records of the capture of the rarer species within the State ; to
Josiah G. Ely, Esq., for notes on the rarer species found about Lyme,
New London County, Conn. ; and to Drs. D. Crary and D. Crary, Jr.,
of Hartford, Conn., for information concerning the less common birds
of that vicinity. To each of these gentlemen due credit is given under
the species to which their notes i)ertain. I am also under obligations
to Mr. Robert Ridgway, of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Thomas
M. Bi-e\ver, of Boston, and Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, for
the identification of birds and eggs, and for other information.

4 G. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

My thanks are esjjecially due to W. W. Coe, John H. Sage, Erwin
I. Sliores, Thomas B. Osborne, Capt. O. N. Brooks, and the Stadt-
miiller Brothers, for placing their mauiiscript notes at my disposal ;
also, to Professors A. E. Veri-ill, Sidney I. Smith, and Franklin
B. Dexter, for the use of books not in the College Library ; and
to Dr. William H. Hotchkiss for aid in the preparation of the special
lists appended to this paper, as well as for much kindly assistance
rendered from time to time during the progress of the work.

Numerous references have been made to the wi'itings of others,
and I hold myself I'esponsible for all dates and statements of any
kind, where the contrary is not expressly stated. Neither have
quotations l)een omitted, when they seemed desirable, either for the
value of the facts they contain, or for their antiquity ; and, as a
rule, I have taken i)ains to refer to the older and less accessible
works, rather than to those with which we are all familiar.

Although Ornithology, as a science, is, in this country, of compara-
tively recent date, still that the birds of New England early attracted
the attention of our foi-efathers is evident from their writings. In
the year 1616, Capt. John Smith said that there were, in New Eng-
land, " Eagles, Gripes, diners sorts of Ilaukes, Cranes, Geese, Brauts,
Cormorants, Ducks, Sheldrakes, Teale, Meawes, Guls, Turkies, Diue-
doppers, and many other sorts, whose names I knowe not."* And a
few years later (1622) one William Hilton writes that the land
" aff cords beasts of diners sorts, and great flocks of Turkies, Quailes
Pigeo7is and Patriges: many great lakes abounding icithflsh, fowls,
Beuers and Otters. The sea affoords us as great plenty of all excellent
sorts of sea-fish, as the riuers and lies doth varietie of loild fovole of
most vseful sorts.''^\ And there are numerous others of a like nature,
some of which have been reproduced under the species to which they
refer.

It is worthy of note that many birds once common along the coast,
and some throughout tlie greater part of New England, are now
either extremely rare or not to be met with at all within its limits,
while a few sj)ecies have unquestionably increased in numbers since
the country has become settled. Among the former class may be
mentioned the Great Auk {^ilca iinj^ennis), the Crane {Grus Gana-
densis, awd perhaps G.Americana also), the Swan (Gygnus Ameri-
canns, and perha])s G. buccinator), the Wild Turkey (Melcagris gallo-
pavo), the Pinnated Grouse or Prairie Chicken {Gujndonia cicpido),

* A Description of New England, by Capt. John Smith, p. IG. 1616.
t New England's Trials, p. 14. 1622.

('. // Mo-riam— Birds of Contiecdvitt. 5

the Swallo\v-t:iile<l Kito {Nauclerus forjicatns) , the W-.ywu {('orm.s
cora.r) now foininon only in norlluTii New England, tlie Mockiiig-
bii-d {Mimus polyylottiis), and many otliers. That these hirds were
common here two or tliree Inindred years m^o is clear irom tiic
numerous references to them in tlie writings of the time. And duriii<'-
this period many others have greatly decreased in numbers— such as
the Pigeon (Ectopistes niigratoria), Pileated Woodpecker {Hyloto-
mus pUeatHs), black-birds, water fowl, and waders of all descriptions.*
The disappearance of some of these birds is readily accounted for by
the advance of civilization with its concomitant evils — destruction
of forests, increased use of fire arms, etc. — but in other cases the
cause is less easily explained.

Few people, living away from the coast, have any idea that hun
dreds of thousands of birds are killed each year, durino- migrations
by flying against lighthouse towers. Capt. O. N. Brooks, of Faulk-
ner's Island Light, tells me that between two and three hundred dead
birds Avere picked up at the foot of the tower on the morning of May
16th, 1877, and that at the same time thousands of living ones
stopped at the Island, devouring all the tender plants and newlv
sown seeds in his garden. During the same night about three hun-
dred birds killed themselves against the light at the entrance of New
Haven Bay, and the daily papers stated that over seven hundred
were picked up on the decks of one of the New York steamers.
When we take into consideration the number of light-houses and
steamships along our whole coast it becomes clear that the number
of birds that perish annually by this means is simply immense.
Nearly all our common, and many rare, migrants are found among
the dead, but the Maryland Yellow-throats ( Geothlypis trichas)
greatly predominate, constituting full one third of the total number
examined. It is lamentable that this wholesale slaughter of our
song-birds seems to be unavoidable.

The nomenclature and arrangement of species adopted in the pres-
ent paper is that given in Coues' " Key to North American Birds,"
with such corrections as have since appeared in his " Birds of the
Northwest" and elsewhere.

* See also an interesting article by J. A. Allen in Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i,
No. 3. Sept. 1876.

C. H. Merrhini — Birds of Connecticut.

A. General List, giving times of occurrence and relative abundance
of the species ; together vnth notes on the habits and distribution
of some of the less common forms.

Family, TURDID^.

1 . Tardus migratOriuS Linue. Robin.

An abundant summer resident; breeds abundantly, and several
times during the season. A few winter. The summer residents
arrive during the middle and latter part of February (Feb. 18, 1876;
Feb. 27, 1875), and remain in considerable numbers till near the close
of November.

2. TurduS mUStelinuS Gmeliu. Wood Thrush.

A common summer resident ; breeds. Arrives about jNIay 3d
(common before the 10th), remaining till October. Mr. John H. Sage,
of Portland, Conn., informs me that he and Mr. J. N. Clark, and
also Mr. W. W. Coe, have found its eggs " covered with fine black
specks." Mr. Fred. Sumner Smith, of this city, has recently shown
me a large egg of this species which is marked with a few small,
brownish-red spots. On sending the c^g to Ur. Brewer, I received
the following : " The spots I never noticed before, but any e^^,
always excepting a woodpecker's, is liable to be marked by minute
eifusions of colored lymph of the parent, in its exclusion." Mr.
Smith tells me that the nest, which contained these speckled eggs,
was placed on a railway bridge, and within six inches of the rail.
A number of trains pass daily over this bridge.

3. TurduS Pallasi Cabanis. Hermit Tiirush.

Connnon during its migrations, particularly so in the fall. Arrives
from the South before the middle of April (April 7, 1877, Coe; A{)ril
6, 1875, Sage; A[)ril 13, 1874, Sage; April 14, 1876, Osborne; April
16, 1877, April 10, 1875), remaining till early in May; on their
return are with us from early in (Jctober till the latter part of Novem-
ber (Nov. 14, 18, 20, 1875). The woods abound with them during
tlic miildU' and latter part of October.

4. TurdUS SwainSOni Cabanis. Olive-backod Tlu-ush.

Coiiuuoii (luring its migrations, but never so almndant as tJu' last.
It is met with in spring from May lOtli to 26tli, and in autumn from

C If. MerrliOii — Binl-< of (Unuiecticnt. 7

Sept. 4tli (1S74, Hall) to Oct. l:!(li. In tlic iall it is iK.t imcnininniij y

fdund ill flocks of a dozen or tit'trcu in low swanipy w is w hcic

there is an almndance of nnderuiow tli.

All. TurduS SwainSOni, var. Aliciae (Baird) Coues. Gray-chceki'd Tlirnsli.

Occurs, during migrations, witli tlie foregoing, and is more coimnon
in tlie vicinity of New Haven — ^judging from tlie proportionate niiiii-
l)er of skins in private collections about here. Near Portland, Comi.,
on the contrary, the true S^oainsoni type seems to predominate — as
shown l)y speciinens in the cabinets of W. W. Coe and John H. Sage.

5. TurdUS fuSCeSCens Stephens. Wilson's Tlirush.

A summer resident; breeds. Arrives early in May (May S). Com-
mon in the immediate vicinity of New Haven, especially during the
spring migrations.

6. MimUS polyglottUS (Linne) Boie. Mocking-bird.

A rare summer visitant; used to breed here and may occasionally''
do so now. Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell has taken it near Milford, Conn.
Mr. Erwin I. Shores wiites me, on the authority of Milton T.ester,
that it has been killed at Suftield, Conn. Mr. J. N. Clark thinks that
it bred pretty regularly at Saybrook, Conn., many years ago; and I
am informed by ]Mr. Osborne that he saw one above the Whitney
Lakes, near New Haven, May 30th, 1877. Also taken late in the fall
of 18V4, by Mr. William Brewster, near Concord, Mass.f "Stratford
and New Haven," Linsley.

There can be little doubt but that Mocking-birds were once com-
mon in Connecticut, Rhode Island,' and Massachusetts, if not still
farther north. In an appendix to the Mass. Agricultural Kejiort for
1863, Samuels gives it as a "rare summer visitant," stating that it
"occasionally breeds;" and in 1864 Allen says that they "have been
known to breed in Springfield several times within five years, and in
1860 two pairs nested here. June 20tli, 18G0, I found a nest contain-
ing three freshly laid eggs Locality, a sandy field gi-owing

up to pitch pines, in one of which the nest was placed, about three
feet from the ground."^

* A Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut, arranged according to their natural
families; by Rev. James H. Linsley, published in Am. Jour, of Sci. an.l Arts,
vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 255. April, 1843.

•f- Rod and Gun, vol. v, No. 24, p. 370, Mar. 13, ISTo.

X Catalogue of the Birds found at Si)ringfic]d. Mass., by J. A. Allen, pp. r,7-S. isr,4.

8 C. H. MerrUnn — Birds of Connecticut.

7. Mimus Carolinensis (Linne) Gray. Cat-bird.

All :il>mi(laiit summer resident, arriving early in May (May 4, 1877,
Portland; May 5, 1874, Sage; May 6, 1876, C. H. M., and 6, 1877,
E. B. Wilson), and remaining till November (Nov. 4, 1874 and
1875); breeds.

8. Harporhynchus rufus (Linne) Cabanis. Brown Thrush; "Thrasher."
A common summer resident ; breeds. Arrives during the last of

April or first of May (April 80, 1876, Osborne; May 1, 1877) depart-
ing early in October (Oct. 2).

Family, SAXICOLID^E.

9. Sialia Sialis (Linne) Haldeman. Common Bhiebird.

Resident ; abundant during summer ; lireeds in holes in trees and
posts, etc. They arrive early in February (Feb. 8, 1876), remaining
till about the middle of November (Nov. 13, 1876). Have found it
singing as early as March 5th. Though generally evenly distributed
and everywhere a common species, Mr. Shores " could not find it in
1872" about Suffield, Conn.* A few small flocks frequently winter
in secluded spots.

Family, SYLVIID..E.

10. Regulus calendula (Linne) Licht. E,uby-cro\vned Kinglet.
Common during its migrations. Arrives about the middle of April

(April 11, 1875, Sage); remaining till the middle of May (16,
Osborne). Have taken it in the fall from Oct. l;Uh to Nov. 24th.

1 1 . Regulus satrapa Lielitenstein. Golden-crested Kinglet.

A winter resident; have seen it at repeated intervals from Oct. 13th
till spring (May). Commonly found, with tlie preceding, associated
with small flocks of chickadees (/'anwoiWcajOit/^/s), and frequently ac-
companied by a few nuthatclu's of both sjx'cies (AVY/r^ Cavolinensis
and S. Canadensis).

1 2. Polioptila CSerulea (Linne) Sclater. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

A rare summer visitant. "Stratford," Linsley. "Two were shot
at Wauregan (Windham County), Conn., by aMr. C. jNI. Carpenter, —
a male in 1874 and a female in 1876. Three or four were seen by me

* MS. notes of I'lrwin 1. Sliores, Esq.

C II. Merrlidu — IJin/s of VoniiectlcKt. 9

at Prox uK'iicc, K. L, May 2:^(1, 1875."* .Mr. Juiicks wriU-s ww that
the Connecticut reeoivl is a mistake, as ;ill the specimens wi'iv taken
near Providence, Iv. T.

Mr. William IJrewster thus speaks of their habits and appearance
in the south : " When seen one liiindred feet or more above the earth
they remind one more of insects than of birds, so active, and so very
frail and slender do they seem. In motions, they bear, perhaps, a
greater resemblance to the lledslart {Setophaga ruticUlu) than to
any other bird, like him launchiny- out frequently after insects and
alighting with spread tail and drooping Avings. They have withal
an impertinent, quizzical air, savoring strongly of Cat-bird ways;
the song is indeed quite that of the latter bird, but in miniature (if I
may apply such an expression to sound), a quaint mocking little
strain, continued half a minute or more at a time, and full of mewings
and harsh chatters, with an occasional full round note, but altogether
so feeble as scarcely to be audible at twenty yards' distance. The
note used by both sexes is a harsh but rather faint lisp."f

Family, PARID^.

13. Lophophanes bicolor (Linne) Bonaparte. Tufted Titmouse.

A rare visitor from the south. " New Haven," Linsley. Josiah G.
Ely, Esq., writes me from Lyme, New London Co., Conn., that he
shot a Tufted Titmouse, Feb. 27th, 1872, in that vicinity (the ground
being covered to a considerable depth with snow), and saw another
in Jan., 1874. They were found flitting about among dense hemlocks
in a very wild portion of country. It has also been taken near Hart-
ford, Conn., by Dr. D. Crary, but must be regarded as accidental,
though a common resident in northern New Jersey (Elizabeth,
1871-72). Also breeds on Long Island "seeking retirement in the
lonely part of the woods among the heavy timber."J It has been
found as far north as New Hampshire.§

14. ParuS atricapillus Linne. Black-capped Cliickadee.

A common resident ; breeds in holes in trees. Gregarious except
durino- the breeding season,

*Mr. Jencks to H. A. Purdie, see Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club,
vol. ii, pp. 20 and 21. Jan. 1877.

f Annals Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. xi, p. Ui2, June, 1875.

X Birds of Long Island, J. P. (iiraud, Jr. p. 78. 1844.

§ Belknap's History of New Hampshire, vol. iii, p. 17.3. 1792.

Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 2 July, 1877.

] 0 C. II. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

15. ParuS HudSOniCUS Forster. Hudsonlan Chickadee.

A rare accidental visitor from the iiortli. In the July (1870) num-
ber of the Bulletin Nuttall Ornith. Club, I called attention to the first
instance of the capture of this northern chickadee in Connecticut:
"On Nov. 13, 1875, Mr. Robert Morris, while shooting in a wooded
ravine a few miles from tOAvn [New Haven], killed a female Hudsonian
Titmouse {Parus Iliidsonieus). The specimen is now in the collec-
tion of Mr. Thomas Osborne of this city." Its occurrence so far south
must be regarded as purely accidental. Mr. Wm. Brewster took a
specimen at Concord, Mass., Oct. 30, 1870.* This was supposed to be
the most southern, and only Massachussetts, record, but as long ago
as 1839, Peabody tells us that it " has been found by S. Eliot Greene,
Esq., near his house in Brookline."f

Family, SITTID^E.

1 6. Sitta CarolinensiS (Gmelin) Latham. White-bellied Nuthatch.

Resident ; breeds. Not particularly abundant immediately about
New Haven, especially in sunmier. Its nest, however, has been
taken within city limits by the Stadtmiiller Brothers.

17. Sitta Canadensis Linne. Red-belHed Xulhatch.

A tolerably common winter resident, arriving about the middle of
October (Oct. 13, 1875, abundant), and remaining till after the middle
of April (April 19, 1876, Osborne).

Family, CERTHIID^:.

18. Certhia familiaris Limie. Browu Creeper.

A rather common resident; breeds. Particularly abundant in win-
ter, when it may frecpUMitly be si-en running about on tlie elms in the
heart of the city.

Family, TROG-LODYTID^.

19. Troglodytes aedon Vielllot. House Wren.

A summer resident; breeds. Not abundant. Arrives late in April
or early in May (Apr. 27, 1869, Hartford; 27, 1877, Portland; May

*Am. Nat., voh vi, No. 5. p. 30G. May, 18'72.

f A Report on the Ornithology of Massac-husctts, l)y AVm. B. O. I'eabody. p. 402.
1839.

(\ If. MerrltDii — liinis of <\<inH rt;<uit. \\

2, 18(>.'{; ;}, IS-ZO; 1, istil, 1S7:!, all rortlan.l, C'..iiii., .1 n... II. Sa^^-),
ri'iiiainiiig till late in October (Oct. 2() and :30, 1X75).

20. Anorthura troglodytes, var. hyemalis (Vieiii.) Couos. winter

Wren.

A winter resident ; lather common durino- migiations. Have seen
it early in October (Oct. 2d), and secured a specimen on tlie 24tli of
November, 1875. ]\Ir. (Irinnell has taken it every month dnrin<^^
winter.

21. Telmatodytes palustris (Wilson) Baird. Lonfr-billod Marsh Wrcn.
A common summer resident; breeds abundantly in the brackish

water marshes bordering the Quinnipiac river, near New Haven.
JVJr. A. J. Dayan and myself found dozens of completed nests, a few
of which contained from 1 to 5 eggs each, on the 7th of June, ISVG.
Also breeds in suitable fresh water marshes throughout the State.

22. Cistothorus Stellaris (Licht.) Cabanis. Short-billed Marsh Wren.

A rather rare summer resident; breeding in suitable localities along
our southern border and in the Connecticut Valley. " New Haven,"
Linsley. Dr. Wood tells me that it is not common about Hartford,
Conn. ; and Mr. Erwin I. Shores writes me that it breeds in a marsh
near Southwick (or Congannick) Ponds, in the town of Suffteld,
Hartford Co., Conn, (close to the Massachusetts border). Mr. J. (4.
Ely, of Lyme, Conn., w^rites me that the Short-billed Marsh Wren
breeds abundantly in that vicinity.

Note. — The Great Carolina Wren, Thryothorus Jjudovickmus
(Latham) Bonap., has been known to breed in Massachusetts* and on
Long Island, and doubtless occurs, as a rare summer resident from
the South, in the Connecticut Valley, and along our southern border.

. Family, ALAUDID^.

23. Eremophila alpestris (Porst.) Boie. Homed Lark.

A winter resident, occurring along the shore, and also in barren,
sandy, tracts, throughout the State. Mr. Dayan, Mr. Osborne, Mr.
Grinnell, and myself, have seen it here in fall (Nov. 18, 1874, C. H.
M.) and winter, and Mr. W. W. Coe has found it at Portland, Conn.,
as late as March 26, (1875).

*J3ull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i, No. 3, p. 76. Sept. 1876.

12 C. IT. Merriain — Dinh of Connecticut.

Family, MOTACILLID.^.

24. Anthus Ludovicianus (Gmelin) Licht. Titlark.

Common along the coast during migrations. Have taken it as late
as Nov. 14. It passes north in the month of May (Dr. Wood). Dr.
Brewer says that he has " found it, sometimes in large flocks, in open
country near the coast, in Massachusetts, in midwinter."*

Family, SYLVICOLID^.

25. Mniotilta varia (Linne) Vieillot. Black-and-wliite Creeper.

A summer resident ; breeds. Particularly abundant during migra-
tions. Arrives late in April or early in May (April 30, 1877, May 2,
1876), remaining till October (Oct. 2). Mr. J. H. Sage writes that,
in company with Mr. J. N. Clark, he took a nest containing five eggs
of this species, at Saybrook, Conn., May 30, 1877. 1 shot it at New
Haven on June 23, and have seen several others during the breeding
season. Mr. Sage also took another nest containing five eggs
(" young well developed"), at Portland, Conn., June 12, 1875.

26. Parula Americana (Linne) Bonap. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler.

A summer resident ; breeds. One of our commonest migrants.
Arrives early in May (May 2d, Osborne). In the fall it is very abun-
dant during the middle and latter part of September, and I have taken
it as late as Oct. 13th. Mr. W. W. Coc showed me a number of their
beautiful hanging nests, composed entirely of Usnea, which he had
found about Portland, Conn. It has also been found breeding near
New Haven (Maltby Park — Stadtm tiller Brothers).

27. Helm.itherus vermivorus (Gmelin) Bonap. Worm-eating Warbler.

A rare summer resident; breeds. As long ago as the year 1843, Dr.
J. D. Whelpley observed this species at New Haven (Linsley), and it
has since been taken in this vicinity by several collectors. In the
"Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club," (vol. ii, No. 1, Jan., 1877, p. 21), Mr.
H. A. Purdie states that " Mr. Shores shot a male at Suffield (Hart-
ford County), Conn., August 22, 1874. This is, I think, its most
northerly record in the Atlantic States yet noted." Also, in the
American Naturalist for Nov., 1873 (vol. vii, No. 2, p. 692), the same
author remarks that Mr. J. N. Clai'k, of Saybrook, Conn., writes him
that he has taken "in the nesting season, 7Ze^»iiY/ie/*MS yer»?/vor«5.

* Hull. Null,. Orniili. ("lull, vol. i, No. 4, p. 02. Nov. 1870.

(\ If. Merrid))! — Birds of Convecticnt. |;{

but as yet has faiknl to iiiul the nest." ^Ir. Clark tells iiu' lie li.is
soon as many as five individuals in a single day. Mr. Tlioinas
Osborne, of Xew Haven, lias a mounted specimen in his cal>ini'l, pro-
cured May 17, 1875. Two or three others speciineus were shot, near
here in May, 1875, and Mr. George Bird Grinnell tells me that he
has known of the capture of several in this vicinity.

8o little is really known concerning the habits of this rare warbler,
that I take great pleasure in quoting the following interesting account
of it from the observations of my friend, Mr. William IJrewster, of
Cambridge, " On the Birds of Ritchie County, West Virginia.'" Mr.
Brewster writes that it is " most partial to the retired thickets in the
woods, along water courses, and is seldom or never foimd in the \\i\x\\
open groves. They keep much on the ground, and walk about rather
slowly, searching for food among the dried leaves. In general
appearance they are quite unique, and I rarely failed to identify one
with an instant's glance, so very peculiar are all their attitudes and
motions. The tail is habitually carried at an elevation considerably
above the line of the back, which gives them quite a smart, jaunty,
air, and if the dorsal aspect be exposed, in a clear light, the peculiar
marking of the crown is quite conspicuous. Seen as they usually are,
however, dimly flitting ahead through the gloom and shadow of the
thickets, the impression received is that of a dark little bird which
vanishes unaccountably before your very eyes, leaving you quite
uncertain where to look for it next : indeed, I hardly know a more
difficult bird to procure, for the slightest noise sends it darting otf
through the woods at once. Occasionally you will come upon one
winding around the trunk of some tree, exactly in the manner of
Mniot'dta varia^ running out along the branches with nimble motion,
peering alternately under the bark on either side, and anon returning
to the main stem, perhaps the next instant, to hop back to the ground
again. On such occasions they rarely ascend to the height of more
than eight or ten feet. The males are very quarrelsome, chasing one
another through the woods with loud, sharp, chirpings, careering
with almost inconceivable velocity up among the tojis of the liighest
oaks, or darting among the thickets with interminable douldings until
the pursuer, growing tired of the chase, alights on some low twig or
mossy log, and, in token of his victory, utters a warble so feeble that
you miist be very near to catch it at all, a sound like that produced
by striking two pebbles very quickly and gently together, or the
song of ISinzella socialis heard at a distance, and altogether a very
indifferent performance."*

* Annals Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. Y.. vol. xi, pp. 134-5. June, 1875.

14 C. H. Mernam — Birds of Connecticut.

28. Helminthophaga pinus (Linne) Baird. Bhie-winged Yellow Warbler.
A summer resident in soiitliern Connecticut and in the Connecticut

Valley; breeds. Not common at New Haven. Mr. L. C. Bragti;
took a female May 12, and I captured a male on the 24th, 1876. Mr.
J. N. Clark finds it breeding regularly, and in considerable numbers,
at Saybrook, Conn.* Mr. W. R. Nichols shot one at Branford, Conn.,
May 12th, 1877. On the 23d of June last (1877) while collecting with
Mr. Wm. n. Taylor, in a piece of woods within a mile of the city of
New Haven, I succeeded in shooting a fine adult male of this species,
which Prof. Wm. D. Whitney was kind enough to mount for the
collection of New England birds now on exhibition in the Peabody
Museum of Yale College. The bird kept flitting about so actively in
the dense undergrowth that it was with difliculty secured. It unques-
tionably had a nest in the immediate vicinity.

29. Helminthophaga Chrysoptera (Linne) Cabanis. Blue Golden-
winged Warbler.

A rather rare summer resident ; breeds in the northern part of the
State. Mr. Walter P. Nichols shot one near New Haven August, 24,
1870, and Mr. Osborne tells me that he saw one in May, 1875, killed
by a friend of his. I have not yet met with it. The finest specimens
of this beautiful warbler that I have ever seen are in the cabinets of
Mr. Coe and Mr. Sage, of Portland, Conn. They were taken in that
vicinity. Mr. Sage informs me that he has seen it from INIay 11th,
(May 11 and 27, 1876) to the 30th, (May, 30, 1877, Saybrook).
Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., tells me that he has seen but one
specimen there. Mr. Erwin I. Shores writes me from Suffield, Conn. :
"Not common; breeds. On July 7th, 1876, I obtained a female and
three young just able to fly. Have taken it at two other times."
Dr. Crary has taken it near Hartford.

30. Helminthophaga ruficapilla (Wilson) Baird. Nashville Warbler.

A summer resident; abundant spring and autumn migrant. Arrives
early in May. Breeds sparingly throughout the State.

31. Helminthophaga peregrina (Wilson) Cabanls. Tennessee Warbler.

A rather rare migrant. Two s])ecimens were taken near New
Haven during the latter j)art of May, 1876 (May 24, Osborne; May
26, Bragg). Mr. Erwin I. Shores shot one near Suffield, Conn., June 8,

* Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. II, p. 692. Nov. 1873.

V. II. Jlerriam — Jiirds o/' Co/utccficut. 15

1875, which is so late one might almost suspect it of Lreedino; witliin
our limits. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Sayhrook, has a sj)eciiiicii in his
cabinet in unusually high plumage ; it is a rare bird there. I :iiii 1..I1I
by Mr. Clark and others that its note is peculiarly loud .ind clear,
serving to distinguish the species when some distance away.

Note. — The Orange-crowned Warbler, Ilelmhtthophtga celata
(Say) Baird, has been taken both in Massachusetts* and Rhode
Island,f and also in New York State (by Mr. E. P. Bicknell, and but
a few miles from our western border)| and uncpiestionably occurs
within our limits.

32. DendrCBCa aestiva (Gmeliu) Baird. YeUow Warbler.

A common summer resident ; breeds. Arrives about the first of
May (May 7, Osborne; May 4, 1874, and May 5, 187;?, Portland,
Conn., Sage).

33. Dendroeca virens (Gmelin) Baird. Black-throated Green "Warbler.

A summer resident; very abundant during its migrations. Arrives
about May 1st, remaining through the month (May 23) ; have taken
them in the fall, from September loth to October 18th. Mr. W. W.
Coe tells me that they remain through the entire summer in dense
swamps about Portland, Conn., and doubtless breed, though he has
not yet taken the nest. I am also informed by Mr. J. N. Clark that a
few" breed at Saybrook, where he has found two nests after the young
had hatched. I am surprised at this, for it is the last place in the
State where they ought, theoretically, to breed.

34. Dendroeca Caerulescens (Linue) Baird. Black-tliroated Blue Warl)k"r.

A summer resident. Common spring migrant; Mr. Osborne ami
myself have also taken it here in autumn (October 7, 12, and 1!)).
Arrives about May 10th; breeds sparingly in the northeastern part
of the State (Eastford), where two nests were found in June (8 and
13, 1874,) by the Rev. C. M. Jones. §

35. Dendroeca Caerulea (Wilson) Baird. Cierulean Warl)lcr.

A very rare summer visitant from the Southern and Central States.
This rare warbler was observed at Stratford, Conn., by Linsley, as

* Bull. Nutt. Ornithol. Club, vol. i, No. 4, p. 95. Nov. 1876.

f Ibid, vol. ii. No. 1, p. 21. Jan. 1877.

X In letter from E. P. Bicknell.

§ Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i, No. 1, p. 11. April, 1876.

16 C. H. 3ferrla)n — Birds of Connecticut.

long ago us April, 1841, II. A. Purdie says, "a male was obtained
by Mr. Shores at Suffiekl, June 12, 1875."* Mr. Shores writes nie
that he " obtained it purely by accident while trying to shoot a
Warbling Vireo ( Vlreo gUvus).'^'' So far as I am aware these two are
the only instances of its capture within the State.

36. Dendroeca COronata (Linne) Gray. Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Very common during migrations. Have taken it as early as xVpril
18th (1875). In the fall it may be seen from the last of September
till the first of November, some remaining still later (Nov. 15), and
Mr. Grinncll informs me that he has taken it every month during the
entire winter,

37. Dendroeca Blackbnrniae (Gmeliu) Baird. Blackburnian Warbler.

Common during the migrations, being particularly abundant in
spring. A few sometimes breed. Arrives about May 9th, remaining
till the last of the month (May 27). Also occurs from the middle of
September till early in October (Oct. 8), In the spring great num-
bers of them frequent the elms in the heart of the town. Mr. Josiah G.
Ely writes me, from Lyme, Conn., that he " shot a female Black-
burnian Warbler in July, 1873, with its belly minus of feathers. It
evidently had a nest somewhere in that vicinity."

38. Dendroeca striata (Fonstor) Baird. Black-poll Warl)lL>r.

One of our most abundant migrants. iVrrives from the south al)out
May 13th, remaining till the last of the month (May 30 ; June 2, 1872,
Portland, Conn,, Sage). In the autumn they are quite numerous by
Sei)t. 10th, and their number does not decrease much till after the
middle of October — some staying till the last of the month (Oct. 20),

39. Dendroeca castanea (WiLson) Baird. Bay-breasted Warbler.

Sometimes quite abundant during the spring migration (1876, for
example) ; at other times extremely rare, if occurring at all. Arrives
about the middle of May, remaining till the last of the month. Mr-
Osborne has seen it in fall (Sept. 30 and Oct. 17, 1870). Mr. Shores
gives it as "rare," never having taken "but two specimens," at
Suffield, Conn.f

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 21. January, 1817.
f MS. notes of Krwiii I. Shores.

C. II. Mcrrhun — liirds of (Jon ne<-f lent. 17

40. Dendroeca Pennsylvanica (Limu;) Baird. oiu'stimt-Hidod Wariiicr,
A suimnor resuloiit ; breods. Very al)un(l;uil durinir ini<_;:r:\ti<tiis.

Arrhi's oarly in May (7), the grcatiT iiuinUci- passing; north lu'loro
tlic first of June.

41. Dendroeca maculosa (Gmclin) Baird. Blark-and-yollow Warldcr.

A c(iinni(iii spring antl autumn migrant. Arrives about i\Iay 12lli,
remaining till June 1st. Have taken it in the fall, from the middle
of September to October 1st, ami it })robably remains still later.*

42. Dendroeca tigrina (Gmelin) Baird. Cape May Warbler.

A rather rare migrant, though a few are taken every season. Ilaxc
known of its occurrence from May 10th, (Osborne) to the 25tli. Mr.
Shores writes me that it is generally rare about Sufllield, C\)iui., but
that it was not uncommon there in the spring of 1870.

43. Dendroeca discolor (Vieillot) Baird. Prairie Warbler.

A summer resident; not common about New Haven. Breeds spar-
ingly. Mr. Dayan has taken it on May 13th and Sept. 15th. Mr. W.
W. Coe tells me that it breeds near ]*ortland, Conn., but is rather rare.
I shot one near New Haven, May 14th, 1877. I am informe<l by Mr.
E. I. Shores, of Sutheld, that it is not rare about Enfield, Conn. jMr.
J. N. Clark tells me that it breeds plentifully about Saybrook, Conn.

44. Dendroeca dominica (Linne) Baird. Yellow-throated A\^arbler.

A rare accidental visitor from the south Dr. Daniel Crary, of I lart-
ford. Conn., writes me that during fifteen years of bird collecting in
that vicinity (in the Connecticut Valley) he has secured several speci-
mens of this rare species. Dr. E. L. II. Thompson also assures nic that
he has seen it about New Haven. Cones, in his " List of the Birds
of New England," states, and very properly too, that " there is no
good evidence," that this species "ever straggles as far north as
New England,"! but, for some unaccountable reason, in his " Birds
of the Northwest" (p. 66) disregards his former correct statement
and says that the bird occurs "north to Connecticut (Linsley)." .V
glance at Linsley's catalogue shows that he did not ktiow of its
occurrence in this State.

* For an interesting account of the habits of this bird, see an article by William
Brewster, in Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. ii. No. 1, pp. 1-7. Jan., 1877.
f Proceed. Essex. Inst., vol. v, p. 270.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 3 July, 1877.

18 C. H. Merrimn — Birds of Coiinectkut.

45. Dendrceca palmarum (Gmelin) Baird. Red poU Warbler.

A common spring and autumn migrant. Arrives, in spring, about
the middle of April (13, 1877; 18, 1875), usually remaining but a few
days ; in fall I have taken it from Oct. 18th to Nov. 4th. But few were
seen this spring (1877), and they straggled along in the most unaccount-
able manner. I shot one as late as May 5th ! Along with D. piniis and
D. coronata it may be seen, in spring, long before the hosts of other
warblers make their appearance. It is also one of the last to depart
in the fall, at which time it is found along fences, and among low
bushes, by the road-side, and in open fields. In early spring, before
the snow has quite all disappeared, large numbers of them may some-
times be seen, in company with the English Sparrows, running about
on the plots of bare ground, and the roots of the elm trees, in the
City Green., in the heart of New Haven, In fact they seem to pay but
little attention to the weather, as may be seen from the circumstance
that they were really abundant on the 18th of April, 1875, at a time
when the ground was covered with snow nearly a foot deep, with
only here and there a bare spot ; while none were seen this season
(1877) till April 13th, notwithstanding the fact that the ground had
been bare since the latter part of March, and the weather imusually
mild. Apparently in great haste to reach the breeding grounds,
their stay witli us, in spring, is generally brief — a kw days and all
are gone. During the autumnal migrations, however, the case is
quite diiferent. Having safely accomplished a long and perilous
journey to the far north, and having successfully struggled with the
elements and the hungry animate world in rearing and ])rovidiiig for
a family of children, its anxiety is over, and now it lingers, for two
or three weeks, in its favorite haunts l)y the road-side, before taking
its fiiuil departure for Cuba or the Bahamas ; or, )>erchance, it may
not pass beyond our own limits, but, finding some suitable spot in
the Gulf States, concludes to go no farther, and winters there.

The abundance of this species during its migrations varies con-
siderably in difterent years. Thus in the spring of 1875 they were
very numerous, wliilc this season (1877) less than half a dozen
were seen. This remark applies with e(jual force to D. 2^f»"S and
several other species,

46. Dendrceca pinilS (Wilson) Baird. Pine-creepinp Warbler.

A summer resident; tolerably common during migrations. It
luH'eds in [lines, and is more often heard than seen. .Vrrives before the

C IT. Merridtii — Jiirda of Conneoticnf. 1 0

iniddk' ol' .Vpril* (April 14, and |)ri)l):il)ly oarlior) and departs in Sep-
tember (Sei)t. 29, 1875, Sage). They are so partial to tlie trci wliose
name tliey bear tliat, in speakins; of tlieir lialuts in tlie " Pine-barrens"
of Soutli Carolina and Georgia, I remarked that "it was very appro-
priately named the ji>2V?e-creeping warbler, as I never, excej)! on one
occasion, saw it alight, even for an instant, on anything but a pine
tree; liere it would sit by the honr and wai-ble out its sweet song."f
I miglit also state that at sncli times it is generally so concealeil
among the branches that one may not unfrequently s]»end half an
hour in vainly endeavoring to " get a shot " — the bird, meanwliile,
uttering, at intervals, its characteristic note, which is not unlike a
certain strain in the pleasant and perplexing song of the common
field-sparrow (Spizella jyiffiiUtf). On referring to my MS. notes on
the birds of Central jMassachusetts, I find the following : "Seldom
found except in pine woods, where a few were found breeding on
June 25th, 1874." Here, however, though evidently preferring sim-
ilar tracts, they may be met with, especially during the migrations,
in a variety of situations. In the spring of 1875, for example, they
were frequently seen in the City (Treen hopping about on the ground
in company with Z>. />rt///<«r?/w, and the English Sparrows, and run-
ning up and down on the trunks of the large elms searching for
insects. Mr. C. J. Maynard, in his beautiful, but lamental)ly incom-
plete, work on the "Birds of Florida," says: "While walking in
the piny woods of Florida one will suddenly observe that the trees
over his head are filled with birds, where but a moment before not a
living thing was to be seen ; and his ears will be saluted by a varietj^
of sounds. Beside the loiid, harsh notes of the woodpeckers and
nuthatches, and the mellow whistle of the bluebirds, the slowly
given trill of the pine warblers will occasionally be heard. There
are hundreds of these little birds in every passing fiock, yet but few
of them ever sing. They are extremely active, now searching for
insects among the swaying foliage of the pines high overhead, then
clinging to the brown trunks to peer into the crevices of the bark, or
alighting on the ground. ..... Of all the thousands of this sjiecies

which spend the colder season in Florida but few remain to bi-eed,
and by the middle of March the greater portion leave lor the North.
They arrive in New England in early April, and by the first of May

* Dr. J. A. Allen stated, in the "New England Farmer" for 1861 (p. 540): "The
present 3'ear [1861] I observed them the 4th of April, at which time a recent snow
covered the ground to the depth of several inches."

•j- Am. Nat., vol. viii. No. 1, p. 7. .Tan. 1874.

20 C. H. Merriain — liirds of Connecticut.

begin to construct their nests, wliicli are commonly placed in a fork
of the topmost limb of a pine tree."*

47. Siurus auricapillus (Linne) Swainson. Golden-crowned Thrush;

" Oven Bird."

A common summer resident, arriving early in May (May 3), and
remaining till the latter part of September, Breeds abundantly. Its
characteristic loud, but not particularly pleasing, note frequently
annoys one while listening for the softer tones of some of the rarer
warblers.

48. Siurus naevius (Boddaert) Coues.f (Novehoracensis of Authors.) Water-

Wagtail; Water Thrush.

Rather common during migrations. Possibly a few occasionally
remain and breed. Arrives early in May. Have taken it in spring
from May 5th to 2'7th ; and in fall from Sept. 28th to Oct. 18th. Mr.
Gentry, in his late work on the " Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania," says
that it " cannot be considered either abiindant or rare." The same
remark applies here in s])ring, when they frequent their fiivorite haunts
near some small stream or swampy jdace in woodland. In the fall,
however, they sometimes congregate in rather large tlocks and may
then be seen on hill-sides away from water.

49. Siurus motacilla (Vlelllot) Coues. (Ludovidanus of Authors.) Large-

billed Water Thrush.

Not rare in southern Connecticiit, where it breeds regularly, and
probably in considerable numbers. Ai-rives earlier than eitlier of the
other species. I shot a fine male on the 2'7th of A])ril, 1877. That
they also breed very early is shown by the fact that a fennile, con-
taining an egg ready for the nest, was shot by my friend, Mr. Dayan,
on the 17th of May, 1876; and j\Ir. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn.,
tells me that the young are generally hatched before May 25th. The
fact of its breeding regularly in southern New England has now
become so well established that it would be superfluous to cite the
numerous published records of its capture.

In habits it seems to agree with IS. ricavhis — at least in its fondness
for shaded streams. Its note is peculiarly loud and clear, and does

* The Birds of Florida. By. C. J. Maynard. Part IT, p. 49. Salem, 187.S.
\ For Uie nomenclature of this genus, see Couos, in HullcMii of the Nuttall Omitli.
Club, vol. ii, No. 2. April, 1877.

C. II. Mcrrhtni — lili'iU of ('(ymiictirnt.

21

not reseiiil)U' that of any other l)ir(l I havt- cvit hcar.l. Dr. K. \V.
Hall shot a ])air in Maltby Park (iioar Now Haven) .lunc Kuh, ls74;
they ha<l evidently Lred there. W. R. Nichols and Thos. I'.. Oshcrnc
saw several speeinuns on the 2(1 of INIay, one of which they seciireil ;
and on the 15th 1 saw still another. T am informed hy .Mr. .1. X.
Clark, of Sayhrook, that a favorite site for their nests is anioiiir the
uptnrned roots of a fallen tree.

In writing of the habits of this species in West \'ir^inia, ;\lr.
Brewster says: " While the northern Water Thrush [S. nmniiis] was
confined to the muddy banks of the creek — and T will retnark en
2)(issant that I never saw one other than in a muddy locality — this
species seemed to delight in the pebbly streams of the hills ; just such
streams as in the New England mountains would be called good
trout brooks, overshadowed by mighty forest trees, frequently choke<l
up by fallen logs, and abounding in beautiful cascades, still, deep
pools, and wild rocky ravines. In the deepest, darkest retreats you
were most likely to find him, aud here, on several occasions, 1 was
foi'tnnate enough to hear his song. It is somewhat like that of *S'.
JVovehoracensls [S. n/evhis], being quite as loud, almost as rapid, and
commencing in nearly the same way, but lacking the beautiful cres-
cendo termination, and, altogether, a less fine performance. Repre-
sented by words, it would be nearly as follows : pseur^ps^etn', per s^e ser.
This is usually uttered several times in succession from some shelving
rock, or fallen log overhanging the stream; the bird in the inter-
vals between each repetition tilting its body incessantly, and looking
nervously about as if he didn't half like yonr appearance and had a
good mind to be off, and this expression, in the majority of cases,
soon finds vent in action, for he is a very shy little fellow the moment
he begins to suspect that he is wanted to grace your cabinet. (\)me
upon him suddenly, however, as he is running nimbly along the mar-
gin of some quiet pool or rip))ling eddy, and at times he will seem lo
]>ay little regard to your ]>resence, and you may have a fine chance
to observe his motions and sandpiper-like ways, as he waiUs knee
deep into the water, or splashes through it in hot |)ursuit of some
aquatic insects."*

50. Oporornis agilis (Wil.son) Baird. Connecticut Warbler.

A rare spring and autumn migrant. The only specimen that I have
ever seen alive was a female, which I shot near New Haven, Oct. 2d,

* Annats Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. xi, pp. i:5(;-."?7. June, 1875.

22 C H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

1875. Nearly four years ago Mr. H. A. Piirdie called attention to
the fiict that it liad been obtained, in September, at Saybrook, Conn.,
by Mr. ,1. N. Clark;* and Mr. Clark has recently informed me that
he has taken several specimens there in fall, and one " fnll-plumaged
male in spring." This last is the finest specimen I have ever seen,
and, at first sight, 1 mistook it for the Mourning Warbler ( Geothlypis
Philadelphia)^ the male of which it closely resembles, both in the
d'eep ash of the throat and breast (which is almost black where it
joins the yellow below), and in the shade and limited extent of the
yellow of the belly. The ring around the eye, however, is well
marked, and i)ure white.

As its name indicates, this species was first discovered in Connecti-
cut, and by the distinguished Ornithologist, Alexander Wilson. He
met with it l>ut oncte in this State, but afterwards found it in
Pennsylvania, and says, " It was found, in every case, among low
thickets, but seemed more than commonly active, not remaining for a
moment in the same position."! Its habits are such as to render it
unlikely to l)e observed unless present in considerable numbers.

51. Oporornis formOSUS (Wilson) Baird. Kentucky Warbler.

A rare snnnner visitor from the South. Mr. Erwin I. Shores, who
has favored me with so many valuable notes concerning our rarer
birds, writes that he " obtained a male of this species at Suffield,
Conn., Aug. 10th, 187G,"J thus adding another bird, not only to the
Avi-fauna of Connecticut, but also to New England. I am aware that
Dr. Cones, in his " Birds of the Northwest" (p. 73), states that the
species occurs " north to the Connecticut Valley," but on what
authority I am unable to surmise. Perhai)s the learned Doctor's
knowledge of the distribution of birds, and of that something in their
hearts which ofttimes causes those inexplicable i)eregi'inations, together
with his marvelous })ower of intuition, told him that it did occur in
the Connecticut Valley, and had long been waiting to be discovered
by Mr. Shores. Indee<l, nearly ten years ago. Dr. Cones ]»rophesied
that " the occurrence of this sjiecies as a rare or casual summer visitor
in southern New England is to be confidently anticipated,";? and it
is an old saying that ])robabilities become facts if only given time
enough.

* Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 2, p. 693, Nov. IS?."?.

I American Ornithology. Vol. ii, p. 1(!0. Kdinlnirj^h. 18.''.1.

:j: MS. notes of Erwin 1. Shores.

§ Proceed. Kssex In.st, vol. v, p. 209. 1K(;8.

6'. H. Meri'htin — lilrds of ('on/iecticnt. 2;{

Its iK'sl was louiid at Sing Sing, Woytcla'tor Co., X. V., in .linii'
1875, by Mr. A. K. Fislior,* aiul Mr. E. P. Bickndl writes iiu' llial
lie socufod a male at Kivonlalo, in the same county, May ;{(), ls7G.
liiraud found it on Long Island many years ago.f Wilson says, "This
species is seldom seen among the high branches, hut loves to fre(iueiit
low l>ushes and cane swamps, and is an active, sprightly l)ird. Its
notes are loud, and in thi-ees, resembling tweedle, tweedle, tirccdh'. . .
... It ai)peared to nu' to be a restless, fighting species, almost
ahvays engaged in pursuing some of its fellows ; though this might
have been occasioned by its numbers, and the particulai' season of
s})ring, Avhen love and jealousy rage with violence in the breasts of
the feathered tenants of the grove; who experience all the ardency of
those passions no less than their lord and sovereign man. "J

Since writing the above I learn from Mr. J. G. Ely of Lyme, Conn.,
that he has "shot one Kentucky Warbler."

52. G-eothlypis trichas (Liime) Cabanis. Maryland Yellow-throat.

A common summer resident, breeding plentifully. Arrives early in
May (May 5), remaining till late in the fall (Nov. 1st, 187(3).

53. G-eothlypis Philadelphia (Wilsou) Baird. Mourning Warbler.

A rather rare niigrunt, but ]n"obal)ly more abundant than commonly
supposed — not coming till after most of the warblers are gone. Have
only seen it in spring. Mr. Bragg shot a male on May 24th, 187<i, in low
bushes. On the following day Mr. Dayan secured two males ; and I
saw several on the morning of the 27th. Mr. Thomas Osborne lias
seen it as early as May 15th (May 15 and 17, 1876). I shot a beautiful
nuile near Savin Rock, Conn., May 25th, 1877. Mr. Griniiell tells me
that he killed a pair ( S and 9 ) late in May, 1875, near ^lilford, Conn.
Mr. J. N. Clark, also, has killed it, late in May, at Saybrook, Conn.
At Easthamptou, Mass., in the spring of 1874, I shot two specimens :
" The first. May 27th, in a brush-heap; and the other, May 28th, on a
large birch tree." Large numbers of them breed regularly, in suitable
localities, in Lewis and Herkimer Counties, in northern New York.
It also breeds abundantly about Umbagog Lake, Oxfoi-d Co., Maine
(Brewster), and in Miiniesota (T. Martin Trippe), even as i'ar west as
"the Red River, between Dakota and Minnesota" (Coues).

* Am. Nat., vol. ix, No. 10, p. 573. Oct., 1875.

f Birds of Long Island. By J. P. Giraud. Jr., p. 50. 1844.

:]: Wilson's American Ornithology. Vol. ii, p. l")l-2. \'.<:'>\.

24 6". H. Merriain — Birds of Co)inectlcut.

Regarding its song, Samuels, in his " IJirJs of Xew England,''' says,
" Its note was a simple chirp, with a warl)ling termination like the
syllables chlrpchree, chirpchree, littered in a soft, pensive tone" (p.
207). I am j)erfectly familiar with the song of the bird in question,
but never heard it utter a note that could, by any legitimate stretch
of the imagination, be construed into Samuels' '■'' chirpchree.'''' Its
common song consists of a simple, clear, warbling whistle, resembling
the syllables Hrue, Hr'Cbe, ''tri/.e, Hru^ ^too, the voice rising on the
first three syllables and falling on the last two. Sometimes, when
otherwise occupied, the first, or first two, syllables are omitted. All
through the breeding season, and till late in July, they have a very
characteristic habit of perching, at frequent intervals during the day,
on some branch, generally a dead one, and commonly ten or fifteen
feet from the ground, and singing for half an hour at a time.

54. Icteria Virens (Linne) Baird. Yellow-breasted Chat.

A common summer resident, breeding in dense undergrowth.
Arrives before the middle of May (May 13, 1876, Osborne; U, 1877).
Extends up the Connecticut Valley to Massachusetts (" not rare" at
Suffield).* Given by Emmons, in 1833, as an "occasional visitant"
in Massachusetts.f Their loud, ringing, notes surpass those of the
Catbird and almost equal the richly varied song of the Brown
Thrush {HarporJiiiiichus rvfus). Its habits so closely resemble those
of its western congener (var. longicaiukt) that I take the liberty to
quote the following brief extract, relating to some of the peculiari-
ties of that bird, from my report on the Mammals and liirds collected
by the U. S. Geol. Survey of the Territories in the year ls72 : "They
are shy, suspicious creatures, and, although when disturbed they flit
about in a scolding, angry manner, generally manage to keep out oi
sight. You hear them in the bushes imitating the mewing of a cat,
the shrill notes of the Jay, sometimes singing like a Catbird, and
again they sing sweetly in theii" own peculiar manner. They have a
strange habit of elevating themselves in the air to the height of
thirty or forty feet, then, poising for a moment, descend again to the
bushes. During the descent they jerk themselves about in the air,
at the same time uttering clear, ejaculated notes, which can be heard
for quite a distance, and are not altogether unpleasant to the ear."J

* MS. notes of Erwin I. Shores, Esq.
f See Hitchcock's Report, p. 517. 1S:{3.
X See llayden's Hcport for 1872, p. G75.

C. H. Merriam — Binls of ('<mnectirut. '2'>

Win. Brewster, Esq., speaking of its Iwibits in West \'irgini:i,
remarks that they arrived there about May 1st, "mikI lor ;i tlw ilays
were silent, hut soon became very noisy, especially when tlicii-
retreats were invaded. Their notes are so varied as almost to del'v
description. What I took to be the sotif/ of the male was a series of
about eight very loud bell-like whistles, commencing ([uickly, and
becoming sloAver and more emphatic toward the end, then, aft ti an
interval of a few seconds, would follow a scolding chatter, to be
immediately succeeded by a single very clear note, then the series of
whistles again, but all these notes were varied to an almost infinite
extent. All this time the bird would be dodging through the buslies
ahead, keeping always in the thickest places, and jHTh:i]is, ai'tci- a
moment of silence, would suddenly strike up directly behind yon.
In this way I have frequently pursued one for fifteen or tAventy
minutes without so much as getting a glimpse at him. Several times,
however, when I came upon him suddenly, he would put on a very
innocent and injured air and vociferate his notes directly (tt me, as if
to dispel any possible suspicion, on my part, that he had been running,
or, to speak more literally, flying away."*

55. MyiodiOCteS mitratUS (Gmelin) Audubon. Tfooded Warbler.

A summer resident, breeding in the Connecticut valley and along
our southern border. Although breeding abundantly at Sayl»rook,
Conn., according to Mr. J. N. Clark (recorded by II. A. Purdie),f I have,
as yet, seen but a single specimen from this vicinity. An adult female
was shot at Hamden (near New Haven) June 2, 18V4, by Dr. F. W.
Hall. It was evidently breeding. Still it was fomid here in June,
by Dr. Whelpley, as long ago as 1842. J Mr. Clark writes me from
Saybrook : " The Hooded Warbler is very al)undant here in dense
woods, breeding everywhere in suitable places, ahvays in a low
Laurel (Kalmia) bush." Mr. E. I. Shores has taken it at Suttield,
Conn., near the Massachusetts border, but in the Connecticut Valley.

My friends, Messrs. John H. Sage of Portland, Conn., and Eugene
P. Bicknell of Riverdale, Westchester Co., N. Y., have recently
called my attention to an interesting state of plumage, in the femaU'
of this species, which was alluded to by Wilsong and Nuttall,|| but

* AuD. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. xi, pp. 137-8. June, 1875.
f Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 11, p. 692. Nov., 1873.
X Lin.«iley's Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut, p. 257. 1843.
§ American Ornithology, vol. ii, p. 136. 1831.
II Manual of Ornithology. Vol. i, p. 374. 1832.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 4 -Tvly, 1877.

26 C. H. Merriam — Birch of Connecticut.

lias since been denied by both Cones* and Baird,f who positively,
assert that the female has no black on the head. Concerning it, Mr.
Sage favors me with the following note : " When collecting at Say-
brook, Conn., with Mr. J. N. Clark, May 30th, ISVV, he shot a female
M. mitratus in a plnmage not mentioned in onr Ornithological works,
and thinking a description w^ould be interesting, I send the following-
Bill black. Feet flesh-color. Head and fore pai't of breast black (but
not so pure as in the adult male), with slight indications of black on
the throat. A broad patch on the forehead, extending down on the
cheeks, with the under parts bright yellow\ Ear-coverts tinged with
olive. Upper parts olive-green. Wings unmarked. Greater part of
inner webs of outer three tail feathers white. The ova of this speci-
men were large. We took the nest with four eggs."

I have lately seen, in the cabinet of Mr. Sage, the bird from which
the above description was taken, and have now before me another
female (killed by Dr. F. W. Hall, near New Haven, June 2, 1874)
which agrees well with the description of Mr. Sage's specimen, but
has the crown of the head, or " hood," deep black — as rich as in the
male. The lores also, in this specimen, are black, and the auriculars
lack the olive tinge, being bright yellow. Since the birds from
which Prof Baird and Mr. Ridgway, and Dr. Cones, took their
descriptions were dried skins, and not " in the flesh," it is not so
surprising that the mature females were mistaken foi* young males.
From the limited amoiuit of material I have l>een able to examine,
and from the notes given me by Mr. Sage and Mr. liicknell, I am
inclined to believe that the female bird, like the male, is several
years — at least three — in attaining its full plumage ; and that the two
sexes, wdien fully adult, can only be distinguished by the fact that,
in the female, the throat, though strongly tinged with black, is never
pure black as in the male.

56. Myiodioctes pusillus (Wilson) Bonaparte. Green Black-capped

Fly-catdiing Warhler.

A tolerably common spring migrant, arriving about the middle of
May. Have not taken it later than the 25th. This species is by no
means so common here as it seems to have been formerly.

X Coues' Key to N. Am. Birds, p. 109. 1872.

§ Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, lIi.story N. Am. Birds, vol. i, p. .IH. 1871.

C. H. Merriam — Jilnls of Conuectii-Kt. 27

57. MyiodiOCtes Canadensis (UimO) Audubon. Cauadian Fly-c-aUliiufj

Warbler.

Common duriiiii; tlio migrations. Arrives early in May. Have
taken it from the Gth to tlie 29tli. Mr. W. W. Coe informs me that
it doubtless breeds about Portland, Conn., as he has seen it there
tliroughout the summer.

58. Setophaga ruticilla (Linne) Swainson. Redstart.

A eomnion summer resident; breeds. Arrives early in May. lla\i'
taken it from May 8th to September 22d. Mr. Stadtraiiller lias a
very beautiful nest of this species which "was placed in the fork of
an oak tree abont tiftecu feet from the ground. It was built of grass
and bits of paper, and covered with cotton all over outside, and lined
with a few horse hairs."* It contained four eggs, June 10, 1874.

Family, TANAGRID^.

59. Pyranga rubra (Linue) Vieillot. Scarlet Tanager.

A summer resident; not uncommon. Most frequent during the
spring migrations; breeds. Arrives about May 10th, after which
date they are common till the first of June. Took a female Sept.
lUh, 1875.

60. Pyranga aestiva (Linne) Vieillot. Summer Redbird.

A rare summer visitant from the South. ''Stratford and New
Haven, Linsley," and in a foot-note he further states that "The Sum-
mer Kedbird is more rare than the Scarlet Tanager, though 1 have
taken both here [Stratford] during the season of cherry blossoms."f
In the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club for Jan., 1877
(vol. ii. No. 1, p. 21), Mr. Purdie says, " Mr. Jencks informs me that
a luale was shot, a few years since, on Ten-mile River, six or eight
miles northeast of Providence," R. I. I have never met with it except
in Florida, where it has a very pleasant song. Dr. Thompson, of this
city, informs me that he shot one near New Haven, in summer, about
five years ago; and I am told by Prof. Wm. D. Whitney that a
friend of his, who was perfectly familar with the species, saw two
individuals, at different seasons, in Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven.

* MS. notes of the Stadtmiiller Brothers.

f Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. '261. April, 1843.

28 f. H. 3Ierri am— Birds of (Jonnecticut.

INIr, Erwiii I. Shoi'es writes me that lie killed one at Suffield, Conn,
(ill the Connecticut Valley) July 21st, 1876. Does it not sometimes
breed here ?

Family, HIRUNDINID^.

61. HirundO horreorum (Barton.) Barn Swallow.

A common summer resident, breeding abundantly under the roofs
of barns. Arrives during the latter part of April (April 21, 18*77),
remaining till September. Under the head of this species, Peter
Kalm wrote, from Raccoon, New Jersey, in 1750 : " I observed them
for the first time on the 10th of April [new style) ; the next day in
the morning, I saAV great numbers of them sitting on posts and planks,
and they were as wet as if they had been just come out of the sea,"
and the translator of his " Travels," John Reinhold Forster, F.A.S.,
puts in a foot-note, saying : " It has been a subject of contest among

naturalists, to determine the winter-retreat of Swallows The

question must therefore be decided by facts ; nor are they wanting
here: Dr. Waller ius, the celebrated Swedish Chemist, wrote in 1748,
/September the 6th, O. S., to the late Mr. Klein, Secretary of the City
of Dantzick : ' That he has seen more than once Swallotcs assembling
on a reed, till they were all immersed and went to the bottom ; this
being preceded by a dirge of a quarter of an hour's length. He
attests likewise, that he had seen a Sioallow caught during winter
out of a lake with a net, drawn, as is common in northern countries,
under the ice : this bird was brought into a warm room, revived,
fluttered about, and soon after died. Mr. Klein applied to many
Feruiiers generatix of the King of Prussia''s domains, who had great
lakes in their districts All the people questioned made affi-
davits upon oath before the magistrates."

" First, The mother of the Countess LeJmdorf said, that she had
seen a bundle of Swallows brought from the Frith-IIaff (a lake com-
municating with tlie Baltic at PiUaii) Avhich wlu'ii brought into a
moderately warm room, revived and fluttered about. Secondh/,
Count ScJdii'heit gave an instrument on stamped paper, importing,
that by fishing on the lake belonging to his estate of Gerdauen in
winter, he saAV several Swalloios caught in the r.et, one of which he
took up with his hand, brought it into a warm room, where it lay
about an hour, when it l)egaii to stir, and half an hour after it flew
about in the room. Thirdly, Fermier general (Aintman) WitkowsJH
made affidavit, that in the year 1740, three /Swalloivs were brought

C. II. Merrl((ni — l)!r<Jf< of Connect init.

20

ii|) willi tlu' lU'l ill tlu' grrat pond at I>i<IU(rk,n ; in tin. yi-n- 1711^ i,,.
got two Swallows iwnw anotlicr part of tlu' i)on(l, and took tlu'iii home
(they all being caught in liis presence) ; after an liour'n si)iice they
revived all in a warm room, fluttered about, and died three hours
after. Wily., Amtnwn B'Onhe says, that having had the estate
KlcsJvOw in farm, he had seen nine Sicallotcs brought up in the net
from under the ice, all which he took into a warm room, where he
distinctly observed how they gradually revived; but a few hours
after they all died. Another time his people got likewise some /Sioal-
lows in a net, but he ordered them again to be thrown into the water.
bthli/, Andrew liutta, a master fisherman, at Oletsko, made affi-
davit, 1747, that 22 years ago, two /Swallows were taken up, by
him, in a net, under the ice, and being brought into a warm room
they flew about. Qthly, Jacob Kosiulo, a master fisherman, at
/S^rac/at^e/i, made affidavit, that in 1736, he brought u\) in winter, in
a net, from under the ice of the lake at liaski, a seemingly dead
Sioallow, which revived in half an hour's time, in a wai-m room, and
he saw, a quarter of an hour after, the bird gi'ow weaker, and soon
after dying, ^thly, I can reckon myself among the eye-witnesses
of ih\'S> paradoxon of natural history. In the year 1735, being a
little boy, I saw several Swallows brought in winter by fishermen,
from the river Vistida, to my father's house, where two of them were
brought into a warm room, revived, and flew about. I saw them
several times settling on the warm stove (which the Northern pations
have in their rooms) and I recollect well that the same foi-eiioon they

died, and I had them, when dead, in my hand In .January

[1754] the lake oH Lyhshau, belonging to these Estates, being covered
Avith ice, I ordered the fishermen to fish therein, and in my presence
several Swallows were taken; which the fishermen threw in again ;
but one I took u}) myself, brought it home, which was five miles troni
thence, and it revived, but died about an hour after its reviving.

These are facts, attested by peo{)le of the highest (piality It

is therefore highly probable, or rather incontestibly true, that Swal-
lov)S retire in the Northern countries during winter, into the water,
and stay there in a torpid state, till the return of warmth revives
them again in spring."*

Not many years ago 1 brought upon myself the everlasting
odium of an old lady, in the northern part of New York State,
by presuming to question her statement that she had seen. " with

* Peter Kalm's Travels into North America, vol. ii, pp. 140-14. 1771.

30 C. H. Merriam — Birds of (Jounecticut.

her own eyes," a number of Swallows that had been exiumied,
in a toipid state, from the muddy bottom of a pond hi tlie neigh-
borhood of her dwelling. She further stated that, on taking
them into the kitchen, " they soon came to life and flew about the
room," but whether this premature "thawing out" was followed, like
the cases above recorded by Forster, by an equally speedy death, I
do not remember.

62. Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot) Cabanis. White-bellied Swallow.

A common summer resident, breeding in holes in trees (generally
standing in or about ponds). The earliest to arrive and last to depart.
Mr. Grinnell has observed it as early as April Vth, and I have found
it quite common by the 1 3th.

In looking over Mr. W. W. Coe's note book I And the following
interesting item: " While collecting in the vicinity of Portland, Conn.,
June 14th, 1873, I found, in the same tree, three Bluebird's eggs and
four White-l)ellied Swallow's eggs, and thereby hangs a tale : in cut-
ting away the hole to take out the Bhiebird's eggs, I noticed a white
feather sticking up through the nest. Never having seen feathers in
a Bluebird's n"est, and knowing that the White-bellied Swallows
build theirs almost entirely of them, I thought the Bluebirds might
have driven ofi" the Swallows and appropriated the nest to their own
use. On removing the Bluebird's nest I found this to be the case,
for, underneath it was the nest of the White-bellied Swallow complete
and containing four fresh eggs — the eggs of both are now in my
cabinet."*

63. PetrOChelidon lunifrons (Say) Sclater. Cliff Swallow ; Eave Swallow.

A common summi'r resi<lent, breeding abundantly under the eaves
of barns. Arrives about i\[»ril L'Oth (April 15, 1S77, Osborne ; 21,
1877, A. J. Dnyaii), remaining till Septend)er. Professor Verrill, some
vears since, showed conclusively that the Clitt' SwalU)w had not, as
formerly supposed, immigrated from the West, but was actually
known in New England as long ago as the year 1800 — long before
its discovery in the West, lie also states that a large colony of
them was known to breed at Windsor, Conn., in 1830.f

* MS. notes of W. W. Coe.

f rroceod. i5ost. Soc. Nat. Mist., vol. ix, p. '27G. July 1, I8(!:i.

C. If. Merrldvi — JiinJs of ComiertlcKt. 31

64. Cotyle riparia (I.inm'-) Boic. Bank Swallow.

A common summer resident, breeding in eolonii-s in Ik.Ics in
banks, generally near some ])()nd or river. Arrives early in M.i\
(April 21, 1877, A, J. Dayan). Williams, writing of the Swallows
of Vei'mont, in 1794, relates tlie following, wliicli I transcribe for
what it is worth: "Tlu' iisnal times of the appeai-anee and disappear-
ance of these birds, serve to mark the temperature of the climate,
with as much precision, as any of the phenomena of nature. l»ut
they do not seem to be propei'ly birds of passage. At I><iiilii/ in this
State, the inhabitants report, that some of them were taken out of a
pond in that town, some years ago. A man was em|)loyed in the
winter, to procure the roots of tlic pond lily, for medicinal purposes.
Among the mud and roots which he threw out, several swallows were

found enclosed in the mud ; alive, but in a torpid state It has

been doubted by some able naturalists, whether it is possible for the
Swallow to live in such a situation. I saw an instance which puts
the possibility of the fiict beyond all room for doubt. About the
year 1760, two men w^ere digging in the salt marsh, at Cambridge, in
Massachixsetts : on the bank of the Charles River, about two feet
below the surface of the ground, they dug i;p a Swallow, wholly sur-
rounded and covered with mud. The Swallow was in a torpid state,
but being held in their hands, it revived in about half an hour. The
place whei'e this Swallow was dug up was every day covered with
the salt water, which at every high tide, was four or five feet deep.
The time when this Swallow was found was the latter j)art of the
month of February,"*

Q5. Stelgidopteryx serripenniS (Audubon) Baird. Roufrh-winged

Swallow.

A rare summer visitant. " A female of this species was shot at
Suffield, Conn., by Mr. Shores, June 6th, 1874."t ^^y friend, Mr.
Eugene P. Bicknell, informs me that he has found it in numl)ers at
Riverdale, N, Y,, within a few miles of the Connecticut line, and that
it breeds there — sometimes placing its nest " under a bridge."

66. PrOgne purpurea (Linne) Boio. Purple Martin.

A summer resident, breeding in " JNIartin IJoxes" in villages.
Arrives during the middle or latter part of April (April 17, 20, 25,

* The Natural and Civil History of Vermont. By SamuenVilliams. ].p. lin-lO.
Printed at Walpole, N. IT. 1 794.

f Purdie in " Nuttall Ornilli. Bulletin, vol. ii. No. 1, p. 21. Jan. 1S77.

32 C. H. Merriani — Birds of Connecticut.

1877). A large colony of them is located over the P^'irst National ]>ank,
in the center of New Haven. They are abundant at Guilford, Conn.,
and a single pair breeds on Faulkuer's Island, occujiying a house
erected for them by Capt. Brooks.

Family, AMPELID^.

67. Ampelis garrulus Limie. Bohemian "Wnxwing.

A rare, almost accidental, winter visitant. On the 11th of
February, 1875, Prof. S, I. Smith saw a large Ampelis which he
thinks was, wit li out doubt, A. garrulus. It was in the old wooded
cemetery in New Haven. Prof. Smith is familiar witli the bird in
question, having seen it in Maine. A number of cases of its occur-
rence in Massachusetts have been recorded, but the only instance
of its capture in this State is that given by J. A. Allen. " It has
been taken in Connecticut [near Hartford] by Dr. Wood,"* and the
Doctor tells me that he shot them by accident, when firing into a
flock of Cedar Birds. "Several were shot on Long Island in 1830
and 1832."f

68. Ampelis Cedrorum (Linne) Sclater. Cedar Bird: Cherry Bird.

A resident. Generally common. Breeds in orchards and low
thickets. Gregarious. Almost the only bird that feeds, to any great
extent, on canker worms.

Family, VIREONID^.

69. VireO olivaceUS (Liune) Vielllot. Red-eyed Vireo.

An abundant sixmmer resident, breeding chiefly in high woodland.
Ai'rives during the first week in May (May 0), remaining as late as
the first of October (Oct. 2). Superfluously noisy.

70. Vireo gilvUS (Vieillot) Bonap.-irtc. Warbh'ng Vireo.

A common sunmu-r resident, bree<ling in orchai'ds. .Arrives before
the middle of May (May 7, 1876, Osborne ; 12, 13, 14, 1877.) Cones
thus briefly alludes to the habits of this pleasing little songster : " Not
born to 'waste its sweetness on the desert air,' the Warbling Vireo
forsakes the depths of the woodland for the ))ark and orchard and

* Notes on some of the Rarer Birds of Massachusetts, p. 25. 1869.
■\ ( brand's Birds of Lniif-- Island, p. Ifi'). 1844.

C. If. 3ferri(im — Birdti of ('ojiiurftcnt.

;{a

shady street, where il glides llirough the roluige of tlic tallest trees,
the unseen messenger of rest and peaee to the busy, dusty haunts of
men."

71. VireO flavifrons Vieillot. Yollow-tliroatcd Vireo.

A tolerably eonimon sunnner resident; partieularly altimdani in
spring and fall. Arrives early in May (May 6), remaining till alter
the middle of September (Sept. 15, 17, 1875).

72. Vireo SOlitarius (Wilson) Vieillot. Blue-headed, or Solitary Vireo.

Not uncommon during the migrations. A few breed. Arrives
during the first week in May (May 2, 1876, Osborne; 0, 1S75,
C. 11. M. ; May 5, 1877, Nichols). Have taken it as late as
Oct. 13th. A nest of this s})ecies, found June 18th, 1875, near New
Haven (Beaver Swamp), by tlie Stadtmilllers, "was out on the liml)
of a Chestnut tree about 30 feet from the ground, and was constructed
of tlie bark of different kinds of trees, lined with grass. Moss and
caterpillars' silk were plastered outside. It contained four eggs,
which were two-thirds hatched."*

73. "Vireo NoveboracensiS (Gmelin) Bonaparte. White-eyed Vireo.

A summer resident, but not partii-ularly common except along
southern Connecticut, and in the Coimecticut Valley, where it is
connnon all the way up to the Massachusetts line (Suffield, E. I.
Shores). Arrives before May 10th (May 7, Osborne).

Note. — Vireo Philadelphlcus Cassin, undoubtedly occurs within
our limits, as a rare, or accidental, visitant, but as yet no record of
its capture has appeared. On Sept. 7lh, 1875, Mr. William Brewster
" shot a female of this beautiful little species in Cambridge, Mass."f

Family, LANIID^.

74. Collurio borealis (Vieillot) Baird. Butcher Bird ; Shrike.

A soraeAvliat irregular winter resident. Arrives in October or
November (Oct. 29, 1876, Sage;) remaining till the latter pari of
March (March 24, 1876, Osborne). Very abundant some years, and
equally scarce in others. Mr. Maynard says, ''when the Lesser lled-

* MS. notes of the Stadtmuller Brothers,
•f Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i, No. 1, p. 19. April, 1876.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 5 Jily, 1877.

34 C H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

polls or the Pine Finches are common, the Shrikes follow them and
prey upon them." During the winters of 1874-5 and 1875-6, when
the lied-polls {u^giothus Unaria) and the Pine Finches {Chrysomltris
2n?tf(s) Mere here. Butcher Birds were notably scarce ; while during
the past winter (1876-7) Shrikes have been uncommonly plenty, l)ut
neither of the other birds were seen at all. It is but fair to state,
however, that during the first two winters mentioned neither the
Linnets nor Finches were here in large enough numbers to have afforded
the Butcher Birds a reliable source of diet. Last winter the English
Spari-ows supplied all deficiencies and it was no uncommon thing to
see a Butcher Bird flying across the street with one in its talons.
The " poor sparrows," unused to danger of any sort, were utterly
helpless, and at one time it seemed as if we were actually going to be
rid of the little pests, but warm weather came to their relief, driving
the intruders back to their boreal homes, and now the sparrows are
apparently as numerous as ever they Avere. Mr. Nichols shot one
Jan. i;3th, 1876, whose stomach contained grasshoppers! Where
could it liave found them at that season '?

75. Collurio LudOVicianUS (Linnt-) Balrd. Loggerhead Shrike.

A rare visitor from the South and West. Mr. W. W. C.oe has a
fine specimen of this species in his cabinet, which he shot near Port-
land, Conn., in Nov., 1876. Fianklin lienner, Esq., writes nie that he
"saw a Shrike of some species at Mt. Carmel [near New ILiven] May
24th, 1873," which, if he was not mistaken in the bird, couhl hardly
have been the northern Butcher Bird, and might have been this
species.

Family, FRING-ILLID^.

76. Pinicola enncleator (I.inne) Cabanis. Pine Grosbeak.

An irregular winter visitant. They were here througli the months
of Feb. and Dec, 1875, and during Jan. and Feb., 1876, but none
were seen last winter. Messrs. Coe and Sage, of Portland, Conn.,
tell me that it is found there regularly eneri/ vinter, though the red
males are not always seen, and tliat they have observed it as late as
March 12th (1873), and as early as Nov. 24th (1875, and 25, ls74).

77. CarpodaCUS purpureus (GmeHn) Gray. Purple Finch.

Resident, breeding abundantly. Gregarious. Mr. Grinnell in-
fornis me that he has taken it during every month of the year. Dr.

C. IT. MerrltDii — />inf.'< o/' ('o/nwct/ritf.

.15

Wood, of East Windsor Hill, (ells luc tiial they weiv nlinost uiiknown
here twenty years ago, and liave gradually beeonic (•(•nmir.ii sine.'.
I am likewise informed by Mr. Clark, of Saybn.ok, that thf l)ir.l li.is
oidy recently become a common species in that vicinity.

78. Loxia leuCOptera Omelin. Wliite-winged Crossbill.

An irregular winter visitant. They were not uncdinnion during
the months of Jan., Feb. and JMarcli, isVo.

79. Loxia curvirostra, var. Americana (Wilson) Cows. Red ('r(.ssi)iii.

An irregular winter visitant, like the last, and more frequently seen.
Linsley gave it in his list, stating that it had "been repeatedly seen
in Trumbull, in this [FairtieldJ county, by a Mr. Beers." Mr. W. W.
Coe has taken a niimber of this, as well as the preceding species,
about Portland, Conn. A few were seen about New Haven early in
Dec, 1876, It has been known to breed near New York City.*

80. .(Egiothus linaria (Llnne) Cabanis. Red-poll Linnet.

Also an irregular winter visitant. They were quite common here
during the month of March, 1875 (and Mr. Sage saw a flock at Fort-
land, Conn., March 31), but none wei'e seen in the winters of 1875-6
and 1876-7. Mr. W. W. Coe took it at Portland, Conn., ]March
22d, 1873, and saw there large flocks of them (including many liighly
plum aged males) in March, 1875.f

81. Chrysomitris pinuS (Wilson) Bonaparte. Pine Finch; Pine Linnet.

An irregular fall and winter visitant. Quite common from Oct.,
1874, till March, 1875. Also seen in Oct., 1875. Linsley says : "T
took one specimen from a large flock, which was here in my yard
[Stratford, Conn.] as late as Nov. 7th, 1840." In March and Ai)ril,
1873, I found them extremely abundant near the boundary line
between Georgia and South Carolina, notwithstanding the statement,
in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway's great work, that : " according to
Dr. Coues, this species occasionally strays as far to the South as the
Carolinas, but it is not common there," (p. 481). This case simply
aflbrds another example of their in-egular migrations.

* Am. Nat., vol. x, No. 4, p. 237. April, 1876.
f MS. notes of W. W. Coe, Ksq.

36 (J. H. Merriom — Birds of Coiinecticut.

82. ChrySOmitris tristis (Linne) Bonaparte. Common Yellowbird.

An abundant resident, breeding late. Common everywhere, and is
gregarious.

83. Plectrophanes nivalis (Linne) Meyer. Snow Bunting.

A common winter visitor, generally seen during snow-storms.
Linsley, in his " Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut," so frequently
cited, says, " Large flocks of the Snow Bunting were i-epeatedly seen
here in the winters of 1840, 1841 and 1842. Previous to tiiat period,
I had not seen one, here in eu/hteen years.'''' (p. 26], ibot-note).

84. Plectrophanes LapponicUS (Linne) Selley. Lapland Longspur.

Occurs as a winter visitant, along with P. nivalis, though no
record of its capture lias yet been published. My friend, Mr. Geo.
B. Grinnell informs rae that he has seen half a dozen specimens,
killed near the Connecticut River (Portland, Conn.), by Mr. W. W.
Coe. Mr. Walter P. Nichols has taken it near New Haven, and Mr.
Erwin I. Shores " obtained a male out of a flock of P. nivalis, in Nov.,
1874" at Sufiield, Conn. Mr. Coe has taken it as late as March 16th,
(1875).

85. Passerculns princeps Maynard. Maynard's Sparrow.

Probably occurs quite regularly along the coast in Nov. and Dec.
(and perhaps also in March) in such sparing numbers as to escape notice.
The only specimen of this beautiful bird yet taken in this State, so far as
I am aware, is the one shot by myself while collecting invertebrates,
at low water, with my friend, ]Mr. S. F. Clark. " On Nov. 4th, 1875,
while collecting along th(; beach at ' South Knd,' a few miles below
New Haven, I was fortunate enough to secure a tine specimen of the
Ipswich Sparrow [Pa.ssemdus prime/is Maynard). The specimen
was a female, and in excellent conditio!). Its mate was seen, but
escaped capture."* The day was cold and iliilly, with occasional
flurries of snow.

86. PasserCUlus Savanna (Wllson) Bonaparte. Savanna Sparrow.

An :ibiin(l:int suiiiiricr resident, l>i'eediiig in open Helds and ))astures.
Arrives eai'ly in April, remaining, in large luiinbers, till aftei- the
middle of N()veml)er.

* Bull. Nutt. Ornithol. Club, vol. i, No. 2, p. 52. July, 1876.

C IT. Merrhnii — liivd-^ of ('(ouwrtlfiit. 37

87. Pooecetes gramineUS (Guu'lin) Bainl. l^i.y-winj^^cd Uniiting; (Iniss
FiiR'li.

A common siimmor vosidcnt, hroiHliiiu- almndantly, liki' tlic last, in
open iields. Arrives early in Aj.ril (April G, 1875 and same d:il<'
1877, Sage); remainiii<;- till about the middle of November.

88. CoturniCUluS paSSerinUS (Wilson) Bonaparte. Yellow-wiiifred
Sparrow.

A common summer resident in some parts of Connecticut (notably
in the Connecticut Valley and along our southern border) ; not foutid
at all in others. Ai-rives early in May. FreqiuMits dry, sandy, treeless
wastes. Linsley found it breeding here and at Stratford. " In the
vicinity of Hartford, Conn., this bird appears also to be a not uncom-
mon summer resident."* Mr. Purdie states tliat " at Saybrook,
Conn., its notes were to be heard in every field."! ^ have taken it
near Savin Rock (May 29, 1877), and Mr. Grinnell tells me it is not
uncommon about Milford, Conn. It also breeds about l^)rtlalld,
Conn. (Coe and Sage). I am informed by Messrs. (irimiell and C'l:irk
that it builds a beautiful covered nest, not unlike that of the Oven
Bird (Siurus auricajnllus). Mr. Erwin I. Shores writes me that he
has taken it at Enfield, Conn., in the northern part of the State, but
in the Connecticut Valley, in July (July 0, 1874).

89. CoturniCUlus Henslowi (Audubon) Bonaparte. Henslow's Sparrow.

A rare summer resident. I am very glad to be able to include tliis
species on the strength of a specimen just received from my friend
Dr. F. W. Hall. He shot it at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Conn.,
July 18th, 1873, and it is in the worn breeding plumage. I had
searched in vain for it in the many collections of the birds of this
State to which I have had access, and had really despaired of liudin<i-
it at all. Many specimens have been taken in Massaduisetts and it
doubtless occurs regulail}' in the Coimecticut Valley, if not in other
parts of tlie State. Giraud says that on Long Island '• it is not so
rare as is generally supposed. In general, it frequents the low, wet
meadows, and passes most of its time on the ground .aiiiong the tall
grass, and is exceedingly difficult to flush, even when pursued with
dogs ; it will not fly until nearly within their reach, when it starts
from the ground, moves on only a few yards, aiul again drops among
the grass."J

* Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, vol. i, p. 554.

f Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Oluh, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 17. .January. 1.S77.

i Giraud's Birds of Long Island, p. 104. 1844.

38 (J. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

90. Ammodromus maritimus (Wilson) Swainson. Seaside Finch.

A common summer resident, breeding abundantly in the salt and
brackish water marshes near tlie coast. Remains into Sejjtember.

91. Ammodromus caudaCUtUS (Gmelin) Swainson. Sharp-tailed Finch.
A common summer resident, like the last, and breeds in the

same situations. Arrives about the middle of April (Apr. 14, Os-
borne). Their eggs are laid during the last of May and first of June.
Mr. Dayan found a nest containing four fresh eggs on May 31, 1876,
at Savin Rock, and on the Vth of June both species were breeding
abundantly. We found great numbers of both along the Quinnipiac
River, and so far inland that tlie water was almost, if not quite, fresh.
In some particular spots the maritimus outnumbers the caudacvtas,
bnt on the whole the latter greatly predominates.

92. MelOSpiza palustris (AVilson) Baird. Swamp Sparrow.

A common summer resident, breeding plentifidly. Arrives early
in April, remaining till late in November (Nov. 20).

93. Melospiza melodia (Wilson) Baird. Song Sparrow.

An abundant resident ; particularly numerous from February to
December, but not uncommon all through December and January.
In the winter season they frequent old fences alongside which a
copious growth of brushwood has sprung up; also found in back-
yards in the city, Mr. W. W. C'oe, of Portland, Conn., found a
Song Sparrow's nest in a hole in a tree ten feet from tlie ground
(early June, 18V3).*

94. Melospiza LinCOlni (Audubon) Baird. Lincoln's Finch.

A rather rare summer resident. jNIr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn.,
showed me a moTuite<l sj)ecimen of this species which he had shot in
a brush heaj) in his garden in the spring of 1875. He thinks he saw
another a few days before, but it Avas very shy and he did not kill it.
Mr. Erwin I. Shoivs, of SuHield, Conn., writes me that it is '■'not
rare" in that vicinity, wliere he took one specimen in 1874, and three
more tliis spring (1877). Mr. Shores says that on May 23, and again
on June 2d, he "saw one with small twigs in its bill," hence,
although he did not actually find the nest, there can be no reasonable

* MS. notes of W. AV. Coe.

C. H. Merriani — />ir</.'< o/ ('o/t/iirftrnt. 30

doubt of its l)i-f(.'(liiiii-. Jlc' rmtlicr states; "'I'licrc is a small piece of
-woodland in tiiis [ilaee wliere suii'l>' tlioy cannot lie considered r.iic.
Have seen several that Tve not been able lo shoot. 'I'hcy are \ crv
shy. You just l)arely get a ulinipse ul'oiie and lia\e just time to Lfet
an idea ol' what it is, when down he u-oes into the thick slirulibcr\,
and no amount of jiatient waitin^i' will lem|)t him to conic in si^ht
auain. Provoked, you tletei'mim' to kill ever\ one that comes in
sight, and after the slaughter of liall' a dozen innocent Song oi- S\\;im|i
Sparrows, yoii conclude that that won't do. 77/r//, [teiliaps, almost
the first bird you leave will be Lincoln's Sj)arrow. I think they are
much more common than generally supposed, but are so shy, and
inhabit such bushy pastures, that they are hard to tind.''"'' J. (J.
Ely, of Lyme, Conn., "took three this sjjring" (1S77).

95. JunCO hyemalis (Linne) Sclater. Slate-colored Siiowliird.

A common winter resident, arriving, from the north befiuH' the
middle of October (Oct. 8, 1876, Osborne), and rennuning till the
Hrst week in May (last seen May 2, 1877, Osborne ; May ;3, 187G).

96. Spizella montiCOla ((imelin) Bainl. Tree Sparrow.

A common winter resident, but more numei'ous in spring and I'all.
Arrives from the north about the last of October (Oct. 28, 1875),
and remains till near the middle of April (A])i-. 12, Osliome).

97. Spizella SOCialis (Wllson) Bonaparte. Chipping- Sparrow.

An al)undant summer resident, arriving as early as tlu' latter pari
of February (Feb. 23, 1877, G. B. Grinnell), and remaining, in num-
l)ers, till the last cf November. Sometimes places its frail nest on
the ground, as well as on trees and Inishes (Coe). A few sometimes
spend the winter with the English Sparrows about town. They
often awake in the night, sing once, and go to sleej) again. Scarcely
a night passes (in June and early July) l>ut that I hear om- sing
several times — generally about midnight.

98. Spizella pnsilla (Wilson) Bonaparte. Field Sparrow.

An abundant summer resident, generally breeding in open fields.
Arrives early in April (Apr. 6, is77, Portland, Conn., Sage), remain-
ing till December (have taken it all through November and on Dec.

* MS. notes of Er-win I. Shores.

40 G. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

2, 1875). They are uiitiriug songsters, particularly in early spring,
and may l)e found everywhere except in dense woods. Tlie song of
the Field Sparrow is loud, clear, and pleasing, and he may consider
himself fortunate, who has mastered its numerous variations. Minot
says of it, " No sounds are more refreshing, on a warm afternoon of
early summer, than those which they produce." It nests both on the
ground and in low bushes.

99. Zonotrichia. albicoUis (Gmelin) Bonaparte. Wliite-throated Sparrow.

Abundant during the migrations, sometimes remaining all winter.
Arrives from the north about Sept. 2 2d, remaining through Novem-
ber. Returns in April and departs about May 20, at which date it
was last seen, both in 1876 and 1877. During the winter of 1874-5
they were very numerous all about the city, as well as in the sur-
rounding country. Mr. Erwin 1. Shores, of Suffield, Conn., writes me
that on May 15, 1877, they were exti-emely abundant in the woods
in his vicinity- — outnumbering all the other species t(»gether.

1 00. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Porst.) Sw. White-crowned Sparrow.

An irregular migrant; sometimes quite common. (Nov. 28 and
Dec. 5, 1874; Oct. 25, 1877, common.) Mr. Dayan shot a beautiful
specimen May 10, 1876. Mr. Osborne saw it on May 15, 1877.
Mr. W. W. Coe shot one at Portland, Conn., March 20, 1875.

101. Passer domesticUS Brisson. English Sparrow ; House Sparrow.

Introduce*!. An abundant ivsident in all the larger, and most of the
smaller, towns throughout the State. The opening sentence, under
the head of this species, in H. PI Dresser's magnificent work on "The
J^irds of Euro})e," shows that its habits have remained unchanged, in
one respect at least, notwithstanding the great distance it has bt'cn
carrietl, and the varied conditions to which it has been subjected :
''Throughout Europe the House Sparrow is very generally distri-
l)uted almost wherever there aiv human habitations (except in the
extreme north) ; for it follows the footsteps of man almost like a
domestic animal, and where he fixes his habitation thei'e the Sparrow
also takes up its abode." Their })ugnacity seems tt) vary in different
parts of the country and at difi'erent times of the year. In New
Haven their attitude toward other species is not generally offensive,
and they are commonly seen on the friendliest terms with the Chip-
ping Sparrows, throughout the entire season. In early spring I have

C. IT. MervuDn — Ilinh of Connecticut. 41

observed tliem feeding quietly witli tlie Hed-]ioll Wsirblers {^Deitdroi-o
pahnavum) on the City Green, and in fall it is no nnconnnon thing to
find them associated with Passerella iliaca, Zonotrichix albicollis,
M<lospiza melodia, and Splzella sociaUs and ptisilla, without showing
the slightest sign of animosity. In New York and other cities, how-
ever, they are sometimes quite belligerent, attacking ami diiving oil"
the birds that once occupied the same ground. This is especially
noticeable in spring, Avhen they appropriate the houses ])ut up for
Bluebirds, Wrens, and other species. That they do some good in
destroying injurious insects is certain. "In open places Avhere there
are a few trees in the toAvns, such as the gardens in the squares or in
the parks, it is eminently iiseful in ridding the foliage of the insects

which would otherwise destroy the leaves and tender shoots ;

and destroys myriads of the small smooth caterpillers and larva?
which feed on the buds of the trees, and is one of the best guardians
of the orchard."* A few^ days ago my attention was attracted by
the peculiar actions of one of these Sparrows. It was hopping along
on the uppermost rod of a fence, and whenever it came to a post
(into which the fence rods were inserted) it would stand on tip-toe
and peep up under the ornamental top-board of the post, as if look-
ing for something. On coming nearer I discovered that the bird
was searching for moths, of which it secured one or more at each
post, and, after proceeding in this manner for several rods, it Hew
aw-ay, evidently having had enough for one meal. In passing the
fence since, I have, on several occasions, seen a Sparrow, apparently
and probably the same individual, going through with precisely the
same procedure, and with the same result. Do not cases like the
above go far to prove that many birds are highly intelligent aiul pos-
sess a good degree of memory ? The Sparrow^ in question discovered
a moth, doubtless by accident, concealed beneath the overlaping edge
of the top-board of a fence-post. Was he content with simply gob-
bling this one up '? By no means ; if there is one there may be
more, and sure enough he soon spies another, and, going to the next
post, still another, and so on till he is satisfied. Next day, when
searching for breakfast, does he forget yesterday's experience ? Not
at all; he returns to the fence-posts and readily secures another
meal. The chance finding of the first moth has led to the knowledge
that similar insects take refuge, by day, in certain places ; and in the

* A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the species inhabiting the West-
ern Palfearctic Eegion. By H. E. Dresser. Part XLVIII, March. 1876.
Trans. ConxX. Acad., Vol. IV. 6 Ju^y, 1877.

42 C H. Merriani — Birds of Connectlctct.

establisliment of. a regular habit of searching for them. In spring,
when the trees are in flower, and the swollen buds give place to tender
green leaves, the House Sparrows join the early Warblers in running
about among the bi-anches in pursuit of one another as well as of the
small beetles that come there to feed upon the I'resh foliage. But so
far as the accomplishment of the object for which they were im-
ported, viz., the extermination of the canker worm (Anisopteryx
vernata and A. poraetaria) in our larger towns and cities, they have
most signally failed. That they occasionally devour the full-grown
moth can not be doubted ; neither do I feel justified in denying that
they sometimes eat the worms themselves, though I have never seen
them touch one — not even when hopping about in the midst of
hundreds of canker worms. They seem to prefer the small beetles
and seeds abounding in the horse droppings about the streets. It is
true that there was a great diminution in the ranks of the canker
worms soon after the introduction of the House Sparrows, but I am
informed that this was due to a parasite {Platygaster) which preyed
upon and destroyed great numbers of the worms by depositing its
eggs in the eggs of the canker worm moth, and not, as generally
supposed, to the Sparrows. It may, perhaps, be considered as some-
what of a digression in a mere local list like this, to devote so much
space to the biography of a species, but I believe that notes record-
ing actual observations on the habits of any bird should always
prove acceptable, especially when there is difference of opinion, result-
ing in controversy, regarding the merits of a species, for in this way
the possibility that individuals, or colonies, may differ in habits in
difterent localities, or at different seasons, is suggested, and warns us
not to be too dogmatic in our statements, or too hasty in drawing
conclusions.

For abundant and unquestionable evidence of the pugnacity and
disagreeable qualities of this bird, in some sections, see the writings
of Cones, Gentry, and others. Velmont de Bomare, writing in 1791,
says: " lu Brandebourg, in order to diminish the ravages committed
by Sparrows, a price is set on their heads, and the peasants are com-
pelled by law to bring in a certain number yearly; in each village
there are Sparrow hunters who sell the birds to the peasants to ena-
1)1(.' them to pay llicir tribute. ... It follows the farnu-r while sow-
ing harvesting, threshing, or feeding his poultry; it enters the Dove-
cot and with its bill pierces the throats of young })igeons, to obtain
the grain in their craw."*

* Quoted by Charles Pickering in Proceed. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. xi, p. 158,
April 17, 1867.

C IT. 3Ierri<(tn — liirdH of Coioierth-ut.

43

Tlie Englisli House Sparrow was first introduced into New Kn<r-
land, so far as I am aware, in tlie fall of 185S, wlieii "Six hirds wen;
set at liberty in a large garden" in the city of Porlhind, .Main.'.
"They were introduced into Boston by the city goveninunt in
1868,"* and have since spread over the greater part of New Kngland.

1 02. Passerella iliaca (ileneni) Swaiuson. Fox-colored Sparrow.

Common during the migrations, arriving from tlie North duiiiig
the middle or latter part of October (Oct. 10, 1876, Osborne; 23,
1877), aiul remaining about a month (Nov. 20). Have taken it, in
spring, from March 6th to April 1 Otii. Gregarious. The largest and
surely one of the handsomest of our Sparrows. Speaking of its song,
Di-. Brewer says : "His voice is loud, clear, and melodious; his notes
full, rich, and varied ; and his song is unequalled by any of this
family that I have ever heard."

103. Euspiza Americana (Gmelin) Bonaparte. Blaek-tliroated Bunting.
Dr. Linsley, in his •' Catalogue,^'' takes particidar pains to state

that this species was "very common" at New Haven (p. 201), but I
have never seen it here and can find no other record of its capture in
this State. It must be regarded as very rare in New England,
although several have been taken, breeding, in Massachusetts. Its
former abundance and present scarcity in this section affords another
excellent example of the irregular migrations of birds. Giraud gave
it as breeding commonly on Long Island, f but says the eggs are
" white, speckled with black," whereas they are blue, unmarked.

104. G-oniaphea Ludoviciana (Linne) Bowditch. Rose-breasted C.ros-

beak.

A common summer resident, breeding in dense undergrowth.
Arrives before the middle of May (May 11, 1874, Portland, Conn.,
Sage), and I shot a female as late as Nov. 25th, (1874), in the city.
I am informed by Prof. G. Brown Goode, of Middletown, Conn., that
he knew an individual of this species to live eighteen years in confine-
ment. Mr. J. Hammond Trumbull tells me that it was almost
unknown about Hartford, Conn., thirty-five years ago.

Note. — 6r. cwrnlen probably occurs as an accidental visitant from
the South. It has been taken on the Island of Grand Menan,J and

* Birds of North America, Baird, Brewer & Ridgway, vol. i, p. 52G, 1874.

f Birds of Long Island, p. 100. 1 844.

X Ilerrick's Partial Catalogue of the Birds of Grand Menan, p. 8. 187:i

44 f . II. Merriani — Birds of Connecticut.

Mr. Boardman states that it was " common in the spring of 18C1" in
the vicinity of Calais, Maine !*

105. Cyanospiza Cyanea (Linne) Baird. indigo Bird.

A common summer resident, breeding, like the last, in thick patches
of bushes. Arrives before the middle of May (May 14, 1874, J. H,
Sage; 14, 1876, Osborne; 14, 1877, C. H. M. ; also May 9, 1875^
Sage), remaining into September.

106. Cardinalis "VirginianuS (Brisson) Bonaparte. Cardinal Grosbeak.

A rare and accidental summer visitor from the South. Mi-. Thomas
Bostwick of this city found one lying dead during the summer of
1874, and Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell, who examined the specimen, tells
me that its bill and feet, as well as the plumage, proved it to be a
wild bird. Numerous specimens have, from time to time, been taken
or seen along the Connecticut Valley, and it is highly improbable
that they were all escaped cage birds. My friend, Mr. E. P. Bicknell,
has taken a number of individuals about Riverdale, Westchester Co.,
N. Y., and it is certain that most, if not all, of them were wild.

Regarding the age to which our small birds attain, it is worthy of
mention that my grandmother kept a Cardinal Bird caged for twenty-
one years — it was noisy to the last. Its colors began to fade several
years before its death, till finally it looked very like a worn female.

It winters as far north as southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania
(Turnbull).t

107. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linne) Vieillot. Chewink; Towhee

Bunting.

A common summer resident, breeding on the ground, in under-
growth, and in the woods. Arrives early in May (May 1, 1876,
Osborne ; 4, 1877), remaining till November (Oct. 28, Nov. 8.) JNIr.
J. H. Sage has a fine male in his cabinet which Avas shot near Port-
land, Conn., Jan. 22d, 1876 ! A characteristic nest, found INIay 24th,
1874, "under a Virginia Juniper," by the Stadtmiiller Brothers,
" was composed externally of cedar bark, lined with grass and horse
hair.''J

* Proceed. Bost. Soc. Nat Hist., vol. ix, p. 127. 1862.

f The Birds of Eastern Penns3'lvaniaand New Jersey. By AVm. P. Turabull, LL.D.
p. 24. 1869.

l MS. notes of the Stadtmiiller Brotliers.

C. 11. MevTMin — lilrd,^ of I'onneHicKt. 45

Family, ICTERID^.

108. DolichonyX Oryzivorus (Linne) Swainson. Bobolink; Reeil-l.inl,

Rice-bird.

A common summer ivsideiit, hiecdiiio- in meadows. Ai rives l>(.'i(»re
the middle of May (May 7, 1876, Osborne; same date at Portland,
Sage; May 12, 1877).

109. Molothrus pecorls (Omclin) Swainson. Cow-bird.

An abundant summer resident, arriving in Mareli or early in iVpril
and remaining till November (Nov. 4, 1874). f^ometinu's winters.
Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell writes me tliat lie took it twice in mid-winter
(Jan. 15, 1874, and Jan. 16, 1875).

110. Agelaeus phoenicens (Llnne) Yieillot. Red-winged Blackbird.

A common summer resident, breeding abundantly in swampy
places. Sometimes winters. Arrives during the latter pai't of Febru-
ary or early in March (March 4), remaining till late in tlie tall.
Though generally choosing clumps of bushes for their characteristic
nests, they sometimes place them on the ground. On the 6th of
June, 1876, Mr. Dayan and myself, while collecting on a part of the
Quinnipiac marshes where there were no bushes, found several nests
containing fresh eggs. The nests were extremely shallow — very
unlike those commonly found in bushes — and were pkced on the
bare ground, in the grass, with no attempt at concealment. I am
informed by Mr. Grinnell that he has taken it in January (Jan. 15,
1874, and Jan. 16, 1875). This is the bird concerning which Josselyn
wrote (in 1675) that there were, in New England, " Starlings black
as Ravens with scarlet pinions."* Mr. W. W. Coe once wounded
one of these birds (probably striking it in the head) which " started
into the air and kept going up— up -up— sailing in larger circles-
still ascending till lost to sight. "f

111. Sturnella magna (Linm') Baird. Meadow-lark.

Resident, but particularly abundant from early spring till late in
the fall. A few small flocks winter along the coast. The Kev. Mr.
Peabody observes that this bird "has few enemies excepting Hawks,
snakes, and young sportsmen."

* An Account of two Voyages to New England, p. 100. 1075.
f MS. notes of W. AV. Coe.

46 C H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

112. Icterus Spurius (Linne) Bonaparte. Orchard Oriole.

A common summer resident, breeding chiefly in orchards. Arrives
during the first week in May (May 7, 1876, Osborne).

113. Icterus Baltimore (Linue) Daudin. Baltimore Oriole.

A common summer resident, breeding plentifully in the city as
well as country throughout the State. An-ives about May 10th.
Have taken it on the 8th, and Mr. Osborne saw one as early as the
6th (1876), while this year (1877) it did not come, in any numbers,
till the 13th, when the whole country was literally " alive with them."
Mr. J. H. Sage saw it at Hartford, May 6th, 1868 and 7th, 1872 ; also at
Portland, Conn., May 7th, 1876, and May 10th, 1874 and 1875.

114. ScoleCOphagUS ferrugineus (Gmelin) Swainson. Rusty Gracklo.

Abundant during the migrations, sometimes wintering. Arrives
before the middle of February (Grinnell) remaining through March
into April (April 19, Osborne). In the fall it returns before the
middle of September (Sept. 11, 1875 several flocks seen), remaining
into November. Mr. Grinnell informs me that he took it, at Milford,
Conn., Jan. 16th and 29th, and Feb. 6th, 1875.

115. QuiscaluS purpureas (Linne) Lieht. Crow Blackbird.

A common summer resident, breeding in evergreen trees in the
city, as well as outside. Arrives about March 1st, though a few are
generally seen in February (Feb. 13, 1876). Departs in November.

Such was the abundance, in early colonial times, of some of our
commoner, and at present harmless, birds, that "premiums were paid
by the local governments for the destruction of many of these species,
and not without cause."* The town of Lynn, on March 8th, 1697,
voted " that every householder in the town, should, sometime before
the fifteenth day of May next, kill or cause to be killed, twelve black-
birds, and bring the heads of them, at or before the time aforesaid, to
Ebenezer Stocker's, or Samuel Collins's, or Thomas Burrage's, or
John Gowing's, who are appointed and chose by the town to receive
and take account of the same, and take care this order be duly prose-
cuted ; and if any householder as aforesaid shall refuse or neglect to
kill and bring in the heads of twelve blackbirds, as aforesaid, every

* J. A.. Allen in Bull. Nutt. Ornilh. Clul), vol. i, No. H, p. 54. Sept., 1876.

■ C. H. Merriam — Bir<ls of (l(>ini('<-t;,',,t. 4Y

such person sliall pay three pence for every hhu-kl.inl thai is wanting,
as aforesaid, for tlie use of the town."*

Peter Kabn, in liis "Travels into North America," thus speaks of
tlieir depredations : " A s])eoies of birds, called by the Swedes, maize-
thieves, do the greatest mischief in this country. They have o-ivt-ii
them that name, because they eat maize, both publicly and secretly,
just after it is sown and coyered with ground, and when it is vxyv.
The English call them blackbirds. There are two species ol' tlicm,
))Oth described and drawn by Catesby.f Though they are very dif-
ferent in species, yet there is so great a friendshij) between them, that
they frequently accompany each other in mixed Hocks. However in
Pennsylvania, the first sort are more obvious, and often fly together

without any of the red-winged stares Their cliief and most

agreeable food is maize. They come in great swarms in spring, soon
after the maize is put under ground. They scratch up the grains of
maize and eat them. As soon as the leaf comes out, they take hold
of it with their bills, and pluck it up, together with the corn or grain ;
and thus they give a great deal of troiible to the country people,
even so early in spring. To lessen their greediness of maize, some
l)eople dip the grains of that plant in a decoct of the root of the
veratrum album, or white hellebore, (of which I shall speak in the
sequel), and plant them afterwards. When the maize-thief eats a
grain or two, which are so prepared, his head is disordei'cd, and he
falls down : this frightens his companions, and they dare not venture
to the place again. But they repay themselves am])ly towards
autumn, when the maize grows ripe ; for at that time they are con-
tinually feeding. They assemble by thousands in the maize-fields,
and live at discretion. They are very bold ; for when they are dis-
turbed, they only go and settle in another part of the Held. In tliat
manner, they always go from one end of the field to the other, and
do not leave it till they ai-e quite satisfied. They fly in incredible
swarms in autumn ; and it can hardly be conceived whence such
immense numbers of them should come. When they rise in the air
they darken the sky, and make it look quite black. They are then
in such great numbers, and so close together, that it is suprising how
they find room to move their wings. T have known a person shoot a
great number of them on one side of a maize-field, which was far
from frightening the rest; for they only just took flight, and dropped

* History of Lynn, by Alonzo Lewis and James R. Newhall, p. 298.
f See Catesby's-Nat. Hist, of Carolina, vol. i, tabs. 12 and 13.

48 C. IT. Merriatn — Birds of Connecticut.

at about tlie distance of a musket-shot in another part of the field,
and always changed their place when their enemy approached. They
tired the sportsman, V:>efore he could drive them off the maize, thougli
he killed a great many of them at every shot. They likewise eat the
seeds of the aquatic t<(re-grass {Zlzania aquaticci) commonly late in
autumn, after the maize is got in, I am told, they likewise eat buck-
wheat, and oats. Some people say, that they even eat wheat, barley,
and rye, when pressed by hunger ; yet, from the best information I
could obtain, they liave not been found to do any damage to these species
of corn. In spring, they sit in numbers on the trees, near the farms;
and their note is pretty agreeable. As they are so destructive to
maize, the odium of the inhabitants against them is carried so far,
that the laws of Pennsylvania and New Jersey have settled a pre-
mium of three pence a dozen for dead maize-thieves. In New Eng-
land., the people are still greater enemies to them; for Dr, Franklin
told me, in the spring of the year 1*750, that, by means of the pre-
miums which have been settled for killing them in NeiD England, they
have been so extii'pated, that they are very rarely seen, and in a few
places only. Biit as, in the summer of the year 1749, an immense
quantity of worms appeared on the meadows, which devoured the
grass, and did great damage, the people have abated their enmity
against the maize-thieves ; for they thought they had observed that
those birds lived chiefly on these worms before the maize is ripe, and
consequently extirpated them, or at least prevented their spreading
too much. They seem therefore to be entitled, as it were, to a
reward for their trouble."f

Note, — The Boat-tailed Grackle ( Quiscahis major, Vieillot) has
been accredited to New England by Linsley and others, but an
unusually large Crow Blackbird was probably mistaken for it,*

Family, CORVID^.

116. Corvns Americanus Audubon. Common Crow.

An abundant resident ; generally lays five eggs and sometimes six
(Coe). On the 25th of January, 1875, I saw a flock of several hun-
dred Crows near New Haven. " It is related of a certain ancient
philosopher, walking along the sea-shore to gather shells, that one of

* Peter Kalm's Travels into North America, vol. ii, pp. 7 3-*? 8. 1771.
f Sec Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. 204. 1874.

(■. IT. Merriaiii — liinfi^ of < 'oinnrtlcKt.

40

tlu'se unlucky birds, inist:ikin<;- liis It.iM head lor a stone, »lro|.|,c.i a
shell-fisli upon it, and thus kilk'd at owv a philosoplicr and an
oyster."*

117. Corvus OSSifragUS Wilson. Fish Crow.

This species must be regarded as a rare summer visitor so far
north as tliis State, althouijjb it has been seen in INIassaeliusctts by
JMr. William Urewster, who writes: " On the morning of ]\Iareli 10th,
1875, I saw a bird of this species flying swiltly over our place in
Cambridge. It was ])ursued by at least twenty-five or thirty ol'our
common species {Corvus Ai/ierieamts), and at each renewal of tlieir
attacks gave utterance to its peculiar and unmistakable notes."f
Linsley gave it as occurring at " Stratford," C'oiui.J

118. CyamirUS Cristatns (Linne) Swainson. Blue Jay.
An abundant resident ; frequently seen about the city.

Family, TYRANNID^.

119. TyrannUS Carolinensis (Linne) Temminck. King-l)ir(l; Beo-bird.

A common summer resident, arriving early in May (Mr. Dayaii
informs me that he saw one as early as April 13, 1877). Departs
about the middle of September (Sept. 15) or later. Mr. Sage lias
twice seen it at Portland, Conn., as early as May 7th (1864 and 1870)
and once on the first (1877), but it generally comes on the 10th.

The habit, so characteristic of this species, of attacking, and driving
away from the vicinity of its nest, Hawks, Crows, and other large
birds, early attracted attention, for we find, in Josselyn's Voyages to
New England (])ublishcd in 1675, p. 96), the following account of it:
"There is a small Ash-color ]>ird that is shaped like a I/awAr with
talons and beak that falleth upon Crowes, mounting up into the air
after them, and will beat them till they make them cry."§ The
description of the bird would fit a Shrike even better than the one in
question were it not that it " falletli u2)on Crows" which pastime tiiis
bird is not supposed to indulge in; still I have seen a Northern

* Nuttall's Manual of Ornithology, vol. i, p. 211. 1832.
f Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i, No. 1, p. 19. April, lS7r,.
X Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 200. April, 1S4.3.
§ Reprinted in Collections of tlie Mass. llistorioal Society, vol. iii. M series, j). •_'7.').
1833.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 7 Ji'i.v, 1877.

50 C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

Butcher Bird chase a Barred Owl for the sj)ace of lialf an hour,
closely following him to and fro through the woods, till I put an end
to his misery hy shooting both.

1 20. MilvulUS forficatUS (Gmelin) Sw. Swallow-tailed Flycatcher.

An extremely rare accidental visitor. The only record of its
capture in this State is that recently published by Mr. H. A. Purdie :
"Mr. Jencks informs me that a specimen of this s])ecies was shot by
Mr. Carpenter, at Wauregan, Conn., about April 27, 1876. The
bird first attrac^ted Mr. Carpenter's attention by its o])ening and
closing the tail while flying about a small sheet of water in quest of
insects. The only other Eastern United States capture of this spe-
cies, is a male taken at Trenton, New Jersey, a few years ago, as
recorded by T)r. C. C. Abbott."* Dr. Abbott's specimen was shot
on the 15th of April, 1872, and " when captured, was busily engaged
in picking semi-dormant insects from the bark of the trees ; creeping
about very much as is the custom of Certhia familiaris, and all the
while opening and shutting the long scissor-like tail."f Its proper
habitat is the lower part of the Mississip])i Valley and Texas, thence
southward into South America.

121. MyiarchUS CrinitUS (Linnet) Cabanis. Great-crested Flycatcher.

A common summer resident, generally placing its well-known
snake-skin-lined nest in the hollow limb of some old ai)ple tree, or
rotten fence-post. Arrives early in May (May 8, isV-"}, Hartford,
Sage), and Mr. W. W. C'oe has taken its nest (i'our eggs) as late as
June 13th, (1873). The liistory of this bird attbrds us a remarkal)ly
good example of the change in habilat of a s]>ecies during a compara-
tively brief period of years.

Mr. T. Martin Tri])pe, in one of his interesling articles on "The
Irregidar Migrations of l>irds,"| thus details his experience with the
bird in question : " In a series of sever;il years close observation at
Orange, New Jersey, I searched for the (xreat-crested Flycatcher
{^Mylarch/iis crhiitits), year after year, but all in vain ; and what, made
the fact very singular was, that twelve oi- lifteen miles off, I had
seen the l>ird sufficiently often to convince me that if not common,
it was by no means rare. Yet lor some inex}>licable reason it did not

* I'.iilk'tin Nuttall Ornitholofjical Club, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 21, .Tan., 1877.
\ American Naturalist, vol. vi, No. (I, p. I^fi?, June, 1872.
X Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 7, p. :',90-91, .Tuly, 1873.

C. H. Merrinni — Jiinh of CvnnccfiiKt. 5]

iiiliiihil tlie (.'(nmtry iiiuiu'(li;iU'ly ;il)uul Onuigi', lur, :iltli(.Ui;li in ilir
woods lu'iirly I'vory week for years, I never saw it until, alter 1 liad
almost ilespaired ol' ever iinding it, I did succeed iu sliootinj^ a sin^de

specimen. This was in the fall ; the next spring I saw a pair ,

and, after an absence of two years, returning to Orange, I strolled
through the woods, my old hunting grounds, and, to my surprise,
almost the tirst bird I saw was the Gi-eat-crested Flycatcher. Sub-
sequently I scarcely ever took a walk through the woods without
seeing or hearing it." A precisely parallel case occurred in tiic
vicinity of my home in Lewis County, northern New York. 'J'heie,
prior to the year 1870, they were unknown, at least so far as I can
ascertain, aiul it is safe to say that they were extremely rare. In
1870 my cousin, Mr. C. L. Bagg, shot one specimen, the tirst we luid
ever seen. During the next season I shot a j)air. 1 was away from
home in 1872, but Mr. Bagg informs me that he took several Great-
crested Flycatchers that year, and that they were quite common.
In August, 1873, I shot eight in about an hour's time, ami since then
they l)ave been one of our commonest species, breeding abundantly
in tlie tall maple and birch forests, where their charactei-istic, but
rather harsh cry, may be heard at any hour of the day throughout
the entire season.

Regarding its former scarcity in Connecticut, Linsley said "a
specimen of the Great-crested Fly-catcher was shot by me in the
spring of 1838, in my front yard, the only living individual of this
bird I have ever seen in this State,"* and Nuttall observed that it
was "nearly unknown in New England. "f That it is now really a
common bird in southern Connecticut, at least, is certain. However,
we must take into consideration the fact that these gentlemen (Nutt-
all and Linsley) were probably iu)t familiar with its charac-teristic — I
may even say diagnostic — note, and my experience with the l>ird has
been that it is i-arely seen, unless, guided by its note, it is [»ersist-
ently followed up, and even then one is otten at his wits end to get
a shot, so well does the l)ird keep concealed amongst tlie foliage.
And surely it is not particularly conducive to traiupiillity ot mind to
stand, up to one's knees in water, amidst myriads of mosquitoes, in a
hot day in summer, gazing intently up into a tall tree, where, diicctly
overhead, the cry of the (4reat- crested Flycatcher is constantly
heard, and yet the most careful search fails to reveal the exact where-

* Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 259, April, 1873.
f Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and Canada. Hy Tliouias
Nuttall. Vol. i. Land Birds, p. 271, 1832.

52 C. II. Merriaia — Birds of Connecticut.

abouts of its autlior ; ;uk1, wlien one's neck is nearly broken, to hear
tlie cry again, tbis time issuing from another and still deepei- portion
of the swamp.

In snppoi't of this view I now propose to bring forward })retty con-
clusive proof: Mr. W. W. Coe, who early became familiar with
the note of this species, tells me that it has been a common bird in the
vicinity of Portland, Conn., for at least fifteen years — ever since he
commenced collecting birds. Prof. William D. Whitney, of New
Haven, on inquiry, informs me that he has known the bird for at
least thirty years, and that he has always regarded it as common.
His observations extend over portions of Massachusetts (about North-
ampton) as well as Connecticut. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn.,
says that it was not rare, about the mouth of the Connecticut, twenty-
five years ago; and Dr. Wm. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Conn.,
tells me that it has bred regularly, and has not been uncommon, in
tliat vicinity, for the last twenty-five or thirty years.

In the face or these facts what is to be done '? For my own j)art,
I am willing to admit that in northern New York the bird may not
have been rare prior to the year 1870 (although I feel pretty sure
that this was not the case), and that it escaped notice because I was
then unfamiliar with its note. In New Jersey, however, a similar
su[»]>osition will not hold, for Mr. Tri[tpe vms familiar with its note
and habits, from observations in a neighboring district, and asserts
positively that it suddenly became abiindant in a locality where
before it was nearly, if not quite, unknown. Hence it is only fair to
conclude that, while some of the supposed cases of change of habit
may be explained on the ground that the observers were not suffi-
ciently familiar with the bird, yet there are others concerning which
the proof is ample, and the cause of the change oidy remains to be
accounted for. Whether this be due to changed conditions in the
physical features of the country (such as the cutting away of timber,
drying up of streams and swamps, etc., for example), or to an increase
in some species of insects on which the bird feeds (caused perhaps by
the abundance of some particular food-plant — due, may be, to altered
climatic conditions), or to an actual increase in the number of birds
themselves, I will not take upon myself to decide, so imperfect is the
])resent state of our knowledge on these points.

122. Sayornis fuSCUS (dmolin) ISaird. Powee Flycatclior ; Pluielie-hird.

A common sunnner resident. Comes very early: Dr. V. W. II:dI
tells me he saw it on Feb. 25th. 1870, and Mr. Osborne saw one March

(J. If. Merrldiii — lilnls of ('oiuncdciit. 53

mil ul' llu' s:uiu' year. I lirst iioliri'il i( on tlic 'Jllli ol' .M;ii(li iln>
season (1877), and Mr. Sage found it at IVntlaud, Coim., on tlic iioiti.
In the fall it remains till, or after, tlie middle oC October (< )(t. 7,
1874; Oct. 13, 18, 1875). Breeds abundantly under tlie gable-ends,
or on exposed beams, of houses and outbuildings, in old she<ls, ami
under bridges. The primitive habit of building on the side of sonu'
roeky elitf is still adhered to in some parts of the State, and the most
beautiful nest I have ever seen was found by Prof Daniel (). Eaton
and myself, while botanizing near Mt. Carnu'l, on the 23d of May,
1875. It was placed in a small wedge-shai)ed niche in the face of
the rock, and its exterior was composed entirely of delicate green
mosses. It contained five pure white, unspotted, fresh eggs. An-
other beautiful nest, similarly placed, was found on the " Hanging
Hills of Meriden," by my friend, Mr. William H. I'atton, on the 12th
of May, 1877. It contained four fresh eggs, one of which is dislinctlv
sprinkled, chiefly at the larger end, with small brownish-red spots.
It alsi> breeds on the faces of Pine and West Itocks near New
Haven.

123. ContopUS borealis (Swaluson) Bainl. Olive-sided Plycatflicr.

Rare; probably a few sometimes breed in tlie more iioithein :ind
hilly portions of the State, as they are known to do in Massachusetts.
Not previously recorded from Connecticut, except by Linsley, who
gave it, with a query, from Stratford. On the 18th of October, 1875,
attracted by its characteristic note, " which is a short whistle resemb-
ling the syllables 0-whe6, O-whed., O-ioheb^'' uttered several times in
succession, "with the accent on the w/tc, and the voice falling on tlie
last o,"* I caught a momentary glimpse of one, perched on the t<)]» of
a tall tree ; but the bird was very shy and I did not succeed in getting
a shot. Mr. Erwin I. Shores writes me that he took a male at Suf-
field. Conn., August 5, 1874. This is strong evidence of their breed-
ing in the hills about that portion of the State, for migrants would
hardly appear in Connecticut during l\\ii, first of August. On turning
to my manuscript notes on the birds of Easthampton, Mass., I lind the
following : " Ureeds. Not so rare as it should be. Four specimens
procured: one shot Sept. 10, 1873, and another May 23, 1874, in a
small grove of pines northwest of tOAvn ; two shot May 28, 1874, on
Mt, Nonotuck [part of Mt. Tom], where they appear to be ([uite
common. Their alimentary tracts contained coleopterous insects,

* Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. I'i, p. 750, Dec., 1873.

54 ~ C. a. Mtrriaiii — liirds of Connecticut.

wasps, and Ininibk'-bcc's." In Prof". Whitney's private collection, and
in the heautiful cabinet of mounted birds presented by him to the l^ea-
body Museum of Yale College, are two or three specimens of this bird,
which he killed in the vicinity of Northampton, Mass., some years ago
— one as late as June 4th, (184G). Mr. lluthven Deane writes: "Dur-
ing the past three or four years I have ol)served each year several
specimens of this beautiful Flycatcher in the vicinity of Cambridge,
Mass., and, although I consider this a rare bird with us, I am inclined
to think a few breed within the limits of the State every year."*
The species was described by Nuttall, from specimens taken in the
vicinity of Cambridge, " in the woods of Sweet Auburn," in June,
1830 and 1831, and it has since been observed in eastern Massachu-
setts by Audubon (1832), Welch (1858), Brewster, Maynard, Cabot,
Minot, and others. Nuttall says that his friend, W. Coopei-, Esq.,
" received this bird likewise the preceding summer from the vicinity
of Cape May, and Egg-harbor, in New Jersey ,"f but TurnbuU gives
it as " very rare" in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and
states that it only occurs as a migrant, being "generally seen early
in May on its way north, . . . returns in Se])tember."J The occur-
rence in New Jersey, in "summer" (the month is, unfortunately, not
stated) would indicate its breeding tliere, which hardly seems cred-
ible from what is now known concerning its disti'ibution, though it is
true tliat the " Pine-bariens" would attbrd it numy congenial spots
for nesting. Concerning their habits in the Adirondack region, in
nt)rthern New York, where they l)i-eed })lentifully, I have already
observed that " they all seemed to have the same habit of clioosing a
lar<»'e hemlock tree with a few dead branches on top, and were sure
to light on the uppernu)st twig."§ Messrs. Maynard and Brewster
gave it as "quite common and breeding at Umbagog," Maine,
where " it has the habit oi' peiching on dead stubs on the edge of
clearings."! Professor Verrill gave it as a "summer visitant, not
very common,"! at Norway, Maine (about forty miles south of

* Am. Nat., vol. viii, No. 5, p. 308, May, 1874.

f Manual of Ornitholof^y, p. 284, 1832.

± Tin; Binls of I'lastcni Peiiiisylvaiiia miuI New .iL'r.scy. liy William V. 'runilnill,
ISCl).

t^ Am. Nat., vol. vii, p. 750, Dec, 187:!.

II A Catalogue of the Birds of Coos Co.. N. II., and Oxford Co., Me., by C. J. May-
uard, with notes by William Brewster. From Proeeed. Boston See. Nat. Hist., vol.
xiv, p. 21, Oct. 18, 1871.

^ Catalogue of the Birds found at Norway, O.xford (V)., Me., by A. K. Verrill.
l''roni I'roeeed. Kssex Institute, vol. iii, p. 114, May, 18G3.

C JT. Merridiii — liir^ls oj' ('oiuiccticnt. D.')

riiibagoo), and Prof. Cliarli's K. llaiiiliii also ol»sfr\c.l it, in Ken-
nebec County, ill llu' same State.* Dr. \V. H. (Jicm; loun.l tlnii ii
was "not a very common s))ccies" near Elinira, Clicimiiio- (',,., soiiili-
erii New York, " wlicrc lie met witli only two s|)cciiii('iis tliiriii'4 sev-
eral years of Linl collect iiiu-."f In cent ml Ohio it is, accordiiH^ to the
high authority of Dr. .1. M. Wheaton, a. "rare migraii1."|. Tlie
reeonl of its oceurrenee in tlie east, south of New .lersey, is not well
autlientieated. ]My friend, Mr. K. I*. Hickiiell, infoniis nie llial he
has taken several specimens "and saw six or seven indi\ idimls he
tween Auo-nst 21st and Sept. 26th, 1876, at iriverdale, Westchester
Co., N. Y.

Now, on the other hand, on going northward, wi- tind it hiceding
at Randolph, Vermont (Chas. S. Paine),§ and ]\Ir. Osborne has seen
it about jNIt. Washington. "Audubon found it in Afaiiie, on the
Magdeline Islands, and on the coast of Labrador,"|| as mentioned liv
Dr. Brewer, who further states that "Mr. Hoardman n-ports the
Olive-sided Flycatcher as having of late years lieen very abundant
during the summer in the dead woods about the lakes west of Calais
[eastern Maine] where formerly they were quite uncommon," an«l
that he is informed by Mr. IToy "that this sjiecies used to be
quite common near Racine [Wis(^onsiii], frecpienting the e<Io-es of
thick woods, Avhere tliey nested.''''

From the above references it, will lie seen that the Oli\ I'-sided
Flycatcher belongs, in the east, to the Canadian fauna, while it (u-ca-
sionally extends down into the Alleghanian, and, if Cooper''s record
can l)e relied on, stragglers have been known to breed in the Caroli-
nian. Going westward, however, the case is fjuite ditterent, and we
find Corito2riis horeallshvoQiWwis, in numbers from the "Cumberland
House, on the Saskatchewan, in latitude 54°,'"^ Avheiv it was obtained
by Sir John Richardson, and described l»y Swainson in ls;}| (this
descri])tion having priority over NuttalTs, which was not published
till 18:};3), to Camp Rowie, Arizona, latitude ;^2°, " within one hundred
miles of Mexico," A\here l)otli "young and old were secured in

* Report Sect. Maine Board Agriculture, p. 170, 1805.

f Catalogue of the Bird.s of Ohemung Co , N. Y., 1)3- W. II. Gregg, ^f.D. Fro
Proceed. Elmira Academy of Sciences, 1S70.

\ The Food of Birds as related to Agriculture, liy J. M. Whcatoii, M.D. Fro
Ohio Agricultural Report, p. 8, 1874.

§ Appendix to Zadoclv Tliompson's History of Vermont, p. 21. \XU?i.

II History N. Am. Birds, Baird, Brewer and Ridgway. vol. ii. p. ?>M.

Tf Coues, Birds of the Nortliwest, \y 214. 1874.

56 (J. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

August," by my friend, Mr. II. W. Ilensli.iw, who, in his recent excel-
lent woi-k on the birds of that region, observes that "Its favorite
perching places are the tops of the high i)ine stubs. From tliese sta-
tions it makes frequent sallies after passing insects, and seems rarely
to miss its prey. When thus engaged, the clicking noise of its bill
may be heard quite a distance. About the first of June, in southern
Colorado, they had all mated, and each pair maintained a most
Jealous watch over the neighborhood chosen as its summer residence,
never allowing the intrusion of the larger birds to pass minoticed.
The loud call notes of the male are, at this season, almost incessantly
repeated."* Mr. Ilenshaw also states that " specimens were taken
near Camp Apache [Arizona] in July, which doubtless were breed-
ing," and that he " found it almost as numerous in eastern Arizona,
quite far to the south, as in Colorado."

Numerous specimens have been taken in Colorado l>y Allen, f Ilen-
shaw, Aiken, Trippe, and others. Regarding its occurrence at Idaho
Springs, Colorado, T. Martin Tri])pe writes Dr, Coues that " It is
quite uncommon, only three or four ]iairs having been observed
throughout the summer, and these at widely different points, each pair
apparently monopolizing a wide range. It keeps in the tops of the
trees, and is an active flycatcher; its noise is loud and distinct ; and
its nest is placed in the top of a pine, and jealously guarded from all
intrusion with as much fierceness and energy as the Kingbird's."|
It is given by Snow as " rare in western Kansas."§ Notices of its
occurrence in Utah have been published by Allen " several seen
among the cottonwoods along Weber River",|| Ilenshaw,!^ Ridgway
"breeding in Parley's Park, Wahsatch Mts.",** Nelson (who
" obtained one specimen from the top of a dead i)ine," among the
mountains, thirty miles soiath of Fort Bridger),ff and myself ;||

* Report upon the Ornithological Collections made in portions of Nevada, Utah,
California, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizonia, during the }rears 1871, 1812, 1873
and 1874. By H. W. Henshaw. Forming Chapter III of the Zoological Volume
published under the direction of Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler, in cliarge of tlie Geographi-
cal and Geological Explorations and Surveys west of the lOOtli meridian, p. :$50.
Washington. 1875.

f Bulletin Museum Comp. Zool. Camliridge, vol. ill, No. C, p. 158. 1872.

X In Cones' Birds of the Northwest, p. 245. 1874.

i^ Catalogue of the Birds of Kansas, liy F. II. Snow. 3d ed., p. 8. 1875.

II Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. (!anil)ridge, vol. iii, No. 6, pp. IGO, 170. 1872.

^[ Report upon Ornithological Specimens, pp. 22, 46. Wasli. 1871.

**Bull. Essex Inst., vol. vii, No. 2, p. 33. Feb., 1875.

■|-f Trocced. T^oston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. xvii, p. 344. Jan., 1875.

l:): Sixth Annual Report IT. S. Geol. Survey of the Territories for the year 1872.
p. G91.

(\ n. MerrUitii — Jiirds of ('<>)ui<'cficiit. 57

and it was taken in Nevada by KisclioiV (ncordcd Ii\ I Icnsli.iw ), ;in.I
Ridgway,* who writes me as follows : " AltlioiiLili 1 lound ii at \v\\
few localities, I am certain of its occurrence wlicicNcr suitalilc localities

exist It tliere iidiabits tlie conilenms wdods at an altitnde

of from about 8,000 feet np to timber line, and I noticed that it |ire-
ferred localities where the trees had been deadened l)y tire. The
only places, in Nevada, where I met with this bird, were the jiine
woods of the East Humboldt and Ruby Mountains." Concerning its
occurrence in California, Dr. Cooper says : " It seems to be resident
in most pai'ts of the State where it is found, but not occurring south
of Monterey, where Dr. Gambel found young in July. I fotnid them
rather common in the Coast Range toward Santa Cruz, where tliev
had nests in May, but I could not examine any of these, their loca-
tion being generally on a high inaccessible braiu-h. I also found this
bird at Lake Tahoe in September. It is rather silent, keeping mostly
on tops of the trees, and catching passing insects."f JMr. Ridgway
also found it breeding in California, " on the eastern slojje of the
Sierra Nevada." | In Oregon and Washington Territory it is,
according to Dr. Cooper, " a much more abundant bird near the
Columbia River and throughout the northern Rocky Momitains.
There they migrate, remaining at the Lower Columbia from ]May to
October."! Dr. Brewer writes : " In Washington Territory this
bird appears to be somewhat more common than in other portions of
the United States. Dr. Suckly obtained a specimen at Fort Steila-
cooni, July 10th, 1856. It was not very abundant about Puget Sound,
and showed a preference for shady thickets and dense foliage [contrary
to its usual habit], Avhere it was not easily shot." "A single speci-
men," continues Dr. Brewer, "was taken, Aug. 29th, 1840, at Nenor-
talik, Greenland [bj^ Reinhardt], and sent to Copenhagen. "5$ Hence
the distribution of this beautiful and interesting Flycatcher attbrds
an excellent illustration of the manner in which some species that an'
confined, during the breeding season, to the Canadian and Allegha-
nian faunoe in the Eastern Province, are found, during the same period,
in the far West, extending from the Saskatchewan, in Ibitish
America, almost, if not quite, to Mexico.

* Bull. Essex. Inst., vol. vii, No. 1, pp. 21, 38. Jan., 1875.
f Ornithology of California, vol. i, p. .324. 1870.
X Bull. Essex. Inst , vol. vi. No. 10, p. 174. Oct., 1874.
§Baird, Brewer and Ridoway, Birds N. .Vni., vol. ii, p. .350. 187-1.
Trans. Conn. Ac.\d., Vol. IV. « July, 1877.

58 C H. Merrlam — Birds of Connecticut.

124. ContopUS virens (Linne) Cabanis. Wood Pewee.

A common summer resident, generally placing its l)eautifnl lichen-
covered nest astride the horizontal branch of some tall birch, or maple,
in deep forests, but sometimes choosing an orchard or garden, in close
proximity to occupied buildings. Arrives before the middle of May
(May 10, 1876, Osborne), remaining through September. It is one of
the few birds that may be found alike, during the breeding season, in
the heart of the city, near the farm house, and in the darkest swamps
and most secluded forests, far from the habitations of man. Its
mournful note may sometimes be heard at all hours of the night.

1 25. Empidonax AcadicUS (Gmelin) Baird. Acadian Flycatcher ; Small
Green-crested Flycatcher.

A rare summer visitant from the Middle States ; may breed in the
Connecticut Valley.

It affords me great pleasure to be able, thi'ough the kindness of
Mr. Erwin I. Shores, to replace this species among the birds of New
England. As is well known, it was formerly included in all New
England lists, but, as shown by Dr. Coues, Mr, H. W. Henshaw, and
others, the records were founded on erroneous identifications — the
bird liaving been mistaken for E. ?ninimus or Traillii, generally the
former. In a letter to Dr. Coues, Dr. Brewer says " I do not think
the bird occurs in New England, even in the Connecticut Valley,"*
and Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, the highest authority on
the Birds of New England, has expressed similar views. Hence it
was with a peculiar sense of gratification that I received, a few days
since, an unmistakable example of this species, from Mr. Shores, who
states that he shot it " in Suffield, Conn., June 24th, 1874, in a piece
of woods known as Beech Swamp." For the benefit of those who
might not feel disposed to accept my identification in so important a
matter, and to avoid all possibility of mistake, I at once sent the bird
to my friend Mr. Robert llidgway, of the Smithsonian Institution,
and he ])ronounces it to be a " ty])ical M Acadicus.''^

126. Empidonax Traillii (Audubon) Baird. Traill's Flycatcher.

A connnon sunniier i-esident, arriving early in May (May 0, 1877).
Frequents swam])y lowlands, where it breeds.

* Birds of the Northwest, p. 25 1 . 1 814.

C II. JMen-idiii — liii'ds of ('(Hiinctiiiit. 59

127. Empidonax minimus Bainl. Least Flycati-hor.

An abundant suninuT ivsidciit, anivinir early in May (May :., 1-^77),
and remaining till late in September. IJreeds abnndantly in -ard«ais
tlirontihout the city.

128. Empidonax flaviventris Baird. Yellow-licllied I'lycatclier.
Not unconnnon durino- migrations; arrives about the middle u|"

May (May 20, 1870), remainino- till the last of the month, and .Mr.
Griunell tells me he has seen it in early June. Have taken it in lall,
about the middle of September (Sept. 17, 1875). Not known to
breed.

Family, CAPRIMULGID^.

129. Antrostomus VOCiferUS (Wilson) Bonaparte.. Wliippoorwill.

A common summer resident. Arrives early in May (May 2, 1877,
Osborne). Nocturnal, spendino- the day on the uround l)eneath some
tree, or among thick bushes. When disturbed, its flight is short and
irregular, and it may easily be shot. The Stadtmiiller Brothers have
an unusually pale set of eggs taken on IMill Rock (near New Haven)
May 30th, 1875. " They were not placed by the side of a rock <n-
log, as Samuels says."*

130. Chordeiles Virginianus (Brisson) Bonaparte. Xiglit-hawk;

Buli-bat.

A common summer resident, arriving eai-ly in May (^lay 11, 1875,
Sage). Mr. W, W. Coe has taken its eggs as late as June 23d (1872).
By no means strictly nocturnal like the last, but may be seen, espe-
cially in autumn, flying about high in the air and constantly uttering
its peculiar cry, at any hour of the day, though generally preferring
the twilight. Commonly roosts on old logs or horizontal lind)s
(sometimes quite high up) on which they lie longitudinally,

131. Chaetura pelagica (Linne) Baird. Chimney Swift.

An abundant summer resident, arriving in April or ]\Iay (.Vpril
14, 1876, Osborne; April 30, 1877, May 5, 1874, Portland, Sage;
May 8, 1874), and remaining till late in September (Sept. 27,
Osborne); breeds abundantly in old chinmeys. Before the days of

* MS. notes of the Stadtmiiller Brothers.

60 C. 11. Merriata — Birds of Connecticut.

brick cliiiuneys, and to some extent since, these birds used to congre-
gate in multitudes about certain large hollow trees, where they bred
regularly, and, according to some, spent the winter also. Williams,
in bis " Natural and Civil History of Vermont," published in ] 794,
relates the following concerning three " Swallow trees" which came
under his observation. "The species called the house or Chimney
Swallow, has been found during the winter, in hollow trees. At
Middlehury in this State, there was a large boUow elm, called by the
people in the vicinity the Swallow tree. From a man who, for several
years, lived within tAventy rods of it, I procured this information:
He always thought the Swallows tarried in the tree through the
winter, and avoided cutting it down, on that account. About the
first of May, the Swallows came out of it, in large numbers, about the
middle of the day; and soon returned. As the weather grew warmer,
they came out in the morning with a loud noise, or roar, and were
soon dispersed; about halt an hour before sun down, they returned
in millions, circulating two or three times round the tree, and then
descending like a stream, into a hole about sixty feet from the ground.
It was customary for persons in the vicinity, to visit this tree, to
observe the motions of these birds. And when any persons dis-
turbed their operations, by striking violently against the tree, with
their axes, the Swallows would rush out in millions, and with a great
noise. In November, 1791, the top of this tree was blown down,
twenty feet below where the Swallows entered. There has been no
appearance of the Swallows since. Upon cutting down the remain-
der, an immense quantity of excrements, quills, and feathers, were
found; but no appearance or relicks of any nests. Another of these
swallow trees was at Bridport. The man who lived the nearest to
it, gave this account : The Swallows were first obs(H-ved to come out
of the tree, in the spring; about the time that the leaves first began
to appear on tlu- trees. P^'rcmi that season, they come out in the
morning, about half an hour after sunrise. They rushed out like a
stream, as big as the hole in the tree would admit, and ascended in a
perpendicular line, until they were about the height of the adjacent
trees; tlien assumed a circular motion, performing their revolutions
tAVO or three times, but ahvays in a larger circle, and then dispei-sed
in every direction. A little before sundown, they i-eturned in im-
mense numbers, foiming several circulai' motions, and then descended
like a stream into the hole, from Avhence they came out in the morn-
ing. About the middle of September, they Avere seen entering the
tree, for the last time." " Neither of these accounts are attended

C If. Men-id III — llh-ilx of Coiiinctiriif. (Jl

witli till' liinlicst di'Li'i-i'i' of (.'vidriicr, wliicli the Milijcct iii,i\ :iilinit (.!':
but 1 am K'd to bi'lii'vc from tliom, lliat tlu' IIoiisi' SwmIIuu, in tliis
part of Amoric-a, ni'iu'rally resides diuiiiy; llie winter, in tin- li(ill..\v <.f
trees."*

The tree above describi'd, from Middlebury, \'enii(iiit, linallv bliw
down, and, more tlian half a century (in )852) after Williams wrote
the account above given of it, its remains were visited by his siic-
cessoi", in the historical line, Zadock Tliompson, and wcif tound
scarcely less interesting than the tree itself when inhabited by thou-
sands of Swifts. Thompson gave this account of its condition and
contents in 1852 : "The tree had rotted away, leaving little besides
the cylindrical mass, which had filled its hollow. The length of this
mass was about seven feet, and its diameter fifteen inches. Of the
materials which composed it, about one-half consisted of the feathers
of the Chimney Swallow, being, for the most part, wing and tail
feathers. The other half was made up of exuvia of insects, mostly
fragments and eggs of the large wood-ant, and a brown substance
probably derived from the decayed wood of the interior of the tree.
This discovery at Middlebury, though interesting, would not have
been regarded as very remarkable, if the materials which filled the
hollow of the tree, had been promiscuously and disorderly mingled
together. Such a jumbled mass Avould be what we should expect to
find in a hollow tree which had been, for centuries, perhajis, the
roosting place of myriads of Swallows. But this is not the case.
In their general arrangement, the larger feathers have nearly all their
quills pointing outward, while their j)lumes, or ends on which their

webs are arranged, point inward But this is not the most

remarkable circumstance connected with the subject. In \arious
parts of the mass, are found, in some cases, all the primary feathers
of the wing; in others, all the feathers of the tail, lying together in
contact, and in precisely the same order and position, in which they
are found in the living Swallow. In a lump of the materials, meas-
uring not more than seven inches by five, and less than three inches
thick, five wings and two tails were plainly seen, with their feathers
arranged as above mentioned, and in one of the wings, all the second-
ary quills were also arranged in their true position with regai-d to
the primaries. Now, we cannot conceive it possible that these feath-
ers could be shed by living birds, and be thus deposited. We may

* The Natural and Civil History of Vermont. By Samuel Williams, pp. 1 HJ-IS.
1794.

62 C H. Merriam, — Birds of Connecticut.

suppose that tlie birds died there, and that tlieir Hesh liad been re-
moved by decay, or by insects, without deranging the feathers. But
in that case what lias become of the skeletons? I do not learn that a
bone, beak, or a claw, has been found in any part of the whole mass.
What then has become of these ? They could hardly have been re-
moved by violent means, without disturbing the feathers. But, if
done quietly, what did it ? What insect would devour the bones, and
beak, and claws, and not meddle with the quills? Or woiild the
formic, or any other acid, which might be generated within the mass,
dissolve the former without aifecting the latter?"*

Family, TROCHILID.^.

1 32. Trochilns COlubris Linue. Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

A common summer resident. Arrives early in May (May 5, 1877),
remaining till the middle of October (Oct. 5, 1876; Oct. 16, 1874).
They usually breed early in June, Init Dr. F. W, Hall informs me
that a friend of his found a nest completed, and containing two eggs,
as early as May 27th (1877).

Thomas Morton, in 1682, expressed his astonishment at the dimen-
sions and habits of this bird, in the following words : " There is a
curious bird to see to, called a hunning bird, no bigger than a
great Beetle ; that out of question lives upon the Bee, which he
eateth and catcheth amongst Flowers. For it is his custome to fre-
quent these places. Flowers hee cannot feed upon by reason of his
sharp bill, which is like the poynt of a Spanish needle, but shorte.
His fethei's have a glasse like silke, and as hee stin-es, they show to
be of a chaingable coloure : and has l)in, and is admired for shape,
coloure, and size."f And two years later, William Wood, in his
" New England's Prospect" informs us that " The Plumbird is one of
the wonders of the Countrey, being no bigger than a Hornet, yet
hath all the demensions of a Bird, as bill, and wings, with quills,
s]>ider-like legges, small claAves : For colour she is as glorious as the
Ivaine-bow , as she flies, she makes a little humming noise like a
I Iiimbli'-lu'i' : wherefore slice is calliMl the IIuinbird."|

" Tlie llumberd for some Queone's ricli Cage more fit,
Than in the vacant Wildernesse to sit."|

* Zadock Thompson, Appendix to the History of Vermont, p. 26, 1853.

f Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5, p. 50.

X New England's Prospect, by "William Wood. p. 31, 1034.

C. 11. jSTerrimn — lilnis of ( 'otnicrtlciit. 0;i

Family, ALCEDINID^.

133. Ceryle alcyon (T.inno) iioie. Hcltcd Kin^lislier.

A coininoii suninu'V ivsiilont Ml)Oiit Avatcr ('(nirsi'S and aloiii;- the
coast. Arrives during- tlie latter [lart of Marcli (Mar. 20, 1S77), re-
maining into November (Nov. i:^, 1S75). A few sonieliines winter.
One was seen near Hartford, Feb. 13, 1874, by Mr. K. ('. I liunplirey.*
Mr. P^'red. S. Smith, of this city, informs me tliat he onee found
the eggs of this species phiced on a bed of tisli bones, about six feet
from the entrance to tlie hole. This was near Lake Wliitnev, Conn.
In this hititude their eggs are generally deposited during tlu' latter
part of May. Josselyn, in enumerating the birds of New England,
in 1675, says there are '■'• Kings fishers, which breed in the spring in
holes in the Sea-bank, l)eing unapt to pro])agate in Summer, by
reason of the driness of their bodies, which becomes more moist
when their pores are closed l)y cold."f

Family, CUCULID^.

134. CoCCyZUS erythrophthalmuS (Wilson) Bonaparte. Black -billed
Cuckoo.

A common summer resident, arriving about the middle of May
(May 15, 1870), and remaining till the latter ))ait of Sei)temlier
(Sept. 28, 1875).

135. CoCCyzUS AmericanUS (Linne) Bonaparte. Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

A common summer resident. Arrives eai-ly in ^lay (May 7, 1876),
remaining into October (Oct. 11, 1873, shot, Hall). Both Mr. Coe
and myself have found, on the same day, and in the same Cuckoo's
nest, fresh eggs and young birds.

Family, PICID^.

136. HylotomUS pileattlS (Linne) Baird. Piieated Woodpecker.

A rare winter visitant ; it was once common throughout the State,
but is now almost exterminated and driven into the less civili/i'd dis-
tricts. Linsley gave it from Stratford and New Haven. Mr. ^V. \\ .
Coe tells me that a specimen was killed near Portland, Conn., in

* MS. notes of John H. Sage, Esq.

f Voj^ages to New England, p. 101, l<;7.'i.

64 C. H. Merrlam — Birds of Connecticut.

November, 1S76; and " Mr. Wm. Kino- took a specimen, several years
ago, at Suffield, Conn."* No longer ago than 18:S9, Peabody gave it
as resident in Massachusetts, where it was " not uncommon in the
woodlands."f

137. Picus villosns Linne. Hairy Woodpecker.

Resident, Init not common. Have taken four specimens and seen
several others in the immediate vicinity of New Haven. Found
chiefly in winter. Mr. Coe tells me that it is quite common about
Portland, Conn.

138. Picus pubescens Linne. Downy Woodpecker.

A common resident ; found everywhere except in open fields
devoid of stumps and fences.

139. Picoides arcticns (Swainson) Gray. Black -liacked Three-toed Wood-

pecker.

A rare winter visitor from the North. In the Museum at Middle-
town is a specimen, from the Shurtletf Collection, taken at Simsbury,
Conn., in 1860. Dr. Wood has also taken it at East Windsor Hill,
Conn.

140. SphyrapicuS varius (Linne) Baird. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.

Hare aboi;t New Haven. Have seen but four individuals (Sept.
28, and Oct. 2, 1875, and March 30, and May 8, 1876). Mr. J. N.
Clark finds it to be "abundant in fall" at Saybrook.J Linsley gave
it from New London, Conn. It is rare al)out Portland, Conn., as I
' am informed by IMessrs. Coe and Sage. Mr. Thos. Osborne tells me
that they were quite common about New Haven last fall (1876) and
that he secured four specimens. Mr. Grimiell says that it is not
uncomm.on about Milford, Conn., in fall; and Mr. J. N. Clark, of
Saybrook, writes me that he has observed it to be " very common
both in spring and lall," but that he " never saw it after April till
autumn."

Though most Woodi)eckers are residents where they are found at

* MS. notes of Erwin I. Shores.

\ Peabody's Report on the Ornithology of Mass., p. 334. 18:59.

X Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 11, p. GO:!. Nov., 1873.

(\ II. McrriiDit — ll'ifih of i'oiniccllriit. 05

all, ill any miniln'rs, lliis is truly, tlioui^li not slricl ly, a inl'j.iaiil.*
Dr. Will. (), Ayros writes mo: " At New Canaan, ("nun., I used to
find tlu'in oacli ant umn, tliouL;,li never very nunieidiis ; I nevei- saw
them in tlie spring.

141. Centurus Carolinus (Linne) Swainson. Rod-r)ollied Woodpoc-ker.

A rare accidental visitor from tlie South. Linsley saw one "an-
cending an apple tree, on tlie 16th of October, 1842."f Dr. C'rary
says he lias killed it near Hartford, Conn. ; and Mr. Erwiii I. Shores
writes me that he "took a female, July .'{0th, 1874," at Suflield, Conn.
Giraud gave it as breeding regularly on Long Island, though not
very common. J

142. Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Limu-) Swainson. Ued-iieadcd

Woodpecker.

K rare summer resident ; breeds at Saybrook, sometinu's remaining
all winter.§ Linsley gave it from Stratford, and Dr. .1. D. AVhelpley
informed him that it was " rare at New IIaven"f tliirty-tive years
ago, and, so far as I am aware, its numbers have not increased since.
In fact, as Dr. Cones has remarked : " C^omparisons of the older with
more recent local authorities indicate that the sjx'cies is now inuch
less numerous than formei-ly."| Dr. P\ W. Hall took one at West
Haven in December, 1872, and has seen several other s})cciinens in
this vicinity. W. W. Coe and J. H. Sage have eacli taken it al)out
Portland, Conn., but find it rarely. Dr. Wood, of East Windsor
Hill, tells me that they were really abundant, in tliat vicinity, thirty-
five years ago, being more numerous than the Flicker ( Colaptes
auratus). Four years later a large flock was seen, and since tlien
they have been one of our rare birds. A few, however, still breed
pretty regularly in the vicinity of East Windsor, Conn. IMr. .1. N.
Clark informs me that, during the latter pait of Septeml)er, 1872,
they suddenly became abundant in a grove of oaks near Saybrook,
Conn. The adult birds Avere mostly killed off" by boys from the
neighborhood, while the young-of-the-year, lacking the brilliant and

*For a valuable contribution to tlie tjiography of tliis beautiful Woodpecker, sec
an article by William Brewster, in Bull. Nutt. Oruitb. ("lub, vol. i, No. I!, pp. <;:?-70.
Sept., 1876.

f Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 2fi:{. April, 1S4;?.

X Birds of Long Island, p. 179. 1844.

§ Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 11, p. 09:'.. Nov., 187:!.

II A List of the Birds of New England. [From Proc. Essex Inst., vol. v, p. 1 5. | i S(58.

Trans. Conn. Ac.\d., Vol. IV. 9 .Ti'i.v, IS77.

66 C. H. Merriam — Binh of Connecticut.

much prized red heads, were 8]>ared and remained tlirougli the winter
— some even breeding there tlie next summer (1873). Mr. J. H.
Sage killed one at Hartford, Dec. 31st, of the same winter (1872).
Their food consisted chiefly of acorns. In this connection I Avill state
that in northern New York (Lewis Co.), where they are usually one
of our commonest Woodpeckers, they subsist almost exclusively on
beech-nuts, of which they evidently are extremely fond, eating them,
apparently with equal relish, whether green or fully matured. It is
truly a beautiful sight to watch these magnificent birds, together
with their equally abundant cousins, the Yellow-bellied Woodpeckers
{Sphyrapicns varius), creeping about, after the manner of the War-
blers, among the small branches and twigs, which bend low with their
weight, while picking and husking the tender nuts — the bright crim-
son of the head, neck and breast, the glossy blue-black back, and
creamy-white belly, together with the scarcely less striking colors of
their yellow-bellied companions, contrast handsomely with the deep
green foliage.

143. Colaptes auratUS (Liime) Swainson. Golden-winged Woodpecker;

Yellow-hammer; High-holder; Flicker; Yaffle.

Resident; common from early April till November. A few
generally winter. It breeds in holes in old stubs and trees. The
migrants arrive during the latter part of March (March 28), remain-
ing till the middle or latter part of November (Nov. 14 and 28). My
friend, Mr. A. J. Dayan, saw one, near New Haven, on the 26th of
January, 1877. Mr. Geo. ]>ird Grinnell tells me that he has taken it,
near Milford, Conn., in December (Dec. 25, 187(5), January (Jan. 1,
1877), and February (Feb. 27, 1875). Mr. W. W. Coe M'ritos me
that they also spend the winter in the vicinity of Portland, Conn.

Kalm states, in his Travels, that " this species is destructive to
maize-fields and orchards, for it pecks through the ears of maize, and

eats apples Some years ago there was a premium of two

pence per head, paid from the public funds, in order to extirjiate this
]»ernicious bird."*

Family, STRIG-ID^.

144. Strix flammea, var. Americana (Audui.on) Schi, Bam Owl.

A rare accidental visitor from the South. Taken ])y Linsley at
Stratford, Conn.f l*rof. J. A. Allen states that Di-. Wood " has a

* Peter Kalm'a Travels into North Anierira, vol. ii. pp. 80-7. 1771.
f Catal. Birds Conn., p. 25."?. 1 84:!.

(\ II. Ml rrniiii — llirds oj' i'umiicl'irut . 07

speciiiK'ii in liis ciibiiiol tluiL was shot \il Siulicnrs 1 lead, ( "uiiiu'ctiriit ,
Oct. 28tli, ISUS/"* IMnssachusc'tts also lays claim to (wo spcciiiu'iis :
the first " was killed near Springtield, ]\Iass., about tlie last of May,"
1868, f and the otlicr "was shot near Lynn, in the same Stale, in
18(38."J

Since wa-iting tlic above I have seen, in the cabinet of Capt. O. N.
Brooks, at Faulkner's Island, Conn., a mounted specimen of (his
species which was killed at Madison, Conn., some years ago ; and
Dr. Wm. O. Ayres, now of Easthampton, Long Island, \vri(es me
that he found one at Hartford, Conn., about tlie year 1841. Hence
at least four have been killed in this State.

145. Bubo Virginianus (Gmclin) Bonaparto. Great Horned Owl.

Resident; not rare. Breeds in suitable localities throughout the
State. It feeds on the larger game (hares, grouse, and the like), not
forgetting the poultry yard, and seems particularly fond of turkeys,
of which it seldom touches more than the head, if there are a i)lenty
about. Indeed I have know^i one to kill and decapitate three turkeys
and several hens in a single night, leaving the bodies uninjured and
fit for the table. Hence, if not so prone to select valuable fowls the
loss would not be great. Their tenacity to life is something remark-
able. A number of years ago I kept one in confinement for six or
eight months, during which time I was twice attacked l)y him and
bear tlie marks of his talons to this day. On both of these occasions
I kicked and pounded him with sticks till he was, as I supposed,
dead, but always on returning to skin the bird I found him sitting up
on his perch, blinking, snapping his bill, and making faces at me as
usual. Dr. Wood Avrites that a gentleman, while viewing one of
this species in his collection, said: "I suppose that is the kind of binl
that once scared me almost to death. While riding on lioi'seback
througli a tract of large woods in New^ York State, one night, with a
white beaver on my head, something, without the least noise or
warning, struck my head with such force that it took my hat, and I
supposed for a time the top of my head ofi'. I thought tlie devil was
after me, and the way that old horse wa^nt for the next tliree miles
would have astonished John Gilpin. It seemed to me my heart beat

* Notes on some of tlie Rarer Birds of Massachusetts, p. 17. 1869. 1 liave lately
seen this specimen.

f Proceed. Essex Institute, vol. v, p. 312.

X Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. .'lOO. 1S74.

68 C. JI. Merrlain — lilrds of Con'itecticut.

loiulcr tliaii an ordinary church bell, and I had to swallow last to
keep it from coming into my throat and choking me."*

My friend, Mr. W. W. Coe, of Portland, Conn., has had such
remarkable success in finding the nests, and securing the eggs, of this
species, that I was induced to trouble him for an account of some of
his exploits in that direction, and he has been kind enough to fevor
me with the followhig : " In 18C8, a fanner's boy told me that a pair
of Great Horned Owls and their two young had taken up their abode
in a piece of woods near his place, and that a pair had lived there for
several years. He had often seen them when at work in the woods
in winter, and observed them one morning on the lower limbs of a
large hemlock. One sat on a branch directly above the other and
had a rabbit in its claws, upon which they both seemed to be feeding.
He watched them for sometime and then frightened them off. The
bird with the rabbit carried it with him a short distance, but finally
dropped it. The boy offered to shoot one of the Owls for me, but I
told him not to do it, for I wanted to get the eggs, if possible, the
next year.

" On the first of May, 1869, we went to look for the nest and found
it in a large chestnut tree. It contained two young Owls almost large
enough to fly. I l)rought them both home, stuffed one, and ke[»t the
other alive sometime, when it got killed while I avus away. During
the latter part of March, 18*70, we went again and found the Owls
occupying the same nest. One old bird was on, and I thought my-
self sure of the eggs this time, but on ascending to the nest found
two young Owls covered with down. They were, I should think,
about two weeks old, so we left them for seed and determined to be
in time next season, but sickness and extra woi'k forced me to neglect
it. In the following year (1872) we started out on the 2d of March
and visited the old nest, but for some reason it had been abandoned.
We then visited another piece of woods near by and soon found a
vary large nest in a chestnut tree, but it showed no sign of life.
While deliberating whether it was best to climb it or not, I gave the
tree several hard raps with a club, when off" went the old bird with a
hoo, hoo^ hoo. My companion climbed the tree and fomid two eggs.
I thought they might lay again, since it was so early, and accordingly,
on the 12th of April, visited the same nest, and, on getting near, a
bird jumped up from it which I at first took to be the OavI, but as it
started off" I saw it was a Red-tailed Hawk, which we found had

* TTiirtford Times, chap, xvii, July 20, 18f>l.

C II. Merriaiii — liinls nf CuunrtliKt. (J9

taken ptisscssioii ami layi'<l two eggs. \\\'tlK'ii \\v\\{ td \\\v oM Owl's
nest, whiMV we had tVniinl young in IStiO and It^To, and Inimd lluold
bird on. This nest now eonlained two ejigs in wliieli the yoini*'- were
well advaneed — so the old birds must have hiid again soon alter the
first nest was robbed.

^ "About the first of IMareh, 187;J, we again visited the same place
but could not find the birds, though I noticed one of their feathers,
and, since snow had fallen a day or two before, I know they could not
be far oft. Finally, on the 13tli of jMarch, I found them occupying a
nest about two miles from the old place. It was the old nest of a
Red-tailed Hawk from which I took three eggs April 29th, 1872. The
nest now^ contained one young Owl, apparently about five or six days
old, and one rotten Q^g. I think the egg had been frozen, for it was
badly cracked. I am, of course, unable to say whether or no all the
eggs above mentioned wei'e deposited by the same j)air of Owls, since
three or four old birds have been killed in this vicinity. However, I
am quite sure that they all belonged to the same family. I also took
their nests in 1874 (Feb. 28), 1875 (took young in May), 1876 (Feb.
22), and 1877 (took eggs twice, Feb. 19 and Mar. 23). During the
whole time I have known of them they have not built a new nest,
but have either occupied the same one for at least three years, or
taken some vacant Hawk's nest.

"To sum up: my experience with Great Horned Owls has been
that they lay in old nests of. Red-tailed Hawks, in hollow trees, and
occasionally in ledges of rocks. I never knew^ them to build a nest,
or to lay more than two eggs, and I have known of many nests not
mentioned above."

146. Scops asio (Linae) Bonaparte. Mottled Owl ; Screech Owl.

A common resident throughout the State. It lays five eggs, in a
hollow tree, about the last of April. This is, I think, the most
nocturnal of our Owls. At least it can generally be approached in
broad daydight more easily than the other species, and seems to be
dazzled by the light. It sometimes catches fish through a hoK' in
the ice, like the Snowy Owl.*

147. OtUS vulgaris, var. WilSOnianuS (Lesson) Allen. Long-eared
* Owl.

A common resident. Its large nest is comnioidy placed on some

thick tree— generally a pine— but sometimes in low bushes. It is

* Bull. Nutt. Ornithol. Club, vol. ii, No. 3, p. 80. July, 1877.

70 C. H. Merriatn — Birds of Connecticut.

said to take possession of the deserted nests of Crows and Hawks.
"Mr. J. 8. Brandigee, of Berlin, Conn., found a nest, early in April,
in a hendock tree, situated in a tliiek dark evergreen woods. The
nest was flat, made of eoai'se sticks, and contained four fresh eggs."*
Have taken it, in company with the following species, in clumps of
low bushes near the coast.

148. BrachyotUS palustriS (Bechst.) Oonld. Short-eared Owl.

Resident about the salt marshes near the coast; also found through-
out the State. Nests on the ground. Not uncommon. In the year
1856, on the island of Grand Menan, " A nest of this bird was found
by Mr. Cabot in the midst of a dry, peaty bog. It was built on the
ground, in a very slovenly manner, of snndl sticks and a few feathers,
and presented hardly any excavation."!

149. Syrnium Cinereum (Gmelin) Audubon. Great Gray Owl.

A rare straggler from the north. Linsley captured a specimen at
Stratford, C-onn., Jan. 6, 1843. J

During the winter of 1852 a large Great Gray Owl was killed near
Boston, Mass., after creating some little excitement among the inhab-
itants : "A light snow fell on Sunday evening, March 21st, and the
next moruing mysterious footprints were discovered in the vicinity of
Nahant street and Long Beach. They were of a shape that excited
much curiosity, and no one was able to determine what sort of a
creature had made them. But on Monday evening Mr. John Barry
shot a very large gray oAvl, on the marsh, near the foot of Pleasant
street, and it was concluded that the wonderful tracks were made by
him. He measured more tlum live feet from tip to tip of the wings. "i^

150. Syrnium nebulosum (Forster) Boio. Barred Owl.

A common resident throughout- the State. Mr. J. N. Clai-k, of
Saybrook, Coim., tells me that he once lound it breeding, in a hollow
tree, within twenty-five rods of the nest of a pair of Great Horned
Owls.

* Baird, Brewer & Ridgway, vol. iii, p. 22, 1874.

•j- A List of Birds observed at Grand Menan and at Yarmouth, N. S., June 16 to
July 8, 1856. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. vi, p. 115. March, 1857.
\ Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv. No. 2, p. 253. April, 1843.
§ History of Lynn, Mass., pp. 432-3, 1865.

C. II. Merrhtni — liirds <>/ ('itninrticiit. "71

Dr. Win. Wuoil, ol' Kasl \\"ui(l>..i- Hill, ('..im., rclMlcs the rnjlnuin.^r
amusing" anecdote, wlueli serves well to illustrate 'Mlie nature ..t tlic
beast" under certain conditions, and at the same tinu' atlords n> an
excellent example of conjugal affection and innate wisdom in our
own species: "A geutleman who fancied liimsclf a taxi<Ieiinist l»e-
cause, forsootl), he had seen a single specimen stuffed, determined to
allow that talent no longer to be buried, but bring it to light l»v
practically demonstrating to the world in general, and mankind in
particular, the w\ay by which the feathered species can forever look
' as natural as life and a little more so.' Having obtained a specimen
of the Barred Owl that was only slightly winged, he let it loose in
the cellar till a leisure day. The bird, with only tlie ti]) of the wing
injured, and having free use of its limbs and feet, could visit anv part
of her prison, and finding herself sole mistress, was not long in
appropriating anything and everything that would promote her own
comfort and ease. The potato and a]»ple bins, as well as the soai»
and pork barrels were indiscriminately and alike used for ])laces of
rest and repose. The day arrived when this nuisance could no hinder
be tolerated. A})proaching, with hand extended, to seize the Owl
my friend received the benefit of her claws in and around his fingers.
Grasping the bird's leg to disengage it from its gript', tlie other claw
was instantly brought in I'equisition ami seized the other hand.
Both hands l>eing now securely held by the bird, no wonder that our
hero called out lustily for hel|) when he saw the Owl expanding her-
self abnost indefinitely, and snap])ing her l)ill in anticipation of the
dainty repast which, according to a}»pearance, she was about to swal-
low ! The terrified scream alarmed the whole household, and the
rush down the cellar stairs reminds one very forcibly of the second
and fourth illustrations in Bachelor Butterfly, on page I4t]i, where he
jumped overboard, and, in older to save the life of the Naturalist,
was followed by his omnipresent Dorothy and the whole crew. Mis
better half becoming alarmed for the safety of her beloved, seized tlie
enraged bird by the head and pulled with all the force that conjugal
fidelity or nervous excitement could arouse. The more she j)ulled
the deeper were the talons of the Owl inserted, as was evidenced by
the musical entertainment given by our frieml, wliicli comprised a
scale of at least tw'o octaves, with trills and variations that would
have astonished an Italian prima donna ! What more could l)c
done ? The adage that ' necessity is the mother of invention' proved
true in this case, for the imminent danger, to say nothing of the ex-
cruciating pain, roused our hero to the importance of trying wliat

72 (J. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

virtue there was in his incisors. Being blest with a good set he with
much difficulty succeeded in biting off" all the claws of the Owl, and
relieving himself from his perilous position, probably a wiser man for
his first lesson in Ornithology."*

Surely Thomas Morton, Esq., could not have been familiar with
the love calls of this species, or he would never have written: "There
are Owles of divers kindes : but I did never heare any of them whop
as ours doe."f

151. Nyctea Scandiaca (Linue) Newton. Snowy Owl.

This magnificent bird seems to be a pretty regidar winter visitant
along our coast. Linsley had secured five specimens from Stratford,
Conn., and Dr. Whelpley had observed it at New Haven, pi-ior to
the year 1843. J Two specimens came to my notice during the win-
ter of 1875-6 (the first on Nov. 10), and no less than a dozen speci-
mens were killed in the immediate vicinity of New Haven in October
(Oct. 17, Osborne), and November last (1876). They unquestionably
belonged to the immense flock of these Owls that passed through
eastern Massachusetts about the same time. Over ttoo hundred
specimens were shot about Boston in October and November. For a
detailed account of this Avonderful and really ])erple.\ing migration,
consult an article by Kuthven Deane, Esq., in the Bulletin of the
Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 1, vol. ii, p. 9, for January, 1877.
Dr. Wm. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Conn., writes that they were
unusually abundant here during the winter of 1858-9, when fifteen
or twenty were shot in Hartford County. He further observes tliat
"it hunts either by day, or in the twilight, occasionally pursuing
game on the wing and securing it after the manner of the true falcons,
but generally devouring it on the spot like the IVIarsh Hawk. When
annoyed and teased by Crows it will now and then seek shelter in a
hollow tree. Some years since I w\as pursuing one of these birds, in
our meadows, that was followed and tormented by a great number of
Crows. It finally alighted on an apple tree about a hundred rods
distant, and in a few moments the whole tree was black with his
tormenters, and still they came from all directions, attracted by the
noise and confusion of those diving at the Owl. Soon they began to

* Ifartford Times, chap, xx, .Vupjiist 17, 1801.

f New Kiiirlisli Oiinnaii, p. 4!>. (Reprinted in Force'8 llistDiical Trax-ts, Tract 5,
vol. ii.)

\ Am. .Tour. Sci. and Arts, No. 2, vol. xliv, p. 25:5, 184.'!.

C. If. Mtri'iiiin — liinl.^ iif < '(niii(<-llriil. Y;^

leave, :\ih1 betorc my arrival all w as (|iii(t. Tliis was a iiivstt-rv to
me, for I \vm\ not seen tlic Owl Hy, aii.l if lie li.id, \\\v cnnvs wniil.l
certainly have given the alarm an<l followed him, yet iio < h\ I \\;is in
sight. Having passed the tn'e some fifteen or twcnlv roil- | Ik md :i
noise, and turning about saw the Owl eoming out of ;i hollow m|.|.1(-
tree stump close by the tree. This was rather proxokin-, tm I \v.\A
been, just a moment before, near enough to the stum|. to li,i\c
touched it with my gun.""*

About the middle of March, 1868, "lour lai-ge Arctic Owls ucic
shot during one week, at Nahaut, and on the beaches" about i'>.ist(Mi.t

152. Surnia Ulula, var. HudSOnia (Gmelin) Coucs. ilawk Owf

A rare winter visitor from the North. To Di-. F. W. Hall belongs
the honor of ad<ling this species to the birds of our 8tate. In Nov.
1869, he saw the bird in an elm tree in an open field. Not having a
gun with him he returned for it and secured a fine specinu-n of the
Hawk Owl. It was mounted by the Rev. C M. Jones, and is now in
the cabinet of Dr. Hall. In the vicinity of Hudson's l>ay, during the
winter season, the white Ptannigan (Lagopiis alht/t^) <-onstitutes its
chief article of diet; and it is said to follow the hunter, pouncing
upon his game before he has time to reach it. As early as is;i;{ the
Hawk Owl was recorded, by Ebenezer Emmons, M.D., as a lare
" autumn" visitant in Massachusetts.^ It has been shot as far South
as Haddington, near Philadelphia.§

153. Nyctale Tengmalmi, var. Richardsoni (Bonaparte) Ridgwaj.

Richardson Owl.
An extremely rare accidental winter visitor from the North. Dr.
Wm. Wood has a fine specimen of this boreal Owl in his cabinet. It
was captured some twenty years ago, in mid-winter, lu-ar Kast
Windsor, Conn. The doctor gives the following account of the
manner in which he came in ])ossession of this specimen, in one of his
interesting articles published in the "Hartford Times," Aug. 24th,
1861: "Visiting a patient some three miles from my oitice, I was

* Hartford Times, cliap. xvi, July 6, 1861.

f History of Lynn, Mass., by Alonzo Lewis and .Tames R. Newliall, i). 47.3, 1805.

J Report on the Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology of Massaehnsctts. By
Edward Hitchcock, Amherst. p. MC. 183.S.

§ Birds of East Pennsylvania and New Jersey. By William V. Tiinil.iill, M.D.. i>.
41. 1869.

Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 10 Jit-y, 18V7.

74 (J. H. Merriani — Birds of Connectictit.

iiiforraed tlint word had been left for me to call at a house near by.
On driving over and meeting the occn])ant at the gate, I inquired
who was sick ? After giving me an evasive answer I was invited
into the house. Being well acquainted with the gentleman, and
knowing that he had quite a taste for natural liistory, I began to
suspect that it was not professional advice that was wanting. Leav-
ing the room for a few minutes, he returned with an Owl. This bird,
he informed me, sat u|ton the verandah early the previous morning,
and approaching cautiously, he ca]>tured it without its making the
least resistance or effort to escape, and put it into a cage. The next
morning, from some unknown cause, the bird was found dead, and
' thinking it might l»e something a little different from any in my
collection,' he saved it for me. No one but a naturalist can imagine
the satisfaction it afforded me Avhen I beheld Richardson's Owl ; and
I assure yoiT that I would not only have gone three miles, but ten
times three to obtain it." Several specimens have been taken in
Massachusetts.*

154. Nyctale Acadica (rrmclin) Bonaparte. Acadian Owl; Saw-whet Owl.

Resident, though rather rare, or at least not often seen, for, owing
to its diminutive size and nocturnal habits, it might be quite common
and yet escape notice. Linsley never saw " Imt two individuals," one
of which " was found lying upon his back in a barn-yard in a cold
morning in INiarch, 1841, though still living." A specimen Avas taken
at East Haven, Conn., Nov. 26th, 1874, by Dr. F. W. Hall.

Mr. Coe and Mr. Sage have each fine exani])les of this species in
their cabinets, and the former gentleman showed me a set of five eggs
found in a hole in a tree near Portland, Conn. Dr. Wood, of East
Windsor Hill, has several S])ecimens taken in that vicinity, and I have
lately seen quite a number, killed about New Haven, and throughout
the State. It feeds on small birds, mice, grasshoppers, beetles, etc.
" P^or rearing its young the Saw-whet takes possession of the old nest
of a crow, or some otlier large bird, or of a hollow cavity of an old
tree."f

* J. A. Allen's Notes on some of the Rarer Birds of Mass., pp. 47-8. 1869.
f Zadock Tlioni))soii's liistory of Veriiinnt, ])p. (!r>-7. 1842.

C. H. Merrlam — Jiinls of < '<nii,,rtii-ut. 75

Family, FALCONID^.
155. Circus cyaneus, var. Hudsonius (Liniu') Siiii. Mai>ii iiawk;

Harrier; 'Mouse Hawk."

A tolerably ooiiimoii sumincr resident, esin-cially about salt iiiarslics,
where it breeds, plaeing its nest 011 tlie ground. Arrives in .March
or April (April 9, 1876, Osborne), remaining into No\ eniln r (Nov. (P.

I take the foHowing interesting account of tlie audacity sometimes
displayed by this bird, from one of T)i-. Wood's artich's in the Hart-
ford Times: "If once introduced to your young poultry a faithful
supervision Avill be exercised over them to see that none are left to
suffer from want of attention or hunger. I know of an instance
where the ohl bird returned daily, and about the same hour, until all
were taken. Coming one day when the owner was there, the Hawk
evidently intended to convince him that he Avas sole projirietor of
that brood. The chiekens having tied into the coop, he made him-
self quite at home by alighting on the shed near by and waiting for
them to appear. The farmer caught up a stick and threw it at him,
which so enraged the bird that it flew about his head, diving at him
and squealing at a most furious rate, Avhen he returned again to tlie
shed, scolding vehemently. The farmer remarked that ' he was the
sauciest little thing he ever saw.' In capturing mice partly con-
cealed they sometiTiies ' wake up the wrong j)assenger' and get caj)-
tured. An instance of this occurred in East Hartford. \ Mouse
Hawk was observed sailing over some tall grass, evidently intent on
game. Poising himself for a moment by the slow, easy flappings of
his wings, he suddenly dove, and soon appeared, ascending slowly
and with difliculty. The very singular movements of the Hawk
attracted the notice of several persons Avho were talking together, and
they watched every motion with intei'cst. He gradually rose higher
and higher, till his strength began to fail, when he began to descend
obliquely for a little way, then headlong to the groinid. On arriving
at the place they found that the Hawk had seized a weasel, that had
killed its assailant by eating into the sides of the bird, where he was
still at work !"

"Some years since, a student in the seminary came runnitig up to
me in a great hurry, almost out of breath, puffing like a locomotiv e,
and exclaiming, ' Doc — doc — doctor, — can — you — shoot — flying T
I replied that sometimes I did such things. " Well, I wish you
would so out East and shoot a Hawk that has chased me for half a

76 C. H. Merriaiu — Birds of Connecticnt.

mile, (living- so close to my head that I expected every moment he
would have liohl of me.* Taking my gun, we walked towards the
swamp, when he informed me that ' he came out there to practice
elocution, so as not to disturb any one, and before he liad finished
tlie vowel sounds the Hawk came at him.' On arriving near the
place I requested him to commence his vocal exercises again, so as
t3 atibrd me an opportunity for practicing on the wing. He com-
menced, and, if that was a specimen of elocution, no wonder the
Hawk drove him from the premises, for of all the earthly or unearthly
sounds ever uttered, those exceeded anything I ever heard, Tf l)lind-
fold, one wonld have supposed that there was a concert of Great
Horned Owls of all ages, echoing through the forest ' waugh ho !

oo, e, ah,

' Making night hideous,'

almost tempting one to think, if not to utter, the penult of the word
named. The bird without doubt recognized the vowel sounds, for
she soon came around, but either not liking the looks of me or my
gun, kept at a respectful distance, flying about, uttering the peculiar
cry of the Marsh Hawk Neither the attempts of Audubon or Nutt-
all to interi)ret their song has elucidated it according to my ear. It
appears to me to sound like the male falsetto descending quickly
from high F to D, key of two sharps, with the syllables hey, ha, ha,
in compound time, accenting the flrst note very forcibly. The next
day we went again to the swamp, but taking the precaution to con-
ceal myself in the bushes before he commenced his elocutionary ex-
ercises, the bird dove at him as before, when he sung out lustily,
' shoot ! shoot ! shoot !' Discovering me the hawk changed her
tactics, much to the relief of my friend, and, poishig herself for a
moment, dove with so much force at my head as to make a distinct
rustling sound. After allowing her to repeat tliis several times to
see if she would really take hold of my craniiim, my old gun went
off, carrying death in its track, much to the joy of my companion,
who now, for the first time, ventured to take a full breath since com-
ing into the swamp."*

156. NaucleruS forficatUS (Lhhk-) Ridgway. Swallow-tailed Kite.

A rare straggler from the South, at present. Mr. Josiali (i. Ely,
of Lyme, New London County, Conn., writes me that while hunting
on the 2d of July (1877), one of these magnificent birds flew over his

* Hartford Times, chap. xv. June 29, 1861.

G. IT. Merriam — HinlK «;/" (\>nin'<(lcitt. 77

Ik'iuI, aiul tliiit "tln'iv is no doubt :is to its i.liiilit y/' Mi. \\'. \\ .
Coe, of Porthiiul, Conn., tells nu' that ho saw a Swallow-tailcl Kite in
that vicinity, durinii; tlu' suninK-r of 18(51. He was crossing an oii. n
meadow wlien the Kite smldenly dove, close to where lie was stand-
ing, and arose witii a snake in its talons. This it devoured while in
the air, much to the surprise of Mr. Coe, who was not then familiar
with its habits. A specimen has also been observed in iMassachuset Is
quite recently.* It has been shot on Long Island ((iiraiid). 'i'iie
cause of its restricted northern range, in the eastern province, at the
present time, can scarcely depend on the temperature (as generally
supposed), for it was once not only common in New England, but
actually wintered here, Williams, writing in 1794, says that they
were then found in Vermont, and "seem to be fitted by nature, to
endure all the diversity of our climate, and are to be seen in the
coldest weather of our winters."f The power of wing exiiibited by
this splendid species is truly wonderful. Its swift flight and abrupt
turnings can only be compared to those of the Swallow. I have
often seen them, in P'lorida, dart down and pick a wasp's nest from
the under side of a palmetto leaf, devouring the grubs it contained
while on the wing.J Dr. Coues writes thus of it: "The Swallow-
tailed Kite is a marked feature of the scene in the Southern States,
alike where the sunbeams are redolent of the orange and magnolia,
and where the air reeks with the pestilent miasm of the moss-
shrouded swamps that sleep in perpetual gloom. But, imbued with a
spirit of adventure, possessed of unequaled powers of flight, it often
wanders far from its southern home ; it has more than once crossed
the ocean, and become a trophy of no ordinary interest to the ardent
collector in Europe." It extends northward in the Mississippi
Valley, "wdiere it regularly occurs above the mouth of the ^Missouri."
"Marked among its kind by no ordinary beauty of form and bril-
liancy of color, the Kite courses through the air with a grace and
buoyancy it would be vain to rival. By a stroke of the thin-bladi'tl
wings and a lashing of the cleft tail, its flight is swayed t<i tliis or
that side in a moment, or instantly arrested. Now it swoc)ps with
incredible swiftness, seizes without a pause, and bears its struggling
captive aloft, feeding from its talons as it flies; now it mounts in
airy circles till it is a speck in the blue ether and disappears. "§

* Rarer Birds of Mass., J. A. Allen, p. 46, 18(59.

f The Natural and Civil History of Vermont, by Samuel Williams, p. J 12, July KJ,
1794.

X Am. Nat., vol. viii. No. 2. p. 88, Feb., 1874.
§ Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. 332, 1874.

78 C. If. Merriani — Birds of (Jomtecticut.

157. Accipiter fllSCUS (Gmeliu) Bouaparte. Sharp-shinned Hawk.

A common summei" resident, breeding- on trees and on higli rocky-
cliffs thronghout the State. Mr. W. W. Coe writes nie, that, of all
our Hawks, they are the latest to breed, laying their eggs, generally
live ill number, in June. He has found tliem "in an old grey squir-
rel's nest fixed up for the occasion." Arrives in March, remaining
into November. F. W. Putnam, in 1S56, gave it as " resident," but
" not abundant," in Essex County, Mass. I have no authentic
record of its occurrence here in winter. Dr. Wood writes : " Its
flight is quick, irregular, and so rapid, that, if your gun is not cocked
it will pass out of range before you can get aim. It pounces upou
its prey with such velocity that no time is allowed for escape.
While riding one day, one passed within a few feet of me and dashed
into a cluster of alders, interwoven with grapevines and briars, and
seized a half-grown quail, passing out with it, without scarcely check-
ing its speed. Although the hedge was within twenty feet of me, it
was so thick tliat I could not discern tlie bird until it a])peared on the
opposite side in the talons of the Hawk. When hungry and in
search of game, it knows no fear, often diving within a few feet of
\o\\ and seizing a chicken. Sometimes you will see one flying along-
very swift and low, wheeling right and left, taking a ' bird's-eye view'
of every hedge and bush, until it starts some little bird, wliose fate is
surely sealed."* Nuttall writes: " Descending furiously and blindly
upon its quarry, a young Hawk of this species broke through the glass
of the green-house, at the Cambridge Botanic Garden ; and fearlessly
passing through a second glass partition, he was only brought \\\^ by
the third, and caught, though little stunned by the effort. "f

158. Accipiter Cooperi (Bonaparte) (iray. ('ooper's Hawk; Chicken

Hawk.

A common summer resident, geneially ])lacing its nest in some tall
i)ine or oilier high tree. "Their four eggs are usually ileposited
about the middle of May. They l're((uently build a new nest every
vear but often take possession of the old nest of a Ived-tailed or IJed-
shouldered Hawk. "J Arrives in ]\Iai"ch, remaining into Novembei'.
Dr. Wood writes that he knew of six of their nests in the vicinity of
East Windsor Hill, Conn., in a single season, and that he obtained

* Hartford Times, chap, x, May 25th, 1861.

■)• Nuttall's Manual of Ornithology, vol. i, p. 88. 1832.

X MS. notes of W. W. Coe.

C. H. Merritnn — B/n/.t nj' ('omnrficiit. 70

eggs from five oftlicin. He says, '' It is l.nM :ii,,l Icnrlcvs, yA\vn .liv-
ing witliin a few rods ol'tlic fai-iiuT and st-izino- liis cliickciis. It. .nee
iiitrodiu-ed to tlie young poidtry, you may rest assured <.f a daily call
till all are gone, unless you are fortunate enough t<> secuic the intru-
der. I onee saw one of tliese Hawks seize a chickt ii .m a \cry stcti)
side-liill, elose beside the old hen. In an instant the enraged mother
flew upon the thief, and hoth came tumbling down the hill, cHucIkmI
together; running up, I was just about to grasp the Hawk when tli(\-
]iarted. It sometimes attacks full grown poultry with success. A
gentleman once informed me that, ' while standing l)y his wood-pile,
close by the house, one of these birds do^e upon a full grown rooster,
within six or eight rods of him. The fowl ran some two oi- three
rods and dropped dead. The Hawk soon returned to de\ our his
game, as it was too heavy for him to carry away, but his audacity
cost him his life.' "*

In the old colonial days, when every man spelled as best suited his
own fancy, the different kinds of Hawks did not pass unnoticed, for in
1632 Morton wrote : " There are Hawkes in New England of 5. sorts,
and these of all other fether fowles I must not omitt, to speake of,
nor neede I to make any Apology for my selfe, concerning anv tres-
pass, that I am like to make upon my judgment, concerning the
nature of them, having bin bred in so genious a way, that T had the
common use of them in P]ngland : and at my first arrivall in those
parts practiced to take a Lamiaret, which I reclaimed, trained, and
made flying in a fortnight, the same being a ))assinger at jMichuelmas.
I found that these are most excellent Mettell, rank winged, well con-
ditioned, and not tickleish footed, and having whoods, bels, luers,
and all things fitting, was desirous to make exjx'riment of that kinde
of Hawke, before any other. And T am ]K'rswaded : that nature hath
ordained them to be of a farre better kinde, then any that lia\c Itin
used in England. "f It seems to me that there is little (bmbt but that
the above remarks refer to Cooper's Hawk.

159. Astur atricapillns (Wilson) Jardine. floshawk.

Rather rare, and somewhat irregular, winter visitant. Said to
breed, occasionally, as far south as Massachusetts (Maynnrd and
Minot).

* Hartford Times, chap, ix, May 18th, 1861.

+ New English Canaan. By Thomas Morton, p. 49. Hi:!2. | Reprinted in Force's
Hist. Tracts, vol. ii, T. ,5.]

80 C If. Merriain — liirds of Con)iecticut.

Professor Wm. 1). Whitney has a finely mounted specimen, in his
cabinet, wliicli was shot, some years ago, at Ilamden Phiins, near
New Haven, Conn. W. W. Coe, and Jno, II. Sage, of P<trtland,
Conn., have each several tine specimens taken in the State — one near
Hartford, Nov. 9th, 1867. Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell secured one, late
in the fall (Nov. or Dec.) of 1876, at Milford, Conn. For several
days previous to its capture it had been in the habit of lunching on a
neiglibor's chickens. Mr. Erwin I. Shores writes me that, in the
vicinity of Suffield, Conn., he has seen it " four or more times during
the last two winters." I am informed by Dr. Wm. Wood, of East
Windsor Hill, Conn., that they are really common in that vicinity
about once in ten years (he once had seven specimens, in the liesh,
on hand at one time) but are seldom seen between times. The doctor
relates the following anecdote as illustrating well the boldness and
daring often displayed by this species: An old man, over eighty years
of age, was sitting quietly in the kitchen with his maiden daughter.
The door was open and their quiet was sudtlenly l)roken by a hen
who rushed frantically into the room, followed closely by a large
(Toshawk. There, right on the kitchen tioor, and in the presence of
the two, the bold Hawk seized the hen. The feeble old man came
to the rescue, and, with stick in hand, finally succeeded in beating off
the intruder, who now made for the door. But it was too late— the
daughter had closed the door .and actually caught the furious l)ird in
her hands and put him to death !

Zadock Thoni])son says : " Its disposition is very savage, and it is
withal so much of a cannibal as sometimes to devour its own young !"*
Dr. Wm. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, writes that a specimen which
he once kept alive in a small i-oom "refused food until the thirteenth

day, when it devoured an entire hen It died the next

night, a victim to its voraciousness."! " Tiie }>oet Chaucer in allud-
ing to it says, —

' Riding on hawking by the river,
With gray Gosliawk in hand.'

Falconry and hawking, as defined by our lexicograjihers, are synony-
mous, but formerly birds of sport were divided into two classes, those
of falconry, and those of hawking. This bird came under the latter
class." " The Goshawk does iu>t usually soar high, like the longer
winged Hawks, nor dart upon its prey by a (lircct descent, as do the

♦History of Vermont, p. C>2. 1842.

f Ihirtford Ti)nos, v\vA\y ix, May 18th, ISfil.

(J. jr. Merrluni — Jiinls of Coimevticut. 81

true Falcons, but by ii side glanre. It is restless, seldom alii-l, tiller
but for a moment, oxeept to devour its (luarry, and tlien it stands
almost erect. Its Higlit is so rapid tliat it can easily overtake tlie

swift Pigeon on the wing When looking for prey it skims

along near tlu' surface of the ground with great velocity, and catches
its game so quickly and easily as scarcely to be seen by the looker-on."
" The Goshawk is the mt)st daring and venturesome of any of our
diurnal birds of prey. A farmer who resides a few miles from my
office, wishing to perpetuate the old New England custom (.f having
a chickeu-pie for Thanksgiving dinner, caught some fowls, took tlitiu
to a log, severed the neck of one, and threw it down beside him.
In an instant a Goshawk seized the struggling fowl, and, flying ott"
some ten rods, alighted and commenced devouring its prey. The
boldness of the attack so astonished the farmer that he looked on
with blank amazement. Recovering from his surprise, he hastened
into the house and brought out his gun, which secured him both the
Haw^k and the fowl,"*

Pennant, in 1785, tells us that Goshawks "are used by the
Etnperor of China in his sporting progresses, attended by his grand
falconer, and a thousand of the subordinate. . ; . , . The Emperor
often carries a Hawk on his hand, to let fly at any game whicli jne-
sents itself; which are usually Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, or
Cranes. Marco Polo saw this diversion about the year r209,"f

1 60. Falco communis Gmelin. Peregrine Falcon ; Duck Hawk.

Resident, but rare; breeds on Talcott Mountain, near Hartford,
Conn. Linsley tells us that, previous to the year 1842, a specimen of
this celebrated and powerful bird was wounded by a gunshot in
Stratford, [Conn.], and after he was taken soon recovered, and was kept
on poultry until he became too expensive to the owner,";]; who then
released him. Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell informs me that he saw, on the
23d of February, 1870, a Duck Hawk (or Great-footed Hawk, as it is
often called), flying about the Sound, near Milford, Conn.

On the 29th of June, 1877, while enjoying the hospitality of Cajit.
O. N. Brooks, at Faulkner's Island, Conn., in company with my
friend, Mr. .Tno. H. Sage, the Terns breeding on Goose Island (one mile

* Dr. Wood, in Am. Nat., vol. x. No. 3, pp. 132-4. March, 1876.
f Arctic Zoology. By Thomas Pennant, vol. ii, p. 204. 1785.
X Liusley's Catal. Birds Conn., p. 250, 1843.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Yol. IV. 11 Jl'I'Y, 1877.

82 G. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

distant) were observed to be in an unusual state of commotion. The
Captain remarked that they had been agitated, the day previous, by
a Duck Hawk which might still be prowling in the vicinity, and he
kindly oflered to take us over there. We landed, and, on rounding
the island, the Falcon suddenly started from her retreat among the
rocks and weeds, which, as we afterwards discovered, was strewn
with feathers. But the captain's gun was in readiness, and, through
his kindness, the bird now graces my collection. During her brief
visit she had made sad havoc among the Terns, and her crop was
greatly distended with their remains, Avhich had been swallowed in
incredibly large pieces — whole legs, and the long bones of the wings
were found entire and unbroken ! Indeed she was perfectly gorged,
and contained the remains of at least two adult Terns, besides a mass
of newly hatched young ! The only other great-footed Hawk that
Capt. Brooks has ever taken, he killed, at this same place, twelve
years ago. Query : did this bird come from Talcott Mountain, or
did it breed far beyond our limits ? It is said that they are able to
fly many hours without resting, and at the enormous rate of an hun-
dred miles per hour !* They sometimes live nearly 200 years !

In the Hartford Times of June 29th, 1861, Dr. Wm. Wood, of
East Windsor Hill, Conn,, published the first account of tlie first
Duck Hawk's nest found in New England, It was discovered by
Dr. Moses, on Talcott Mountain, near Hartford, Conn., May 25th,
1861, and contained four young ahnost large enough to fly. The
finding of this nest was, at the time, of particular interest, since, as
Dr. Wood remarked, " it settled beyond dispute three points : 1st,
that they breed on clifi*s ; 2d, that they breed in Connecticut ; and
3d, that they nest very early" (sometime in March). f

They have since been known to breed regulaily on Mount Tom,
Mass., where their eggs were first taken, April 19, 1864, by Mr. C,
W. Bennett,^ of Holyoke, Their nest was again robbed, by Mr.
Bennett, in 1866 and in 1869. Mr. J. A. Allen, in his "Notes on
some of the llarer Birds of Massachusetts," writes : '•'• During a visit
to this Mountain [Mt. Tom], in company with Mr. Bennett (Apr, 28,
1869), we had the great pleasure of discovering their second eyrie,
from whicli, witli considerable ditlicnlty, tlnee freshly laid eggs were
obtained. Not discoui'aged by this second misfortune, tliey nested

* See an interesting Article in Am. Nat, vol. v, No. 2, p. 82, April, 1871.

f Hartford Times, June 2i), 18(!1.

\ See Proceed. Essex Inst., vol. iv, p. J 53.

C. IT. j\fern'<()N — Birds of Connecticut. 83

again, this time (Icpositiiig their eggs in the uhl eyrie lioni which .ill
except the hist set of eggs have been obtained. Again thcv \\<ic
unfortunate, Mr. Bennett removing tlieir seeor.d set of e<»-gs, liner in
number, May "^;^<1, at wliicli time in<-iib;ition liad just (•(unnicnccd.
The birds remained about the moiinlaiii all tiie suniinei', ami linni
the anxiety they manifested in August it appears not iniprol);ible
that they had laid a third tjme, and at this late period had unfledged
young."* Mr. Harold Herrick states that it is common on the Island
of Grand Menan, N. B., where it " breeds on the clifls, but in such
inaccessible situations that its nest is rarely taken. There is a place
between 'Fish Head' and the 'Old Bishop' known as the 'Seven
Day's Work,' where the cliff is divided into seven strata as sharply
defined as lines of masonry. On an indentation in the face of this
cliff, about one hundred feet from the top, and one hundred and fifty
feet from the bottom, a pair of these Falcons have had their eyrie for
a succession of years, secure alike from the assaults of the most zeal-
ous naturalist, and the small boy of bird's-egging proclivities."!

Mr. W. W. Coe, of Portland, Conn., tells mo that while duck
shooting a few years since, as the birds rose at the report of his gun,
a Duck Hawk dove, struck a Teale, on the wing, and carried it off!
Dr. Wood writes: "In the vicinity of theii- breeding places they are
a terror to the poultry as well as a dread to the farmer, for there
they usually hunt in pairs, one following directly after the other,
and if the first one misses the game, the other is sure to j»ick it up ;
there is no escaping the two. This is the universal testimony of all
the farmers living in the vicinity of the cliffs where they breed. One
of my collectors Avent over one hundred miles to get a nest of their
eggs, from only hearing a farmer in the vicinity of the cliff describe
their manner of hunting ; knowing from this circumstance alone that
it must be the Duck Hawk. "J

161. FalCO COlumbariuS Linnt". Pigeon Hawk.

Resident, but rare in summer, and not often seen in winter. It is
not uncommon here in spring and fall. Dr. \Vm. Wood tells me that
he has found it about East Windsor Hill, Conn., in May, June, and
July, but failed to discover the nest. He is not, of course, perfectly

* Notes on some of the Rarer Birds of Mass., p. 10-1 1, 1869.

\ Herrick's Partial Catalogue of the Birds of Grand Meiiaii, p. 10, IS?."?.

X Am. Nat., vol. v, No. 2, p. 82, April, 1S71.

84 G. H. Merriam — BirtJs of Connecticut.

certain that they breed there at all, though then* occurrence in early
summer certainly looks like it. I have seen it, in the vicinity of New
Haven, in April, and again in August and Septeml^er, and now have
notes of its presence in this State in every month of the year. In
one of his interesting articles on the '' Game Falcons of New Eng-
land," Dr. Wood writes: "In May, 1860, a gentleman who resides
some five miles distant, informed me that a small Hawk came almost
every day and carried off a chicken for him — that it never missed,
for it went so like lightning that there was no escaping its grasp.
He said that it always came in the same direction from a tract of
woods near his house Accompanied by my frietid, we care-
fully searched the woods without finding anything except the nest of
the Red-shouldered Hawk. The next day the same little Hawk ve-
turned and was shot, and is now in my collection, a beautiful rejire-
sentative of the Pigeon Hawk. I have no doubt that it had a
nest about there, as it was the season for nesting, and it always came
from, and went to, the same piece of woods, and in the same direc
tion. If it had not yoimg it must have been carrying food to its
mate while incubating. If a mere straggler it would come and go
without any definite place of resort. Our inaliility to find the nest
was not strange, as there were some sixty or eighty acres of heavy-
timbered oaks and pines in the tract."* Mr. Geo. A. Boardman
states that it " breeds in hollow trees, "f which would, of course,
render its nest still more ditticult to find. I am strongly inclined to
believe that a few pairs do occasionally breed in Connecticut, for,
though its nest has not yet been actually discovered, the fiict that
the birds are sometimes found here throughout the entire year is
strong evidence that they breed, and mere negative evidence, in such
cases, amounts to little or nothing.

1 62. Falco Sparverius Linne. .Sparrow Hawk.

A rather rare resident ; only a few pairs breed Avithin the State,
and it is seldom seen in winter. ]Mr. W. W. Coe tells me that it
breeds near Portland, Conn., and I am informed by Dr. Wood that
it sometimes breeds in the vicinity of East Windsor Hill.

Dr. Wood thus describes a novel site for a nest of this Hawk
which was found at Granby, Conn. : "■ A farmer made a dove house
inside of his barn with holes through the sides of the building com-

* Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 6, pp. 342-3, June, 1873.

f Proceed. Boat. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. ix, p. 122, Sept., 18fi2.

G. If. Men-id III — liii'<ls of ('oinicrtifiit.

85

muiiit-atiiiu- witli it. A pair ,.r doves dial ha.l mstcl iIi.tc wciv
attacked aiul killed l.y a ].aii- of Sparrow Hawks wlio look posses-
sion of their neisl, laid tour eggs, and coniineiu-ed to sit. During
incubation they found the fanner's chickens very convenient tor food
— too niucli so for their own good. I saw l)()tli birds after tlu-v were
killed ; also their four eggs, two of which arc now in my cabiiu't."*
In Elizabeth, New Jersey, several years ago, I saw a pair of Sparrow
Hawks fly up under the eaves of an old barn, and drag a couple of
Swallows out of their nests ! Mr. Sage has seen it in Januarv (.Ian.
6, 1877), near Portland, Conn., and T)r. Wood writes nie that he has
occasionally taken it in winter.

" Sparhawkes there are also," wrote Morton in 1632, "the fairest,
and best, shaped birds that I have ever beheld of that kinde, those
that are litle, no use is made of any of them, neither are they re-
garded, I onely tried conclusions with a Lannaret at first commin<r ;
and when I found, what was in that bird, I turned him goiixr : but
for so much as I have observed of those birds, they may be a iitt
present for a prince ; and for goodnesse too be preferred before the
Barbary, or any other used in Christendome, and especially the
Lannars and Lannarets."f The above may have referred to the
Sharp-shinned Hawk.

163. ButeO borealis (Gmelin) Vieillot. Red-tailed Hawk ; Hen Hawk.

A common resident, but more numerous in early spring and during
the fall migrations than at other times of the year. The migrants
arrive early in March, and in fall, may be seen, in considerable num-
bers, in September, October, and xNovember. On the •25th of Sej)-
tember, 1875, 1 saw, near New Haven, a flock of twenty-six Red-tailed
Hawks, soaring high, and sailing slowly southward. The day was
clear and cool, and there was little wind.

Mr. W, W. Coe, of Portland, Conn., has been remarkably fortunate
in finding the nests of this Hawk, having taken, during the past five
years, nearly forty of its eggs ! The best time to go for them seems
to be about the middle of April, but he has found nests, containing
eggs, at all dates from March 30tli (1875) to :\Iay 23d (1873), thougli
the young generally hatch during the latter part of .V])ril or eaily in
May. The Stadtmiiller brothers found a nest, near New Haven,
April 13, ISYV, containing three eggs which "were just beginning to

* Am. Nat, vol. viii, No. 5, p. 268, May, 1874.

f New English Canaan, p. 50. [Reprinted from Force's Hist. Tracts, vol. ii, T. 5.]

86 C. IL Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

hatch."* The Red-tailed Hawk generally lays two, frequently three,
and sometimes four, eggs. In writing of them, from Portland, Conn.,
Mr. Coe says : " Their nests are easily identified, being the largest
nests built in this locality, and the earliest. They lay in the same
nest year after year if not disturbed, and often if they are. I once
found a nest in a young chestnut, not over twenty feet from the
ground, but they commonly build high up in large trees."f

The Rev. Mr. Peabody, in his Report on the Birds of Massachu-
setts (in 1839), remarked that these Hawks, " like the Crow, seem to
have an intuitive perception of the use and reach of the gun, for if
they see a person armed, they give a scream of disgust, and sail
away far beyond his reach. "|

They are often called Hen Hawks from their frequent visits to the
poultry yard. I have also found, in their alimentary canals, the
remains of mice, snakes, and frogs.

1 64. ButeO lineatUS (Gmelin) Jardine. Red-slioiildered Hawk.

A common resident, like the last, but more frequently seen in win-
ter. Also breeds in high trees. Mr. Coe writes me that it generally
lays a little later than the Red-tail, makes a smaller nest, and is more
likely to build a new one every year. He has taken their eggs from
April 16th (only one egg, just deposited) till May 19th. They
generally lay three or four eggs, and sometimes five. Dr. Wood once
found six ! I once took from the stomach of one of these Hawks a
snake {Eutainia saurita) measuring twenty-two inches in length !

A young bird, which Dr. Wood raised, became very much attached
to him. He says : " by giving a whistle he would answer w ith his
ka-hee^ ka-Iiee., ka-hee^ and fiy from the tree and alight on my shoulder,
expecting his accustomed morsel. I did not confine him at all, but
allowed him to fly where he pleased, knowing that he would not go far
oft'. The domestic fowls became so well acquainted with him that
they showed no signs of fear when he alighted on a tree or post wvwr
them. One morning he did not come at iny call, nor at noon. In
the afternoon I went in search of him and whistled till my lips would
not pucker any longer, yet no bird answered to the music. The next
morning he was brought to me as a rare specimen with the following

* MS. notes of the Stadtmiillcr Brothers,
f MS. notes of W. W. Coe.

\ A Report on the ( )rnitholog'y of Massacluisetts, by WilHam B. O. Peabody, p.
268. 18:^9.

C II. Merrlntn — liinJx of ( 'oiimctlrKf. 87

sequel : ' He cMine :in<l nlinhtcd on my tem-e witliiii a lew feet of mv
when I was feeding my fowls. 1Micy flew in v\v\\ diicctidn. (aiv-
fully steppino- up 1 caught tlu' pretty ereatnie and thought I wouhl
save him for tlie doctor. Putting him into a box, I gave him some
corn; hut he did not seem /niit(/n/, <(nd would not eat a kerml.'"''*
Again, under the name of "Winter Hawk (Buteo /ii/enta/is),'' the
doctor continues: "Sitting patiently upon a tree near some sprin<»-
or marshy ground, it will watch by the hour for a frog to make its
appearance, when it is immediately seized and drowned. TlieR- is a
side-hill, some few miles from my office, from wliicli springs con-
stantly run in the coldest weather, forming quite a wet, marsliy place,
offering great inducements to the Winter Hawk. Here you may see
one or more of these birds every winter, perched upon a free near by
watching for its favorite food. I received two sj)ecimens shot from
that tree in one day."f

165. Buteo Pennsylvanicus (Wilson) Bonaparte. Broad-winged JIawk.

A rather rare resident, seldom seen in winter. It breeds sparintfly
about New Haven, and Mr. W. W. Coe has taken quite a number of
their nests, together with several of the finest specimens of the l>ird
that I have ever seen, in the vicinity of Portland, Conn. He informs
me that they generally lay later than the Red-shouldered Hawks, and.
like them, often build a new nest every year.

Mr. F. VV. Putnam (in 1856) gave it as a rare winter visitant so
far north as Essex Co., Mass.J

166. Archibuteo lagopus, var. Sancti-Johannis (Omeiin) Ridgway.

Rough-legged Hawk ; Black Hawk.

A winter visitor ; not common. I saw one near Xew Haven, Nov.
20th, 1875. Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell tells me that he has seen it, in
spring, near North Haven, Conn. It is sometimes quite aluunlant on
the low meadows bordering the (-oiniecticut River, where, in the
vicinity of East Windsor Ilill, Conn., Dr. William Wood has
secured a large number of specimens. The s|)lendid series thus
obtained, enabled him, many years ago, to [trove the identity of the
two forms, lagopus and Sancti-Johamiis, then considered, by our

* Hartford Times, chap, xii, June 8th, 18G1.
f Hartford Times, chap, xiii, June 15th, 1861.
:|: Proceed. Essex Inst., vol. i, p. 203. 185(5.

88 C. II. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

best Ornithologists, to be specifically distinct. As long ago as 1861
Dr. Wood published the following : " The difference in size is no
more than frequently occurs in birds of the same species. The shape
and general form, the small claws, the same habits in every respect,
their arrival at the same time, associating and sailing together, the
plumage of the one running into the other as it changes, so that it is
diificult, if not impossible, to tell where the dividing line comes, some
being jet-black, others not quite as dark, others slightly mixed, some
more so, certainly make a strong case in favor of their identity."*
Three years later the doctor wrote J. A. Allen that he had then taken
and examined about forty specimens, and could now state positively
that: "The Rough-legged P"'alcon and Black Hawk are the same.'''']
Both Baird and Coues, in their late works on our birds, state that the
examination of a large mnnber of specimens leaves little doul)t as to
the identity of the two forms under consideration, each iising such
language as to indicate an original discovery dependant on his own
investigations, and neither alludes to the published records of Dr.
Wood, who, long before, ai'rived at the same conclusion, and from a
larger amount of material, and of better quality, than is to be found
in any other collection in the world.

1 67. Pandion haliaetus (Linne) Cuvier. Fish Hawk ; Osprey.

A summer resident, breeding abundantly along the coast, both on
the main land and on islands in the Sound. It is particularly abund-
ant during the spring migrations. It arrives late in March (March
28, 1877), remaining through October (Oct. 23). The migrants pass
northward during the latter part of April, and return agaiii in ^Sep-
tember. Mr. Fred. Sumner Smith, of this city, tells me that a friend
of his found a Fish Hawk's nest in Heron Swamp (near New Haven)
as late as July 4th, (1870). It was a small one, being little larger
than a bushel basket, was placed in a clump of thick busiies, and con-
tained three eggs. Mr. W. W. Coe informs me that they do not
breed so far up the Connecticut River as Middlctown and Portland,
but are common at its moutli (about Saybrook), and that he has taken
their nests, along the Sound, all the way from Saybrook to New
London, Coim. "Immense numbers of them breed regularly at
IMumb Island, Conn,, where I saw, last spring, at least five hundred
nests, and over a thousand birds. There is only one small piece of

* Hartford Times, chap, xiv, June 22d, 1861.

\ Allen's notes on some of the Rarer Birds of Mass., p. 14. 1869.

C IT. MerriiiiH — liin/s of (\,),iitrtifii(. HO

timber on the islaiul, and every tree contains a Kisli Hawk's n«'sl,<.f
from eight to ten Night Herons' nests. 'I'ln ri" is (juitc a c.h.iiy '>f
Night Herons there. 'VWw not being trees eiiongii fm- tlie Il.iwks
to nest in, many of tlii'in build on tlie ground and sumelav their eg,rs
in tlie sand. Tliey o('eu|)y the same nest foi- yeai-s, adding a litlh- to
it each seasou, till some of them, tliat were originally |>la«-ed ll;it on
the gi'ound, had beeome so large that T could not look into tlu-ni.
Many were seven feet high and measured si.\ or eight feet across the
top ! On the 4tli of .June I found both young birds ami iVesli ei^gs in
some of the nests, 'i'he Crow Blackbirds had Imilt theii- nests in
among the large sticks on the sides of the Fish Hawk's nests, there
being olten four or five of the foi-nier placed about the sides of one of
the latter. Besides the Fish Hawks, Night Herons, and Crow Black-
birds, many other birds breed upon this island, among which might
be mentioned the Upland and Killdeer IMovir, and large nundjers of
Terns."*

The Rev. \Vm. B. O. Peabody, in 1839, tlius wrote of their habits :
" The Fish Hawk is on excellent terms with the iishermen, though
they are of the same trade. Its coming announces tlu' arrival of the
shoals of lish that crowd our rivers in the spring. l*erhaps its exemp-
tion from persecution may be owing also to its well known gentleness
of disposition. Unlike other birds of prey, the Fish Hawks are
social and friendly to each other. They come to us in flocks of eight
or ten, who build near each other, and rear their young in perfect
harmony, and this spirit of hos|)itality and kindness is extended to
other birds that seem to have no claim upon them. The Crow lilack-
birds are permitted to shelter in the intei'stices of their nests, w hich
are huge constructions, made of a cartload of hi-avy materials firmly
matted together. "f

1 68. Aquila chrysaetUS Linne. Golden Eagle.

A rare winter visitant. Dr. Wood informs me that it is sometimes
seen about Hartford, Conn. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn.,
writes me that he sees one or two there every year, and that one
remained in that vicinity a week, about the middle of May hisl (1S77).
One was secured at Deep lliver, Conn., Nov. i;nh, IsTo, by Mr. Harry
Flint. Zadock Thompson stated that they sonu'tinu's live in \'erm..nl ,
and says that " the nest is placed upon the inaccessible shelf of some

* MS. notes of W. W. Coe.

f Peabody's Report on the Ornithology of M;iss., p. "JOo. IS.'Jt).
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. Vi July, 1877.

90 C. H. Merriuin — Birds of Coxitecticiit.

rugged precipice, and consists of a few sticks and weeds barely suf-
ficient to keep the eggs from rolling down the rocks These

eagles feed upon young fawns, hares, raccoons, Avild turkeys, par-
tridges, and other quadrupeds and birds, but will feed on putrid flesh
only when severely pressed by hunger."*

169. HaliaetUS leucocephalus (Linne) Savigny. Bald Eagle.

A resident; not uncommon during the migrations. Saw one flying
over the city, Nov. 20th, 1875. Also observed five individuals during
Feb. and March, 1876. They unquestionably breed about four miles
above the mouth of the Housatonic River, Conn., as I am told by my
friend, Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell. One was shot near the mouth of the
East Haven River in Nov., 1876, and is now in the collection of Mr.
Thomas Osborne of this city. Used to brped in suitable localities
throughout the State, and there were formerly two eyries within a
few miles of New Haven, one at Mt. Carmel, and the other on Salton-
stall Ridge, f

Linsley kept an immature specimen (cdled by him "Washington's
Eagle") alive for some time, concerning which he writes: "1 kept him
awhile confined, but soon found it uiniecessary, because if he left my
premises he would return to the stand at night. I have known him
to eat fourteen lurds (nu)stly King-birds), and then he was satisfied
for a Aveek. He appeared to prefer this mode of liA'ing, and paid no
attention to a daily supply. He, however, in the course of the summer,
became so mischievous among the young dncks of my neighbors, that
I was compelled to kill him. A single anecdote of his conduct may
not be uninteresting: While he had |)ossession of my front yard,
occupying the centre as his stand (the walks making a semicircle to
the door), he would remain perfectly cpiiet if </entlenieii or ladies
entered; but if a person with tattered garments, or such persons as
were not accustomed to come in at the front door, entered the yard,
it was actually dangerous for them, and they could only escape the
tremendous grasp of his talons by running with their full strength
and shutting the gate after them. Facts of this kind often occurred,
and T was occasionally compelk'd to release from his grasp such indi-
viduals as he had taken captive. With one claw in tlu' sward and
grass, he would hold quietly any man with the other."

* History of Vermont, by Zadock Thompson, p. 59, 1842.

f Am. Jonr. Sei. and Arts, vol. xliv. No. 2, p. 251, April, 1843.

C II. Min-rlton — Binfn of Conncrflcut. 91

III lt;:>4, NN'illiaiii Wood wroir: '''I'lic Kaglcs oft lie (Minit ifv lie of
two sorts, OIK" like the Eagles lliat l>e in I''n(/l<f.n<l^ I lie dtlici- is aortic
tliinj; bigger, witli a great white liead and wliilc tavie: liiese lice
coiimionly called Ciri[)es; these prey ii|k)ii Diickes and (ieese, and
such Fish as are cast upon the Sea-shore. And altliout,fli an Ka^le !..•
counted King of that feathered regiment, yet is there a certaine Idacke
Ilawke that beates him; so that he is constrayned to soai-e so lii.^h,
till heate expell his adversary."*

Family, CATHARTID^.

170. Cathartes aura (lamu'') lUi^er. Turkey Buzzard.

A rare visitor from the South, at present, although once "not un-
common "f according to Linsley, who fuither states: "I have known
it in Connecticut from a child, having at that period counted twenty in
a flock in Northford in the month of August." "At the South, where
they abound, it is seldom one attacks domestic ])oultry ; but many
years since I saw in Northford, in this State, a splendid male Turkey
Buzzard pounce down upon a chicken about three-<piarters grown,
and within about three rods of where I was staiiding with two other
persons. As he turned his eye upon us, still standing upon the
chicken, he appeared so much alarmed as to be unal)le to rise; we all
ran upon him, aud when ^dthin a few feet of him he rose, just clear-
ing our heads, and dropping the chicken at our feet, he hurried oft'."J
This fact is particularly interesting, since they are commonly believed
to feed exclusively on carrion. Nuttall heard that they were " ac-
cused, at times, of attacking young pigs and lambs, beginning their
assault by ]ncking out the eyes." But that he did not believe it is
evident, for he goes on to say: " Mr. Waterton, however, Avhile at
Demerara, watched them for hours together amidst reptiles of all
descriptions, but they never made any attack upon them. He e\en
killed lizards and frogs and put them in their way, but they did n(.t
appear to notice them till tlu'y had attained the juitrid scent. So
that a more harmless animal, living at all upon flesh, is not in exist-
ence, than the Turkey Vulture."§ Nevertheless, since our own mod-

* New England's Prospect, p. 30, 1 634.

f Regarding its former abundance, Mr. J. N. Clark writes me that an old liunter
told him " tliat thej' used to be very common " about the moutli of the Connecticut,
where "he had shot a good many, but not recently."

X Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. '250, April, 1843.

g Nuttall's Manual of Oniitholooy, p. 15, ls3-2.

92 C. IT. Merriayn — Birds of Connecticut.

ern classification of the Animal Kingdom is not sufficiently plastic to
admit of grouping together chickens, pigs, and lambs, under the
head of " Reptiles," along with "lizards and frogs," and the like, and
since the word of so careful and conscientious an observer as Mr.
Linsley is unimpeachable, we are forced to admit that these "harm-
less animals" do occasionally visit the farm-yard Avith "malice afore-
thought," and that a young fowl, safely lodged in the otherwise
empty stomach, may not prove an altogether distasteful article, ex-
erting, perchance, as soothing an effect over the sluggish intellect of
one of these indolent scavengers as the most delicious morsel of pu-
trescent carrion. Indeed, Audubon says of it : " they often watch the
young kid, the lamb, and the pig, issuing from the mother's womb,
and attack it with direful success." "Any flesh that they can at
once tear with their very powerful bill in pieces, is swallowed, no
matter how fresh ; . . . . but it frequently happens that these birds
are forced to wait until the hide of the prey gives way to the bill."*
Mr. Grinnell tells me that one was shot at the mouth of the Hous-
atonic River, Conn., in June, IS'ZS, by C. Merwin, of Mili'ord Point.
Turkey Buzzards have been observed at Saybrook, Comi., by ]Mr. J.
N. Clark) recorded by Purdie ;f two were taken in Massachusetts,^
and one even strayed as far to the north as Calais, Maine, wliei-e it-
was captured by INIr. G. A. Boardman (recorded by Prof A. E. Ver-
rill).^ Dr. Wood tells me that one was seen, feeding on carrion,
near East Windsor, Coini., only three years ago (f 874). The Rev.
J. Howard Hand writes me as follows, concerning the occurrence of
Turkey Buzzards in Connecticut : "I took one specimen at Cromwell,
Conn., Sept. 28d, 1874; also one at Westbrook, Conn., Oct. 16th,
1875, and again eight specimens on Oct. 18th (two days afterwards).
They are not common." Dr. Win. O. Ayres writes me that he took
one at New Haven in 1853.

Along our eastern coast it does not l>reed farther north than South-
ern New Jersey; but in the West its range is much more extensive,
its northern limit being "about 53° in the region of the Saskatchewan,
where it arrives in June,"| and was obtained by Sir John Richardson.
Dr. Coues saw it at P^ort Randall, Dakota, lat. 43° 11', and I have

* Ajipcndix to Wilson's American Ornithology, vol. iv, pp. '2.'>4 and 2.5^, is;u.
\ Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 11, p. 69:?, Nov., 187:?.

\ Samuel's De.'^criptive Catalof^ne of tiie Birds of Massadiiisetts, p. :i, 18<;4. [From
Agr. Mass., App., p. xviii, 1863.]

§Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat Hist., vol. ix. p. 122, Sept.. isr;2.
II Cones' l?irds of the Northwest, p. .380, 187 1.

(^. If. JMcrridiii — /iinfs of (\mneot!cnt.

nn

niysclf ol.scTvcd it in Idaho, \V voiniii-;-, aii<l Ctali. It w av nncf
coTiniioii tliroiiolKMit New Kiiglaiid, as attested l.y mimciuns <.ld
writers. Jossclyn must liave been blessed with a keen a|.|ietite and
an admirable diuestion, lor he says : "The turkie-I.uzzard, a kind ..f
kite, but as big as a turkie; brown of eolor, and very good nuat."*

Note. — The IMaek \'idture, (\if/iarf<s iffr</f>/s (Kay) Lesson, may
sometimes oecnr as a rare straggU'r from the South, and the h'cv. .1.
Howard Hand writes nie that he thinks he has killed three speeimens
of it at Westbrook, Coim. (Aug. 10, Sept. 12 ami 21, 1874), but they
may have been young Turkey Buzzards. ITnfortunateiy the spcci-
mens were not preserved. Several individuals have been recorded
from MassachusettSjf and it has even straggled as far north as .Maine
(Calais, G. A. Boardman)J and Nova Scotia.

Family, COLUMBID^.

171. EctopisteS migratoria (Liune) Swainson. AVild Pifreon.

Sometimes quite abundant during the migrations. A t'ow l»ree(l
(late in May). Arrives about the first of April (Apr. 2, 1S75, Saoe).
Mr. Coe tells me that numbers of them bred about Portland, Conn,
in 1875, and that a few generally nest there.

Concerning the enormous Hocks of Wild I'igeons whieli iiassed to
and fro over the country in former years (and which, on a smaller
scale, are still to be met with in some parts of the West), Gov. Thomas
Dudley wrote, as early as 10:?1 : " Vpon the 8 of March, from after
it was faire day light, untill about 8 of the clock in the forenoone
there flew over all the tonnes in our plantacous soe many floeks of
doues, each flock conteyning many thousands and some soe many
that they obscured the lighte, that it passeth credit, if but the truth
should bee wi-itten, and the thing was the more sti'ange, because I
scarce remember to have scene tenne doues since I came into the
country. They were all turtles as a|)peared by diverse of them wee
killed flying, somewhat bigger than those of Eni'0]ie, and they Hew
from the north east to the south west ; but what it ])ortends 1 know
not."§ And in the following year (1632), Thonnis Morton, of Clif-

* New England's Rarities Discovered. By John Josselyn, p. 11, 1<j72.
t Cones' List of tlie Birds of New Kuglnnd, p. 6, 1868 ; J. A. Aliens Rnvvr \iiuU
of Mass., p. 47, 1869 ; etc.

X Am. Nat., vol. iii, p. 498, Nov., 1869.

§ Reprinted in Force's liistoricul Tracts, Tract 4, p. 17-18.

94 C. H. Merriam — Birds of (Jonnecticnt.

ford's Inn, speaking of liis impressions of the country, when first he
landed in New England, said: "The more T looked tlie more I liked
it. And when I had more seriously considered of the bewty of the
place, with all her faire indowments, I did not thinke that in all the
knowne world it could be paralel'd." " Contained within the volume
of the Land, Fowles in abundance, Fish in multitude, and discovered
besides ; Millions of Turtledoves one the greene boughes : which sate
peeking, of the fidl ripe pleasant grapes, that were supported l)y the
lusty trees, whose fruitfull loade did cause the amies to bend, which
here and there dispersed (you might see) Lillies and of the Daph-
neantree, which made the Lande to mee seeme paradice, for in mine
eie, t'was Natures Master-peece,"*

In looking over a curious old pamphlet, printed in 1630, and
entitled " New-England's Plantation. Or, a Short and trve descrip-
tion of the Commodities an<l discommodities of that countrey.
Written by a reuerend Diuine now there resident.", T find the follow-
ing notice of the Wild Pigeon: "In the Winter time I haue scene
Floekes of Pidgeons, and haue eaten of them : they doe flye from
Tree to Tree as other Birds doe, which our Pidgeons will not doe in
England: they are of all colours as ours are, l>ut their wings and
tayles are farr longei-, and therefore it is likely they fly swifter to
escape the terrible Hawkes in this Countrey,"f Samuel Williams,
in his Natural and Civil History of Vermont (publislied in 1794),
writes as follows : " In the Wild Pigeon, the multiplying power of
Nature acts with great force and vigour. The male and female
always pair: They sit alternately upon the eggs, and generally hatch
but two at a time ; but this is repeated several times in a season. —
The accounts which are given of the number of pigeons in the uncul-
tivated parts of the country, will appear almost incredible to those
who have never seen their nests. The surveyor, Kicliard Ilazen,
who ran the line which divides Massachusetts from Vermont, in 1/41,
o-ave this account of tlie appearances, which he met with to the west-
ward of Connecticut I'iver. 'For three miles together the pigeon's
nests were so thick, that five lunulred might have been told on the
beech trees at one time ; anci could they have been counted on the
hemlocks as well, I doubt not but five thousand at one turn round.'
The remarks of the first settlers of Vermont, fully confirm this
account The settlement of the country has since set bounds

* Reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts, Tract 5, p. 42.

f Hepriiited in I'eter Force's Historical Tracts, vol. i, Tract I'i, p. 11.

C. ir. Merrill III — BlnJfi of ('onm-ctiout.

95

to this luxiiriaiu-y of aiiimnl liiV- ; diiiiiiiislir-l tlic iiiiiiihvr <•!' iIk-si'
birds, and drovi' tliciii furtlur to tlic iioit liward.'"*

Two centuries alter .Mortoirs descrii.tioii was written, Xutiall
remarks: "To talk of hundreds of millions of individuals <>f t lie same
specie's Iial)itiially assoi-iated in feeding, roosting, and l>rccdinu-, with-
out any regard to climate or season as an operating cause in these
gregarious movements, would at iirst appear to be wliolly incredible.

The api)roach of the mighty feathered army with a loud

rushing roar, and a stirring breeze, attended by a sudden daikness
might be mistaken for a fearful tornado about to overwhelm the face
of nature. For several hours together the vast host, extending some
miles in breadth, still ccuitinues to pass in flocks without diminution.
The whole air is tilled with them; their muting resembles a shower
of sleet, and they shut out the light as if it were an eclipse. At the
approach of the Hawk, their sublime and beautiful aerial evolutions
are disturbed like the ruftiiug squall extending over the })lacid ocean;
as a thundering torrent they rush together in a concentrating mass,
and heaving in undulating aiul glittering sweeps towards the earth,
at length again proceed in lofty meanders like the rushing of a
mighty animated river." " Alighting, they industriously search
through the withered leaves for their favorite mast [chiefly beech
nuts and acorns] ; those behind are continually rising and jtassing
forward in front in such quick succession, that the whole flock, still
circling over the ground, seems yet on the wing. As the sun begins
to decline tliey dejjart in a body for the general roost, which is often
hundreds of miles distant, and is generally chosen in the tallest and
thickest forests almost divested of underwood. Nothing can exceed
tlie waste and desolation of these nocturnal resorts ; the vegetation
becomes buried by their excrements to the deptli of several inches.
The tall trees, for thousands of acres, are completely killed, and the
ground strewed with many branches torn down by the clustering
weight of the birds which have rested upon them. The whole region
for several years presents a continued scene of devastation, as if swept
by the resistless blast of a whirlwind. "f Wilson tells us that their
breeding places are still more extensive than the roosts, mentioning

one in Kentucky "which stretched through then Is in nearly a

north and south direction; was several miles in breadth, and was
said to be ui)wards of forty miles in extent !" "On some single trees

* The Natural and Civil History of Vermont, p. IM, 1794.
f Nuttall's Alauual of Ornithology, vol. i, pp. 631-2, ls;!2.

96 C. H. MerrUiin — JBirds of Connecticut.

upwards of one hundred nests were found, each containing one young
only,"* thougli undoubtedly two eggs are always laid — the one hatch-
ing first and crowding the other out of the nest, Avhich is, at best,
but a frail cradle, formed merely "of a few slender dead twigs, negli-
gently put together, and with so little art that the concavity appears
scarcely sufficient for the transient reception of the young,"f which,
like the eggs, may readily be seen from below, through the delicate
net-work of twigs. Wilson says it was dangerous to walk under
these flying and fluttering millions, from the frequent fall of large
branches, broken down by the weight of the multitudes above, and
which, in their descent, often destroyed numbers of the birds them-
selves; while the clothing of those engaged in traversing the Avoods
were completely covered with the excrements of the Pigeons." "The
ground was strewed with broken limbs of trees, eggs, and young
squab Pigeons, which had been precipitated from above, and on
which herds of hogs were fattening. Hawks, Buzzards, and Eagles,
were sailing about in great numbers, seizing the squabs from their
nests at pleasure."^ Audubon's description of a night passed at one
of their roosting places deserves introduction here ; Reaching it
early in the afternoon, before the pigeons had come in, " many trees
two feet in diameter" were observed "broken oft* at no great distance
from the ground; and the branches of many of the largest and tallest
had given way, as if the forest had been swept by a tornado."
" Everything proved," continued Audubon, " that the number of
birds resoi'ting to this part of tlie forest must be immense beyond
conception. As the period of their arrival approached, their foes
[man] anxiously prepared to receive them. Some were furnished
with iron pots containing sulphur, others with torches of pine-knots,
many with poles, and the rest with guns. The sun was lost to our
view, yet not a pigeon had arrived. Everything Avas ready, and all
eyes were gazing on the clear sky, which appeared in glimpses
amidst the tall trees. Suddenly there burst forth a general cry of
' here they come !' The noise which they made, though yet distant,
reminded me of a hard gale at sea, passing through the rigging of a
close-reefed vessel. As the birds arrived and passed over me, I felt a
current of air that surpi'ised me. Thousands weiv soon knocked
down by the pole men. The birds continued to pour in. The fires
wen- lighted, and a magnificent, as well as wonderful, and almost
terrifying, sight presented itself. The Pigeons, arriving by thousands,

* American Ornithology, by Alexander Wilson, vol. ii. pp. 295-6. Edinburgli, 1831.
f Wilson, ibid., pp. 295-6. % Nuttall, ibid., p. 63:5.

V. If. Men'imn — Itinfs i>f ( ',>innr(l,-,it. 07

aliglitrd everywhere, ime above aiiollier, until solid masses were
formed on tlie brandies all aroun<l. Here and there the perches <;ave
way under the weight with a crash, and, falling to the <;i(>uMd, de-
stroyed luindreds of the birds beneath, forcing down the (K-nse groups
with which every stick was loaded. It was a scene of u|>roar and
confusion. I found it (juite useless to speak, or even to shout to
those persons who were nearest to me. Even the re])orts of the guns
were seldom heard, and I was made aware of llie firing only bv

seeing the shooters reloading The Pigeons were constantly

coming, and it was past midniglit before I perceived a decrease in

the number of those that arrived Towards the approach of

day the noise in some measure sid)sided ; long before objects were
distinguisliable the Pigeons began to move off in a direction quite
diflerent from that in which they had arrived the evening before ;
and at sunrise all that were able to fly liad disappeared. The how 1-
ing of the wolves now reached our ears, and the foxes, lynxes, cou-
gars, bears, racoons, opossums, and pole-cats were seen sneaking of!*,
whilst Eagles and Hawks of different species, accompanied by a
crowd of Vultures, came to supplant them, and enjoy their share of
the spoil." Two farmers, "distant more than a hundred miles, had
driven upwards of three hundred pigs to be fattened on the Pigeons
which were to be slaughtered."*

" Audubon attempts to reckon the number of Pigeons in one of
these flocks, and the daily quantity of food consumed by it. lie
takes, as an example, a column of one mile in breadth, and su})poses
it passing over us, without interruption, for three hours, at the rate
of one mile per minute. This will give us a parallelogram of 180
miles by 1, averaging 180 square miles; and allowing two Pigeons
to the square yard, we have one billion one hundivd and fifteen mil-
lions one hundred and thirty-six thousand Pigeons in one fiock : ,iii<l
as every Pigeon consumes fully half a pint i)er day, the quantity
required to feed such a flock must be eight millions seven hundred
and twelve thousand bushels per day !"t

"Indeed, for a time," Nuttall correctly remarks, "in many places
nothing scarcely is seen, talked of, or eaten, but Pigeons!"

* The Birds of America, by John James Audubon, vol. v, pp. 2',»-:!0.
f Wilson, ibid, Appendix, vol. iv, p. 32:i
Trans. Conn. Ac.\d., Vol. IY. 13 Aug., 1877.

98 C H. Merrium — Jiirds of Coxtiecticut.

172. Zenaedura Carolinensis (LimiL-) Bonaparte. Carolina Dove;

" Turtle Dove."

A rather common summer resident, sometimes remaining through
the winter (Jan. 15, 1874; 16, 1875, Grinnell). Arrives early in
May (May 5, 1875, shot. Sage). On May 24th, 1876, I found a nest
containing two fresh eggs, on a nuijtle sapling, fifteen feet above the
ground. In the south and west they generally, though by no means
exclusively, breed on the ground.* In central Massachnsetts I have
taken it as late as the middle of November (1873). It is particularly
abundant throughout the far west, and near the Pacific coast has
been seen as far north as " lat. 49'^ in summer, while a few winter in
California"f about San Francisco, latitude 38°. Mr. StadtmuUer
found a nest of this species, about twelve feet from the ground, in a
pine grove, near New Haven, June 20th, 1874. "It was close to the
trunk of the tree, and consisted of a few sticks placed loosely on top
of a common squirrel's nest, and contained one egg and one young
dove. I took the q^^ and four weeks latei' went to get the nest, but
found another egg in it."J Surely the squirrel's nest must have been
deserted, or it would hardly have constituted a safe base for bird's
eggs.

Note. — Tlie Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo^ var. Ainericana
(Bartram) Coues, long since exterminated from this State, was once com-
mon here. Wild Tui'kies were plenty in 1 780, and occasionally seen as
late as 1790.§ Regarding their former abundance in New England,
one Thomas Morton, of Clifford's Inn, Gent., wrote (printed by
Charles Green, in 1632) : " Turkies there are, which divers times in
great flocks have sallied by our doores ; and then a gunne (being
commonly in a rcdinesse) salutes them with such a courtesie, as makes
them take a turne in the Cooke roome. They daunce by the doore so
well. Of these there hath bin killed, that have weighed foi-fy-eight
pound a peece. Tliey are by mainy degrees sweeter than the tame
Turkies of England, feede them how you can, I had a salvage who
hath taken out his boy in a morning, and they have brought home

* Vide : Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. 389, 1874; Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool.,
vol. iii, No. 6, p. 170, 1872: Cooper, Ornithology of Cahfornia, p. 5i:5, 1870; Mer-
riam, Zool. Report in Gth Annual Report U. S. (leol. Survey Terr., p. 710, 1872; Hen-
shaw, Report upon Ornithological Specimens, p. fuS, 1874.

\ Cooper, Ornithology of California, p. 513, 1870.

\ MS. notes of tlie Stadtmiiller Brothers.

§ A Statistical Account of the County of Middlesex, in Connecticut, by David D.
Field, p. 19. 1819.

C II. Merr!<iiii — I'.lrils of ('onm i-tlrut. 00

their loiulcs altoiit nooiu'. I have askc.l tlniii wliat immlicr i lic\
touiid in till' woods, wlio li:n i' ans\vcrc(l iicnit iiiftaw iia, wliii-li is a
thousand that day; tho ph'iity oi' thoiii is such in tliosc paits. Thcv
are easily killed at rooste, because the one hi'in^- killed, tlic other sit
fast uevertlielessi', and this is no had commodity."* I .insley savs :
"The last Wild Turkey tliat I have known in Connecticut, was taken
by a rehitive of mine, about thirty years since [about l!-!l;t], on
Totoket Mountain, in Northtbrd. It was overtaken in a deep snow,
and tlu'reby outrnu. It weighed, when dressed, twc-nty-one ]>ounds."f
In 1842, Zadock Thoni])son wrote that a few "continue still to visit
and breed upon the mountains in the southern part of the Stale"'
(Vermont).]: As kite as 1888 it was " frequently met with on Mt.
Ilolyoke," but had " become scarce and nearly extinct" in other parts
of the State.§ Professor Wm. I). Wliitney once nu:)unted a fine
specimen of the Wild Turkey killed on Mt. Tom, Mass., Nov. 1st,
1847. It may now be seen in the beautiful case of birds given 1)y
Prof. Whitney to the Peabody Museum of Yale College, and is of
particular value as being, in all probability, the last of its race seen
in that State. In the month of October, " the Turkey Moon of the
aborigines," they used to wander far and wide in quest of food, fre-
quently assembling in vast numbers in districts where there was an
abundance. Audubon tells us that " When they come U])on a river,
they betake themselves to the highest eminences, and there often
remain a whole day, or sometimes two, as if for the purpose of con-
sultation. During this time the males are heard gobling, calling, and
making much ado, and are seen sti'utting about, as if to raise their
courage to a pitch befitting the emergency. Even the females and
young assume something of the same pompous demeanor, sj)read out
their tails, and run round each other, pvrring loudly, and ])erforming
extravagant leaps. At length, when the weather appears settled,
and all round is quiet, the whole i)arty mount to the tops of the
highest trees, Avhence, at a signal, consisting of a single c'/w/.-, given
by a leader, the flock takes flight for the opposite shore."||

Josselyn says "their eggs are very wholesome and restore decayed
nature exceedingly. "•[

* Reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts, Tract 5, p. 48.
t Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 2fi4. April, 184.-?.
X History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical. By Z. Thompson. ]>. 1 u 1 . 1 S4'J.
§ See Hitchcock's Report, p. 549. 18:53.
II Auduhon's Birds of America, vol. v, p. 43.
^Two Voyages to Now Rnoland. p. 99. HH.').

100 G. H. Merriam — Birds of Co]inecticut.

Family, TETRAONID^].

173. Bonasa umbellus (Linn6) Stephens. Ruffed Grouse.

A common resident. Breeds on both East and West Rock, near
New HaA^en, as well as throughoiit the State. In May, 18V7, Prof.
Verrill found a nest, containing- twelve eggs, within ten feet of a
traveled road, near the city. In the vicinity of Eastharapton, Mass.,
they were particularly abundant, and on one occasion I frightened
one off from an apple tree directly behind the "Town Hall." Large
numbers of them are caught in snares eveiy fall, and the market is
well supplied with native birds. Of it, in 1632, Morton wrote :
" Partridges, there are much, like our Partridges of England, they
are of the same plumes, but bigger in body. They have not the
signe of the horseshoe-shoe on the breast as the Partridges of Eng-
land ; nor are they coloured about the heads as those are; they sit on
the trees. For I have scene 40. in one tree at a time; yet at night
they fall on the ground, and sit until morning so together ; and are
dainty flesh."*

174. Ortyx VirginiantlS (Linne) Bonaparte. Quail; Bob White.

A common resident, breeding in thick brushwood at South End
and many other places near New Haven.

This species also attracted Morton's attention, for he says: "There
are quailes also, but bigger then the quailes in England. They take
trees also : for I have numbered 60. Uj)on a tree at a time. The cocks
doe call at the time of the yeare, but with a different note from the
cock quailes of England."*

Note. — The Prairie Chicken, or Pinnated Grouse, Cupidonia
cupido (Liime) Baird, was formerly a resident of New England, but,
like the Wild Turkey, was exterminated many years ago — at least so
far as the main land is concerned, foi- it is said tliat a few" still exist
on some of the islands south of Cape Cod (Naushon for exani])le,
and perhaps Martha's Vineyard). However, it is pretty certain that
many years have elapsed since the last "wild chicken" was seen in
Connecticut-, for even Linsley, in 1842, gave it as a bird of the past.
Nuttall, ten years earlier (in 18;)2), said that they were still met Avith
" on tlie brushy plains of J^ong Island, (/>/(/ in similar shruhbi/ Ixtrrens

* Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5, p. 48.

C II. Jferriiim — />/n/s <>/ ('oinn'ctiriit. loi

in Westfonl, ('oiniccticHf.'"'* TIkiI our anci'slors w ci'c IuimI ..I ■■ t'l.wl-
iuii"," nixl tIi:U it soiiu'tiincs cost thoin llicir lives, iniiy Im' seen iVum
tlie following: lii OctoLiT, 10:^0, one " Josc'|)li Tilly, niaslci- i>\' -a li;irk,
came to anchor nearly o])|)osit(' Calve's Island, and lakintj, one man
with liini, went on shore for the ])ur|iose of fowlinij,'. As soon as la-
had discharged his piece, a large nuniher of Ti'ijuots, rising ironi tlu-ir
conceahnent, took him and killed his companion ; and then uratilicd
their malice hy ])utting him to torture, 'riiey lirst cut oil" liis hands
and then his feet; after wliich lie lived three days. But as nothing
which they inflicted upon him excited a groan, they pronounced him a
stout man."f And tliis occiirred in the town of Saybrook, Conn., at
a time when many of our forefathers perished at the liands of the
Indians, before bringing them to submission. One Thomas Morton,
writing in 1032, speaks of the presence of this bird in New England
in the following language: " There are a kinde of fowles which are
commonly called Pheisants, but whether they be pheysaiits or no, I
will not take upon mee, to determine. They are in form like our
pheisant-henne of England. Both the male and the female are alike ;
but they are rough footed : and have stareing feathers about the
head and neck, the body is as bigg as the pheysant-henne of Eng-
land ; and ai'e excellent white flesh, and delicate white meate, yet we
seldom bestowe a shoot at them."J The " white flesh" must have
been a mistake unless he referred to the Ruffed (4rouse which is
immediately spoken of under the name of " I'artridge." Nuttall
says of its habits : " The season tor pairing is early in the sj)riiig, in
March or April. At this time the behavior of the male becomes
remarkable. Early in the morning he comes forth from his bushy
roost, and struts about with a curving neck, raising his ruff", exj)and-
ino; his tail like a fan, and seeming to mimic the ostentation of the
Turkey. He now seeks out or meets his rival, and several paiis at a
time, as soon as they l)ecome visible through the dusky dawn, arc
seen preparing for combat."§

♦Manual of Ornithology, vol. i, p. 662. 1832.

f A Statistical Account of the f!ounty of Middlesex, in Couiiectiout. By David D.
Field, p. 36. 1819.

\ Force'.? Historical Tracts, vol. ii. Tract 5, p. 48.

§ Nuttall's Manual of Ornitliolo^y, vol. i, pp. (;(;:i-04. 18:!2.

102 C. II. Merrhirti — Birds of Connecticut.

Family, CHARADRIID^.

175. Squatarola helvetica (Linne) Bielim. Black-bellied Plover.
Occurs during the migrations. Taken at Sti-atlord l)y Linsley.

Mr. W. W. Coe has a splendid specimen of this bird, taken in fall, on
the Sound near the mouth of the Connecticut. Dr. F. W. Hall sliot
several specimens about tlie middle of October (Oct. 18, 1873), and
tells me that they were remarkably tame.

176. Charadrius fulvus, var. VirginicUS (Bork.) Coues. Golden

Plover.

Common during migrations. Capt. Brooks informs me that they
are " plenty at (Guilford, Conn., in spring aud early fall," and that
" sometimes a few stop in the fall and stay a few days" at Faulkner's
Island. Linsley found it at Stratford. Mr. Coe has taken it as far
inland as Portland, Conn., on the river.

177. -<3Egialitis VOCifera (Linne) Bonaparte. Killdeer Plover.

A summer resident, but not very common. It generally arrives
late in March (Feb. 24, 1875, plenty by last of March ; Ajiril 5, 1872 ;
Portland, Conn., W. VV. Coe). Mr. Coe informs me that it breeds on
Plumb Island, and in the vicinity of Portland, Conn., where it used
to be very common.

178. .^gialitis Wilsonia (Ord) Cassin. Wilson's Plover.

Not common. Linsley took it at Stratford. It has also been taken
on Long Island ((4iraud), but seldom strays so far North.

179. ^gialitis Semipalmata (Bonap.) Calmnis. Scmipalmated Plover.

A common migrant. Arrives about, or before, the middle of May
(May 17, 1876, Osborne). During the latter part of May, and first
of June, they may be seen, in small flocks, running along the beach,
in search of food, as the tide goes out. Mr. W. W. Coe writes me
that he has taken it at Portland, Conn,, tAventy-Hve miles from the
Sound.

180. .iEgialitis meloda (Wilson) Bonaparte. Piping Plover ; Ringneck.

A summer resident. Linsley found it breeding at Stratford. Mr.
.1. N. (/lark also finds it breeding at Saybrook, Comi., and Mr. AV. W.
Coe has taken it at I*ortlan<l.

C. II. Merrlam — />/'/•</.'< <>/ ('imntiticKt.

103

Family, H^MATOPODID^.

181. HsematopUS palliatUS ToimniiKk. Oyster-iMU'lur.

A laic miiirniit. Linslcy snys : "TIu- ()\ stcr-c:ilcliri- is idu r:iic
ln'iv, l)iit filU'c'ii years siiici' tliry witc not \v\\ iiiicoiiiiih'ii in
autumn.''''"^'

1 82. Strepsilas interpres (Linne) Illiger. Turnstone.

A common migrant. Linsley gave it from Stiatfonl, and ('apt.
Brooks writes me that it is "• (juite common in spring and lall" aluuit
Faulkner's Island, Coim. .Mr. Sage, of Portland, lias a beaiililul male,
which he killed at WestLrook, Conn., May 2;kl, 1877. In Tall it
returns during the latter part ol August (Aug. 31, 1874, F. W. Hall).

Family, RECURVIROSTRID^.

183. Recurvirostra Americana Gmeiin. Avocet.

A rather rare migrant. Josiah G. Ely, Esq., writes me that he has
seen but one specimen of the Avocet taken on our coast. " It was
caught, in 1871, between Saybrook and East Lyme, in an old seine
strung out on the beach to dry," and was kept alive for some time by
a storekeeper.

Family, PHALAROPODID^.

1 84. Steganopus "Wilson! (Sabine) Coues. Wilson's Phalarope.

Of rare and almost accidental occurrence in New England, though
common throughout the West. Linsley says of it : " Wilson's Pha-
larope 1 have in my cabinet; it was killed in Bridgeport [Conn.] and
sent to me by a friend, and is probably one of the rarest birds in New
England. It is not only beautiful, but the great quantity of plumage
on a bird so small and delicate, together with his unique bill, seems
to render it one of the most peculiar of this class of animals.''t

1 85. PhalaropUS fulicariuS (Linne) Bonaparte. l^cd Plialarope.

A rare visitor from the North. Mr. W. W. Coe has a specimen in
his cabinet, killed at Portland, Conn., in September.

* Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 2G5. April, 184.-?. f ^P- c't-. P- 26.S.

104 C. H. Merriata — Birds of Coinectlcut.

Family, SCOLOPACID^:.

1 86. Philohela minor (Gmelin) Gray. Woodcock.

A resident ; common from early spring till November. A tew
commonly, if not regularly, winter in low swamps. They arrive early
in March ("Mar. 8, 1877, Middletown, Conn., killed by flying against
a telegraph wire"*), and breed very early. On the 3d of April, 1877,
mv young friend, Walter R. Nichols, found, near Branford, Conn., a
nest containing four fresh eggs. They may breed twice, for Mr.
Nichols found a second nest, in the same locality, and containing the
same number of eggs, as late as July 20th, 1877. The eggs were
partially incubated, and the old bird was shot as she left the nest.
Mr. W. W. Coe writes that he found one, near Portland, Conn., April
12, 1872, also containing four eggs: "The nest was on a bog, in the
middle of a brook which ran through a swamp. It was not more than
six inches above the water. The grass was short, aiid there were no
bushes near, so that it was very much exposed, but still hard to And,
for, although we had hunted the ground over carefully, the old bird
did not fly oft" until my man stepped on the bog. I had my old dog
Dincks with me, and his nose is first class, and yet he passed within
a foot of her several times without scenting her, which satisfies me
that a bird sitting on her eggs gives out no scent, for this is not the
first time I have tried it. The nest was simply a shallow hole scraped
in the top of the bog ; there was a little coarse grass, a few leaves, and
one or two of the Woodcock's feathers in it."f Mr. John H. Sage
tells me that, while collecting with iMr. W. W. Coe near Portland,
Conn., May 80th, 1874, they flushed a Woodcock with young, one of
which she carried ofl* in her claws ! and Mr. Coe writes me, " in regard
to the Woodcock carrying off" its young : Mr. Sage and I were not
four feet apart when the old bird got up between us, rose about thi-ee
feet, and then dove down again and picked up a young bird Avith her
feet, and, with her tail spread and held forward under the young,
carried it off about eight rods, and came back for the others, but my
boy frightened her away."

Thomas Morton, in 1632, thus alluded to the resemblance between
our l)ird and the Ya\\'o\)C'a\\V^ oodidock {Scolopaxrusticola) '. " Simpes,
there are like our Sim[)es in all respects, with very little difference.
I have shot at them onely, to see what diftl-rence I could finde be-

* MS. notes of John 11. Sage. f MS. notes of W. W. Coe.

C. IF. MerviiDii — lilnis <>f (\>inii rth-ut. 105

twot'ue thc'iu and tluisc of my native couiitiv, ami nmif I iliil not
regard them."*

187. G-allinagO Wilsoni (Tcniininck) Bonaparte, Wilson's Snipe.

A resident; eoninion dnring- the migi-ations ; soinetinies hret'<ls.
In October and November (some remain into December) lari;-e num-
bers are sliot on our sah marshes. Mr. W. W. Coe took it I-'eb. 4(h,
1872, near Porthmd, Conn., and thinks they sometimes winter tlu-re in
low swampy phrces. Arrives in ^larcli (Mar. 18, 1874, Sage). Mr. W.
W. Coe and Mr. J. H. Sage inform me that they took a nest containing
three fresh eggs of this species at Porthmd, Conn., May 13tli, 1S74.
The eggs were "fully identified, as the i)arent bird was Immd on tlie
iiest."f It was not previously known to breed as far south as Con-
necticut. The nearest approach to it is " a set of eggs in the Smithson-
ian labeled Oneida Co., N. Y."J Mr. Coe tells me that there were a
number of Snipe in the field at the time, and he tliinks there were
other nests which they did not find.

188. Macrorhamphus griseus {Gmdin) I.oacli. Red-breasted Snipe.

Not rare during the migrations. "Stratford," Linsley. Mr. J. II.
Sage of Portland has a specimen which he shot at Saybrook, Conn.,
Aug. 21st, 1874.

189. Erennetes pusillus (Llunt') Casslu. Semipahnated Sandpiper.

A summer resident; common along the shore during the migrations.
Mr. W. W. Coe has seen it in June. On the 20th of July, 1877, ."Mr.
Walter R. Nichols found, at Branford, Conn., four eggs of a small
Sandpiper. They were placed on a few straws in a slight excavation
in a corn field, about half a mile from the shore. Supposing them to
be the eggs of this species I sent one to Dr. Brewer, who writes: " In
the absence of my cabinet, for comparison, I cannot be certain, but I
have little or no doubt that it is the egg of Ereunetes pi/silli/s.'' It
is unnecessary to state that this is the first authentie reconl of its
breeding in southern New England. In fall, Dr. F. W. Hall has taken
it as early as Aug. 25th (1874).

* Reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5, p. 47.
f MS. notes of John H. Sage, Esq.
X Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. 47 G.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 14 Aug., 1877.

106 C. H. Merrlmn — Jilrds of Connecticut.

1 90. Tringa minutilla Vieillot. Least Sandpiper.

A coiiiinoii uiigraiit. INIai'itime. Found along the shore in ^lay
and early June, and again in August and September.

191. Tringa maculata Vieillot. Pectoral Sandpiper ; Jack Snipe.

Common during migrations. Mr. Coe tells me that it is common
in fall as fai- u]) the Connecticut as Middletown. Arrives from the
north early in August (Aug. 6, 1873, Hall).

192. Tringa fuscicollis Yieillot. Bonaparte's Sandpiper; White-rumped

Sandpiper.

Not rare during migratious, though Linsley took only two speci-
mens at Stratford, Conn. Dr. Hall has taken it late in August (Aug.
31, 1874).

193. Tringa maritima Brunnich. Purple Sandpiper.

Not uncommon during the migrations. Many winter on the islands
along the coast. Not found by Linsley. Captain Brooks writes me
from Faulkner's Island that " Purple Sand})ipers come here in early
fall and stay till spring," and that they are common and get to be
quite tame,

194. Tringa alpina, var. Americana Cassiu. Dunlin; "Ox-Bird."
A common migrant ; a few may winter.

195. Tringa SUbarquata (Guld) Temmlnck. Curlew Sandpiper.

A rare visitor along our coast. Mr. Josiah G. Ely writes me that
one was shot near Saybrook, Conn., some time ago, and I am infoimed
by Dr. D. Crary, of Hartford, that a s])ecimen of this species was
killed, Oct. 3d, 1859, at Keeny's Cove, on the Connecticut l\iver, in
East Hartford (Hockanum), Conn. Also, Dr. E. L. II. Thompson, t)f
this city, tells me that he shot three Cui-lew Sand|)i})ers on the Qnin-
nipiac River (near New Haven) in June, 1874. Dr. Wm. O. Ayres,
now of Easthampton, Long Island, writes me that he '"killed it once
at Miller's Place, L. I., in 1839,"* and it has also been taken in Mas-
sachusetts.f

* See also Girnud's Birds of Long Island, 1 84 k

f Catalogue of the Birds of New England. By T. M. Brewer, p. 13. 1875.

C. If. Mcrriiuii — liirds of < 'ojuHftlrKf.

107

196. Tringa CanutUS Liiin.-. Rc(l-l,ro,',sk..l .S;.iuli.i|.t'r; Knot.
C'oiiiinon liming mi-irations. Taken at Sayhiook, by Mr. Sagr,

Aug. 21st, 1874; and JNlr. Coc tells nie that it is lum,.! aLont tlie
Connecticut Kivor, near JMiddletow ii, in snininer.

Note. — The Stilt Sandpiiier, MIcropahaiHi hinninto/nis (|',(.na|..)
Baird ; and Baird's Sandpiper, Triii(/(( Jinlnlii Cones, donlttless
occur along the coast during niigrntions.

197. Calidris arenaria (Linm') Illiger. Sanderling.

Oecurs during migrations, and is extremely ahnndant in lull. Kins-
ley took it at Stratford. jMr. Grinnell informs nie that they arrive
during the latter ])art of September, remaining late into October.
Thomas Morton wrote of them in 1632 : "Sanderlings are dainty bird,
more full bodied than a Snipe, and I was much delighted to feede
on them, because they were fatt, and easie to come by, because I
went but a stepp or to for them : and I have killed betweene foure
and five dozen at a shoot which would lead me home. Their foode is
at ebbing water on the sands, of small seeds, that grows on weeds
there, and are very good pastime in August."*

1 98. LimOSa fedoa (Linm-) Ord. Great itarljled Godwit.

A rare migrant. Linsley found it at Stratford, Ciinn., in August,
1842, "in large flocks, but very shy."f Nearly an hundred years ago,
Thomas Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, stated that "it inhabits
Hudson's Bay and Connecticut.''^

199. Liimosa HudSOnica (Latham) Swainson. Hiidsonian Godwit.

A rare migrant. Taken at Stratford by Linsley. Coues suggests
that the LImosa Edicardsii ? of Linsley (p. 267) is "i)erhaps an
albino "§ of this species, but I'ennant thought it was the Avocet
[Recw'virostra Anierican<i).l The good old ])reaelier (Linsley), in
speaking of these birds, could not take his Lord's name in vain on s.>
slight a provocation— hence he called them " 6-'oo(Avits."

* New English Canaan, p. 47, 16^2. Reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii,
Tract 5.

f Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 2G7, 1843.

X Arctic Zoology, vol. ii, p. 465, 1785.

§ List of the Birds of New England, p. 18, 18(18.

II Arctic Zoology, vol. ii, p. 502, 1785.

108 C. IT. Merriaiii — JlirJs of Connectioid.

200. TotanuS SemipalmatUS (Gmeliu) Temminck. Willet; Tattler.

A summer resident ; not common. Linsley found it breeding at
Stratford, Conn. Mr. Grinnell has taken it, near JNIilford, late in the
summer, and Mr. W. W. Coe took a nest, containing three eggs, at
Madison, Conn., June 5th, 1873.*

201. TotailTlS melanoleuCUS (Graelin) Vieillot. Greater Yellow-legs.

Common during migrations. Arrives in INfay (May 1-t, 1874, Sage),
remaining till June (June 1, 1877, Sage). P\)und botli coastwise and
in the interior. I first became acquainted Avith it at Yellowstone
Lake, where I killed four at one shot, Aug. 23d, 1872,

202. TotanuS flavipes (Gmelin) Vieillot. Lesser Yellow-legs.

A common migrant. Killed one May 7th, 1877, on a fresh water
pond near Meriden, Conn. Returns about tlie middle of August
(Aug. 17, 1874, Hall).

Note. — Totanus Chloropus Nllsson. Green-shanlis.

Linsley states that a specimen of this rare straggler was taken at
Stratfoi-d, Conn., in the autumn of 1842.f This is, so far as T am
aware, the only recorded instance of its captiire north of Florida
(Audubon shot three on Land Key, Fla., May 28, 1832), J where its
occurrence seems to be purely accidental, its proper home being in
the "Old World;" and since Dr. Cones states that it was given by
Linsley " very possibly through an erroneous identifiication,"§ I do
not feel justified in including it among the species ascertained to
occur within our limits.

203. Totanus SOlitariuS (Wilson) Audubon. Solitary Tattler.
Common during the migrations. Arrives early in May (jNIay 2,

1877), frequenting muddy ))onds and sluggish streams, in small flocks
of about half a dozen. Solitary individuals may be seen as late as
early June, (C'oe; June 10, Grinnell).

204. Tringoides macularius (I.inne)^Gray. Spotted Sandpiper.

A common summer j-esident, arriving during the latter part of
April or first of ]\Iay (May 1, 1874, Sage). I once found its nest

* MS. notes of W. W. Coe, Esq.

f Am. Jour. vSoi. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2 p. 20(1. isi;!.
t Audubon's Hirds of North America, vol. v, p. .'!21.
Proceed. Essex Inst., vol. v, p. 296, 1868.

('. 71. JIcrriKjit — liirifs of ( 'oiiin ctii'iit. luti

within i'iy;lit \'vv\ ol";! niilroad track wlirrc trains |(assc.| v\vv\ limir
ofthc (lay ! lUanains into October (Oct. (i, is; I), l-'numl ulicnvir
there is a pond or small stn-ani.

205. ActiturUS BartramiuS (Wilson) Bonap. Bartiainian SaiKli.iper ;

"Upland Plover."

A coninion sntnnicr resident. l>reeds in open tieMs away from
water. I am informed by Mr. C'oe that lariic nund)ers of tlieni l>reed
on Plnm Island, ott' New London, Comi. .Virivcs aliout y\:\\ 1st
(May 2, 1874, Porthmd, Conn., Sage).

206. Tryngites rufescens (ViciUdt) Calmnis. HulT-breasted Sandpiper.

Occurs durino- the migrations, but is not common. .losiah (i. Klv,
Esq., writes me that two were killed near Saybrook, a few years ag«»,
and Dr. Dauiel Crary had one in his collection which " w.as shot near
Hartford some years ago."

207. Numenius longirOStris Wilson. Lono-l)illed Curlew.

Not particularly rare during migrations, but excessively shy.
Linsley took it at Stratford, Conu. Regarding its occurrence near
Faulkner's Island, Coim., Capt. Brooks writes : " Not plenty ; occa-
sionally one stops here in the fall." It was seen at ]Milibrd, Conn.,
by Mr. Grinnell, during the summer of 1873. Mr. J. N. Clark, of
Saybrook, Conn., tells me that it sometimes occurs X\\vvv in the fall,
but is rare. Dr. Crary tells me that it has l)een taken near Hartford,
Conn.

208. Numenius HtldsOnicUS Latham. Hndsonian Curlew.

A rare migrant. Taken at Stratford, Conn., by Linsley. I am
informed by Dr. Crary, of Hartford, Conn., that it has been killed in
that vicinity. LTnder date of "July 20, 1877," the Rev. J. Howanl
Hand writes me, from Southamjiton, Long Island: "Have just taken
three sjiecimens of the Hudsonian Curlew this morning."

209. Numenius borealis (Forster) Latham. E.-^kimo Curlew.

Not common. Occurs during migration. Taken at Stratl()rd,
Conn., by Linsley. ]\Ir. J. N. Clark has a line mounted specimen in
his cabinet, killed at Saybrook, Conn., Oct. 13, 1874.

no (J. H. Merriain — Birds of Connecticut.

Family, TANTALIDAE.

210. Ibis falcinellus, var. Ordii (Bonaparte) Cones. Glossy Ibis.

A rare accidental visitor from tlie South. At Stratford, Conn., Lins-
ley o1)tained five specimens of this species.* Stragglers have also
been taken in Mnssachn setts. There is a specimen of this species in
the Museum of Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., taken in
that vicinity, by Dr. Barrat about the year 1855.

211. Ibis alba (Linne) Vieillot. White Ibis.

One only recorded from New England. It was seen by Mr. Geo.
Bird Griimell within ten miles of New Haven : "Late in tlie after-
noon of May 28, [1875] I observed near Milford, Conn., a specimen of
Ibis alba. I recognized the bird as it fiew over me, and following-
it to a small pond whei'e it went down, discovered it perched upon a
tree over the water. I carefully examined it with a good glass, at a
distance of about one hundred and fifty yards, and by this means was
enabled to note every detail of form and color. It was in full jdum-
age, the white being pure, and the naked skin about the head, bright
red. After watching it for a few moments I tried to approach it,
but before I came within gunshot it flew, uttering a hoarse cackle as
it went ott"."f Two specimens have been killed on Long Island.J

Family, ARDEID^.

212. Ardea herodias Linne. Great Blue Heron.

A summer resident. Common during the migrations. Arrives
before the middle of April (A])r. 4, 1873, Coe; 12, Sage), and I
have seen it as late as Nov. 2()t]i (1875), along the coast. On Ajiril
17th, 1877, Mr. A. J. Dayan and I saw about a dozen oT these
splendid birds on the Whitney Lakes, within a couple of miles of
New Haven, but they were very sliy and remained only a few d.ays.
Mr. (4rinnell once saw a flock of twenty-eight flying over the Sound.
Mr. W. P. Nichols saw one near New Haven, June 2d, 1877.

* Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 266, 1843.

f Am. Nat., vol. ix, No. 8, p. 470, 1875.

X Giraud's Bird's of Long Island, p. 275, 1844.

C. If. MiiU-iiliii — liirils iif (', luiii-liriif. 1 I 1

213. Ardea egretta (Cinclin) Omy. Crent White Kjrict.

A raiv visitor IVoiii tlic Soiitli. Si'\ci-mI s|.ccimciis Ikivc l.ccii t;ikfii
ill Massacliiisetts, ainl I liavc myself seen il at llic "()\ r.nw" .m ilic
C'oniiocticut. A spcH-iineu was sliot iicai' .Mi.icilcinwn, ('..nn., s..iiic
years au'o, and is now in the Musi-iun of WcsK yan I'liixcr-ilv. Mr.
(IrinncU has seen it on iIk" niarslu's near Milfonl, Coini., in Scpicni-
l)i'r. Dr. Wood tells me tliat, several years a<;-o, mie spent a week
on a marsli near East Windsor Hill, Conn. ]Mr. Fred. Smniier
Smith tells me that he saw a )>air of these birds at Lake Saltoiistall
(near New Ifaveu), Conn., diirint;- tli.' latter ])arl of .Inly, isTii, and
two weeks later, at the same place, saw no less than seven in<lividu-
als feeding together. They were exceedingly shy and he I'ould not
approach within gunshot.

214. Ardea Candidissima (.Taequin) Umelin. Linlo white Kprot.

A rare accidental visitor from the Sonth. Se('n at Stratford, C'omi.,
by Linsley. Also taken in ^Massachusetts, and one straiii^ler even
reached Nova Scotia ('-Jones"'). Dr. Crary says that he has taken
it near Hartford, Conn,

215. Ardea CSerulea Linne. Little Blue Heron.

A very rare accidental visitor from the South. T.insley took it at
Stratford, Conn. Has been taken in Massachusetts. Mr. Dayaii saw
a small Heron on Lake Whitney, early in April, 1S77, which he sup-
poses to have been this species. In the Cabinet of Mr. Coe, of l*ort-
land. Conn., is a beautiful specimen of this species which he shot in
that vicinity early in July, 1875.' It was a young bird and is ])ure
white till over, excepting the tips of the primaries, which show a lit-
tle slate-blue color. There were two of them together, but the other
escaped. Mr. P^rwin 1. Shores, of Suffield, Conn., writes nn- that one
was shot there about the middle of May by ^Ir. Chas. Newton. ."\lr.
Shores did not see the specimen, but stiys: "Dr. Newton described
it to me as 'a small Heron blue .all over,' and I luive no doubt but
that it was this species."

216. Ardea virescens Linne. Green Llerou.

A common summer resident. Breeds in si'veral jilaces near New
Haven— notably in "Pine Swamp." Arrives late in .\pril or early
in May (^!ay ;^), remaining into October. Capt. Urooks iidbrius me

112 (J. 11. Merrkmi — Birds of Connecticut.

that they sometimes stop at Faulkner's Island in spring. Breeds late
in May and in early June.

217. Nyctiardea grisea, var. naevia (Boddert) Allen. Night Heron.

A common summer resident. Breeds in Pine and Heron Swamps,
near New Haven, and in several otlier places about the State, and on
islands ott'the coast. Mr. A. J. Da3"an started a small flock on Lake
Whitney, April 24th, 1877, and they alighted on a tree. On his near
approach all took flight but one, which he brought down, and an
examination proved that it had a well marked cataract in the eye
facing the direction from which he approached. This is an interest-
ing fact in Ornithological pathology. Remains into October. Mr.
W. W. Coe, of Portland, Conn., on the 17th of April, 1872, visited a
" Heronry'''' of this species, at Rocky Hill, Conn. He writes : " Saw
hundreds of nests, each containing from two to five eggs. Eight and
even ten nests were frequently found on one tree, and the same nest
often contained fresh eggs, eggs half hatched, and young birds.
The trees were white from the excrements of the birds, and looked as
if they had all been whitewashed; nothing could grow under them."*

Note. — The Yellow-crowned Niglit Heron {Kyctiardea violocea)
has been taken in Massachnsetts, by Mr. Vickery (Oct., lS62),f and
doubtless occurs as a rare accidental visitor.

218. Botanrus minor (Gmelin) Boie. Bittern; Stake-driver.

A common summer resident. Arrives in April (Apr. 26, 1875,
Sage), remaining till Noveml)er. Linsley relates the following annis-
ing anecdotes concerning this species: "I obtained a fiue specimen
ol' the American Bittern two years since, which had previously given
great alarm to many of our inhabitants by its peculiarly doU'fnl and
nu)urnful sounds at evening. One man A\ho was laboring near the
swamp, it is said, ran a miU' in the gi\'atest consternation, alleging
that ' the d — 1 was after him.'' It is also stated by several of oui*
most respectable inli:ibitants, that tbrty-si'ven years since, [17{)I>| one
hundred men united in a c<)m])any on the Sabbath to traverse tliis
swam]), and succeeded in killing one of these sanu> birds, and that
their sounds have not been heard in town since, until the former in-
stance occurred which secured a specimen to me."J

* MS. note.s of W. W. Ooe, Esq.

f Alien, Rarer I'.irds of Massachusetts, p. HO, IS6!».

\ Am. Jour. Sei. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, j). 205, 1843.

C IT. Mcil'ldin — /!/'n/s <if ( 'oiiiii <-tii-iit. 1 |;{

219. Ardetta exilis ((^molin) Cray. I.oast BitU'iii.

Tlie Least nitti'ni stH'ins to Ik', :it iircscnf. a |irctly rcniihir ^iiiiiiiii'r
ivsitlont, tliouu'li foniu'rly rciiardcil as an accidental \isiti)r. I/nislc\
U'avc it from Nortlitovd, Conn., witliout cuninunl. It lias ccitainly
bred here for several years past, and on June 27tli, isTC, .Mr. Nidi. .is
found its nest at Iji'anford, (\)iui.,.c()ntaininy,- (inc I'rcsli eou-. IIa\t'
seen it in Se|)teiul)er. Tliey were particadarly altundant tlintUi;li(Mit
the State durino- the season of 1 S7a. .Air. W. W. ('<ie, who luis seven
beautiful specinu'iis in his cabinet, showecl nie live e^-js which he
took from a nest at Porthuid, Conn., June 14th, 187;^, and sa\s thai
they breed regularly in that vicinity. .Mi-. Geo. Bird (iriiniell als..
tells me that he takes two oi- three every year (geiieralh in August
or September). They follow^ up the Connectient Valli'y to Massa-
chusetts (Sutiield, Conn., July, E. T. Shores).

Note. — The Sand-hill Crane, Gms Canadensis (Linne) Tenmi.,
though not occiirring in New England at the present time, even as a
rare straggler, was once common here. Tlumias i\b)rton, writing of
the birds of New England, in 1032, says, of " Cranes, there are gn-ate
store, that even more came there at S. Davids day, and not before :
that day they never would misse. These sometimes eate our corne,
and doe pay for their presumption well enough ; and serveth tliere in
powther, with turnips to supply the place of ])owthered beefe, ami is
a goodly bird in a dishe, and no disconnnodity."* The fact that
they ate corn, and. were themselves, in turn, eaten by the inhabitants,
clearly shows, as Prof. J. A. Allen has said, "that the Crane, aiul not
a Heron, is the bird to which reference is made."f Moreover, Samuel
Williams, more than an hundred and fifty years later (in 1704), says
that the Sand-hill Crane {'■'■ Ardea (kiitadensis'''') was anu)ng the
commonest of the " Water F'owl" found in Vermont at that tinie.J
Belknap also gives it, in 1792, as one of the birds of New Ilampshire.J^
And even so recently as 1842, Zadock Thom]»sou wrote that the
Whooping Crane, Gms Americana (Linne) Temmiiu-k, was "occa-
sionally seen during its migrations,"! in Vermont.

*New English Canaan. Printed by Charles Greene, 1632. Reprinted in Force's
Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5, pp. 47-8.

fBull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i, No. 3, p. 58. Sept., 187(3.

X The Natural and Civil History of Vermont, p. 119. 1794.

§ The History of New Hampshire, vol. iii. By Jeremy Belknap, p. 1G9. 1792.

II History of Vermont, p. lO.T. IS 12.

Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 15 Al:«., 1877.

114 (J. If. Merriam — Birds of ConnecUovi.

Tlie present distribution of the Sand-hill Crane is interesting from its
peculiarity. Common throughout the West, they extend northward
even into Alaska, breeding about the Yukon (Dall),* but are not
found east of the Mississippi Valley, except in Florida, where I have
seen them, both on the Ocklawaha River,f and Hying over the St.
Johns. Both Mr. GrinnellJ and myselF§ found them to be abundant
in the Yellowstone National Park, though so wary that it was diffi-
cult to obtain a shot at them. They were particularly numerous in
the Lower Geyser Basin, in August, and used to make such an
unnecessary amount of noise, mornings, that sleep, after daylight, was
well nigh out of the question. Showing a decided preference for the
grassy meadows (called " Parks," in the West) surrounded by heavy
forests, and marking, perhaps, the course of some mountain stream,
which is content to check its headlong speed while passing through a
neighboring valley, the Sand-hill Crane, ever on the alert, keeps well
away from the trees, and at the ap[)roach of any suspicious object, at
once takes flight, uttei'ing its warning cry for the benefit of those of
its kind who happen to be near. The flats which they frequent are
often studded with wooded knolls, and the best way to hunt them is
to betake one's self, in company with a good rifle, to one of these
" Islands" before the fog rises in the morning, and remain concealed
and perfectly quiet. When the fog lifts, the stately forms of tlie
Cranes may be seen scattered over the meadows, always peering about
in search of danger ; but at least one is pretty sure to be witliin rifle
range. And at the report the alarm is given and the others lose
no time in beating a hasty retreat. Tlieir flight is heavy, and
seemingly laborious. To their edil)le qualities I can testifj^ witli a
good grace. The flesh is really excellent, deep red in color, and not
unlike that of the Beaver. Few birds are more difficult to skin.

Thomas Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology (1785) says that "they
arrive in May about Severn River, Hudson's Bay. Frequent lakes
and ponds. Feed on fish and insects. Hatch two young ; and retire
southward in aiitumn.|| I must observe, that they formerly made a
halt in the Hurons country, at the season in which the Indians set
their maize; and again on their return from the North, when the
harvest was ready, in order to feed on the grain. The Indians, at

* Alaska and its Resources. By ■William TI. Dall. Appendix G, p. 58:^. ISTO.
f Am. Nat., vol. viii, No. 2, p. 89. Feb., 18'74.

|:Ludlow's Report for 18*75, p. 87. § Hayden's Report for 1872, p. 702.

II Ph. Trans., Ixii, 409.

('. //. Mernmn—Iiinls of <'<,,iiHriiriit. \ m

tlioso timos, wH'iv used (,<. sli(...( tlii'iii with arrows hca.l.'.l willi >i,.iif;
forTheodat,* my autlioiit y, made liis ii'iiiarks in tliat country in llic-
beginning oftlu' last ci'iitiirv."!

Family, RALLID^.

220. Rallus longirostriS Boddert. Clapper Rail.

Not common. Taken at Stratford by Linsley, who remarks tli:jt
it " breeds abundantly" tliere.J Frequents salt marshes. IJccenlJv
recorded from Massachusetts by ]\Ir. Purdie. "The bird was cap-
tured by its flying on hoard a vessel in the []>osto!i] harbor. May 4,
1875."§

Several well authenticated instances of its occurrence in Connec-
ticut have recently come to my notice.

221. Rallus elegans Audubon. King Rail.

Rather rare. Found breeding at Stratford, by Linsley. J Frequents
fresh-water marshes. jNIr. W. W. Coe has taken it at I'ortland,
Conn. Mr. J. N. Clark of Saybrook, Conn., has a fine specimen in
his cabinet taken there in mid-winter (Jan. 14, 1876).

222. Rallus VirginianUS Llnne. Virginia Rail.

A common summer resident, breeding plentifully in both salt and
fresh-water marshes. They are quite abundant in the brackish-water
marshes bordering the Quinnipiac River, and here my friend, Mr.
Dayan, found a nest containing seven fresh eggs and secured the old
bird, on June 7th, 1870. Concerning the nocturnal proclivities, and
shrill, startling cry of the Rail, Dr. Coues thus graphically writes:
" At nightfall some Mallard and Teal settled into the rushes, gabb-
ling cnrious vespers as they went to rest. A few ^Marsh Wrens had
appeared on the edge of the reeds, queerly balancing themselves on
the thread-like leaves, sea-sawing to their own quaint music. Then
they were hushed, and as darkness settled down, the dull, heavy
croaking of the frogs played bass to the shrill falsetto of the insects.
Suddenly tliey too were hushed in turn, frightened, may be, into
silence ; and from the heart of the bullrushes, ' crlk-crik-rik-k-k-k,^

* As quoted by De BufEon. f Arctic Zoology, vol. 11, p. 443. 1785.

X Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 267, \%i^^.

§ Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 22, Januar)', 1877.

110 C H. Merriaui — Birds of Connecticut.

lustily shouted some wi<le-a\vake IJail, to be answered by another
and another, till the reeds resounded. Then all was silent again till
the most courageous frog renewed his pipes. The Rail arc, partially
at least, nocturnal. During such moonlight nights as these they are
on the alert, patrolling the marshes through the countless covered
ways among the reeds, stopping to cry ' all's w^ell ' as they pass on,
or to answer the challenge of a distant watchman. That they feed
by night as Avell as by day, cannot be doubted. Their habit of
skulking and hiding in the almost inaccessible places they frequent
renders them difficult of observation, and they are usually considered
rarer than they really are."*

223. Porzana Carolina (Liune) Cabanis. Carolina Rail ; Sora.

An abundant summer resident. Large numbers are killed each year
for the market. Have seen them as late as October (1874). Found
both in fresh and salt-w^ater marshes where there is an abimdant
growth of " Bullrushes," " Cat tails" and the like. Linsley says of
it : " The Carolina IJail was so al)undant hei-e [Stratford, Conn.] last
Autumn, in the marshes of the Housatonic, that something like hun-
dreds were killed in a few hours, and that too for several days
together. They were esteemed a great delicacy. "f Ivegarding the
difficulty of seeing them in their favorite haunts, Mr. Maynard
writes : " I have been in a swamp where there were literally thou-
sands of theiu, yet was unable to start more than two or three !"J
I have had many similar experiences. One will suffice: Well
do I remember finding a Rail's nest in a marshy swail near the
mouth of a small caiion at the foot of the Wahsatch Range, just back
of Ogden, Utah. It was early in June, and the nest, which was
large and bulky, being com])osed of coarse marsh grass, was hidden
in a clump of flags, whose ai'ching blades met overhead, so conceal-
ing the enclosed treasures that they could only be seen by stooping
over and ))eering through a small o]»ening in the side, left for the
passage of the parent bird. As yet but two eggs had been deposited,
and the bird stole so silently and ([uickly through the reeds that I
hardly felt sure it was not a snake till careful search revealed the
nest. The next thing to be done was to secure the old bird, and
with this end in view the place was visited at least once each day

* Coues, Birds of the Northwest, pp. 537-8, 1874.

f Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 267, April, 1843.

X Maynard's Naturalists' Guide, pp. 145-40, 1873.

G. H. 3li rriiiiii — /lin/x of' ( 'niini'i-tinit. 1 I 7

till tliv ini(l(lli' of Juiu', Imt, not widisliindiiiii- tlic ImcI that 1 f\crcisc<l
tlu' o-roatest caiitioii ii> apin-oarh, I nc\ci- so niiicli as caiiLiiit a iiiu-
iiKMitary gliin|»sc' of her I'oriii, tliou^li once or twice a sliailow srinu-il
to flit hurriedly hy :in(l (lisai>|>ear in jilaiii siglit. W'liat made it still
iiu>re iviuarkaltle was thai tlu' iiuiiiher of coms kc|)t iii('i-casiii>4 dav
by day, and I always found them warm, showinij; that the l»ird had
been gone but an instant. Onee, while I'eeling of the euu^s, I was so
startled by her harsh eraeklinu; ei-y, uttered suddenly at my very
feet, that I came near breaking- tlieni all, but still saw nothing of htr.
The time had come when we must move camp, so on the loth of
June I made a flnal eflbrt to secun- the old Itird. The nest now
contained twelve eggs, and T fancied I could hear the faint |»ei'|tin<j;
of a young bird in his attemi)t to extricate himself from the shell.
Stepping back a few paces, I waited, gun in hand, for the space of
two long hours, standing first on one leg, then on the other, like a
bashful country boy, till my patience was nearly exhausted and I
was on the point of leaving, when something daited (juicklv toward
the nest — it was enough ; the mangled remains sufficed to determine
the species. Meanwhile the egg had fairly hatched, and its noisy
contents had already gained no little use of its tiny twigs. How the
first hatched youngsters amuse themselves during the ten days, or
two weeks, whilst the other eggs are coming to maturity, will donbt-
less be fully elucidated by he who attempts to explain how it is
that a bird can give origin, in the coarse of a couple of wi-eks, to a
dozen of eggs, each nearly as large and heavy as her own body.
Certain it is that the processes of digestion, and assimilation of nutri-
ment, must go on in them much more rapidly than in ourselvi-s.

Wilson remarked that, "Of all our land or water fowl, jn'rhaps
none afix>rd the sportsman more agreeable amusement, or a more
delicious repast, than the little bird now before us. This amusement
is indeed temporary, lasting only two or three hours in the day for
four or five weeks in each year." The mode of procedure is thus
described: "The sportsman furnishes himself with a light batteau, and
a stout experienced boatman, with a i)ole of twelve or fifteen feet long,
thickened at the lower end to ])revent it tiom sinking too deep into
the mud. About two hours or so before high water they enter the
reeds, and each takes his post, the sportsman standing in the bow-
ready for action, the boatman on the stern seat pushing her steadily
through the reeds. The IJail generally spring singly, as the boat
advances, and at a short distance ahead, are instantly shot <lown,
while the boatman, keeping his eye on the spot where the bird fell,

118 C. IT. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

directs the boat forward and picks it uj) wliile the gunner is loading.

In this manner the boat moves steadily through and over

the reeds, the birds flushing and falling, the gunner loading and

firing, while the boatman is pushing and picking up In

these excursions it is not uncommon for an active and expert marks-
man to kill ten or twelve dozen in a tide !"* Mr. Grinnell informs
me that the same method of hunting is practiced on the marshes
bordering the Housatonic River, Conn.

224. Porzana Noveboracensis (Gmelin) Cassin. Yellow Rail.

Not common. Taken at Stratford, Conn., by Linsley. Though
one of the rarer birds, it breeds about Middletown, Conn., as I am
informed by Mr. Coe, Avho took it there in 1874 and 1875. Mr. Thos.
Osborne has a specimen killed near New Haven. Mr. Grinnell favors
me with the following note concerning its occurrence on the marshes
near Milford, Conn. :

Di:ar Merriam— The specimens of Porzana Noveboracensis about
which you enquire were taken for the most part during the month of
October, 1S70, although I procured one individual as late as Xov.
loth. The securing of the first two or three was quite accidental.

I was working a young setter on Snipe [Gallinago Wilson i) on a
piece of Avet meadow near Milford, Conn., and several times during
the early part of the day was annoyed by the pertinacious way in
which the dog would trail up some bird which neither he nor I could
start. At length during one of these perfoi-mances I saw" the puppy
grasp at something in the bogs before him, and immediately a small
Rail rose and fluttered a few yards. Noticing its small size, and the
fact that it had some white on its wings, and seeing from its flight
that it was a Rail, I shot the bird before it had gone far, and when it
was brought by the dog I was delighted to see that it was P. JVove-
boracensis, a species which I had never before seen alive. During
the day several more individuals were secured. The next oppor-
tunity that I had of looking for these birds was, I think, Oct. 14th.
That day my brother and I secured eight in an hour or two. They
were ridiculously tame and woidd run along before the dog, creeping
into the holes in the bogs and hiding tlieve while we tried in vain to
start then), I killed one witli my <log whip, caught one alive in my
hand, and the dog brought me another, uninjured, which he had

* Wilson's American Ornithology, vol. iii, p. 115, 1831.

C. H. ]\l(')'ri(()ii — li/'rtfs of < 'i)iniii-tit'ii(. \ \\\

oaiiglit in his inoulli. l-'i-diii \vli:it I s:i\v <il" tlicir lialdls, I ;iiii cdii-
vinced that Xhv only sm-ci'ssful way oi" (•(.ilcctiiiu- these hir.ls is t-.
look for tliem witli a (loo-. Without one liiey couhl never I.e t'nice.l
from the ground. Yours sinctMvIy,

(tKO. I>II;I> ( ilMN nki.i..

225. Porzana Jamaicensis (Omciin) Cnssin. Hiaok- HmH.

An extremely rare siunnuT resident. Uut three speciniens nl' this
rare bird liave as yet been obtained in New Kiioland. The second
Conneetieut reeord is that givon by ]Mr. II, A. J'unlie, wlio writes:
"Of this species .^Ir. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., writes nie ili.it a
neiold)or of his, while mowing at that place, July loth, ISTG, swung
his scythe over a nest of ten eggs on which the bird was sittini;,
unfortunately cutting off the bird's head and breaking all but four ol"
the eggs."* I have recently seen the eggs in question, in .Mr, Clark's
collection. They agree precisely with Cones' description of the eggs
of this bird, "being creamy-white, sprinkled all over with tine dots
of rich, bright reddishd)rown," and are totally unlike those of any
other species of Rail. The bird was not preserved, init there seems
to be no reasonable doubt of its identity. Mr. Purdie further states
that he has "lately seen a skin of this species belonging to Mr,
Browne, of Framingham. The bird was picked up dead, in August,
1869, by a relative of his, on Clark's Island, Plymouth lIar1)or
[Mass.], and was forwarded to him as something entirely new to our
shores. This instance adds a new bird to the Fauna of Massaclm-
setts,"* The only other recorded instance of its capture in New
England is that given by Dr. Thos. M. Brewer: "Ilazeiiville, Conn.,
Batty."

226. Gallinnla galeata (Licht.) P.onaparte. Florida Gallinulp.

A rather common summer resident, as I am told l)y Mr. (Triiiiiell.
who has taken a number of specimens about Miltbrd, Conn. .Mr. W.
W. Coe has also taken it near Portland, Coini.

227. Porphyrio Martinica (Linne) Tcuiminck. I'lirpU- Callimile.

A rare accidental visitor from the South. A specimen of this
species was killed near Middletown, Conn., about the year 1855, and
is now in the Museum of Wesleyan ITniversit3\ It has been taken
in Massachusetts, as recorded by G. P. Whitnuin: "A fine sjiecimen

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, No. vol. ii, 1, p. 22, January, 1877.

120 C. IT. Merriam — Blnls of (Jon)ieeticut.

of the Purple Galliuule was shot at ' Ileniy's Pond,' 'South-end,'
Rockport, Mass., on April 12t]i, [1SV5] by Mr. Robert Wendell."*

228. Fulica Americana Gmelin. Common Coot; Mud Hen.

Common during the migrations, particularly in foil. May breed.
Linsley took five specimens at Stratford, remarking that it was " by
no means common" there. Last October (1876), my friend, Mr. A. J.
Dayan, shot several on Lake Whitney, and ascertained that no less
than tifty specimens were kille(l there during that month !

Family, ANATID^.

229. CygnuS AmericanUS Sliarpless. Whistling Swan.

A rare, almost accidental, visitor, occurring oidy in winter.
Linsley mentions the occurrence of four specimens, at Stratford,
Conn., two of which were killed. My friend. Dr. Wm. H. Hotchkiss,
of this city, tells me that he was informed, by William Beers,
Esq., that two Swans were seen in Branford Harbor, during a severe
gale, about the middle of March, 1876. I take it for granted that
they were of this species, since there is no positive record of the
occurrence of the Trumpeter Swan ( (Jygu.iis buccinator) within our
limits. Mr. Griiniell also informs me that several Swans were seen
near Milford, Coini., about the same time. Swans were once common
in New England, during the migrations, as seen from IMorton's
remarks concerning them (in 1632): "And tirst of the Swanne,
because she is the biggest of all the fowles of that Country. There
are of them in Merrimack River, and in other parts of the Country,
greate Store at the seasons of the yeare. The flesh is not much de-
sired of the inhabitants, but the skinnes may be accompted a com-
modity, fitt for divers uses, both for fethers, and quiles."f

Note. — The Trumpeter Swan (C'//,y>/w.s' buccinator Richardson),
may, and very ])i-obably does, sometimes occur within oui- limits.
Di". Wood, of East Windsor Hill, informs me that a hunter in his
vicinity, who was perfectly familiar with this bird in the Wi'St, where
they were common, once told liim that he h:id lieanl tlic unmistaka-
ble note of the Trumpeter Swan, but ilid not see the bird. A short

* Am. Nat., vol. ix, No. 10, p. 57:^, Oct., 1875.
f Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5, p. 46.

C. II. Me)'vi((ni — Iiir<l.-< iif ('(iiiiKftliiit, 1 j 1

tiTiu' alU'rwanls, howi'vcr, on auaiii iiUH'tiiiL;- tin- I )oct()r, t he Imiitcr
said that, a few clays befoiv, lu' luaid tlu- Swans comin.^ and nislicl
into tlie bouse for his gun, but l»t'l()rc lie ivtunu-d with it they lia<l
l)assc(l over, between tlio liousi" and barn, that he had a u'ood si<,dil
at them and was confident that tlu-y \\<.-yv Truni|ittcrs. rn.c.f is
wanting to shoAV tliat some of the birds inentioncil lunhr the hist
s])ecies w'ere not really Cygniis buccinator.

230. Anser hyperboreus Pallas. Snow Goose.

A rai-e winter visitor. Linsley records seven s^iecimens liom
Stratford, Conn. iMr. W. W. Coe, of Forthind, has a magnificent
si)ecinien of this species in his cabinet. It was killed on the coast
near Saybrook, Conn., in the fall of 1875.

Note. — The Barnacle Goose [Branta leiicopsis Boie), a rare acci-
dental visitor to our coast, from Europe, is given by Linsley from
Stonington, Conn., but on insufficient evidence. Stragglers liave
been taken from South Carolina to Hudson's Bay, and a fine s]>eci-
men of this Goose was killed on Long Island, N. Y., in October,
1 87(3 (recorded by Mr. Law^rence),* hence it may occur as a rare
accidental straggler.

231. Branta bernicla (Linne) Scop. Brant Goose; Black Brant.

A tolerably common spring and autumn migrant, sometimes re-
maining through the winter. Linsley said : " The Brant is common
here. [Stratford, Conn.] in winter" (p. 269). Captain Brooks writes
me that they are " not common" at Faulkner's Island, where he has
" only taken one." Mr. Grinnell informs me that two s})ecimens of
this species were killed off Stratford Light, Conn., last spring (1877).
Mr. Osborne also saw three individuals near the mouth of the East
Haven River, Conn., April 14th, 187(3. Dr. Wood, of East Windsor
Hill, Conn., has a fine specimen in his cabinet. It was shot on tlie
Connecticut River, above Hartford, in the spring of 1870.

This species is first recorded from Ncav England 1)) Thomas
Morton, who, in 1632, M-rote : "There are Geese of three sorts, vize,
brant Geese, wliich are pide, and wdiite Geese which an' biggei-, and
gray Geese, which are as big and bigger then the tame (u-ese of
England, Avith black legges, black bills, lieads an<l necks black, the
flesh farre more excellent, then the Geese of ICnglan<l, wild or tame,

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 18, Jan., 1877.
Trans. Conn. Ac.\d., \o\.. TV. 16 Ara., 1877.

122 C. II. JSIerrhnu — Birds of Connecticut.

yet the piirit}" of the air is sueh, that tlie biggest is accompted but
an indifferent meale for a eouple of men. There is of them great
abundance. I have had often 1000. before the moutli of my gunne.
I uever saw any in England for my part so fatt, as I have killed
there in those parts, the fethers of them makes a bedd, softer than
any down bed that I have lyen on : and is there a very good com-
modity, the fethers of the Geese that I have killed in a short time
have paid for all the powther and shott, I have spent in a yeare, and
I have fed my doggs with as fatt Geese there, as I have ever fed
upon myself in England."*

232. Branta Canadensis (Linne) Gray. Canada Goose; "Wild Goose.

A winter resident, common dui'ing migrations ; they arrive in
November (Nov. 24, 1872, Sage), some remaining through April and
sometimes even into May (May 22, 1864, Sage; May 10, 1877, C. H,
M.). Linsley writes that "Hundreds of the common 'Wild Geese'
winter at the mouth of the Housatonic, and so near my own dwelling
that I often with my telescope present a distinct view of their eyes
to my friends who call. Birds are said to be near enough to shoot
when their eyes are visible to the sportsman. Many are killed here
merely for sale by gunners, Avho frequently send them to New
York."f Capt. lirnoks says that they occasionally stop about the
islands off Guilford, Conn., and that he killed two last November.
Mr. Grinnell tells me that generally a few still winter about the
mouth of the Housatonic River, Conn., and that over two hundred
remained there last winter (1876-7). They begin to go north (some
passing nearly due east) during the latter part of March (from Mar,
24th on), and all through April large flocks may be seen and heard
overhead. Many of these contain upwards of one hundred and fifty
birds, and I should say that they average about seventy-five. They
were particularly numerous last spring (1877), and scai'cely a day
passed during April but one or more flocks were seen.

233 '^ Branta Canadensis, var. Hutchinsii (Rich.) Coues. iiutchins'

Goose ; Southern Goose.

Not common. "Stratford," Conn. (Linsley). Mr. (4eo. ]>ird (Grin-
nell tells nic that the hunters al>out Milford, Coini., all make a dis-
tinction between the common or Canada Goose and the Southern

* Force's Historical Tracts, Tract T), (vol. ii,) p. 46.

f Am. Jour. Soi. and Arts, vol. xiiv. No. 2, p. 2(59, 1843.

('. H. Mirrhiiii — ll'inh of ('omtxtU'iit. ]'j;(

Goose. 'I'liat the latlcr does iiol arrive till aricr llic ( 'aiiada ( Jrcsi'
liavi' all CKiiu', and that tlu-y do not stav loiiu, luit pa^-^ M>iit liw ai-d —
Ir'ik-o their nanu'. They are also iiotieealily smaller than the Canada
Goose.

233. Anas boSChas Linne. Mallard.

A rare miorant. Have notes of its oceurreuce liere Sei>te!n1n'r :?otli,
October, and Xovenil)er l.'nh, 1875, and Mr. Grinnell saw it in Octo-
ber and Xoveinber, 1876. Linsley gives it from Stratford, (apt.
Brooks writes nie from Faulkner's Island, Conn., tliat they are not
abundant : "occasionally see a few witli Black Ducks in the fall."

234. Anas Obscura Gmelin. Black- Duck.

A resident, but most abundant during the migrations. Capt.
Brooks writes me that they " come in September and stay through
the winter. Leave in May and June." Linsley said that they
occasionally bred about Stratford, Conn. That their edible qualities
were early apjjreciated is seen from the writings of Thomas INIorton,
who said (in 1632): "Ducks, there are of three kindes, pide Ducks,
gray Ducks, and black Ducks, in greate abundance: the most about
my habitation were black Ducks : and it was a noted custome at my
howse, to have every mans Duck upon a trencher, and then you will
thinke a man was not hardly used, they are bigger boddied, then the
tame Ducks of England : very fatt and dainty flesh. The common
doggs fees were the gibletts, unlesse they were boyled now and
than for to make broath."*

235. Dafila acuta (Liune) Bonaparte. Pintail; Sprigtail.

A rather rare winter resident. Have seen but few specimens.
Linsley found it at Stratford, Conn. Mr. Osborne saw one in .Alarch
(23), 1877. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., tells me that he
does not consider it particularly rare; in fact that he thinks it is
rather common in spring and fall in that vicinity — about the mouth
of the Connecticut. Dr. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, has two
specimens killed on the Connecticut Kiver above Ilartford, l)ut tiiey
are extremely rare there.

* New English Canaan, p. 47. Reprinted in Peter Force's Historical Tracts, Tract 5.

124 C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

236. ChaulelasmUS Streperus (Linne) Gray. Gadwall ; Gray Duck.

It occurs during the migrations ; not common. Captain Brooks
tells me that they are " occasionally seen " about Faulkner's Island,
Conn., "but are not plenty." Linsley writes: "Flocks of the Gray
Duck were here as early as August last season [1842], and were
among the best of ducks for the table."*

237. Mareca Americana (Gmelin) Stephens. Widgeon ; Baldpate.

Not particularly rare during the migrations ; may winter. Taken
at Stratford, Conn., by Linsley, and all along the coast by others,
too numerous to mention. Dr. Wood has seen three specimens,
one of which he shot, near East Windsor, Conn., but they are rare
in this State so far inland. Dr. Coues states that " the Widgeon
breeds in abundance in Northern Dakota and Montana along the
banks of the streams and pools."f Thomas Morton found them in
New England in 1632, for he writes: " Widggens there are, and
abundance of other water foule, some such as I have scene, and such
as I have not scene else where, before I came into those parts, which
are little regarded. "J

238. Querquedula Carolinensis (Gmelin) Stephens. Green-winged
Teal.

A common migrant. Have seen it in March. Taken by Linsley
at Stratford, Conn. Concerning this and the following species Mor-
ton wrote, in 1632: " Teales, there are of two sorts greene winged,
and blew winged : but a dainty bird, I have bin much delighted
with a rost of these for a second course, I had plenty in the rivers
and ponds about my howse."

239. Querquedula disCOrS (Llnne) Stephen. Blue-winged Teal.

A rather common migrant. Mr. Dayan secured a beautiful male
of this species on Lake Whitney, September 25th, 1S75. Arrives in
August (Grinnell), remaining through October (Oct. 20, 1874, Sage).

240. Spatula Clypeata (Linne) Bole. Slioveller; " Spoonliill-duck."

This splendid species is a rare migrant along our shores. Linsley
" obtained two fine males" at Stratford, Conn. Mr. Grinnell informs

* Am. Jour, of Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 269, April, 1843.

f Birds of the Northwest, p. 564, 1874.

\ Reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts. Tract 5, p. 47.

(J. II. Merridiii — />ir</s of ('i)innrtiritt. !•_'.")

liU' tliat lu' took twi) or tlirt'c spcciiiiciis :ili(»ut ( >ct(>l>fi- '-tli, ls7.">, in
tlu' SouikI iH'ar Milt'oi'd, Conn., and that lie docs not considir tlu'in
particularly rare at that season. Mr. \V. \\'. Coc has an iinniatwrc
8|>ec-inien taken at Sayl>rook, Dereinher sth, is74. .Mr. IJolicrt
Morris, of" this city, tells nie that he has kilted it late in -////// on the
West Haven meadows, and has also seen it, al>oiit the same time, and
early in August, on tlie Quinnipiac marshes.

241. Aix sponsa (T,iniie) Boie. Wood Duck ; Summer Pufk.

A tolerably cotnmon summer resident, breeding in lioles in trees.
Arrives in March (March 18, 1S76, Osbornt'), freipu'iiting fresh-water
ponds and streams, and lays in May, remaining into ()(tober. Za-
dock Thompson, speaking of its occurrence in Vermont, says. " Tlu'
Wood Duck is one of tiie most beautiful birds seen in this State, and
is one of the very few })ermanent residents here."*

242. Fulignla marila (Linne) Stephens. Greater Scaup Duck ; Broad-bill ;
Blue-liill.

A rather common winter resident. Taken at Stratford by Linsley,
Captain Brooks informs me that they are "plenty at (iuilford, Conn.'"
In spring Mr. Thos. Osborne has taken it as late as May 17th, (ls70).

243. Fuligula affinis Eyton. Lesser Scaup Duck ; Blue-l)ill.

A common winter resident. Much prized for the table. IJemains
till the middle or latter part of May (May 17, Osborne). Dr. Wood,
of East Windsor Hill, once killed it on the Connecticut river in his
vicinity.

244. Fuligula COllaris (Donovan) Bonaparte. Ring-ucckcd Duck.

It is not common, but may winter. Linsley took it at Str.it lord,
Conn. Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell has secured several specimens of this
bird, in early spring, on the Sound, in the vicinity of Milford, Conn.

245. Fuligula ferina. var. Americana (Eyton) Coues. Red-head;

Pochard.

Rare. Lindsley took it at Stratford. Tlie IJev. J. II. Hand writes
rae that he has taken it at Westbrook, Conn., but it is rare there.
* History of Vermont, p. 109, 1842.

126 G. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

246. Fuligula vallisneria (Wilson) Steplieus. Canvas-back Duck.

IJare. " Stmtford," Conn., (Linsley). Mr. Robert Aforris, of this
city, saw one May 7th, 1876. I am also informed by Rev, J. H.
Hand, that it oecnrs at Westbrook, Conn., where it is " very rare."

247. Bucephala Clangula (Linne) Coues. Golden-eye ; Whistler.

A common winter resident. Found on the Sound and. on fi-esh-
water ponds from November to April or May (April 16th). Captain
Brooks writes, from Faulkner's Island, " only see them here in very
cold winters."

248. Bucephala Islandica (Gmeliu) Baird. Barrow's Golden-eye.

A rare Avinter visitant from the North. I include this species on
the strength of a most typical (male adult) specimen in the cabinet
of Mr. John H. Sage, of Portland, Conn. It was purchased by him,
November 14th, 1867, from a man who said it was killed on the
Sound, and there seems to be no reason for doubting his statement,
especially since it has been taken as far South as New York City.*
Mr. William Brewster records it from Massachusetts with the follow-
ing remarks: " I obtained an adult female in the flesh from Cape
Cod, December 7th, 1871, which was pronounced by Prof, Baird
unquestionably B. Islandica. Since then I have seen numbers of
females and two fine adult males in the Boston Markets, most of
them sliot witliin State limits."f

249. Bucephala albeola (Linne) Baird. Butter-ball ; Buffle-head.

A common winter resident. Found both on fresh and salt Avater.
Nov., April 15th.

250. Harelda glacialis (Linne) Leach. Long-tailed Duck ; »)ld AVife ; Old
Squaw.

A common winter resident; particularly abundant during the
migrations. Captain Brooks writes me that they "usually come in
October and leave in April or May." This is by far the most abun-
dant species of duck found along our coast, and during the migrations
(notably in Novend)er) hundreds of thousands of them can be seen
on the Sound, covering the water as far as the eye can reach in every
direction, and almost deafening one by their constant, and, to ray
ears, not altogether unpleasant, cackle. They are continually on the

* Coues' Birds of New England, p. 52 (300), 1868.
f Am. Xat., vol. vi. No. 5, pp. 30G-7, May, 1872.

('. II. }h rrnliii— lii I'ds (if' ( '(linn ft iciil. \'1~

nidVi' and, not w itlist;iii(liiiu,- tlicir iiiiiiiciiM- miiiiliris, il is no cmsv
tusk to a])|)ro:icli williiii ^iinsliol ol' llic tl.icU. 'riioii._ili as stricilv
niaiitiiiu' as any ol" our ducks, they liavi- occasionally slrayi-il so far
into the interior as Central Ohio (Wiu'aton). Mr. (Hinnell tells nie
that they occasionally hri'i'd liere, l»ut these niav he wunnded hirds —
" pensionei-s" as they are eoumionly called. Dr. Wood has taUi n it
on tlie Connecticut lliver above Hartford, but it is lare then'.

251. Camptolaemns Labradorius (Cmt^tiu) Cmy. L;ii.i;i<i(.r Duck;

Pied-Duck.

Avery rare winter visitor. Linsley took it at Slrat ford, Cimn.
Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, says that this s])i'cies was ''sent IVoni
Connecticut to Mrs. Bhiekburn,* in Ensj.land."'

252. Somateria mollissima (Linue) Loach. Eider Duck.

A rare winter visitant along our coast. Linsley states that " one
or two Eider Ducks were killed" at Stratford, Conn., by Mr. Lucius
Curtis. Mr. Grinnell tells me, that he saw a sijecimen killed on tlu-
Sound, near Milford, Conn., by a gunner (Samuel Brown by name)
May 29th, 1877, and that two Eider Dncks, probablt/ of this species,
were shot there in the fall of 1874.

253. Somateria spectatailis (Linue) Boie. King Eider.

A rare winter visitor, like the last, and also taken at Stratford,
Conn., by Linsley, who says of it : "I have obtained here this season
two specimens of the King Duck, said never to have been seen here
before. They are among the best for the table."f Giraud also states
that " an adult male in perfect plumage was shot on Long Island
Sound, in the winter of 1889. "J

254. CEdemia Americana (Wilson) Swainson. Black Scoter; Gray Coot.

A tolerably common winter resident, but less so than eithi'r of the
following. Linsley had it from Stratford. Have seen it early in
October (October 4, 1876), and again in November, but the hunters
reo^ard it as rather rare. It sometimes visits the Great I>akes in
winter, and Dr. Wheaton writes me that one was taken near Colum-
bus, Ohio, in Dec. 1876.

* Arctic Zoology, vol. ii, p. 559, 1785. f Catal. Birds of Conn., p. 270, 184:!.
:|: Birds of Long Island, p. .133, 1844.

128 C H. Merrimn — Birds of Connecticut.

255. CEdemia fusca (Linne) Swainson. Velvet Scoter; White-winged
Coot.

It is extremely abundant on the Sound during fall and spring,
some remaining through the winter. Arrives about the first of
October (Oct. 4, 1876) remaining till the middle of May (May 15, Os-
borne). Thousands of them visit the coast in October and November,
to feed on the small shells (chiefly Mactra lateralis) which the shal-
low muddy bottoms furnish in abundance. And in this connection
it may be stated that the alimentary canals of the sea ducks afford
the conchologist a rich collecting ground, often yielding unexpected
treasures. This is the largest of our ducks, and like the other mem-
bers of the genus, is generally considered unfit for the table, but
when properly prepared and well cooked they are by no means bad
eating. Though properly marine, it occurs on the Great Lakes in
winter. Dr. Wood has taken two specimens on fresh water near
East Windsor Hill, Conn.

256. CEdemia perspicillata (Linne) Stephens. Surf Duck; Sea Coot;
Scoter.

A common Avinter resident, l)eing intermediate in numbers iK'tween
the two foregoing — that is, it is neither abtmdant nor uncommon.
Arrives late in September or early in October, remaining till the
middle of April. Captain Brooks writes me that they are " common
through fall, winter and spring " in the vicinity of Faulkner's Island,
Conn. I saw one on the Sound as late as Jvine 29th (1877), and I am
told that a few generally remain all summer, but they are probably
"pensioners" (wounded birds) and do not breed.

257. Erismatura rubida (Wilson) Bonaparte. Ruddy Duck.

It is not rare during the migrations. Taken by Linsley at Strat-
ford, Coini. Found both on fresh and salt water. Mr. J. N. Clark,
of Saybrook, tells me that they are rather common about the mouth
of the Comieeticut, but that full plumaged l)irds are very rare. Dr.
Crary tells me that one was shot on the Connecticut river, near
Hartford, Conn., in October, 1858.

258. MergUS merganser l.lnnc. sheldrake; Merganser.

It is common during migrations ; some probably wintering. Fre-
quents fresh water lakes and rivers in tlie interior, and is "found
occasionally about Guilford Harbor, Conn." (Capt. lirooks), but is not

6. //. Mi n ill III — liii'ils iif' (\iniu<-tirii(. |'j<.(

eoiiiiiioii on suit wiitiT. lu'iiciiiis into A|.iil (Apiil 17, I s7... irmlr
adult sliot, Saoi')-

259. MergUS serrator Linn.". Ite.l-l.rcasl.d McrKansor.

A conmion migrant, winliTino- on tlic Sound. (':i|.t:iin Hrooks
writes mo tliat tlioy are " {ilenty during winter and s|.iino- '\il.ont
Faulkner's Island, C'oini. Also found on fresli w;i1er. IJeniains into
A]>ril (April 14, ls76, Osborne).

260. MergUS CUCUUatuS Linn/'. Hooded ilersansor.

A winter resident ; not ooniinon. Linsley obtained two specimens
from a fresh water pond near Stratford, Conn., and Captain IJrooks
lias one, killed at Cuilford, Conn., on salt water. Mr. W. W. Coc
has taken it during the migrations, and I saw one in November,
1875. Dr. Wood has taken it near p]ast Wimlsor, but finds it rarely.
Mr. Sage writes me that one was killed near Middletown, Conn.,
March 6th, 1876.

Family, SULID^.

261. Sula bassana Liime. Common (Tannet; Solon Goose.

A rare winter visitant. Captain Brooks Avrites me from Faulk-
ner's Island, that he has "only seen two specimens," one of which is
now in his collection: "It was killed at Guilford, Conn., in the
spring, about ten years ago." liinsley took it at Stratford, Conn.,
and, concerning its gastronomic ])roclivities, I'emarks: "The true
Solon Goose killed here, which I presented to the Yale Nntiind His-
tory Society,, had in its stomach a bird, and in the stoinacli of the
latter was also a bird — destruction on destruction. Mr. \\. Silliman,
Jr., and Dr. Whelpley, who oi)ened the stomacii, obser\ cd tliis fad,
as the former gentleman informed me. It was ]»reviously sujiposed
this bird lived wholly on fishes."* (Tiraud saw a few specimens,
killed about Long Island and in the vicinity of New York City.f
Mr. Kol)ert Morris tells me that he saw an adult s])ecimen, shot otl'
Branford late in the fall of 1872 or 187.". There is also, in a res-
taurant in New Haven, a mounted e.xanijile of the yoimg of the Solon
Goose, killed near here a few years ago.

* Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts. vol. .\liv. Xo. 2. p. 271, April, ISi::.
f Giraud's Birds of Lonpr Island, p. .'i-ir), 1841.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Yoi/. IV. H Aro.

130 C. H. Merriam — Birds of Conneeticnt.

262. Sula fiber Linne. Booby Gannet.

A rare or accidentnl visitor from the South. Linsley took it at
Guilford, Conn. It has been taken as far north as INfassaclnisetts (in
September).*

Family, PHALACROCORACID^E.

263. G-raculus Carbo (Linnu) Gray. Common Cormorant ; Shag.

A tolerably common winter visitant. Captain Brooks writes me
that they are " plenty in April and May " and are sometimes seen in
fall. Linsley took it at Stonington, Conn.

264. G-raculus dilophus (Swainson) Gray. Double-crested Cormorant.

It ocenrs along the coast dui'ing fall and spring, but usually not in
very large numl)ers, though Captain Brooks informs me that he "saw
large flocks of them feeding about Faulkner's Island, Conn., in the
month of May, 1870," and that he captured tAvo of them. Linsley
had a specimen fi-om Stratford, Conn., and he regaided it as a very
rare bird. Mr. W. W. Coe has a specimen in liis cabinet which he
killed on tlie Connecticut River, near Middletown, October 29th, 1875.
While out duck-hunting at the mouth of the East Haven River,
November 1 3th, 1875, with Mr. Tliomas Osl)orne, we saw a Cormorant
which I judged to be of this species. In speaking of the Cormorants,
in New England, in 1G75, .Tosselyn observes: "Though I cannot
commend them to our curious palats, the Indians will eat them when
they are fley'd, they take them prettily, they roost in the night uj)ou
some Rock that lyes out in the Sea, thither the Indian goes in his
Birch- CVmo?/? when the moon shines clear, and when he is come
almost to it, he lets his Canow drive on of it self, when he is come
under the Rock he shoves his bout ;il(>iig lill lie come just under tlie
(Joniioraiifs Avatchman, the rest being asleep), and so soundly do
sleep that they Avill snore like so many l*igs; the Iiidi(tn thrusts up
his hnnd of a siulden, gras]n'ng tlie watchman so hard i-ound about
his neck that he cannot cry out; as soon as he hath him in his
Canov' lie wrings off his head, and making his Cajioir fast, he clani-
bretli to the top of the Rock, where \\nlkiiig softly he takes them
up as he pleasetli, still Avringing ofl' their heads ; when he hath slain
as many as his Cauovi c;iii carry, he gives a shout which awaketh
the sui'viving (Uyrmorants^ who are gone in an instant. "f

* Pulnam, in Proceed. Essex Inst., vol. i, p. 221, 1856.
f .Tossolyn's Two Voyap^os to New Kn<rlanfl, p. 102. 107.^

C. II. Jferffditi — liin/s of Cimiiirtiriit. \,i\

Family, TACHYPETID^.

265. TachypeteS aquiluS (Limu') Vioillul. Frigate I'eli.an; M:m-.,f-w:ir
Bird.

All rxtrc'iiu'ly r:iiv Mcridcntal visitor trt)m iIk- Soiitli. IJiit uiic
iiist:UK-e of its ocH-iinvnce in New Eiinhiiid lias Ir'oii ivconk-.l, and
tliat was i)ul)lislK'.l in the Naturalist, by Mr. Griiinoll, nearly two
years ago: "The oeeurrenee of Tuehypetes aquiliis in Connecticut is
not generally known, Long Island being, np to this time, the northern-
most locality on record for this bird. A female of this sjtecies was
killed at Faulkner's Island in this State, in the autumn of 1859, and
is now in the collection of Captain lirooks. It was liovering over
the island when shot."* I have seen this specimen in Capt. IJrooks's
Cabinet.

Family, LARID^.

266. SterCOrariuS parasiticus (Briinu.) Schaff. Richardson's Jaeger.

A rare winter visitor. Linsley gave it from l]ridge])ort. Conn. I
have lately seen a specimen in the cabinet of Mr. John II. Sage, of
Portland, Conn., which was killed at that place in the fall of 1870.

267. StercorariuS Buffoni (Boie) Cones. Long-tailed Jaeger.

A rare straggler from the far North. Not previously recorde*!
from Connecticut. I have just received, from Mr. Wm. F. Lane, a
beautiful adult specimen of this Larine plunderer, which he shot on
the Community Lake at Wallingford, Conn., August 30th, 187:3.
Mr. Lane writes me that he was out sailing on the lake, with his
brother, when they noticed a curious bird, unlike any they had ever
before seen. "It was chasing a swallow, which it soon caught, and
then lit on the watei- with the swallow in its mouth, and commenced
swimming ai'ound and did not seem to be very wild." Mr. Lane
then went ashore for his gun, and, on returning, sailed so close to the
bird that his brother was obliged to splash the water with an oar
in order to make it tiy, and as it rose he shot it. He says : "'I'he
bird was alone and had been liyiug around the lake for about an
hour when I shot it. I noticed that it w^as very swift on the wing,
also a very fast swimmer. It did not seem at all airaid of anyone."

]sfoTE. — The Pomarine Jaeger, iStercorarins pomatorhinus (Teni-
minck) Vieillot, doubtless occurs as a rare winter visitant.

* Am. Nat., vol. ix, No. S, p. tTO, Aug., 187.").

132 C. H. Merriarn — Birds of Connecticut.

268. Larus marinus Liune. Great Black-backed Gull.

A winter resident; not rare. Linsley records it from Stratford,
Conn. During January, February and March, one frequently sees
two or three Lams marinus iJying about the Harbor in company
with the common Herring Gulls.

269. Larus argentatus, var. Smithsonianns Coues. Herring Gull.

An abundant winter resident. Arrives from the North in October,
remaining till April or May. Have seen hundreds of them together
in New Haven Harbor in February and March. Mr. Thomas B.
Osborne has seen them in June and early Septembei*, and a few
doubtless spend the summer, but they are probably young birds and
do not breed. Dr. Wood occasionally finds it about the Connecticut
River above Hartford. On June 29th, 1877, I saw five together near
Faulkner's Island, Conn. Four of these were in the young (gray)
plumage, while one was white.

270. Larus Delawarensis Ord. Ring-billed Gull.

Not rare. Linsley found it at Stonington, Conn. The young of
this species, easily recognized by having " a broad, subterniinal band
of black" across the tail (Coues), may frequently be seen in winter
associated with the foregoing. My attention was first called to it by
Mr. E. P. Bicknell, of Kiverdale, N. Y.

271. Larus tridactylus Linne. Kittiwake Gull.

Occurs in winter, but is not common. Linsley gave it from Ston-
ington, Conn. Mr. Osborne has seen it fioni March Sth till April
14th.

272. Larus atricilla \A\\\\(: Laughing Gull.

Not common. l*ossihly a few l)rei'(l on some of the islands off
our coast. Linsley states that they were occasionally killed at Ston-
ington, Conn. Mr, Osborne informs me that he saw one June 1st,
1876.

273. Larus Philadelphia (Ord) Gray. Bonaparte's Gull.

Is tolerably common in fall. Cai)lain Urooks writes me that they
are "quite conimon about Faulkner's Island, Conn., in October and
November," and that he occasionally sees them " with Terns at Goose
Island, Conn., in summer.'''' Linsley states that he " obtained an

C. II. Miiuliiiii — I'tiiils i>f i'lHiiiictirul. |:{:{

iii(li\ i<lu;il of this Ix'.uit ifiil s|nTii's dl' mill, Aiimisl Isi, |s}'_'.'' (p.
-71.) 1 s;i\v tlu' iH'in.iiiis dl" one tli.it IkhI liciii killcl in N uxciiilicr,
IHTo, iionr New llnvi'ii. S|ii'fiiiR'iis of it ;irr also in tin- fujlcctioiis
of W. W. Coc niul J. 11. S:io-(. „f l»..rtl:m.l, ('<.im., :m.l Mr. Win. V.
, Lane ^cinls iiu' a s|nH'iiiU'ii tVoiii \\'alliiiL;rt'i'<l. (Oiiii., stating tliat
cii»;lit WHTc si'c'ii tlu'i-*' ill tlic Tali ol" 1S7I.

Note. — Tlu' l)urL;;()niasti'r [Lki-hs i/f((iictfs ruiiiinicli) may sniiu--
tiiiK'S occur along our coast as a rare winter visitant tVdin tlie Norlii,
but I have, as yet, been luiable to procure satisfaetory eviili'iice i<\' its
presence witliiii our limits, althouiih it has bet'ii taki'ii on Lon-j;- Islaiiil.

274- Sterna hirundo .Vuet. Ooininon Tem; Wilson's Torn; Sea Swallow.

A common summer resident along the coast. Captain Uiooks
informs me that they breed ut Goose Island, Conn., but not so al»uii-
dantly :is the Roseate.

275, Sterna macroura Naunumn. Arctic Tern.

A rare visitor to our shores. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn.,
writes me: "I have an undoubted specimen, in the fall pltnnage of the
young (as described by Coues), taken here last season — never cap-
tured a mature bird."

276. Sterna Dougalli Mont. (S. paradisea of Authors.)* Roseate Tern.

An abundant summer resident. Captain Brooks writes me that
they first "make their appearance about the middle of .May, and
commence laying about the first of June, at Goose Island (one mile
west of Faulkner's Island, Conn.), where they breed in great <puin-
tities, ifnot disturbed." Through the kindness of Captain F.rooks I
have recently (June 29, 1877) visited Goose Island, and have thus
been permitted to witness the magnificent aerial evolutions of these
beautiful birds, as hundreds of them swept to and fro over oui- luads,
constantly uttering their characteristic cries. They wovdd rise high
in the air and immediately dive to the water's edge, then, suddenly
turning, would sweep over the island and settle on the large rocks with
which it is bordered, always, as the Captain remarked, "keeping their
heads to the wind'ard." It is truly a splendid sight, and one well
worth going many miles to see. As they cover the rocks, almost

* See Coues' Birds of the Northwest, p. 688, 1874.

134 G. H. Merriaiu — Birds of Connecticut.

hiding them from view, their jet-black eaps and pearly mantles contrast
nicely with the yjure white under parts and bright red legs. The
eggs were now hatching and thousands of downy young covered the
island. I actually caught an adult female entangled in the weeds,
among which their eggs are deposited with little attempt at a nest.
Where the weeds were particularly thick, forming dense mats, the
eggs were sometimes placed upon, as well as under, them ; we found
several such. Great credit is due Captain Brooks for his watchfulness
over this little colony: but for him they would long since have been
exterminated.

277. Sterna superciliaris, var. Antillarum Coues. Least Tem.

Not very common. Linsley took it at Stratford, Comi. Mr. J.
N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., tells me that they are sometimes quite
abundant there during the migrations.

278. Sterna fuliginosa Gmelin. Sooty Tern.

A rare visitor fi-om the South. The claim of this species to a place
among the birds of New England has only recently been established,
the only authentic instances of its capture having been published
within a year. In a late number of the "Bulletin," Mr. H. A. Purdie
says that Mr. J. N. Clark has a specimen in his collection "that last
summer flew against the side of the steamboat wharf depot, at Say-
brook, Conn. Stunned by the concussion it fell and was picked up.
It had been noticed for [Several days, flying about the mouth of the
I'iver, as something unusual."* Professor Sanborn Tenney states that
a specimen was killed as fiir inland as the northwestern corner of
Massachusetts ("near the Hoosac river") in September, isTO.f These
two are, so far as I am aware, the only ix'corded instances of its ca))-
ture in New England. Mr. Frederick T. Jencks, of Providence, Iv. I.,
writes me that he took a particularly beautiful specimen at Point
Judith, li. I., last fall. Tlirough the kindness of several friends I am
enabled to add Ave Connecticut exam[)les to those given above, thus
increasing tlie total number asi-ertaiued to have occuned in New
P]ngland to eight, six of wljieli were killed in this State. Four of
these I have myself seen. The ciriMunstaiices connected with the
capture of these s];ecimens are as follows: Two adult birds killed
themselves, last September (18V6), by flying against the lighthouse

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 22, Jau., 1877.
f Am. Nat, vol. xi, No. 4, p. 24:5, April, 1877.

(J. II. M(rrl(iiii — liirds of Conim-diiit. \\\:,

tower at Faulkner's Island. On- of ihciu is now in liic collcdiiiii of
Captain O. N. Brooks, ol' that plaee; Mr. Kn)C'rt C'oe, of Stitiiy ( ictk.
Conn., has a njountod spccinuMi wlncli was kilUMl tlicrc willi a stnnc,
late in the summer (1870); Mr. Xoniian Elmore, ol' ( Jr.iiili\ , Conn.,
has just sent me, for examination, a bird of this species that was
taken in that vicinity, September 20th, 1ST6. The I{e\. .1. Howard
Hand Avrites me that it was proeured in a singular place and niannei-;
"It was knocked down with a stick by a <j:;entlenian who was nellinL;
wild pigeons. He first saw it, I think, on the pigeon poles. He ^oi
it alive, but of course coidd not get it to eat, and after keeping il t wo
or tlu'ee days it died." This and the one killed by Elbert Coe, Est].,
are both in the yonng-of-the-year plumage, as describtMl by Cones.'''
It is a singular fact that all these specimens were killed last fall, and
probably all in September.

279. HydrOChelidon lariforniis (Linne) Cones. I'.lncU Tcni: Sliort-

tailed Tern.

A rare visitor, occurring chiefly in fall. Though essentially an
inland species, it is sometimes found along the coast during migra-
tions. Captain Brooks took one s})ecimen near Goose Islaml, Conn.,
about twelve years ago — the oidy one he has ever seen. ^Ii-. George
Bird Grinuell informs me that his brother shot a bir<l of this species,
late in August, near Milford, Conn.

JloTE. — Several species of Terns, not mentioned above, doubtless
occur within our limits. Sterna angllca {aranca of Wilson), S. ant-
tiaca {acKflavida of Cabot), S. caspia and S. regia are to be looked
for as rare visitors from the South, Avhile S. Forsteri i)robably occurs
occasionally in fall-, and Xema Sahlni may^ lie nu't Avith as a rare
strao-ffler from the North.

"&&'

Family, PROCELLARIID^.

280. Cymochorea leilCOrrhoa (Vicillot) Cones. Leach'.s Petrel.

Tolerably common oft' the coast in sunnner, but is more frequently
seen outside than in the Sound. I am informed by Ca]>tain IJrooks
that it is " occasionally seen during the sunnner months cruising in
the vicinity of Faulkner's Island." Dr. Crary, of Hartford, Conn.,

* Birds of the Northwest, p. 699, 1874.

C. H. Merriam — Hirds of Connecticut.

informs me that one was sliot, October 27th, 1857, by George Meigs,
on the Connecticut River, above Hartford. Since writing the above
I have twice seen it, on the Sound, in the vicinity of Faulkner's
Mand, and near New Haven, I am inclined to believe that a few
breed on some of the islands oft' our coast.

281. Oceanites OCeanica (Kuhl.) Coues. Wilson's Petrel.

Not common ; occurs off" the coast in summer. Linsley says that
he has seen this species "not only in our Somid, but even west
of Stratford, and sitting quietly upon the water," and further
states that he once caught a specimen "at sea, by floating about two
hundred feet of thread in the aii", against which it flew, and thus
became entangled and taken."*

282. PuffinUS major Faher. Greater Sliearwater.

Not rare in winter off" the coast, but generally keeps outside the
Sound. Linsley found it common about Stonington in the southeast
corner of the State. In the Museum of Wesleyan University, at
Middletown, is the head of a bird of this species which is said to
have been killed at Granby, Conn.

Family, COLYMBID^iE.

283. Colym.buS torquatUS Bnmn. Loon; Great Northern Diver. .

A tolerably common winter resident. Arrives from the North in
October, remaining till April or JMay (April 20, 1876, Osborne). I
have a beautiful specimen killed at Branford, Conn,, April 23d, 1875,
and presented to me by Dr. Wm. H, Ilotchkiss. It has been known
to breed on a pond at Easthampton, Conn. (W. G. liuell).

284. ColymbuS Septentrionalis Linne. Red-throated Diver.

A common winter resident. An-ivos from the North in October,
remaining till May, and Mr. Nichols informs nu> that he saw one as
late as .Tune 2d (1877), Frequently killed by gunners while duck-
shooting on the Sound, but, as Captain Brooks writes, "you seldom
get one with the red throat."

* Am. Jour. Sei. Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, . 272, April, 1843.

(\ II. Mirrliiiii — l>ii<ls i)f Cniniirt'icut. \\\~

NoTK. — Cohfiiihiis Aritii-iis m:iv |itissil)lv ncciii- ns :iii cxI rciiu'l v
raiv winter xisilor IVkhi tlir Ini- iiuiili, luil I am uiialpic, as yt't, t«> tiii<l
suflicii'iil evidc'iK'c ol' its c-aptiiri' within oni- limits, allliouirli llicrc is
a s]»('('imoii so lal)<.'lU'<l in tlic Muscinn at .Middlctuw n. I tannni
lu'lirxi' tliis t(> l)t' anytliin^ more tlian an immatnrc ( 'iih/iiilnis sijifin-
trioiiali,^^ witli tlic throat tinned with hhick.

Family, PODICIPID^E.

285. Podiceps CristatUS (Limu-) Latham. Crested Grebe.

Tolerably coninioii durinn' tlic migrations and in winter. Kccorded
by Linsley from Stratford, Conn. W. W. Coo and J. H. Saijc have
each specimens of this species taken liere in winti'r. Dr. Wood, of
East Windsor Hill, tells me that he has had hnt four specimens from
that locality, and that they were all caught by hand in winter;
having alighted in the snow they were unable to rise.

286. Podiceps griseigena, var. Holbolli (Reinli.) Coucs. Iled-nccked
Grebe.

A rather rare winter resident. Captain Brooks says he has not
seen one for years. Occurs both on fresh and salt water. Linsley
took it at Stratford. Mr. J. H. Sage has a specimen which he took
at Saybrook, Conn., February 23d, 1875. Dr. Wood has a very
handsome specimen, in full plumage, shot near East Windsor some
years ago. I am informed by Dr. Crary, of Hartford, Conn., that
one was shot in that vicinity, by Jerry Crocker, October 19th, 1800.

287. Podiceps COrnntUS Latham. Horned Grebe.

A common winter resident. Found on the coast as wt'll as on
lakes and ponds in the interior. Arrives in September or October,
remaining till May.

288. Podilymbus podiceps (Linne) Lawrence. Pied-billed Dabehick :
Hell Diver.

A summer resident; common during the migrations. Found
chiefly on fresh water, but is not rare on the Sound. Arrives from
the North in September, remaining into November (and a few may
winter). Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell tells me that it breeds within the
State.
•Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 1« ^^^'O-' '^''-

138 C. IT. Merriani — Bir<h of ConnectiCHt.

Family, ALCID^E.

289. Utamania torda (Linne) Leach. Razor-billed Auk.
A rare winter visitor in the Sound.

290. Mergulus alle (Linne) Vieillot. Sea Dove ; Dovekie.

A rare winter visitor on our coast. Prof. G. Brown Goode pub-
lished the first authentic record of the capture of this species within
the limits of the State. He states that, at Middletown, during a
severe northeast storm, about the middle of November, 1871,'" two
individuals were captured in full winter plumage, and plump, though
with empty stomachs. Their occurrence thirty miles inland is some-
what remarkable. Allen records the capture of a single specimen at
Greenfield, Mass., on the Connecticut, and Linsley places the species
among the bii-ds of Connecticut on the strength of one captured near
Martha's Vineyard,"* Mass. Several others were secured at Middle-
town, by W. W. Coe and J. H. Sage, during this same storm during
which Mr. Goode's wei"e taken, and Mr. Sage has still another, cap-
tured there November 25th, 1874, in a gale. One was taken at Say-
brook at the same time. Dr. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, showed
me a specimen of this species, shot near Portland, Conn., November
10th, 1849. Two other individuals were killed on a pond at Walling-
ford. Conn., in September, 1874, by Wm. F. Lane, Esq. It is occa-
sionally taken as far south as Egg Harbor, New Jersey.f

291. LiOmvia troile (Linne) Brandt. Foolish Guillemot ; Murre.

A rare winter visitant in the Sound, though common enough out-
side. Captain Brooks took one near Faulkner's Island, Conn., "about
eight years ago."

Note. — The Great Auk {Alca hnpefuiis Linne), supposed now to
be extinct, was fornieidy, without doubt, a winter visitor to our coast.
Aside from the three species of Aleidoi given al)ove, as occurring
within our limits, several others have been found still farther south
and may be' looked for in winter off Stonington, Conn., and perhaps
even in the Sound. These are: Fratercida Arctica, Wria c/rylle, and
Lomvia arra.

* Am. Nat., vol. vi, No. 1, p. 49, Jan. 1872.

•)• Bh-ds of East Penn. and New Jersey. By "Wm. P. Turnbull, p. 48, 1869.

C H. Merr'niia — lilrila of' ('luincrticKt.

1:50

B. List of the Finn Hies of /iirds now fotnid in the State <»f Conncc-
tieut, icith the nuniher of their rejtresentative specietf.

TurditUv?,

Saxicolidse,

Sylviidie,

Parida;,

Sittidie

CerthiidiB,

Troglodj-tidie, .

AlaiididiP,

MotacillidiB, . .

Sylvicolida?,

Tanagrida?,

llirundinidaj, .

Arupelidfe,

VireouidjB,

Laniida?,

Fringillida?,

Icterid*.

Corvidie.

Tyramiid£e, ..-
Caprimulgida?,

Cypselidse,

Trochilidse,

Alcedinidie, . . .
Cuculida?,

SpccleB.

1
3
3
2
1
4
1
1

34
2
6
2
5
2

32
8
3

10
2
1
1
1
2

25
2G
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
i 38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47

Pic'ida>

Strigidiu

Falcunidffi,

Catliartida*,

Cohmibida;,

Tetraonida', . .

Charadriidic,

HaMiiatopodidie, . .
Rccurvirostrida?, . .

Phalaropodidaj,

Scolopacidio

Tantalida;,

ArdeidiB,

Rallida;,

Anatida?,

Sulida?,

PlialacrocoracidiV,

Tach3'petida?,

Laridaj.

Procellariidaj,

Colynibida?,

Podicipida^,

Alcidaj,

Spec

lex.

8

n

15

1

2
2
6
2
1
2

24
2

8

9

32

1

14

3

2

4
3

C. Special Lists, giving, in tabular form, the residents, smmmr and

lointer visitants, migrants, etc.

(a.) Summer Residents.

1. iSpeeies known to breed.

1 Turdus uiigratorius.

2 Turdus musteliuus.

3 Turdus fuscescens.

4 Mimus Caroliuensis.

5 Harporhynchus rufus.

6 Sialia sialis.

7 Parus atricapillus.

8 Sitta Carolinensis.

9 Certhia familiaris.
"10 Troglodytes aedon.

1 1 Telmatodytes palustris.

12 Cistothorus steilaris.*

13 Mniotilta varia.

1 4 Parula Americana.

15 Helmitherus vermivorus.

16 Helminthophaga pinus.

17 Helminthophaga chrysoptera.*

1 8 Hehninthophaga ruficapilla.

19 Dendroeca icstiva.

20 Dendroeca virens.*

2 1 Dendroeca casrulescens.*

22 Dendroeca Blackburnite.*

23 Dendroeca Pennsylvanica.

24 Dendroeca discolor.

25 Dendroeca pinus.

26 Siurus auricapiUus.

27 Siurus motaciUa.

28 Geothlypis trichas.

29 Icteria virens.

30 Myiodioctes raitratus.

31 Myiodioctes Canadensis.*

32 Setophaga ruticilla.

33 Pyranga rubra.

34 Ilirundo horreoruni.

35 Tachyciueta bicolor.

36 Petrochehdon lunifrons.

37 Cotyle riparia.

38 Progne purpurea.

39 Ampelis cedrorum.

40 Vireo olivaoeus.

* An asterislc placed after a species indicates that it does not breed abundantly.

140

C. H. Merrlam — Birds of Connecticut.

41
42

43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84

87

Vireo gilviis.
Vireo tiavifrons.*
Vireo solitarius.
Vireo Noveboracensis.
Carpodacus purpureus.
Chrysomitris tristis.
Passerculus Savanna.
Pooecetes gramineus.
Coturniculus passerinus.
Coturniculus Henslowi.*
Ammodromus maritimus.
Ammodromus caudacutus.
Melospiza palustris.
Melospiza melodia.
Melospiza Lincolni.*
Spizella soeialis.
Spizella pusilla.
Passer domesticus.
Euspiza Americana,*
Goniaphea Ludoviciana.
Cyanospiza cyauea.
Pipilo erytlirophthalmus.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus.
Molothrus pecoris.
Ageljeiis plioeniceus.
Sturnella magna.
Icterus spurius.
Icterus Baltimore.
Quiscalus purpureus.
Corvus Americanns.
Cyanurus cristatus.
Tyrannus Carolinensis.
M}'-iarchus crinitus.
Sayornis fuscus.
Contopus virens.
Empidonax Traillii.
Empidonax minimus.
Antrostomus vociferus.
Cliordeiles Virginianus.
Cha;tura pelagica.
Trochilus colubris.
Ceryle alcyon.
Coccyzus erythrophthalmus.
Coccyzus Americanus.
Picus villosus.
Picus pubescens.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus.*
Colaptes auratus.

89 Bubo Virginianus.

90 Scops asio.

91 Otus vulgaris, var. Wilsonianus.

92 Brachyotus palustris.

93 Sj'rnium nebulosum.

94 Nyctale Acadica.

95 Circus cyaneus, var. Hudsonius.

96 Accipiter fuscus.

97 Accipiter Cooperi.

98 Falco communis.*

99 Falco sparverius.*

100 Buteo borealis.

101 Buteo lineatus.

102 Buteo Pennsylvanicus.

103 Pandion haliaetus.

104 Haliaetus leucocephalus.*

105 Ectopistes migratorius.
lOG Zena'dura Carolinensis.

107 Bonasa umbellus.

108 Ortyx Virginianus.

109 yEgialitis vocifera.

110 ^gialitis meloda.

111 Philohela minor.

112 Gallinago Wilsoni.*

113 Tetanus semipalmatus.*

114 Ereunetes pusillus.*

115 Tringoides macularius.

116 Actiturus Bartramius.

117 Ardea herodias.*

118 Ardea virescens.

119 Nyctiardea grisea, var. niovia.

120 Botaurus minor.

121 Ardetta exilis.

122 Rallus longirostris.

123 Rallus elegans.

124 Rallus Virginianus.

125 Porzana Carolina.

126 Porzana Noveboracensis.*

127 Porzana .lamaicensis.*

128 Gallinula galeata.

129 Anas obscura.

130 Aix sponsa.

131 Harelda glacialis.*

132 Sterna hirundo.

133 Sterna Dougalli.

134 Colymbus torquatus.*

135 Podilymbus podiceps.

2. iSpecies which prohahly breed occdslonally, but are not known to do so.

1 Mimus polyglottus.

2 Polioptila ca^rulea.

3 Lopliophanes bicolor.

4 Thryothorus Ludovicianus.

5 Dendroeca cicrulea.

6 Dendroeca Dominica.

7 Siurus njBvius.

8 Oporornis forniosus.

9 Pyranga a>stiva.

10 Stelgi<lo])teryx serripennis.

11 Cardinalis Virginianus.

12 Contopus borealis.

13 Empidonax Acadicus.

14 Spliyrapicus varius.

15 Ceuturus (larolinus.

16 Strix tlanunca, var. Americana.

17 Falco columbarius.

18 yKgialitis Wilsonia.

19 Totanus solitarius.

20 Sterna superciliaris, var. Antillarum.

21 Cyniochorea leucorrhoa.

C. 11. Merrimu — l>ir<fs of i'lnniirtu-iit.

141

(n.) Kksii)i;nt Si-i:riics.

1 Tiirdus migratoriiis.

2 Sialia sialis. '

3 Parns atricapillus.*

4 Sitta Caroliuout^is.*

5 Certhia familiaris.*

6 Ampelis cerirorum.

7 Carpodacus purpureus.

8 Chrysomitris trlstis.

9 Melospiza melodia.

10 Spizolla sooialis.

1 1 Passer doniesticus.*

12 Molotlirus pecoris.

13 Ageheus plioenicous.

14 Stnrnella magna.

15 Corviis Americanus.

16 Cyanurus cristatus.*

17 Ceryle alcyon.

18 Pious villosiis.*

19 Pious pubescens.*

20 Melauerpes erytbrocephalus.

21 Colaptes auratus.

22 Bubo Virginiaiius.*

23 Soo))s asio.*

24 Otus vulgaris, var. Wilsmiianus.*

25 J5raobyotus pabistris.*

26 Svrniuni ncl>ulosuiii.*

27 Nyctalo Aoadioa.*

28 Faloo coinnuuiis.

29 Faloo coliuubarius.

30 Faloo sparverius.

31 Buteo borcalis.

32 Buteo lineatus.

33 Buteo Pennsylvauious.

34 Ilaliaetus leuoooephalus.

35 Zenivdura Carolinensis.

36 Bonasa umbcllus.*

37 Ortyx Virginiauus.*

38 Pliilohela niiuor.

39 Anas obsoura.

40 llarelda glaoialis.

41 Larus argeutatus, var. ISmitlisonianus.

(c.) Migrants xot known to ukeed.

(Some of tbese winter.)

1 Turdus Pallasi.

28

2 Turdus Swainsoni.

29

2"Turdus Swainsoni, var. Alioife.

30

3 Regulus calendula.

31

4 Regulus satrapa.

32

5 Anorthura troglodytes, var. hyemalis.

33

6 Anthus Ludovicianus.

34

7 Helminthophaga peregriua.

35

8 Dendroeca coronata.

36

9 Dendroeoa striata.

37

10 Dendroeoa oastanea.

38

11 Dendroeoa maculosa.

39

12 Dendroeoa tigrini.

40

13 Dendroeca palmarum.

41

14 Siurus nsevius.

42

15 Oporornis agilis.

43

16 Geothlypis Pbiladelpbia.

44

17 Myiodiootes pusillus.

45

18 Passeroulus prinoeps.

46

19 .Tunco hyemalis.

47

20 Spizella monticola.

48

21 Zonotriohia albiooUis.

49

22 Zonotriohia leucophrys.

50

23 Passerella iliaca.

51

24 Scoleoophagus ferrugineus.

52

25 Contopus borealis.

53

26 Empidonax flaviventris.

54

27 Sphyrapious varius.

55

Aquila chrysaetus.

Squatarola Helvetica.

Charadrius fulvus, var. Virginicus.

./Egialitis semii)almata.

Hiiematopus palliatus.

Strepsilas interpres.

Itecurvirostra Americana.

Phalaropus fulicarius.

Maororhamphus griseus.

Tringa minutilla.

Tringa maoulata.

Tringa fusoioollis.

Tringa niaritima.

Tringa alpina.

Tringa su))arquata.

Tringa canutus.

Calidj-is arenaria.

Limosa fedoa.

Limosa Iludsonioa.

Totauus melanolcucus.

Totanus flavipes.

Totanus solitarius.

Tryngites rufesccns.

Numenius longirostris.

Nunienius Iludsonicus.

Numenius borealis.

Fulica Americana.

Anser hyperboreus.

* Those marked with an asterisk are resident individually, while the others are
represented here, in winter, by individuals which probably breed much farther north.

142

C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

56 Branta bernicla.

7;^

57 Branta Canadensis.

74

57" Branta Canadensis, var. Hntchinsii.

75

58 Anas boschas.

76

59 Dafila acuta.

77

60 Chaulelasmus streperus.

78

61 Mareea Americana.

79

62 Querquedula Carolinensis.

80

615 Querquedula discors.

81

64 Spatula clypeata.

82

65 Fuligula marila.

83

66 Fuligula affinis.

84

67 Fuligula collar is.

85

68 Fuligula ferina, var. Americana.

86

69 Fuligula vallisneria.

87

70 Bucep]iala claugula.

88

7 1 Bucephala Islandica.

89

72 Bucephala albeola.

90

QEdemia Americana.

CEdemia fusca.

(Edemia perspicillata.

Erismatura rubida.

Mergus merganser.

Mergus serrator.

Mergus cucullatus.

Graculus carbo.

Graculus dilopluis.

Larus tridactylus.

Larus atricilla.

Larus Philadelphia.

Sterna macroura.

Sterna superciliaris, var. Autillarum.

Hydrochelidon lariformis.

Colyrabus septentrionalis.

Podiceps cristatus.

Podiceps coruutus.

(d.) Winter residents, more or less regular.

1 Regulus satrapa.

2 Sitta Canadensis.

3 Anorthura troglodytes, var. hyemalis.

4 Eremophila alpestris.

5 Dendroeca coronata.

6 CoUurio borealis.

7 Pinicola enucleator.

8 Plectrophanes nivalis.

9 Spizella monticola.

10 Junco hyemalis.

1 1 Zonotrichia albicoUis.

12 Nyctea Scandiaca.

13 Astur atricapillus.

] 4 Archibuteo lagopus, var. Sancti-
Johannis.

15 Tringa maritima.

1 6 Branta bernicla.

17 Branta Canadensis.

18 Dafila acuta.

19 Fuligula marila.

20 Fuligula affinis.

21 Bucephala clangula.

22 Bucephala alboola.

23 Harelda glacialis.

24 (Edemia Americana.

25 CEdemia fusca.

26 (Edemia perspicillata.

27 Mergus serrator.

28 Mergus cucullatus.

29 Graculus carbo.

30 Larus marinus.

31 Larus argentatus.

32 Larus Delawareusis.

33 Colymbus torquatus.

34 Colymbus septentrionalis.

35 Podiceps cristatus.

36 Podiceps cornutus.

(e.) Winter visitants, more or less irregular.

1 Lophophanes bicolor.

2 Parus Hudsonicus.

3 Ampelis garrulus.

4 Loxia leucoptera.

5 Loxia curvirostra, var. Americana.

6 yEgiothus linaria.

7 Chrysomitris pinus.

8 Plectrophanes Lapponicus.

9 Passerculus princeps.

10 Zonotrichia leucophrys.

1 1 Hylotomus pileatus.

12 Picoides Arcticus.

13 Syrnimn cinereum.

14 Surnia ulula, var. Hudsonia.

15 Nyctale Tengmalmi, var. Richardsoni.

16 Aquila chrysaetus.

17 Cygnus Americanus.

18 Anser hyperboreus.

19 Bucephala Islandica.

20 Camptolivmus Labradorius.

2 1 Somateria mollissima.

22 Somateria spectabilis.

23 Sula bassana.

24 Stercorarius parasiticus.

25 Stercorarius liuffoni.

26 Larus tridactylus.

27 Puffinus major.

28 Podiceps griseigena, var. llolbolli.

29 Utamauia torda.

30 Mergulus alle.

31 Lomvia troile.

* This list does not include resident species.

C. IT. Merrlion — Hi nix of' ('oinici-fli-iit.

\\:\

(k.) IiJKKiu i.ak Si \imi;i; N'ishants.

Mimus poh-glottns.
Polioptila Civrulea.
Lophophaiies bioolor.
Dendroeca ca'inilea.
Dendroeca Dominica.
Oporornis formosus.
T^yranga lestiva.
Stelgidopter^yx serripcnnis.
Euspiza Americana.
Cardinalis Virginianus.
Corrus ossifragiis.
Milvulus forficatlis.
Empidonax Acadicus.
Ceuturus Carolinus.
Strix fiammea, var. Americana.

10 ("atliartcs aura.

17 .Vlgialitis WilHonia.

18 Ihi.s falcinollu.y, var. OnJii.

19 \h\^ alha.

20 Ardca egretta.

21 Ardca candidissima.

22 Ardea caTulea.

23 Porzana .lamaicensi.s.

24 Porphvrio Martinica.

25 Sula tibcr.

26 Tachypetes aquilus.

27 Sterna fuliginosa.

28 Tlydroclielidon lariforniis.

29 C}-mocliorea leucorrlioa.

30 Oceanites oceanica.

(g.) Rare Accidkntal Visitoks.

1 Mimus polyglottu-s.

2 Polioptila ca^rulea.

3 Lophophanes bicolor.

4 Parus Hudsonicus.

5 Oporornis formosus.

6 Pyranga testiva.

7 Stelgidopteryx serripennis.

8 Ampelis garrulus.

9 CoUurio Liulovicianus.

10 Euspiza Americana.*

1 1 Cardinalis Virginianus.

12 Cory us ossifragus.

13 Milvulus forficatus.

14 Hylotomus pileatus.

15 Picoides Arcticus.

16 Centurus Carolinus.

17 Strix fiammea, var. Americana.

18 Syrnium cinereum.

19 Surnia ulula, yar. Hudsonia.

20 Nyctale Tengmalmi, yar. Ricliardsoni.

21 Aquila chrysaetus.

22 Jilgialitis "Wilsonia.

23 Steganopus "Wilsoni.

24 Phalaropus fulicarius.

25 Limosa Iludsonica.

26 Ibis falcinellus, var. Ordii.

27 Ibis alba.

28 Ardea egretta.

29 Ardea candidissima.

30 Ardea cwrulea.

31 Porzana Jamaicensis.

32 Porphyrio Martinica.

33 Cygnus Americanus.

34 Bucephala Islandica.

35 Camptohcmus Labradorius.

36 Somateria mollissima.

37 Somateria spectabilis.

38 Sula bassana.

39 Sula fiber.

40 Tachypetes aquilus.

41 Stercorarius parasiticus.

42 Stercorarius Buffoni.

43 Sterna fuliginosa.

44 Utamania torda.

45 Mergulus alle.

46 Lomvia troile.

(h.) Rare axd Irregular Migrants.

1 Passerculus princeps?

2 -(Egialitis Wilsonia.

3 Htematopus palliatus.

4 Steganopus Wilsoni.

5 Phalaropus fulicarius.

6 Tringa subarquata.

7 Limosa fedoa.

8 Limosa Hudsonica.

9 Numenius borealis.
10 Cygnus Americanus.

1 1 Anser hyperboreus.

12 Anas boschas.

13 Chaulelasmus streperus.

14 Fuligula coUaris.

15 Fuligula ferina, var. Americana.

16 Fuligula vallisneria.

17 Bucephala Islandica.

18 Sterna macroura.

19 liydrochelidon lariforniis.

* Although Linsley gives this species as "very common" at New Haven (in 1842),
it has not since been met with, either by myself or any other collector in tlie State, ."o
far as I am aware. Hence T am forced to regard its occurrence, at present, as purely
accidental, and this without doubting Linsley's statement that it was once common.
Indeed, I have recently seen two of Linsley's mounted specimens.

144

C. H. Merrlam — Birds of Connecticut.

D. An Analysis of Linsley's " (Jatalogue.''''

In the year 1843, the Rev. Jaraes H. Linsley pubhshed, in the American Journal of
Science and Arts, "A Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut, arranged according to their
natural families.'"* In this Catalogue Mr. Linsley enumerates 302 species, this num-
ber including both those that had already been detected within our limits and those
whose presence he thought lilcely (Judging from their occurrence in contiguous States)
future investigation might reveal. He lilcewise included the introduced and domesti-
cated species — such as the California Quail, Pea Cock, Guinea Fowl, the various races
of the domestic Pigeon (Columba livia Linne), and the common barn-yard fowl,
numbering them with our native birds. Many species are given twice, and some
even three times, the immature and seasonal plumages having been mistaken for
distinct species. There are also a few doubtful forms, and at least two had been
exterminated before his paper was written. •)• Hence it is that a critical examination
of this list at once enables us to eliminate 63 species, thus reducing the total number
from 302 to 239.|

(a.) List of those species given by Linsley in his '' Catalogue of the Birds of
Connecticut, " concerning the occurrence of which he probably had
sufficient proof.

1 Turdus migratorius.

2 Turdus mustelinus.

3 Turdus Pallasi.

4 Turdus fuscescens.

5 Mimus polyglottus.

6 Mimus Carolinensis.
1 Harporhynchus rufus.

8 Sialia sialis.

9 Regulus calendula.

10 Regulus satrapa.

11 Polioptila cserulea.

12 Lophophanes bicolor.

13 Parus atricapillus.

14 Sitta Carolinensis.

15 Sitta Canadensis.

16 Certhia familiaris.

17 Troglodytes aedon.

18 Anorthura troglodytes, var. hyemalis.

19 Telmatodytes palustris.

20 Cistothorus stellaris.

21 Eremophila alpestris.

22 Anthus Ludovicianus.

23 Mniotilta varia.

24 Parula Americana.

25 Helmitherus vermivorus.

26 Helminthophaga ruflcapilla.

27 Dendroeca a3stiva.

28 Dendroeca virens.

29 Dendroeca cierulescens.

30 Dendroeca cserulea.

31 Dendroeca corouata.

32 Dendroeca Blackburniffi.

33 Dendroeca striata.

34 Dendroeca castanea.

35 Dendroeca Pennsjivanica.

36 Dendroeca maculosa.

37 Dendroeca tigrina

38 Dendroeca discolor.

39 Dendroeca palmarum.

40 Dendroeca pinus.

41 Siurus auricapillus.

42 Siurus nsevius.

43 Geothlypis trichas.

44 Icteria virens.

45 Myiodioctes mitratus.

46 Myiodioctes Canadensis.

47 Setophaga ruticilla.

48 Pyranga rubra.

49 Pyranga sestiva.

50 Hirundo horreorum.

5 1 Tachycineta bicolor.

52 Cotyle riparia.

53 Progne purpurea.

54 Ampelis cedrorum.

55 Virea olivaceus.

56 Vireo gilvus.

57 Vireo fiavifrons.

58 Vireo solitarius.

59 Vireo Noveboracensis.

60 Collurio borealis.

* Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv. No. 2, pp. 249-274, April, 1843.

+ Namely: the Wild Turke}'^ {Meleagris gallopavo) and the Pinnated Grouse or
Prairie Chicken ( Ciqndonia cupido).

1 The collection of birds given by Linsley to the Yale Natural History Society, and
kept for many years in the Yale Medical School, has recently been transferred to the
Peabody Muscimi of Yale College.

t\ II. Ml rriiliH — I'/'n/s <>/' < '(unnctii-nt.

14')

61 I'inic'ola eiuu'loator.

(>2 Carpodacus purpurous.

C3 Loxia ciirvirostra, var. AiiK'ricana.

64 ^'Eg-iotluis liiiaria.

65 riirvsiiiiiitris pimis.

66 Chrvsoiiiitris trislis.

67 Plectrophancs nivalis.

68 Passerculus Savanna.

69 Pooecetes gramineus.

70 Ooturniculus passerinus.

71 Amniodrounis niaritimus.

72 Aniinodroiiiiis t'aiulat'utiis.

73 Melospiza pahistris.

74 Melospiza melodia.

75 Junco hyemalis.
7G Spizella monticola.

77 Spizella socialis.

78 Spizella pusilla.

79 Zonotricliia albicoUis.

80 Zonotricliia leucoitlirvs.

81 Passerella iliaea.

82 Euspiza Americana.

83 Goniaphia Ludoviciana.

84 Cyanospiza cyanea.

85 Cardiualis Yirginianus.

86 Pipilo ervthrophtlialmus.

87 Dolichonyx oryzivorus.

88 Molotlirus pecoris.

89 Agelteus ph<jeuiceus.

90 Sturnella magna.

91 Icterus spurius.

92 Icterus Baltimore.

93 Scolecophagus fcrrugineus.

94 Quiscalus purpureus.

95 Corvus Americanus.

96 Corvus ossifragus.

97 Cyanurus cristatus.

98 Tyrannus Carolinensis.

99 Myiarchus crinitus.

100 Sayornis fuscus.

101 Contopus borealis ?

102 Contopus virens.

103 EmpidonaxTraillii.

104 Empidonax minimus ('' Acadicus"'

1 05 Antrostomus vociferus.

106 Ghordeiles Virginianus.

107 Chiffitura pelagica.

108 Trochilus colubris.

109 Ceryle alcyon.

110 Coccyzus erythrophthalmus.

111 Coccyzus Americanus.

112 Hvlotomus pileatus.

113 Picus villosus.

114 Picus pubescens.

1 1 5 Sphyrapicus varius.

116 Centurus Caroliuus.

117 Melanerpes erythrocephalus.

118 Colaptes auratus.

119 Strix tiammea, var. Americana.

120 Bubo Virginianus.

121 Scops asio.

122 Otus vulgaris, var. W.ilsonianiis.

123 Brachyotus palustris.
Trans. Conn. Ac.\d., Vol. IV.

r_'t Syrniuin ciiicrcinii.
12.') Syrnium ncbulosuni.

126 Nyctea Scandiat'a.

127 Nyctalc Acadica.

12.S Circus cyaucus, var. iludsoiiiuij.
12!) Accipiter fuscus.

130 Falco conununis.

131 Palco columbarius.
l.!2 Falco sparverius.

133 Buteo borealis.

134 Buteo lincatus.

!:'>."» Buteo Pcnusylvanicus.
i:U) Arcliibuteo lagopus, var. Sancti-
Johannis.

137 Pandion haliaetus.

138 Haliaetus leucocephalus.

1 39 Cathartes aura.

140 Ectopistes migratorius.

141 Zena^dura Carolinensis.

142 Bonasa umbcllus.

143 Ortyx A'irginianus.

144 Squatarola Helvetica.

145 Charadrius fulvus, var. Virginicus.

146 ^Egialitis vocifera ?

147 ^'Egialitis "Wilsonia.

148 ^gialitis semipalmata.

149 ^gialitis meloda.

150 Hajmatopus palliatus.

151 Strepsilas interpres.

152 Steganopus Wilsoni.

153 Pliilohela minor.

154 Gallinago AVilsoni.

155 Macrorhamphus griseus.

156 Ereimetes pusillus.

157 Triuga minutilla.

158 Tringa maculata.

159 Tringa fuscicollis.

160 Tringa alpina, var. Americana.

161 Tringa canutus.

162 Calidris arenaria.

163 Limosa fedoa.

164 Limosa Hudsonica.

165 Totanus semipalmatus.

1 66 Totanus melanoleucus.

167 Totanus fiavipes.

168 Totanus solitarius.

169 Tringoides macularius.

170 Actiturus Bartramius.

171 Numenius longirostris.

172 Numenius lludsonicus.

173 Numenius borealis.

174 Ibis falcinellus, var. Ordii.
] 7 5 A rdea herodias.

176 A rdea eandidissima.

177 A rdea Cicrulea.

178 Ardea virescens.

179 Nj'ctiardea grisea. var. n;vvia.

180 Botaurus minor.

181 Ardetta exilis.

182 Eallus longirostris.

183 Rallus elegans.

184 Rallus Virginianus.

1 85 Porzana Carolina.

]() (X'T., 1877.

146

C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

186 Porzana Noveboracensis.

187 Fulica Americana.

188 Cygnus Americanus.

189 Anser hyperboreus.

190 Branta bernicla.

191 Branta Canadensis.

1 92 Branta Canadensis, var Hutchinsii.

193 Anas boschas.

194 Anas obscura.

195 Dafila acuta.

196 Chaulelasmus streperus.

197 Mareca Americana.

1 98 Querquedula Carolineusis.

199 Querquedula discors.

200 Spatula clypeata.

201 Aix sponsa.

202 Fuligula marila

203 Fuligula coUaris.

204 Fuligula ferina, var. Americana.

205 Fuligula vallisneria.

206 Bucephala elangula.

207 Bucephala albeola.

208 Harelda glacialis.

209 Camptoisemus Labradorius.

210 Somateria mollissima.

211 Somateria spectabilis.

212 (Edemia Americana.

213 CEdemia fusca.

214 CEdemia perspicillata.

215 Erismatura rubida.

216 Mergus merganser.

217 Mergus serrator.

218 Mergus cucullatus.

219 Sula bassana.

220 Sula liber.

221 Graculus carbo.

222 Graculus diloplius.

223 Stercorarius parasiticus.

224 Larus marinus.

225 Larus argentatus, var. Smithsonianua

226 Larus atricilla.

227 Larus Philadelphia.

228 Sterna liirundo.

229 Stern;i superciliaris. var. Antillaruni

230 Oceanites oceanica.

231 Puffinus major.

232 Colymbus torquatus.

233 Colymbus septentrionalis,

234 Podiceps cristatus.

235 Podiceps griseigena, var. HolboUi.

236 Podiceps cornutus.

237 Podilymbus podiceps.

238 LTtamania torda.

239 Uria grylle.

(b.) List of those species given by Linsley in his " Catalogue of the Birds of
Connecticut" concerning the occurrence of avhich he did not have suf-
ficient PROOF.

1

Helmitherus Swainsoni.

2 Helminthophaga chrysoptera.

3 Dendroeca Dominica.

4 Oporornis agilis.

5 Petrochelidon lunifrons.

6 Ampelis garrulus.

7 CoUurio Ludovicianus.

8 Collurio Ludovicianus, var. excubito-

roides.

9 Loxia leucoptera.

10 Quiscalus major.

11 Picoldes Arcticus

12 Accipiter Cooperi.

13 Recurvirostra Americana.

14 Lobipes hyperboreus.

15 Phalaropus fulicarius.

16 Tringa maritiiiia.

17 Tringa subarquata.

18 Totanus chloropus.

19 Tryugites rufescens.

20 Ardea egretta.

21 Gall inula galeata.

22 Porphyrio Martinica.

23 Branta leucopsis.

24 Histrionicus torquatus.

25 Larus Delawarensis.

26 Larus tridactylus.

27 Rhynchops nigra.

28 Fulmarus glacialis.

29 Cymochorea leucorrhoa.

30 Puffinus obscurus.

31 Fratercula Arctica.

32 Mergulus alle.

33 Lomvia troile.

34 Lomvia arra.

(c.) List of those "species" given by Linsley, in his '^Catalogue of the Birds of
Connecticut," which represent imm.\ture, abnormal, or seasonal, plumages
OF other stated species.

Name used by Linsley.

1 Regulus cristatus = tricolor.

2 Sylvia trochilus = lestiva.

3 Sylvia sphagnosa — Canadensis.

Modern Equivalents.
Regulus satrapa.
Dendroeca a^stiva.
Dendroeca coerulescens.

C. 7f. Merrill III — Hlnls of' ('muD I'llmt.

147

Name used btj Linsley.

4 S}-lvia parvis = IMackbiirnijv.

5 Sylvia autuninalis = castanca.

6 Sylvia Rosroe = trichas.

7 Friufrilla auibiiiua = li'tenis pecoris.

8 Strix Si-aiuliaca = Virji-inica (alhinci)?

9 Faloo tcniernriiis = coluiiiliarius.

10 Falco buteoides = hycinaliss.

11 Faleo clirysaetos ? Linne = leiicoeeph-

alus.

12 Falco Washlngtouiensis = leucoceph-

ahis.

13 Limosa Edwardsii? = lliidsonia.

14 Falligula nigra = Americana.

15 Phalaorot'orax gracnlus = carlio.

16 Larus capistratiis = Bonapartii.

17 Podiceps minor = Carolinensis.

Modern Eijuivalents.
Dcndnroa Hlacklmrnia'.
Dcndni'ca oastanca.
(lODthlypis trii-lias.
Moldtlinis ijfooris.
Hnln) \'irgiiiianns.
Kalco i'olninliari\is.
BnU'i) lincatiis.

1 laliaetus leucocephaliis.

Haliaetus leucocephalua.
Limosa Iludsonioa.
(Udomia Americana,
(iracnlus carbo.
Larns Philadelphia.
Podilymbus podiceps.

(d.) List of Introduced and Domestic.vted species given by Linsley, in iiis
^^ Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut.''' which scarcely deserve TO BE men-
tioned among our Native Birds.

1 rolnmba domestica Linne.

2 Pavo cristatns Linne.

3 Nnmida meleagris Linne.

4 Gallns domestieu.s; Linne.

5 Lophort3'x Californicns Bonaparte.

6 Anas moschata Willonghb}'.

(e.) List of those species given by Linsley in his ^'Catalogue of the Birds of Con-
necticut,^' WHICH were either EXTERMINATED OR DRIVEN BEYOND THE St.VTE
BEFORE HIS "CATALOGUE" WAS WRITTEN.

1 Meleagris gallopavo Linne.

2 Cnpidonia Cupido Baird.

(f.) List of those species given by Linsley in his "Catatogue of tlie Birds of Con-
necticut," WHICH were inserted, PROBABLY, ON ERRONEOUS IDENTIFICATION.

1 QuiscaluR major Yieillot.* 4 Larus canus Linne.

2 Empidonax Acadicus (Graelin) Baird.f j 5 Larus fuscu.s Linne.

3 Sylvia flava Linne. 1

(g.) List op those species given by Linsley in his ''Catalogue of the Birds of Con-
necticut," THE IDENTITY OF WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE.

1 Sylvia auricollis Latham.

2 Sylvia flava Linne.

* " Probably a mistake." Cones' Birds of the Northwest, p. 204, 1874.
f Probably E. minimus.

148 C. IT. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

E. List of the Pi/hlications, containing JVotes on the Birels of New
England., to v^hich reference has been made in the foregoing
Hevicm.

A Description of iSrew-P]ngland, by Captaine lolin Smitli. Printed at London,
IG16. [Tract ], vol. ii.]

New Englands Trials. Written by Captaine John Smith, sometimes Governour of
Virginia, and Admirall of New-England. London. Printed by William lones.
1622.

New England's Plantation. Or a Short and trve description of the commodities
and discommodities of that Countrey. — Written by a reuerend Diuine now there
resident. London, Printed by T. C. and R. C. for Michael Sparke, dwelling at the
Signe of the Blue Bible in Greene Arbor in the little Old Bailey. 1630. [Reprinted
in Peter Force's Historical Tracts, vol. i. Tract 12.]

Gov. Thomas Dudley's Letter to the Countess of Lincoln, March, 1631. Printed in
full in Peter Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract iv. Washington, 1838.

New English Canaan; Or New Canaan, containing An Abstract of New England.
Composed in three Bookes, etc. Written by Thomas Morton, of Cliffords Inn, Gent.
Upon ten Teers Knowledge and Experiment of the Country. Printed by Charles
Green. 1632. [Reprinted in Peter Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5. 1838.]

New Englands Prospect. A true, lively, and experimentall description of that part
of America, commonly called New England ; discovering the state of that Countrie,
both as it stands to our new-come English Planters ; and to the old Native Inhabi ■
tants. Laying downe that which may both enrich the knowledge of the mind-travel-
ling Reader, or benefit the future Voyager. By William Wood. Printed at London,
etc. 1634.

New-England's Rarities Discovered : in Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, and Plants
of that Country. [Etc.] By John Josselyn, Gent. London. 1672. [Reprinted in
Archseologia Americana, vol. iv, pp. 133-238.]

An Account of two Voyages to New-England, etc. By John Josselyn, Gent. The
Second Addition. London. Printed for G. Widdowes at the Green Dragon in St.
Pauls Church-yard, 1675. [Reprinted in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, vol. iii, 3d Series. 1833.]

Travels into North America; containing its Natural History, and a Circumstantial
Account of its Plantations and Agriculture in general, etc.. etc. By Peter Kalm.
Translated into English, by John Reinhold Forster, F A.S. Vol. ii. London, 1771.

Arctic Zoology. By Thomas Pennant. Vol. ii. 1785.

The History of New-Hampshire. By Jeremy Belknap, A.M. Vol. iii. Boston,
1791.

The Natural and Civil History of Vermont. By Samuel Williams, LL.D. Pub-
lished according to Act of Congress. Printed at Walpole, New Hampshire, 1794.

A Statistical Account of the County of Middlesex, in Connecticut. By David D.
Field. Published by the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Middletown^
Conn. Printed by Clark & Lyman. April, 1819.

American Ornithology. By Alexander Wilson. Edinburgh, 1831.

C IF. Mi'rri(()ii — lilnlx of ('i>)iiu rtlmt. I lit

A Miinual of the ( h-nitlioloiiy of tlio riiitcd Stntos ami I'.-mail:!. Hy 'riii.mnH Nutt-
all. 1S:!2.

Report on the Geology, Mineralogy. Hotaiiy, and Zoology of Massiiclmt-etls. Made
and published by order of the Government of that State, ete. Hy Ktlward lliteheoek
(Report on Birds, by Ebenezer Emmons, M.D.). Amiierst, 183:?.

The Rirds of Xorth America. Hy .Toiui James Audubon. 1H31-9.

A Report on the Ornithology of Massachusetts. By William li. <». TcalMKly. IH!!!).

Histor}- of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical. In three ])arts, witli a new ma])
of the State, and 200 engravings. By Zadoek Thompson. Hiu'lington: Chauncey
Goodrich, 1812. Also .Vjiiiemlix to same, publislied in isf):!.

A Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut, ■■u-ranged according to tlieir natural
families. By the Rev, James H. Linsley. [Publislied in the Am. Jour. Sci. and
Arts, vol, xliv, No. 2, pp. 249-74, April, 184:5,]

The Birds of Long Island. By J. P. Giraud, Jr. New York, 1844.

The Birds of Essex County, Mass, By V. W . Putnam. [Published in Proceed.
Essex Inst., vol. i, pp. 201-81. •185(5.]

A List of Birds observed at Grand Menan and at Yarmouth, N, S,, from June li; to
July 8, 1856. By Dr. Henry Bryant. [From the Proceedings of the Boston S(3ciety
of Natural History, vol. vi. March, 1857.]

Birds of North America. By S. F. Baird. [Vol. ix of Pacific Railroad Rei)orts,
1858.J

Catalogue of the Birds found at Norway, Oxford County, Maine. By A, E. Verrill.
With a List of the Birds found in Maine not observed at Norway. [From Proceed-
ings of the Essex Institute, vol. iii. 18(!:5.]

Catalogue of the Birds found in tlio Vicinity of Calais, Mame, and about the Islands
at the Mouth of the Bay of Fundy. By George A. Boardman, [Edited by Prof. A. E.
Verrill.] [From the Proceedings of tlie Boston Society of Natural History, vol. ix.
Sept., 1862.]

Catalogue of the Birds found at Springfield, Mass., with notes on their Migrations,
Habits, &c. ; together with a List of those Birds found in the State not yet observed
at Springfield. By J. A. Allen. 1864. [From the Proceedings of the Essex Insti-
tute, vol. iv. No, 2, pp. 48-98. July, 1864.]

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of Massachusetts. By E. A. Sanniels. 1864.
[From Massachusetts Agricultural Report. 186H.]

Catalogue of Birds found in the vicinity of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine.
By Charles E. Hamlin. [Printed in the Tentli Annual report of the Secretary of the
Maine Board of Agriculture, pp. 168-173. 1865.]

History of Lynn, Essex County, Mas.«achusetts : including Lynuficld. Saugus,
Swampscot, and Nahant. By Alonzo Lewis and James R. Newhall. Boston, 1865.

A List of the Birds of New England. By Elliott Coues, Assistant Surgeon U. S. A.
[Reprinted from the Proceedings Essex Institute, vol. v.] Salem, Mass. pp. 71.
1868.

The Birds of East Pennsylvania and New Jersey. By William P. TunibuU. isr.fl.

150 (J. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut.

A Catalogue of the Birds of Coos County, N. H., and Oxford County, Maine. By
C. J. Maynard, with Notes by AVilham Brewster. Oct., 1871. [From the Proceed
ings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. xiv. Oct. 18, 1871. Repaged.]

Key to Nortli American Birds. By Elliott Cones. 1872.

A Partial Catalogue of the Birds of Grand Menan, New Brunswick. By Harold
Herrick. [From the Bulletin of the Essex Institute, vol. v, Nos. 2 and 3. 1873.]

The Birds of Florida. By C. J. Maynard. 1873.

A History of North American Birds. By Baird, Brewer and Ridgway. 1874.
Birds of the Northwest. By Elliott Cones. 1874-5.

The Birds of New p]ngland and Adjacent States. By Edward A. Samuels. Bos-
ton, 1875.

A Catalogue of the Birds of New England. By Thomas M. Brewer. 1875.

The Naturalist's Guide. By C. J. Maynard.

The Land and Game Birds of New England. By H. D. Minot. Salem, 1877.

American Journal of Science and Arts. New Haven.

Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History.

Annals of the Lyceum of Natural Histoiy. New York.

Proceedings of the Essex Institute.

Bulletin Essex Institute.

Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, Cambridge.

American Naturalist. Salem.

Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Cambridge, 1S76-7.

New England Farmer.

Hartford Times, for 1861.

Rod and Gun = American Sportsman.

Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Report of the Secretary of the Maine Board of Agriculture.

INDEX.

Abbott, G. C, 50.
Acadian Flycatcher, 58.

" Owl, 74.
Accipiter Cooperi, 78, 79, 140, 146.

" fuscus, 78. 140, 145.
Actiturus Bartrarnius, 109, 140, 145.
iEgialitis meloda, 102, 140, 145.

" semipalmata, 102, 141, 145.
" vocifera, 102, 140, 145.
" Wilsouia, 102, 140, 14H, 145.
^giothus linaria. 34, 35, 142, 145.
Agelffius phojniceus, 45, 140, 141, 145.
Aiken, Chas. E., 55.
Aix sponsa, 125, 140, 14G.
Alaudida?, 11, 139.
Alca impennis, 4. 138.
Alcedinidti?, 63, 139.
Alcida?, 138, 139.
AUeghanian Fauna, 1, 2. 57.
Allen, Prof. J. A., 5, 7, 19. 32, 46, 56, 66,

74, 77, 82, 88, 93, 98, 112, 113, 138, 149.
American Journal of Science and Arts, 2,

27, 49, 51, 65, 70, 72, 90, 91, 99, 103,

107, 108, 110, 112, 115, 116, 121, 124,

129, 136, 149, 150.
American Naturalist, 2, 10, 12, 14, 19, 22,

23, 25, 35, 50, 53, 54, 65, 77, 81, 82, 83,

84, 85, 92, 93, 110, 114, 120, 126, 131,

134, 138, 150.
Amherst, Mass., 149.
Ammodromus caudacutus, 38, 1-1 o. 145.
" maratimus, 38, 140, 145.

Ampelidae, 32, 139.
Ampelis cedrorum, 32, 139, 141, 144.

garrulus, 32, 142, 143, 146.
Amtman Bouke, 29.

" Witkovvski, 28.
Analidaj, 120, 139.
Anas boschas, 123, 142, 143, 146.

" moschata, 147.

■' obscura. 123, 140, 141, 146.
Anisopteryx pometaria, 42.

■' vernata, 42.

Anorthura troglodytes, var. hyemalis, 11,

141, 142, 144.
Anser hyperboreus, 121, 141, 142, 143,

146.

Aiitluis Ludovicianus, 12, 111, 144.
Antrostomus vociferu.s, 59, 140.
Apache, Camp, Arizona, ''5.
Archibuteo lagopus, var. Sancti-Johannis,

87, 142, 145.
Arctic Owl, 73.

" Tern, 133.
Ardea casrulea, 111, 143, 145.

" Canadensis, 1 13.

" candidissima. 111. N3, 145.

" egretta, 111, 143, 146.

" herodias, 110, 140, 145.

" virescens. 111, 140, 145.
Ardeidffi, 110. 139.
Ardetta exilis, 113, 140, 145.
Aquila chrysaetus, 89, 141, 142, 143.
Astur atricapillus, 79, 142.
Audubon, John James, 54, 55. 76, 92, 96,

97, 99, 108, 149.
Auk. Great, 4, 138.

" Razor-billed, 138.
Avocet, 103, 107.
Ayres, Dr. Wm. 0., 65, 67, 92, 106.

Bagg, Clinton L., 51.

Baird, Prof. Spencer F., 26, 35. 37, 43, 55,

65, 88, 126, 149.
Baird's Sandpiper, 107.
Haldpate Duck, 124.
Haltic, 28.

Baltimore Oriole, 46.
Bank Swallow, 31.
Barn Owl, 66.

■' Swallow, 28.
Barnacle Goose. 121.
Barrat, Dr., 1 10.
Barred Owl, 70, 71.
Barrow's Golden-Eye, 126.
Barry, John, 70.
Baitramian Sandpiper, lli9.
Bay-breasted AVarbler, 16.
Bav-winged Hunting, 37.
BaV of Fund}', 149.
Bee Bird, 49.
Beers, Mr., 35.
Beers, William, 1 20.
Beaver Swamp, 33.

152

Benner, Franklin, 34.

Bennett, C. W., 82, 83.

Berlin, Conn., 70.

Belted Kingfisher, G3.

Bicknell, Eugene P., 15, '23, 25, 26. 31, U,

54, 132.
BischofE, 57.
Bittern, American, 112.

" Least, 113.
Black-and-yellow Warbler, 17.

" -and- white Creeper, 12.

" -backed Three-toed Woodpecker, 64.

" -bellied Plover, 102.

" -billed Cuckoo, <;3.

" bird. Boat-tailed, 48.
" Crow, 46, 89.

" " Red-winged, 45.

" •' Rusty, 46.

" Brant. 121.

" Duck, 123.

" Hawk, 87, 88.

" -poll Warbler, 16.

" Rail, 119.

" Scoter, 127.

" Tern, 135.

" -throated Blue Warbler, 15.

•' " Bunting, 43.

" " Green Warbler, 15.

Blackburn, Mrs., 127.
Blackburnian Warbler, 16.
Blue-bill (Duck), 125.

" -headed Yireo, 33.

" Heron, Great, 110.

" " Little, HI.

'• Golden-winged Warbler, 14.

" Jay, 49.

" -winged Teal, 1 24.

" Yellow-backed Warbler, 12.

•' -winged yellow Warbler, 1, 14.

■' -gray Gnatcateher, 8.
Belknap, "Jeremy, 9, 113, 148.
Birds of the Northwest, Coues, 5, 17, 22,

58, 67, 77, 92, 98, 105, 116, 124, 133,

135, 147, 150.
Bluebird, 8, 19, 30, 41.
Beuers, 4.
Bob White, 100.
Bohemian Waxwing, 32.
Bonaparte's Gull, 132.

" Sandpiper, 106.

Bonasa umbellus, 100, 140, 141, 145.
Bonke, Amtinan, 29.
Boinare, Vehnont de, 42.
Boardman, George A., 44, 55, 84, 92, 9.3,

149.
Bobolink, 145.
Bool)y Gannett, 130.
Boston, Mass., 3, 43, 70, 72, 73.
Boslwick, Thomas, 44.
Botaurus minor, 112, 140, 145.
Bowie, Camp, Arizona, 55.
Brachyotus palustris, 70, 110, HI, 145.
Bragg, Luther C, 14, 23.

Brants, 4.
Brant Goose, 121.
Branta bernicla, 121, 142, 146.
" Canadensis, 122, 142, 146.
" " var. Hutchiusii, 122,

142, 146.
Branta lencopsis, 121, 146.
Brandigee. J. S., 70.
Branford, Conn., 14, 104, 105, 113, 120,

129, 136.
Brandebourg, 42.
Bridgeport, Conn., 103, 131.
Bridport, Vermont, (JO.
Brewer, Dr. Thos. M., 3. 6, 12, 26, 35, 37,

43, 55, 57. 58, 70, 105, 106, 119, 150.
Brewster, William, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 17, 21,

23, 25, 33, 49, 54, 58, 65, 126, 150.
Broad-bill, 125.
Brooks, Capt. 0. N., 3, 4, 5. 32, 67, 81, 82,

102, 103, 106, 109, 111, 121, 122, 123,

124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131. 132,

133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138.
Brookline, Mass., 10.
Brown Creeper, 10.

Thrush, 8, 24.
Brown, Samuel, 127.
Bryant, Dr. Henry. 149.
Bubo Virginianus,'67, 140. 141, 145. 147.
Bucephala albeola. 126, 142, 146.
clangula, 126, 142, 146.
Islandica, 126, 142, 143.
Buil-breasted Sandpiper, 109.
BufHe-headed Duck, 126.
Bull-bat, 59.
Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club,

2. 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17. 20, 27, 31,

33, 36, 37, 46, 49, 50, 65, 69, 72, 113,

115, 119, 121, 134, 150.
Bunting, Bay- winged, 37.

Black-throated, 43.
•' Snow, 36.
'• Towhee, 44.
Buell, W. G., 136.
Burgomaster Gull, 132.
Burlington, Vt., 149.
Burrage, Thomas, 46.
Butcher Bird, 33, 34, 50.
Buteo borealis, 85, 140. 141, 145.

" hyemalis, 87.

" lineatus, 86. 140, 141. 145, 147.

" Pennsvlvanicus, 87. 140. 141, 145.
Butter-ball, V26.
Buzzard, Turkey, 91-92, 96.

C.

Cabot, Mr., 54, 70.

Ca?rulcan Warbler, 15.

Calais, Maine, 44, 55, 92, 93, 149.

Calidris arenaria, 107, 140, 145.

California Quail, 144.

Calve's Island, Conn., 101.

Cambridge, Mass., 3. 13, 31, 33, 49, 54. 78.

Camj) Apache, Arizona, 56.

INDKX.

ir,.)

Camp Howie, Arizona, 5;").

Caiiiptolienins Laln-ailorius. rj7, 112, 143,

14().
Canada Goose, 122.

" Jaj', 1.
Canadian Fauna, 1, 2. 57.
Canvas-baek Duck, 12G.
Cape Cod, Mass., 100, 120.

" May, New Jersev, 54.

" " Warbler, 17.
CaprimulgidsB, 59. l.'ii).
Carmel, Mt., (near New Haven), ('onn., :i4,

5:i.
Cardinal Grosbeak, 44.
Cardinalis Virginianus, 44, 140, 14:'., 145.
Carolina Dove, 98.
'• Rail, 116.
" Wren, 11.
Carolinian Fauna, 1, 2.
Carpenter, C. M., 8, 50.
Carpodacus purpureus, 34, 140, 1-11, 145.
Cat-bird, 8, 9, 24.
Catesby, 47.
Catbartes atratus, 93.

" aura, 91. 143, 145.
Cathartidaj, 91. i:'.9.
Cedar Bird, 32.

Certhia familiaris, 10, 50, 139, 141, 144.
Certhiidffi, 10, 139.

Centunis Carolinus, 65, 140, 143, 145.
Ceryle alcyon, 63, 140, 141, 145.
Ciuetura pelagica, 59-62, 140, 145.
Charadriida;, 102. 139.
Charadrius fulvus, var. Virginicus, 102,

141, 145.
Charles River, Mass., 31.
Chat, Yellow-breasted, 1, 24.
Chaulelasmus streperus. 124, 142, 14:'., 146.
Cherry Bird, 32.
Cliestnut-sided Warbler. 17.
Chewink, 44.

Chickadee, Black-capped, 8, 9.
" Iludsonian, 10.

Tufted, 9.
Cliicken Hawk, 7s.
Chimney Swallow, 60, 61

" ' Swift, 59-62.
Chipping Sparrow, 39, 40.
Cliordeiles Virginianus, 59, 140, 145.
Chrysomitris pinus, 34, 35, 142, 145.

" tristis, 36, 140, 141, 145.

Circus cyaneus, var. Hudsonius, 75, 140,

145.
Cistothorus stellaris, 11, i:!9, 144.
Clapper Rail. 115.
Clark, J. N., 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20,

21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 35, 37, 38, 52, 64, 65,

70, 89, 91, 92, 102, 109, 115, 119, 123,

128, 133, 134.
Clark, Samuel Fessenden, 156.
Clark's Island, Mass., 119.
Cliff Swallow, 30.
Coast Range, California, 57.

Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV.

Coccyzus Aniericanns, <;:'., 140, 145.

" ervthropiitlialnui.'*, 63, 140, 145.
Cock, Pea, i44.
Cod, ("ape, Mass., 10(i, ]•><'>.
Coc, Klbcrt, 135.

Coe, W. W., 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15. 17,
27, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 4(». 4.'i, 4K,
50, 52, 59, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 74, 77. 78,
80, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 9.3, 102,
103, 104, 105. 106, 1((7, 108. 109. 110,
111, 112, 113, 114, 118, 119, 121. 125,
129, 130, 13.3, 137, 138.
Colaptes auratus, 65, 66, 140, 141, 145.
Collins, Saiiuiel, 46.
CoUurio borealis, 33, 142, 144.

" Ludovicianus, 34, 14,3, 146.
" ■' var. excubitoroides, 146.

Coluralja domestica, 147.

" livia. 144.
Columbia River, 57.
Columbida^^, 9:!, 139.
Columbus, Ohio, 127.
Colymbid*, 136, 139.
Colymbus Arcticus, 137.

■' septentrionalia, 136. 137, 142, 146.
Colymbus torquatus, i:i6, 142, 146.
Common Cormorant, 130.
Common Gannet, 120.
" Coot, 120.
" Tern, 133.
" Yellowbird, :i6.
Concord, Mass., 7, 10.
Connecticut River, 106. 107, 121, 123, 125,

127, 128, 130, 132, 136.
Connecticut A'alley, 3, 11, 14, 17, 22, 24,

25, 28, 33, 37, 44, 58, 113.
Connecticut Warbler, 21.
Congannick Ponds, 1 1 .
Contopus borealis, 53-7, 140, 141, 145.

•' virens. 58, 140, 145.
Cooper, W., 54.
Coopers Hawk, 78, 79.
Cooper, Dr., 57, 98.
Coot, Common, 120.
" Gray, 127.
" Sea, 128.
" White-winged, 128.
Copenhagen, 57.
Cormorants, 4.

" Common, 130.

" Double-crested, 130.

Corvus Americanus, 48, 49. 140, 111. 115.
" corax, 5.

" ossifragus. 49, 143, 145.
Coturnicuhis Henslowi. 37, 140.

" passerinus, 37, 140, 145.

Cotyle riparia, 31, 139, 144.
Coues, Dr. Elliott, 5, 1 7, 20. 22, 2::, 25,
35, 42, 48, 55. 56, 58, 65, 67, 77, 88, 92.
93, 98, 105, 107. 108, 115, 119, 124,
126, 132, 133, 1:55, 147, 149, 150.
Cow-bird, 45.
Corvidie, 48, 139.
20 Oct., 1877.

154

INDEX.

Cranes, 4, 81, 113.
Crane, Sand-hill, 113-15.

" Whooping, 113.
Crary, Dr. D., 3, 9, 14, 17, G5, lOG, 109,

111, 128, 135, 137.
Creeper, Brown, 10.

" Black-and-white, 12.
Crested Grebe, 137.
Crocker, Jerry, 137.
Cromwell, Conn., 92.
Crossbill, Red. 1, 35.

" White-winged, 1, 35.
Crow Blackbird, 46, 48, 89.
" Common, 48, 86.
" Fish, 49.
Cnekoo. Black-billed. 63.

Yellow-billed, 63.
Cuculidte, 63. 139.
Cupidonia cupido, 4, 100-1, 147.
Curlew Sandpiper, 106.

" Eskimo, 109.

" Hudsonian, 109.

" Long-billed, 109.
Curtis, Lucius, 127.
Cyanospiza cyanea, 44, 140, 145.
Cyanurus cristatus, 49, 140, 141, 145.
Cygnus Americanus, 4, 120, 142, 143, 146.

'' buccinator, 4, 120, 121.
Cymochorea leucorrhoa, 135, 140, 143, 146.
Cypselidaj, 59, 139.

Dabjchick, Pied-billed, 137.
Dafila acuta, 123, 142, 146.
Dall, Wm. H., 114.
Danby, Vermont, 31.
Dantzick, 28.

Dayan, A. J., 3, 11. 17, 20, 23, 30, 31, 38,
40, 45, 49, 66, 110, 111, 112, 115, 120,
124.
Deane, Ruthven, 54, 72.
Deep River, Conn., 89.
Demarara, 91.
Dendroeca sestiva, 15, 139, 144, 146.

" Blackburnise, 16, 139, 144, 147.

" cajrulea, 15, 140, 143, 144.

" cserulescens, 15, 139, 144, 146.

" castanea, 16, 141, 144, 147.

" coronata, 16, 18, 141, 142, 144.

" discolor, 17, 139, 144.

" Dominica, 17, 140, 143, 146.

" maculosa, 17, 141, 144.

" palmarum, 18, 19, 40, 141, 144.

" pinus, 18-20, 139, 144.

" Pennsylvanica, 17, 139, 144.
striata"; 16, 141, 144.

" tigrina, 17, 141, 144.

" virens, 15, 139, 144.
De.xter, Prof. Franklin B., 4.
Didlacken, 29.
Diuedoppers, 4.
Diver. Oreat Northern, 136.
" Ked-tliroated, 136.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 45, 140, 145.
Domestic Pigeon, 144.
Double-crested Cormorant, 130.
Dove, Carolina, 98.
" Turtle, 98.
" Sea, 138.
Dovekie, 138.
Downy Woodpecker, 64.
Dresser, H. E, 40, 41.
Duck Hawk, 81-3.
Ducks, 4, 91, 123-9.
Duck, Baldpate, 124.

" Barrow's Golden-eye, 126.

" Black, 123.

" Black Scoter, 127.

" Blue-bill, 125.

" '• -winged Teal, 124.

" Broad-ljill, 125.

■' Buffle-head, 126.

'• Butter-ball, 126.

" Canvas-back, 126.

'• Eider, Common, 127.

" " King, 127.

" Gadwall, 124.

" Golden-eve, 126.

" Gray, 124.

" Coot, 127.

" Greater Scaup, 125.

" Green-winged Teal, 124.

" Hooded Merganser, 129.

" King Eider, 127.

" Labrador, 127.

'' Lesser Scaup, 125.

" Long-tailed, 126.

" Mallard, 123.

" Merganser, Common, 128.
Hooded, 129.

" '• Red-breasted, 129.

'■ Old Squaw, 126.

" " Wife, 126.

" Pied, 127.

" Pintail, 123.

'• Pochard, 125.

" Red-breasted Merganser, 129.
" -head, 125.

" Ruddy, 128.

" Ring-necked, 1 25.

" Scaup, Greater. 125.

" " Lesser, 125.

" Scoter, Black, 127.

" " Common, 128.

" " Velvet, 128.

" Sea Coot, 128.

" Sheldrake, 128.

" Shoveller, 124.

■' Spoon-bill, 124.

" Sprigtail. 123.

" Surf, 128.

" Summer, 1 25.

" Tcnl, Blue-winged, 121.

" " Green-winged, 124.

'■ Wliistler, 126.

" White-winged Coot, 128.

INDKX.

155

Duck, Widgeon. 124.

" Wood, rJ5.

'• Velvet Scoter, VIS.
Dudley, Gov. Thomas, 9:5, U8.
Dunlin. 116.

Eagles, 4. 89-90, 96, 97.
Eagle, Bald, S9.
" Golden, 90.
" Washington's, 90.
Eastford, Conn.. 15.
Easthampton, Conn., l.'iC.

" Long Island, N. Y., G7, 106.

" Mass.. 2:5, 53, 100.

East Hartford, Conn.. 106.
" Haven, Conn., 74.
'• " River, Conn., 90, 121. ISO.
" Humboldt Mt., Nevada. 57.
" Lyme, Conn., 103.
" Windsor Hill, Conn., 2, 3, 35, 52, 64,
65, 71, 72, 73, 74, 78, 80, 82, 83,
87, 92, 111, 120, 12], 123, 124,
125, 128, 129, 137, 138.
Eaton. Prof. Daniel C, 53.
Eave Swallow, 30.

Ectopistesmigratorius, 5, 9, 93-7, 140, 145.
Egg Harbor, New Jersey, 54, 138.
Eider Duck, Common, 127.

" " King, 127.
Elizabeth, New Jersey, 9, 85.
Elmore. Norman, 135.
Ely, Josiah G., 3, 9, 11, 16, 23, 39, 76,

103, 106, 109.
Emmons, Dr. P^benezer, 24, 73, 149.
Empidonax Acadicus, 58, 140, 143, 145,
147.
'• flaviventris, 59, ]41.

" minimus. 59, 140, 145, 147.

" Traillii, 58, 140, 145.

Enfield, Conn., 17, 37.
English Sparrow, 18, 19, .34, 40-3.
Eremophila alpestris, 11, 142, 144.
Ereunetes pusillus, 105, 140, 145.
Erismatura rubida, 128, 142, 146.
Eskimo Curlew. 109.
European Woodcock, 1 04.
Euspiza Americana, 43, 140, 143, 145.
Eutainia saurita, 86.

Falco columbarius, 83, 140, 141, 145, 147.

" communis, 81, 140, 141, 145.

'' chrysaetus, 147.

" buteoides, 147.

" hyemalis, 147.

'' leucocephalus, 147.

" sparverius, 84, !40, 141, 145.

'■ temerarius, 147.

" Washingtoniensis, 147.
Falcon, Peregrine, 81.
Falconidse, 75. 139.
Falligula Americana, 147.

Falligula nigra. 147.

Faulkner's Island, Conn., .<, 5, 32, 67, HI,
102, 103, 1(16, 1(19, 112, 121. 123, 12«.
I2(i, 128, 129, 13(J, 131. 132, 13.3, 135,
136, 138.
Fermiers gcnoraux, 28.
Field. David D., 98, 101, 148.
Field Sparrow, 19, 39-40.
Finch, Grass, 37. t
" Lincoln's, .'{8.
•' Pine, 35.
" Purple, 34.
" Seaside, 38.
" Sharp-tailed, 38.
Fish Crow, 49.
" Hawk, 88-9.

" Head, Grand Menau Island, N. B., 83.
Fisher, A. K., 23.
Flicker, 65, 66.
Flint, Harry, 89.
Flycatcher, Acadian. 58.

" Great-crested, 50-2.

" Least, 59.

" Olive-sided, 53-7.

•' Pewee, Common, 52.

" " Wood, 58.

" Swallow-tailed, 50.

" Train's, 58.

" Tyrant (see King-bird).

" Small Green-crested, 58.

" Wood Pewee, 58.

" Yellow-bellied, 59.

Foolish Guillemot, 138.
Fort Bridger, Utah, 56.
" Randall, Dakota, 92.
" Steilacoom, W. T., 57.
Fox-colored Sparrow, 43.
Forster, John Reinhold. 28, 30, 148.
Framingham. Mass., 119.
Franklin, Dr., 48.
Fratercula Arctica, 138, 146.
Frigate Pelican, 131.
Fringilla ambigua. 147.
FringiUidse, 34, 139.
Frith- Haff, 28.
Florida Galhnulo, 119.
Fulica Americana, 120. 141, 146.
Fuligula affinis, 125, 142, 146.

" collaris, i25, 142, 143, 146.

" ferina, var. Americana, 125, 142,

143, 146.
" marila. 125, 142, 146.

vallisneria, 126, 142, 143, 146.
Fulmarus glacialis. 146.

G

Gadwall. 124.

Gallinago Wilsoni, 105, 118, 140, 145.
Gallinula galeata. 119, 140, 146.
Gallinule. Florida. 119.

Purple, 119, 120.
Gallus domesticus, 147.
Gambel, Dr., 57.

156

INDEX.

Gannet, Booby, 130.

" Common, 129.
Gentry, Thomas, 20, 42.
GeothhT)is Philadelphia, 22, 23-4, 141.
" " triehas, 5, 23, 139, 144, 147.
Geyser Basin, Lower, Wy. Ter., 114.
Gilpin, John, 67.
Giraud, J. P., Jr., 9, 23, 32, 37, 43, 65, 77,

102, 106, 110, 127, 128, 129, 149.
Glossy Ibis, 110.
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, 8.
Godwit, Great Marbled, 107.

" Hudsoniau, 107.
Golden-crested Kinglet, 8.
" -crowned Thrush, 20.
" Eagle, 89.
" -e_ye, Barrow's, 126.
" " Common, 126.
" Plover, 102.
" -winged Woodpecker, 66.
Goode, Prof. G. Browne, 3, 43, 138.
Goodwit, 107.

Goose Island. Conn., 81, 132, 133, 135.
" Black, 121.
" Brant, 121.
" Canada, 122, 123.
" Hutching, 122.
" Snow, 121.
" Solon, 129.
" Southern, 122.
" Wild, 122.
Goniaphea cserulea, 43.

" Ludoviciana, 43, 140, 145.

Goshawk, 79-81.
Gowing, John, 46.
Geese. 4, 91, 121-3.
Grackle, Boat-tailed, 48.

" Purple (see Crow Blackbird).
" Rusty, 46.
Graculus carbo, 130, 142, 146, 147.

dilophus, 130, 142, 146.
Granby, Conn.. 84, 135, 136.
Grand" Menan Island, N. B., 43, 70, 83,

149, 150.
Grass Finch, 37.
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 7.
" Coot, 127.
" Duck, 124.
Great Auk, 4, 138.
" Black -backed Gull, 132.
" Blue Heron, 110.
" Carolina AVren, 1 1 .
'' -crested Flycatcher, 50-2.
" -footed Hawk. 81, 82.
" Gray Owl. 70.
" Horned Owl, 67-9, 70, 76.
" Marbled Godwit, 107.
" White Kgret, 111.
" Northern Diver, 136.
Greater Scaup Duck, 125.
" Shearwater, 136.
" Yellow-legs, 108
Grebe, Crested, 137.

Grebe, Horned, 137.

Pied-billed, 137.

" Red-necked, 137.
Green, Charles, 88, 148.
Greene, S. Eliot. 10.
Green Heron, 111.

" -shanks, 108.

" -winged Teal, 124.
Greenfield, Mass., 138.
Gregg, Dr. W. II., 55.
Grinnell, George Bird, 3, 7, 11, 13, 16, 23,

30, 34, 36, 37, 39, 44, 45, 46, 59, 64, 66,

80, 81, 87, 90, 92, 98, 107, 108, 109,

110, 111, 113, 114, 118, 119, 120, 121,

122, 123, 124, 125, 127, 131, 135, 137.
Gripes, 4, 91.
Grosbeak, Cardinal, 44.
Pine. 34.
" Rose-breasted, 43.

Grouse, Pinnated, 4, 100-1.

" Rutfed, 100, 101.
Grus Americana, 4, 113.

" Canadensis, 4, 113-15.
Guilford, Conn., 32, 102, 122, 125, 128,

129, 130.
Guillemot, Foolish, 138.
Guinea Fowl, 144.
Guls, 4.
Gull, Bonaparte's, 132.

" Black-backed, Great, 132.

" Burgomaster, 132.

" Great Black-Backed, 132.

" Herring, 132.

" Kittiwake, 132.

" Laughing, 132.

" Ring-billed, 132.

H

Haddington, Penn., 73.

Htematopodida?, 103, 139.

Hsematopus palliatus, 103, 141, 143, 145.

Hairy Woodpecker, 64.

Haliaetus Icucocephalus, 90, 140, 141, 145,

147.
Hall, Dr. Franklin W., 3, 7, 21, 25, 26, 37,

52, 62. 63, 65, 73. 74, 102, 103, 105,

106, 108.
Hamdeu (near New Haven), Conn., 25, 80.
Hamlin, Prof. Chas. E., 55, 149.
Hand, Rev. J. Howard, 92, 93, 109, 125,

128, 135.
Harelda glacialis 126, 140, 141, 142, 146.
Harporhynchus rufus, 8, 24, 139, 144.
Harrier, Mnr.sh, 75.
Hartford, Conn., 3, 9, 10. 11, 14, 17, 32,

37, 43, 46, 50, 63, (;5, 66, 67, 73, 80, 81,

89, 106, 109, 111, 121, 123, 127, 128,

132, 135, 136, 137.
Hartford Times (for 1861), 2, 68, 72, 75,

76, 78, 79, SO, 82, 87, 88, 150.
Haukes, 4.

Hawks. 3, 45, 49, 75-97.
Hawk, Black, 87, 88.

157

Hawk, Hroad-winged. 87.
Chicken, 78-9.
" Cooper's. 78-9.
" Duck, 81-:i.
" Fish, 88-9.
" Gos-, 79-81.
" Heu, 85-6.
" Marsh, 75-6.
" Mouse, 75-G.
'• Peregrine, 81-H.
" Pigeon, 8:5-4.
" Red-shoul(k>red, 86-7, 78, 84.

" -tailed. (JS, 69, 78, 85-6.
" Rough-legged, 87-8.
'' Sharp-shinned, 78.
" Sparrow, 84-5.
" Winter, 87.
Hawk Owl, 73.
Harden, F. V., 24.
Hazen, Richard, 94.
Hell Diver, l.!7.
Helminthophaga ceUita, 15.

" chrysoptera, 14, 139, 146.

" peregrina, 14, 141.

" pinus, 14, 139, 144.

" ruficapilla, 1'^, 139.

Helmitherns vermivorus, 12-3, 130. 144.

" Swain soui, 146.

Hen Hawk, 85-6.

" Mud, 120.
Henry's Pond, ilass., 120.
Henshaw, H. W., 56, 57, 58, 98.
Henslow's Sparrow, 37.
Heron Swamp, 88, 111, 112.
Heron, Great Blue, 110.
" White, 111.
Green, 111.
Little Blue, 111.

'• White, 111.
Night, 89, 112.
Yellow-crowned Night, 112.
Herrick, Harold, 43, 83, 150.
Herring Gull, 132.
Hermit Thrush, 6.
High-holder, 66.
Hilton, William. 4.
Hirundinid;e, 28, 139.
Hirundo horreorum, 28. 139, 144.
Histrionicus torquatus. 146.
Hitchcock, Edward. 24, 73, 99, 149.
Hockanum, Hartford County, Conn., 106.
Holyoke, Mt.. Mass., 82, 99.
Hooded Warbler, 1, 25.
" Merganser, 129.
Hoosac River, Mass., 134.
Horned Grebe, 137.

'■ Lark, 11.
Hotchkiss, Dr. Wm. H., 3, 4, 120, 136.
Housatonic River, Conn.. 90, 92, 116, 118

122.
House Sparrow, 40-3.
" Swallow, 60, 61.
•' Wren, 10.

Hud.>Jon's Bay, 7.t, 1()7, 111, 121.
lludsdiiian Curlew. I0!».
Gddwit. 107.

•' Titmouse, 1(1.

" Chickadee, 10.

Humphrey, K. C, 63.
Hoy, 55.

Ilutchin's Goo.se, 122.
llylotomus pileatu-s 5, 63, 142, 143, 145.
Hydrocliclidon lariforniis, 135, 1 12, 143.

Ibis alba, 110. 143.

'' falcinellus. var. Ordii, IKi, 1 13. 145.

" (ilossv, 110.

" White, 110.
Icteria virens, 24-.5, 139, 144.

" " var. longicauda. 24.

Icteridffi, 45, 139.
Icterus Baltimore, 46, 140, 145.

" spurius, 46, 140, 145.
Idaho Springs, Colorado, 56.
Indigo Bird, 44.
Ipswich Sparrow, 36.

Jack Snipe, 106.
Jaeger, Long-tailed, 131.

" Pomarine, 131.

" Richardson's, 131.
Jay, Blue, 24, 49.

Jencks, Frederick T., 9, 27, 50, 134.
Jones, Rev. C. M., 15. 73.

•' William, 148.

" Mr., 111.
Josselyn, John, 45, 49. 63, 93, 99, 130,

148.
Junco hyemalis, 39, 141, 142, 145.

Kalm. Peter, 28, 29, 47, 48, 66, 148.

Kalmia, 25.

Kentucky Warl)ler, 22-3.

Key to North American Birds, (Coues), 5.

Kildecr Plover, 89, 102.

King-bird. 49, 5t), 90.

" Eider, 127.

" Rail, 115.
King. William, 64.
Kingfisher. Belted, 63.
Kinglet, Golden-crested, 8.
" Ruby-crowned. 8.
Killingworth, Conn., 37.
Kite, Swallow-tailed, 5, 76-7.
Kittiwake Gull, 132.
Kleskow, 29.
Klein, 28.
Knot, 107.
Kosiulo, Jacob. 29.

Labrador Duck, 127.
Lagopus albus, 73.

158

INDEX.

Lake Tahoe, 57.

" Whitney, 7. 6a.
Land Key, Fla., 108.
Lane, Wm. F., 131, 133, 138.
Laniidtc, 3;-!, 139.
Lannar, 85.
Lannaret, 79. 85.
Lapland Longspur, 36.
Large-billed Water Thrush, 1, 20-1.
Lark, Horned, 11.

" Meadow, 45.
Laridfe, 131, 139.
Larus argentatus, var. Smith.soniauus, 132,

141, 142, 146.
Larus atricilla, 132, 142, 146.

" Bonapartii, 147.

" canus, 147.

" capistrat'is, 147.

" Delawarensis, 132, 142, 146.

" fuscus, 147.

" glaucus, 133.

" marinus, 132, 142, 146.

" Philadelphia, 132, 142, 146, 147.

" tridactylus, 132, 142, 146.
Laughing Gull, 132.
Laurel, 25.
Least Bittern, 113.

" Flycatcher, 59.

" Sandpiper, 106.

" Tern, 134.
Leach's Petrel, 135.
Lehndorf, 28.
Lesser Red-poll, 33.
'■ Scaup Duck, 125.
" Yellow-legs, 108.
Lester, Milton, 7.
Lewis, Alonzo, 47, 73, 149.
Limosa Edwardsii, 107, 147.
" fedoa. 107, 141, 143, 145.
•' Hudsonica, 107, 141, 143, 145, 147.
Lincoln's Fincli, 38.
Linnet, Pine. 35

Red-poll, 34, 35.
Linsley, Rev. James H., 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17.

25, 27, 35. 36, 37, 43, 48, 49, 51, 53, 63,

64, 65, 66, 70, 72, 74, 81, 90, 91, 92, 99,

100, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,

113, 115, 116, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123,

124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131,

132, 134, 136, i;!7, 13S, 143, 144, 146,

147, 149.
Little Blue Heron, 111.

•' White Egret, 111.
Lobipes hyperboreus, 146.
Lomvia arra, 13S, 146.

" troile, 138, 142, 143, 146.
Long-billed Curlew, 109.

" . " Marsh Wren, 11.

" -tailed Duck, 126.

" " Jaeger, 131.

» Island, N. Y., 9, 23, 32, 37, 43, 65,

77, 100, 102, 106, 110, 121, 131, 133,

149.

Longspur, Lapland, 36.
Loon, Common, 136.

" Red-throated, 136.
Lophophanes bicolor, 9, 140. 142, 143, 144.
Lophortj^x Californicus, 147.
Loxia curvirostra, var. Americana, 35, 142,

145.
Loxia leucoptera, 35, 142, 146.
Lybshau, 29.
Lyme, New London Co., Conn., 9, 16, 23,

39, 76.
Lynn, Mass., 46, 47, 67, 70, 73, 149.
Lynnfield, Mass., 149.

M

Macrorhamphus griseus, 105, 141, 145.

Mactra lateralis, 128.

Madison, Conn., 67, 108.

Magdeline Islands, 55.

Maize Thieves, 47, 48.

Mallard Duck, 115, 123.

Man-of-war Bird, 131.

Maltby Park, (near New Haven), Conn.,

12, 21.
Mareca Americana, 124, 142, 146.
Marsh Hawk, 72, 75, 76.

" Wren, Long-billed, 11, 115.

" Short-billed, 11.
Martha's Vineyard Island, Mass., 100, 138.
Maryland Yellow-throat, 5, 23.
Maynard, C J., 19, 20, 23, 5*4, 116, 150.
Maynard's Sparrow, 36.
Meadow-lark, 45.
Meawes, 4.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 65, 140, 111,

145.
Meleagris gallopavo, var. Americana, 4,

98-9, 147.
Melospiza melodia, 38, 41, 140, 141, 145.
" Lincoln!, 38, 140.
" palustris, 38, 140, 145.
Meigs, George, 136
Merganser, Common, 128-9.
Hooded, 129.
" Red-breasted, 129.

Mergulus alle, 138, 142, 143, 146.
Mergus cucculatus, 129, 142, 146.
■' merganser, 128-9, 142, 146.
" serrator, 129, 142, 146.
Meriden, Conn., 108.

Merriara, C. Hart, 1, 8, 11, 33, 44, 98, 122.
Merrimack River, 120.
Merwin, C, 92.
Middlebury, Vermont, 60, 61.
Middlctown, Conn., 3, 43. 88, 104, 106,

107, 110, 111, 118. 119, 129, 130, 136,

137, 138.
Micropalama himantopus, 107.
Milford, Conn., 7, 23, 37, 46, 64, 66, 80,

81, 92, 109, 110, 111, 118, 119, 120,

122, 125, 127, 135.
Miller's Place, Long I.«land, 106.
Milvulus forficatus, 50, 143.

i\i)i:x.

15d

Mill H(irk (near Xcw llavcii), ("onii.. .">'.i.
Mimus Caroliiioiisis, S, 1.;;), I (J.

" polvu'lottus, 5, 7, 1 10, IK!. Ml.
Minot, U. 1)., .")4, ir)U.
Mocking-bird. 5, 7.
Monterey, (California, 57.
Molothriis pecoris, 45, 140, 141, 14r>, 147.
Morris. Robert T., :{, 10, 125, 127, I '29.
Moses. Dr.. 82.
Motoeilliilie. 12, 13!).
Morton. Thomas, ('.2. 72, 79, S.'., 03, 95,

9,s, 100, 101, 104. 107, 1 1:!, liMi, 121,

123, 124, 148.
Mount Carmel. Conn., 34, 90.

" Holyoke. Mass ,' 99.

" Nonotuck, Mass.. 53.

" Tom, Mass., 53, 82, 99.
Mourning Warbler, 22-.'!.
Mouse Hawk. 75.
Mniotilta varia, 12, 13, 139, 144.
Mud Hen, 120.
Murre, 138.
Museum, Peabodv of Yale College, 14, 54,

99.
Museum of Wesleyan University, 3, 04,

110. Ill, 119, 136, 137.
Myiarchus crinitus, 50-2, 140, 145.
Myiodioctes Canadensis, 27. 139, 144.
mitratus, 25, 26, 139, 144.
pusillus, 26, 141.

N

Nahant, Mass., 73, 149.
Nashville Warbler, 14.
Nauclerus forflcatus, 5, 76-7.
Naushon Island, Mass., 100.
Nelson, E. W., 56.
Nenortalik, Greenland, 57.
New Canaan, Conn., 65.
" Haven, Conn.. 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 17, 21, 25, 26, 27, 32, 33, 34,
35, 36, 40, 43, 48, 52, 53, 59, 64,
65, 66, 72, 74, 80, 85, 87, 88, 90,
92, 100, 106, 110, 112, 129, 132,
133, 135.
" Haven Bay, Conn., 5.
" London, Conn., 64, 88, 109.
" York City, N. Y., 35.
Newhall, James R.. 47, 73, 149.
Newton. Chas., 111.

" ' Dr., 111.
Nichols, Walter R., 3, 14, 21, 33, 34, 36,

104, 105, 110, 113, 136.
Night Hawk, 59.

" Heron, Common, 89, 112.
" " Yellow-crowned, 112.

Northford, Conn., 90, 99, 113.
Northampton, Mass., 52, 54.
North Haven. Conn., 87.
Norway, Maine, 54, 149.
Nova Scotia, 111.

Numenius borealis. 109. 141, 113, 1 J5.
" Hudsonicus, 109, 141, 143, 145.

Nuincnius Idugiroslri.-;, 1II9, III. 145.
Nuniida niolcagris, 117.
Nutliatclies, 8,1(1, 19.
Xuth.itcli, r.cd-l.ullicd, 10.

Wliitc-bolliiMJ. Id.
Xuttall, 'I'hoina.s, 25, 49, 51, 54, 55. 76,

78, 91, 95, 96, 97. 100, 101, 149.
Nyctale Aeadica 74, MO, Ml, M5.

" Tengmalmi, var. Kii'lianlsoni. 7.'l,
142, 143.
Nyctea nivea, 72.

Scandiaca, 72, 142, 1 1.'..
Nyctiardea grisea, var. nii'via. 1 12. MO, 145.
Xyctiardea violacea. 1 12.

Oceanites (jceanica, i:'.(), 143, 146.
Ocklawaha River, Fla., 114.
G<]demia Americana, 127. M2. 146, 117.
" fusca, 128, 142, 146.
" perspicillata, 128, 142, 146.
Ogden, Utah, IKi.

Old Bishop. Grand Menan Island, N.I!., 83.
'• Squaw, 126.
" Wife, 126.
Oletsko, 29.
Olive-backed Thru.sh, 6.

" -sided Flycatcher, 5:!-7.
Oporornis agilis, 21, 141, 146.

formosus. 22-3, 140, 143.
Orange-crowned Warbler, 15.
Orange, New Jersey, 50, 51.
Orchard Oriole, 46.
Oriole, Baltimore, 46.

" Orchard. 46.
Osborne, Thomas B., 3, 4, 7, 8, 10. 1 1, 13,

14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, 30, 32, 33. 38, 39,

40, 43. 44, 45, 46, 52, 55, 58, 59, 64, 72,

75, 90, 102, 118, 121, 123, 125, 128, 129,

130, 132, 136.
Osprey, 88.

Ortyx Virginianus, 100, 141, 145.
Otters, 4.
Oven Bird. 20, 37.
Otus vulgaris, var. Wilsnnianus, 69, 140,

141, 145.
Owls, 3.
Owl, Arctic, 73.

" Acadian, 74.

•' Barn, 66.

" Barred, 70-2.

" Great Gray, 70.

" " Horned, (57-9, 76.

" Hawk, 73.

" Long-eared, 69.

" Mottled, 69.

" Richardson's. 73-4.

" Saw-whet, 74.

" Screech. 69.

" Short-earod, 70.

" Snowy, 69, 72-3.
Ox bird, 1 06.
Oyster-catcher, 103.

160

Paine, Cbas. S.. 55.

Pandion haliaetus, 88-9, 140, 145.

Parida;, 9, i:^9.

Parley's Park, Utah, 55.

Partridges, 4, 100, 101.

" Spruce, 1.

Parus atricapillus, 8, 9, 139, 141, 144.

" Hudsonieiis, 10, 142, 143.
Patton. William H., 53.
Pavo cristatus, 147.
Parula Americana, 12, 139, 144.
Passer domesticus, 40, 140, 141.
Passeroulus princeps, 36, 141, 142, 143.

" Savanna, 36, 140, 145.

Passerella iliaca, 41, 43, 141, 145.
Pea Cock, 144.
Peabody, Rev. Wm. B. 0., 10, 45, 64, 86,

89, 149.
Peabody Museum of Yale College, 14, 54.
Pectoral Sandpiper, 106.
Pennant, Thomas, 81, 107, 114, 127, 148.
Peregrine Falcon, 81.
Petrel, Leach's, 135.
" Wilson's, 136.
Petrochelidon lunifrons, 30, 139, 146.
Pewee, Common, 52-3.

" Wood, 58.
Phalacrocoracidaj, 130, 139.
Phalacrocorax carbo, 147.

" graculus, 147.

Phalarope, Red, 103.

" Wilson's, 103.

PhalaropodidiB. 103, 139.
Phalaropus fulicarius, 103, 141, 143, 146.
Pheasants, 81, 101.
Philohela minor, 103, 140, 141, 145.
Phoebe-bird, 52.
Picidaj, 63, 139.
Pickering, Charles, 42.
Picoides Arcticus, 64, 142, 143, 146.
Picus pubescens, 64, 140, 141, 145.

" villosus, 64, 140, 141, 145.
Pigeons, Common, 4, 5, 93-7.
" Domestic, 144.
" Passenger, 4, 5, 93-7.
Wild, 4, 5, 93-7.
Pied-billed Dalwhick, 137.

" Duck, 127.
Pigeon Hawk. 83-4.
Pileated Woodpecker, 5, 6:!.
Pillau, 28.

Pine-creeping Warbler, 18-19.
" Finch, 34, 35.
" Grosbeak, 34.
" Linnet, 35.

" Swamp (near New Haven), Conn.,
111. 112.
Pinicoht enucleator, 34, 142, 145.
Pinnated Grouse, 4, 100-1.
Pintail Dvick, 123.

Pipilo erythrophthnlmus, 1,'i, 1 If), 1 15.
Piping Plover, 102.

Platygaster, 42.

Plectrophanes Lapponicus, 36, 142.
" nivalis, 36. 142, 14.'>.

Plover, Black-lieUied, 102.
" Golden, 102.
" Kildeer, 89, 102.
" Piping, 102.
" Ringneck, 102.
" Semipalmated, 102.
" Upland, 89, 109.
" Wilson's, 102.
Plumb Island, Conn., 88, 102, 109.
Plymouth Harbor, Mass., 119.
Podicipidae, 137, 139.
Podieeps Carolinensis, 147.

" cornutus, 137, 142, 145.
cristatus, 137, 142, 145.
" griseigena, var. HolboUi, 137,

142, 145.
" minor, 147.
Podilvmbus podieeps, 137, 140, 145, 147.
Point Judith, R. I., 134.
Pomarine Jaeger, 1.31.
Pochard, 125.
Polo, Marco, 81.

Pooecetes graminius, 37, 140, 145.
Porphyrio Martinica, 119, 143, 146.
Portland, Maine, 43.

Portland, Middlesex Co., Conn., 3, 6, 7, 8,
10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 27, 30,34,
35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44. 45, 46, 49,
52, 53, 59, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 74, 77, 80,
83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 93, 102, 103, 104,
105, 109, 112, 113, 115, 119, 121, 120,
131, 133, 138.
Porzana Carolina, 116, 140, 145.
" Jamaicensis, 119, 140, 143.
" Noveboracensis, 118, 140, 146.
Polioptila casrulea, 8, 140, 14.3, 144.
Prairie Chicken, 4, 100.

" Warbler, 17.
Procellariidfe, 135, 139.
Progne purpurea, 31, 139, 144.
Providence, R. L, 9, 27, 134.
Puffinus major, 136, 142, 146.

" obscurus, 146.
Puget Sound, W. T., 57.
Purdie, H. A., 1, 12, Ki, 22, 25, 27, 31,

37, 50, 92, 114, 119, 134.
Purple Finch, 34.

" Gallinula, 119-20.
" Martin, 31.
" Sandpiper, 106.
Putnam, F. W., 78, 87, 130, 149.
Ptarmigan, White, 73.
Pyranga a^stipn, 27, 140, 143, 144.
" rul)ra, 27, 139, 144.

Quail, Common, 4, 81, 100.

" California, 144.
Querquedula Carolinensis, 124, 142, 146.
discors, 124, 142, 146.

INUKX.

161

Quinnipiac River. 1 1, :!8, 45, IOC), 1 15, rj5.
Quisealus major, 48, 146, 117.

" purpureus, 46-8, 140, 145.

R

Raccoou, New Jer.>^ey, 28.
Racine. Wi.'sconsiu. 55.
Rail, Carolina, 1 1 6.
" Clapper. 115
" Wack, 1U>.
" King. 1 15.
" Sora, 116.
" Virginia. 115.
" Yellow, 118.
Rallidae, 115, 139.
Rallus elegans. 115, 140, 145.
" longirostris, 115, 140, 145.
" Virginianus, 115, 140, 145.
Randolph, Vermont, 55.
Raski, 29.
Raven, 5, 45.
Razor-billed Auk, 138.
Recurvirostra Americana. 103, 107, 141,

146.
Reciirvirostridaj, 103, 139.
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 65.
" " Nuthatch, 10.
" -breasted Merganser, 129.
" " Sandpiper, 107.

" " Snipe, 105.

" Crossbill 35.
" -eyed Vireo. 32.
" -headed Duck. 125.
" " Woodpecker, 65-6.
" -necked Grebe, 137.
" Phalarope, 103.
" -poll Linnet, 34, 35.
" " Warbler. 18. 41.
" -shouldered Mawk, 78, 84, 86, 87.
" -tailed Hawk, 68, 69. 78, 85-6.
" -throated Diver, 136.
" -winged Blackbird, 45.
" " Stare, 47.

Redbird, Summer, 27.
Red River, 23.
Redstart, 9, 27.
Reed-bird, 45.

Regulus calendula, 8, 141, 144.
" cristatus, 14G.
" .satrapa. 8. 141, 142, 144, 146.
" tricolor, 1 46.
Reinhardt, 57.

Richardson, Sir John, 55, 92.
Richardson's Jaeger, 131.

Owl. 73-4.
Rice-bird, 45.
Ridgway, Robert, :'.. 26, 35, 37, 43, 55, 56,

57, 58, 70, 150.
Ring-billed Gull, 132.
Ringneck Plover, 102.
Ring-necked Duck, 125.
Riverdale, Westchester Co., N. Y., 23, 25,
44, 54, 132.
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV.

Rhynnhops nigra, II (J.
Robin, 6.

R(ick])()rt. M;is^., rjn.
Rocky Hill, Conii , 112.
Rose- breasted (Jro.><beak, 43.
Roseate Tern. 133.
Rough-legged ll.avk. S7-S.

" -winged Swallow. 31.
Rubv-crowned Ivuiglit, 8.

" " Mts., Nevada, 57.

" -throated lliimniiiigl)ird. 62.
Ruddy Duck, 128.
Ruffed (i rouse, loO, 10 1.
Ru.sty Grackle, 16.
Rutta, Andrew, 29.

Sage, John H., 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 1 1, 12, 14, 15,
16, 25, 26, 33. U, 35, 37, 39, 43, 44. 45,
46, 49. 50, 53, 59, 63, 64, 65, 66, 74, 80.
81, 85,93, 98, 103, 104, 105, 107, 108,
109, 110, 112, 122, 124. 126, 129, 131,
133.
Sachem's Head, Conn., 67.
St. John's River, Fla., 114.
Saltonstall Lake, 111.
Saltonstall Ridge, Conn., 90.
Samuels, Edward A., 7, 24, 92, 148, 150.
Sand-hill Crane, 1 13-14.
Sanderling, 107.
Sandpiper, Baird's, 107.
" Bartramian, 109

" Bonaparte's, 106.

" Buff-breasted. 109.

" Curlew, 106.

" Least. 106.

" Pectoral. 106.

" Purple, 106.

" Red-breasted, 107.

" Soinipalmated, 105.

" Solitarv, 108.

" Spotted, 108.

" Stilt, 107.

" White-rumped, 106.

Santa Cruz, 57.
St. John's River, Fla., 114.
Savanna Sparrow, 36.
Savin Rock, Conn., 23, 37. 38.
Saskatchewan, 57, 92.
Saw-whet Owl, 74.
Saugus, 149.
Saxieolidw, 8, 139.

Saybrook, Conn., 3, 7, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20.
21. 22, 23, 25, 26, 35, 37, 38, 52, 64. 65,
70, 88, 92, 101, 102, 103, 106, 107, 109,
115, 119, 121. 123, 125, 128, 133, 134,
138.
Saj'ornis fu.'scu.s. 52-3, 140, 145.
Scarlet Tanager. 27.
Scaup Duck, Greater. 125.
" " Lesser, 125.

Scldieben, 28.
Scoleeopliagus fernigineus, 4<;, 141, II. 'p.

21 Oct., 1877.

162

INDEX.

Scolopacidae, 104, 139.
Scolopax rusticola, 104.
Scops asio, 69, 140, 141, 145.
Scoter Duck, Black, 127.

" " Common, 128.

" " Velvet, 128.

Sea Coot, 1 28.
'• Dove, 138.
" Swallow, 13:5.
Seaside Finch, 38.
Semipalmated Plover, 102.

" Sandpiper, 105.

Seiurus (see Slums.)
Setophaga ruticiUa, 9, 27, 139, 144.
Seven Day's Work, Grand Menan Id., 83.
Severn River, 114.
Shag, 130.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 78, 85.

" -tailed Finch, 38.
Shearwater, Greater, 136.
Sheldrake; 4, 128.
Short-eared Owl, 70.

" -tailed Tern, 135.
Shoveller, 124.
Shrike, Loggerhead. 34.

" Northern, 33, 34, 49.
Shurtleff Collection (at Middletown). ti4.
Shores, Irwin I., 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16,

17, 22, 24, 25, 28, 31, 3.3, 37, 38, 40, 53,

58, 64, 65, 80, 111, 113.
Short-billed Marsh Wren, 1 1.
Siahasialis, 8, 139, 141, 144.
Sierra Nevada, 57.
Silliman, Benj. Jr., 129.
Sitta Canadensis, 8, 10, 142, 144.

" Carolinensis, 8, 10, 139, 141, 144.
Sittidie, 10, 139.
Siuriis aiiricapillus, 20, 37, 139, 144.

" Ludovicianus, 20.

" motacilla, 20-1, 139.

" nasvius, 20, 21, 140, 141, 144.

" Noveboracensis, 20, 21.
Sing Sing, Westchester Co., N. Y., 23.
Slate-colored Snowbird, 39.
Small Green-crested Flycatcher, 58.
Smith, Capt. John, 4, 148.

" Fred. Sumner, 3, 6, 63, 88, 1 1 1.

" Prof. Sidney I., 4, 32.
Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., 3.
Snowbird, Slate-colored, 39.

" White, 36.

Snow Bunting, 36.

" Goose, 121.

" Prof. P. H., 56.
Snipe, Jack, 106.

" Red-breasted, 105.

" Wilson's, 105.
Solitary Tattler, 108.

Vireo, 33.
Solon Goose, 129.
Song Sparrow, 38, 39.
Somateria moUissima, 127. 142, N3, 14<).
'• spcctal)ilis, 127, 112, 143, 146.

Sooty Tern, 134.

Sora Rail, 116.

South End (near New Haven), Conn., 36.

" " Mass., 120.
Southern Goose, 122.
Southampton, Long Island, 109.
Southwick Ponds (Hartford Co.), Conn., 1 1.
Sparke, F. C, 148.
" Michael, 148.
R. C, 148.
Sparrow Hawk, 84-5.
" Chipping, 39, 40.
" English, 18, 19, 34, 39, 40-3.

Field, 19, 39-40.
" Fox-colored, 43.
" Henslow's, 37.
" House, 40-3.
'• Ipswich, 36.
" Maynard's, 36.
" Savanna, 36.
Song, 38, 39.
" Swamp, 38, 39.
" Tree, 39.
" White-crowned, 40.
" " throated, 40.

" Yellow-winged, 37.
Sphvrapicus varius, 64, 66, 140, 141, 145.
Spizella monticola, 39, 141, 142, 145.
pusilla, 19, 39, 41, 140, 145.
" socialis, 13, 39, 41, 140, 141, 145.
Spoonbill Duck, 124.
Spatula Clypeata, 124, 142, 146.
Spotted Sandpiper, 108.
Sprigtail, 123.

Springfield, Mass., 7, 67, 149.
Spruce Partridge, 1.
Squatarola Helvetica, 102, 141, 145.
Stadtmiiller Brothers, 3, 4, 10, 12, 27, 33,

44, 59, 85, 86, 98.
Stake Driver, 112.
Starlings, 45.

Steganopus Wilsoni, 103, 143, 145.
Stelgidopteryx serripennis, 31, 140, 143.
Stercorarius Buffoni, 131. 142. 143.

" parasiticus, 131, 142. 143, 146.

'• pomatorhinus, 131.

Sterna acuflavida, 135.
" angliea, 135.
" aranea, 135.
" cantiaca, 135.
" caspia, 135.
" Dougalli, 133, 140.
" Fosteri, 135.
" fuliginosa, 134, 143.
" hirundo, i:!3, 140, 140.
" macroura, 1.33, 142, 143.

paradisea, 133.
" regia, 135.

" superciliaris, var. Antillarum. 134,
140. 142. 146.
Stilt Sandpiper, !(t7.
Stocker, l''b(Mi('/,er 4(').
StDuingtou, ('(inn., 121, l.'.u, 132, 136, 138.

16:{

Stonv Creek, Conn., 135.
Stratford, Conn.. 7, 8, 15, 27, ;?5, IH, 40,
5:5, G.i, (55, 6t;. 70, 72, 81, 102, lOf., IOC,
107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 115, 110, 118,
120, 121, 122, 12:{. 124, 125, 12G, 127,
129, l.'iO. i:V2. 134^ 136, 137.
Strcpsilas interpres, 103, 141, 145.
StrigidiV, 66, 139.
Strix flanimea. var. Americana, 66, 140,

143, 145
Strix Scandiaca, 147.
" Virginica, 147.
SturneUa magna, 45, 140, 141, 145.
Suckly, Dr., 57.

Snffieid, Hartford Co., Conn., 3, 7, 8, 11,
12, 14, 16, 17, 22, 24, 25, 28, 31, 33, 38,
40, 53, 58, 64, 65, 80, 111, 113.
Sulabassana, 129. 142, 143, 146.

" fiber, 130, 143, 146.
Sulidc-e, 129, 139.
Surf Duck, 128.
Summer Redbird, 27.

Duck, 125.
Surnia ulula, var. Hudsonia, 73, 142, 143.
Swainson, 55.
Swainson's Thrush, 6.
Swallows, 28, 31 60, 61, 77, 85, 131.
Swallow, Bank, 31.
" Barn, 28-30.

ClifE, 30.
" Eave, 30.

" Rougli-winged, 31.

" White-bellied, 30.

" -tailed Flycatcher, 50.

" Kite, 5, 76-7.
Swamp Sparrow, 38, 39.
Swampscot, Mass., 149.
Swan, Trumpeter, 4, 120-21.

Whistling. 4, 120.
Swift, Chimney, 59-62.
Sylvia testiva, 147.
" auricollis, 147.
'• autumnalis, 147.
" Blackburnice, 147.
" Canadensis, 147.
" Castanea, 147.
" flava, 147.
" parus, 147.
" Roscoe, 147.
" sphagnosa, 147.
" trichas, 147.
" trochilus, 147.
Svlvicolidse, 12, 139.
Sylviidse, 8, 139.

Syrnium cinereura, 70, 142, 143, 145.
" nebulosum, 70, 140, 141, 145.

Tachycineta bicolor, 30, 139, 144.
Tachypetes aquilus, 131, 143.
Tachvpetidffi, 131, 139.
Talcott Mt. (near Hartford), Conn., 81, 82.
Tanager, Scarlet, 27.

Tanager, Summer. 27.
Tauagrida'. 27, 139.
Tantalidic, 109, 139.
Tattler, 108.

" Solitary, 108.
Taylor. Wm. IL, 14.
Teal, 4, 115.
Teal, Blue-winged. 124.

•' Green-winged, 124.
Telmatodytes pihistris, 11, 139, 114.
Tennessee Warliler, 14.
Tenney, Prof. Sanborn, 134.
Terns," 81, 82, 89, 132, 13.3-5.
Tern, Arctic, 133.
" Black, 135.
" Common, 133.
" Least, 134.
" Roseate, 133.
" Short-tailed, 135.
" Sooty, 134.
'' Wilson's, 133.
Tetraonidie, 100, 139.
Theodat, 115.
Thompson, Dr. E. L. R., 17, 27, 106.

" Zadock, 55, 61, 62, 74, 80, 89,

90, 99, 113, 125, 149.
Thrush, Brown, 8, 24.

■' Golden-crowned, 20.
" Gray-cheeked, 7.
" Hermit, 6.
" Large-billed Water, 20-1.
" Olive-backed, 6.
" Swainson's, 6.
'' Water, 20.
" Wilson's, 7.
" Wood, 6.
Thrasher, Brown, 8, 24.
Thryothorus Ludoviciauns, 11, 140.
Tilly, Joseph, 101.
Titlark, 12.

Titmouse, Black-capped, 9.
" Hudsonian, 10.

Tufted, 9.
Tom, Mount, Mass., 53, 82, 99.
Totanus chloropus. 108, 146.
" flavipes, 108, 141, 145.
" melanoleucus, 108, 141, 145.
" semipalmatus, 108, 140, 145.
" solitarius, lOS, 140, 141, 145.
Totoket Mt., Conn.. 99.
Towhee Bunting, 44.
Traill's Flycatcher, 58.
Trenton, New Jersey, 50.
Tringa alpina, var. Americana, lUO, 141,
145.
" Bairdii, 107.

canutuf?, 106, 141, 145.
" fuscicollis, 106, 141, 145.
maculata, 106, 141, 145.
maritmia, 106. 141, 142, 146.
" minutilla, 106, 141, 145.
" subarquata, 106, 141, 143, 146.
Tringoides maeularius, 108, 140, 141, 14,'..

164

INDKX.

Trippe, T. Martin, 23, 50, 52, 56.
Trochilidse, 62, 139.
Trochilus colubris. 62, 140, ]45.
Trog-lodytes aedon, 10, 139, 144.
Tro^lodytidag, 10, 139.
Trumbull. Prof. J. Hammond, 43.
Trumbull, Fairfield Co., N. .J., 35.
Trumpeter Swan, 120-1.
Tr^yngites rufescens, 109, 146.
Tufted Titmouse, 9.
Turdidte, 6, 139.
Turdus fuscescens, 7, 139, 144.

" migratorius, 6, 139, 141, 144.

" mustelinus, 6, 139, 144.
Pallas i, 6, 141, 144.

'• Swainsoni, 6, 7, 141.

'■ " var. Alicise, 7, 141.

Turkey Buzzard. 91-3.

" ■ Wild, 4, 98-9, 100, 101.
Turnbull, Wm. P., 44, 54, 73, 138, 149.
Turnstone, 103.
Turtle Dove, 94, 98.
Tyrannidaj, 49, 139.
Tyrannus Carolinensis, 49, 140, 145.

U

Umbagog Lake, Oxford Co , Me., 23, 54, 55.

Upland Plover, 89, 109.

Uria grylle, 138, 146.

Utamania torda, 138, 142, 143, 146.

Usnea, 12.

V
Velvet Scoter. 128.
Veratrum album, 47.
Verrill, Prof. A. E., 1, 2, 4, 30, 54, 92,

100, 149.
Vickery, 112.
Vireo, Blue-headed, 33.

" flavifrons, 33, 140, 144.

" gilvus, 16, 32, 140, 144.

" Noveboracensis, 33, 140, 144.

" olivaceus, 32, 139, 144.

" Philadelphieus, 33.

" Red-eyed, 32.

" solitarius, 33, 140, 144.

" Solitary, 33.

•' Warbling, 33.

" White-eyed, 33.

" Yellow-throated, 33.
Vireonidif, 32, 139.
Virgniia Rail, 1 15.
Vistula, 2!).
Vulture, Black, 93.

" Turkey, 91-3, 97.

W

Wagtail, Water, 20.
Wahsatch Mts., Utah, 56. 116.
Wallerius, Dr., 28.
Wallingford, Conn., 1.31, 1.33, 138.
Walpolc, N. 11., 148.
Warbler, Black-and- White, Creeping, 12.
" " -and- Yellow, 17.

Warbler, Black-throated, Bine, 15.
" ■' '■ Green, 15.

■' Black Viurnian, 16.
" Black-poll, 16.
" Ray-breasted. 16.
" Blue, Golden-winged, 14.
" " -winged, Yellow, 1, 14.

•' >' Yellow-backed, 12.

" Cferulean, 15-6.
" Cape May, 17.
" Canadian Fly catching, 27.
" Chestnut-sided, 17.
" Connecticut, 21-2.
" Plycatching, Canada, 27.
" " Green, Black-capped, 26.

" Green, Black-capped, Fly catch-
ing, 26.
Hooded, 1, 25-6.
" Kentucky, 22-3.
'• Maryland Yellow-throat, 5, 23.
" Mourning, 23-4.

Nashville, 14.
" Orange-crowned, 15.

Pine-creeping, 18-20.
" Prairie, 17.

Red-poll, 18.
" Tennessee, 14.
" Worm-eating, 1, 12-3.

Yellow, 15.
" " -rumped, 16.-

" " -throated, 17.

Warbhng Vireo, 16, 32.
Water Thrush. Common, 20.
" " Large-billed, 20-1.

" Wagtail, 20.
Waterton, Mr., 91.
Waterville, Me., 149.
Wauregan, Windliam Co., Conn., 50.
Waxwing, P)ohemian, 32.

Common, 32.
Weber River, Utah, 56.
Welch, Mr , 54.
Wendell, Robert, 120.
Westbrook, Conn., 92, 93, 103, 125, 127.
Wesleyan University, 3.
Westford, Conn., 140.
West Haven, Conn., 65, 125.
Wheaton, Dr. J. M., 54, 127.
Wheeler, Lieut. Geo. M., 56.
Whelpley, Dr. J. D., 12, 25, 65, 72, 129.
Whippoorwill, 59.
Whistler, 126.
Whistling Swan, 120.
White-bellied Swallow. :!0.
'• '■ Nuthatch, 10.

'• -crowned Sparrow, 40.
" -eyed Vireo, 33.
" Egret, Great, HI.
" •' Little, HI.
" Ibis, 110.

■' -rumped Sandpiper, 106.
" -tliroated Sparrow, 40.
" -winged Coot, 128.

INDKX.

\v>r,

Wliite-winged Crossbill, 35.

Whitman, G. R., 119.

"Whitnov Jjiikos (near New Haven), Conn.,

7, lib, 111, 112. 120, 124.
Whitney, Prof. Wm. D., 15, 14, 27, 52, 54,

80, 99.
Whoopinp; Crane, 113.
AViddowes, a., 148.
Widgeon, 124.
Wild Pigeon, 93-7.
" Turkey, 4, 98-9, 100, 101.
" Goose', 122.
Williams, Samuel, 31, GO, 01, 77, 94, 113,

148.
Willet, 108.
Wilson, Alexander, 22, 23, 25, 92, 95, 9(5,

97, 116, 148.
Wilson, Edmond B.. 3, 8.
Wilson's Petrel, 136.
" Phalarope, 103.
" Plover, 102.
" Snipe, 105.
" Tern, 133.
" Thrush, 7.
Windsor, Conn., 30.

" Hill, Conn., see East Windsor Hill.
Winter Hawk, 87.
" Wren, 11.
Witkowski (Amtman), 28.
Wood. Dr. WiUiam, 2, 3, 11, 12, 32, 35,
52, 64. 65, 66, 61, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78,
80. 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 92, 99,
111, 120, 121, 123, 124, 126, 127, 128,
129, 132, 137, 138.
Wood, Wilham (of 1634), 62, 91, 148.
" Duck, 125.
" Pewee, 58.
" Thrush. 6.
Woodcock, 104.

Woodpecker, Black-backed-Three-toed, 64.
" Downy, 64.

Wt)odpecker. tiolden-wiiigod, <)6.
" Hairy, 64.

Pileated, 5. 63.
" Rpd-licllicd, 65.

'' " -iieadi'd, (;5-i;.

" Yellow-bollied, 61-
Wren, Great (-aroHua, 11.
" House, 10.
" Long-billed Marsh, 11.
" Short- " " 11.

" Winter, 11.

Xema Sabini, 135.

Yaffle, 66.

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 70, 149.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 59.

" ■' Woodpecker, 64, 66.

" -breasted Chat, 1, 24.

" -crowned Night Heron, 112.

" -legs. Greater, 108.

" ■' Lesser, 108.

" Hammer, 66.

" Rail, 119.

" -ruraped Warl^ler, 16.

'• -throated Vireo, 33.

" " Warbler, 17.

" Warbler, 15.

" -winged Sparrow, 37.
Yellowbird, Common, 36.
Y^ellowstone Lake, Wy. Ter., 108.

•' National Park, 114.

Yukon River, Alaska. 1 14.

Zena?dura Carolincusis, 98, 140, 141, 145.
Zizania aquatica, 48.

Zonotrichia albicollis, 40. 41, 141, 142, 145.
" leucophrys, 40, 141, 142, 145.

ERRATA AND ADDENDA.

.3d page, 20 lines from top, for Robert F. read Robert T.
5th page, 7 lines from top, for migratoria read migratorius.
7th page, 2 1 lines from top, for Wm. Brewster read H. A. Purdie.
28th page, 10 lines from top, for [ read (.
9Hd page, 1 5 lines from top, for migratoria read migratorius.
108th page, 14 lines from top, for shanlis read shanks.
122d page, 32 lines from top, for 233-i read 232-\

I have recently learned that the Hudsonian Curlew [Numenius Hudsonicus^ p. 109)
has occurred along the coast this year in such numbers as to render the term " rare "
incorrect. Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell writes: " My brother killed Numenius Iludsonicus
July 2()th, 1877 [near Milford, Conn.]. He saw sixteen birds of that species on that
day; twelve in one flock, and two pairs. Others were seen later in July by other
parties." I am informed by Mr. J. H. Sage that two specimens of this species were
killed, near Saybrook, Conn., August 27th, 1877.

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