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BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB WiOTis OXOC LY, - ‘The Auk H Quarterly Journal of Ornithology EDITOR WITMER STONE VOLUME XXXIV (9.97086 \ fr The American Ornithologists’ Union: PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 1917 Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Boston, Mass. CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXXIV. NUMBER I. y PAGE DaniEL Giraup Euuiot. By Frank M. Chapman. (Plate I.) é 1 THE ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER AS A FALL AND WINTER VISITANT IN THE REGION OF Boston, MassacuusEetts. By Horace W. Wright . ; : ; i 2 11 Birps oF THE CHILLIWACK District, Bie By Major Allan Brooks ; : 3 28 Tue Brrps or CuLEBRA ISLAND, Porto Rico. By Alexander Wetmore . 51 Nores on A FEw OF THE "RARER Brrps OF SAuK AND DANE Coun- Tins, Wisconsin. By H.L. Stoddard. ; 63 DESCRIPTION oF A NEW SUBSPECIES OF THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK By S. F. Rathbun. 68 DEscrIPTION OF Telespiza ultima From Nuaoa Isanp. By William Alanson Bryan , 70 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SuBSPEC IES OF THE Broap- WINGED Hawk. By B. H. Bailey , 73 THIRTY-FOURTH STATED MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLO- cists’ Unton. By John Hall Sage . ; : : ‘ : 76 GENERAL NOTES. The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli) on Lake Michigan, 86; Relation- ship of Florida Herons, 86; A New Record for New England, 86; Destruction of Passenger Pigeons in Arkansas, 87; American Gos- hawks in Kansas, 87; Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides arcti- cus) in Jefferson Co., N. Y., 88; The Earliest Name for the Night- hawk, 88; A New Name for On ychospiza Prjwalski, 89; The Migrant Shrike near Boston, 89; Philadelphia Vireo (Vireosylva philadelphia) in Massachusetts 1 in Autumn, 89; Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla pusilla) in Massachusetts in December, 89; A Remarkable Case of Bird Feeding, 90; A Mockingbird in New "Hampshire, 91; Acadian Chickadee at Rhinebeck, N. Y., 91; The Acadian Chickadee on Long Island, 91; Alaska Hermit Thrush in Northeastern Illinois, 92; Winter Birds at Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 92; Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertina vespertina) at Cinnaminson, N. J., 93; Clarence Henry Morrell — A Correction, 93. RECENT LITERATURE. Index to ‘ The Ibis’ 1895-1912, 94; Noble on the Resident Birds of Guada- loupe, 94; Cherrie on the Ornithology of the Orinoco Region, 95; Recent Papers by Rothschild and Hartert, 95; Mearns on “Pardali- parus elegans, 96; Cooke’s ‘Second Annual Report of Bird Counts in the United States,’ 97; Pearl and Curtis on Dwarf Eggs, 97; Shu- feldt’s ‘Osteology of Palxornis, with other Notes on the Genus,’ 97; Shufeldt on Fossil Birds, 9 98; Peters on a New Swift from Santo Domingo, 98; Riley on New Birds from Santo Domingo, 98; Town- send on Bird Conservation in Labrador, 99; Gyldenstolpe on the Birds of Siam, 99; Grénvold’s Illustrations of the Birds of South America, 100; Bryant on Food of the Roadrunner in California, 100; iv Contents of Volume XXXIV. British Board of Agriculture Reports on the Food of the Rook, Starling, and Chaffinch, 101; Food of a Collection of South Australian Birds, 101; Recent Publications on Bird Conservation, 101; The Ornitho- logical Journals, 102; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 105; Publications Received, 106. CORRESPONDENCE. Habits of the Great Crested Grebe, 110. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituaries: Prof. F. E. L. Beal, 112; Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, 113; Lt. Col. Edward A. Butler, 114; Prof. A. J. Cook, 114; Prof. Donald- son Bodine, 115; Timothy O. Fuller, 115; Prof. L. L. Dyche, 116; Miss Mary B. Ferry, 116; Mrs. Jane L. Hine, 117; Changes in the Biological Survey, 117; Popular Bird Study, 117. _ NUMBER II. PaGE In MemoriAM: WELLS WoopprinGe Cooks. By 7. S. Palmer. (Plate II.) ; j ; : : 3 4 i 2 Lg In Avupupon’s Laprapor. By Charles W. Townsend, M. D. (Plates III-V.) ; 133 Tri PRESENT ABUNDANCE oF BIRDS IN THE VicrNtTy oF Fort Sr. MicuHakEL, ALASKA. By F. Seymour Hersey. 147 Tue LABRADOR CHICKADEE (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) IN A SOUTHWARD Miacration. By Charles W. Townsend, M.D. . 160 LABRADOR CHICKADER (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) IN BosToN AND VICINITY IN THE Fauu or 1916. By Horace W. Wright 164 OrniTHOLOGY ATST. Marks. By J. A. Farley 5 171 CriticaAL NOTES ON THE HASTERN SUBSPECIES OF Sitta carolinensis Latham. By Harry C. Oberholser . 181 THE BREEDING OF THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER AT ‘Har- LEY, STANSTEAD County, QuEBEc, 1916. By H. Mousley 187 Nores on Norto AMERICAN Birps, I. By Harry C. Oberholser . 191. A NrEw SuBSPECIES OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD FROM WESTERN CENTRAL AMERICA. By A. Brazier Howell : 196 SECOND ANNUAL List oF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE A. O. U. Cuecxk-List or NortH AMERICAN Brirps : 3 : »,' &98 GENERAL NOTES. Type of the Large-billed Puffin, 205; The Possibility of Puffinus bermuda Nichols & Mowbray in the North Atlantic, 206; Sooty Tern in New Jersey 206; Coloration of Down in Adult Ducks, 206; Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus vociferus) in Massachusetts, 207; Note on the Passenger Pigeon, 208; Feeding Habit of the Sparrow Hawk, 209; The Barn Owl (Aluco pratincola) in Western New York, 209; An Unrecorded Bird from the Bahamas, 209; Blue Jay in Jefferson Co., Colorado, 209; Note on the Bronzed Grackle in Maine, 210; A Bird new to the North American Fauna, 210; The Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina) in Southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 210; First Recorded Nesting of Bachman’s Sparrow in Pennsylvania, 212: Bohemian Waxwing at Seattle, Wash., 212; Contents of Volume XXXIV. v Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) at Newburyport, Mass., 214; The Cape May and Other Rare Warblers at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec, 214; Breeding of the Canada Warbler in Northern New Jersey, 214; Mockingbird at West Haven, Conn., 215; Hudso- nian Chickadees at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec, 215; Penthestes hudsonicus at Portland, Maine, 215; ‘‘One of the Rarest Birds,’ 215; Townsend’s Solitaire (M. townsendi) at Seattle, Washington, 217; Winter Birds at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec, 217; Unusual Late Autumn and Winter Records for Eastern Massachusetts, 217; Rare Winter Visitants in the Vicinity of Plainfield, New Jersey, 218; Notes from Madison, Wisconsin, 219; Notes from North Carolina, 219; Acknowledgement, 220. RECENT LITERATURE. Allen Bibliography, 221; Thorburn’s ‘ British Birds,’ 221; Evans’ ‘Birds of Britain,’ 223; Todd on New Birds from Colombia and Bolivia, 224; Grinnell on the Evening Grosbeak, 225; Brooks’ ‘Game Birds of West Virginia,’ 225; Forbush’s Recent Bulletins on Economic Biology, 226; A Bibliography of British Ornithology, 227; Cory on New South American Birds, 227; Oberholser on the Birds of Bawean Island, 227; Wetmore on Secondary Sexual Characters in the Ruddy Duck, 228; Mathews’ ‘ Birds of Australia,’ 228; Origin of the Generic Name thia, 229; Bird Enemies of a few Insect Pests, 230; Annual Report of the National Association of Audubon Societies, 231; Lloyd- Jones on Feather Pigments, 232; Grinnell on Distributional Control 232; Recent Publications of the U.S. Biological Survey, 232; The Ornithological Journals, 233; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 236; Publications Received, 236. Th oO CORRESPONDENCE. A Description of Audubon, 239; Concealing Coloration, 240. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituaries: Samuel Wright, 240; Mrs. Katharine Rebecca Styer, 241; Annual Meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, 241; Fuertes’ Mammal Portraits, 242; University of Michigan Ornitho- logical Course, 242; Book Notice, 242. NUMBER III. PAGE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PRoressor F. E. L. Beau. By W. L. McAtee. (Plate VI.) : .. 248 Some Summer Brrps or Nortuern New Brunswick. By P. B.: Philipp and B. S. Bowdish. (Plates VII-IX.) ; 265 Miss Lawson’s RECOLLECTIONS OF ORNITHOLOGISTS. By Frank L. Burns ; 275 THE STATUS OF THE BLACK- -THROATED Loon "(Gavia arctica) AS A NortH AMERICAN Birp. By F. Seymore Hersey 283 AN IMPROVED OBSERVATION TENT. By R. M. Strong. ‘(Plate X.) 290 FIELD NOTES ON THE SERIEMA (Chunga burmeisteri). By Howarth. Boyle ; 294 THIRTY-TWO YEARS OF Birp MIGRATION AT RALEIGH, Nort Caro- LINA, By C.S. Brimley . ; : : ‘ : ; . 296 vi Contents of Volume XXXIV. PAGE A REVISION OF THE MARSH WRENS OF CALIFoRNIA. By Harry S. Swarth . E : ; ‘ ; oa OOS NestiNnG oF THE FLORIDA GALLINULE. By Verdi Burtch. (Plates XI-XII.) ‘ : 5 ; : , ., 319 Noes on Nort AMERICAN Birps. II. By Harry C. Oberholser 321 A Synopsis oF THE Races oF Bombycilla garrula (LINN&US). By Harry C. Oberholser ; ; A 3 : : : Sep) GENERAL NOTES. An Early Record of the White-tailed Ptarmigan, 334; Wild Geese at Moose Factory, 334; Wood Duck Removing Young from the Nest, 335; Northern Phalarope in Michigan, 336; The Western Goshawk (Astur atricapillus striatulus Ridg.) in Towa, 336; Chimney Swift Nesting in a Well, 337; Muscivora tyrannus (Linn.) in Massachusetts, 337; Prairie Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris praticola) Nesting at Newbury, Mass., 338; Starling Nesting near Washington, D. C., 338; A Pennsylvania Starling Roost, 338; Evening Grosbeak at Birdsboro, Pa., 340; The San Lucas Sparrow (Passerculus rostratus guttatus) in California, 340; Nelson’s Sparrow in Vermont, 341; Bohemian Wax- wing (Bombycilla garrula) in Colorado, 341; Regurgitation in the Bohemian Waxwing, 341; Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata celata) in Cohasset, Mass., 342; The Cape May Warbler at Washington, D. C., in Winter, 343; Kirtland’s Warbler in Wiscon- sin, 343; Yellow-throated Warbler in Brooklyn, N. Y., 343; Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) Nesting in Southern Connecticut, 344; The Hudsonian Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus subsp.?) in Lycom- ing County, Pa., 344; Hudsonian Chickadee on Long Island, 345. RECENT LITERATURE. Wayne’s ‘A List of Avian Species for which the Type Locality is South Carolina,’ 346; Chapin on the Classification of the Weaver-Birds, 347; Pearson’s ‘The Bird Study Book,’ 348; Henshaw and Fuertes on North American Warblers, 349; Mrs. Bailey’s ‘Handbook of Birds of the Western United States,’ 350; Wood’s ‘The Fundus Oculi of Birds,’ 350; Mathews’ ‘The Birds of Australia,’ 352; Matthew and Granger on Diatryma, 354; Dabbene on New Species of Geositta and Cinclodes, 355; Chapman on Santo Domingo Birds, 355; Sclater on the Birds of Yemen, 356; Henninger on the Ornithological Work of Dr. E. I. Shores, 356; Rhinebeck Birds and Seasons, 357; Shufeldt on Fossil Birds from Florida, 357; ‘Cassinia,’ 358; Shelton’s ‘Land Birds of West Central Oregon,’ 358; McGregor on New or Note- worthy Philippine Birds, 359; The Ornithological Journals, 359; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 365; Publications Received, 367. CORRESPONDENCE. Plumage Importation in England, 369; Coloration of Down in Adult Ducks, 369; Subspecific Designations, 370. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituaries: Dr. Edward Pierson Ramsay, 376; Newell A. Eddy, 376; Norman DeWitt Betts, 377; Samuel Thorne, 378; Henry W. Mars- den, 378; Sociedad Ornithologica del Plata, 379; Youngstown Bird Preserve, 379; Expedition to Nicaragua, 379; Expedition to Labra- dor, 379; Secretary Sage’s Birthday, 379; Exploration in Arizona, 379; Resolution on Bird Treaty, 380; Book Notice, 380. Contents of Volume XXXIV. vil NUMBER IV. PAGE A Stupy oF SUBSEQUENT NESTINGS AFTER THE Loss OF THE First. By H. Mousley. (Plates XIII-XIV) 5 : ‘ ; 381 Somer ALASKA PENINSULA Birp Norss. By Charles A. Gianini 394 THE SUMMER BrrRDs OF THE ST. MatHEew IsuAnp Birp RESERVA- TION. By G. Dallas Hanna 403 Nestinc oF THE CAPE May WaRBLER AT CapE Epwarp, QUEBEC. By A. F. M erriam : 410 Tue Stratus or “Larus thayeri, TuHayver’s Guu.” By Jonathan Dwight, M.D. (Plate XV) . : 413 SHEDDING OF THE Stomacn LiniNG By Brrps PARTICULARLY AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ANATIDS. By W.L. McAtee. (Plates XVI-XVII.) . : 415 Notes on Kennicort’s ScrEEcH OWL (Otus a asto kennicolti) IN THE PuaGEt Sounp Reaction. By J. Hooper Bowles : 422 Tue Nicue-RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CALIFORNIA THRASHER. By Joseph Grinnell ‘ alg AD 7 Notes on Lone Istanp Brrps. By John T. Nichols, Robert C. Murphy and Ludlow Griscom _. 434 PERSONALIA IN ORNITHOLOGY — REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. By 7’. S. Palmer . ; . 445 REMARKS ON CoLorRADO Birps. By Willoughby P. Lowe : 453 FurtHER Notes oN ALABAMA BIrpDs. ey Lewis S. Golsan and Ernest G. Holt . : 456 Ontario Brrp Notes. By H oyes Lloyd : . 457 Somr Notes on Connecticut Birps. By Ira N. Gabrielson = £460 Notes on NortH AMERICAN Birps. III. By Harry C. Oberholser 465 NOTES ON THE GENUS PurriNnus Brisson. By Harry C. Oberholser 471 GENERAL NOTES. Man-o’-War-bird ete. on the North Carolina Coast, 476; Gadwall in Massachusetts, 476; Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) in a Phenomenal Position at Boston, Mass., 476; Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos) at Springfield, Mass., 477; Sparrow Hawks Nesting in a Bird House, 478; Black Vulture in Massachusetts, 478; Crow Roost near Boston, Pennsylvania, 478; Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina ves- pertina) at Springfield, Mass., 478; Evening Grosbeak at Lakewood, N. J., 479; Evening Grosbeaks at Hatley, Stanstead Co., Quebec, 479; English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) feeding on the Larve of the Elm Tree Beetle, 479; The Slate-colored Junco in Colorado, 480; Nesting of the Chiapas Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca cerulea chiapensis), 480; Brew- ster’s Warbler (Vermivora leucobronchialis) in Lexington, Mass., 481; Late Southward Migration of the Cape May Warbler on Long Island, 483; Rare Warblers at Hatley, Stanstead Co., Quebec, 484; Sap Drinking Habits of Warblers, 484; A Roosting. Place of Fledgling House Wrens, 485; The Labrador Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) at Cohasset, Mass., late in May, 486; Labrador Chickadees at Hatley, Stanstead Co., Quebec, 486; Rare Winter Visitants in Northern Indiana, 487. RECENT LITERATURE. Bergtold on the Incubation Periods in Birds, 488; Howell on the Birds of the California Coast Islands, 489; Shufeldt on a Fossil Bird from the Florissant Shales, 490; Richmond’s ‘Third Supplement’ to Water- house’s “Index Genera Avium,”’ 491; Aves in the Zoological Record for 1915, 491; Kuser’s ‘The Way to Study Birds,’ 492; The Birds vill Contents of Volume XXXIV. of Australia, 492; Brooks on Some Falkland Island Birds, 492; Rich- mond on New Birds from Haiti, 493; Brooks on ‘The Food of West Virginia Birds,’ 493; Bird Pests in War Time, 494; Field Study of the Food of Nestlings, 494; Effect of Poisoning Operations on Birds; Value of Carrion Feeders, 495; Economic Ornithology in recent Entomological Publications, 497; Report of the Biological Division of the Canadian Geological ‘Survey for 1916, 498; The Ornithological Journals, 498; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 502; Pub- lications Received, 504. CORRESPONDENCE. Definite Localities, 506; Appeal for Assistance in Work of the Biological Survey, 507; “ The Way to Study Birds,” 508; Concealing Colora- tion, 508. NOTES AND NEWS. Obituaries: Dr. Emil August Goeldi, 510; Alfred John North, 510; Rev. William Rogers Lord, 511; Dr. Bert Heald Bailey, 512; Francis Windle, 512; Covington Few Seiss, 513; Charles S. Welles, 513; 1847-1917, 513; Animal Coloration, 514; The Thirty-fifth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U., 514. INDEX : ‘ : : ‘ : : . . : Page 515 ERRATA . °* t F ; : k f ? ; ; AD, DATES OF IssuE : ‘ : : : ; ; ; 2 “542 CoNntTENTS 3 ‘ 4 : i i OFFICERS AND MEMBERS : Se ix ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATES. Plate I. D. G. Elliot. s II. Wells W. Cooke. ff III. Grand Romaine River; Shekatika River (two views). IV. Double-crested Cormorants and Murres (two views). é V. Ring-billed Gull’s Nest; Hare Harbor (two views). 5 VI. F.E. L. Beal. a VII. Nests of Wilson’s Warbler and Philadelphia Vireo (two views). “VIII. Nests of Olive-backed Thrush and Yellow Palm Warbler (two views). 4 IX. Nests of Bay-breasted Warbler and Yellow-bellied Fly- catcher (two views). . X. Corner Bracket for Tent-frame and Tent in Position (two views). as XI. Florida Gallinule (two views). fe XII. Florida Gallinule (two views). “« XIII. Eggs of Black-throated Blue Warbler, Northern Parula Warbler and White-throated Sparrows: Successive Sets. CPO XA. Eggs of Chestnut-sided and Myrtle Warblers; Successive ets. oi XV. Wing-feathers of Larus thayeri and L. argentatus. “XVI. Stomach Linings of Ducks. “ XVII. Stomach Linings of Ducks and Geese. Trext-Cors. Map of the Chilliwack District, B. C. : : : : Page 31 Distribution of Californian Marsh Wrens. ; : : 309 Distribution of the California Thrasher : P : 7 A295 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 1917. Expiration of Term. ESHA wAMBMR TINS TCSTAC Ub crete sis emiol acie.<' mieene soos November, 1917. ee l WGC ERGs 5 Old Shae Mee se 1917. Stone, WITMER...... 5 AGH OHIN GE: SECTCLANU epee osiee ole ae ns cicers c oid 1917. DI WiGHO TI) ONATITAN UCUSUNeM ssieanie sci eicieles « o ettalsie se x 1917. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. HD) TAIN TE EVUMPERVIRIN I oritonetcis os eeetere erokehs cal ereve ecco io e orone hearer ei November, 1917. DERG EER MVEA Ven eet itel ciara sore ane alice t sie acta sees . 1917. (GRINNE TU OSH PEER ene cenit ren ieee murine ha ee 1917. RU CAS PLIRIEDBRIG UA martyr sha cs eanincieronnrra cite cere re aiaese ears ms 1917. OSGOOD WHEE ED gels trcii ace nts eave e cee eaten w parce ae “) 1917. ELCHNTOND AG MARTINS OWinsiccie cin haters estes on em cve/eeaia ome * 1917. VOB RMS HVEONMIAGH San ais. lticie eateeeeteaeicha oraiats teste sieree ae 2 1917. ANTEIBIOTS(S lg ut atte ra Ak Slee ce oro SOE COMER IAMS eee BARCHE TDM RR © MARTNSUE os .cccren elie soate ae alnsine cme ESRSMRW SDE mV VOLE DAN yeh. t este cian iste eusfc camicues el ieaeieme ous. arab ciretc (CENBITAN EIURAINTKUiae ter csiontccc tbe naheta da merce eee ae : u Ex-Presidents. WoORYeOHARTES ED asset a cictcrce eats oem Sica cslaeteh a Sees VDE HAUVIna (OSMAN Depa ct satan om) eae cacy oy ner ce ee ee INE SON UD WARD Warns cecil see becomes Hee oe EVED. G VAN IOBIR Ds wate swerve ohevermschaiess onsale, cr arokaetoeaers EDITORIAL STAFF oF ‘THE AUK.’ SLONH a VWVEDIVER RE LatOTe rare leiareistarsierore ele eicia cuclersic ceive ele ous November, 1917. CoMMITTEES. Committee on Publications. FisHER, ALBERT K. . STONE, WITMER. SaGcex, JoHn H., Secretary. DwiGuHt, JONATHAN. Committee of Arrangements for the Meeting of 1917. Fisaur, AvBert K., Chairman. BaTCHELDER, CHARLES F, Saag, Joun H., Secretary. Brewster, WILLIAM. BarsBour, THOMAS. x Fellows. FELLOWS, MEMBERS, AND ASSOCIATES OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. APRIL, 1917: FELLOWS. Date of Election. Auten, Dr. J. A., Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y....... Founder ANTHONY A. Wc Lronside,Onretquseee cecinrinecieataneiecie (1885) 18952 Banas, Ourram, Museum Comp. Zodélogy, Cambridge, Mass.. . (1884)1901 Barrows, Prof. W. B., Box 1047, East Lansing, Mich............... 1883 BatTcHELDER, CHARLES F., 7 Kirkland St., Cambridge, Mass... .. Founder Begrse, C. Wiiu1am, New York Zoél. Park, New York, N. Y.. . (1897)1912 Bent, ARTHUR CLEVELAND, Taunton, Mass................ (1889)1909 BICKNELL, EUGENE P., Box 1698, New York, N. Y............. Founder BisHop, Dr. Louts B., 356 Orange St., New Haven, Conn...... (1885)1901 *BREWSTER, WILLIAM, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge, Mass........ Founder Brown, NatHan Cuirrorp, 218 Middle St., Portland, Me....... Founder CHADBOURNE, Dr. ARTHUR P., Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, Mass. (1883)1889 Cuapman, Dr. Franx M., Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y. ; (1885) 1888 *Cory, CHaruEs B., Field Museum Nat. Hist., Chicago, Ill....... Founder Deane, RutTaven, 112 W. Adams St., Chicago, Ill.................. 1883 DutcHErR, WILLIAM, 949 Park Ave., Plainfield, N. J......... (1883)1886 Dwieut, Dr. JonaTHAN, 134 W. 71st St., New York, N. Y.... .(1883)1886 Fisuer, Dr. Atsert K., Biological Survey, Washington, D. C....Founder FisHer, Prof. WALTER Kenrick, 1525 Waverley St., Palo Alto, Cal. (1899) 1905 FieminG, James H., 267 Rusholme Road, Toronto, Ontario. . . (1893) 1916 Forsusu, Epwarp H., State House, Boston, Mass........... (1887)1912 Fuerres, Louis A., Cornell Heights, Ithaca, N. Y......... (1891)1912 GRINNELL, Dr. GrorGE Brirp, 238 E. 15th St., New York, N. Y....... 1883 GRINNELL, JosEePH, Mus. Vert. Zoél., Univ. Cal., Berkeley, Cal.(1894)1901 Hensuaw, Henry W., The Ontario, Washington, D.C.............. 1883 Jones, Lynps, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio........... (1888)1905 1 Members of the Union, and subscribers to ‘The Auk’ are requested to promptly notify Dr. JonaraHan Dwiaut, Treasurer, 134 W. 71st St., New York City, of any change of address. } 2 Dates in parentheses indicate dates of joining the Union. * Life Fellow. Honorary Fellows. xi Loomis, Leverett M., Cal. Acad. Sci., San Francisco, Cal... . . (1883)1892 Lucas, Dr. Freprric A., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y. (1888) 1892 MAILuiARD, JOSEPH, 1815 Vallejo St., San Francisco, Cal.....(1895)1914 McArTEE, Watpo Lexx, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.. .(1903)1914 McGrecor, Ricuarp C., Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I... . .(1889)1907 Merriam, Dr. C. Hart, 1919 16th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Founder Miniter, WaLtpron DeWitt, 309 E. 7th St., Plainfield, N. J..(1896)1914 Nine Gee les Gotha shila enya cate ietedam ste on erateeel steko ewes ars Savataiee 1883 NeEtson, E. W., Biological Survey, Washington, D.C............... 1883 OBERHOLSER, Harry C., Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. (1888) 1902 Oscoop, WiLFRED H., Field Museum Nat. Hist., Chicago, Ill.. (1893) 1905 Paumer, Dr. T.S., 1939 Biltmore St., N. W., Washington, D. C..(1888)1901 PaumeErR, WixLu1AM, U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C. (1888) 1898 Ricumonp, Dr. Cuarues W., U.S. National Museum, Washington, ID AOW 2 ace ke 5 a Ga Ra OPE CIEE BIS ce ucla ERRORS a iia yep ar (1888) 1897 Ripeway, Prof. Ropert, U.S. Nat. Mus., Washington, D. C....Founder Roserts, Dr. THomas S., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn... .1883 ASG Jigismp Bios Jetonarl chive LM Otohalilaca 5 ea no een Beata a aco ORS Senos 1883 SAUNDERS, WILLIAM E., 240 Central Ave., London, Ontario.......... 1883 SHUFELDT, Dr. RopEert W., 3356 18th St., N. W., Washington, D.C. Founder Stone, Dr. Wirmer, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa... . (1885)1892 SwartuH, Harry S8., Mus. Vert. Zodlogy, Berkeley, Cal....... (1900) 1916 Topp, W. E. Crypr, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa...... (1890) 1916 WipMANN, Orro, 5105 Von Versen Ave., St. Louis, Mo............... 1884 RETIRED FELLOWS. WED ENG inmUAINed SHO CKLON ss Gallearsmiieys a enetseye tava a iavejicic cies 1ouece (1883)1911 LAwRENcE, Newsoup T., Lawrence, N. Y..............0.00. (1883)1913 SteJNEGER, Dr. LEonHARD, U.S. Nat. Mus., Washington,D.C.(1883)1911 HONORARY FELLOWS. BuTuruin, SerRcrus ALEXANDROVICH, Wesenberg, Esthonia, Russia (1907) 1916 Dusois, Dr. ALPHONSE, Museum Natural History, Brussels... (1884)1911 Frnscu, Prof. Dr. Orro, Leonhardplatz 5, Braunschweig, Germany... .1883 Firprincer, Prof. Dr. Max, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, CCLIn My pra weet bee e erent n: search Sieve lcesuaeoe stu aie sicne ele agen (1891) 1916 * Life Fellow. xii Corresponding Fellows. Gapow, Dr. Hans Friepricu, Cambridge, England......... (1884) 1916 GopMaNn, FREDERICK DuCANE, 45 Pont St., London, S. W........... 1883 Harrert, Ernst, Zodlogical Museum, Tring, England........ (1891)1902 Heuimayr, Dr. Carn E., Neuhauserstrasse 51.11, Munich, Germany (1903)1911 TnerinGc, Dr. HERMANN von, Rua Consello, Sao Paulo, Brazil. (1902)1911 Pycrart, WILLIAM PLANE, British Museum (Nat. Hist.) Cromwell Road, ondonySiiW s.20\chie 0s. ee eee eee (1902)1911 ReIcHENow, Dr. AnToN, K6nigl. Mus. fiir Naturkunde, Invaliden- strasse;,43, Berlin 223 chads a hee sie eee eee (1884) 1891 RoruscuHinp, Lord Lions WautER, Zoological Museum, Tring, Eng- DTA aa Se 4 weed cbs Bina Ree I oe ee (1898) 1913 SaLvApDor1I, Count Tommaso, Royal Zoél. Museum, Turin, Italy..... 1883 ScHatow, Prof. Herman, Hohenzollerndamm 50, Berlin-Griinewald, Germahy 33.555 Ree See Se ones (1884)1911 CORRESPONDING FELLOWS. Assott, Dr. Witi1aMm L., Aldine Hotel, Philadelphia, Pa.......... 1916 ALRAR OP ANASTASTO. Saned OSG © OStamiiCa payne Meme eee ee 1888 ALPHERAKY, SERGIUS N., Imperial Acad. Sci., Petrograd, Russia. .. .1913 ARRIGONI DEGLI Opp, Count Errors, Univ. of Padua, Padua, Italy .1900 BANNERMAN, Davip ARMITAGE, 11 Washington House, Basil St., Lon- don; Bingland cee) sis Beat eee iris eee eek erat A bah ee 1916 Brancul, Dr. VALENTINE, Imperial Zool. Museum, Petrograd, Russia 1919 BonuHOTE, JOHN Lewis, Gade Spring Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, Fim glands 5/32 cers geben See oo ae eee eae EE Eee 1911 Bureau, Dr. Louis, Ecole de Médicine, Nantes, France............ 1884 Birrixorer, Dr. Jouannes, Zoélogical Garden, Rotterdam, Holland.1886 CAMPBELL, ARCHIBALD JAMES, Custom House, Melbourne, Australia. 1902 Carriker, M. A., Jr., Apartado 51, Santa Marta, Colombia. . . (1907)1912 CHAMBERLAIN, MontaGueE, Cambridge, Mass............ (Founder) 1901 CHUBB, CHARLES, British Museum (Nat. Hist.) Cromwell Road, Lon- ro CO] oP I RS pnEY Pein Eo aia nb hn oebeah one Gicliaco ies Hy ee Eo TOe 1911 CuarKE, WILLIAM Eacte, Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh...... 1889 DasseEne, Dr. Rosperto, Buenos Aires, Argentina................. 1916 DaucueisH, JoHN J., Brankston Grange, Bogside Station, Alloa, Seotlanid: ii).icc ec ene eter Ee ioe een een et 1883 Doe, Sanrorp B., Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands................... 1883 Ecut, Apotpa BacHoFEN von, Nussdorf, near Vienna.............. 1883 Evans, ArTtHuR HumBLzE, 9 Harvey Road, Cambridge, England..... 1899 FEILDEN, Col. Henry Wemyss, Burwash, England ................ 1884 FERRARI-PEREZ, Prof. FERNANDO, Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico........ 1885 FreEKE, Percy Evans, Southpoint, Limes Road, Folkstone, England .1883 Corresponding Fellows. xii GCirtinnR, DrvAe sous Galles Switzerland. ..3.0..5lecerbecenee. 1884 Gopwin-AusTEN, Lieut.-Col. Henry HAaversHam, Nore, Hascombe, Godsuming surrey, singing eect. 2s velel. wees cece cc eee es 1884 Goer pt, Prof. Dr. Emit A., Zieglerstrasse 36, Bern, Switzerland...... 1903 GRANDIDIER, ALFRED, 6 Rond-Point des Champs Elysées, Paris...... 1883 GuRNEY, JoHN Henry, Keswick Hall, Norwich, England........... 1883 Haacner, Auwyn Kart, Pretoria, Transvaal..................... 1916 Hat, Ropmrt, Rest) Harrow, Hobart, Tasmania.:..2:...-......... 1916 Hartina, JAMES EpmMuNp, Edgewood, Weybridge, Surrey, England. .1883 Hunnicke, Dr. Carn R., Gera, Reuss, Germany...............0.... 1907 HANSON: FLARE Y Vi VOKOMAMaA Tapa Gy. ese eects cere oie tee ae 1888 Hupson, Wi~u1am Henry, Tower House, St. Luke’s Road, West- Hounevbarksabonc On. mV ieee ie et eee iene eee akc 1895 Kritprr, Dr. THrosatp J., University Museum, Athens, Greece... .1884 Laas, Col. WiturAm V., Cullenswood House, St. Mary’s, Tasmania. .1891 Lz Soviir, Duptey, Zodlogical Gardens, Melbourne, Australia...... 1911 LONNBERG, Dr. Ernar, Zoological Museum, Stockholm, Sweden..... 1916 Lowe, Dr. Percy R., The Hatch, Windsor, England............. _ 1916 MacFaruaNne, Roperick, Winnipeg, Manitoba................... 1886 MaparAsz, Dr. Juttus von, National Museum, Budapest, Hungary. 1884 Martuews, Gregory M., Langley Mount, Watford, Herts, England. .1911 ViEinniGanx.DreAuGusTe, Pars) Hrance:.o2s ss ccdlec theese ese 1916 Menzpier, Prof. Dr. Micuart, Imperial Society of Naturalists, MOSCOW s ESUSSI¢ safe ares in hic cat are rh eae Sees ene 1884 Mitzais, JOHN GUILLE, Compton’s Brow, Horsham, England...... 1911 INANE Se ME hOKIO: la DAMy ickusta nieces een cist ce ec ks sees x 1886 Nicuouson, Francis, The Knoll, Windermere, Westmoreland, Eng- DATACENTER Meh een ss niah pe CR AAEM! 3 Be 1884 Norru, Atrrep J., Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales. .1902 OqILvin-GRANT, WitutAM Rosert, British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Gronmwellioadh wondommsawWieenien soc ck oss Geran see ce oe 1899 Rann Dry. hs Melsingiors, Mimlands sic .de0. toes Cees k ees oe 1883 RAMsny, i. Pt, Sydney, New South Wales... .....0.05.6.0.s00 00008 1884 RINGHR, PRMDERIC. Wagasaki, Japa: :.0. 02.65. ees odes dealer es 1888 SciaTer, WILLIAM Lutuey, 10 Sloane Court, Chelsea, London, S. W. .1906 SNETHLAGE, Dr. Emin1a, Museu Goeldi, Pard, Brazil.............. 1915 SusHxin, Dr. Perer, University, Kharkov, Russia................ 1903 Tuer, Dr. Hsaumar, University of Upsala, Upsala, Sweden........ 1884 TscHUSI zU SCHMIDHOFFEN, Victor, Rirrer von, Villa Tannenhof, bemrallein* Salzourge “Austria: 66.52.00. Seiad oe de 1884 Van Oort, Epwarp Dante, Museum Nat. Hist., Leyden, Holland. .1913 WarteruHouss, F. H., 3 Hanover Square, London, W............... 1889 Wines, Dr. Heruur, Univ. Zodlogical Museum, Copenhagen, Den- THCY Secret A bjt rs Susiek es et a eR oe ERIE RE eI TOE Een h aehisiccisiF 1903 Wituersy, Harry Forses, 3 Cannon Place, Hampstead, England. . .1916 WORCHETER SErolwDEan Cx Manila, Pil... ss. csc. oeeecnem ee 1903 LEEMDONSDonOsi © san sose, Costa Ricas... .. us s..sce cae jeter 1884 xiv Members. MEMBERS. Auten, Artuur A., McGraw Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. (1909)1914 Aten, Francis H., 4 Park St., Boston, Mass............... (1888)1901 Auten, Dr. GLover M., 234 Berkeley St., Boston, Mass...... (1896) 1904 Anperson, Dr. Rupotpx M., Museum of Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canadas) seine: tes aediclendeiee Soe een Rs Ue (1907) 1914 Attwater, H. P., 2120 Genesee St., Houston, Texas......... (1891)1901 Battey, VERNON, 1834 Kalorama Ave., Washington, D. C....(1887)1901 Bartey, Mrs. Vernon, 1834 Kalorama Ave., Washington, D. C. (1885)1901 Baty. WiILLTANG ly VArdmore ean marion t seer rie eile (1886)1901 BarpBoour, Dr. THomas, Mus. Comp. Zoélogy, Cambridge, Mass. (1903) 1914 Bartscu, Prof. Paut, U.S. Nat. Museum, Washington, D. C.. (1896) 1902 BEerGToup, Dr. W. H., 1159 Race St., Denver, Colo......... (1889) 1914 Bonp, FRANK, 3127 Newark St., N. W., Washington, D. C.... (1887)1901 Bow es, JouN Hoorer, The Woodstock, Tacoma, Wash... . (1891)1910 Braisuin, Dr. WiLLrAM C., 425 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.. (1894) 1902 Brooxs, ALLAN, Okanagan Landing, B. C...................- (1902)1909 Bryan, WitL1AM ALANSON, College of Hawaii, Honolulu,. Hawaiian ESI 0X bc pene RUC ernie cede, Barman ha 7 acer ieean cence otras (1898)1901 IBURNS, DRANK 1: eS Criwiyaaebecusns sieieictordeyerrsieie rie eral eyetietete (1891)1901 Butter, Amos W., 52 Downey Ave., Irvington, Indianapolis, Ind.(1885)1901 CHAMBERS. Wie nn Bagleocks @alaanmmameer eric i cirlea (1907)1913 Crark, Austin Hospart, 1726 18th St., N. W., Washington, D.C.(1899) 1905 Cuark, Dr. Husert Lyman, Museum of Comparative Zoélogy, Cam- bridwe, 7 Masset: naceana cacao tin liane etetonelees (1886) 1902 Daaccett, Frank 8., Museum, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, Cal. (1889)1901 Dawson, WiLL1AM Leon, R. D., No.3, Box 110, Santa Barbara, Cal. (1895) 1905 DEANE, WALTER, 29 Brewster St., Cambridge, Mass......... (1897)1901 Eaton, Eton Howarp, 678 Main St., Geneva, N. Y......... (1895) 1907 Evermann, Prof. Barron W., Cal. Academy of Sciences, San Fran- CISCO'S Wal ar: Pe cerotete Sibu ae aeEe e meee ape a ce Rees (1883) 1901 Finuey, WiuuiaM L., 651 Hast Madison St., Portland, Ore... (1904)1907 GavuLt, BENJAMIN TRuE, Glen Ellyn, Ill................... (1885)19038 GotpMAN, Epwarp Atronso, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. (1897)1902 Hersey, F. Seymour, 6 Maple Ave., Taunton, Mass........ (1911) 1916 HoFrMANN, RaupH, 11 W. Concord Ave., Kansas City, Mo... (1893)1901 Houuister, Nep, Nat. Zodlogical Park, Washington, D.C... . (1894) 1910 own, A. BRAZIER | COVvilis) «Callan ayer ie rericie aerate (1909) 1916 Howe .., Artuur H., 2919S. Dakota Ave., Washington, D. C. (1889)1902 Members. XV Jacoss, J. WARREN, 404 S. Washington St., Waynesburg, Pa. . (1889)1904 JEFFRIES, WILLIAM AuGusTUS, 11 Pemberton Square, Boston, Mass. (1883)1901 Jos, HERBERT K., 291 Main St., West Haven, Conn......... (1896)1901 JorpaNn, Prof. Davip Starr, Stanford University, Cal....... (1885)1901 Katmsacu, Epwin R.., Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. . (1910)1915 Kennarp, F. H., Dudley Road, Newton Centre, Mass....... (1892)1912 Know tron, F. H., U.S. Nat. Mus., Washington, D.C....... (1883) 1902 Law, J. EuGENE, 1834 El Cerrito Place, Hollywood, Cal...... (1907) 1916 Mackay, GrorcE H., 304 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass... .(1890)1901 Matuuiarp, Joun W., 230 California St., San Francisco, Cal. .(1895)1901 Miter, Mrs. OuivE THorne, 5928 Hays Ave., Los Angeles, Cal.(1887)1901 Moore, Rosert Toomas, Haddonfield, N. J................ (1898) 1914 Morris, GEORGE SPENCER, Olney, Philadelphia, Pa.......... (1887)1903 Morais, Rosert O., 82 Temple St., Springfield, Mass........ (1888) 1904 Murpocu, JouNn, 16 High Rock Way, Allston, Mass......... (1883)1901 Murpay, Rosert C., Museum Brooklyn Institute, Eastern Parkway, SHOOMAV EVN G | OM iiare costs ters aie teens amt cvoketane bie nns eels eve ahs (1905) 1914 NicuHous, JouN TREADWELL, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., New Works eNiay. (1901)1914 Norton, Artuur H., Museum Natural History, 22 Elm St., Port- LancelViainers cee it tae aie eat Ne nine ace cect abel eta tetnations (1890) 1902 Pearson, T. GinBeRT, 1974 Broadway, New York, N. Y.....(1891) 1902 lefendoroiieshy Avovsiny (Onu WiVCernlornaay WY IAISS\a Ges am inecierais a Hela 5 oie (1904)1912 PREBLE, Epwarp A., Biological Survey, Washington, D.C... .(1892)1901 RATHBUN, SAMUEL F., 217 14th Ave., N., Seattle, Wash..... (1893) 1902 Rwoaps, SAMUEL N., 81 Haddon Ave., Haddonfield, N. J..... (1885) 1901 Ritey, JoserH H., U. 8. National Museum, Washington, D. C. (1897)1905 Rives, Dr. Wixu1aM C., 1702 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C. (1885) 1901 Rosinson, Col. Wirt, U.S. A., West Point, N. Y............ (1897) 1901 Seton, ERNEST THompson, Greenwich, Conn............... (1883) 1901 *SHERMAN, Miss ALtTHEA R., National via McGregor, Iowa. .(1907)1912 Suiras, Hon. Georae, 3d, Stoneleigh Court Washington, D. C.(1907)1915 STEPHENS, FRANK, Nat. Hist. Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, Cal. (1883) 1901 Strona, Dr. REusEN M., Vanderbilt Medical School, Nashville, Tenn. (1889) 1903 Swates, Brapsaaw Hatt, Mus. of Zool., Ann Arbor, Mich.(1902)1909 TAVERNER, Percy A., Victoria Memorial Museum, Ottawa, Canada (1902) 1909 RrAveR JOHN Hiriom Wancaster, Mass. 5. scl oc etev se elle (1898) 1905 TowNsENnD, CHarLes H., Aquarium, Battery Park, New York, N.Y. (1883)1901 *Life Member. Xvi Associates. Townsend, Dr. CaHarLeEs WENDELL, 76 Marlborough St., Boston, IVs Ae ee aS, Pit Fitts EE eee des i ce ee De ih aes aa aro (1901)1905 Trotter, Dr. SPeNcER, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa. . (1888)1901 WarREN, Epwarp Royat, 20 West Caramillo St., Colorado Springs, COLDEST Ea Ie eis eae eae ete Re SOLIS oak (1902)1910 Wayne, Artuur T., Mt. Pleasant, S. C............---0000% (1905)1906 Wetmore, ALEx., Biological Survey, Washington, D.C...... (1908) 1912 Witiett, GrorGeE, 2123 Court St., Los Angeles, Cal......... (1912)1913 Wo.cort, Dr. Ropert H., State University, Lincoln, Neb... .(1901)1903 Woop, Norman A., Museum Univ. of Mich., Ann Arbor, Mich.. (1904)1912 Wraicat, Mrs. Maset Oscoon, Fairfield, Conn.............. (1895)1901 ASSOCIATES. Axssott, CLINTON GILBERT, Orchard Hill, Rhinebeck, N. Y......... 1898 Apams, BENJAMIN, 476 5th Ave., New York, N. Y................4. 1911 Apams, WALLACE, U. S. Indian Service, Florence, Ariz............. 1901 Avams, Dr. Z. B., 43 Cottage Farm Rd., Brookline, Mass.......... 1908 AIKEN, Hon. JoHn, Superior Court, Court House, Boston, Mass... .1905 Aimar, Dr. CHar.es Pons, 4 Vanderhorst St., Charleston, 8. C.....1916 ALEXANDER, Miss AnniE M., 92 Sea View Ave., Piedmont, Cal..... 1911 AtuEeN, Mary P., 206 Moore St., Hackettstown, N. J.............. 1913 ANDERSON, Ernest M., Provincial Museum, Victoria, B. C.......... 1915 Anpgrrson, Mrs. J. C., Great Barrington, Mass................... 1903 ANGELL, WALTER A., 33 Westminster St., Providence, R.I........ 1901 Antuony, H. E., Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y......... 1911 ARMSTRONG, Epwarp E., 207 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill....... 1904 ARNOLD, EpwarpD, Grand Trunk R’y., Montreal, Quebec.......... 1894 ARNOLD, Dr. W. W., 1st Nat. Bank Bldg., Colorado Springs, Colo. ..1910 ARTHUR, STANLEY CuisBy, 1109 Henry Clay Ave., New Orleans, La. .1916 ASPINWALL, Mrs. CuArRENCE A., 1839 Wyoming Ave., Washington, ND bes ORAS oa PPR Rh Cn ORR A tian cu Sialsrn brag Gaucatinoce Bat ocd oeateD a ouc 1916 INgiey IDioyweaoy, Rove ney Montiel, Comms -coocodasncescussunudapebac 1908 Ayres, Miss Mary ADELINE, 119 High St., Medford, Mass......... 1915 BABcock) Dman sHstest@earken Coloma renee seit ee eee nee 1911 Bascock, Dr. HArotp Lester, Woodleigh Road, Dedham, Mass... .1916 Bap&, Dr. WM. FrReprERIc, 323 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass....... 1916 Baae, Aaron C., 70 Fairfield Ave., Holyoke, Mass................- 1916 Bace, EGBert, Jr., 406 Genesee St., Utica, N. Y.........:......-.. 1916 Battry, Dr. B. H., Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Ia................. 1913 Barmuy,| Prof.Guy2 Avy Geneseo. Nimyonee corals eomicinc td ei: 1910 BatLEy, SAMUEL Watpo, 64 8. Mountain Road, Pittsfield, Mass.....1909 Associates. Xvil Baker, Joun H., Nat. Cash Register Co., Dayton, Ohio........... 1911 Baupwin, RocER N., 3739 Windsor Place, St. Louis, Mo........... 1904 Bass, Dr. BLENN R., 149 W. Main St., Circleville, Ohio........... 1907 BaLkKaM, CLirrorD Mann, Box 228, Colorado Springs, Colo........ 1916 Bare Vins: baNNE Tb Oakville sonnets cn cuscicisl sre «alec s+ os 1905 Batt, Davin S., Spuyten Duyvil, New York, N. Y................. 1913 Bauu, Miss HELEN Auacusta, 43 Laurel St., Worcester, Mass....... 1893 Batu, Dr. Jas. P., 5001 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.......... 1911 BANKS.» Miss: MIARTHAY BE! eWiestport. (Contig. a: ..cic.cccnc ees we 1911 Barsour, Rev. Ropert, Y. M.C. A., Montclair, N. J............. 1902 Barker, Mrs. Meruer Tart, 178 High St., Taunton, Mass........... 1915 BaRNAkD, Judge Jos, 1306 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C...1886 Barnes, CuauDE T., Walker Bank Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah..... 1908 BARDS elem, la. IVE orony, JbeKcornl, JUNG. ke cote dcoeonsoaeenbnee 1889 Barrett, Cuas. H. M., 1339 Valley Place, S. E., Washington, D. C.. .1912 BaRRETT, HAROLD LAWRENCE, 704 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Mass. . .1909 Barrows, PRA, 512 Park:Ave.,-New York, N. Yie.o. 0-0 .ca.cse 1916 Barry, Miss AnnA K., 5 Bowdoin Ave., Dorchester, Mass......... 1907 Barrett, Miss Mary F., 227 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. .1912 Bartiett, Wo. M., Silver Hill Road, South Lincoln, Mass........... 1913 PARAM ID WitNe Dero iDeaTOLGs ban: si carat eicesndujeiais etota sista tal cares ¢ 1913 Batten, GEORGE, 381 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y............... 1911 BarrEmn, GHORGE, Jr., 98 Union St., Montclair, N. J..........:.... 1914 BD SYN SeEE RN Smale a Meri ems lel oe eats tse aie Sueveuclesors to alote vest 1912 Buck, Rorto Howanrp, San José, R..D. 21, Cal... 2.2... 20... 065 2 e 1894 Bru, Prof. W. B., Biological Survey, Washington, D. C............ 1912 Bemis, Bens. FRANKLIN, Gleasondale, Mass....................4. 1916 | EE DES Sattiy ty Bvteaigeg Gr ato peep oie: Yal 1 rea) Fee 1913 BENNETT, W1LLIAM J., 1941 Ist St. N. W., Washington, D.C....... 1901 Benson, C. Staniey, 75 Plymouth St., North Abington, Mass....... 1915 Boorse, Nosman pe Wir, Iimwood, Wialis .....5... 0. 3.2 casa sae oo 1908 BIcKNELL, Mrs. F. T., 319 S. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles, Cal... .1913 BiceLtow, ALBERT H., 84 State St:, Boston,.Mass.;....¢........0- 1910 BicEtow, Dr. Lyman F., 80 Winter St., Norwood, Mass............ 1914 BLACKWELDER, Exot, Natural History Bldg., Urbana, Ill........... 1895 BLOOMFIELD, Mrs. C. C., 723 Main St., W., Jackson, Mich......... 1901 . BoarpMaNn, Miss E. D., 416 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass........ 1906 Boning, Mrs. Donaupson, 4 Mills Place, Crawfordsville, Ind....... 1916 Bogarpus, Miss Coartotre, Elm St., Coxsackie, N. Y............ 1909 Bogmrt, WiiuraM S., 2610 Eldridge St., Bellingham, Wash......... 1904 Boutes, Mrs. Frank, 6 Berkeley St., Cambridge, Mass............ 1912 Bott, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1421 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo. .1909 BOND ELAR R va lmibalkenel ass Vinnie le actatas ers. s) suslteiisia 5 ite ien nae 1908 GeGAND Wate Gr 7 Wallist., New York, Nc Yeoit... sac ctvatdtwerns 1911 Bosson, CAMPBELL, 30 State St., Boston, Mass................... 1906 XVill Associates. Bourrone We RUDYUD UR ooo lst bs Beavers deserts eieierss stele 1915 BOURNE EROS; 1s., Pam DER UING Voc cts fee austoiarjeWini adem miele weitere ae 1914 BOWDISH 7. vOEmATests ING diteaciers aie cece terse areutte iete aries stom ekers 1891 BOWDISH: Mrs bso: DemanrestsiN dicinis cers oo snc eiere a eee terse 1902 Bownpitcu, Haroxp, 60 Harvard Ave., Brookline, Mass............. 1900 Bowonirtcu, JAMES H., 903 Tremont Bldg., Boston, Mass............. 1913 Bowman, Dan H., Drawer D, Mizpah, Mont...................-. 1916 Boye, Howartu S., Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y....... 1916 Boynton, Cuarues T., 1005 8S. Sheridan Road, Highland Park, Ill... .1912 Bracken, Mrs. Henry M., 1010 Fourth St.,8. E., Minneapolis, Minn. 1897 Brappury, W. C:, 1440 Race'St.,, Denver, Colo.:. 2?...0. 3a. scee 1915 BRADLEE, THOMAS STEVENSON, Somerset Club, Boston, Mass........ 1902 BRANDRETH, CouRTENAY, Ossining, N. Y...............00.000000- 1905 BRANDRETH, HRANKIIN: Ossining wNe Yousse sc een orice alee 1889 BRANDT, HERBERT W., 2025 East 88 St., Cleveland, Ohio........... 1915 Brewster, EpwarpD EvEerETT, 316 East C St., Iron Mountain, Mich.1893 BreEwstTER, Mrs. Wi11aM, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge, Mass......... 1912 Bripce, EpmMunp, 52 Wyman St., West Medford, Mass.............. 1910 Brinag, Mrs. Epmunp, 52 Wyman St., West Medford, Mass......... 1902 Briaees, JosePH S., 1372 Powell St., Norristown, Pa....:.......... 1916 pamimny, FH: Raleigh, NoCa cacswcceaa es eetin seins ornare 1904 BrisTou, JoHN I. D., 1 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y.............. 1907 Brroren; |G: S:; 807 WalnuteAves syracuse, IN Vioue+. ae. c ee cee ae 1913 Brock, Dr. HENRY HERBERT, 687 Congress St, Portland, Me........ 1894 BROCK WAY, ARTHUR W., Hadlyme, Conn.2 >. che csc. ees oe cect 1912 Brocks, Rev. Earue Amos, 419 N. River Ave., Weston, W. Va....... 1892 Brooks, W. Spracue, 234 Berkeley St., Boston, Mass.......... toss LOOK Brooks, Mauricr GrawaM, French Creek, W. Va................. 1915 Brown, Miss ANNIE H., 31 Maple St., Stoneham, Mass.............. 1909 Brown, Epwarp J., 1609 S. Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, Cal....... 1891 Brown, Harry A., 40 Talbot St., lowell, Miass.:....2....2.....5. 1912 Brown, Mrs. Henry TEMPLE, Lancaster, Mass..................-- 1912 Brown, Puruir G., 85 Vaughan St., Portland, Me................... 1911 Brown, STEWARDSON, 20 E. Penn St., Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa..1895 Brown, Wo. James, 250 Oliver Ave., Westmount, Quebec........... 1908 BRrowninc, WM. Hatt, 16 Cooper Square, New York, N. Y.......... 1911 BrvuEn, Frank, 69 Prospect St., Bristol, Conn...........0......0085 1908 BRUMBAUGH, CHALMERS S., 1020 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Md.....1916 Bryant, Harotp Cuitp, Mus. Vert. Zool., Univ. of California, Berkeley, Calir 5 <2. so teaineee chs aie ic ara, eats ae eae em cua aay 1913 Bunker, CuHAr.Es D., Kansas Univ. Museum, Lawrence, Kan....... 1916 BuckKwattTer, Mrs. ie Ee Winton #Miissiee wes cesta rere See earch aioe is eve 1915 BurGEss, JOHN Raenenree Chestnut St., Dedham, Mass........... 1898 Bur.eicH, THos. D., 825 N. Negley Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa............ 1913 Burnett, WituiaM L., State Agric. College, Fort Collins, Colo....... 1895 Burren, Varpi, Branehport, NoYes qoutes sae Recta deste wis eine leeks 1903 Associates. xix Burton, E. Roy, 60 Park Ave., Delaware, Ohio................... 1916 Rene Louise SroOkune, MARS osetia eee eek Doe ee Sab cess eso 1904 Capuc, EuGENE E., 512 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass.......... 1910 Cansar, Henry A., 50 Union Square, New York, N. Y............. 1916 CALLENDER, JAMES PHILLIPS, 32 Broadway, New York, N. Y........ 1903 CampBELL, Miss Ciara D., 1253 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass...... .1913 CANTWELL, GEorRGE G., 901 W. Main Ave., Puyallup, Wash........ 1916 CARPENTER, Rev. CHARLES Knapp, 174 Forest Ave., Oak Park, Ill.. .1894 CarPENTER, GEeorGE I., 129 Dean St., Brooklyn, N. Y............... 1907 CaRPENTER, Hau B., Kappa Sigma House, Amherst, Mass........ 1916 Carricer, H. W., 5185 Trask St., Fruitvale Station, Oakland, Cal... .1913 CARTUR OHNAD -olansd OWne kate 5c eee tee Alem cee noe eval. s bets 1907 @AsH EDARRY AY, 448; Hope st-, Providence, Eicl.Pe 252.2 52-2 .2 ce: -1898 CHAMBERLAIN, Cuauncy W., 36 Lincoln St., Boston, Mass........... 1885 Cuapin, Prof. ANGtE Ciara, 25 Freeman Cottage, Wellesley College, Wielicalewe Nimans oat ate eae ras Mimiaua Ie tuane en a ahaa 1896 CuapIn, JAMES P., Amer. Mus. of Natural History, New York, N. Y..1906 CrP NrAN Virsa bo Me Binglew ood sNilo ca cyer niece se cise eects erates 1908 CHapMAN, Royat N., Dept. Animal Biology, Univ. of Minnesota, TRIM HONIG pV ENEMA that cramer ene ato a ne aisiagens eae e ae Be 1911 WARE MOMARAES Andover.) Masses 5 str cai. se 5e see ek chai ae 1916 Cuasg, Srpnry, 244 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass................ 1904 CurEEsMAN, Morton R., R. F. D. 3 Box 61, Murray, Utah.......... 1911 Curisty, BayarpD H., 403 Frederick Ave., Sewickley, Pa............. 1901 ChARKCUAREN Girls MI DeC mViGaues sia ete iene caida ee abeies, fusiloeiele re 1913 CuarK, JostaH H., 238 Broadway, Paterson, N.J......... eV ee Se 1895 CLARKE, CHARLES E., 11 Chetwynd Road, Tufts College, Mass....... 1907 Cxuarke, Miss Harriet E., 9 Chestnut St., Worcester, Mass.......... 1896 Csr Missi yh DTIstOws Wales oc ees ode creat cc. cs Seana ee 1916 CLEAVES, Howarp H., Public Museum, New Brighton, N. Y......... 1907 CLEVELAND, Dr. CLEMENT, 11 W. 11th St., New York, N. Y......... 1903 CLEVELAND, Miss Lintan, Woods Edge Road, West Medford, Mass.. .1906 Coatm ENR ye Eehland Bark: ole) seed jens ones s severe eee 1883 Coss, Miss ANNIE W., 20 Amsden St., Arlington, Mass............. 1909 Coss, Dr. STanuey, 206 E. Chase St., Baltimore, Md.............. 1909 Copy, Prof. Water Guyton, 69 High St., Middletown, Conn....... 1916 Corrin, Mrs. Percitvau B., 3232 Groveland Ave., Chicago, Ill....... 1905 Coaerns, HERBERT L., 2929 Piedmont Ave., Berkeley, Cal......... 1913 CoLBuRN, ALBERT E., 806 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, Cal............ 1891 Cotg, Dr. Lzon J., College of Agric., Univ. of Wis., Madison, Wis... ..1908 Commons, Mrs. F. W., 608 Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis, Minn.1902 Coney, Mrs. Gro. H., R. F. D., Box 25, Windsor, Conn.............. 1906 Cook, Freprrick W., 1604 East Harrison St., Seattle, Wash........ 1915 Cook, Miss Litian GILLETTE, Long Lea, Amherst, Mass............ 1899 Cooneeermenersd., Ambler, Pai... 65 neh PoN eae ee Be 1916 Cooxe, Miss May Tuacuer, 1328 Twelfth St., Washington, D.C... .1915 XxX Associates. Cop HRANGISU., JL, AO 1mock, (Pane ciee Saco Seen eee 1892 CorELann, Manton, 88 Federal St., Brunswick, Me................ 1900 CorRINGTON, JULIAN Dana, 406 University Ave., Ithaca, N. Y...... 1916 Craic, WALLACE, Univ. of Maine, Orono, Me....................- 1912 @rAam, Ri. J., 26 Hancock Ave., W.; Detroit; Mich?) .2...-.5......5-- 1893 CRranpDATE Cows. 10 DhirdiS taVVOOdSId esi Nii iaee ree eee 1891 GCRANDATES GbE iS: Nw Y. Zool. bark, (New Yorks Neier ee eee 1909 CranE IViss| CuABA [ee sDaltonelViasseetywciesety case iret eit t nae eter 1904 @raAne: Mirs- Zens) Dalton wVisss-s ease cee ere ener 1904 CREHORE, PREDERIC M., Box 1252) Boston, Mass... s2u.sso ee cee oe 1913 Cressy, Mrs. A. S., Avon Road, Unionville, Conn................. 1912 Gaospy, MAUNSEEE 2 uk bine beckalN ewan aes eee ree aer eee 1904 Cumminecs, Miss Emma G., 16 Kennard Road, Brookline, Mass....... 1903 Currig, Rotia P., 632 Keefer Place N. W., Washington, D.C...... 1895 Currier, EDMONDE SAMUEL, 416 E. Chicago St., Portland, Ore... ..1894 Curry, Haskett Brooks, 60 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass....... 1916 Curtis, CHARLES P., 244 Beacon St., Boston, Mass................. 1915 CusHMAN, Miss Aticg, 919 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pa............... 1910 Dana, Miss ApA, 488 Centre St., Newton, Mass................... 1912 Dana; Wie. SHEPHERD, Miorehes. N= Wi eet). 5. s cume po eee ..1916 Dane, Mrs. Ernest B., Chestnut Hill, Mass..................-..-- 1912 Danrorts, Stuart F's, Mastidatiney, Ne His... ada eee acc eon nce 1916 DANKHRS | CHARnnHSs sis a Corning Vion areca ee een 1916 Davenport, Mrs. EvizABETH B., Brattleboro, Vt.................- 1898 Davipson, Mrs. Francis S., 13802 W., 8. Grand Ave., Springfield, Ill..1912 Davis, Cuarues H., 700 N. Hamilton St., Saginaw, W.S., Mich... ..1906 Day, CursTrerR Sessions, 1711 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass...1897 Dman Re Ae /20iQ mntardvAves Anmishon Alesse rn eres nese 1913 DEANE, GEORGE CLEMENT, 80 Sparks St., Cambridge, Mass........ 1899 Decker, Harrop K., 250 Livermore Ave., West New Brighton, N. Y..1916 DerLoacn, R. J. H., 6605 Harvard Ave., Chicago, Ill.....:......... 1910 Densmore, Miss Masset, 629 4th St., Red Wing, Minn............ 1910 Drrey, Ricwarp, 116. 79th St., New York, NOY.... s.0s220.% 2. 1898 Derrsy, Witu1aM M., Jr., 4857 Kimbark Ave., Chicago, Ill......... 1916 Dewey, Dr. Cuartzes A., 78 Plymouth Ave., Rochester, N. Y...... 1900 Dexter, Lewis, 1889 Elm St., Manchester, N.H................... 1915 Dicxry, Donaup R., San Rafael Heights, Pasadena, Cal,......... 1907 Dickny, SAMUEL) S:,, Waynesburg Pia... 2)ce ae er eo i es ees 1905 Dit, Prof. Homsr R., State Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, Ia........... 1916 Ditiz, FREDERICK M., 2927 W. 28th Ave., Denver, Colo.......... 1892 Dionne, C. E., Laval University, Quebec, Canada................ 1893 Dixon, FREDERICK J., 111 Elm Ave., Hackensack, N. J............ 1891 DODSON; JOSEPH EL yisemikalcees Ulan ae ee on ernie tn an er 1909 Dorn, Prof. Louis, Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind........... 1912 Drummonp, Miss Mary, 510 Spring Lane, Lake Forest, Ill........ 1904 Duis, Mrs. :AuP. L211 NN. Front-St, barispure, Pas. oon. a: 1900 Associates. XXxi Dunuop, Eric B., St. Regis Hotel, Winnipeg, Man................. 1915 DurFree, OwEn, Box 125, Fall River, Mass...................... 1887 Duryra, Miss ANNIE B., 62 Washington St., Newark, N. J......... 1911 Dyke, ARTHUR Curtis, 205 Summer St., Bridgewater, Mass....... 1902 EastMaNn, Capt. Francis, B., Ft. Leavenworth, Kan............... 1909 Eaton, Miss Mary S., 8 Monument St., Concord, Mass........... 1909 Eaton, Scott Harrison, Box 653, Lawrenceville, Ill............... 1912 Epson, JoHN M., Marietta Road, Bellingham, Wash.............. 1886 / jengon, Wx. lu. G., Highland Parl; Rochester, N2Y.. 05.5 65.66 565. 1916 Exuincer, Dr. Crypez E., 100 W. Rosedale Ave., West Chester, Pa. ..1904 Errric, Prof. C. W. Gustave, 504 Monroe Ave., Oak Park, Ill....... 1901 Hivmpnoen Dra AwvGustsl. INew Haven, Mion je. sees cases osteo aie ale 1906 Exsiaw, WALTER ELMER, care of G. Ekblaw, Rantoul, Ill......... 1911 ELDRIDGE, ARTHUR S., South Lincoln, Mass...................... 1912 Hruor, Mrs. J: W., 124 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.........:...... 1912 TES GHORGEID NOLWalk-w Comme ities qeteehec fais leis ete cele wi eltie 1904 EMMEHON YW OTTO, Hayward, Calo. 2.255 S222 shes crs che beens cee 1916 Emmons, Rupert A., 17 T. St., N. E., Washington, D.C.......... 1913 Emory, Mrs. Mary Diniz, 156 Foundry St., Morgantown, W. Va. ..1899 RENEE VOssHnn,. lerrace Park Onions seus as sas nes clas access 1915 Evans, Dr. Evan M., 56 East 55th St., New York, N. Y............ 1916 VANS) VWiEmrANtaDs = sVigorestowmy Ne das aae esas sls aciee csp onece « 1897 PaRuny, JOHN A. 592 Cedar St., Malden: Mass:......2.-5.--.-- 1904 VAR @ULUAR WAR IEETUR VOLK baer py reinne a otiakeante eatin see hoses, 3 a 1916 Faxon, ALLAN Hart, 7 Edwards St., Southbridge, Mass........... 1916 HAY. Dupimy B:,) 287 Beacon St., Boston; Mass...- 2.22. ..: 5.4.2. 1916 Fay, S. Prescort, 53 State St., Boston, Mass............... Ath 1907 Freucer, AtvA Howarp, North Side High School, Denver, Colo..... 1898 Ferwi, Miss Emma Trego, 1534 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa....... 1903 ININENGW Vics Bm Ser She avdidsm ba a-ak sc Aclae slacking Stes ure «5 ¥ oa arene 1916 Fisner, Miss EnizABETH WILSON, 2222 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa. .1896 FisHer, Dr. G. Ciypr, American Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y...1908 FLANAGAN, JOHN H., 89 Power St., Providence, R. I............... 1898 FLEISCHER, EDWARD, 1591 Union St., Brooklyn, N. Y............... 1916 RrnTtonnn. irs. MARY —H.. eroctorsvalle: Vi. 2a... ...cdeecene es 1898 Fioyp, CHARLES BENTON, 19 Woodbine St., Auburndale, Mass...... 1916 Foor, Dr. NatHan CHANDLER, Hyde Park, Mass.................- 1916 Footer, Miss F. Huserra, 90 Locust Hill Ave., Yonkers, N. Y...... 1897 HORBHS) ATE XANDHR ey WViniOMs IVIASSE ccc c nae 1916 Moorz, Raymonp W., Kensington, Md...........-...++s00-0000% 1916 Mokrcom, G. Frean, Box 175, Huntington Beach, Cal............... 1886 Mokr ey, 8. GriswoLpD, 2535 Etna St., Berkeley, Cal............... 1911 Morrison, Atva, 53 Middle St., Braintree, Mass................5. 1915 Woyerciop SUN ee Chanlininp, lslongein, Olives ao geonnhaucundencomecuss0nc 1912 Mosuer, FRANKLIN H., 17 Highland Ave., Melrose Highlands, Mass. . 1905 Mousizey, Wm. Henny, Hatley, Que, Camada....2....5..5.2...2..: 1915 Monro, J. A., Okanagan Landing, British Columbia, Canada....... 1913 Munson, Prof. Wim1aMm H., 208 Winona St., Winona, Minn......... 1915 Munim. ©. J., 219 7th Aver S.) Moorhead janine ert yates cee arate 1913 Myers, Mrs. Harriet W., 311 N. Ave. 66, Los Angeles, Cal......... 1906 Associates. Xxvli Myers, Miss Lucy F., Brookside, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.............. 1898 NEWBERRY, WALTER C., Winnemucca, Nev................2.055. 1916 Newnune Mrsvkies. 2490 Both ots Omlmth. Manns. a. cee ces ws 1912 Nims, Mrs. Lucrus, 17 Union St., Greenfield, Mass................. 1913 Nosiz, Eieanor G., 66 Sparks St., Cambridge, Mass............. 1916 Nose, G. Krnastey, Mus. Comp. Zoélogy, Cambridge, Mass....... 1916 Noxegs, Dr. I. D., 820 Marsh-Strong Bldg., Los Angeles, Cal......... 1915 Notte, Rev. Frurx, St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, Kan........... 1903 Norris, Epwarp, 301 W. Springfield Ave., Philadelphia, Pa........ 1916 Norgis, J. PARKER, Jr., 2122 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pa............. 1904 NORRIS» hoy C1725 NelOth st. Richmond Indes sa. ae. s. «oa ores 1904 NowE.L.L, JoHN Rowuanp, 300 Parkwood Boulevard, Schenectady, INRA G sce Be pot Rete, Wat rhe ew Red he SA CERE McA MAUR MEA ooo 1897 OgpEN, Dr. Henry Vinin@, 141 Wisconsin St., Milwaukee, Wis....... 1897 Onn ren @ A MicKatinickey Galen aar veces ce teen teie aan eeecie Aee. ce Siahe 1913 Ormyes HENRY Sillveroprmgss Mice so). atvestemie cities isis ie eiel sis) see eis 1896 *OxiveR, Dr. HENRY KemBue, 4 Newbury St., Boston, Mass........ 1900 Orpway, Miss Evizaseta I., 20 Myrtle St., Winchester, Mass...... 1913 Osgsorn, ARTHUR A., 58 Washington St., Peabody, Mass........... 1912 ORI IRE BOUIN S demas, Veodid Ve he soho ten ae oe oblege ese 1914 OvVHR TON DraR ANKE b aCnOouermN im Xie mncleisrensiahs slave Srekirelo ss ete wes 1909 *OweEn, Miss JuLiIeTTE AMELIA, 306 N. 9th St., St. Joseph, Mo..... 1897 Paine, Aucustus G., Jr., 18 West 49th St., New York, N. Y......... 1886 PArMER, Ree 222) Dietrich Block, Pocatello, Ida.-< 22... .)..2 ss 1916 PauMER, Dr. SAMUEL C., Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa...... 1899 PANGBURN, CiirrorD H., Haverford, Pa..:.........::.... Sigretelals 1907 PARKER, Epwarp LupLow, Nashawtuc Road, Concord, Mass....... 1916 PAu Wucis Ee 1orAurora ste eochester Neotel. wc ses one 1908 IPHABODY. deve Ps Be. Independence, dancia... ieccec ba soe os cue 1903 PHGk MORTON) be. l4581Courtiousnsalem™ Ored sess ce. os so hice dere 1909 PENARD, TuHos. E., 16 Norfolk Rd., Arlington, Mass............... 1912 PENFIELD, Miss ANNIE L., 155 Charles St., Boston, Mass........... 1912 PENNINGTON, FRED ALBERT, 5529 Kenwood Ave., Chicago, Ill...... 1910 Prprrer, Dr. WM., 1811 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa............... 1911 Prrxins, ARTHUR W., 21 High St., Farmington, Me............... 1915 PAR RINS) Dre GHO: eas nive Of Vit. burlingtoniVites. 2. iains- ene 1912 Perry, Dr. Henry Josepu, 1720 Beacon St., Boston, Mass........ 1909 PATMRS ABR Ta Sey eae eVVlSOmey IMM moc) cecil or os ene e Stein ce nie erate 1908 PEERS AMM Semis MELA AiG sm IVDAGB Ee. conse itais, suk lel ecalensyeteuoreleratereltens 1904 IPAMEPS, sRANKL. 22 Bea phvot.. tlynia, OM1O). 2. ss. elelelesteretele 1912 RAnEPSe insides Wie bOxroou NOrtnivelds Mass) check eicherseie sels cle cree 1899 Puriuiep, Puriuie B., 220 Broadway, New York, N.Y............... 1907 PHILLIPS, ALEXANDER H., 54 Hodge Road, Princeton, N. J......... 1891 Puiniies, Cuas. Lincoxnn, 5 West Weir St., Taunton, Mass........ 1912 *Life Associate. XXViil Associates. Pincnot, GirrorD, 1617 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C.....1910 Por, Miss MarGaretta, 1204 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md....... 1899 Ponp, Miss Eiiten J., 160 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y......... 1909 Poo.z, Earu L., School Admin. Bldg., Reading, Pa................ 1916 Porrr, Lous a= stamiord|Connaen ease on eee aoe eerie 1893 ROSt a VWIDETANT O-) bernardsvallereNewon cee rere ciety keer renee 1911 Porter, JULIAN K., 563 Bailey St., Camden; N. J: 2. .s..-55..5525- 1912 PRAEGER, WILLIAM E., 421 Douglas Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich....... 1892 Price, Joan Henry, Crown W Ranch, Knowlton, Mont.......... 1906 PRices Gon, RE. Dt Dunmores We Vases eee eee 1913 Provo,. We E, Wickliffe, "Ohies 290160050 ass ok See ae, eee a 1916 lEignve aay INpoWstoepa De Mie dine Blob ING doe guccudosimonoduce tobe 1916 Purpy,JAMES Be Rb, DS 4: Plymouth, Michie: seins sere seers 1893 QuiIGGcLE, JAMEs C., 1410 M St., N. W., Washington, D. C.......... 1915 Ravetsky, Harvey D., 4433 Federal Boulevard, Denver, Colo....... 1915 RAMSDEN, CuHas. T., Box 146, Guantanamo, Cuba................ 1912 Rea, Paut M., Charleston Museum, Charleston, 8. C............. 1912 Reagu, Dr. ArTHUR LINCOLN, 39 Maple St., West Roxbury, Mass. .1896 REDFIELD, Miss Exisa W., 248 Newbury St., Boston, Mass......... 1897 RErnpy Amex, 1237H) Miaidenvste oW ashing ton-inase eee eee 1916 Reaar, H. Severn, 14 De Kalb St., Norristown, Pa............... 1916 Rerun, JAMzEs A. G., 6033 B Catherine St., Philadelphia, Pa.......... 1901 REICHENBERGER, Mrs. Victor M., Hotel Essex, New York, N. Y...1916 RHOADS, CHARLES J., National Reserve Bank, Philadelphia, Pa..... 1895 Rick) JAMES Henny. Jr, summenvilles|S.@ ons aac or cee 1910 Rice> \WARDT J Roachdale, Indes eee aoe eee 1913 Ricuarps, Miss Harriet E., 836 Longwood Ave., Brookline, Mass. .1900 Rippie, Ropert, 5242 Irving St., Philadelphia, Pa................ 1916 Rippun, \§. BArn, Y.(M. CyA,,"Chesters Paver aoe a nee 1916 Ringway, Jonw Ii, Chevy ‘Chase; Mdiz.t 225.0 a ee ee ee 1890 Riker, CLARENCE B., 43 Scotland Road, South Orange, N.J........ 1885 ROBBINS, CHARLES AS Onset. Massea. er snail cee 1914 Roserts, Wiuu1aM Ety, 207 McKinley Ave., Lansdowne, Pa....... 1902 Rosertson, Howarp, 157 S. Wilton Drive, Los Angeles, Cal....... 1911 Roxpinson, Anruony W.; ‘Haverford; Parv-.4.0-.cmeeee eae eee oe 1903 Roz, Cuas. M., 3012 Bathgate St., Cincinnati, O................: 1906 *Roaers, CHarutes H., Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, N. Y....1904 RoosEVELT, FRANKLIN DELANO, Hyde Park, N. Y................ 1896 Ropsr, Kenyon, 509 N. 4th St., Steubenville, Ohio............... 1911 Ross? GuLorcn He 2a Wiestistesuplan cls Vite terete eeteieen tee 1904 Ross, Dr. Lucretius H., 507 Main St., Bennington, Vt........... 1912 Row.ey, Jon, 42 Plaza Drive, Berkeley, Cal..................-. 1889 SING e ou Mg CHACON (GIS latin Nl Non Goldaas ou os haoadmandoaucounace 1910 Sacre, Henry M., Menands Road, Albany, N. Y...........2..-00: 1885 *Life Associate. Associates. XXix Sansporn, Comm C., P.O. Box 50, Evanston, Il..................6. 1911 Saunpers, Aretas A., 143 East Ave., Norwalk, Conn............. 1907 SavaGceE, Jamus, 1097 Ellicott Sq., Buffalo, N. Y.................. 1895 Savane Warrior. Groms, Glenwood, Awe. odi..5 5). cl sield Selec eceie a oles de 1898 Sawyer, Epmunp J., Box 123, Watertown, N. Y.................. 1915 ScHAEFER, Oscar Freperick, U.S. Forest Service, Winslow, Ariz.. .1916 SCoMMG ts. LRADMRIC,. Wengge iWiasie i. seine ie jens slates Viesieei ena 65 1912 ScHERMERHORN, CHaARtEs F., Oak Knoll, Fla...................0.. 1915 Scuorcer, A. W., Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis...... 1913 Stayin, SAwunn. Ine Havertord Pans -5. 25450. cesd ovkionss wet 1916 Sears, Witi1AM R., 73 Tremont St., Boston, Mass................ 1916 Samers WiiltAMi Je, EraAverrords (Pare tiJejndccisak eiegness « Sicehs ees 1916 SHARPLES) HROBERTEP sw Wesb Chester) Paisis ac ace 2 cls tele cuscsit'e's 6 a 1907 Suaw, Cuas. F., 676 Bedford St., North Abington, Mass........... 1912 HAW. GIMNRY 05 G00VEr Mass oy. 3 yar ie < cle alatawie s crams Ped a tie wees ds 1916 Saaw, Wiut1am T., 900 Campus Ave., Pullman, Wash............ 1908 Sruanun, Dr Amon KR. Mont Belview; Tex... [int c Sede a un ieee 1905 SHHEDON, CHAREMS, Wioodstocls, Vite. jot wc Sbec ks het oie sees 1911 SHEeLTon, ALFRED, Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, Ore................. 1911 SHEET ee pCeAI ANE 1-4 AOR V LOM BV). oie wiih ctlatc ellos bty els -€ S aie'o aie le 1916 SHOEMAKER, Bolan. 3116 P St., Washington, D. Rint hy veins 1910 SHOEMAKER, Henry, 71 Broadway, New York, N. Y.............. 1912 SHOFFNER, CHARLES P., 1345 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa............ 1915 SHROSBREE, GEORGE, Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wis............ 1899 RRR AN On pe Nomina Cmts rye P tention i atalele's Seteuie so se SES 1915 SrsBEE, THomas, 115 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass............. 1916 Sinver, James, 2919 S. Dakota Ave., Washington, D. C............ 1916 Srumons, Geo. Frnuay, Rice Teas Eorion, WERASE 35.25 1910 SRAM MSI s. mimmInerville: Si Cwakie-ah. ea). Ai fides wale os so eae we 1916 SmitH, AUSTIN enn Fine his Trim Gee Mexcistey eres le cals oe ale cartes 1911 Smitu, Rev. Francis Curtis, 812 Columbia St., Utica, N. Y........ 1903 Smiru, Prof. Franx, 913 West California Ave., Urbana, Ill......... 1909 Smiru, Horace G., State Museum, State House, Denver, Colo..... 1888 Smita, Dr. Hucu M., 1209 M St. N. W., Washington, D.C........ 1886 SmitrH, Lester W., 60 Cottage St., Meriden, Conn................ 1916 SmirH, Louis Irvin, Jr., 3908 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa....... 1901 Smiru, Napier, 46 Cétés des Neiges Road, Montreal, Quebec....... 1915 Smita, Mrs. Wauuis Craic, 525 N. Michigan Ave., Saginaw W. S. Mich...... ee ee oi on. sw eR 1916 Smytu, Prof. Exruison A., Jr., Polytechnic Inst., Blacksburg, Va... .1892 Snyper, Witt Epwin, 309 De Clark St., Beaver Dam, Wis........ 1895 SpetMaNn, Henry M., 48 Brewster St., Cambridge, Mass........... 1911 Squier, TuHeo. L., 149 Freemont St., Battle Creek, Mich............ 1915 Sranton, Prof. J. Y., 410 Main St., Lewiston, Me................. 1883 Stanwoop, Miss CorDELIA JOHNSON, Ellsworth, Me.............. 1909 STAPLETON, RicHaRD, 219 High St., Holyoke, Mass................ 1916 XXX Associates. SterHEns, T. C., Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa........... 1909 STRVENS OT. Jeter Oxal 4 GubaneolnenINelnt aero Mere ene ere 1908 Stewart, Puiuurp B., 1228 Wood Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo...... 1915 STILES, EpGar C., 345 Main St., West Haven, Conn............... 1907 StopDARD, HERBERT LEE, Field Museum Nat. Hist., Chicago, IIl. ..1912 SLONH,CLARENCH H. BranchportioN- 5. chines ee oman eee 1903 Storer, Tracy Irvin, Mus. Vert. Zodlogy, Berkeley, Cal.......... 1916 STREET Wh GH TCHER: BEVELLY. Nala sere cote te eee eee 1908 Stuart, FRanK A., 118 Green St., Marshall, Mich................ 1915 Stuart, Gro. H., 3rd, 923 Clinton St., Philadelphia, Pa............. 1913 Srurerss so. WARREN sGrotvonalViasser use ine ae eee ee 1910 STURTEVANT, EDWARD, St. George’s School, Newport, R.I.......... 1896 SuapEen, ArtHurR W., 52 Highland St., Hartford, Conn............ 1913 SURFACE, HARVEY ADAM. Harrisbura Pak s2) teens oe ae eee 1897 Swain, JoHN Merton, Box 528, Farmington, Me................. 1899 SwEENEY, J. A., Forest Service, Halsey, Neb.......°............. 1916 SWHNE, VivRon EH o028 stareist. lancoln. eNebneeen eee eee ee 1904 TATNALL, SAMUEL A., 503 Hansberry St., Philadelphia, Pa......... 1916 Taytor, ALEXANDER R., 1410 Washington St., Columbia, S. C..... 1907 TAyYEOR, LionnL Ee Bankhead. dWelowmea, 55) ares ee 1913 Taytor, Dr. WALTER P., 1428 Perry Place, N. W., Washington, D. C.1916 TAYLoR, WARNER, 419 Sterling Court, Madison, Wis.............. 1916. TERRILL, Lewis Mcl., 44 Stanley Ave., St. Lambert, Quebec....... 1907 THomas, Miss Eminy Hinps, Bryn Mawr, Pa..................--- 1901 TuHompson, J.-Waucort, 602 Continental Nat’l Bk. Bldg., Salt Lake City; Utah). Fe ieee a 4 ee ee ee 1916 THORNS) Mass) JioLTAeAL wAsheboros Nes © eee ee eee 1916 TINKER, ALMERIN D., 631 S. 12th St., Ann Arbor, Mich............ 1907 Tower, Mrs. Kate Denia, 9 Newbury St., Boston, Mass.......... 1908 TOWNSHEND, Henry Horcuxiss, 69 Church St., New Haven, Conn.. .1915 TreGanza, A. O., 614 E. South St., Salt Lake City, Utah.......... 1906 Trotrer, WiuL1AM Henry, 36 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa...... 1899 TRUMBELE ee Plainville Conti 2. 22 ots ces Coote ee 1907 TupBURY, WARREN C., Box 734, Washington, D. C............... 1903 TWEEDY, Epaar, 27 Fairview Ave., Danbury, Conn............... 1902 TYLER, JoHN G., 149 Blackstone Ave., Fresno, Cal................. 1912 Tyter, Dr. Winsor M., 522 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, Mass. .1912 UnpbERwoop, Wm. Lyman, Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Masao 0 0) ad ctestics bon dai mee ee Suet actA ES oe ee 1900 Vatentine, Miss Anwa J.; Bellefonte, Pa. 2520245). 24.2228 eee 1905 Van CortTLAnpT, Miss ANNE S., Croton-on-Hudson, N. Y.......... 1885 Van Name, Wittarp Gisss, Am. Mus. Nat. History, New York, IN, Ys od a ee oo Re ae ea re a OO PA ae 1900 Vetrer, Dr. CHARLES, 2 West 88th St., New York, N. Y........... 1898 Virreck, Henry L., Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.......... 1916 Vietor, Dr. Epwarp W., 166 St. James Place, Brooklyn, N. Y..... 1911 Associates. XXXI Vietor, Mrs. Epwarp W., 166 St. James Place, Brooklyn, N. Y.....1914 VisHEeR, Dr. STEPHEN 8., State Normal, Moorhead, Minn.......... 1904 WapswortH, CLARENCE S., 27 Washington St., Middletown, Conn. .1906 \Srieruyel Gogo hn Steen oat) Oe eal Bis: Ob ra ee a a 1909 WAtgnur, Dr. BR. L.,355 Main Ave., Carnegie, Panis... cc. . ees 1888 Watuace, Cuas. R., 69 Columbus Ave., Delaware, Ohio........... 1913 WALLACE, JAMES S., 12 Wellington St., E., Toronto, Ontario........ 1907 Wa.ter, Dr. HerBert E., 67 Oriole Ave., Providence, R.I......... 1901 Watters, Franx, 40 West Ave., Great Barrington, Mass......... 1902 Warp, FranxK H., 18 Grove Place, Rochester, N. Y...............- 1908 Warp, Henry L., 882 Hacket Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.............. 1906 Warp, Mrs. Marrua E., 25 Arlington St., Lynn, Mass............ 1909 Warp, Roy A., Biological Survey, Washington, D.C............... 1915 WARNE: EID WARDA bs, CONCOLds LASS ws 5 croicirs sestos eae ioleletemehal id aie) 1910 Warson, Mrs. AtEx M., 124 Hatton St., Portsmouth, Va.......... 1910 Wins wdewAr eealisndes bar kaw Nils caries set olathe eos seettions @asa eees 1907 Wesster, Dr. Grorce A., 419 Boylston St., Boston, Mass......... 1916 WEISEMAN, T. WALTER, 226 Beaver Road, Emsworth, Pa.......... 1916 WetseER, CHar.es S., 105 Springettsbury Ave., York, Pa........... 1916 WELLMAN, Gorpon B., 54 Beltran St., Malden, Mass............. 1908 Wermore, Mrs. Epmunp, 125 E. 57th St., New York, N. Y......... 1902 WeryGanpT, Dr. Corne.ius, 6635 Wissahickon Ave., Philadelphia, JE ot 4 OS ts elles NS a en oo 1907 Wuater, Mrs. J. W., 14 Murry Place, Princeton, N. J......... no pL OEG \WiKAR TON IV kETEANG esol Groton WIVIASS es cletictices etiess + sie o syele ale 1907 Wuirte, Francis Breacu, St. Paul’s School, Concord, N. H......... 1891 Wuire, GeorGe R., Dead Letter Office, Ottawa, Ontario.......... 1903 Wuiter, W. A., 158 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, N. Y............ 1902 WHITTLE, CHARLES L.,-20 Langdon St., Cambridge, Mass.......... 1916 Wrecmann, Dr. Witt1AM Henry, 436 East 5th St., New York, N. Y.. .1916 Wixpvur, Appison P., 60 Gibson St., Canandaigua, N. Y........... 1895 Witcox, T. FERDINAND, 118 E. 54th St., New York, N. Y.......... 1895 Wiiarp, BerTe. G., 1619 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Mass... 1906 NV AD MAIN Ka Op Hlarrmin SU alewsN IG Nissen chy occa leinlclahe wiley are, anor seege 1909 Wittcox, Prof. M. A., 63 Oakwood Road, Newtonville, Mass...... 1913 Wituiams, Miss BELLE, Colonia Hotel, Columbia, 8. C............. 1915 Wiu1ams, RosertS., New York Botanical Gardens, New York, N.Y. 1888 Wannrdus ROBERT Wey Dallahassee, Plas as... 2 occ eee ois cre ee 1900 NVAIELTAMSO Nem E oii se mes lth GOmy LNG: cc \sierreterere ce oieraig eis eal ee leysbalonere 1900 Wiis, Miss Cuara L., 91 Wyman St., Waban, Mass............... 1915 Wuuiston, Mrs. SaAMuEL, 577 Belmont St., Belmont, Mass........ 1911 Witmot, Newson E., 24 New St., West Haven, Conn.............. 1916 Wine, DeWirrt C., 5344 Dorchester Ave., Chicago, Ill............. 1913 WHINSHOWAeARTHUR Ve Jackson, Michi... ccc. cisleinc siieicin cee eats siete 1912 Wise, Miss HELEN D., 1514 13th St., N. W., Washington, D. C.....1916 XXXli Associates. Witter, Mrs. Henry M., 12 Montague St., Worcester, Mass....... 1916 Woop, GrorcE B., 129 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pa............... 1916 Woop, Netson R., Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C..... 1895 Wooprurr, FRANK M., Acad. of Sciences, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Ill. .1894 Wooprvrr, Lewis B., 14 E. 68th St., New York, N. Y............. 1886 Worcester, Mrs. ALFRED J., 314 Bacon St., Waltham, Mass....... 1908 Waricat, ALBERT H., Upland Road, Ithaca, N. Y................. 1906 Wricut, Miss Harriet H., 1637 Gratiot Ave., Saginaw, W.S., Mich. 1907 Wricut, Horace WInstow, 107 Pinckney St., Boston, Mass...... 1902 Wyman, LuTuHeEr E., 3927 Wisconsin St., Los Angeles, Cal........... 1907 Youne, Joun P., 1510 5th Ave., Youngstown, Ohio............... 1911 ZIMMER, J. T., Dept. of Agriculture, Port Moresby, British Papua...1908 Deceased Members. XXX1il DECEASED MEMBERS. FELLOWS. Date of Death PAGHINENT GET tl OFAN 0 cpetetevs. a bsv's raise eet ela rere cue talon eriele: oe-a.0 ails March 8, 1908 RATED A OPHNCER : MULGMR TON). clclein sieieiereletele ale she) evevers eves esis Aug. 19, 1887 Brau, Foster ELLENBOROUGH LASCELLES...............- Oct. 1, 1916 BMINDUR CHARTS FOMIM AR sc arceicieysts oc cree iesste eis oistorerslishenayaite Feb. 4, 1897 COOK WHELS WOODBRIDGE i eyiog catia ac sel ete seisai5.- March 30, 1916 SOUS RED EET OT pee nie en ed cremate relia e ayers eves ocelot (akalote Dec. 25, 1899 PAID ETO Me ANTES CURIA tie. ieee, stain sc) ait ar ais aye iste 'e.5 oxi ere aot Dec. 22, 1915 GOss) NATHANTED OTICKNEY |: (lasses cic 8s 4. 0s1e sermeiin syare cleletalorsters 6 staves eistepeelo« Feb. 17, RavppE, Gustav FERDINAND RICHARD VON............- March 15, SCHREN ORL MOROLDMAVON-tieie tickle ole ie iakei a fete sr eveleisyeie-sleshal Jan. 20, Stiys-Lonecuames, MicHEL EDMOND DE................ Dec. 11, SEVERTZOW: NICOLAS ATMIKSYEWVICH . sfs560c00 6 clas ol ore ele Feb. 8, SHEEEM Ya | GHORGH UHIRNESDS..U Sieve clsisaierccspsversniapere eis o> site Nov. 29, STE VANSO NAMLLRINIR Wietee cin in eater cterayelin ciel levers Gus, ats deieles eats Aug. 18, PeRISTRAN.) ELUNE Y. ASARBR «076, ercrisisyain chelate etsy Feb. 26, 1914 Mekwrne DANTE CHURCH 5 2)b:s00 oersisles + iene stetaienserevenalers Noy. 1, 1909 IVE CIRENTGATY, DAMS 0s odeve wie aloveien gl cis olariavs auslatiavausnsyeysiauelcher steels Nov. 30, 1899 Mian? GrHORGE! SMITH). 42/5 :< ecco cg tis este. + simicte) olotedsy ote l= toueistelereue June 18, 1901 Myton labo ia gd Dy aasie seme aG ns nUAGeAy pe dood dado oe Nov. 138, 1890 MORREET) CUARENCEVEDENR 2:3 oterictarys) svar stel state there ree July 15, 1902 INTGHOLS) HOWARD) GARDNER noe ieieeeeleieiel sae teen tienet tele June 23, 1896 SDN INT ES aaa BT ies |e esate ee eee base ec enre oystene te lekene oho potet eer eenarehe March 12, 1903 INORTHROP! JOHN MSAPAH A yipoioreisielsleietcisreleievereteteretee es oer starr June 26, 1891 PARK VWAUSDIN WORD acesseneveielaaheteiey stash clerchcne eueperecernenetemetern Sept. 22, 1893 PAcmMInR, KEREDPRICK. CLARK 2 dsc/cio ec \sin ss alelleteoyelaiey = e02 March 4, 1906 IPOMER OWS GRACE, VLR GUNUANG pe vert cuss stev sleek ceetetene ect Leteione retest May 14, 1906 ROMERO, EAR RY Kir Ki AND oye ovaiopenereselerelepalabsjeetets telehese lentil Jan. 27, 1915 PUTNAM, FREDERIC/ WARD) seco oe csteny> eipeiensisterereterse seers) o) Aug. 14, 1915 RAGSDATIEO GRORGE) ELEN Yale eierelaeteveneeieterersneietetenertetetorers March 25, 1895 RAwa, HRANGIS| WOGLEAM... ccs e\sncveiels «0 sis) oelarecinehaistel ever June 12, 1911 REapy, \GEORGE! LENE Yn.) ev occ scislovel eta oat oriceyeieete cic March 20, 1903 REED CHESTER AUBERT ca fica ssere.o vrotacietaleenelersietelerelsreriste Dec. 16, 1912 RICHARDSON: gE NNESS seen nici lovee eres vo wna lovellenavensrstoler stone tate June 24, 1893 Rosins, Jutia Stockton (Mrs. Epwarp RosIns)........- July 2, 1906 SAND J ISABHETA LOW: ¢didanitts aucie orcterecrens retetereusiaepenon sore April 20, 1906 SELOUS, PERCY SHERBORN sc. cisco cicine ele iebenetsiauere tare ciereenelcrs April 7, 1900 SHANNON] OWIILE DAM SPIURDIYG co ch-jeieeicrtnevistel mele ereeeroeiarer: Oct. 29, 1916 SuATER, JAMES TOWB!s. 545.54 face ois cerns sine Cloke choles ctepeme arenes Feb. 22, 1895 SERVIN, THOMAS EDWARDS! s ..1 i) 0 esi seu s/o tae amie olen Dec. 23, 1902 SMATIA, HDGARWATBERTS cis teste siste sieeis eee etre iene tas April 23, 1884 Snir, (EVAR ODD WIESEL Yoa acy ctor crater slo ors etterereistatsvshocer cater fore Mar. 12, 1912 SMire (CoaARENCE: ALBERT. .¢.0) Asis ste cissereleteete ele trelo trate strains May 6, 1896 Smiru, Ruts Coox (Mrs. H. A. HAMMOND SMITH).......... Jan. 2, 1912 Snow, FRANCIS HDUNTINGION: 6). 6002 duc ca sc. oe nets beers Sept. 20, 1908 Souruwick, Jasms MORTIMER. ...0. 05004. 00es cane esas June 3, 1904 SPAULDING, EREDERICK BENJAMIN: = ccs -on eee eis Oct. 22, 19138 STONE WILLARD” ELARRISON:\..cteieleryereisiole aie oleate eradstere March 15, 1895 Sryer, KarHarine Resecca (Mrs. J. J.STYER).......- January 20, 1917 SwricER, HELEN Bronson (Mrs. JAcos L. SwWEIGER).....March 24, 1907 Taynor, AtmxAnpDuR O/DRISCOME creer etieecieret sie tate: April 10, 1910 ‘PHOMPSON, Minin rm DAviOR wea aacciacicess serene ieee Aug. 7, 1907 THORNE: PLATO MARVIN: moc ieace ee eiecterere eerereiictelsters March 16, 1897 THORNE , SAMUBE: ha) oie ook oratetot are estat allele Prete July 4, 1915 THURBER, HUGENE) CARLETON scanner cee Sept. 6, 1896 Urnam, Mary Cornewia (Mrs. WitL1AM Henry Upnam)..Nov. 29, 1912 WENNOR, ERENRY (GEORGE sn <)s ogo sale clelstaiclete sis ele!e sie eleke) =i June 8, 1884 Deceased Members. NVATRIRS S EIDWARD) STANDMY. claldcrc civic cis siscleiesls corn evclciace's Dec. 27, WASTUM AG CHARDHSVOATTOR cits c\cleisseic'stee Siele sils este view es on Feb. 24, SATEEN ie AMM ES RINICD Uy rus bie orcs si sie dla ales sidiace-aielew a ee Jan. 5! WAEIEARY ASANTE VV MOE eyciaj oreetaisiaic’a wis cialis siejereiovgrencreccue «ese May 24, WWIESONT SIDNEY STRWART cla clee cisiesinelcicieies cielo esl eaae Nov. 22, AWVAUIND EH SMEUTRAUN OTS) ct cuitnns teers Ais slice thle stale Sun lop as as February , WASTER WAT Tas AINE ERO TIOH cc cuotss secteseraialiors oietel oieyelsieieisi fe aha evel Aug. 21, WO OD Sid OHING CGATRE ae cam recccrsesiasrretors erersitns eishev oven! a stetors ei June 16, WWOOD a VWTTELAM <5 ayo icicle, ots ievoralea. cial os sialete senvaislarsalls(ayedsielee’py ore Aug. 9, WOODRUFF, EIDWARDY SHYMOUR. oc ccs cre r cisitice cele sieise ele - Jan. 15, ViORTHRIN: CHARMS: INR ATTY os ors osielelercisicueie se wisiieiera.eis May 27, IVER TGIENT Gh S ANCE EM Mtate cae eee ueieteneie teereiiate ss eualatal cis sitcteariisl dh ovaie oie Jan. 18, IOUNG es GURTISH OIA YI tsi sisratsi one rctcee ae lerelersinlevatesiete weieie om July 30, ASP P YP MVY ATTIC PEGE AWEIS Seis cucvesaiel ararere ete rectors tel leds jetsue. erate se Feb. 20, aie A pe i eae r phe \ Abas A 4 iy AT ual 7 ee tr ; Series, Series, Old CONTINUATION OF THE Bs he pew VoL XLi1) BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB ? yi \yxjy. The Auk H Quarterly Journal of Ornithology Vol. XXXIV JANUARY, 1917 K_& PUBLISHED BY The American Ornithologists’ Union CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Boston, Mass. CONTENTS PAGR Danievt Giravup Evtior. By Frank M. Chapman. (PlateI.) . F F ; af Tur ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER AS A FALL AND WINTER VISITANT IN THE Reaion or Boston, Massacuuserts.. By Horace W. Wright ‘ ‘ : Bi Birps OF THE CHILLIWACK District, B.C. By Major Allan Brooks . 5 5 28 Tue Birps or CuLeBRA ISLAND, Porto Rico. By Alexander Wetmore - s 51 Novres on A Few or THE RAareR Birds oF SAUK AND DANE CounrTIES, WISCONSIN. By H. L. Stoddard - . : : ; : “ = P : 3 5 63 Description oF A NEW SUBSPECIES OF THE WESTERN MeapowiarkK. By S. F. Rathbun , ¢ : ~ ‘ ; - S y 3 68 DeEscriPTION OF Telespiza ultima FROM NiHoa Istanp. By William Alanson Bryan . - : 5 e z A - . a é : Haw tes 70 Description oF 4 New SussPecigs oF THE Broap-wincep Hawk. By B. H. Bailey. - - . - . Nt Gs . ae kar * 7 73 TuHrrRTy-FOURTH STATED MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. By John Hall Sage . 3 ; 3 : 2 = 4 S F 76 GENERAL Notes.— The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli) on Lake Michigan, 86; Relation- ship of Florida Herons, 86; A New Record for New England, 86; Destruction of Passenger Pigeons in Arkansas, 87; American Goshawks in Kansas, 87; Arctic Three- toed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) in Jefferson Co., N. Y., 88; The Earliest Name for the Nighthawk, 88; A New Name for Onychospiza Prjwalski, 89; The Migrant Shrike near Boston, 89; Philadelphia Vireo (Vireosylva philadelphica) in Massachu- setts in Autumn, 89; Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla pusilla) in Massachusetts in December, 89; A Remarkable Case of Bird Feeding, 90; A Mockingbird in New Hampshire, 91; Acadian Chickadee at Rhinebeck, N. Y., 91; The Acadian Chicka- dee on Long Island, 91; Alaska Hermit Thrush in Northeastern Illinois, 92; Winter Birds at Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 92; Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes Bearer peenereang) at Cinnaminson, N. J., 93; Clarence Henry Morrell —.A Cor- rection, 93. 3 Recent Lirerature.— Index to ‘The Ibis’ 1895-1912, 94; Noble on the Resident Birds of Guadeloupe, 94; Cherrie on the Ornithology of the Orinoco Region, 95; Recent. Papers by Rothschild and Hartert, 95; Mearns on Pardaliparus elegans, 96; Cooke’s ‘Second Annual Report of Bird Counts in the United States,’ 97; Pearl and Curtis on Dwarf Eggs, 97; Shufeldt’s ‘Osteology of Palzornis, with other Notes on the Genus,’ 97; Shufeldt on Fossil. Birds, 98; Peters on a New Swift from Santo Domingo, 98; Riley on New Birds from Santo Domingo, 98; Townsend on Bird Conservation in Labrador, 99; Gyldenstolpe on the Birds of:Siam, 99; Gr6énvold’s Illustrations of the Birds of South America, 100; Bryant on Food of the Roadrunner in California, 100; British Board of Agriculture Reports on the Food of the Rook, Starling, and Chaf- finch, 101; Food of a Collection of South Australian Birds, 101; Recent Publications on Bird Conservation, 101; The Ornithological Journals, 102; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 105; Publications Received, 106. CorresponpENcr.— Habits of the Great Crested Grebe, 110. Norses anp News.— Obituaries: Prof. F. E. L. Beal, 112; Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, 113; Lt. Col. Edward A. Butler, 114; Prof. A. J. Cook, 114; Prof. Donaldson Bodine, 115; Timothy O. Fuller, 115; Prof. L. L. Dyche, 116; Miss Mary B. Ferry, 116; = Jane L. Hine, 117; Changes in the Biological Survey, 117; Popular Bird Study, ‘THE AUK,’ published quarterly as the Organ of the AMERICAN ORNI- THOLOGISTS’ UNION, is edited, beginning with volume for 1912, by Dr. Witmer STONE, _ : Terms: — $3.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num- bers, 75 cents. Free to Honorary Fellows, and to Fellows, Members, and Asso- ciates of the A. O. U. not in arrears for dues. eee OFFICE OF PUBLICATION 1S AT 30 BoyusTon St., CAMBRIDGE, Boston, ASS. Subscriptions may also be addressed to Dr. Jonataan Dwiaut, Business Manager, 134, W. 7lst St., New Yorr, N. Y. Foreign Subscribers may sey ‘THe Aux’ through Wirurersy & Co., 326, Hitch Hoxiporn, Lonpon, All articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, may be sent to DR. WITMER STONE, AcaDEMY oF NaAtuRAL Sciences, LoGAN SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Manuscripts for general articles should reach the editor at least six weeks before the date of the number for which they are intended, and manuscripts for ‘General Notes’, ‘Recent Literature’, etc., not later than the first of the month preceding the date of the number in which it is desired they shall appear. . TW Sie /N GIS NRO OOM PLATE I. THE AUK: A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. Von = a NY hee Pe ea, A : 4 . mY aN \ Woy ditecneon arn ~s —_—. — Blaine 32 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. ees 4. Colymbus nigricollis californicus. Earep Gresre.— Only once taken. 5. Podilymbus podiceps. Prep-BinLeED GrEBE.— Rather scarce resident. A few remained throughout the severe winter of 1908-09, though in one case a bird must have survived underneath the ice of a frozen slough for about three weeks. There was probably plenty of air space where the water had fallen after the ice had formed. 6. Gavia immer. Loon.— Fairly common and breeds. 7. Gavia pacifica. Paciric Loon.— Straggler, only one taken. 8. Gavia stellata. Rep-rHroatep Loon.— A bird in full summer plumage in the shop of Mr. Wm. Hall in 1887, which was killed in the vicinity. 9. Stercorarius longicaudus. LoNnG-TAILED JAEGER.— I shot a fine white-breasted adult August 23, 1890, at Sumas Lake, and at other times saw several others, nearly always in September. This Jaeger certainly migrates overland as I have seen it doing so on several occasions — once in the Rocky Mountains. I have not yet seen it on the coast where the Parasitic Jaeger iscommon. The contents of the stomach of a young bird killed in September consisted mainly of half digested Hmpetrum berries indicating a very recent sojourn on the tundras. 10. Larus glaucescens. GLAUcOUS-WINGED GuLL.— The commcn- est gull, ascending the smallest streams at the time of.the salmon run and perching freely on tall dead trees. 11. Larus argentatus. Hrrrinc Guiu.— Much scarcer than the last. All the records so far published of Larus occidentalis for British Columbia refer to this gull. I had almost come to the conclusion that occidentalis had no right to a place on the British Columbian list when I came across the skin of a moulting adult in the Geological Survey’s Collec- tion at Ottawa, collected by Spreadborough on the south end of Vancouver Island. 12. Larus californicus. Ca.irorniA GuLL. Scarce migrant. 13. Larus delawarensis. RinGc-BILLED GuLL. Fairly common mi- grant. 14. Larus brachyrhynchus. SuHort-Bintep Gui. — At times abundant. 15. Larus philadelphia. Bonapartr’s Gutt.— Common migrant. 16. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Buiack TERN. — Two adults seen and one taken June, 1897, and one juvenal seen Sept. 1, 1899, all at Sumas Lake. 17. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. WuitTe Pexican.— A straggler to Sumas Lake, usually seen in June or July at the time of the highest water. 18. Merganser americanus. AMERICAN MbprGANSER.— Common resident. 19. Merganser serrator. Rrp-BREASTED MERGANSER.— Scarce mi- grant in the late autumn and again in May. 20. Lophodytes cucullatus. Hooprep Mrercanser.— Common resi- eae | Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. oo dent. Both this species and the Goosander being tree nesting ducks do not suffer from the summer floods so disastrous to most of the ducks in the Fraser Valley. 21. Anas platyrhynchos. Mariarp.— An abundant resident. 22. Chaulelasmas streperus. GapwaLu.—Scarce. I have seen the Gadwall at Sumas in June and July, but doubt if it breeds. A few remain all winter. 23. Mareca americana. Bauppatre.— Common resident and I think a few breed in the valley — or used to. 24. Nettion carolinense. GREEN-wWINGED TEAL.— Common resi- dent — breeds. 25. Querquedula discors. Buiur-wincep TraL.— The Blue-wing used to be a fairly common summer resident — very common in 1887 — but by far the greater portion of the nests were destroyed each year by the rise of the Fraser River in June. The last I saw was an adult male in June, 1896. 26. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon TrEAL.— The Cinnamon Teal used to be common in the eighties, in fact, after the Mallard, the com- monest breeding duck. Now very scarce on account of their nests being annually drowned out by the Fraser River floods. If the birds reared second broods they fell easy victims to duck shooters as the young, as a rule, could not fly when the season cpened. 27. Spatula clypeata. SHoveiLerR.— The Shoveller used to be a common breeder, now only a migrant owing to the draining of the upland swamps and the inundating of the lowlands. Two remained throughout the winter of ’89-’90. 28. Dafila acuta. Pintrarm.— Common, resident, and used to breed. 29. Aix sponsa. Woop Ducx.— The Wood Duck was rather scarce when I first came to British Columbia in 1887, becoming more common every year up to about ’95 when it was very abundant. It has since decreased but is still a regular breeder in the Fraser Valley. Three re- mained throughout the winter of ’89-’90, and I saw one in February, 1900, during exceptionally severe weather. 30. Marila americana. RepHEAD.— Scarce migrant. Four records. 31. Marila vallisineria. Canvas-Back.— Irregular migrant, some- times common. 32. Marila marila. Scaup.— Rather scarce winter visitant. 33. Marila affinis. Lesser Scaup.— More common than the last. 34. Marila collaris. Rinxc-NeckeD Duckx.— Fairly common. One breeding record. 35. Clangula clangula americana. Go.LpEN-kYE.— Common and possibly a pair or two may sometimes breed in the valley. 36. Clangula islandica. Barrow’s GoLpEN-rYE.— I| only shot one undoubted Barrow’s Golden-eye, but the species must be fairly frequent as it is a common breeder on the other side of the Cascades. At the time of my residence in this district I relied on the pattern of wing and color of 34 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B.C. for bill to distinguish the females and young males of the two Golden-eyes and undoubtedly passed over many Barrow’s, as these characters are useless in determining the species. 37. Charitonetta albeola. Burrie-HEAp.— Common. One breed- ing record at Sumas Lake where I saw a female and three half grown young. 38. Harelda hyemalis. Oxp-squaw.—I shot two females at Sumas Lake, November, 1894. 39. Histrionicus histrionicus. Haritequin.— A number of pairs breed in the mountain streams tributary to the Chilliwack River. Never seen in fall or winter. 40. Oidemia deglandi. WuITE-wINGED ScoTEerR.— 41. Oidemia perspicillata. Surr Scoter.— Huge flocks of Scoters pass through in May and early June, nearly all White-winged Scoters. 42. Erismatura jamaicensis. Ruppy Ducx.— Scarce migrant. 43. Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus. Snow Goosr.— Rather rare migrant. 44. Anser albifrons gambeli. WuitTre-rrontepD Goosre.— Usually scarce, but numerous in the fall of 1904, and possibly a few remained all winter. Latest spring record June 3. 45. Branta canadensis canadensis. Canapa GoosrE.— Common; remains throughout the coldest winters and a few can be seen on Sumas prairie all summer, but do not breed. I think it breeds at Chilliweyuk Lake at the head of the Chilliweyuk (or Chilliwack) River. In the winter and early spring are seen flocks of a dark form of this species. At first I took these for occidentalis but the size and measurements of those shot were fully up to the maximum of canadensis. Several times I have had flocks of the light and dark ‘“‘ Honkers ”’ feeding just out of gunshot of me and keeping apart from each other. The underparts of the dark form are often as dark as the upper surface and abruptly defined against the white of the ventral region. This is probably the breeding bird of the coast strip to the northward. 46. Branta canadensis hutchinsi. Hurcuins’ Goosr.— Common and at times very abundant but getting scarcer, though few are killed. The vast flocks that used to remain on Sumas Lake and prairie every fall and spring mostly pass over now, as they are too much disturbed. A few remain with the ‘‘ Honkers” all winter and one or two can usually be found throughout the summer, but of course do not breed. Of the large numbers of Geese I have shot or handled I have never seen one that could in any way be called an intergrade between canadensis and hutchinsi, nor have I, once that I was well acquainted with the minima, seen an intergrade between that bird and hutchinsi, and I am convinced that when these three birds are carefully studied they will each be found entitled to full specific rank. 47. Branta canadensis minima. Cacxkiine Goosr.— For long I mistook small dark birds of the preceding species for Cackling Geese but when I did get the real bird I found it easy to distinguish in the flesh. Vol. XXXIV] Brooxs, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 35 It is not common in the valley and I have only taken it in the fall. I have also shot it east of the Cascades. Mr. Brewster wrote me when I sent him typical minima that they were the first undoubted examples of that bird he had received, and that he believed the majority of skins in other col- lections labeled minima were only hutchinsi. 48. Olorcolumbianus. WduisTLINc Swan.— At times large numbers visit Sumas Lake usually in the late fall. I found they decoyed very readily to an imitation of their call. 49. Olor buccinator. TRUMPETER Swan.— Much scarcer than the last and I have only shot one in this district. 50. Olor sp?—In the spring of 1890 I examined a mounted swan in the shop of Mr. Wm. Hall that had been killed the preceding winter on Sumas Lake. It was an adult, a very small bird with the basal third of the bill yellow. I took it for the Whistling Swan. The other swans I had handled up to this time were considerably larger and had no yellow at the base of the bill. There was one of these in Mr. Hall’s shop at the same time. Later I found that these black-billed Swans were only Whistlers as I did not shoot the true Trumpeter until the spring of 1895. On November 5, 1894, large numbers of Whistling Swans were on Sumas Lake — about a dozen large flocks. Near them but always keeping sepa- rate were three swans of a very much smaller size, an adult and two young. The cygnets were very dark, the necks especially so. On the mud flat at a little distance one only saw the white bird. I spent the entire day trying to get a shot at these. Ultimately I got up to within about two hundred yards and after watching the birds through my glass for a little while I fired and missed them, the bullet ploughing up the mud under the adult. Next day the Whistlers were still on the lake but the small swans had gone. Several times I had the latter in view close to a flock of Whistlers and the difference in size was very noticeable, also there were no cygnets among the Whistlers anything like as dark as the small swans. There is no doubt that these small birds, as well as the bird in Hall’s shop (which I was later unable to trace), belonged to one of the small Asiatic species. Swans have been protected at all seasons in British Columbia for the last ten years or so, so it is doubtful if a specimen of this interesting straggler will ever be taken in the Province. 51. Plegadis guarana. Wuuttr-racep Guossy Ipis.— One specimen, a young bird, was shot some time in the summer of 1902 on the Luck-a- cuck River. This bird is now in the museum at Victoria. 52. Botaurus lentiginosus. Birrern.— Common summer resident. I have seen several in mid-winter about 50 miles down the Fraser River from Sumas. 53. Ardea herodias fannini. NorrawesTterN HEeron.— Common resident but did not breed in the valley in my time. Mr. Outram Bangs informs me that skins I sent to him were typical of this form. 54. Grus canadensis. Lirrne Brown Crane.— Spring and fall migrant. 36 Brooxs, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. ees 55. Grus mexicana. SanpHILL Crane.— The large Crane bred regu- larly in a cranberry bog at Sumas up to 1902. It still breeds near the city of New Westminster in the large cranberry bogs. 56. Rallus virginianus. Virernta Rar.— Permanent resident. Scarce. 57. Porzana carolina. Sora.— Summer resident only. More com- mon than the last. 58. Fulica americana. Coot.— Spring and fall migrant. 59. Lobipes lobatus. NortTHERN PHALAROPE.— Common fall mi- grant, never seen in the spring. 60. *Steganopus tricolor. Witson’s PHALAROPE.— On September 9, 1888, a large Phalarope which I took to be this species flew low over my head and settled in a swampy stream where it swam about in regular phalarope fashion, ; 61. Gallinago delicata. Witson’s Snipzr.— Common resident — a few breed. 7 62. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus. LonG-siLLED DowiTcHER.— Common in fall. Very rare in spring. 63. Micropalama himantopus. Stitt Sanppiper.— Two birds of the year taken at Sumas Lake August 19, 1899. 64. Tringa canutus. Knor.— Only once seen when I shot a young bird at Sumas Lake in August, 1890. 65. Pisobia maculata. PrcroraL SANDPIPER.— Common in fall and rare in spring. 66. Pisobia bairdi. Barrp’s SAnpPIPER.— Common, often in very large flocks, in fall. Rare in spring. I have never taken an adult in the fall to my knowledge. 67. Pisobia minutilla. Least SanpprppER.— Common in fall and one of the few sandpipers that visit the valley regularly in spring. 68. Pelidna alpina sakhalina. Rerp-BacKED SANDPIPER.— The last sandpiper to arrive in the fall and remains all winter on Sumas Lake, though driven to the sea coast in very severe weather. 69. Ereunetes pusillus. SmmipaALMATED SanppipeR.— Although I have sent numbers of this Sandpiper back to the large eastern collections, and yearly recorded it as a regular migrant, it is still quoted (A. O. U. Check-List, 1910) as ‘‘ casual” in British Columbia. It is a tolerably common and regular fall migrant to the valley, arriving late in July, some two weeks before the next species. East of the Cascades it is the common Ereunetes outnumbering mawri one hundred to one. 70. Ereunetes mauri. WersTERN SANDPIPER.— Common in fall and rare in spring. In life this is a very different bird from pusillus; in that species the bill is straight or turns slightly upward like a Knot’s or a Sander- ling’s. In mauri the bill turns slightly but pronouncedly downwards, like a miniature of the Red-backed Sandpiper. In fact in life the Western Sandpiper bears a stronger resemblance to the Least Sandpiper than to its close ally the Semipalmated. Vol. XXXIV] Brooxs, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 37 71. Calidris leucophea. SanpEeRLING.— Scarce fall migrant. 72. Totanus melanoleucus. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS.— Common migrant. Arrives early in spring.. 73. Totanus flavipes. Lesser YELLOW-LEGS.— Common in fall. I have no spring record. 74. Helodromas solitarius solitarius. So.irary SanpPIPER.— 75. Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus. WersTERN SoLiTary SanppippR.— Both forms of the Solitary Sandpiper occur, though the latter is the more numerous. Both are regular and fairly common in fall but rarely seen in spring. 76. Tryngites subruficollis. Burr-BREASTED SANDPIPER.— Scarce fall migrant. I have taken it about six times in August and September. I have never seen more than three together. 77. Actitis macularia. Sporrep SanpPipeR.— Common. A few breed. A very late record for this latitude is December 3, 1895. 78. *Numenius americanus. Lona-BiLteED CurRLEW.—I have only seen this bird four times, always in April. 79. Squatarola squatarola. Buack-BELLIED PLover.— Common in fall, only once seen in spring. 80. Charadrius dominicus dominicus. GoLpEN PLOvER.— Com- mon in fall, but only two spring records. 81. Oxyechus vociferus. KituprER.— Common, a few remain all winter. _ 82. Agialitissemipalmata. SemipaLMaTED Piover.— I have taken this three times in the fall. 83. Arenaria interpres morinella. Ruppy TurRNsTONE.— One record, Sumas Lake, August 19, 1899. 84. Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grousr.— Con- fined to the foothills and mountains. 85. Bonasa umbellus togata. Canapa Rurrep GROUSE.— 86. Bonasa umbellus sabini. Orecon Rurrep GrousE.— Typi- cal examples of both forms occur as well as every possible intergrade. I have never seen the Ruffed Grouse above 2000 feet on the coast. In the interior it ascends at least to 6000 feet. 87. Lagopus leucurus leucurus. WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN.— Found on nearly all the high peaks of the Cascades to the east. 88. Columba fasciata. Banp-TaiLep Piczeon.— Common, arrives in April (once in March) and leaves early in October. I have seen it in flocks in September at timber line on the high peaks feeding on Vaccinium berries. 89. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Mourninc Dove.— Rather searce. Breeds. 90. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Turkey Vuvrurn.— Com- mon summer resident. 91. Circus hudsonius. Marsa Hawk.— Common resident. 92. Accipiter velox. Snarp-sHinNeD Hawx.— Common. I have 38 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. a found it breeding on the floor of the valley as well as in the mountains. Sometimes seen in midwinter. 93. Accipiter cooperi. CoopreR’s Hawxk.— Common and probably breeds. 94. Astur atricapillus atricapillus. GosHawKx.—I find it very hard to distinguish adults of the two subspecies of Goshawk, but extremes of the young are very different, and I have killed several juveniles that were typical of this form — one, an extremely light colored female, the lightest Goshawk I ever saw in juvenile plumage. 95. Astur atricapillus striatulus. WersTeRN GosHAwk.— More common than the last, but I have never found Goshawks breeding in this district though they should do so. There was an invasion of Goshawks the winter of 1888-89, when they were very common — mostly adults. 96. Buteo borealis calurus. WerstTeRN Rep-TaiLt.— Tolerably com- mon resident. 97. *Buteo lineatus elegans. RrEp-BELLIED HawK.— I have only sight records for this species, two of these were at short range when the conspicuous markings of the under surface of the wings and tail were plainly seen and left no doubt in my mind as I am familiar with the eastern race. 98. Buteo swainsoni. Swainson’s Hawk.—Seldom seen in the valley but a common breeder in the park like country below timber line in the Cascades. I once observed a remarkable migration of Swainson’s Hawk at Chilliwack in the spring of 1889. Hundreds of the birds were wheeling slowly about at various elevations and slowly drawing away to the northward. The flight lasted for about five hours. Nine-tenths of the birds were of the melanistic phase (as are all the breeding birds in the mountains). The hawks were accompanied by a few Herring Gulls in adult plumage. 99. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. RouGH-LEGGED Hawk. — Irregular migrant, sometimes fairly common. A few usually remain all winter on Sumas Prairie. 100. Aquila chrysaétos. GoLpEN EaGLEe.— Winter visitant to the valley, breeding in the high mountains only. 101. Halizetus leucocephalus alascanus. NortTHEerN BALD EAGLE. — Tolerably common resident. 102. Falco rusticolus rusticolus. Gray GyrraLcon.— One record only, an adult female shot by my father, February 14, 1890, on Sumas Prairie. This bird chased a Mallard that I had hit very hard. But be- fore the Falcon made its final stoop the Mallard fell dead. The Falcon settled on the turf beside it but would not carry off its prize, or even touch it, though I kept hidden about a hundred yards away, and it eventually flew off and fell to my father’s gun later in theday. This bird is now in the collection of Mr. William Brewster, who says of it ‘“ not quite typical (a trifle too dark), but much nearer to this form than to any other.” 103. Falco rusticolus gyrfalco. Gyrratcon.—A regular winter visitant to Sumas prairie where I have taken several specimens. Two of pol ext] Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 39 these in Mr. Brewster’s museum he identifies as typical gyrfalco. Gyr- faleons arrive in November, usually about the 8th. The latest date I have seen one was March 7. They prey entirely on ducks and the smaller geese. It was seldom that there was more than one on the prairie at a time, and the smaller falcons worried them continually. I once saw a Prairie Faleon badger a Gyrfalcon for about two hours following it from tree to tree and striking at it continually. 104. Falco mexicanus. Prarrir Fatcon.— At one time a regular fall and winter visitant, though always scarce. Of late years very rare. Last one taken July 27, 1896, a young bird. 105. Falco peregrinus anatum. PEREGRINE FALcon.— Scarce migrant. I have seen, but not taken, two or three very dark birds that may have been pealei. Young birds of those taken though dark had the light edging to the feathers of the upper surface typical of anatum. 106. Falco columbarius columbarius. Pigeon Hawx.— 107. Falco columbarius suckleyi. Biack Mrriuin.— 108. Falco columbarius richardsoni. RuicHarpson’s MErR.iIn.— Of the three Merlins suckleyi was the commonest, then colwmbarius, with richardsoni rare, only two of the latter taken and one of these not quite typical. Out of about thirty birds taken I saw no intergrades between columbarius and suckleyi. Since then I have taken two intergrades east of the Cascades. The Black Merlin is the only subspecies seen in the summer before August, but I never found it breeding. 109. Falco sparverius phalena. Desert Sparrow Hawxk.— Per- manent resident. Common. 110. Pandion haliaétus carolinensis. Osprey.— Common, leaving for the south early in the fall just when the streams are commencing to swarm with salmon. 111. Asio wilsonianus. LonG-EARED Owx.— Permanent resident. Scarce. 112. Asio flammeus. SHortT-EARED Owi.— Common resident, oc- casionally a few pairs remain to breed. A full grown young bird taken in July was very dark and rufous. 113. Strix occidentalis caurina. NortTHerN Spotrep OwL.— Very rare. I purchased a very poor mounted specimen from Mr. Wm. Hall who got it at Mount Lehman, some fifteen miles down the Fraser River from Sumas, where a pair had reared a brood of young. During the eleven years I resided at Chilliwack and Sumas I worked very hard for this bird, visiting all likely localities and offering rewards for any owls brought me with dark brown eyes, but could get no trace of it. Returning for a brief visit in the winter of 1909, I was delighted to secure a fine specimen close to my old home. I had gone out on January 28 to try a little 22 pocket pistol on the jays and squirrels which were a pest, and after shooting a number of these I got first a Goshawk, and a little later this beautiful owl. 114. Scotiaptex nebulosa nebulosa. Great Gray Ow1.— Very rare. The last record I have was of onekilled in January, 1890, at Sumas. Prior to that it was of fairly regular occurrence in the winter. 40 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. eee 115. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni. RicHarpson’s Ow1.— One record only, a male taken by myself January 13, 1903. 116. Cryptoglaux acadica scotzea. NorTHWESTERN SAW-WHET Owu.— Resident, rather scarce. I list this as scotea with some misgivings, as some of the specimens taken seemed to me to be quite light enough for the eastern bird. I have never heard the ‘‘ saw-whetting ”’ cry in the west from this owl, or any other note than a monotonous single whistle or hoot, kept up in constant repetition, now fast, now slow, for sometimes a quarter of an hour at a stretch. This is easily imitated by whistling the syllable ‘too’ with the tip of one’s tongue against the roof of the mouth. I have called the bird up in this way often — once one even settled on my head in the dusk. 117. Otus asio kennicotti. Kennicorr’s Screech Owu.— Toler- ably common resident. 118. Bubo virginianus pallescens? WersterN Hornep Ow1i.— 119. Bubo virginianus saturatus. Dusky Hornep Owx.— The Bubos of this valley present a great variety, from pale white footed birds almost pale enough for the Arctic subspecies, through rufous colored birds that looked like typical eastern birds when laid side by side, to the darkest saturatus. I have one of the light-colored birds still and it is lighter than any I have since taken in eastern B. C. Saturatus is the only breeding form. 120. Nyctea nyctea. Snowy Owu.— Scarce though fairly regular visitant to the valley. Common in November and December, 1896. These are the only months I have seen it in here. 121. Surnia ulula caparoch. Hawk Owu.— Rare in the valley, earliest fall record October 16. I have reason to believe that it breeds in the mountains in the Hudsonian Zone. 122. Speotyto cunicularia hypogea. Burrowina Ow.u.— Scarce straggler to Sumas prairie, two fall records and one in spring. 123. Glaucidium gnoma californicum. Ca Lirornia Pigmy OwL.— Common resident breeding in the valley, as well as in the high mountains. This may be the subspecies recently described by Grinnell from Vancouver Island (swarthi). The rolling whistle of this owl is the greatest of all aids to the collector in the west. An imitation of this, or the single call note, brings every small bird right up to you, even from the tops of the gigantic firs. It also brings up any Pigmy Owl that may be in the vicinity, and I once had one of these come down and carry off an Olive-sided Fly- eatcher that I had brought down from the treetops and shot. 124. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. CanirorniA Cuckoo.— Tolerably common summer resident of late years. Formerly rare. 125. Ceryle alcyon caurina. NorTHWESTERN KINGFISHER.— Com- mon resident. 126. Dryobates villosus leucomelas. NortrHerRN Hairy Woop- PECKER.— I shot two stragglers of this woodpecker, one on March 7, 1895, but I cannot find the record of the other, One was quite typical he we a ns ne ee Cn ee ee. oe wea | Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B.C. 41 the other approached the next subspecies. Both are in the collection of Mr. Brewster. 127. Dryobates villosus monticola. Rocky Mountain Harry WoopprecKER.— This is of regular occurrence in the valley and may breed there. It is the breeding Hairy Woodpecker of the adjacent mountains. Specimens sent to Mr. Brewster were identified as hyloscopus, but this was before monticola was described. 128. Dryobates villosus harrisi. Harris’s WooppeckrR — Com- mon resident. 129. Dryobates pubescens gairdneri. GartrpNER’s WoopPECKER.— Common resident, 130. Picoides americanus fasciatus. ALASKAN THREE-TOED Woop- PECKER.— Resident in the Hudsonian Zone on all the mountains. Never seen in the valley. 131. Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis. NortTHERN ReEpD-BREASTED SapsucKER.— Tolerably common summer resident. 132. Phlceotomus pileatus abieticola. NorrHern PineEaTeD Woop- PECKER.— Common resident. 133. Asyndesmus lewisi. Lewis’s WooprecKkrer.— Tolerably com- mon summer resident. 134. Colaptes auratus luteus. NorrHerN Fiicker.— Only one record, a bird taken by myself at Sumas, April 8, 1903. Its rarity is not- able as I found it a regular migrant on Vancouver Island. 135. Colaptes cafer saturatior. NorTHwEsTERN FLICKER.— Com- mon resident. 136. Chordeiles virginianus virginianus. NicgurHawKk.— Breed- ing birds sent to Mr. Ridgway and to Mr. Brewster are identified as this form by both. ‘“ They certainly are not henryi or sennetti’’ (Brewster in epist.) Henryi and hesperis are constantly quoted as the British Colum- bian subspecies, but all I send back to be identified from different localities are typical virginianus. The last so identified are breeding birds from the dry interior (Okanagan) which Mr. Oberholser labels as virginianus. 137. Cypseloides niger borealis. Buiack Swirr.— Common summer resident always appearing in the valley in moist or rainy weather. It breeds in the mountains, but the only place I have seen that looked likely is Che-am peak at the extreme head of the valley. Here I have seen a few dashing about the cliffs in July. A note for June 16, 1901, from my notebook reads, ‘‘ One of the females had a fully formed egg with the shell soft, measuring 1.03 in. X .66 in., an almost perfect oval.”’ It is a mistake to suppose the females can always be told from the males by the rounded tail and white edges to the feathers of belly. These are only the younger birds. Old females probably two years and over have the forked tail and black under surface of fully adult males. 138. Cheetura vauxi. Vaux’s Swrrr.— Common summer resident. 139. Archilochus alexandri. Buack-cHINNED HUMMINGBIRD.— Rare though regular summer resident. 42 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. ea 140. Selasphorus rufus. Rurous Humminepirrp.— Common sum- mer resident. 141. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kincpirp.— Common summer resident. 142. Tyrannus verticalis. ARKANSAS KinGpirD.— Scarce summer resident. 143. Sayornissayus. Say’s Po@se.— Straggler only. Two records. October 1, 1887, and March 26, 1896. 144. Nuttallornis borealis. OLive-sipeED FiycaTcHeR.— Summer resident, from the floor of the valley up to 6000 feet. Not common. 145. Myiochanes richardsonirichardsoni. WEsTERN Woop PEWEE. — Common summer resident. 146. Empidonax difficilis difficilis. Western FLycatcHER.— Common summer resident. 147. Empidonax trailli trailli. Tramuu’s FLycatcHer.— Common summer resident. 148. Empidonax hammondi. Hammonp’s FiycatcHEer.— Scarce, breeding in the mountains and foothills only. On Vancouver Island (Cowichan) this species breeds right down to sea level. 149. Empidonax wrighti. Wricut’s FiycatcHer.— Only one un- doubted wrighti taken, April, 1888. 150. Otocoris alpestris arcticola. Pa tuip Hornep Lark.— Com- mon spring and fall migrant through the valley, and the breeding Otocoris above timber line in the Cascades. The smaller subspecies I have never seen at high altitudes. 151. Otocoris alpestris strigata. STREAKED HoRNED LARK.— 152. Otocoris alpestris merrilli. Dusky Hornep Larx.— Both of these are migrants only — merrilli is undoubtedly on its way to the arid plateau of Chilcotin via Harrison Lake, where it is a common breeder, but as I can find no record of strigata further north it is probably only a straggler to the valley. Mr. Brewster identifies five birds from the valley as strigata and one as merrilli. I have several of the latter in my own collection from Chilliwack. 153. Pica pica hudsonia. Macpie.— Common. Arrives in August and leaves in April. None breed. 154. Cyanocitta stelleri stelleri. Ste.uer’s Jay.— Common resi- dent. Rare in the high mountains. 155. Cyanocitta stelleri annectens. Buack-HEADED Jay.— A straggler from the east side of the Cascades. One taken at Sumas, October, 1891, with a conspicuous white eyelid. Another seen later but not secured. 156. Perisoreus obscurus griseus. Gray Jay.— Common up to timber line and down to 700 feet, never seen in the valley. 157. Corvus corax principalis. NortTHERN RAveN. — Rather rare. Breeds from 500 ft. to the summit of the highest peaks. 158. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis. WrsTERN Crow.— Com- mon resident. 159. Corvus caurinus. NorTHWESTERN Crow.— Common resident. Vol. XXXIV] Brooxs, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 43 While caurinus seems to breed only along the Fraser or a little way back from it, hesperis is generally distributed through the valley. Both may be found breeding on Sumas Prairie. The notes of the two are distinct, and caurinus has in addition a musical laughing cackle, something like a Mag- pie’s. 160. Nucifraga columbiana. Cuiark’s Nutcracker.— Rare strag- gler, I have only three records for the valley, all in the fall. More common in the Hudsonian Zone of mountains but does not breed there (?) 161. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Boxsouinx.— I have taken both adults and young in July and August but do not think it breeds west of the Cas- cades. 162. Molothrus ater ater. Cowsirp.— One record only, Sumas, May 26, 1897, a female with ovaries not at all enlarged. This is probably Molothrus ater artemisie (Grin.). 163. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. YrELLOW-HEADED BLACK- BIRD.— Straggler, only two records, both adult males, May 14, 1891, and June, 1895. 164. Agelaius phoniceus caurinus. NorTHwrestTERN REDWING.— Common resident, a few remain all winter. 165. Sturnella neglecta. Werstern MrapowLarkK.— Common resi- dent. 166. Icterus bullocki. BuLiock’s OrioLe.— One pair nested regu- larly in some large birch trees growing in the open near our ranch at Chilli- wack — these were the only ones in the valley then. Since, they have increased with the opening up of the forest and on my last visit to the valley I saw their nests or heard of them at several different points. 167. Euphagus cyanocephalus. Brewer’s BLAacKBIRD.— Common, but only rarely seen all winter. 168. Hesperiphona vespertina montana. WersTERN EVENING GrRoOsBEAK.— Sporadically abundant, during most years absent or rare. No breeding record. 169. Pinicola enucleator montana. Rocky Mountain PINE GrosBEAK.— A scarce winter visitant to the valley.. The form breeding in the Hudsonian Zone (above 6000 ft.) in the Cascades to the east Mr. Oberholser has identified as montana from a juvenile sent to him. It is possible the birds found in the valley may belong to some other subspecies; but I: have no specimens of these left for identification. The Queen Charlotte Island bird is typical flammula. 170. Carpodacus purpureus californicus. CALIFORNIA PURPLE Fixcu.— Common resident of the valley. I have seen no species of Carpodacus in the mountains. 171. Loxia corvirostra minor. Crosspitu.— Usually rare in the valley, but enormously common in the spring and early summer of 1890, passing through with Evening Grosbeaks in large flocks. Breeds plenti- fully in the Hudsonian Zone. 172. Loxia leucoptera. WuiTn-wINGED CrossBILL.— I shot three 44 Brooxs, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. ae out of a flock of 20 at Sumas, February 4, 1896. The only ones I ever saw in this district. 173. Leucosticte tephrocotis tephrocotis. GRAyY-cROWNED Rosy Fincu.— In the winter of ’96-’97 I collected one or two typical tephrocotis from flocks of the next subspecies on Sumas prairie, also a good many of littoralis with brown feathers in the checks showing an approach to the former. 174. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis. HmpBuRN’s Rosy Fincu.— Abundant the winter of ’96-’97. Usually rare. Breeds on Mt. Che-am and other high peaks. 175. Acanthis linaria linaria. Reproii.— Irregular winter visi- tant. Sometimes common. Usually present during alternate winters. Latest spring record, April 6, 1896. 176. Acanthis linaria exilipes. Hoary RreppoLi.— One specimen taken, typical as to the bill but flanks and lower coverts slightly streaked. I must protest against the usage of classing the Hoary Redpoll as a sub- species of hornemanni, it is clearly a subspecies of linaria, as every inter- grade both as to shape of bill and tone and pattern of plumage between the two can be found in any large series, but no intergrades between exilipes and hornemanni; and though absolutely typical examples of the former are almost exact miniatures of the latter the majority of exilipis show a far closer approach to linaria. 177. Spinus pinus. Prine Siskin.— Common resident. 178. Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis. Snow Buntina.— Scarce though fairly regular winter visitant to Sumas prairie. 179. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis. AtLaskaANn LoNGSPUR.— Common in the fall, rare in spring, one or two remain all winter. 180. Rhynchophanes mccowni. McCown’s Lonespur.— Two rec- ords. An adult male in full breeding plumage taken on a little ridge of natural prairie on our ranch at Chilliwack, June 1, 1887, and two females taken at the identical spot three years later almost to a day, after watching them circle about high in the air for about quarter of an hour. All three of course were stragglers only. I have never seen the species in the dry interior though I have always been on the lookout for it. It goes very much against the grain for me to put this in a different genus from the Lapland and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. All three are so perfectly congeneric in structure, notes, and habits. 181. Pocecetes gramineus affinis. OreGcoNn VESPER SPARROW.— Very scarce migrant only. 182. Passerculus sandwichensis sandwichensis. ALEUTIAN Sa- VANNAH SpARROW.— Tolerably common migrant. 183. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. WursTERN SAVANNAH Sparrow.— Abundant migrant, common breeder, and an occasional bird seen all winter. Some splitter will undoubtedly some day separate the small breeding form of the marshes and low meadows from the larger bird that passes through in great numbers when the small bird is sitting on eggs, ‘ one | Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 45 or in some eases feeding young. The small form is allied to bryanti and like it, is a bird of the lowlands and estuaries of the coastal strip.! 184. Chondestes grammacus strigatus. WerestprRN LARK SPAR- row.— First taken May 21, 1889. Another bird seen in spring of 1896. In 1899 I saw a breeding pair in the valley. It has recently become com- mon in northern Okanagan and is probably also increasing at Chilliwack. 185. Zonotrichia querula. Harris’s Sparrow.— Two taken Jan- uary 8, 1895, in which year there was an invasion of this sparrow as far west as Vancouver Island. Another seen in April, 1895. 186. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. INTERMEDIATE SPARROW.— Common migrant. No specimens of Nuttall’s Sparrow taken though it is the common breeding bird of the coast and islands. 187. Zonotrichia coronata. GoLDEN-cROWNED Sparrow.— Toler- ably common migrant. 188. Spizella monticola ochracea. WersTeERN TREE SPARROW.— Searce winter visitant. 189. Spizella passerina arizone. WersTERN CHIPPING SPARROW.— Common summer resident. 190. Junco oreganus oreganus. OreGcon Junco.— Breeding from the floor of the valley to the Hudsonian Zone. 191. Junco oreganus connectens. SHUFELDT’s JuNco.— Common winter visitant. I cannot say with certainty that this subspecies is dis- placing oreganus as it is in the Seattle-Tacoma region. 192. Junco hyemalis hyemalis. SLarE-coLoreD JuNco.— Casual winter visitant. Two taken at an interval of about seven years, one other, at least, observed. 193. Melospiza melodia morphna. Rusty Sona Sparrow.— Abundant resident. 194. Melospiza melodia rufina. Soory Sona Sparrow.— Winter visitant only (?). Specimens taken were not as dark as those from north- western Vancouver Island, nor even as dark as some from the dry interior in Okanagan. 195. Melospiza lincolni lincolni. LincoLn’s Sparrow.— 196. Melospiza lincolni striata. Forsusu’s Sparrow.— Many birds sent back to eastern collectors labeled striata passed unchallenged, including those sent to Mr. Brewster, but the only skin I have left from the valley is lincolni lincolni. Lincoln’s Sparrow in one form or another breeds just below the Hudsonian Zone, and the species is a common migrant through the valley. 197. Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis. SHumacin Fox Sparrow.— 198. Passerella iliaca insularis. Kapiak Fox Sparrow.— 199. Passerella iliaca townsendi. Townsrenn’s Fox Sparrow.— Dr. Bishop and Mr. Oberholser have identified these three races from migrating Fox Sparrows I have sent back from Chilliwack. Dr. Bishop 1{cf. Bishop, Condor, Sept. 1915, p. 187.— Ed.] 46 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. fesse has also identified two females taken April 11, 1905, as “‘ fuliginosa ap- proaching townsendi’’ but it has seemed safer to list them as the latter, as I know I have never seen in this valley the typical fuliginosa that breeds on the islands in the Gulf of Georgia, which is an extremely saturated form with no yellow on the under mandible. All three forms listed above are migrants, though I have once seen townsendi wintering in the valley. 200. Passerella iliaca schistacea. SiaTE-coLoRED Fox Sparrow.— This is a scarce breeder in the Hudsonian Zone of the Cascades. I have never seen it in the valley. Identified by Oberholser. 201. Pipilo maculatus oregonus. OrEGoN TowHEE.— Common resident. 202. Zamelodia melanocephala. BLAck-HEADED GROSBEAK.— Common summer resident in the valley. : 203. Passerina amona. Lazutt Buntinc.— Tolerably common summer resident. 204. Piranga ludoviciana. Western TANAGeR.— Common sum- mer resident up to upper edge of Canadian Zone (about 5000 ft.). 205. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons. Curr SwaLLow.— Scarce up to about 1895, since then more common and a colony breeds on a barn near the town of Chilliwack. 206. Hirundo erythrogastra. Barn SwaLLtow.— Common summer resident. 207. Iridiprocne bicolor. TREE SwaLLow.— 208. Tachycineta thalassina lepida. V1oLET-GREEN SwALLow.— 209. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. RouGH-wincEp Swa.Litow.— All three of these Swallows are common and breed, though when I first arrived in the valley there were no Violet-green Swallows breeding there. 210. Riparia riparia. Bank SwaLLow.— Tolerably common and a colony must breed within fifty miles though I never found it breeding west of the Cascades. 211. Bombycilla garrula. Bouemian Waxwine.— Common and fairly regular winter visitant, the first arrivals usually seen towards the end of October. 212. Bombycilla cedrorum. Crpar WaxwinG.— Common sum- mer resident. Cedar Waxwings might be expected to winter on the coast of British Columbia, but I never saw them at that season in the Chilliwack Valley. Once I saw a flock in November, a very late date for the species. 213. Lanius borealis. NortTHerN SuHRIkE.— Fairly common mi- grant, a few remaining all winter. British Columbian birds are of large size with very large bills, doubtless Grinnell’s new subspecies invictus. 214. Lanius ludovicianus gambeli. Cairornia SHRIKE.— One record only, a single bird shot by my father in April, 1888, and identified by Mr. Brewster. ; 215. Vireosylva olivacea. Rep-rYED ViREO.— Common summer resident. waa | Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 47 216. Vireosylva gilva swainsoni. WersTERN WaRBLING VIREO.— Tolerably common summer resident. 217. Lanivireo solitarius cassini. Cassin’s Vireo.— Fairly com- mon summer resident. 218. Vireo huttoni obscurus. ANTHONY’s VirEO.— One record, May, 1905, the only one I ever took on the mainland. 219. Vermivora celata celata. ORANGE-cROWNED WarRBLER.— Regular migrant and not uncommon in the fall when the gray-headed young birds are easily distinguished from those of the next subspecies. Specimens identified by Oberholser. 220. Vermivora celata lutescens. Lurescent WarBLer.— Com- mon and it may breed in the valley or the adjacent foothills, but I never actually found undoubted evidence of the fact. 221. Dendroica sstiva rubiginosa. ALAsKA YELLOW WaRBLER.— Common summer resident in the valley. 222. Dendroica coronata. Myrtte Warsier.— Fairly common migrant. 223. Dendroica auduboni auduboni. Avupunon’s WaARBLER.— Common migrant and a few remain to breed on the foothills. It is possible also that this Warbler may remain all winter as I have seen it as late as January 10, but I think the bulk, if not all, leave after that date and do not return until after the spring moult is completed. 224. Dendroica nigrescens. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.— Common summer resident. 225. Dendroica townsendi. TownsENpD’s WarBLER.— Tolerably common migrant but I never found it breeding in the valley, which is strange considering that it is a common breeder at sea level on Van- couver Island. 226. Oporornis tolmiei. Macaintiivray’s WaARBLER.— Common summer resident. 227. Geothlypis trichas arizela. Paciric YELLOW-THROAT.— Com- mon summer resident. 228. Icteria virens longicauda. Lona-TarLep CHatT.— One record, a straggler taken on Sumas prairie, May 26, 1897. 229. Wilsonia pusilla pileolata. PiLEoLATED WARBLER.— 230. Wilsonia pusilla chryseola. GoLDEN PILEOLATED WARBLER.— Both of these forms occur; it is probable that the latter is the breeding . race. I have specimens of the former in my collection and Mr. Brewster identified two sent to him as belonging to the latter race though not extreme examples. 231. Setophaga ruticilla. Repstarr.— One record, an adult male taken in June, 1889. 232. Anthus rubescens. Pipir.— Abundant migrant and a fairly common breeder at and above timber line. 233. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor. Dirrer.— Common resident, breeding in all the mountain valleys that have rushing streams and de- 48 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. = scending to the larger rivers in October when the Dog Salmon are running, their ova forming the main diet of the Dipper at that season and through the winter. 234. Dumetella carolinensis. CatTsirp.— Scarce summer resident, probably about six pairs of birds breeding in the valley. 235. Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus. Rock Wrern.— One record. I looked for this wren regularly every summer in what I took to be suit- able localities in the mountains, and ultimately took one hopping about like & Sparrow on a gravel bar in ariver. This was late in November in very cold weather. I have never seen the species so late in its natural habitat east of the Cascades. 236. Thryomanes bewicki calophonus. Sratrne Wren.— Com- mon resident. In the severe winter of 1908-09 when the thermometer dropped to thirteen below with a howling wind for a week, this hardy little wren seemed to suffer no inconvenience and while Purple Finches and Juncos were dying in numbers, it trilled its cheery song from any sheltered nook. It is never found east of the Cascades, and the “‘ Southern British Columbia” in the last A. O. U. Check-List should be corrected to south- western. 237. Troglodytes aédon parkmani. WersterN Housz WrEN.— Common summer resident. 238. Nannus hiemalis pacificus. WrsTmERN WINTER WREN.— Com- mon summer resident from the floor of the valley to the Hudsonian Zone. Common throughout the winter in the valley. 239. Telmatodytes palustris paludicola. TuLs Wren.— Breeding in suitable localities and a few probably remain all winter. 240. Certhia familiaris occidentalis. Ca.irorniA CREEPER.— Fairly common resident. 241. *Sitta carolinensis aculeata. SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH.— I include this on the authority of Macoun’s Catalogue of Canadian birds. The record stands “‘ One specimen taken on Sumas Prairie, B. C., October 10, 1894 (E. F. G. White).” Mr. White knows this bird well and the above constitutes the only record of the subspecies for Canada, as the form occurring east of the Cascades is now separated as nelsoni. It is quite likely the slender billed Nuthatch occasionally straggles over the border from northwestern Washington just as the Bush-Tit does. The nearest breeding record for this nuthatch is the neighborhood of Tacoma. 242. Sitta canadensis. Rerp-BREASTED NuTHATCH.— Common resi- dent from the floor of the valley to the Hudsonian Zone. 243. Penthestes atricapillus occidentalis. OrrGon CHICKADER.— Common resident. 244. Penthestes rufescens rufescens. CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICK- ADEE.— Common resident. 245. Psaltriparus minimus minimus. Busx-Tir.— Two taken from a large flock in the brush along the eastern edge of Sumas prairie, Nov. 25, 1899, and a pair observed breeding at the same place March 23 \eareaiandll Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. 49 following. I never saw the species before or since and this must have been only a sporadic northward movement. The Bush-Tit occurs as a resident some fifty miles nearer the coast at Boundary Bay. 246. Regulus satrapa olivaceus. WESTERN GOoOLDEN-CROWNED KinecLter.— Common breeder in Hudsonian Zone and common from September to May in the valley. 247. Regulus calendula grinnelli. Sirka Kinauet.— It is probable that both races of the Ruby-crown occur but I have neglected to get Chilli- wack specimens identified, so only list the form that is most certain to be the resident subspecies. 248. Myadestes townsendi. TownseEnp’s SouiTarrE.— Fairly com- mon migrant, nesting in the mountains and possibly to near the base of the foothills. A few winter. 249. Hylochichla guttata guttata. ALaska Hermit Turusy.— One taken May 2, 1905. 250. Hylocichla guttata nanus. , Dwarr Hermit THRusH.— Scarce migrant. 251. Hylocichla guttata sequoiensis. Srmrra Hermit Tarusa.— This is the breeding form of Hermit Thrush. I have not noticed it below the Hudsonian Zone. Identified by Oberholser. 252. Hylocichla ustulata ustulata. Russer-sackEp THRUSH.— Common summer resident from the floor of the valley up into the foothills. I have heard what I took to be this thrush well up into the Canadian Zone but have no specimens from there and the mountain bird is probably swainsont. 253. Planesticus migratorius migratorius. Rosin.— Specimens taken on both spring and fall migrations, the latter identified by Mr. Ridg- way. 254. Planesticus migratorius propinquus. WrsTERN Rosin.— Abundant in summer and a few remain throughout most winters. Breeds up to the Hudsonian Zone. 255. Ixoreus nevius nevius. ‘Variep THrusu.— Resident. A few breed in the cool hemlock and spruce forests on the floor of the valley and more commonly at higher elevations. 256. Sialia mexicana occidentalis. WrsTeERN BLUEBIRD.— Fairly common breeder in the valley. I have seen this bluebird as late as January 10, but doubt if any remain through the winter though they do so at salt water fifty miles westward. 257. Sialia currucoides. Mountain BLUEBIRD.— Common migrant. HYpotTHETiIcAL Lis’. Pelecanus californicus. CaLirorniA Brown Pexican.— A Pelican haunted the Fraser River at Sumas for some time in the fall of 1894, that was described to me as a ‘‘ cross between a Pelican and a Sand-hill Crane.” This suggests the young bird of this species. 50 Brooks, Birds of the Chilliwack District, B. C. conn Chen rossi. Ross’s Goosr.— A very small Snow Goose frequented Sumas prairie for about six weeks in the spring of 1896. It always associ- ated with the same flock of Hutchin’s Geese and kept clear of a small flock of Snow Geese that were always present on the prairie. It looked much smaller than the latter though I was never able to get them in close juxta- position. Branta canadensis occidentalis. WHITE-cHEEKED GoosEe.— Mr. Brewster identifies four geese, from a series I collected for him, as this subspecies. He says of them ‘‘ Nos. 46179 and 47105 are typical, No. 46178 is fairly typical in every respect, No. 47104 is typical in respect to markings of head and neck but the underparts are as light colored as in extreme specimens of canadensis.” With all deference to so eminent an authority, I hesitate to include this subspecies in my regular list as I have since seen specimens of true occiden- talis which seems to be larger, of a deeper brown coloration throughout, and with larger bills and feet. Dryobates pubescens, subsp.?— I have twice seen at close quarters Downy Woodpeckers of pure black and white coloration quite different from gairdnert. From the quantity of white spotting on the wings I should take these for nelsoni. Vermivora rubricapilla gutturalis. CaLavpras WaARBLER.— A singing male pursued for some time but not secured in April, 1889. Penthestes hudsonicus hudsonicus. Hupsonian CHICKADEE.— Chickadees seen in the Hudsonian Zone which I took at the time for rufescens were probably of this species as I have found it a regular resident of the Cascades a little further east. Astragalinus tristis salicamans? WiL~Low GoLpFrincH.— Since [| left the region I have had several reports of Goldfinches feeding on the thistles. I kept a very careful lookout for this bird during my residence there, and it certainly did not occur then, though I saw it further south in Washington state. The Chilliwack birds may be pallidus which is a common resident east of the Cascades in British Columbia. Vol. XXXIV) Wermore, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. ol THE BIRDS OF CULEBRA ISLAND, PORTO RICO. BY ALEXANDER WETMORE. TuE Island of Culebra, second in size of our possessions in the Virgin group, lies twenty miles east of Cape San Juan on the north- eastern point of Porto Rico. Though known with Vieques as one of the Islas de Pasaje, there is little more than passing mention made of Culebra in the accounts of historians or in other literature pertaining to Porto Rico. Culebra must have been discovered at an early date, probably by Columbus in 1493 as in that year he reached St. Croix and then crossed to Porto Rico. In 1530 the historian Inigo Abbad remarks that the few remaining aborigines left Porto Rico and settled on Mona, Vieques and other off-lying islands. Before that time Culebra was supposed to have been visited at times by the Arawakas from the south. As there was no fresh water supply on the island for many years, it remained almost uninhabited. Since American occupation of Porto Rico, Culebra has been made a naval reserve as the inner bay, Ensenada Honda, harbors vessels of large size in safety. In 1899 the United States Fish Commis- sion Steamer “Fish Hawk” was at Culebra Island from February 7 to 12 and a collection of birds was made by Mr. A. B. Baker and Dr. J. D. Milligan. In the report of the work done in Porto Rico by the scientists on the Fish Hawk (Evermann, 1902, p. 22-23) men- tion is made of Brown Pelicans and “coots, ducks, fish hawks and Kingfishers as well as various species of land-birds”’ seen about the small lagoon near the village on Culebra: this is to my knowl- edge the only attempt to enumerate the birds of Culebra Island in a published account. Mr. Cory (Auk, 1891, p. 37) lists a single specimen of Cereba portoricensis from Culebra Island. Mr. Ridgway (Birds of North and Middle America) makes reference to specimens from Culebra in several instances, from birds collected by the Fish Commission expedition or from a few skins sent in to the United States National Museum by officers stationed at the naval encampment. It is possible that Mr. Riise of St. Thomas secured skins from Culebra in the fifties but I have seen no mention _ of them. 52 Wermore, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. ison After making a collection of birds on Vieques Island, on April 4, 1912, I crossed to Culebra on the mail sloop “ Pedrito.”’ The port, Playa Sardine, was reached about ten o’clock at night and accom- modations were secured that night in the village. The following day through a letter from my friend, Mr. Harold Stiles, to Don Pedro Marqués I was given a two-roomed house on the hill just above the village and after settling my belongings, field work was begun. On April 11 I visited Louis Pefia or Southwest Cay and on the 15th crossed to Culebrita for a day. Work on Culebra was carried on until April 22 when I left on the return journey to Porto Rico. PHysIcaAL FEATURES. Culebra Island is approximately 7 miles long and from 4 to 5 miles wide. It is roughly triangular in shape and has the south- eastern coast indented by a large bay known as Ensenada Honda. The village Playa Sardine lies at the base of the promontory be- tween this bay and a smaller one on the south side. The island is hilly, with elevations rising three or four hundred feet above the sea. Rolling brush-grown pastures extend inland and some of the hills are densely covered with forest. At Playa Sardine and at Playa Brava (on the north coast) are small lagoons and in the western part of the island is a larger one known as Flamenco. The coast is in the main rough with rocky projecting headlands and narrow sandy beaches in the bays. The small island of Louis Pefia (Southwest Cay) lies a mile southwest of Playa Sardine. It is less than a mile long and is rather narrow with a hill at either end and a mangrove swamp in the center. Holes dug in the sand and lined with boards in out of the way places on this island betrayed the work of smugglers whose activities of late years have been largely curtailed through the efforts of internal revenue agents. Culebrita Island east of Culebra is slightly larger than Louis Pefia. A lighthouse (kept at the time of my visit by Sefior Guillermo Morris) stands on a flat-topped hill 500 feet above the sea. Much of this island is low and there is one lagoon. Cayo Norte (North East Cay) was not visited. It is said to be partly cleared. Besides these three islands iS ell Wermore, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. 53 there are several smaller keys and reefs near them that are the haunts of various sea birds. In crossing from Vieques I passed near Cay Lobo (Cross Key) and found it a forbidding cactus covered rock with no evidence of bird life apparent. Culebra, though subject at times to torrential rains, is dry and arid. The annual rainfall for the island for 1908 was 47.33 inches, for 1909, 54.63 inches, and for 1910, 35.81 inches. No other records are available. The population depends upon rain for its water supply and a cement catch basin draining into a municipal cistern has been built around the top of a hill. The sun was strong at the time of my visit and its rays penetrating but as the air was dry no bodily depression resulted. The trade winds cooled and refreshed when one could remain in the shade. GENERAL CONDITIONS. The vegetation of Culebra was, so far as my observations ex- tended, similar to that of Vieques Island. Extensive pasture-lands were cleared out by peons with their machetes once or twice a year and a few fields were cultivated in bananas, yautias and sweet pota- toes. Great growths of cactus were found in many places on the rocky soil. A prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) was very common and there was at least one species of Cereus and another form not known to me. These cactus growths with a few bushes and small trees covered large areas on the stony hills, and bound together with creepers, formed a dense growth difficult of passage. A slender line of mangroves bordered the inner bay and on the sandy outer beaches were great growths of Uvas de playa (Coccolobis sp.). The flamboyan tree was common and in April was in bloom. At a distance the symmetrical trees thrust up their heads like scarlet tents. The spiny Rallo (Acacia farnesiana) and the equally thorny Asoto Caballo (Randia aculeata) were abundant in the pastures and threatened to overwhelm the grassland. The mongoose has not been introduced into Culebra Island fortunately for the existing fauna. Rats are common and their nests were seen in cocoanut palms. A Molossus was the only bat observed, It was common in early twilight and harbored in 54 Wetmore, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. ies crevices about houses. Rabbits have been introduced on a small island in the inner bay and have fairly overrun it. None have come ashore though only a hundred yards or so of water separate them from the main island. Among lizards Ameiva exul was common and I collected one specimen of Mabuya sloani. Two Anolis were abundant (Anolis cristatellus and A. stratulus). Brirp LIFE. At the present time 53 species of birds are known from Culebra Island. One other, Phaéthon cethereus, is included as of uncertain status. Of the valid species 49 have been actually observed or collected by the writer and others, while five are included on the strength of reports made by residents on the island. Three forms of birds that are truly Porto Rican are found, viz.: Myarchus antillarum. Holoquiscalus brachy pterus. Tiaris o. bryant. There are therefore 22 birds that may be considered as endemic to the fauna of Porto Rico that do not reach Culebra. There are five missing on Culebra of those that extend their range as far as Vieques Island. Three of those lacking are common on Vieques. Following is the list: Saurothera vieilloti (?) Gymnasvo nudipes (?). Melanerpes portoricensis. Tolmarchus taylor. Dendroica adelaide. The avifauna of Culebra is seen to be much poorer than that of Porto Rico and to show a slight decrease in the number of forms below that of Vieques. There are four birds ranging to Culebra that do not reach Porto Rico though all but the first one are found on Vieques, viz.: Geotrygon mystacea. Sericotes h. holosericeus. Mierolyssa ec. exilis. Elainea m. martinica, th gp a a al a er eee e Se ae Vol. X¥XIV]_ Wurmore, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. 55 Birps oF Louis PENA AND CULEBRITA ISLANDS. During the work on Culebra Island the writer crossed on April 11 to Louis Pefia or Southwest Cay lying just beyond the outer harbor at Playa Sardine. visit: Phaéthon americanus. Fregata magnificens. Chemepelia p. trochila. Zenaida 2. lucida. Coccyzus m. nesiotes. Tyrannus d. dominicensis. Elainea m. martinica. The following 14 species were noted on this Margarops f. fuscatus. Vireosylva ec. calidris. Setophaga ruticilla. Seiurus noveboracensis subsp. Dendroica p. bartholemica. Compsothly pis a. usnee. Cereba portoricensis. On April] 15 the following 19 forms were observed on Culebrita Island: Pecilonetta bahamensis Hematopus palliatus (reported) Arenaria 7%. morinella. Pisobia fuscicollis. Sterna maxima. Chemepelia p. trochila. Zenaida 2. lucida. Columba squamosa. Crotophaga ant. Streptoceryle a. alcyon. Sericotes h. holosericeus. Tyrannus d. dominincensis. Elainea m. martinica. Margarops f. fuscatus. Mimus p. orpheus. Vireosylva c. calidris. Dendroica p. bartholemica. Cereba portoricensis. Tiaris b. omissa. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Cory, C. B. 1892. Catalogue of West Indian Birds, 1892. p.116 (records Cereba portoricensis.) EVERMANN, B. W. 1902. General Report on the Investigations in Porto Rico of the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk in 1899. Bull. U.S. Fish Comm., XX, for 1900, pub. 1902, p. 22-23. Ripa@way, Rosert. 1901-1914. The Birds of North and Middle America. Bull. 59, U. 8. Nat. Mus., Vols, I to VII. 56 Wermorp, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. — RIGBY, id EL 1903. Description of a new Quail-dove from the West Indies. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, XVI, 1903, pp. 13-14. (Records Geotryon mystacea from Culebra.) WETMORE, ALEX. 1916. Birds of Porto Rico. Bull. 326, U.S. Dept. Agr. 1916. ANNOTATED LIST. 1. Podilymbus podiceps antillarum Bangs. ANTILLEAN PIED- BILLED GREBE.— Reported from the lagoons. 2. [Phaéthon ethereus Linnzus. Rep-BILLED TROPIC-BIRD.— Catesby (Natural History of Carolina, etc., 1743, appendix, p. 14) says that this species breeds in great numbers on some little islands at the east end of Porto Rico. Culebra or rocks near it may have been included.] 3. Phaéthon americanus Grant. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC-BIRD.— On April 11 six or eight tropic-birds were circling about a rocky point on Louis Pefia Island. At a distance the elongated rectrices were not visible so that the birds were mistaken at first for gulls. Three were collected but one blew out to sea and was lost. One wing-tipped bird bit me viciously when I grasped it. Other tropic birds were seen on April 13. 4. Pelecanus occidentalis Linneus. Brown PELIcAN.— Common. In the shallow bay at Playa Sardine from two to twenty pelicans were found daily. Most of them had the seal brown cervical feathers of the breeding plumage developed but a few were still in dark immature plumage. The water in the bay was shallow and small fish were abundant. In feeding the pelicans rose, two or three together to circle thirty or forty feet in the air. When fish were sighted the birds dove one after another. Or when nothing appeared they set the wings and glided down over the surface of the water and then rose to circle again. In diving the birds turned straight down. The wings were closed just before the water was reached and the bird disappeared entirely under the surface. In a few seconds it would reappear, fly heavily for a few feet, settle on the water facing the wind and hold the point of the bill down to drain the pouch. When this was accom- plished the point of the bill was thrown up and out and the captured fish were swallowed with a gulp. This done the pelican would rise and join its circling companions once more. In diving in very shallow water the birds turned their breasts and spread their wings to check their momentum never going below the surface. When satisfied all rested on rocks along the shore in characteristic pelican attitudes. On the west coast of Porto Rico fishermen believe that these birds when old and feeble commit suicide by hanging by the head from some crevice in the rocks. 5. Sula leucogastra Boddaert. Boopy.— Boobies were said to come in flocks the first of May to nest on two small rocks north of Culebrita Island. None were seen. 6. Fregata) magnificens Matthews. Man-o’-War_ Birp.— Seen = ( a | Wermore, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. 5 occasionally flying or circling high in the air. On April 15 one came over the boat as I was crossing to Culebrita and I shot but failed to secure it. 7. Butorides virescens cubanus Oberholser. CuBAN GREEN HERON. — Green Herons were fairly common in the mangroves bordering the bay known as Ensenada Honda. ‘They were very wild. O08 nice SBS: Se ie BOF) * > DOs) & 2.052). 8) BBE Se, CBD. [us 72 Bryan, Description of Telespiza ultima. Tait: Of this series number 2 is in the characteristic immature plum- age of the Laysan species having the feathers of the head and breast blackish-brown with yellowish edges. ‘Number 4 is more nearly mature while number 38, is only slightly less brilliant in color- ing about the head and neck than the type specimen. It will be seen by comparing the measurements and description given above, with that given in my ‘Key to the Birds of the Hawaiian Group,’ that the Nihoa birds are in reality a somewhat dwarfed form of the Laysan species which, owing to isolation and restricted habitat, is to be regarded as specifically distinct. The Nihoa “finch” is a stocky, independent creature much resembling the Grosbeaks in size and appearance. Like their Laysan cousins they sing very sweetly, their song resembling that of the canary. In habit they are saucy, sociable and fearless and are so unsuspicious that they approach to within a few feet of the observer without hesitation. On arriving at Nihoa on February 12, 1916, the landing used by the “Thetis” on the occasion of its 1915 cruise was found to be too rough to use with safety. A landing was made however in a small cove a few hundred feet to the eastward of the old landing in the following manner. One of the boat’s party swam ashore, and a line was heaved from the stern of the boat and the boat then hauled close to the rocks. At a favorable opportunity the rest of the party were landed without mishap. The boat’s crew then rigged a line fitted with a running rove through a block at the mast head. Dry clothing, ammunition, cameras and other articles were whipped ashore and the dinghy shifted its anchorage to a safe distance to await the return of the party. After four hours on the island the party returned to the vessel without accident bringing with them photographs, notes and speci- mens of the fauna and flora that are of great interest and value. i Pei tia Battey, A New Broad-winged Hawk. 73 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUBSPECIES OF THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK. BY B. H. BAILEY. Buteo platypterus iowensis, subsp. nov. Iowa BROAD-WINGED HAWK. DerscripTion.— Head, neck, body, and tibial flags, sooty brown with a slightly rufous cast due to very faint rufous edgings on the feathers. Back, and top of the head, somewhat darker. The feathers of the upper surfaces of the wings slightly worn and somewhat lighter at their margins. Con- cealed bases of the feathers of the head, snow white; elsewhere bases of the feathers grayish white. Each feather shows a distinct black shaft. Under tail coverts when disturbed show three or four alternating light and dark bands. Wings: Three outer primaries deeply emarginate on the inner webs. Lining of the wings in general the same color as the body, except at the bases of the first three or four primaries of each wing, where there are a very few whitish feathers, each crossed by about four dusky bands. Ex- posed parts of the primaries dusky above with no evident banding; below, however, they are whitish on the inner webs, and crossed by five narrow dark bars. The tips of the primaries from below for an inch and a half appear almost black. Spreading the secondaries they show from above, on their inner webs, sharp contrasting bars of white and dusky, which appear much less dis- tinct on the under surface. Tail: Exposed surface above crossed by three dark bars of the same color as the back, which alternate with two narrower grayish white bands with a narrow tip of the same color. From below, these markings are less distinct. The inner webs of the outermost tail feathers show more numer- ous indistinct bars. MEASUREMENTS OF TypE.— Length (skin) 16.50 in. 41.8 cm.; wing, 11.62 in. 29.5 cm.; tail, 7.18 in. 18 cm.; tarsus, 2.44 in. 6.2 cm.; culmen, .80 in. 1.9 em. Type No. 918, Coe College Museum, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; sex (?); locality, Eagle Lake, Hancock County, Iowa; date, Fall 1907; collector, James Ward. Paratype, No. 45, collection of W. Kubichek, lowa City, Ia., sex, male; locality, lowa City, Iowa; date, April 21, 1913. Paratype, collection of A. J. Anderson, Sioux City, lowa; date, Octo- ber 30, 1893; sex (?); locality, 12 miles east of Des Moines, Iowa; col- lector, A. J. Anderson. 74 Bartey, A New Broad-winged Hawk. aur The latter paratype is in immature plumage. The first mentioned paratype differs in coloration very little from the type, the most noticeable variation being the more evident banding of the upper tail coverts and flank feathers, noticed only when these are displaced. The second paratype as it is in the immature plumage, is characterized by a tail crossed on the exposed upper surface by three narrow and one wider sub-terminal dusky band, alternating with four wider dusky gray bands and a narrow tip of the same color. The lateral tail feathers show six dark bars, alternating with lighter ones, on their inner web. The feathers of the breast in particular, and of other parts to a less degree are definitely margined with rufous, so that a decided reddish cast is given to the under part of the body. Ata distance however, the immature bird cannot be distinguished from either of the other specimens which are adults. In reviewing the birds of prey of Iowa, my attention had been called to the occurrence of these dark plumaged individuals of the Broad-winged Hawk. Mr. Robert Ridgway described the first noticed specimen under the title “Description of a Melanistic Specimen of Buteo latissi- mus (Wils.),” in the Proceedings of the United States National Museum, Vol. IX, Oct., 1886, pp. 248-249. In 1912 Mr. F. L. Burns monographed this species B. platypterus platypterus in The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. XXIII, Nos. 3 & 4, 1911. In this monograph an adult male, B. platypterus iowensis, is described but not named, which was taken at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, May 30, 1900. In the Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. XIX, 1912, pp. 193-194, the writer described the specimen which is here presented as the type of a new subspecies. Mr. Ridgway mentions that two other birds similar to the one he describes were seen by Mr. Preston in 1874 and 1884 respec- tively, near where the first bird secured in 1883 was taken. Mr. F. L. Burns says, “Worthen mentions one specimen from Minnesota, of a solid dark umber, showing dark bars on tail and primaries; and Seton another collected by A. Calder, April, 1907, Winnipeg, Manitoba, sex not stated.” He says also “On Feb. 23, 1908, Mr. J. H. Riley saw a very dark bird pass almost directly ie | Bartey, A New Broad-winged Hawk. 75 overhead at Falls Church, Virginia. He informs me that he had a fairly good look at it, and that it had some white on the breast, but appeared to be very dark otherwise; whether upon being shot it would be as dark as it appeared, it would be hard to say.” At least three interesting facts are to be noticed with regard to these published accounts of dark colored Broad-wings. First they have all been either collected or observed, except the somewhat doubtful Virginia record, in a limited area extending north and south from Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, through Minnesota and middle Iowa, the natural route of migration. In the second place so far as the writer has been able to ascertain, there are no intergrading specimens. Those that have been exam- ined are very similar in general color not excepting the one before me in immature plumage. A third point of interest is the evident dusky character of the plumage of the immature, which has hitherto been unknown. Thanks are due to Mr. James Ward through whose kindness the type specimen was secured, and to Mr. Kubichek and Mr. Anderson for permitting the examination, at some length, of their specimens. 76 Saaz, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. ey THIRTY-FOURTH STATED MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. BY JOHN HALL SAGE. Tue Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the American Ornitholo- gists’ Union convened in Philadelphia, Pa., Monday evening, November 13, 1916. The business meetings were held in the Council Room and Library, and the public sessions, commencing Tuesday, November 14, and lasting three days, in the lecture hall of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Business Session. The meeting was called to order by the President, Dr. Albert K. Fisher. Twenty-three Fellows and fourteen Members were present. The Secretary’s report gave the membership of the Union at the opening of the present Stated Meeting as 830, constituted as follows: Fellows, 46; Retired Fellows, 3; Honorary Fellows, 11; Corresponding Fellows, 55; Members, 77; Associates, 638. Since the last meeting (May 1915) the Union suffered great loss by the death of several prominent members. The list includes, four Fellows, two Honorary Fellows, one Corresponding Fellow, two Members, and fifteen Associates, as follows: Dr. Daniel Giraud Elliot,! a Founder and the second President of the Union, who died in New York City, December 22, 1915, in his 8lst year; Prof. Wells Woodbridge Cooke,? a Fellow, who died in Washington, D. C., March 30, 1916, aged 58 years; Prof. Foster E. L. Beal,? a Fellow, who died in Branchville, Md., October 1, 1916, in the 77th year of his age; Lieut. Col. Edgar Alexander Mearns,‘ a Founder, who died in Washington, D. C., November 1, 1916, in his 61st year; Henry Eeles Dresser,’® an Honorary Fellow, who died in Cannes, France, November 28, 1915, in his 78th year; 1 For an obituary notice, see Auk, XX XIII, pp. 230-231; also Memorial Address in the present number. 2 For an obituary notice, see Auk, XX XIII, pp. 354-355. 3 For an obituary notice see the present number. 4For an obituary notice see the present number. 5 For an obituary notice see Auk, XXXIII, p. 232. Vol. XXXIV] Sacn, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. GT John A. Harvie-Brown,! of Stirlingshire, Scotland, an Honorary Fellow, who died July 26, 1916, at the age of 72 years; Lieut.- Col. Edward A. Butler,? a Corresponding Fellow who died April 16, 1916, at Stokesby, England; Ewen Somerled Cameron,* a Member, who died in Pasadena, Cal., May 25, 1915, in the 61st year of his age; Egbert Bagg,* a Member, who died in Utica, N. Y., July 11, 1915, at the age of 65 years; and the following Associates: Miss Mary Bissell Ferry,® who died in Norwalk, Conn., March 18, 1915, in her 66th year; Samuel Thorne, of New York City, who died duly 4, 1915; Prof. Frederic Ward Putnam,® who died in Cambridge, Mass., August 4, 1915, in the 77th year of his age; Prof. Donaldson Bodine,’ who died at Douglas Lake, Michigan, August 26, 1915, in his 49th year; Linsley Louin Jewel,’ who died at Saranac Lake, N. Y., September 5, 1915, in his 38th year; Dr. James C. Wilson, of Boston, Mass., who died there January 5, 1916; Rev. William Rogers Lord, who died in Dover, Mass., February 2, 1916, aged 68 years; Leslie Waldo Lake,’ who died in Hamburg, N. Y., February 7, 1916, in the 67th year of his age; De Lagnel Berier, of Ridgewood, N. J., who died February 11, 1916; Mrs. Jane L. Hine,!? who died in Sedan, Ind., Febru- ary 11, 1916, in her 85th year; Miss Caroline P. Latimer, who died in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 19, 1916; Dr. Sven Magnus Gron- berger,"! who died in Washington, D. C., April 24, 1916, in his Slst year; John Claire Wood,” who died in Detroit, Michigan, June 16, 1916, aged 45 years; Charles Edgar Conklin, of Roslyn, N. Y., who died September 8, 1916, and Walter R. Zappey, who died in Cambridge, Mass., February 20, 1914. (Information about the death of this party only recently reached the Secretary.) The report of the Treasurer showed the finances of the Union to 1 For an obituary notice see Auk, X XXIII, p. 458. 2 For an obituary notice see the present number. 3For an obituary notice see Auk, XXXII, pp. 540-541. 4For an obituary notice see Auk, XXXII, p. 540. 5 For an obituary notice see the present number. 6 For an obituary notice see Auk, XXXII, p. 541. 7For an obituary notice see the present number. 8 For an obituary notice see Auk, X XXIII, p. 459. ®For an obituary notice, see Auk, XXXIII, p. 233. 10 For an obituary notice, see the present number. For an obituary notice, see Auk, XX XIII, p. 355. 12 For an obituary notice, see Auk, XX XIII, pp. 459-460. 78 Saap, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. Poe be in a satisfactory condition, the accounts being audited by a Certified Accountant. All of the officers were re-elected as follows: Albert K. Fisher, President; Henry W. Henshaw and Witmer Stone, Vice-Presidents; John H. Sage, Secretary; Jonathan Dwight, Treasurer; Ruthven Deane, William Dutcher, Joseph Grinnell, Frederic A. Lucas, Wilfred H. Osgood, Chas. W. Richmond, and Thos. S. Roberts, members of the Council. James H. Fleming, Toronto, Canada; Harry S. Swarth, Berke- ley, Cal.; and W. E. Clyde Todd, Pittsburgh, Pa.; were elected Fellows. Sergius Alexandrovich Buturlin, Wesenberg, Esthonia, Russia; Prof. Dr. Max Fiirbringer, Heidelberg, Germany; and Dr. Hans Friedrich Gadow, of Cambridge, England; were elected Honorary Fellows. Dr. William L. Abbott, Philadelphia, Pa.; David Armitage Bannerman, London, England; Dr. Valentine Bianchi, St. Petersburg, Russia; Dr. Roberto Dabbene, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Alwyn Karl Haagner, Pretoria, South Africa; Robert Hall, Rest Harrow, Hobart, Tasmania; Dr. Einar Lonn- berg, Stockholm, Sweden; Dr. Percy R. Lowe, The Hatch, Windsor, England; Dr. Auguste Ménégaux, Paris, France; and Harry Forbes Witherby, of Hampstead, England; were elected Corresponding Fellows. F. Seymour Hersey, Taunton, Mass.; A. Brazier Howell, Covina, Cal.; and J. Eugene Law, of Hollywood, Cal.; were elected to the class of Members, and the following one hundred and seventy persons were elected Associates: Charles Pons Aimar, M.D., Charleston, 8. C. Mrs. Amelia S. Allen, Berkeley, Calif. Stanley Clisby Arthur, New Orleans, La. Mrs. Clarence A. Aspinwall, Washington, D.C, Harold Lester Babcock, M.D., Dedham, Mass. Dr. Wm. Frederic Badé, Berkeley, Calif. Aaron C. Bagg, Holyoke, Mass. Egbert Bagg, Jr., Utica, N. Y. S. Prentiss Baldwin, Gates’ Mill, Ohio. Clifford Mann Balkam, Colorado Springs, Colo. Ira Barrows, Sea Bright, N. J. Marion William Batchelor, Kansas City, Mo. James F. Beal, Ann Arbor, Mich. Benjamin Franklin Bemis, Gleasondale, Mass. A. J. Blake, Corvallis, Oregon. \ Rox EY] Saas, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. 79 Mrs. Emma T. Bodine, Crawfordsville, Ind. Dan H. Bowman, Mizpah, Mont. Howarth Stanley Boyle, New York City. Joseph 8. Briggs, Norristown, Pa. Charles D. Bunker, Lawrence, Kas. E. Ray Burton, Delaware, Ohio. Chalmers 8. Brumbaugh, Baltimore, Md. Prof. Walter Guyton Cady, Middletown, Conn. Henry A. Caesar, New York City. Chas. L. Camp, Berkeley, Calif. George G. Cantwell, Puyallup, Wash. Hall Bryant Carpenter, Somerville, Mass. Eugene 8. Cattron, Portland, Oregon. Omar P. Chase, Andover, Mass. Mrs. Arthur E. Clarke, Manchester, N. H. Miss Mary S. Clarke, Bristow, Va. George J. Cooke, Ambler, Pa. Julian Dana Corrington, Ithaca, N. Y. Clifford Cronk, Monterey, Mass. Haskell Brooks Curry, Boston, Mass. William Shepard Dana, Mastic, Long Island, N. Y. Stuart T. Danforth, East Jaffrey, N. H. Chas. E. Dankers, Corning, Mo. Harold K. Decker, West New Brighton, N. Y. William M. Derby, Jr., Chicago, Ill. Homer R. Dill, lowa City, Iowa. Joseph Scattergood Dixon, Berkeley, Calif. Miss Helen Dwise, Washington, D. C. Wm. L. G. Edson, Rochester, N. Y. William Otto Emerson, Hayward, Calif. Evan M. Evans, New York, N. Y. Arthur Farquhar, York, Pa. Allan Hart Faxon, Southbridge, Mass. Dudley B. Fay, Boston, Mass. Mrs. E. S. Finney, St. Davids, Pa. Thomas M. Fitzpatrick, Brookline, Mass. Edward Fleischer, Brooklyn, N. Y. Charles Benton Floyd, Auburndale, Mass. Mrs. Annie Middaugh Folger, Devils Lake, No. Dak. Nathan Chandler Foot, M.D., Hyde Park P. O., Mass. Frank B. Foster, Haverford, Pa. Henry J. Fry, Germantown, Pa. Walter Fry, Three Rivers, Calif. Henry C. Fuller, Washington, D. C. Dr. Julius Garst, Worcester, Mass. Edward N. Goding, Boston, Mass. 80 Saag, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. [aus Walter A. Goeletz, Ravinia, Il. Luther J. Goldman, Berkeley, Calif. Charles Crawford Gorst, Cambridge, Mass. Alfred M. Gould, Malden, Mass. Mrs. Adele Lewis Grant, Columbia, Calif. George M. Gray, Woods Hole, Mass. Mrs. Anna K. Grow, Lebanon, N. H. Charles Overton Handley, Lewisburg, W. Va. John L. Harvey, Waltham, Mass. Richard E. Harrison, New Haven, Conn. Miss Sadia Haskell, Washington, D. C. Dr. Royal Hatch, Wellesley, Mass. Theodore L. Hermann, West New Brighton, N. Y. Mrs. Eleanor Hitchcock, Waterbury, Conn. Oliver W. Holton, Ithaca, N. Y. Charles B. Horton, Pittsburgh, Pa. Isaac Chester Horton, Canton, Mass. Irving R. Hough, Meriden, Conn. Clarence Ancbresen Hubbard, Portland, Oregon. Prof. Marian E. Hubbard, Wellesley, Mass. Ralph Hubbard, Ithaca, N. Y. Prof. James Franklin Illingsworth, Honolulu, H. I. Edwin Leroy Jack, Portland, Maine. Alphonse Jay, Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. Harris Kennedy, Readville, Mass. Frederick 8. Kingsbury, Needham, Mass. Louisa W. Lasell, Cliftondale, Mass. Roy A. Latham, Orient, L. I., N. Y. Mrs. Lawrence Lee, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Claude Willard Leister, Ithaca, N. Y. Aldo Leopold, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nathan Leopold, Jr., Chicago, Ill. Hoyes Lloyd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Thomas Henry Lord, Mattapoisett, Mass. Henry Joseph Lund, San Jose, Calif. Mrs. A. B. McMillen, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Douglas C. Mabbott, Washington, D. C. Miss Hazel MacDonald, Kersey, Colo. Alfred Marshall, Chicago, Ill. Miss Janet Martin, Milford, Conn. John B. May, M.D., Cohasset, Mass. Mrs. Edith Clark Maynard, Northampton, Mass. Miss M. Mead, Winnetka, Ill. Mrs. Elisabeth C. T. Miller, Cleveland, Ohio. Enos A. Mills, Estes Park, Colo. Mason Mitchell, Apia, Samoa, ~ Nel. ae | Saaz, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. 81 Harry Lee Moody, Lake Wilson, Minn. Raymond Wheatley Moore, Kensington, Md. Walter C. Newberry, Winnemucca, Nev. Miss Elizabeth Nichols, Providence, R. I. Miss Eleanor G. Noble, Cambridge, Mass. Edward Norris, Philadelphia, Pa. Robert R. Ozmer, Decatur, Ga. R. H. Palmer, Pocatello, Idaho. Edward Ludlow Parker, Concord, Mass. Mrs. Frederic H. Pattee, Evanston, Il. Earl L. Poole, Reading, Pa. W. F. Provo, Wickliffe, Ohio. Nelson D. W. Pumyea, Mt. Holly, N. J. Milton Smith Ray, San Francisco, Calif. H. Severn Regar, Norristown, Pa. Alex. Reed, Washington, Pa. Mrs. Victor M. Reichenberger, New York City. Robert Riddle, Philadelphia, Pa. S. Earl Riddle, Chester, Pa. Harry Rief, Seattle, Wash. Mrs. John R. Rogers, Brooklyn, N. Y. Oscar Frederick Schaefer, Flaggstaff, Ariz. Julius Jacob Schneider, Anaheim, Calif. Samuel Scoville, Jr., Haverford, Pa. H. A. Scullen, Ames, Iowa. William R. Sears, Boston, Mass. William J. Serrill, Haverford, Pa. Henry S. Shaw, Jr., Dover, Mass. Harley B. Sherman, Ann Arbor, Mich. G. L. Shirley, Dayton, Va. Thomas Silsbee, Boston, Mass. James Silver, Washington, D. C. M. P. Skinner, Yellowstone Nat. Park, Wyoming. Lester W. Smith, Meriden, Conn. Mrs. Wallis Craig Smith, Saginaw, Mich. Richard P. Stapleton, Holyoke, Mass. Tracy Irwin Storer, Berkeley, Calif. Mrs. Herman F. Straw, Manchester, N. H. Mrs. A. B. Stroup, Albuquerque, New Mexico. J. A. Sweeney, Halsey, Neb. Samuel A. Tatnall, Philadelphia, Pa. August F. Taylor, Fowler, Colo. Dr. Walter P. Taylor, Washington, D. C. Warner Taylor, Madison, Wisc. Frank Milton Ruthven Thackaberry, Tampico, Ill. J. Walcott Thompson, Salt Lake City, Utah. 82 Sacn, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. Sule Miss Julia A. Thorns, Asheboro, N. C. Robie Wilfrid Tufts, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Mrs. David C. Twichell, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Henry Lorenz Viereck, Washington, D. C. Mrs. William R. Walton, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Geo. A. Webster, Boston, Mass. T. Walter Weiseman, Emsworth, Pa. Charles Spangler Weiser, York, Pa. Dr. Otto Westerfeldt, San Francisco, Calif. Mrs. India Taylor Whaler, Princeton, N. J. Mrs. James W. Wheeler, Tucson, Ariz. Charles Livy Whittle, Cambridge, Mass. William Henry Wiegmann, M.D., New York City. Nelson E. Wilmot, West Haven, Conn. Miss Elizabeth M. Winch, Canton, Mass. Mrs. Henry Martyn Witter, Worcester, Mass. George B. Wood, M.D., Philadelphia, Pa. A committee of five from the membership of the Union will soon be appointed to obtain contributions to a permanent endowment fund for research and publication in ornithology. Pusuic Sessions. First Day. The meeting was called to order by the President, Dr. Fisher. An address of welcome was made by Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, on behalf of the Academy of Natural Sciences. The papers of the morning session were as follows: ‘In Memoriam — Daniel Giraud Elliot,’ by Dr. Frank M. Chapman. ‘In Memoriam — Wells Woodbridge Cooke,’ by Dr. T. S. Palmer. ‘A New Name for an Old Friend,’ by Harry C. Oberholser. Read by Dr. Palmer in the absence of the author. ‘The Life and Writings of Professor F. E. L. Beal,’ by W. L. MeAtee. ‘Bird Migration in Central Africa,’ by James P. Chapin, Illus- trated by lantern slides. ‘Bird Casualties,’ by Mrs. E. O. Marshall. A letter was read by Prof. Paul Bartsch in relation to a memorial fountain to Prof. Wells W. Cooke which it is proposed to erect in the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. The first paper of the afternoon was: oa | Saaz, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. 83 ‘Meadowlark Duets,’ by Henry Oldys. Illustrated by whistled songs of meadowlarks. Next came ‘An Ornithological Reconnaissance in South Amer- ica,’ by Dr. Frank M. Chapman. The remaining papers, both illustrated by lantern slides, were: ‘Photographing Gulls at the Panama-Pacific Exposition,’ by Joseph Mailliard. ‘Concerning Bird Banding,’ by Howard H. Cleaves. In the evening members of the A. O. U., and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, with their friends, met at dinner at “The Roosevelt,” 2027 Chestnut St., Philadelphia — one hundred and forty-four persons being present. An unique feature, imme- diately following the dinner, was the display, on a screen, of pictures depicting prominent ornithologists from the juvenal to adult plumage! Second Day. The meeting was called to order by the President. The papers of the morning session were: “Woodcraft and Sparrow-proof Bird Boxes,’ by Ernest Thompson Seton. ‘What Determines the Length of Incubation,’ by Dr. W. H. Bergtold. ‘A Review of the Diving Petrels (Pelecanoidide),’ by Robert Cushman Murphy and Francis Harper. Presented by Mr. Murphy. ‘Two Birds from the Gulf of California,’ by Dr. Paul Bartsch. Illustrated by lantern slides. ‘Exhibition of Hybrid Ducks with Comments,’ by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Remarks followed by Messrs. Deane and Murphy, Drs. Stone, Bergtold, Bishop, and Bartsch, and the author. ‘Attempts to record with the camera the food of some native birds,’ by Edward Howe Forbush. Illustrated by lantern slides. “The Nesting of the Cock of the Rock,’ by Leo E. Miller. ‘Field notes on Chunga burmeisteri,’ by Howarth S. Boyle. The following papers were presented at the afternoon session, Vice President Stone in the chair, all but one being illustrated by motion pictures: ‘The Home Life of our Common Birds,’ by Herbert K. Job. ‘Bird Reservations of the Gulf Coast,’ by Herbert K. Job. 84 Saag, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. eed ‘Some problems with every day Birds,’ by Dr. Arthur A. Allen. Illustrated by lantern slides. ‘Gannets of Bonaventure Island, Gulf of St. Lawrence,’ by Percy A. Taverner. Presented by Dr. Frank M. Chapman. ‘Wild Geese at Jack Miner’s place, Kingville, Ont.,’ by Perey A. Taverner. Presented by Edward Howe Forbush. ‘Home Life of Various Minnesota Birds,’ by Dr. Thos. S. Roberts. In the evening the visiting members of the Union attended a reception and smoker in the Ornithological rooms of the Academy. Third Day. 'The meeting was called to order by the President. The papers of the morning were: ‘Bird Study and Life,’ by W. Leon Dawson. “Geographical Distribution of Color in the Genus Junco and its ° significance as a Test of Species,’ by Dr. Jonathan Dwight. “The Shedding of Stomach Lining by Birds, particularly as Exemplified by the Anatide,’ by W. L. McAtee. Illustrated: by lantern slides. ‘Some Relationships of the North American Passeres,’ by Dr. Spencer Trotter. Illustrated by lantern slides. At the afternoon session, Vice-President Stone in the Chair, the following papers were presented: ‘Personalia in Ornithology — Report of the Committee on Biography and Bibliography,’ by Dr. T. S. Palmer. ‘Birds of the Athabaska and Great Slave Lake Region,’ by Francis Harper. Illustrated by lantern slides. ‘Our Eastern Flycatchers and their Nesting Sites,’ by William L. Baily. Illustrated by lantern slides. ‘Washington Coast Bird Reservations,’ by Prof. Lynds Jones. ‘Notes on the External Structure of Woodpeckers,’ by W. DeWitt Miller. Remarks followed by the Chair. The following papers, in the absence of the authors, were read by title: ‘In Audubon’s Labrador,’ by Dr. Chas. W. Townsend. ‘Notes on some British Guiana Birds,’ by C. William Beebe. ‘Notes on Long Island Birds,’ by Ludlow Griscom. ‘Notes on Long Island Birds,’ by Robert Cushman Murphy, and John Treadwell Nichols. ‘Bird Day in the Querigua Forest, Guatemala,’ by Samuel N. Rhoads. aie | Saar, Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the A. O. U. 85 Resolutions were adopted thanking the Academy of Natural Sciences for the use of the hall for a place of meeting for the Union, and for other courtesies extended; to the Local Committee and other Philadelphia ornithologists for the cordial welcome and most generous hospitality shown visiting members and friends of the Union during its Thirty-fourth Stated Meeting, and to the Zodlogi- cal Society of Philadelphia for its kind invitation to visit the Gar- dens of the Society. After the adoption of the Peale the President, Dr. Fisher, spoke of the attention paid the visiting members of the Union by the local ornithologists, and voiced the sentiment of all that the sessions just closing were the most interesting and enjoyable since the foundation of the Union. On Friday, November 17, after adjournment of the Union, Dr. Spencer Trotter conducted a party to “ Mill Grove,” on the Per- kiomen, the former home of Audubon and to “Fatland Ford” the former home of Mrs. Audubon. The same day Messrs. J. Fletcher Street and Samuel Scoville, Jr., acted as guides for a party visiting the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. On Saturday, November 18, several members of the Union went to the grave of Alexander Wilson in the Old Swedes Church Yard on Water Street, Philadelphia and the Bonaparte house where the ornitholo- gist once resided was also visited. The registered attendance of members at the Stated Meeting just closed was larger than ever before, and the number of new members elected will please every one interested in the continued success of the Union. The next meeting of the Union will be held in Cambridge, Mass. in 1917, the date to be determined by the local committee. JoHN H. Sag, Secretary. 86 General Notes. Tan GENERAL NOTES. The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli) on Lake Michigan.—On August 14, 1916, while watching the large number of terns congregated on the ex- treme southern end of Lake Michigan near Millers, Ind., an individual was noticed standing alone at the water’s edge, which on being examined with field glasses, looked different from either the Forster’s or the Common Tern, both of which were there in abundance. The specimen was collected, and proved to be an adult male Roseate Tern, in full breeding plumage. While the beautiful rosy tint on the breast was evident enough with the specimen in hand, it was not noticed while watching the bird on the beach. While this appears to be the first Lake Michigan record, it is not unlikely that careful watching would show an occasional wanderer of this species among the large number of terns that frequent this locality in fall. The skin is in the Harris Extension collection— H. L. Sropparp, N. W. Harris Public School Extension of Field Museum, Chicago, Ill. Relationship of Florida Herons.— I note in the October number of ‘The Auk’ which has just come to hand, on page 431 the statement that Ardea herodias wardi and Ardea herodias wurdemanni are both to be considered phases of Ardea herodias occidentalis. My experience with the birds on the Florida Keys for the last five years leads me to believe that this dictum should not be adopted. The Great White Heron of the Keys is so entirely different in its habits and psychological manifestation from the Great Blue Heron which occupies the same region that no one who knows the two birds in the field would believe that they were the same. The Great White Heron is of more social habits than the Blue Heron. You frequently see small groups of this spe- cies ina confined space. For example: on Duck Key, asmall island less than sixty yards across, I found four of the Great White Herons. Then again there is a breeding colony on a small island in the lagoon on Chase’s Key, which is used as a breeding ground exclusively by the Great White Heron. The Great Blue Heron is more sparingly represented, and lacks the social habits of the white bird; that is, when not on its breeding ground. I think that Mr. Oberholser’s dictum is the correct one, and we should reserve the name Ardea occidentalis for the Great White Heron of the Florida Keys, and Ardea herodias wardi for the Great Blue Heron of that region.— Paut Bartscu, U.S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. A New Record for New England.— This museum has obtained a specimen of the Mountain Plover (Podasocys montanus (Towns.)) taken at Chatham, Mass. It is an immature male and was shot on October 28 by Mr. A. E. Crowell. This bird was associated with some Black-breasted Plovers at the time—— W. Spracur Brooks, Boston Society of Natural History. Volo | General Notes. S7 Destruction of Passenger Pigeons in Arkansas.— My friend, Mr. C. A. Willett of Hammond, La., sends me an interesting account of the destruction of Passenger Pigeons by a forest fire. Some years ago he was accustomed to board with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Booth of Garner, Arkansas. Mr. Booth was a great hunter and knew the country well. “Many a time,” writes Mr. Willett, “‘ he told me of the Wild Pigeons and how they filled the woods and he always insisted very positively that they all burned up. Mr. Booth died a few years ago but Mrs. Booth is still living. His story was as follows: “Near Hickory Plains, Arkansas, some eight miles east of Beebe, White County, Ark., there was in the early days, a large pigeon roost. The timber, where the roost was, was all broken down from the weight of the birds that used it; the ground covered with litter, limbs, dry grass, dead trees, brush, ete. You can imagine what a hot fire such a place must have made. The weight of the birds was such that large trees had the branches stripped off them, and only the trunk was left standing, others were all split to pieces. All the big timber in this roost had been broken down. When hunters wanted pigeons in that section, they were in the habit of going to the roost at night and with guns, clubs, and poles, knocked down all they wanted. “On this fatal night a party of hunters accidentally set fire to the woods, burning out the roost with all the pigeons. There was so much litter upon the ground that the fire burned an entire week. Pigeons would begin to come to the roost along about two o’clock in the afternoon, and keep it up until dark. They poured into that fire by the hundreds, keeping it up all week while that roost was burning. The ground was alive with naked pigeons that had the feathers singed off them, but which eventually died and ever since that fire there have been no more wild pigeons in Arkansas, so Mr. Booth positively insisted, and he was a hunter who was in the woods all the time, and when he was eighty years old, still had perfect eyesight and could read a paper without glasses. “Now, I asked Mrs. Booth the last time I saw her, when this fire oc- curred. She said that they moved onto their farm in 1877, and as it now seems to her, they must have lived on it, before the roost burned, some- thing like a year or two. This, as she figured it, would put the fire around the year 1879, but she is not positive as to this date. “T think these facts should be investigated —the time this roost burned, for burn it did, the extent of the roost, and the date of the fire, all of which can no doubt be ascertained pretty accurately if some of the old settlers are still alive and no doubt some are.” This account seems worthy of publication and investigation by those who are in a position to secure more details of the catastrophe-— Pau. Bartscu, U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C. American Goshawks in Kansas.— Eastern Kansas is being honored this fall by a visit from a flight of these beautiful hawks. The only other 88 General Notes. anh occurrence in the State according to the records in the museum of the University of Kansas was a single specimen taken in Riley Co., February, 1878, by W. F. Allen. From October 27 of this year to the present date, November 20, the Museum has obtained nine specimens, three females and six males. I have reports of several that were killed and thrown away, and several live specimens were seen by a party from the museum. The farmers report that they are killing their full grown chickens, but the contents of the stomachs of those received at the museum contained only rabbit—C. D. Bunxknr, Museum of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) in Jefferson Co., N. Y.— While hunting Grouse and Woodcock near the village of Adams Center, Jefferson Co., N. Y., on October 20, 1916, I collected a female Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. I was at once attracted by the call-note which was one I had not heard before. This bird is my first record of the species during the four or five years I have been observing the birds of Adams and the neighboring towns.— Epmunp J. SAWYER, Watertown, Nay ¥: The Earliest Name for the Nighthawk.— Caprimulgus virginianus Gmelin (Syst. Nat., I, ii, 1789, 1028) is the long-established basis for our Nighthawk, the sources quoted by this author being Linnzus, Kalm, Brisson, Catesby, Edwards, Buffon, Pennant and Latham. The accounts of nearly all these writers, except Kalm (who made independent obser- vations in New Jersey) are easily traced back to Catesby or Edwards. Catesby (Nat. Hist. Carolina, II, 1743, Appendix, 16, pl. 16) described and figured a bird from Virginia, which is unquestionably the Nighthawk, but the habits ascribed to it are those of the Whip-poor-will. Edwards (Nat. Hist. Birds, II, 1747, 63, pl. 63) gave a much better description and figure of probably the same individual, with which “‘ Mr. Mark Catesby obliged ”’ him. Both Catesby and Edwards introduced rictal bristles in their figures, probably because the only species then known possessed them, and the characters of the genus Caprimulgus required them as one of the features to distinguish it from Hirundo. . Edwards, however, made no mention of - rictal bristles in the minute description furnished by him. So much for the basis of Gmelin’s Caprimulgus virginianus, supposedly the earliest name for the Nighthawk. Some years before Gmelin, how- ever, J. R. Forster published his ‘ Catalogue of the Animals of North America.’ This was issued in 1771, and is of little importance at this date, but it contains two or three new names for birds, one of them being Capr{imulgus] minor, p. 13, based on “ C. III. 16.,’’ meaning Catesby (as Forster explains on p. 5), Appendix, p. 16. As this Catesby reference is the chief basis of Gmelin’s name, it follows that Caprimulgus minor Forster is of equal pertinency, and our Nighthawk should be known as Chordeiles minor minor, while the subspecies from the Greater Antilles, now called a | General Notes. 89 Chordeiles virginianus minor Cabanis, will become C. v. gundlachii Law- . rence.— Cuas. W. Ricumonp, Washington, D. C. A New Name for Onychospiza Prjevalski.— Onychospiza Prjevalski (Mongol. i Strana Tangut., II, 1876, 81), based on O. taczanowskit of the same author, has been generally lumped with Montifringilla Brehm, 1828, and the species name has been synonymized with M. mandelli Hume. Recently, however, Bianchi (Annuaire Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St.-Pétersb., XII, 1907 (1908), 555) has recognized Onychospiza as a distinct genus, and in his paper (on the forms of the genera Montifringilla, Pyrgilauda and Onychospiza) has, I believe, pointed out the priority of O. taczanowskii (summer of 1876) over M. mandelli (Hume, Stray Feathers, IV, Dec., 1876, 488). The recognition of Onychospiza recalls the action of Rey (Synon. Eur. Brutvégel und Giiste, 1872, 216), who altered Onychospina Bonaparte, 1853, to Onychospiza, effectually preoccupying the use of the same term in another sense. I therefore suggest Onychostruthus as a substitute for Onychospiza Prjevalski, with Onychospiza taczanowskii as the type.— Cuas. W. Ricumonp, Washington, D. C. The Migrant Shrike near Boston.— On September 4, 1916, I saw a Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) in Brookline, Mass., near the West Roxbury (Boston) line. The bird was in an open pasture, and I followed it about for some time, saw it at close range, and positively identified it. It was very active, flying about from boulder to fence-post and swooping to the ground after insects, probably grasshoppers. Mr. Brewster, in ‘ Birds of the Cambridge Region’ (1906) cites but four records for the species within ten miles of Boston, and I find no later records in ‘ The Auk.’ — Francis H. Auten, West Roxbury, Mass. Philadelphia Vireo (Vireosyloa philadelphica) in Massachusetts in Autumn.— On September 17, 1916, I shot a young female Philadelphia Vireo in Harvard, Mass. The specimen is now in my collection (No. 682). By a curious coincidence the bird was shot less than 500 yards from the spot where I took one about a year previous (Auk, XX XIII, p. 78).— JamMzs L. Prtrers, Harvard, Mass. Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla pusilla) in Massachusetts in December.— On December 3, sunny, light northwest wind, mercury about forty, I discovered a male Wilson’s Warbler in the Arnold Arboretum, Boston. The bird was in a berry-bearing bush, barberry I think, but did not seem to be feeding on the berries but about the branches and twigs. He was in full color, very brillant — of course seeming more so in the gray world of December, and appeared to be in the best of health and spirits. In the same bush was a White-throated Sparrow and across the drive, the Mockingbird which has lived there for some years. While I was watching 90 General Notes. ae the warbler I was joined by two other parties of bird-students who offered to bear witness, as we all had an excellent view of the bird.— Mrs. GrorcE H. Metien, Newton Highlands, Mass. A Remarkable Case of Bird-feeding.— This year, 1916, the House Wrens appeared on April 30, and presently a pair of them took pos- session of a bird box nailed to a disused poultry house at the rear of the lot. May 27, there was one egg in the nest. June 3, there were seven eggs, neatly concealed by feathers fastened upright in the rim of the nest and curving inward. June 14, there were four young, looking like wine- colored grub-worms, and three eggs. Later all the eggs hatched. June 23, when the older ones were nine days old, the parents fed them 34 times between 6.30 and 7.30 A. M. and at least half the hour was spent in trying to drive away six or eight English Sparrows that hung over the edge of the poultry house peering down at the nest, alighting on the lid and ledge of it, and manifesting the most excessive and persistent curiosity concerning the young which were keeping up a constant clamoring for food. At first while the nest was being built and before the young were hatched, the parents made little fuss when another bird or a person approached, bestowing most of their scolding upon two cats that prowled around. But their anxietv grew with the development of their young and they protested more and more at every disturbance, both of them nipping the sparrows and following me and the cats with their angry chatter. On June 24, the parents fed 21 times between 6.30 and 7 A. M. and again spent much of the time in fighting the sparrows which were even more impudent than before, peering into the opening of the box and remaining stubbornly upon the ledge in spite of the peckings they received. On the afternoon of June 25, the young were fed 86 times between 4.40 and 5.40, and I discovered that the feeding was now done by one bird, the male, who no longer had time either to scold or to sing. Only five times in the hour did he utter a brief twitter, and from the twenty-fifth to the seventieth trip the feeding was incessant. He had discovered a rich feeding ground close by and neither sparrows nor cats interrupted him. Moreover, he did his best to keep the nest clean; but this, as we afterward ascertained was too much for him. He had to neglect his housekeeping to fill the seven hungry mouths. That evening and the next day, by going near, we made sure that the female bird was missing, probably caught by the cats. But the work of the male so far surpassed that of other birds we had been watching that the matter was reported to Mr. Sperry, Assistant in the Nature Study Department of the Western Illinois Normal, and on June 28, the last day the birds would be in the nest, he and members of his class watched by turns. He himself came at 3.45 A. M. to begin the tally on a large sheet spaced for each hour and each hour space divided into quarters. A clock stood beside the watchers. , At 4.15 the Wren came out of a small elm where he had spent the night “ie iy | General Notes. 91 and began his last day of service which must have been an arduous one after his previous three days of unaided toil. The record for the first hour ending at 5.15 was 85. In the last quarter before 8 P. M. there were but four trips with food. Toward the close of the day the young sometimes came out of the box in their eagerness to get their morsel. This is the tally by hour for the fifteen hours and forty-five minutes: 85, 99, 88, 79, 93, 111, 78, 70, 98, 74, 56, 59, 44, 72, 80, 31,— a total of 1217 for one bird. This must be a world record. Nowhere can we find more than 750 feedings accredited to both parent wrens working together. Early one morning during the incubation, I tallied the male wren’s ’ twitters, and this is the record per minute: 9, 7, 9, 9, 8, 2-, 7, 6,— 10, 5, &, 2-, 8, 7, 7,— 10, 10, 7,— 6. Sometimes the pause was for the fraction of a minute; sometimes longer for flight.— CLARA Kern Bayuiss, Macomb, Til. A Mockingbird in New Hampshire.— A Mockingbird (Mimus poly- glottos) appeared near my home on the outskirts of Manchester, N. H., November 5, 1916, apparently accompanying a flock of Robins; and stayed in the neighborhood two days. It was seen by Mr. Lewis Dexter, and by a number of other bird lovers whom I was able to notify. It did not act like an escaped cage bird, as it did not care to have me approach closer than thirty or forty feet, although we could not rule out the possibility. I have not seen a caged Mockingbird in this region for years. Allen’s ‘List of the Birds of New Hampshire’ mentions one record for New Hampshire and that is the only one I have been able to find.— Witiram R. Varicx, Manchester, N. H. Acadian Chickadee at Rhinebeck, N. Y.— On November 6, 1916, Lob- served an Acadian Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis) for several minutes feeding within seven feet of me among dead aster-tops. It was accompanied by several Black-capped Chickadees, but appeared tamer and entirely at ease. This is the first visit from the species since the winter of 1913-14, when several were observed in Dutchess County. The earliest noted in 1913 appeared on November 27 and, so far as I know, this year’s visitor estab- lishes an early record for this latitude, barely ninety miles north of New York City.— MAunsE.Lu 8. Crosspy, Rhinebeck, N.Y. The Acadian Chickadee on Long Island.— On November 13, 1916, an Acadian Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis) was seen at Hewlett, Long Island. Ido not report the occurrence on my own personal observa- tion but on that of my daughter, thirteen years of age, who did not know the bird; nevertheless I make myselt responsible for the record which, as will be seen, is quite free from the possibility of error. It rests primarily - on the account of a competent observer who is alive to the moral necessity of accuracy in bird matters and apprehends perfectly the impassable differ- ence between might be and is in the determination of a bird’s identity. 92 General Notes. [eue The Acadian Chickadee was in the shrubbery bordering Willow Pond in Hewlett Park associating, but not intimately, with Black-capped Chickadees and Kinglets and finally descending alone to bathe at the shore of the lake. Watching it the observer suddenly became mystified and excited — it was not a Black-capped Chickadee! ,What then could it be? The momentary impression was of a “‘ Chickadee with something missing, like a person lacking an arm or a leg.’”’ What was wanting was quickly discovered to be the black cap, the top of the head being dull brown, scarcely darker in shade than the brownish back, and at strong contrast with the black throat; the wings were darker than those of the Black- capped Chickadee, and the sides below the wings were dark chestnut brown even deeper in color than the underparts of a Red-breasted Nuthatch. All this, related to me, left nothing to be asked for in the way of description. But there was further confirmation. The bird’s notes were not at all those of the Black-capped Chickadee, and a description and imitation of them were quite realistic, enough to send my memory back to the first and only Acadian Chickadee that I had ever met with. This was near Lake Terror in the Adirondacks in company with Dr. C. Hart Merriam, October 31, 1882, when the very distinctive notes of the bird were what alone drew attention to it. The specimen is still in my collection and was instantly recognized by my daughter as being nearly identical with the bird she had so carefully studied in life the same afternoon. The species has not before been reported from Long Island or the vicinity of New York, nor from further south, I think, than Poughkeepsie on the Hudson (Bird-Lore, X VI: 448-449, Maunsell 8. Crosby). It seems well to give early announcement of this occurrence that other observers near New York may be put on watch. The early date of the bird’s appearance seems to hint that the species may be repeating the southward migration that has excited so much attention in recent winters, and that the movement is progressive and has this year reached a more southern point than at any time before.— Eugene P. BickNnELL, New York City. Alaska Hermit Thrush in Northeastern Illinois.— While hunting for Crossbills in the pine barrens at Beach, Lake County, Illinois, Novem- ber 5, 1916, I secured a specimen of Hylocichla guttata guttata, which was in a juniper along Dead River. It proved to be an adult male, and measured before skinning, length 5.75 in., extent 10 in., wing 3.62 in., tail 2.75 in., culmen .40 in. (Coll. H. K. C. No. 20455). I have recently compared this bird with specimens from the West Coast — in the collections of Dr. Dwight and the U.S. National Museum, and find them to be identical. Dr. Dwight and Mr. Oberholser have also kindly identified the specimen for me.— Henry K. Coauz, Highland Park, Illinois. Winter Birds at Newton Highlands, Massachusetts.— We are enjoying a remarkable flight of winter birds seldom seen here. Already i General Notes. 93 (December 4, 1916) Siskin’s (Spinus pinus), Acadian Chickadees (Pen- thestes hudsonicus littoralis), Redpolls (Acanthis linaria linaria) American and white-winged Crossbills (Loria curvirostra minor and L. leucoptera), Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator leucura), Evening Grosbeaks ( Hesperi- phona vespertina vespertina), Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis), Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea), and Rough-legged Hawks (Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis) are here, many of them in much greater abundance than for many years.— Mrs. Grorce H. MELuEN, Newton Highlands, Mass. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertina vespertina) at Cinnamin- son, N. J.— On December 3, 1916, Mr. Charles Evans of Cinnaminson, near Riverton, N. J., found two Evening Grosbeaks feeding on his lawn. He recognized them at once by a colored plate of the species which he had, but supplemented this identification with a direct comparison with the description in Chapman’s ‘Handbook.’ The birds were exceedingly tame and would scarcely get out of his way. Cinnaminson is only eight miles above Philadelphia on the opposite side of the Delaware River and this constitutes the first record of the species south of Plainfield, Fair Haven and Princeton from which places it is recorded in ‘ Bird-Lore,’ for 1911 and 1918. The Cinnaminson birds are therefore the most southern recorded occurrence for this interesting species.— GEORGE SPENCER Morris, Olney, Philadelphia, Pa. Clarence Henry Morrell —A Correction.— In the ‘Ten Year Index to the Auk,’ p. XIX, 1915, the birth place of Clarence Henry Morrell is given as Pittsfield, Me., and the date of birth as Feb. 23, 1872. These data were obtained from an obituary notice by Mr. J. M. Swain in ‘ The Auk’ for 1902, p.423. My attention was recently called to a more extended biographical sketch of Mr. Morrell in the ‘Journal of the Maine Ornitholog- ical Society,’ V, pp. 7-12, 1903, also prepared by Mr. Swain, stating that Mr. Morrell was born at River Hobart, Nova Scotia, Feb. 27, 1872. This statement Mr. Swain advises me is correct and the place and date originally published in ‘ The Auk’ are erroneous.— T. S. Paumer, Washington, D.C. 94 Recent Literature. Rees, RECENT LITERATURE. Index to ‘ The Ibis’ 1895-1912.'— This bulky volume is the third ‘ Index- volume’ of ‘ The Ibis,’ the others covering respectively the years 1859- 1876, and 1877-1894. Unlike the custom adopted by ‘ The Auk,’ ‘ The Ibis’ issues a separate ‘Subject Index’ at the end of every series (six volumes) so that no entries of authors or subjects appear in the work before us. The size of the volume is greatly increased by the indexing of every species under both species and genus and of every trinomial name under subspecies, species and genus, there being no cross references whatever. To anyone who has constant occasion to consult the files of ‘ The Ibis ’ this index is invaluable and ornithologists the world over owe a debt of gratitude to Messrs. Henry Peavot and Thomas Wells who compiled it and to Mr. W. L. Sclater, the editor.— W. S. Noble on the Resident Birds of Guadeloupe.?— Mr. Noble spent the summer and early fall of 1914 on Guadeloupe Island in the French West Indies, collecting in the interest of the Museum of Comparative Zodélogy, and the present report covers the results of his work. Forty-six species are listed accompanied by extensive notes on relationship, habits and abun- dance, while several introductory pages summarize the topography of the island, the vertebrate fauna and the present status of the bird life. The four species of parrots, were the earliest land birds to be exterminated, having been killed in large numbers by the natives. The Coot and Rail have apparently disappeared also, though their extirpation is to be laid to the mongoose rather than to human agency. The other extinct species is the Diablotin or Black-capped Petrel, which, according to the “‘ oldest inhabitants ’’ has not been seen since the great earthquake of 1847. Mr. Noble nevertheless is able to discuss the relationship of the Guadeloupe petrels at considerable length on the basis of four specimens in the Lafres- naye collection secured in Guadeloupe in 1842 by L’Herminier. These curiously enough belong to two different species, the smaller of which seems to correspond best with Kuhl’s description of Procellaria hasitata while the larger is P. diabolica of Lafresnay. Mr. Noble further thinks it probable that the North American specimens of ‘ A. hasitata’ will be found to be A. diabolica. ’ The Laughing Gulls of the Antilles and Bahamas are found to be uni- formly smaller than those from the mainland and Mr. Noble proposes to separate the latter as Larus atricilla megalopterus (Bruch). The Grackles 1 Index of Genera and Species referred to, and an Index to the Plates in ‘The Ibis’ (Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Series), 1895-1912. Edited by William Lutley Sclater, M. A. London, 1916. pp. 1-513. Price, £1 12s. 6d. 2 The Resident Birds of Guadeloupe. By G. K. Noble. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., LX., No. 10. August, 1916. pp. 359-396. cen | Recent Literature. 95 of Guadeloupe and Martinique are found to differ so very little in size that in the absence of any other character he thinks they should be united, and Holoquiscalus martinicensis Ridgway become a synonym of H. guadelou- pensis (Lawrence). Ridgway’s Cichlherminia coryi Mr. Noble considers to be the adult of C. herminieri, his series of twenty-four specimens showing a gradual change from one to the other. A study of a series of Tiaris bicolor from Grenada, St. Vincent and Barbados shows that they represent a distinct race which is described as Tiaris bicolor expectata (p. 385), Grenada. Dr. A. H. Clark’s view that the races of Dendroica ruficapilla from Cozumel, Curacao and St. Andrews are not separable from the typical form is endorsed. The same view is taken of the Antillean races of the Green Heron recently described by Oberholser and Mr. Noble regards all Green Herons from Cuba to Grenada as referable to one subspecies. Podilymbus podiceps antil- larum is still however, regarded as a valid race. Mr. Noble’s paper is carefully prepared and is a welcome and valuable addition to the literature dealing with the West Indian avifauna.— W. S. Cherrie on the Ornithology of the Orinoco Region.!-— This is an annotated list of some 571 species and subspecies based on collections made by the writer with the addition of such species as have been reported by Berlepsch and Hartert in their ‘ Birds of the Orinoco Region’ (Nov. Zool. IX, 1902) and other more recent papers. The manuscript was completed some five or six years ago but on account of many complications its earlier publication was impossible. While the author has endeavored to bring it up to date, he states that it is not as complete as might be desired. Nevertheless it forms a very welcome and satisfactory review of the wonder- fully rich avifauna of this region and the omissions are not noticeable. There are keys for the determination of the genera, species and subspecies of each family, while the synonymy of each form gives the original place of publication and reference to Berlepsch and Hartert or to other publica- tions. Valuable notes on habits and distribution are given under various species as well as critical discussion of nomenclature and relationship. Apparently only one new form is described in Mr. Cherrie’s paper — Hypolophus canadensis intermedius (p. 277) Caicara, Venezuela. Mr. Cherrie’s paper adds one more to the faunal studies of South Ameri- can birds which are beginning to appear after the bewildering preliminary descriptions of new forms, and he is to be congratulated upon a piece of important work, well done.— W. S. Recent Papers by Rothschild and Hartert.— In the last issue of ‘ Novitates Zoologicae’ Dr. Ernst Hartert has published a number of 1A Contribution to the Ornithology of the Orinoco Region. By George K. Cherrie. Science Bulletin, Mus. Brooklyn Inst., Vol. 2, No. 6. September 1, 1916. pp. 133-374. 96 Recent Literature. Auk Jan. short papers of interest to systematists. He calls attention ! to the dis- tinctness of the Venezuelan form of Rhodinocichla rosea for which the name vulpina Hartlaub is available, making four races of this interesting bird. The Arabian Sea Tern, he renames? S. repressa (p. 288), type from Fao, Persian Gulf; the name albigena, by which it has been known, proving to be untenable. The record of Arenaria melanocephala for India based upon a specimen in the Philadelphia Academy received from Capt. Boys, is challenged * by Dr. Hartert as there is no definite proof that it came from India. This point seems to be well taken and the range in the A. O. U. Check-List should be revised accordingly. A study of the European Cor- morant ‘ results in the differentiation of two races —a larger, northern one, Phalacrocoraz carbo carbo (L.), nesting on rocks, and a smaller, more southern one, P. c. subcormoranus (Brehm), nesting mainly on trees. Another paper ® records a number of errors of synonymy and reference in Vol. XXV of the ‘British Museum Catalogue.’ In conjunction with Lord Rothschild there is a review of some forms of Coracina (Graucalus Auct.) from the Solomon Islands.6 C. welchmani kulambangre (p. 289), Kulambangra, and C’. papuensis perpallida (p. 290), Bougainville, are described as new. A new Monarcha, from Rossel Island is also described,’ M. cinerascens rosselianus (p. 297).— W. S. * Mearns on Pardaliparus elegans.*— This carefully prepared paper adds another to the long series of similar reviews that have resulted from Dr. Mearns’ studies of the extensive collections made by him in Africa and the Philippines. His untimely death shortly after the appearance of the pres- ent paper, has prevented his personal preparation of the comprehensive report to which these were but preliminary, a loss to science which will ever be deplored. It is to be hoped however, that some one else may complete this work as a fitting memorial to Dr. Mearns. Seven races of Pardaliparus elegans are here differentiated of which P. e. panayensis (p. 57), Panay Isl., Philippines; P. e. guimarasensis (p. 58), Guimaras Isl., and P. e. sulwensis (p. 59), Sulu Isl., are described as new.— Wisp 1 On the Forms of Rhodinocichla rosea. By Ernst Hartert. Novitates Zoologice, Vol. XXIII, p. 229. September, 1916. 2 What is the Correct Name of the Arabian Sea Tern. By Ernst Hartert. Ibid. p. 288. * The Alleged Occurrence of Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.) in India. By Ernst Hartert. Ibid., pp. 291-292. 4 On the European Forms of Phalacrocorax carbo. By Ernst Hartert. Ibid. pp. 293- 295. ’ More Erroneous Quotations and Other Errors. By Ernst Hartert. Jbid. pp. 295- 296. ; ¢On Some Forms of Coracina (Graucalus Auct.) from the Solomon Islands. By Lord Rothschild and Ernst Hartert. Jbid. pp. 289-291. 7 A New Monarcha from Rossel Island. By Lord Rothschild and Ernst Hartert. Jbid. p. 297. 8 On the Geographical Forms of the Philippine Elegant Titmouse, Pardaliparus elegans (Lesson), with Descriptions of three New Subspecies. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 51, pp. 57-65. October 16, 1916. vol O17 ~ Recent Literature. 97 Cooke’s ‘Second Annual Report of Bird Counts in the United States.’!1— This posthumous work of Prof. Cooke’s is a further report upon an investigation which was originated by him and in which he was deeply interested. His idea was to obtain as many carefully made counts as possible of the number of birds breeding on definite areas of farm land and with these as a basis, estimate the actual number of breeding birds over much larger areas. No less than 315 counts were received for 1915, covering nearly all the States of the Union, but mainly as in 1914, from the northeast. A comparison of the reports from this region for the two years, we have as the average bird population for each 100 acres of the area cov- ered, 119 pairs in 1914 and 125 pairs in 1915. Many other interesting facts are demonstrated and while it is too early to draw detailed deductions the practicability and importance of this line of investigation are clearly shown, and it is to be hoped that the Biological Survey will continue the compilation of data on the lines which Prof. Cooke laid down.— W. S. Pearl and Curtis on Dwarf Eggs.?— In this paper the character and cause of ‘runt’ eggs are discussed at great length. It seems that these dwarf eggs usually occur but once or twice in the history of one bird, and are generally due to some temporary stimulation and are not correlated with a morphological disturbance of the sex organs. Some dwarf eggs are yolkless while others contain small yolks. While the authors’ study has been based entirely upon eggs of the domestic fowl their conclusions undoubtedly apply to other birds as well.— W. S. Shufeldt’s ‘Osteology of Palswornis, with other Notes on the Genus.’ * — In spite of a colored plate and numerous photographic repro- ductions of portions of the skeleton, this paper is disappointing, since one fails to get a clear idea upon what points the author bases his conclusion that Palwornis and its allies “‘ constitute a subfamily ”’ of Psittacide. There are detailed descriptions of the skeletal parts, most of which “seem to form no exception to the general rule for Psittaci,” ‘“ are as in all of the Psittaci examined” etc. In other cases comparisons are made with Ara and Amazona and less frequently with Cacatua and Conurus, but nowhere is there a comparative table or a summary from which one can get the evidence. ~ The nomenclature used is a little unfortunate for while Amazona is rightly used instead of Chrysotis, the present day changes in the names 1Second Annual Report of Bird Counts in the United States with Discussion of Results. By Wells W. Cooke. Bull. 396, U. S. Dept. Agriculture. October 23, 1916. pp. 1-20. 2 Studies on the Physiology or Reproduction in the Domestic Fowl — XV. Dwarf Eggs. By Raymond Pearl and Maynie R. Curtis. Jour. Agr. Research, VI, No. 25. September 18, 1916. pp. 977-1042, pll. CXII-CXIII. 2 Osteology of Palaeornis, with Other Notes on the Genus. By R.W. Shufeldt. Trans. Royal Soc. of South Africa. Vol. V, pt. 5, June, 1916. pp. 575-591, pll. XX XIX—-XLI. 98 Recent Literature. i. “i Paleornis and Conurus, as adopted in Ridgway’s ‘Birds of North and Middle America,’ are nowhere indicated. — W. 8. Shufeldt on Fossil Birds. — A portion of the right femur of a bird, larger than any now known in North America, which was found in Miocene (Salkehatchie Ooze) formation of the Stone River, South Carolina, is named by Dr. Shufeldt! who regards it as related to the Anseres, Palwochenoides mioceanus (p. 347). In another paper? treating of the Bermuda ‘ bird-caves’ he gives a popu- lar summary of a much more comprehensive paper to appear later else- where. To this is added an ‘ Addendum’ rather longer than the paper itself, in which new species based upon the bones found in the caves are described. ‘These were intended for the later paper which is now indefi- nitely postponed, although references to the unpublished plates are here given! Unfortunately in two instances, no definite type specimens are desig- nated in the descriptions and considering the number of species repre- sented in the deposits and the fact that the new forms recently described in ‘The Auk’ (1916, pp. 194-195), probably represent some of them, serious questions of synonymy are likely to arise, which carelessness systematic work of this sort will further complicate. The new species named by Dr. Shufeldt are Puffinus mcgalli (p. 630), P. parvus (p. 632) and Afstrelata voci- ferans (p. 633). Measurements are given under only one of the species and while the other descriptions refer in detail to the amount of material described and figured in the unpublished paper, it is questionable whether enough data are here presented to constitute a recognizable description. —W. 8. Peters on a New Swift from Santo Domingo.*— In working over the collection made in a trip to Santo Domingo during the winter and spring of 1916, in the interests of the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, Mr. Peters finds the resident Collared Swift much blacker on the sides of the head than birds from Cuba and Jamaica and upon this difference estab- lishes a new race, Streptoprocne zonaris melanotis (p. 37).— W.S. Riley on New Birds from Santo Domingo.‘— This paper describes ‘three new birds recently obtained by Dr. William L. Abbott, of Philadelphia on an expedition to Santo Domingo, and presented to the U. 8. National Museum. He visited the highlands of the interior where few zodlogical 1 New Extinct Bird from South Carolina. By R. W. Shufeldt. Geological Magazine (VI) Vol. III, No. 626, pp. 343-347. August, 1916. 2 Bird-Caves of the Bermudas. By R. W. Shufeldt. The Ibis. October, 1916. pp. 623-635. 3A New Swift from Santo Domingo. By James Lee Peters. Proc. N. E. Zoél. Club, VI, pp. 37-38, Nov. 23, 1916. ‘Three Remarkable New Species of Birds from Santo Domingo. By J. H. Riley. Smithsonian Misc. Collns. 66, No. 15. December 1, 1916, pp. 1-2. i | Recent Literature. 99 collectors have ever penetrated and the birds discovered constitute as Mr. Riley says ‘“‘ the most remarkable discoveries in West Indian ornithol- ogy in recent years. One of them is an owl related to a Cuban species, which is described as Asio noctipetens (p. 1), Constanza, 4000 ft. Another is Brachyspiza antillarum (p. 2), Constanza, 5000 ft., allied to B. capensis from the main- land, but constituting the first occurrence of the genus in the West Indies. The last and most remarkable is a White-winged Crossbill which was more or less common in the pine forest, at El Rio, 4000 ft. and which Mr. Riley names Loxia megaplaga (p. 1). The occurrence of a member of this boreal genus, in the West Indies was entirely unlooked for and constitutes a most surprising fact in geographic distribution.— W. 8. Townsend on Bird Conservation in Labrador.'!— This report is an “advance chapter’? of the author’s forthcoming work ‘In Audubon’s Labrador’ and tells briefly of the terrible destruction of sea birds on the Labrador coast. Dr. Townsend suggests the forfeiting of fishing licenses by fishermen detected carrying fire arms or engaging in egging, both of which are contrary to law. Another admirable suggestion is to make refuges of certain coast islands which could easily be protected by wardens and thus present object lessons to the natives and encourage similar protection elsewhere along the coast.— W. 8. Gyldenstolpe on the Birds of Siam.?— In this publication the author reports on the results of his second trip to Siam, 1914-1915. The main list consists in a fully annotated list of 353 species, one form Mizornis gularis minor (p. 60) Pak Koh, Northern Siam, is described as new. Other novelties obtained on the expedition have been described in the Ornitholo- gische Monatsberichte for 1916, no copies of which have yet reached us, and Mr. Gyldenstolpe fortunately redescribes them here. An introduction gives the explorer’s itinerary and a consideration of the origin and development of the fauna of India and the Malay Region. Siam is divided zoégeographically into three regions (1) the mountain region of the north, (2) the lowlands of Northern and Central Siam and (3) Lower Siam. There are some admirable reproductions of photographs illustrating the scenery of the country and colored plates of five of the new forms of birds discovered by the expedition. The report as a whole forms a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the avifauna of Siam and is a credit to its author.— W. S. 1 Bird Conservation in Labrador. By Charles Wendell Townsend. Reprint from the Seventh Annual Report of the Commission of Conservation of Canada — Ottawa, 1916, pp. 1-9. 2 Zodlogical Results of the Swedish Zoélogical Expeditions to Siam, 1911-1912 and 1914— 1915. IV. BirdsII. By Nils Gyldenstolpe. With one map, four plates and five figures in the text. pp. 1-160. 1916. 100 Recent Literature. ie Groénvold’s Illustrations of the Birds of South America.!— The plates prepared by Mr. Grénvold ‘to illustrate Brabourne and Chubb’s ‘Birds of South America’ are now issued in folders as Lord Brabourne’s untimely death has prevented the continuance of the work.— W. S. Bryant on Food of the Road-runner in California.?— In 1911 and 1912 when the California Fish and Game Commission collected material for a study of the economic status of the Western Meadowlark, a special effort was made also to obtain stomachs of Road-runners. Eighty-four were collected, and Dr. H. C. Bryant now reports upon their contents. The primary object of this investigation of the Road-runner was to learn the rela- tion of this ground cuckoo to other birds and particularly to the Valley Quail of which it was said to be a serious enemy. It was found that only two of the 84 Road-runners had eaten birds. These constituted only 1.7 per cent of the total food. There are a number of field observations of Road-runners devouring birds, but Dr. Bryant concludes that ‘‘ the evidence at hand here in California does not justify the wholesale destruction of the Road-runner on the ground of its being an enemy of quail or other bird life.” The almost omnivorous habits of Geococcyx are well illustrated by Dr. Bryant’s analyses. The principal items of food, besides birds (already mentioned), are vegetable matter, about 10 per cent, chiefly seeds of Rhus integrifolia, orthoptera, 36.82 per cent, beetles, 18.2 per cent, lepidoptera, 7.5 per cent, bugs 5 per cent, hymenoptera 4 per cent, and reptiles 3.7 per cent. Spiders, scorpions, millipeds and centipeds also were devoured. The published information on the food of the road-runner in California is quoted, and a full bibliography given. The paper is well illustrated also, by tables, diagrams and half-tones. There are some errors in the spelling of scientific names and lack of system in the lists of species of insects identified. The statement that “in this habit of feeding upon reptiles, the Road-runner is almost unique among birds, with perhaps the exception of certain hawks and owls” (p. 37), also is objectionable. In its present broad form the pronouncement obviously is inaccurate. Even had its application been definitely restricted to the United States, the statement would still be too comprehensive. The fact is there are few families of land birds, but have representatives among the reptile eating species. Among these are the Herons, Chuck-will’s-widow, Woodpeckers, Fly- catchers, Crows, Jays, Magpies, Meadowlarks, Grackles, Butcherbirds, Thrashers, Mockingbird, Wrens, and Thrushes. So small a bird as the Carolina Wren is an habitual lizard eater. These are minor defects, however, and as it stands the paper is not only creditable to its author, but also is the best statement of the food of the Road-runner that has been published.— W. L. M. 1 Illustrations to “ The Birds of South America.’ By H. Grénvold. Parts I, II, III, IV. 2 Uniy. Calif. Publ. in Zool., 17, No. 5, pp. 21-58, pls. 1-4. October 26, 1916. Mortsts “i Recent Literature. 101 British Board of Agriculture Reports on the Food of the Rook, Starling, and Chaffinch.'— The present reports are based on the exami- nation of the stomachs of 277 rooks, 748 Starlings and 527 Chaffinches by Professors F. V. Theobald and Wm. McGowan (pp. 1-49) and 332 Rooks, 662 Starlings and 490 Chaffinches by Professor H. 8. Leigh (pp. 49-56). These investigators agree fairly well that the Rook (Corvus frugilegus) is more injurious than beneficial, that the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) if not too abundant, is a friend of the agriculturist, and that the Chaffinch (Fringilla celebs) is about neutral so far as choice of food is concerned, but that a true estimate of its economic value depends upon the extent (as yet unknown) to which it distributes seeds of injurious plants. Details of the analyses are given.— W. L. M. Food of a Collection of South Australian Birds.— On an expedition to the Musgrave Mountains in northwestern South Australia, Capt. S. A. White, preserved stomachs of 45 of the species of birds collected. The contents of these were analyzed by Mr. Arthur M. Lea of the South Austral- ian Museum and analyses have been published in the report on the expedi- tion.2 These are among the most definite of notes on the food of Australian birds, and the report will be of great value to whoever attempts the task of assembling and generalizing all such information.— W. L. M. Recent Publications on Bird Conservation.— Bulletins and reports on one phase or another of bird conservation are appearing so rapidly that it is possible only to mention them very briefly in this connection. The U. S. Department of Agriculture in Farmers’ Bulletin No. 774° pre- sents the usual summary of the game laws for 1916, while Senate Executive Document E. gives the text of the recent wild bird treaty with Canada. Massachusetts is well to the fore with valuable publications. A beauti- fully printed work‘ by Bradford A. Scudder is published by the Fish and Game Protective Association, presenting full information regarding meth- ods of attracting and increasing the numbers of wild birds; while a bulletin ° on the natural enemies of birds and a circular® on food plants to attract birds and protect fruit, both by Edward H. Forbush are issued by the State Board of Agriculture. An especially noteworthy and welcome bulletin is issued by the Uni- 1 Suppl. 15, Journ. British Bd. Agr., May, 1916. pp. VI + 56. 2 Trans. Roy. Soc. South Australia, 39, 1915, pp. 760-766. 3 Game Laws for 1916. By T. S. Palmer, W. F. Bancroft, and Frank L. Earnshaw. Farmers Bulletin 774, U. S. Dept. Agriculture. October 9, 1916. pp. 1-64. 4 Conservation of Our Wild Birds. By Bradford A. Scudder. Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Assoc., 748 Tremont Bldg., Boston, Mass. [1916], pp. 1-71. 5 The Natural Enemies of Birds. By Edward Howe Forbush. Economic Biology Bull. 3, Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. Boston, Mass., 1916. pp. 1-58. 6 Food Plants to Attract Birds and Protect Fruit. By Edward Howe Forbush. Circu- lar No. 49, Ibid. 1916. pp. 1-21, 102 Recent Literature. ae versity of South Carolina entitled ‘ Decrease of Birds in South Carolina,’ ! by Belle Williams, secretary of the South Carolina Audubon Society. This presents reports from all over the State on the abundance of birds, enforcement of laws, etc., and covers effectively the whole problem of bird conservation in one of the states where educational work of this kind is sadly needed. In ‘Science’ for September 15, Dr. Joseph Grinnell and Mr. Tracy I. Storer discuss ‘ Animal Life as an Asset of National Parks.’ — W. S. The Ornithological Journals. Bird-Lore. XVIII, No. 5. September—October, 1916. Cardinals Through the Year. By Mrs. Robert G. Steele. Protection of Migrating Birds in England. By W. W. Grant.— Describ- ing the perches on lighthouses. An Ancient Bird Census in Asphaltic Petroleum. By M. C. Frederick.— Account of the bird remains discovered in the La Brea deposits, Los Angeles, Cal. Oregon Notes. By Sarah G. Pickins. Winter Feeding-Stations at Highland Park, Rochester, N. Y. By W. L. G. Edson and R. E. Horsey.— Tabulates actual number of visits to feeding stations in one day. The Chickadees score was 1239! Screech Owl Johnnie. By Florence M. Bailey. The colored plate depicts four species of Thrasher, while the Audubon leaflet treats of the Avocet. The Condor. XVIII, No. 5. September—October, 1916. More Bird Notes from Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino Mountains. By W. M. Pierce.— Fourteen species. Meeting Spring Half-way (cont ’d). By Florence M. Bailey.— Corpus Christi to the Mexican Boundary. A Hospital for Wild Birds. By Dr. W. W. Arnold. Some Birds of the Fresno District, California. By J. G. Tyler. Some Bird Notes from Humboldt Bay. By Joseph Mailliard. Notes of the Golden Eagle in Arizona. By F. C. Willard. The Odlogist. X XXIII, No.9. September 15, 1916. Relative to the Bald Eagle in Alaska. By I. J. Van Kammen. Alarming Scarcity of Vultures. By E. F. Pope.— Destroyed in Texas as carriers of cattle disease. Cf. also No. 10. Blue-Bird. VIII, No. 8. September, 1916. An Experience with the Winter Wren. By C. J. Stanwood.— An admirable study of the nesting and rearing of the young. The Wilson Bulletin. XXVIII, No. 1. March, 1916. 1 Decrease of Birds in South Carolina. By Belle Williams. Bull. 47, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. August, 1916, pp. 1-69. vol. oir ay Recent Literature. 103 North Dakota. By Gerard A. Abbott. Notes on Birds of Regions with Primitive Prairie Conditions. By T. L. Hankinson.— An Ecological Classification. The Terns of Weepecket Islands, Massachusetts. By A. R. Cahn. A Study of a White-breasted Nuthatch. By Winsor M. Tyler, M. D. November Bird-Life at Reelfoot Lake, Tenn. By A. F. Gainer.— Appar- ently the first paper on birds of this region since that of S. N. Rhoads (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1895). The Whisper Songs of Birds. By J. J. Schafer.— Heard both in spring and autumn. The Wilson Bulletin. XXVIII, No. 2. June, 1916. The Yellow-billed Tropic-Bird. By Karl Plath.— In Bermuda. A Brewer Blackbird Roost in Redlands [Cal.]._ By Florence M. Bailey. The Goldfinch in Captivity. By J. Claire Wood. The Annals of Three Tame Hermit Thrushes. By C. J. Stanwood. A Brief History of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. By Myron H. Swenk. A Recent Instance of the Nesting of Barn Swallows on Cliffs. By N. DeW. Betts. The May Bird Census.— Lists for single days in mid-May, the largest being 138 at Oberlin, Ohio, May 15, 1916, made by six observers. The Wilson Bulletin. XXVIII, No.3. September, 1916. A Strange Nesting of the Barred Owl and Red-shouldered Hawk. By Walter A. Goelitz.— Close together on the same tree. ; Birds by the Wayside. By Althea R. Sherman.—In Palestine and from Jaffa to Constantinople. Fall Migration Records (1906-1915) at Ann Arbor, Michigan, By A. D. Tinker and N. A. Wood. An April Day’s Migration in the Dakota Valley. By 8. 8 Visher. Preliminary List of the Birds of Floyd County, Iowa. By C. L. Fenton. — Ninety species. Notes on the Breeding Warblers of Tennessee. By A. F. Gainer. The Ibis. X Series, IV, No. 4. October, 1916. On the Coloration of the Mouths and Eggs of Birds. II. On the Color- ation of Eggs. By C. F. M. Swynnerton.— This important paper reviews the various theories that have been advanced to explain the coloration of eggs and presents a number of original comments and criticisms. Several experiments are also described in detail, dealing with transference of eggs. from one nest to another, and the preference of the rat and mongoose for eggs of various colors. Some Birds of Palawan, Philippine Islands. By Willoughby P. Lowe. The Bird-Caves of the Bermudas and their Former Inhabitants. By Dr. R. W. Shufeldt (see p. 98 antea). Hider Duck on the Ythan. By H. R. Kelh. Obituaries of J. A. Harvie Brown and others. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. CCXVIII. Octo- ber 24, 1916. 104 Recent Literature. Tee The following new birds are described: By Lord Rothschild, Micreca flavigaster laetissima (p. 4), Queensland. By Dr. Hartert, Corydon suma- tranus brunnescens (p. 4), Borneo; Diaptrornis semicinctus (p. 4), E. Congo Free State. By Mr. T. Carter, (p. 6); Calamanthus campestris hartogi, Sericornis maculatus hartogi, and Stipiturus malachurus hartogi all from Dirk Hartog Isl., W. Australia. British Birds. X, No. 5. October, 1916. Obituary of J. A. Harvie Brown. Some Breeding Habits of the Sparrow Hawk (concluded). By J. H. Owen. British Birds. X, No. 6. November, 1916. The Moults of the British Passeres with Notes on the Sequence of their Plumages. By H. F. Witherby (continued). Avicultural Magazine. VII, No. 11. September, 1916. Nesting Notes from the Zoological Gardens. By D. Seth-Smith.— Rhea, Tinamou, Manucode, ete. The Black Redstart and its Breeding Haunts. By H. D. Astley. Bird Song. By “ Birdlover.’”’— An excellent review of the nature and origin of song. Avicultural Magazine. VII, No. 12. October, 1916. Notes on the Red-winged Bush Shrike (Telephoneus australis minor). By V. G. L. van Someren. The Imitative Power of Birds. By A. G. Butler. Cuvier’s Podargus. By Graham Renshaw.— Habits in captivity. Bird Life on Yanko Creek, N.S. W. By C. Barrett. Bird Notes. VII, No. 4. April, 1916. Some Colony Birds. Reprint from ‘ Timehri,’ Jour. Roy. Agric. and Commercial Soc. of British Guiana.— Account of many British Guiana species, continued to the September number. Bird Notes. VII, No. 5. May, 1916. Bird Catching in India. By Douglas Dewar. Bird Notes. VII, No.6. June, 1916. Photograph of a hybrid quail, Callipepla squamata < Lophortyx cali- fornica. Journal of the South African Ornithologists’ Union. XI, No. 1. December, 1915. The Birds of Philipstown, Cape Provence with Notes on their Habits. By H. L. Hare. Ornithological Notes from Natal. By E. C. Chubb. The Curlew in South Africa. By John Wood. Remarks upon some Widely Distributed Family Traits. By A. A. Lane. Birds of the Kaffrarian Frontier. By F. A. O. Pym. Birds in Relation to their Prey. By C. F. M. Swynnerton.— Feeding Actions of Wood Hoopoes, Small Hornbill and a Babbler. The South Australian Ornithologist. II, Pt. 8. October, 1916. Birds of the North and Northwest of Australia (No. 7). By G. M. Mathews. Sai | Recent Literature. 105 Notes on the Genus Epthianura. By A. M. Morgan. Revue Frangaise d’Ornithologie. VIII, No. 90. October, 1916. [In French.] List of Birds Collected or Observed on the Ivory Coast, [Guinea] 1906- 1907 and 1913-1914 (continued in No. 91). By Drs. Bonet and Millet- Horsin. Contribution toward an Ornithological Study of Provence. By Jos. L’Hermitte (concluded). Revue Frangaise d’Ornithologie. VIII, No. 91. November, 1916. Noxious Birds and Animals and their Reasonable Destruction.— By Count Tristan. Ardea. V, No. 2. August, 1916. [In Dutch.] Report on the Meeting of the Netherlands Ornithological Society, Leiden, March 26, 1916. On Ringing Titmice and Other Small Birds. By J. L. F. DeMeyers. Contribution to a Study of the Least Bittern (Ardetta minuta). By A. Burdet. Messager Ornithologique. VII, No. 3. [In Russian.| Materials for an Ornithology of N. W. Mongolia (cont’d.). By A. I. Tugarinow. On the Gray Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps) of Russian Turkestan. By N. A. Sarudny. Preliminary Review of the Subspecies of the Linnets (Acanthis canna- bina). By Prince Alex. Koudashev.— Seven are recognized, of which A. c. taurica (p- 178) from Krym and A. c. persica (p. 179) from Northern Persia are new. Turtur ferrago silvarum subsp. nova. (p. 181.) By H. Johansen. On the Paper of N. A. Sarudny “On some Swallows from Russian Turkestan.’’ By Baron G. V. Loudon. Nest and Eggs of Numenius tenuirostris Vieill. By V. E. Ushakov. Ornithological Articles in Other Journals.! Pearson, T.G. Uncle Sam’s Birds. (Amer. Mus. Journ., XVI;No. 6, October, 1916). Despott, G. Ornithological Report for the Maltese Islands. (Zoologist, October, 1916). Butterfield, fk. P. Behavior of Two Young Cuckoos in One Nest, (Zoologist, August, 1916.) Saunders, W. E. Another Nesting Site of the Prairie Warbler in Ontario. (Ottawa Naturalist, Aug—Sept., 1916.) ' Some of these journals are received in exchange, others are examined in the library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The Editor is under obligations to Mr. J. A. G. Rehn for a list of ornithological articles contained in the accessions to the library from week to week. (aoe 106 Recent. Literature. Nervi. Gammell, Isaac. The Evening Grosbeak in the East. (Canadian Record of Science, IX, No. 8.) Allen, E. C. Annotated List of Birds of Yarmouth and Vicinity, Southwestern Nova Scotia. (Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. of Science, XIV, pt. 2.) — 170 species and subspecies. Bunker, P.D. Nesting of the Philippine Glossy Starling. (Philippine Jour. of Science, XI, Sect. D, No. 4, July, 1916.) McGregor, P. C. New or Noteworthy Philippine Birds. I. (Philip- pine Jour. of Science, XI, Sect. D., No. 4, July, 1916.) — Leucotreron merrilli (p. 269) Luzon, is described as new. Mottram, J.C. An Experimental Determination of the Factors which Cause Patterns to Appear Conspicuous in Nature. (Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1916, pt. II.) Bate, Dorothea M. A. On a Small Collection of Vertebrate Remains from the Har Dalam Cavern, Malta; with Note on a New Species of the Genus Cygnus. (Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1916, pt. II.) — Cygnus equitum (p. 427) sp. nov. Coward, T. A. Change in the Habits of the Black-headed Gull. (Mem. and Proc. Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soc., Vol. 60, pt. I.) — Larus ridibundus. Haagner, A. kK. Game and Bird Protection in South Africa: A Short Comparison with some Other Countries. (8. Afr. Jour. of Science, XII.) Moulton, J. ©. Hand List of the Birds of Borneo. (Jour. Straits Branch, Roy. Asiatic Soc., 1914, No. 67.) —A list of 555 species by the curator of the Sarawak Museum, and a bibliography of 231 titles. Baker, E. C. Stuart. Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon. (Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XXIV, No. 3.) Currie, A.J. Birds of Lahore and Vicinity. (Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XXIV, No. 3.) Whistler, H. Some Birds Observed at Dalhousie. (Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XXIV, No. 3.) Salvadori, T. Birds collected by the Duchess of Aosta in Hquatorial Africa. (Ann. Mus. Zool. K. Univ. Napoli, IV, No. 10.) [In Italian.] — List of 190 species. Angelini, G. Contribution on the Distribution of Lanius senator badius (Hartl.). (Boll. Soe. Zool. Ital., X—XI.) [In Italian.] Selous, Edmund. Sexual Selection in Birds. (Wild Life, June— September, 1916.) Scott, Rev. D. A. Illustrated articles on the English Curlew and the Peregrine Faleon. (Wild Life, July and September, 1916.) Publications Received.— Bangs, Outram. The Smaller Mocking- bird of the Northern Bahamas. (Proc. N. E. Zoél. Club, VI, p. 23, March 29, 1916.) Bryant, Harold C. Habits and Food of the Roadrunner in California. (Univ. of Cal. Publ. in Zo6l., Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 21-50, October 26, 1916.) air | Recent Literature. 107 Cherrie, George K. A Contribution to the Ornithology of the Orinoco Region. (Science Bull., Museum Brooklyn Inst., Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 133- 374, September 1, 1916.) Cooke, Wells W. Second Annual Report of Bird Counts in the United States, with Discussion of Results. (Bull. 396, U.S. Dept. Agr., pp. 1-20, October 23, 1916.) Crosby, M.S. The Spring Migration of Birds in Dutchess County, N.Y. 12mo., folder. 1916. Curtis, M. R. Frequency of Occurrence of Tumors in the Domestic Fowl. (Jour. of Agriculture, V, No. 9, pp. 397-404, November 29, 1915.) Forbush, Edward H. (1) The Natural Enemies of Birds, Economic Biology. Bull. No. 3, Mass. State Board of Agriculture, pp. 1-58, 1916. (2) Food Plants to Attract Birds and Protect Fruit. Circular No. 49, [bid., June, 1916. Fry, H. J. The College Graduation Thesis as a Method of Bird Study. (Bird-Lore, July-August, 1916, pp. 261—265.) Grinnell, Joseph. A New Ruffed Grouse from the Yukon Valley. (The Condor, XVIII, pp. 166-167, July, 1916.) Grinnell, Joseph and Storer, Tracy I. Animal Life as an Asset of National Parks. -(Science, XLIV, No. 1133, pp. 375-380, September 15, 1916.) Gyldenstolpe, Nils. Zodlogical Results of the Swedish Zodlogical Expeditions to Siam, 1911-1912 and 1914-1915. IV. Birds I. (Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl. Band 56, No. 2, pp. 1-160, 1916.) Hartert, Ernst. (1) On the Forms of Rhodinocichla rosea. (Novitates Zoologice, XXIII, p. 229, September, 1916.) (2) What is the Correct Name of the Arabian Sea Tern? (Jbid., p. 288.) (8) The Alleged Occur- rence of Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.) in India. (Ibid., pp. 291-292.) (4) On the European Forms of Phalacrocorax carbo. (Ibid., pp. 293-295.) (5) More Erroneous Quotations and Other Errors. (/bid., pp. 295-296.) Mearns, EK. A. On the Geographical Forms of the Philippine Elegant Titmouse, Pardaliparus elegans (Lesson) with Descriptions of three New Subspecies. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 51, pp. 57-65, October 16, 1916.) Mullens, W. H. and Swann, H. Kirke. A Bibliography of British Ornithology from the Earliest Times to the End of 1912. Macmillan and Co., Ltd., St. Martin’s Street, London, 1916. Part III. 6/net. Nichols, John Treadwell. On Primarily Unadaptive Variants. (Amer. Nat., Vol. L, pp. 565-574, September, 1916.) Noble, G. K. The Resident Birds of Guadeloupe. (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. LX, No. 10, pp. 359-396, August, 1916.) Palmer, T.58., Bancroft, W. T. and Earnshaw, IF. L. Game Laws for 1916. Farmers Bulletin 774. U. 8. Dept. Agriculture, pp. 1-64, October 9, 1916. : Pearl, Raymond, and Curtis, M. R. Studies on the Physiology of Reproduction in the Domestic Fowl— XV. Dwarf Eggs. (Jour. Agr. Research, VI, No. 25, U.S. Dept. Agr., September 18, 1916, pp. 977-1042. 108 Recent Literature. pa Peters, James L. A New Swift from Santo Domingo. (Proc. N. E. Zool. Club, VI, pp. 37-38, November 23, 1916.) Riley, J. H. Three Remarkable New Species of Birds from Santo Domingo. (Smithson. Misc. Collns., Vol. 66, No. 15, pp. 1-2, December, 1, 1916.) Rothschild, Lord and Hartert, Ernst. (1) On Some Forms of Cora- cina (Graucalus Auct.) from the Solomon Islands. (Novit. Zool. Vol. XXIII, pp. 289-291, September, 1916.) (2) A New Monarcha from Rossel Island. (Jbid., p. 297). Scudder, Bradford A. Conservation of our Wild Birds. Issued by the Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Association 748, Tremont Building, Boston, pp. 1-71. Shufeldt, R. W. (1) Albinism in American Animals. (Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1916, pp. 540-541.) (2) Fossil Birds’ Eggs. (Emu, 1916, pp. 80-91.) (3) New Extinct Bird from South Carolina. (Geological Magazine, Dec., VI, Vol. III, pp. 343-347, August, 1916.) (4) Osteology of Paleornis with other Notes on the Genus. (Trans. Royal Soc. of 8S. Africa, V, Pt. 5, June, 1916.) (5) The Bird-Caves of the Bermudas and their Former Inhabitants. (Ibis, October, 1916, pp. 623-635.) Swarth, H. S. The Sahuaro Screech Owl as a Recognizable Race. (Condor, July, 1916, pp. 163-165.) Townsend, C. W., M. D. Bird Conservation in Labrador. (Seventh Ann. Rept. Comm. of Conservation, Canada, 1916; separately paged, 1-9. Tyler, John G. Some Birds of the Fresno District, California, Supple- mentary Notes. (Condor, September, 1916, pp. 194-198.) Wetmore, Alexander. The Speed of Flight in Certain Birds. (Condor, May, 1916, pp. 112-113.) Williams, Belle. The Decrease of Birds in South Carolina. Bulletin, No. 47 of the Univ. of S. Carolina. August, Columbia, 8. C., 1916, pp. 1- 69. American Museum Journal, The, XVI, Nos. 6 and 7, October and November, 1916. Ardea, V, No. 2, August, 1916. Avicultural Magazine, (3) VII, Nos. 11 and 12 and VIII, No. 1, Septem- ber, October and November, 1916. Bird-Lore, XVIII, No. 5, September—October, 1916. Bird Notes and News, VII, No. 3, autumn, 1916. Blue-Bird, The, VIII, Nos. 8 and 9, September and October, 1916. British Birds, X, Nos. 5 and 6, October and November, 1916. Bulletin British Ornith. Club, CCX VIII, October 24, 1916. Bulletin Charleston Museum, XII, Nos. 6 and 7, October and Novem- ber, 1916. California Fish and Game, II, No. 4, October, 1916. Canadian Record of Science, The, [X, No. 8, September, 1916. Condor, The, XVI, No. 5, September—October, 1916. Fins, Feathers and Fur, No. 7, September, 1916. vei | Recent Literature. 109 Forest and Stream, LXXXVI, Nos. 10 and 11, October and November, 1916. Ibis, The, (10) IV, No. 4, October, 1916. Also Index to Genera and Species in The Ibis, 1895-1912. Wm. Wesley & Son, 28 Essex St., Strand, London, W.C. Price, £1, 12s. 6d. Messager, Ornithologique, VII, No. 3, 1916. New Jersey Audubon Bulletin, No. 16, November, 1916. Odlogist, The, XX XIII, Nos. 9, 10 and 11, September, October and November, 1916. Ottawa Naturalist, The, XXX, Nos. 5-6, and 7, August-September and October, 1916. Philippine Journal of Science, XI, Sec. D, No. 4, July, 1916. Proceedings and Transactions Nova Scotian Inst. Sci., XIV, Pt. 2, September, 1916. Records of the Australian Museum, XI, Nos. 3 and 4, July 1 and August 12, 1916. Revue Frangaise d’Ornithologie, VIII, Nos. 90 and 91, October and November, 1916. Science, N.S., XLIV, Nos. 1135 to 1146. Scottish, Naturalist, The, Nos. 57, 58 and 59, September, October and November, 1916. South Australian Ornithologist, The, II, No. 8, October 1, 1916. Zoologist, The, XX, Nos. 237 and 238, September and October, 1916. 110 Correspondence. Jan. CORRESPONDENCE. Habits of the Great Crested Grebe. Epitor or ‘THE AUK’ Dear Sir:— In this year’s (1916) April number of ‘The Auk,’ Mr. Julian Huxley, in his interesting paper ‘Bird Watching and Biological Science,’ says, speaking of the Great Crested Grebe:— ‘‘There (that is to say in inland waters) in February, pairing-up takes place, a process not yet wholly disentangled, but certainly associated with a great deal of flying and chasing” (p. 150). Insofar, however, as I have been able to observe, this supposed pairing-up process does not take place at all, so that there is nothing to disentangle in relation to it, nor do any difficulties, specially appertaining to the behavior of the birds at this time, present themselves. Mr. Huxley was kind enough, before he left England, to send me his notes upon this species, and he suggested that I should investigate what took place immediately after the arrival of the birds in han since he him- self was precluded from doing so. Accordingly, on the 15th of February, 1915, I went down to the Fring Reservoirs, and was told, by the keeper at whose cottage I stayed, that only two birds had yet been seen anywhere. Next day, however, the head keeper sent word that six had come down (I think the evening before, 7. e. the 15th) on one of the two larger sheets of water. It was the opinion of the keepers that my own arrival and that of the birds synchronised closely. From now onwards, I watched the birds, up to March the 7th, by which time most, if not all of them, had at least located their nesting sites. As a result, I can say that, according to what I saw, these Grebes (I am not considering young and previously unmated birds, of which there was no indication) arrive paired, that they enter, either at once or very shortly, upon their conjugal display actions, and that the flying and chasing is neither a very pronounced feature, nor has it the import which has been attributed to it by (if I mistake not) the head keeper of the Tring Reser- voirs; that is to say, it has not essentially to do with the assumed pairing- up of the actually already paired birds. The above is the gist of the notes which I took, and which still remain in their MS. state. Otherwise I should have sent them to Mr. Huxley, and had, indeed, intended to do so, in any shape or form, but one thing gets in the way of another, and tardiness increases with age. It would seem therefore that, as I had suspected (and suspect in many more instances than where this is supposed to be the case) the Great Crested Grebe pairs for life, which fact, if established, would be in harmony with my view that excitatory sexual movements either first arose under, Deir | Correspondence. i ba BOE or continued after, the first union of the sexes, to accompany monogamous conjugal relations, and then, by a process of evolution, the steps in which may, I think, be partly traced and partly inferred, passed, as a culmination, into true Darwinian sexual selection. I do not however mean to imply that this has been the invariable course of development, or that mere promiscuity may not, at an earlier stage, have sometimes preceded mo- nogamy. At p. 151, speaking of the ‘‘ceremonies connected with coition,” Huxley says:— “The chief point to be remarked is that both cock and hen may adopt this attitude’’ — that is to say the prostrate attitude, preceding and accompanying coition, which rightly belongs to the female alone. My own _ observations, however, made in 1900 and 1901, were sufficient to assure me that this interchangeability of action as between the two sexes, in their sexual relations, extended to the actual pairing itself, and I have since con- firmed this in the case of the Little Grebe (or Dabchick), for, having closely and continuously watched a pair of these birds, established in a pond, and thus, as I may say, well under control, I have seen either bird alternately assume the part of either sex during coition. This reversal extended to the minutest particular, so that the false and true unions were indistinguish- able. Thus we have —for what else are we to term it? — functional hermaphrodism in both the Great Crested and Little Grebe. My observa- tions on the latter species were published in ‘Wild Life’ from July to December (inclusive), 1915. It is, I think, a legitimate inference that this dual functioning of either sex, in the primary and all-important sexual act, must (or is likely to) imply a similar duality of the sexual psychology, in each, and this would, in itself, account, or help in accounting for, the identity of much of the masculine and feminine conjugal display action in the Great Crested Grebe. I have made similar observations on the Moorhen — in which species also this identity exists — and, so far as the actual pairing is concerned, in the case of the Dovecote Pigeon. Also I have good first hand evidence of the same nature concerning the Mute Swan, and can myself speak as to very salient springtide antics carried out by both the male and female Whooper Swan, when conjugally united. To me it is almost inconceivable that these peculiar pairing habits have been brought about, independently, in differ- ent species, through the operation of more or less recent utilitarian causes. The root cause is, I believe, the joint inheritance, by all, and in each sex, through a common line of ancestry, dating from a remote past, of that sexual psychology which once co-existed with physiological hermaphrodism ; of which persistence, therefore, the lesser or secondary bisexual activities are also to be regarded as effects. It is, of course, obvious that, so far as the sexual mentality of birds is concerned, the above inference need not alone apply to species that have this odd habit of double coitional function- ing, for a general inherited tendency need not necessarily be accompanied by some particularly salient indication of it, in action. The study of man sufficiently illustrates this. T12 Notes and News. ao In the paper in which I first recorded the activity here specially dwelt upon, in the case of the Great Crested Grebe, I put forward the above view, in explanation of it. Now, many years afterwards, I learn that the late Professor Metchnikoff held the same opinion (whether in reference to my own notes which, so far as I know, first placed the facts upon record, or otherwise, I am not sure) and Haeckel’s concurrence also, I think, lies implicit in his work ‘The Evolution of Man,’ though he does not there mention — probably through not having been aware of it — the matter in question. I would suggest, therefore, under shelter of these names, that a new possible factor enters into the philosophy of nuptial or ante-nuptial excitatory actions in birds, and, through these, of true purposive display and progressive sexual selection. EpMuUND SELOUS. 6 Albany Gardens, King’s Road, Richmond Survey. Nov. 22, 1916. NOTES AND NEWS. Proressor FosteER ELLENBOROUGH LASCELLES BEAL, a Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union, died suddenly at his home near Berwyn, Md., October 1, 1916. Professor Beal was in the 77th year of his life and in the 25th of service in the U. S. Biological Survey. He was born at South Groton, Massachusetts, January 9, 1840. His early life was spent upon a farm, but he was determined to get an education and was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1872. He was professor of mathematics in the United States Naval Academy in 1873-4, and professor, in turn, of mathematics, zodlogy, and geology in the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, from 1876 to 1883. He was employed in the Biological Survey for six months in 1886 and began his permanent term of service in 1892. He prepared, either wholly or in part, 24 official publications, besides numerous other scientific articles, and played an important part in building up the existing system of laws for the protection of American birds. A full account of the life and work of Professor Beal will be pub- lished in a later number of ‘The Auk.’ — W. L. M. vet: ae | Notes and News. 113 NEVER before has death taken such heavy toll from the active member- ship of the American Ornithologists’ Union, as in the year 1916. The loss of four of the Fellows, Dr. D.G. Elliot,! Prof. Wells W.Cooke,! Prof. F. E. L. Beal, and Dr. E. A. Mearns, two of whom were founders, has now reduced the list of surviving founders of the Union to less than half its original number. Dr. Edgar Alexander Mearns died at the Walter Reed Hospital, in Washington, D. C., on November 1, 1916, only a few days before the last annual meeting. The son of Alexander and Nancy R. (Carswell) Mearns, he was born at Highland Falls, N. Y., September 11, 1856. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (Columbia University) in 1881, and in the same year married Miss Ella Wittich of Circleville, Ohio. On December 3, 1883, he received an appointment as first lieutenant and assistant surgeon in the medical corps of the U. S. Army and remained 25 years in active military service. He was promoted to the rank of captain and assistant surgeon December 3, 1888, major and brigade surgeon of volunteers, June 4, 1898, major and surgeon in the regular army February 2, 1901, and was retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel on January 1,1909. He was one of the most eminent of that group of army surgeons which includes Cooper, Coues, Hammond, Henry, Merrill, Suckley and others, who in addition to their regular military duties, found time to do field work in natural history and thus were able to add much to our knowledge of the zoology of the west. Dr. Mearn’s first ornithological papers, containing notes on rare birds in the Hudson Valley near West Point, appeared in the ‘ Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club in 1878, and his ‘ List of Birds of the Hudson Highlands’ which still remains one of the most complete papers on the birds of this part of New York, was published in 1879-81. While serving in the army his most notable work was done at Fort Verde, Ariz., in the eighties, on the Mexican Boundary Commission in 1892-94, and during his service in the Philippines in 1903-04 and 1905-07. Reports have been published on only a part of his Boundary collections. His ‘Mammals of the Mexican Bound- ary’ contains accounts of the trees, big game and rodents but unfortunately this report was never completed and no comprehensive account of the birds has thus far been published. Several papers on his Philippine birds have appeared from time to time. ~ In 1909 Dr. Mearns accompanied Col. Theodore Roosevelt on the Smith- sonian African Expedition to British East Africa and in 1911-12 he visited Abyssinia as field naturalist of the Childs-Frick African Expedition. Since his return from this expedition he has been busily engaged in working up his collections. He has published a number of papers on the most interesting novelties among the birds, and at the time of his death was preparing a comprehensive report on the birds obtained in Africa. Dr. Mearns was an enthusiastic all-round naturalist. While interested 1See Vol. XXXIII, pp. 230-231 and 354-355, 1916, and memorial address, antea pp. 1-10. 114 Notes and News. [p= primarily in vertebrates, he was also a good field botanist and devoted much attention to land shells and to ethnology. He was an indefatigable collector, a careful observer, and wherever he went he never missed an opportunity to secure material illustrating the natural history and eth- nology of the region. The collections of the U. 8. National Museum and the American Museum of Natural History have been greatly enriched as a result of his active field work. He also had the ability and desire — too often lacking in active field collectors — to work up his material when- ever he had the proper facilities, and as opportunity offered he placed on record descriptions of new species, and notes on nomenclature, distribu- tion and habits of the birds and mammals which had come under his observation. He was an Associate in Zoélogy of the National Museum, a patron of the American Museum, a correspondent of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, a Founder of the American Ornithologists’ Union, and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Linnzan Society of New York, the Biological Society of Washington; and the Washington Academy of Sciences. In manner he was quiet and unassuming, deeply interested not only in his own work but in that of others and his enthusiasm and uniform cheerfulness were an inspiration to those who were privileged to be numbered among his friends. A Memorial address on Dr. Mearns will be read at the next meeting of the Union.— T. S. P. Epwarp ArtTHUR Butter, a Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union died at his home, Winsford Hall, Stokesby, near Great Yarmouth, England, on April 16, 1916, in his 73rd year. We learn from ‘The Ibis’ that he was born in Warwickshire and was educated at Kton, entering the army in 1864 and retiring with the rank of Lieut. Colonel, in 1884. Later he participated in the Boer War in South Africa. During eleven years in India he was associated with Allan Hume and others who, like himself, were interested in ornithology. He did much collecting and was a contributor to ‘Stray Feathers’ and the ‘Bombay Gazateer’. The results of his observations in Africa were published in ‘The Zoologist’ and ‘The Ibis.’— W.S. Pror. ALBERT JOHN Coox of Claremont, Calif., an Associate Member of the American Ornithologists’ Union from 1894 to 1898, died at the home of his son at Owosso, Mich., on September 30, 1916. Prof. Cook was born at Owosso on August 30, 1842, and at the time of his death had recently celebrated his 74th birthday. He was the son of Ezekiel and Barbara Ann (Hodge) Cook, and a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College (B. S. 1862, M. S. 1865, and D. Sc. 1905). For 26 years he was connected with the faculty of his alma mater. He served as instructor in mathematics 1867-69, and professor of zodlogy and entom- ology 1868-93, at the same time acting as curator of the Museum 1875-93, et oe ae al Notes and News. 115 and entomologist of the experiment station 1888-91. In 1893 he removed to Claremont, Calif.. where, for 18 years, until 1911, he was associated with Pomona College as professor of biology. During the last five years of his life he served as state commissioner of horticulture of California. Although primarily an entomologist, Prof. Cook was interested in other branches of zodlogy and published several valuable papers on birds. From 1872 to 1875 he contributed five short articles on the relation of birds and insects to the Reports of the Michigan State Pomological Society and the State Board of Agriculture and in 1896 one on the ‘Food of Woodpeckers and Flycatchers’ to ‘The Auk.’ His principal ornithological contribution was his ‘ Birds of Michigan’ published in 1893 as Bulletin 94 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. This report was issued in two editions, one containing 148 pages, in April, and the other containing 168 pages, in September. It included notes on 332 species and a full bibliography of Michigan ornithology. This very useful list, which brought together in convenient form the many scattered notes on the birds of the State, was reviewed in ‘The Auk’ for 1893, pp. 351-352. Some of the species have since been transferred to the hypothetical list and Prof. W. B. Barrows, although adding a number of others in his ‘Report on Michigan Bird Life,’ in 1912 recognized only 326 species as positively identified within the limits of the state. Prof. Cook was married twice. On June 30, 1870, he married Miss Mary H. Baldwin of Dayton, O., and on July 3, 1897, Mrs. Sarah J. Eldredge of Pasadena, Calif. He is survived by the latter, by his son, A. B. Cook of Owosso, Mich., and by his daughter, Mrs. Lyman J. Briggs of Washington, D. C.— T.S. P. Pror. DonaLpson Bonne, an Associate of the American Ornithologists’ Union, died on August 26, 1915, at Douglas Lake, Michigan, in the forty- ninth year of his age. He was born in Richboro, Pa., December 13, 1866; graduated from Cornell University in 1887, and received the degree of Se.D. from his Alma Mater in 1895. At the time of his death he was pro- fessor of geology and zoélogy in Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana.— J. ES: TimotHy Otis Funuer, an Associate of the American Ornithologists’ Union, died at his home in Needham, Mass., August 17, 1916, aged 71 years. He was born in Needham, February 2, 1845, where his family had resided since the beginning of the nineteenth century. While engaged in business he found time to serve his town in several important capacities. Mr. Fuller’s great interest however, was in nature and he spent much time in tramps, studying the birds and flowers of his vicinity as well as those of the White Mountains, a region with which he became thoroughly familiar. He was a true lover of nature and obtained from his studies an unusual knowledge of the ‘‘great outdoors” which he was ever ready to share with others.— W. S. 116 Notes and News. pee Lewis Linpsay Dycune, noted as an explorer and zodlogical collector, Professor of Zodlogy at the University of Kansas, and an Associate of the American Ornithologists’ Union, died after a week’s illness at Stormont Hospital in Topeka, Kansas, on January 20, 1915. Professor Dyche was born in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on March 20, 1857. His parents removed to Kansas three months later and settled on the Wakarusa River near Topeka. He began his education in a country school at the age of twelve, then entered the State Normal School at Emporia and three years later in 1881 enrolled in the State University at Lawrence. Here he came in contact with Dr. Francis H. Snow who seeing his strong interest in zodlogy encouraged and aided him in every way pos- sible. Professor Dyche graduated from the University in 1884, took the degree of Master of Arts in 1886 and Master of Science in 1888. Even before his graduation he was made Assistant Professor of Zodlogy. In 1890 he became curator of birds and mammals in the University Museum of Natural History and was made Professor of Zodlogy. Though occupied in teaching and lecturing much of his time was given to building up the collections of vertebrates in the museum. His energies were devoted largely to collecting and mounting groups of large mammals for exhibition but birds were not neglected and the bird skins gathered on his expeditions form the nucleus of the collections in ornithology at present stored in the institution. Notable among his gatherings is a series of skins from Green- land. His dreams of a Museum were realized in 1903 when he was given a new building on the University Campus in which to house his collections. In 1909 Professor Dyche while still retaining his position in the university was made State Fish and Game Warden and held that position until the time of his death. He was elected an Associate in the Union in 1886. Though his observations as a field naturalist were many, his published writings are few. He contributed brief notes on the occurrence of certain birds in Kansas at various times to ‘The Auk’ and to the ‘ Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science’, and short papers appeared elsewhere.— A. W. } Miss Mary Bissett Ferry, an Associate of the American Ornitholo- gists’ Union, died in Norwalk, Conn., March 18, 1915, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. She was a daughter of the late U. 8S. Senator Orris 8. Ferry, of Connecticut, and granddaughter of Gov. Clark Bissell of the same State. A cousin, Miss Mary A. Bissell, writes of her: ‘‘Miss Ferry was a woman of noble character, broad philanthropy, and high literary attainments, inheriting much of her father’s vigorous mentality. She was an ardent lover of nature, and an enthusiastic bird student lending her influence to all legislation for their protection. The last ten years of her life were spent with her mother, at their home in Norwalk, amid charming surroundings of woodland and meadow, made especially attractive to the birds by pools, bird shelter boxes, and food in abundance during the winter months. Her little feathered friends repaid their sympathetic and gener- Vol. a | Notes and News. 117 ous benefactor by flocking in great numbers to the place, and showing friendliness and tameness.’’ Miss Ferry was born in Norwalk, September 17, 1849.— J. H.S. Mrs. JANE Louisa Hine, an Associate of the American Ornithologists’ Union, died in Sedan, Indiana, February 11, 1916, in her eighty-fifth year. She was the daughter of Lonson Brooks, and was born in Erie County, Ohio, April 2, 1831. After attending public schools in her native county she finished her education at Oberlin College. Early in life she became interested in birds and continued to study them as long as she lived. She wrote much on birds for ‘The Farmer’s Guide,’ Huntington, Ind., and many of her notes are published in Butler’s ‘The Birds of Indiana.’ Her ‘Observations on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird’ is printed in ‘The Auk’ (1894, pp. 253-254).— J. H. S. Owt1ne to ill health, Mr. H. W. Henshaw has resigned his position as Chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, dating from December 1. Mr. Henshaw has been connected with the Department of Agriculture since 1905, serving as Assistant Chief of the Bureau until 1910, thence on as Chief. During this period the Survey has grown rapidly. In order that the Bureau may continue to have the benefit of Mr. Henshaw’s knowledge and experience he will retain official connection with it as consulting biologist. Mr. E. W. Nelson, who has been on the scientific staff of the Bureau since 1890 and Assistant Chief since 1914, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Henshaw as Chief of the Bureau. Dr. Grorce W. Frexp, formerly State Fish and Game Commissioner of Massachusetts is now a member of the Biological Survey Staff, in charge of Federal bird and mammal reservations. Auice Hatt WALTER in the September-October issue of ‘ Bird-Lore’ discusses a matter of vital importance in the advancement of popular ornithology. “From time to time,” she writes, “and from more than a single source, there has come the criticism that bird-study is in danger of being over- popularized. This criticism does not imply that bird-study should be limited either in its scope or to students of mature years and serious purpose. It does imply that there are persons who care to study birds only in a superficial way, that there are others who present lectures of a merely popular and too frequently similar type, and that the somewhat confused methods of bird- and nature-study at present in use sometimes miss the point by reason of uninspired application and lack of personal initiative.” Ornithology is fortunate in being, for some reason or other, better adapted to popular study than any other science, and for that very reason the great- 6c 118 Notes and News. ie est care should be taken to prevent its degeneration into a mere temporary fad or to be made ridiculous at the hands of exponents who are unfitted for their task. The writer has always maintained that a lecture or an article can be scientific without being tiresome or unintelligible to a popular audience. In other words scientific facts can be presented in popular language with- out losing any of their force, but the man who does this must know, in the first place, what he is talking about. As Mrs. Walter says ‘‘the superficial student is apt to shun the trained ornithologist’s method” and “to balk at his standard of thoroughness.” The inevitable result is to throw discredit upon the whole field of popular ornithology. It would seem that those responsible for the activities of ornithological clubs or classes could do much to check such tendencies as Mrs. Walter has referred to. The desire to have a lecturer at every club meeting and the natural necessity of cutting down expenses leads to accepting those who are only too anxious to appear on the lecture platform for little or no compensation and whose stock in trade consists of mere anecdotes and time worn facts. Better by far have one good speaker a year who is capable of speaking from personal experience and research and devote the other meetings to discus- sion of local observations under the direction of one who appreciates the difference between painstaking scientific field work and careless superficial observation. The injurious element would thus soon be eliminated and the high standard of the study preserved. Quality in popular ornithology is the need of today rather than quantity. —W.S. PUBLICATIONS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION FOR SALE AT THE FOLLOWING PRICES: The Auk. Complete set, Volumes I-X XXII, (1884-1915) in origi- nal covers, $108.00. Volumes I-VI are sold only with complete sets, other volumes, $3.00 each; 75 cents for single numbers. Index to The Auk (Vols. I-XVII, 1884-1900) and Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club (Vols. I-VIII, 1876-1883), 8vo, pp. vii + 426, 1908. Cloth, $3.75; paper, $3.25. Index to The Auk (Vols. XVIII-XXVII, 1901-1910), 8vo, pp. xviii + 250, 1915. Cloth, $3.00; paper, $2.00. Check-List of North American Birds. Third edition, revised, 1910. Cloth, 8vo., pp. 426, and 2 maps. $2.50, net, postage 25 cents. Second edition, revised, 1895. Cloth, 8vo, pp. xi + 372. $1.15. Original edition 1886. Out of print. Abridged Check-List of North American Birds. 1889. (Abridged and revised from the original edition). Paper, 8vo, pp. 71, printed on one side of the page. 25 cents. Pocket Check-List of North American Birds. (Abridged from the third edition). Flexible cover, 3+ X 52 inches. 25 cents. 10 copies for $2.00. Code of Nomenclature. Revised edition, 1908. Paper, 8vo, pp. Ixxxv. 50 cents. Original edition, 1892. Paper, 8vo, pp. iv + 72. 25 cents. A. O. U. Official Badge. An attractive gold and blue enamel pin, with Auk design, for use at meetings or on other occasions. Postpaid 50 cents. Address JONATHAN DWIGHT woe Wie 7.1 St 'St., New York, N.Y. erin Crit i Check-List of North American Birds Last Edition, 1910 Cloth, 8vo, pp. 480 and two maps of North America, one a colored, faunal zone map, and one a locality map. The first authoritative and complete list of North American Birds published since the second edition of the Check-List in 1895. The ranges of species and geographical races have been carefully revised and greatly extended, and the names conform to the latest rulings of the A.O. U. Committee on Nomenclature. The numbering of the species is the same as in the second edition. Price, including postage, $2.75. POCKET EDITION A pocket Check-List (3+ by 5% inches) of North American Birds with only the numbers and the scientific and popular names. Alternate pages blank for the insertion of notes. Flexible covers. Price, including postage, 25 cents; or 10 copies for $2.00. Address JONATHAN DWIGHT (3425.7. sb- St. New York City ‘ads jee a ee CONTINUATION OF THE } New j Vol.XLi]9 BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB oa oy : The Auk : A Quarterly Journal of Ornithology Vol. XXXIV APRIL, 1917 No. 2 | | | | _ a ait halal ta =i HLL PUBLISHED BY The American Ornithologists’ Union CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office*u Boston, Mass. CONTENTS PAGE In Memoriam: WeEttsS WoopsripGe Cooke. By 7. 8S. Palmer. (Plate II.) . 119 In AupuBon’s Lasrapor. By Charles W. Townsend, M.D. (Plates III-V.) . 133 Tue PresenT ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN THE ViciNiTy oF Fort Sr. MicHasg., ApuaskKa. By F. Seymour Hersey . = is 3 5 3 ¢ 147 Tue LaBrapor CHICKADEE (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) IN A SOUTHWARD Mieration. By Charles W. Townsend, M.D. . : 2 ; : E 160 LABRADOR CHICKADEE (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) IN BOSTON AND VICINITY IN THE Fatt or 1916. By Horace W. Wright . i 2 5 : 164 OrnITHOLOGY AT St. Marks. By J. A. Farley . - - * : : : 171 CriTicaAL NOTES ON THE EASTERN SUBSPECIES OF Sitta sanotiientia Latham. By Harry C. Oberholser : F A : a . : 3 ¢ 181 Tue BREEDING OF THE Boeken ae ATED BLuuE WARBLER AT | EASES STANSTEAD County, QuEBEc, 1916. By H. Mousley E 3 5 : f 3 187 Nores on Nortu AmeErRicAN Birps, I. By Harry C. Oberholser i. P : 191 A NEw SuBSPECIES OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD FROM WESTERN CENTRAL AMER- ica. By A. Brazier Howell c : c 5 7 : : : 196 Sreconp ANNUAL List or PRoposEpD a IN THE A. & We Gear bee OF Norra AMERICAN Brirps ; 198 GENERAL Nores.— Type of the ange willed Puffin, ‘ 205; The Possibility of Puke bermude Nichols & Mowbray in the North Atlantic, 206; Sooty Tern in New Jersey, 206; Coloration of Down in Adult Ducks, 206; Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus vociferus) in Massachusetts, 207; Note on the Passenger Pigeon, 208; Feeding Habit of the Sparrow Hawk, 209; The Barn Owl (Aluco pratincola) in Western New York, 209; An Unrecorded Bird from the Bahamas, 209; Blue-Jay in Jefferson Co., Colorado, 209; Note on the Bronzed Grackle in Maine, 210; A Bird new to the North Ameri- can Fauna, 210; The Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina) in Southern New J ersey and Pennsylvania, 210; First Recorded Nesting of Bachman’s Sparrow in Pennsylvania, 2125 Bohemian Waxwing at Seattle, Wash., 212; Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) at Newburyport, Mass., 214; The Cape May and Other Rare Warblers at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec, 214; Breeding of the Canada Warbler in Northern New Jersey, 214; Mockingbird at West Haven, Conn., 215; Hudsonian Chickadees at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec, 215; Penthestes hudsonicus at Portland, Maine, 215; ‘‘One of the Rarest_Birds,’’ 215; Townsend’s Solitaire (M. townsendi) at Seattle, Washington, 217; Winter Birds at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec, 217; Unusual Late Autumn and Winter Records for Eastern Massachusetts, 217; Rare Winter Visitants in the Vicinity of Plainfield, New Jersey, 218; Notes from Madison, Wisconsin, 219; Notes from North Carolina, 219; Acknowledgment, 220. Recent LiteRATuRE.— The Allen Bibliography, 221; Thorburn’s ‘British Birds,’ 221; Evans’ ‘Birds of Britain,’ 223; Todd on New Birds from Colombia and Bolivia, 224; Grinnell on the Evening Grosbeak, 225; Brooks’ ‘Game Birds of West Vir- ginia,’ 225; Forbush’s Recent Bulletins on Economic Biology, 226; A Bibliography of British Ornithology, 227; Cory on New South American Birds, 227; Oberholser on the Birds of Bawean Island, 227; Wetmore on Secondary Sexual Characters in the Ruddy Duck, 228; Mathews’ ‘Birds of Australia,’ 228; Origin of the Generic Name #thia, 229; Bird Enemies of a few Insect Pests, 230; Annual Report of the National Association of Audubon Societies, 231; Lloyd-Jones on Feather Pigments, 232; Grinnell on Distributional Control, 232; Recent Publications of the U. S. Biological Survey, 232; The Ornithological Journals, 233; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 236; Publications Received, 236. CorRESPONDENCE.— A Description of Audubon, 239; Concealing Coloration, 240. Notes anp News.— Obituaries: Samuel Wright, 240; Mrs. Katharine Rebecca Styer, 241; Annual Meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, 241; Fuertes’ aa Portraits, 242; University of Michigan Ornithological Course, 242: Book otices, 242. ‘ ‘THE AUK,’ published quarterly as the Organ of the AMERICAN ORNI- Eau aee Union, is edited, beginning with volume for 1912, by Dr. Witmer TONE. Terms: — $3.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num- bers, 75 cents. Free to Honorary Fellows, and to Fellows, Members, and Asso- ciates of the A. O. U. not in arrears for dues. Tue Orrice oF PusiicaTion 1s aT 30 Boytston St., CAMBRIDGE, Boston, Mass. Subscriptions may also be addressed to Dr. Jonaraan Dwiaut, Business Manager, 134, W. 7ist St., New Yor, N. Y. Foreign Subscribers may obtain ‘THe Avx’ through WirHEersy & Co., 326, High Hoxtsorn, Lonpon, Ww. C. Al. articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, may be sent to DR. WITMER STONE, AcADEMY OF NaTurRAL ScrencESs, LOGAN SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Manuscripts for general articles should reach the editor at least six weeks before the date of the number for which they are intended, and manuscripts for ‘General Notes’, ‘Recent Literature’, etc., not later than the first of the month preceding the date of the number in which it i is desired they shall appear. - % . 4 HE AUKe VOI SOON PLATE II. _ WEE AUK : A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. Von Xacxiv. APRIL, 1917. Now: IN MEMORIAM: WELLS WOODBRIDGE COOKE.! Born Jan. 25, 1858 — Died March 30, 1916. BY T. S. PALMER. Plate II. Mempers of the American Ornithologists’ Union who are in- terested in migration are familiar with the contributions which Middendorff of Russia, Palmén of Finland, Gatke of Heligoland, Harvie Brown of Scotland, and other European ornithologists have made to that puzzling branch of ornithology which deals with the seasonal movements of birds. And they will not hesitate to in- clude among the workers of the first rank in this field one of their own number who year after year labored patiently, persistently, and enthusiastically to raise the veil of mystery enveloping the habits of some of our common birds. In considering migration says Prof. Alfred Newton we “indeed are brought face to face with perhaps the greatest mystery which the whole animal king- dom presents:...The flow and ebb of the feathered tide has been sung by poets and discussed by philosophers, has given rise to proverbs and entered into popular superstitions, and yet we must say of it still that our ‘ignorance is immense!’ ? America’s contri- 1 Address delivered at the thirty-fourth Stated Meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 14,1916. The accompanying plate is from a photograph taken in November, 1904. 2 Dictionary of Birds, pp. 549-550, 1896. 119 [Apri 120 Parmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. butions to the literature of this fascinating subject will compare favorably with those of any other country and the work of Prof. Wells W. Cooke, her foremost student of bird migration, has al- ready received recognition at home and abroad. Although it was not his privilege to journey to distant lands to observe birds, or to spend a half century watching migration at an ornithological observatory like Heligoland, nevertheless he was reared in the midst of the greatest avian highway of the continent and at an early age was attracted by the movements of the winged hosts passing north and south in spring and autumn. He not only im- proved his opportunities but succeeded in coérdinating the efforts of others in collecting data and thus was able to make substantial additions to the sum of knowledge in his special field of investiga- tion. Wells Woodbridge Cooke, son of Rev. Elisha Woodbridge Cook and Martha Miranda (Smith) Cook, was born in Haydenville near Northampton, Mass., on January 25, 1858.1 Cooke’s father was a Congregational minister who had been brought up by his uncle, Wells Woodbridge, and after whom he named his son. The family included nine children — six girls and three boys; Wells, the fifth child and eldest son, received from his parents a heritage of patience, persistence and quiet force that contributed much to his success in later years. At an early age he was taken to Townsend, northeast of Fitchburg, Mass., and later to Hopkinton, N. H., where the family lived two years. About 1864 when he was six years old he accompanied his parents to Ripon, Wis., where his father had been appointed pastor of the church. Here in the lake region of eastern Wisconsin, Wells’ boyhood was spent and here he received most of his education. He early exhibited an interest in natural history and when about twelve years of age he was given his first gun. He at once began to collect the common birds of the neighborhood and made frequent trips to Green Lake a few miles from Ripon in search of specimens. At first he merely mounted the heads and wings on boards and it was some time before he learned to prepare specimens 1 The year 1858 is an important one in the history of ornithology. It marks the close of the first century of systematic work, which began with the publication of Linnzus’ Systema Nature in 1758, and the dawn of a new era in American ornithology signalized by the appearance of Baird’s great work on North American birds. Notre yy Paumer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. 121 according to approved methods. It would be interesting to know what were the influences during these years which moulded his future, what books or what companions directed his thoughts and aroused his enthusiasm in birds rather than in some other line of study. But apparently he has left no record on this point and his reticence regarding personal matters was such that he seldom men- tioned his early ornithological studies even to his most intimate friends. After completing the course in the preparatory schools he entered Ripon College and later studied at the University of Iowa in 1876, but having been taken ill in the following winter was compelled to return home. He again entered Ripon College and in due time graduated in the class of ’79 with the degree of A. B., and in 1882 received the degree of A. M. On November 27, 1879, he married Miss Carrie Amy Raymond, daughter of Eusebe L. Raymond and Emily Lucina (Lucia) Raymond, a young lady who had been born and brought up in Ripon and whom he had known for some years. Immediately after graduation he secured an appointment as a teacher in the Indian schools and was assigned to duty in north- western Minnesota. The next six years were spent in teaching, partly in the Indian Service, chiefly among the Chippewas, Choc- taws, and Otoes, and partly in secondary schools, at half a dozen different places in four different States. His first school was on the White Earth Indian. Reservation, Minn., just west of Lake Itasca, where he was noting the arrival of birds in the spring of 1881.' Here he spent three years although probably not all at one time as he was in Iowa late in 1881. The ornithological results of his resi- dence on the Reservation were embodied in a paper on ‘Bird Nomenclature of the Chippewa Indians.’? In the early part of 1882 he was back in Minnesota but the latter part of that year and the spring of 1883 were spent in Jefferson, Wis. Late in the summer he went to the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) and taught in the Indian school at Caddo in the Choctaw Nation. Here he remained from August 27, 1883, to April 8, 1884, and his observations on birds were summarized in a recent paper on the winter birds of Oklahoma.? From Caddo he went to Red Rock among the Otoes 1 Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, VI, p. 186, 1881. 2 Auk, I, pp. 242-250, 1884. 3 Auk, XXXI, pp. 473-493, 1914. 122 Patmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. aoe in the northern part of the Territory but was there only a few months when he was stricken with typho-malaria and was obliged to abandon his work. Hereturned north and staid at Moorhead, Minn., opposite Fargo, N. Dak., while he was recovering from the attack of fever. Here he continued teaching until the following summer when he left for Vermont to enter upon his college work. The years thus spent in teaching in the Mississippi Valley are important not only because they afforded an opportunity for field work among the birds of widely separated localities but because they mark the beginning of codperative observations on migration in the United States and the publication of the most detailed annual records of migration for a wide area that have ever appeared. The earlier reports which appeared in 1882 and 1883 brought the author into correspondence with observers in the middle west and gained for him substantial recognition by the American Ornithologists’ Union which at its first meeting appointed a committee to codperate - with him ! and in 1884 elected him an active member of the Union. How or where Cooke first conceived the idea of coéperative observations on the movements of birds is not mentioned in any of his reports, but it is important to recall that similar work had been undertaken in Europe a few years before. In Germany observations were begun by Blasius, Reichenow and Schalow about 1876,2 and in Scotland Harvie Brown and Cordeaux collected reports on the autumn migration of 1879 from light houses on the coasts of England and Scotland.’ In both the German and English reports the observations begin in the autumn and continue through the winter and spring as do those of Cooke’s first reports. In a review of the English report Dr. J. A. Allen suggested as early as 1880 * that it would be desirable and not impracticable to establish an ornithological bureau to which observations could be sent and elaborated, and’ that nowhere were conditions more favorable for systematic work than in the United States. This suggestion was made five years before the plan became an accomplished fact in the organization of the work now carried on by the Biological Sur- 1 Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, VIII, pp. 225, 230, 1883. 2Zur Vogelkunde Deutschlands, I Jahresbericht (1876) des Ausschusses fiir Beobach- tungs-Stationen der Végel Deutschlands, J. f. O., 1877, pp. 278-342. 3 Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, V, pp. 175-177, 1880; see also Ibid., VIII, pp. 228-231, 1883. aoa | Patmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. 123 vey. Evidently the dawn of a new era in the study of migration in America was close at hand. In the winter of 1881-82 Cooke invited the ornithologists of Iowa to send him lists of winter residents and dates of the first arrival of spring migrants. The field of investigation was soon extended to include the whole Mississippi Valley. The reports for 1882 were published in ‘Forest and Stream ’ for October to Decem- ber, 1882; those for 1883 in the ‘Ornithologist and Odlogist’ for that year, and those for 1884 and 1885 in the bulletin on ‘ Bird Migra- tion in the Mississippi Valley’ issued by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In the autumn of 1885 Professor Cooke entered on a period of college work which lasted 16 years, during which time he was con- nected with three institutions, the University of Vermont, the State Agricultural College of Colorado, and the State College of Penn- sylvania. He went to Burlington, Vt., as a graduate student of chemistry, apparently attracted partly by the presence on the faculty of Prof. A. H. Sabin, under whom he had studied chemistry at Ripon College. In January, 1886, he was employed as a lecturer in the Agricultural College and as State Chemist, and a few months later was appointed Professor of Agriculture in the University. Upon the organization of the Experiment Station early in 1887 he was made Director, a position which he held until September 1, 1893. He was evidently fully occupied with the many details of organization and administration connected with Station work. Of the 39 bulletins published during this time he was the author in whole or in part of 24, on such varied subjects as fertilizers, feeding experiments, insecticides, maple sugar, and testing dairy cows. In addition he prepared the annual reports and a number of short articles or notes on agricultural topics. From an ornithological standpoint the eight busy years at Burlington were the least pro- ductive of his life. Beside putting the finishing touches on his migration report he published only one short note in ‘The Auk.’ In later years he remarked that while he had added one bird to the Vermont list during his residence in the State he had never pub- lished the fact, whereas he published several additions to the Colo- rado list during his stay in that State although none of the additions were based on his own observations. 124 Patmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. Fess From Burlington, Cooke went directly to Fort Collins, Colo., where in the autumn of 1893 he took up the duties of Agriculturist at the State Experiment Station. He remained in this position for seven years busy with the varied duties connected with teaching agriculture and attending farmers institutes, but not unmindful of the birds. His experiment station work dealt with problems of forage crops, stock feeding, sugar beets, and dairying. Of the 13 bulletins which bear his name he was sole author of 9 and co- author of 4; four of these publications relate to stock feeding and three each to sugar beets, miscellaneous farm notes, and birds. Conditions at Fort Collins were evidently much more favorable for bird study than at Burlington and the incentive of a new fauna, diversity due to influence of altitude on bird life, and the oppor- tunity for observation during his thousands of miles of travel every year in the course of his station work bore rich fruit later in his ‘Birds of Colorado.’ A few months after his arrival his first paper appeared and during his residence in the State he published 10 articles on birds in addition to three bulletins on the ‘Birds of Colorado.’ Two incidents of his Colorado experience also merit mention — a visit to Salt Lake City the most western point he ever reached and a severe attack of typhoid fever in October, 1895, from which he did not fully recover for nearly a year. At the beginning of the autumn term of 1900 Professor Cooke became connected with the Pennsylvania State College in the capacity of volunteer associate engaged in research work in animal nutrition. The results of this work appeared in a paper on ‘The Maintenance Ration of Sheep.’ This report was finished in the spring of 1901 and is interesting as the first publication signed “Wells W. Cooke.’ All his previous papers appeared under the name ‘W. W. Cooke,’ and the change he afterwards explained was made at the beginning of the new century and was consistently maintained, except in his migration papers in ‘ Bird-Lore.’ Thus, even without dates, it is easy to distinguish his 19th century from his 20th century contributions. On July 1, 1901, Professor Cooke received an appointment in the Biological Survey in the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the remaining 15 years of his life were devoted to work on bird migration and distribution. As Dr. Chapman has well said, ~ | Patmer, In Memoriam: Wells. W. Cooke. 125 never were man and opportunity better mated,! and he entered upon his work with characteristic energy and enthusiasm. His first position, was that of Expert Assistant, but on July 1, 1902, he was made Assistant Biologist, on July 1, 1908, Bird Migration Expert, and on November 1, 1912, Assistant Biologist, with bird migration and distribution as his chief work in all these positions. He undertook an exhaustive examination of the literature of migra- tion and began a bibliography of the subject, but finding it difficult to differentiate between migration and distribution he devoted his attention to both subjects. He introduced the plan of entering each migration record on a separate card and wrote many thou- sands of cards with hisown hand. This monotonous routine labor brought on writer’s cramp and although he trained himself to write with his left hand this hand also suffered in the same way and in his later years he could not write more than ten or fifteen minutes without changing from one hand to the other. In 1915 he had the satisfaction of reporting that the number of cards in the migration index had passed the million mark. He naturally took a deep interest in the enactment of the Federal Migratory Bird Law, attended the hearing on the bill before the House Committee on Agriculture, and later as a member of the Biological Survey Com- mittee took an active part in framing the regulations for carrying the law into effect. Outside the office his activities were manifested in various directions. He was an active member of the Biological Society of Washington, and served as treasurer from January 1, 1914, until his death. He also took a very active part in the work of the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia, serving on its executive committee, as one of the teachers in the bird classes, and as the principal leader on the spring outings organized to study birds in the field. He aroused much enthusiasm in the members in making migration notes, and collected material for two compre- hensive papers on the migration of local birds. Of Cooke the man it is unnecessary to speak except for the bene- fit of those who never had the pleasure of meeting him. In stature he was somewhat below medium height and rather slight. Al- though somewhat frail in appearance, at least in his later years, 1 Bird-Lore, X VIII, p. 189, June, 1916. 126 Patmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. es he was very active, fond of outdoor exercise and could walk farther and with less fatigue than many a man more robust and apparently more athletic. In manner he was quiet, somewhat serious, but always genial and willing to assist his friends or acquaintances. He was wonderfully patient not only in imparting information but in accepting petty annoyances. In certain respects he had a keen sense of humor and did not hesitate to recount incidents which must have been anything but amusing to him at the time. A situation created by the editorial blue pencil which made him say something very different from what he intended, or which consigned his manuscript to cold storage for a year or two, a mishap on an outing resulting in an accident in a boat at night, or his efforts to hold the attention of an audience in a carefully prepared lecture when the boys in the front row were chiefly interested in projecting their silhouettes on the screen, were all described for the benefit of his friends as freely as any other information at his disposal. He had a large and constantly increasing circle of friends. A new face in the office, whether of messenger, clerk or field assistant, always aroused his interest and he usually made a point of becom- ing acquainted with the new comer at the first opportunity. He was also interested in the personal history of his friends, and would make special inquiries to satisfy his curiosity, but it was done so quietly that hardly anyone would suspect that he had more than a casual interest in the individual. For such details his memory was remarkable. He was fond of classical music and enjoyed a good concert or opera almost as much as he did tramping in the woods. He always found congenial spirits among those who were fond of being outdoors whether in tramping, botanizing or observ- ing the birds. Much of his spare time was spent in the country summer and winter, exploring the vicinity of Washington in search of birds, ferns, or new walks. Few residents of the capital knew the surrounding country better than he and he took a prominent part in organizing the spring outings of the Audubon Society, the walks of the College Women, and occasionally in acting as leader on the outings of ‘The Wanderlusters,’ an active walking club of the city. It was his custom to spend several afternoons and even- ings each week at ‘The Wickiup,’ at Viresco, on the Virginia side of the Potomac, a few miles above Washington. Here on a three- ee | Pater, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. 127 acre tract of land belonging to his sister, a commodious one room cabin was built with a cheerful open fire place and a comfortable porch, where with his sister and daughter he entertained informally but with unusual hospitality several hundred of their friends a few at a time in congenial groups. Here he brought together a collec- tion of living ferns of the District practically complete so far as local species were concerned, and here and on an adjoining farm he made his first bird census in 1911. The Wickiup will long be remembered not only by those who have seen it, but also because of its association with certain phases of his ornithological work. In ‘Bird House Tenants’! he has described his failure to induce Purple Martins to take up their abode in the house erected for their special benefit, and in the bird census reports ” he refers to his first experiments at this place where the ideas were gained which later were embodied in the instructions sent to observers who codperated in the first general census. Cooke was an indefatigable worker and his interests extended into several distinct fields. The list of his ornithological contributions prepared by himself includes about 200 titles, but no list is available of his many publications on the branches of agriculture to which he devoted attention. It is impossible at this time to give a bib- liography of his publications on birds or to attempt more than a brief reference to some of the more important papers. His first article appeared in 1881,’ and his last in 1916,* within a day or two of his death. During the 35 years of active work his chief contribu- tions were made to the subjects of distribution, bibliography, and migration. In distribution his most important contributions are Part 2 of the bulletin on ‘Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley’ and his ‘Birds of Colorado’ with three supplements,’ bringing the informa- 1 Bird-Lore, XV, p. 112, 1913. 2U.S. Dept. Agr., Bull. No. 187, pp. 2-4, 1915; Bull. No. 396, pp. 15, 17, 1916. 3 Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, VI, p. 186 (A brief note on the Least Bittern in Minnesota). 4‘Labrador Bird-Notes,) Auk, XXXIII, pp. 162-167, and a note on “The Type Lo- cality of Uria t. troile,’ Ibid. p. 196. Mar. 31, 1916; ‘Migration of North American Birds’ (Titmice), Bird-Lore, XVIII, p. 97, Apr. 1, 1916. Two posthumous publications appeared later in the year —a note in ‘The Auk’ in July and his second bird census report in October. 5 Colo. Agr. Expt. Station, Bull. No. 44, 1898; Ibid. No. 56, 1900; Auk, 1909, pp. 400- 402. 128 PatmER, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. Lak tion down to 1909. In the 12 years between the appearance of the original bulletin and the third supplement on the birds of Colorado, the number of species credited to the State was increased from 363 to 397 and the number of those breeding from 236 to 248. Early in 1912 appeared W. L. Sclater’s ‘History of the Birds of Colo- rado,’ in which the total number of species was given as 392 (in- cluding 13 not given by Cooke) and the number of those breeding reduced to 225. Cooke promptly published a paper on ‘The Present Status of the Colorado Check List of Birds,’ 1 in which he analyzed the differences in the two lists, accepted most of Sclater’s eliminations from the breeding list but concluded that the total number of species should be increased to 403, to which might be added 7 more, the status of which was still in doubt. Important in this connection are his papers on ‘The Winter Ranges of the Warblers’ ?; ‘Some Winter Birds of Oklahoma’? based on his own observations in 1883-84, and ‘ Labrador Bird Notes’ # based on the field notes of Clarence Birdseye. - He has also left in manuscript a detailed list of the ‘Birds of New Mexico.’ The long series of migration articles in “Bird-Lore’ and in his bulletins on various groups of birds published by the Biological Survey contain a wealth of data regarding the distribution of the species mentioned. Members of the committee in charge of the preparation of the Third Edition of the ‘Check-List of Birds’ published by the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1910, will reeall that he devoted an Immense amount of time and energy to the preparation of data which were incorporated in the revised statements of the distribu- tion of the species. In bibliography his first important work was in connection with the ‘Birds of Colorado.’ The original bulletin contained 182 titles and the number was increased in 1900 to 225. In the Third Supplement he stated that the additional titles for 1900-1909 numbered 118 and the ‘less important titles’ omitted in previous lists 91, thus making a total of 434, although he gave only 61 of the additions in full. Sclater’s bibliography brought down to Decem- 1 Condor, XIV, pp. 147-153, July 1912. 2 Auk, 1905, pp. 296-299. 3 [bid., 1914, pp. 473-493. 4 [bid., 1916, pp. 162-167. Vol. XXXIV] Parmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. 129 ber, 1910, included 294 titles, the difference of 140 being accounted for mainly by the omission of minor references. These apparent discrepancies are significant in illustrating his method of work. With Cooke a record was a record and a title a title, however unim- portant, and in consequence his lists seem longer than those of- others covering the same field. In the preparation of the ‘Ten Year Index to the Auk,’ 1915, the basis of the work was a series of ecards which he had made in connection with the indexes of the Biological Survey, and as secretary of the committee he performed the greater part of the labor in preparing them for publication. An immense amount of bibliographical material was collected in the course of his work on bird migration, but unfortunately the bibliog- raphy of migration to which he had devoted much time and labor was never brought to completion. Of his publications on migration it is difficult to speak adequately in a few lines. Prof. Alfred Newton says: “A very praiseworthy work was performed by Prof. W. W. Cooke, whose ‘Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley’ in 1884 and 1885.... was edited by Dr. C. Hart Merriam. Some of the facts herein adduced are highly suggestive, but it must be remarked that on several points there is a difference of opinion between the author and the editor.’ Fortunately the editor’s opinions are carefully separated from those of the author and the reader can thus compare both statements and reach his own conclusions. Doctor Merriam himself says in the preface: “I feel no hesitancy in expressing the belief that the present report is the most valuable contribution ever made to the subject of bird migration.” The later contribu- tions on migration are published in two general series of papers in ‘Bird-Lore’ and in the bulletins of the Biological Survey. The ‘Bird-Lore’ articles extend over a period of twelve and a half years from December, 1903 to April, 1916, and contain tabular summaries of records of most of the migratory land birds, including the warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, vireos, sparrows and kinglets. The Survey bulletins on distribution and migration include one report on the warblers (1904) and five on water birds and waders: ducks, geese and swans (1906); shorebirds (1910); herons (1913); 1 Dictionary of Birds, Migration, p. 562, 1896. 130 PaumMEer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. Fes rails (1914); and gulls (1915). A report on the terns was finished but not published and one on the auks and grebes was almost com- pleted. Thus Cooke has published on most of the migratory birds of North America except the albatrosses, petrels, pelicans, cormo- rants, pigeons, hawks, cuckoos, goatsuckers, swifts, and humming- birds. Important also are his two articles on migratory birds in the ‘National Geographic Magazine’ in 1911 and 1913, and his two papers on ‘Bird Migration in the District of Columbia.’! In the latter he has worked out with great precision from a long series of observations the average dates of arrival and departure of the various migrants. During the progress of his investigations he published from time to time a few general papers on the broader questions of migra- tion and on his methods of work. In an article on ‘The Effect of Altitude on Bird Migration’? he compared the records from Asheville and Raleigh, N. C., and showed the marked differences in avifauna and time of arrival caused by a difference of 1700 feet in the elevation of these two places in the same State. In ‘ Routes of Bird Migration’ ® he advanced his theory of ‘parallels of migra- tion’; in a paper entitled ‘Many Eyes are Better Than One Pair.’ # he emphasized the importance of codperative work, as shown by observations in the vicinity of the National Capital; and in a note on ‘Averaging Migration Dates,’*® he explained his apparently arbitrary method of selecting dates. Some years ago he published ‘Some New Facts about the Migration of Birds’ ® accompanied by maps showing the wonderful migration route of the golden plover, and the variation in the speed of the robin during migration. Twelve years later he revised and expanded this paper in his bulletin on ‘ Bird Migration,’ 7 which contains his latest views on the subject.. In this connection it is interesting to note that while he declined to accept Palmén’s 9 ‘Zugstrassen’ (migration routes) for Europe and Asia, he himself outlined no less than 7 ‘principal migration routes’ 1 Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XI, pp. 107-118, 1908. Ibid., XX VI, pp. 21-25, 1913. 2 Auk, 1904, pp. 338-341. 3 Auk, 1905, pp. 1-11. 4 Auk, 1907, pp. 346-348. 5 Auk, 1908, pp. 485-486. § Yearbook U.S. Dept. Agr. 1903, pp. 371-386. 7U.S) Dept. Agri. Bull. No. 185, pp. 1-47, 1915. ee | Patmer, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. 1S for North America (p. 8). While he rejected Middendorff’s term “‘isepipteses’ proposed in 1855 to denote lines of equal flight or simultaneous arrival, he adopted precisely the same thing in his maps prepared for the use of the Committee on Regulations on Migratory Birds in 1913, and published them as ‘isochronal lines’ in 1915.1 Although he paid scant attention to the work of banding birds, only a few weeks before his death he had occasion to alter materially his views regarding the routes of certain species of ducks on account of data derived from this source. But it is greatly to his credit that he was ever ready to modify his opinions in the light of new data or reject an old hypothesis which was made untenable by new and more complete records. Cooke’s principal contributions to ornithology were undoubtedly his great work in collecting, arranging and preparing for use the immense mass of records concerning the migration and distribu- tion of North American birds, in giving instruction on these sub- jects through publications, lectures, and personal advice, and in stimulating interest and codperation in bird study and especially in bird migration — in short in the application of existing informa- tion to the actual solution of certain ornithological problems. Suddenly at the opening of the spring of 1916 he was called upon to lay’aside his work. He hadrecently passed his 58th birthday and apparently had several years of active and useful work ahead. But just at the height of his activity and usefulness when he was hoping to see the early completion of several projects in which he was interested, his hand was stayed and the pen which had long been overworked was laid aside forever. Rarely in the annals of ornithology has the advent of what has been called the greatest adventure in life come under more appropriate circumstances. On Monday, March 20, it was my privilege to accompany Professor Cooke and his daughter on what proved to be his last outing. Swans had been reported on the Potomac just below Alexandria near Jones Point where about a dozen of the stately birds were found feeding and swimming about some distance from the shore. Professor Cooke was greatly interested in them and remarked that it was many years since he had seen his last live wild swan in the 1 Bull. 185, pp. 36, 38, 42. 132 PatmMER, In Memoriam: Wells W. Cooke. [ pen upper Mississippi Valley. He also examined with much interest the historic stone marking the southern corner of the District of’ Columbia which he had never happened to see before. The next afternoon he attended a concert, and Wednesday morning while at a conference in the Biological Survey he complained of feeling ill, and excusing himself went home. So quietly did he leave that few of his fellow workers in the office realized that he had gone. The following Monday he was removed to George Washington Hospital and on Thursday morning March 30, 1916, at 1 A. M. he died of pneumonia after an illness of only eight days. Funeral services were held on Sunday at the First Congregational Church and were attended by several hundred friends and acquaintances. The exercises at Glenwood Cemetery where the casket was placed temporarily in a receiving vault were attended only by representa- tives of the American Ornithologists’ Union, the Audubon Society, the Biological Survey, and a few friends. It was a cold gray after- noon, and as the little circle gathered about the casket and the reading of the committal service was begun, a bluebird uttered its plaintive note, a flicker called from a neighboring tree, and a mockingbird joined in and sang throughout the reading. What more appropriate rites for a true lover of birds! A few days later he was cremated and his ashes transferred to Ripon, Wis., for burial beside the remains of his wife who had died ten years earlier. Here amid the scenes of his childhood and early manhood where he first began to study birds, another ornithological shrine is now located at the last resting place of Wells W. Cooke, “Father of codperative study of bird migration in America.” THE AUK, VOL. XXXIV. onan WWOL. 1. GRAND RomaINE River, SHowING HupsontaN VALLEY, ARCTIC BARRENS AND MOounrtTaAINsS. 2. SHmEKATIKA RIVER AT THE HEAD OF SHEKATIKA INLET. a | Townsenp, In Audubon’s Labrador. 133 IN AUDUBON’S LABRADOR. BY CHARLES W. TOWNSEND, M. D. Plates III-V. Ever since my boyhood when I read Audubon’s ‘Birds of America,’ with its frequent references to the Labrador coast, I have longed to follow the great ornithologist’s footsteps in those regions. In 1906, on a visit to eastern Labrador, I had a glimpse of Bradore and Blane Sablon the termination of Audubon’s trip, and in 1909 and 1912, I reached, from the west, the starting point of his trip at Natashquan and looked eagerly into the promised land. After another interval of three years, I was able, in 1915, to carry out my longed for plan and explore the intervening two hundred and fifty miles — Audubon’s Labrador. It was on June 6, 1833, that John James Audubon, the gréat ornithologist, sailed from Eastport, Maine, on his long contemplated trip to Labrador. With him, as assistants in his work of procuring specimens, were five young men, all between eighteen and twenty- one years of age. ‘These were his son, John Woodhouse Audubon, the father of Miss Maria R. Audubon, who has preserved for us in ‘Audubon and His Journals,’ the valuable records of her grand- father’s life; William Ingalls and George C. Shattuck, afterwards physicians of prominence in Boston, both of whom in their ripe old age, I was privileged to know; Thomas Lincoln and Joseph Coolidge. Under the command of Captain Emery, the top-sail schooner Ripley of one hundred and six tons burden, carried this inter- esting company through the Straits of Canseau, touched at the Magdalen Islands, passed the famous Bird Rock, white as snow from the vast multitude of birds, and, on June 17, reached the coast of the Labrador Peninsula, at the little port of Natashquan or American Harbor, as it was then called. The young men, incited by the enthusiasm of their leader, were all eagerness to explore the new and strange region, a land of bog and rock, of dwarfed vege- tation and lingering snowbanks. One of the first fruits of their 134 Townsend, In Audubon’s Labrador. [ Pon efforts was the discovery of a hitherto unknown sparrow, which was named by Audubon, Lincoln’s Finch, after Tom Lincoln who brought it down with his fowling-piece. At Natashquan, Audubon saw the Montagnais Indians, who had just come out of the interior for their annual trading at the Hud- son’s Bay Company’s Post. He also met Captain Bayfield of the Gulnare, who was laboriously mapping the coast and whose chart, far from perfect, is the one on which the charts of today are based. Delayed by repeated storms, it was not until June 28th that the Ripley, cleared from Natashquan, touched at the islands near Old Romaine crowded with breeding water-birds, and came to anchor in the wild and desolate harbor of Wapitagun. After a study of the great bird rookeries of this region, the Ripley took to sea and, by good chance, stumbled into that wonderful rock-enclosed harbor at Little Mecattina Island, now known as Hare Harbor. The ruggedness of the rocky hills, the arctic character of the vegeta- tion, the presence of snow banks and the frequency of gales and cold rain storms, chilled the southern blood of Audubon, who sighed for the genial climate of his native Louisiana. Yet he persevered in his work of adding to our knowledge of the little known northern birds, often spending eighteen hours a day at the drawing table. Cold and wet, assailed by vicious mosquitoes and flies, sometimes homesick, often seasick, worn out by his long hours of labor, he exclaimed, “I am no longer young!”” His worst handicap, how- ever, was the pilot that was taken in by Captain Emery to guide them in this intricate coast. This man was so ignorant of the region that he was unable to sail through the many safe and quiet waterways among the islands, but put to sea between each harbor and subjected the whole company to all the perils and discomforts of the stormy Gulf. . _ From Little Mecattina, they sailed to Baie de Portage, now known by the more prosaic name of Mutton Bay. From here, Audubon visited in a small boat, a trapper and trader at Mecat- tina Harbor, Pierre Micheaux by name, as well as Samuel Robert- son at Sparr Point. Setting sail on July 26, he hoped to call at “Chevalier’s Settle- ment” at the mouth of the St. Paul River, but unfavorable winds, stormy seas and the ignorance of the “ass of a pilot” prevented, Vol. XXXIV} TowNsenp, In Audubon’s Labrador. 135 and the Ripley continued on to Bradore Bay. Here Audubon called on Mr. Jones, an interesting character, the foremost man of the place and visited Perroquet Island, where Puffins, or Perro- quets as they are called, bred in countless thousands. He extended his explorations to Blane Sablon and succeeded in finding the nest of a Horned Lark, long sought in vain. He also secured a pair of Black Gyrfalcons called by him Labradorius.! He refers to the now extinct Labrador Duck and saw many hundreds of Esquimaux Curlew. On August 11, Audubon turned homeward by way of Newfound- land. His arduous trip was well worth all its hardships. He brought back seventy-three bird skins, as well as a large collection of plants and other objects of natural history. He observed or mentions some ninety-three different species of birds and recorded much that was hitherto unknown. Lincoln’s Sparrow was dis- covered and described and twenty-three drawings of the birds were completed or nearly completed. He worked hard and had been well rewarded. With my companion, Mr. Harold St. John, botanist, both of us for the time, members of the staff of the Canadian Geological Survey, I left Montreal on June 24, 1915, on the S. S. Cascapedia. My old friend Captain Hearn was in command and he had his usual stock of sea tales and witty sayings. Napoleon P. Comeau, the veteran naturalist of Godbout, an authority on the life history of our salmon and a recognized ornithologist, added to the pleasure and interest of the trip. Late at night, on June 27th, we landed at Esquimaux Point, where we found our pilot, Captain A. Edmond Joncas and his schooner, the Sea Star, and also my friend M. Johan Beetz, who had invited me to stay with him at his home in Piashte Bay. The next morning, leaving Mr. St. John to get settled on the Sea Star, I sailed in the little mail schooner with M. Beetz and that afternoon arrived at Piashte Bay, where I had the pleasure of spend- ing five delightful days with him and his charming family. We explored the neighboring land and waters and found an abundant 1JIn the original plates the Black Gyrfalcon, called obsolelus by Gmelin in 1788, is figured; while in ‘The Birds of America,’ although the details of the capture of the birds in Labra- dor are given, the bird is described and figured as the Iceland Gyrfalcon. 136 Townsenn, In Audubon’s Labrador. [ Age bird-life. Of warblers, the Black and White, Tennessee, Yellow, Myrtle, Magnolia, Black-poll, Yellow Palm and Wilson’s were all in full song as well as a few Water-Thrushes, Maryland Yellow- throats and Redstarts. Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided Flycatchers were there and White-throated, White-crowned, Lincoln’s and Swamp Sparrows and Juncos were common. Eiders with their dusky, downy broods and Great Black-backed Gulls with their speckled young abounded in the bay. On the river were broods of Black Ducks and I found a nest of a Red-breasted Merganser or “ Bec-sie,” with eight eggs under some spruce bushes and Labrador tea. I had also the great pleasure of examining with M. Beetz his interesting collection of birds and found in it no less than six species new to the list of birds previously recorded from the Labrador Peninsula. These were Kumlein’s Gull, European Widgeon, Lesser Seaup, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird and Cliff Swallow. M. Beetz also showed me specimens that were intermediate between the Northern and American Eider.! On July 1, Mr. St. John arrived in the Sea Star and the next day we reached Natashquan, formerly called American Harbor, the starting point of Audubon’s trip on the Labrador coast. This was familiar ground to me and we stayed at the house of the Captain’s brother, Richard Joncas, the head of the “ Labrador Fur Company.” Here, like Audubon, we were detained by unfavorable weather, but the five days were well spent. Like Audubon also, I visited the Montagnais Indians at the mouth of the Great Natashquan River. They had recently come out of the interior for their annual religious festivities and for trading. I also followed the great ornithologist’s footsteps up the shores of the Little Natashquan River as far as the falls. It was at Natashquan that Tom Lincoln shot the sparrow that Audubon recognized as new to science and named after this young man. “Three cheers,” he writes in his Journal, “were given him when, proud of the prize, I returned to the vessel to draw it.” In the plate he has drawn, the pale laurel, the cloudberry or bake apple and the Labrador tea, plants which, he says, were gathered by Tom Lincoln for the purpose. 1See Auk, 1916, XX XIII, pp. 286-292. | Townsenp, In Audubon’s Labrador. es ¥ | The song of Lincoln’s Sparrow was to be heard everywhere. Audubon speaks of “the sweet notes of this bird as they came thrilling on the sense, surpassing in vigour those of any American Finch with which I was acquainted.” It is a song of considerable beauty and great range of theme. At times I have recognized the general character of the melody of the Song Sparrow, at times the jingling notes of the Winter Wren, at times the impassioned warble of a Purple Finch.. The song has generally a loud ringing character like the music of silver sleigh bells, with the interpolation of fine trills and deep flutelike notes. One bird I especially loved at Piashte Bay often ended his song with Oh mieux and occasion- ally followed it with an almost inaudible trill which sounded as if he were drawing in his breath after the supreme effort. It is an interesting and cheerful song, one which I always listened to with great pleasure. The elusive Tennessee Warbler was really abundant here and in full song, and on several occasions it so far forgot its shyness as to appear in plain sight. It is a curious fact and possibly points to the recent increase of this bird, that Audubon, who knew it in the south, did not find it here, for he says in his ‘Birds of America,’ “Of its migrations or place of breeding, I know nothing.”’ -I was glad to find a Piping Plover on the beach. Mr. Bent and I had seen a pair there in 1909 and I[ found a pair with young in 1912; this is apparently its most northern breeding point on the coast. I saw a Red-tailed Hawk as dark as the one I saw on the Little River of the Bear in 1912. I also saw a bittern that like the specimens in M. Beetz’ collection, looked dark. I was unfortunately unable to secure either of these birds, which appear to illustrate the dark tendencies in plumage of Labrador birds. The Fourth of July was hot for these parts, 62° in the shade at noon, and we found the last year’s mountain cranberries or graines rouges still on the vines very refreshing. The botanical products of this region are most interesting but can only be lightly touched on here. I have referred to them in my previous Labrador papers. It is evident both from the vegetation and the birds that Natash- quan is the boundary on the coast between the Hudsonian and Canadian regions to the west and the Subarctic coastal strip to the east. Another interest of the place was the Catholic Mission [Apri 138 TownsENnD, In Audubon’s Labrador. Church, presided over by two Eudist fathers, Pére Garniér, and Pére Gallix, whose hospitality and interesting converse I greatly enjoyed. On July 7, the wind was favorable and we set sail in the Sea Star. She was but forty feet long and seventeen tons burden, while Audubon’s Ripley was over a hundred feet long and a hundred and six tons burden. The small size of our boat gave us an advantage, however, and we were most fortunate in our Captain, A. Edmond Joncas, a charming and interesting man and one who had navigated these intricate waters for over forty years and knew them as only one to the manner born could know them — for the charts are all but useless. I had brought with me a copy of Audubon’s “ Labra- dor Journal,’ which he read with great interest and not only recog- nized all the harbors mentioned but knew the descendants of the very people that Audubon met. We were indeed fortunate in our pilot, far more fortunate than Audubon. From Natashquan to Grand Romaine, a distance of over fifty miles, is the only exposed strip on the coast, unprotected by islands, and we experienced the full sweep and heave of the stormy Gulf. We anchored that night at Grand Romaine, and at once visited the Indian encampment at the Hudson’s Bay Post, where we were greeted by an outrush of Indian dogs, while the Indians, on the contrary, disappeared within their tents. By the judicious use of plug tobacco and by the aid of an interpreter, I was able to get some photographs of this interesting and picturesque people. The men wear their black hair cropt straight around their necks, while the women tie theirs up in hard round knots over their ears. Both sexes wear colored handkerchiefs about their necks and brilliantly variegated stockings, and mocassins or skin boots. The headgear of the women is made of red and black broadcloth, shaped like a classical liberty cap, with an embroidered band. Many of the younger men and women are handsome, with clear olive complex- ions and clean-cut features. The view over the valley of the Romaine River with its thickly crowded spruce forest to the barrens or tundra, dotted with lakes and lakelets beyond, and the distant range of low mountains, is a characteristic ‘one of this region. Black-poll Warblers were com- mon in the stunted thickets, a brood of Golden-eye Ducks was dis- aor Rogie | TownsEND, In Audubon’s Labrador. 139 porting itself in a pool and a pair of Pigeon Hawks attacked me fiercely in a sheltered valley where the trees were of larger growth. On the ninth, we managed to reach the harbor of Old Romaine, a few miles down the coast and took refuge from the gathering storm which soon burst on us with great fury and prevented our depart- ure for five days. It was somewhere in this neighborhood that Audubon made a brief exploration of one of the islands and found “two eggers just landed and running over the rocks for eggs.” Much to my surprise, I found in one of the little Hudsonian islands of stunted spruce and fir and larch surrounded by arctic bog, a Maryland Yellow-throat in full song. Tree Sparrows were also nesting here and Horned Larks had their first brood on the wing and were singing and mating for the second brood. The Subarctic coastal strip is here of much larger extent than at its beginning at Natashquan. Great Black-backed Gulls, with their interesting ways and varied conversational notes were our constant companions; their nests and downy young were distributed over the islands, Double- crested Cormorants were continually flying back and forth and a few Caspian Terns were to be seen. Audubon recorded these as Cayenne or Royal Terns. Frazar also found them here in 1884 and Mr. Bent and I saw one at the mouth of the Natashquan River in 1909. The Captain recognized the bird as “Je grand esterlette,” but failed to find for us their breeding place. On July 14, we were at last able to get off and shaped our course for Audubon’s first stopping place at Wapitagun. On our way we passed Audubon Island, so named doubtless, by Captain Bayfield in 1833, and we lay to at the mouth of Coacoacho Bay at Outer Island, which was crowded with seabirds. A few great Black- backed Gulls flew about but every inch of the summit of the small rocky island seemed occupied by Double-Crested Cormorants and Murres. Most of the adults of the former species left as we ad- vanced up the rock with cameras levelled and we soon found our- selves among the great nests of this species filled with young calling for food. Murres were everywhere about us and slow to take flight. The bare surface of the rock was covered with their eggs,— we counted one hundred in a space ten feet square,— but nearly all were befouled with the chalky, slimy excrements that covered every- 140 Townsenp, In Audubon’s Labrador. [ Aw thing. The Cormorant nests, great basket affairs nearly two feet across and from three inches to a foot in height, were made of weed stalks intermingled with dry grass and sea weed, branches of curlew berry vine, spruce or fir. Many of the nests, although much soiled with the droppings of the bird, had some decoration in the form of a feather or two or a fresh green branch. A few of the nests contained eggs but in most of them were three young, some- times four or only two. When small, the young were entirely destitute of down and were of the color and appearance of a black rubber doll. The larger ones from a foot to two feet long, were covered with a black woolly down suggestive of a toy black lamb. . They were indeed weird objects as they thrust out their long snake- like necks and small heads. Their naked throat sacks, of a pale yellow color, tinged with pink, distended and quivered as they constantly called in hoarse, beseeching tones for food. The Murres, or Marmettes, as they are called on the coast, stood about in crowds and anxiously made way for us, walking or running along erect, with legs apart in a comical manner as they waved their short paddlelike wings to aid them in balancing. In their anxiety and nervousness, they frequently fell over the Cormorant nests and sadly stained their white shirtfronts and often, in their attempts to rise on the wing, they would sprawl head foremost down the rocks, bounding from ledge to ledge. Ringed Murres were not uncommon and I came upon one group of fifteen or twenty together of this form or species, as it perhaps deserves to be called. There were no Briinnich’s Murres. We calculated there were about 1200 adult Double-Crested Cor- morants nesting on the island and 2000 Murres. The Murres, although silent on the rock, uttered curious sounds as they flew, and, when they collected in groups on the water, their combined voices produced a long-drawn, moaning wail. At times it was a sharp snarl, at times it resembled the plaintive bleating of a forlorn lamb. We sailed on and soon found ourselves under the cliffs of Cape Whittle, which rise from deep water to a height of about two hun- dred feet. The red rocks were painted white in places by cormo- rant droppings, but only fifteen or twenty nests were to be seen where up to a few years ago they were to be counted by hundreds. THE AUK, VOL. XXXIV. PLATE IV. 1. DovupBiLE-cRESTED CORMORANTS AND Murres ON OvTER ISLANDS, CoacoacHo Bay, CANADIAN LABRADOR. 2. DovUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS AND MuRRES ON GuLL ISLAND OFF Carr WHITTLE. ee | Townsend, In Audubon’s Labrador. 14] Among the birds that flew away, I saw only one Common Cormo- rant. Fishing schooners for years have been in the habit of sailing close to the cliffs and the men have discharged their guns at the poor birds for the brutal pleasure of seeing them fly off in terror or fall wounded into the sea. At Gull Island, off the Cape, we found an even larger nesting colony of double crested Cormorants than at Outer Island and Murres were also abundant. That afternoon we sailed into the harbor of Wapitagun, so graphically described by Audubon in his history of the Razor-billed Auk. Wapitigun is an appropriate name for this region, as it is the Montagnais for Cormorant. On shore, which is entirely destitute of human habitation, I found a pair of Red-throated Loons in one of the lakelets,— about fifty yards long,— of the barren. They rose into the air at my ap- proach and deserted their son and heir, who, in a coat of light brown down was vigorously swimming about his native pool. Mr. W. L. McAtee! has recently called attention to this ability of the Red-throated Loon to spring into the air from calm water, an accomplishment that is necessitated by this habit of nesting on the edges of small pools. A Loon would not have been able to leave this small pool on the wing unless a strong breeze had been blowing. I also found a Least Sandpiper that rose in the air like a mechani- eal toy, sailed in irregular circles twenty to fifty yards above the bog, with wings curved down and back, and emitted at frequent intervals a short trill almost as finely drawn as that of a cricket. The bird was in the air for five minutes by the watch and continued to trill after he had reached the ground. Here he was at once obliterated, for his streaked brown back was next to invisible in the bog. He continued trilling as long as I was within ear-shot and even followed me repeating his simple nuptial song. Horned Larks and Pipits were common and the water ways abounded in Razor- billed Auks and Black Guillemots. The next day, we reached the little harbor of Seal-Net Point, also known as Point au Maurier. Near here I was so fortunate as to find a breeding colony of Ring-billed Gulls, some five hundred in 1 Auk, 1916, XXXIII, p. 75. 142 Townsend, In Audubon’s Labrador. . Fen number. Audubon found the birds on the coast in 1833 and Frazar in 1884, but aside from these records, very little was known of this interesting bird in Labrador. The nests thickly scattered among the rocks and vegetation of a small island, were made up of neatly arranged dried grass and weed stalks and moss and feathers. Some of them contained one, two or three eggs, some contained downy young and some were empty. Derby Bay, thickly dotted with islands, proved well worth exploring. There were but few Eiders and Great Black-backed Gulls nesting, but numerous Razor-billed Auks and Black Guille- mots. The last named were courting,— swimming about excitedly in small groups and dipping their heads nervously. A couple would circle about each other, their mouths wide open so as to display the bright scarlet lining. Occasionally, the excited birds bobbed or bowed towards each other and dabbed with their bills. Their tails were cocked up and their red feet showed plainly in the water. From time to time they emitted hissing, whistling notes. On July 18, we reached Harrington, where is situated the western- most of the chain of hospitals established by Dr. W. T. Grenfell. It was here we recorded the highest temperature on the trip, 68° - in the shade and it was reported in the village to have reached the oppressive figure of 72°. The average temperature during the trip was between 50° and 60° Far. Hare Harbor in Little Mecattina Island was our next port of call. In this “bowl,” asin Audubon’s day, Ravens were flying about the cliffs which rise sheer from the water. It is a wild and picturesque region. From there before “a stiff southwest breeze’? Audubon sailed thirty-three miles to Baie de Portage in five hours. We had half a gale from the same quarter, and were driven across, under nothing but a reefed foresail in three hours. From Baie de Portage or Mutton Bay, we followed Audubon’s footsteps into Big Mecattina Harbor, where the grandson of his French seal catcher still lives and to Sparr Point where I had the pleasure of finding Samuel Robertson the 3rd, surrounded by his Eskimo dogs and read to him on the 20th day of July, 1915, Audu- bon’s account of his visit to his grandfather at the same place on July 22, 1833. There had been very little change here in the general conditions of life during all these years. Weds ANON, WoL, OOODY- BEATE Ve 1. Rrne-BILLED GuLL’s Nest anp Eaas, SEAL- 2. Hare Harsor, Aupuson’s “ Bown,” LitTLE NET POINT. MecatTtina IsuAND. == A a pe SS i XY ee | TownsEnD, In Audubon’s Labrador. 143 It was a beautiful day as we sailed on over an emerald ocean of such clarity that we could see the bottom at several fathoms depth and soon found ourselves sailing northeast straight in among a maze of islands. After a passage of five miles through a waterway, a mile broad, we turned east and entered the eighteen mile passage between the islands and the shore, known as La Petite Rigolette. Audubon had wished to see something of this coast “ crowded with islands of all sizes and forms, against which the raging waves break in a frightful manner,” but his pilot was afraid to venture in and they sailed on, sadly buffetted over the turbulent Gulf as far as Bradore Bay. Far different was our sail through the Rigolette which resembled a quiet inland river and finally debouched into a land locked basin over five miles in diameter, an inland lake with rocky semi-moun- tainous sides at the mouth of the great River St. Augustine. The waters here were comparatively birdless, for the Indians and fisher- men,— the latter provided with motorboats,— were doing their deadly work. I found plenty of ornithological interest, however, on shore here and at Sandy Isle. At the latter place, a Black Duck in her attempts to draw me away from a reedy pool where her young were hidden, performed the wounded bird act on land, and I could plainly see that she was not the red-legged species which breeds still further north. Sailing on, we entered what appeared to be a narrow rapid river, the entrance to Shekatika Inlet, sometimes called Jacques Cartier’s Harbor. After we had passed the rapids, the shores widened and we sailed as in a rock-bound lake, surrounded by miniature moun- tains. There were little sandy beaches and pockets of forests in protected gullies. Again, the water narrowed ahead of us and we entered a second rapids. It emerged into another and larger basin over two miles in diameter. Passing through this, we turned abruptly to the northeast and entered a small but lovely basin. All the valleys were heavily forested and the tree line on the hills was much higher than near the mouth of the inlet. We had sailed eight miles from the entrance of Shekatika Bay to the entrance of the Inlet, and ten or twelve miles from there to our anchorage at the head of the Inlet. We had come from the Arctic zone with the trees flat on the ground to the Hudsonian zone of spruce and fir trees fifteen or twenty feet high. Here and there a giant black spruce, bare for the most with a tuft of dark foliage on its summit [Apel 144 TownseEenND, In Audubon’s Labrador. towered ten or fifteen feet higher. The Arctic zone was still here, however, for the hills, which reached a height of five or six hundred feet, extended their rocky and lichen-covered summits a couple of hundred feet above the tree line. Near here the Grand Portage begins. This is a narrow winding portage path that the moccasined feet of the Montagnais Indians have worn and polished for generations. It leads over the hills and by little lakes to the Big Coxipi River. Thence by a series of lakes and portages to the St. Paul River and over the height of land to Hamilton Inlet. A portage path is well suited to the purposes of an ornithologist, for on it he may cover large areas of country without the necessity of struggling through the thick growths except for short forays on either side. Near an Indian camping site, with wonderful views of the Inlet, a Labrador Jay was foraging and utter- ing his weird calls and it was not far from here that I obtained my type specimens of the Labrador Chickadee. Our two days at Shekatika were very interesting, but, taking advantage of a favorable wind, we had to be on our way. We landed at Grassy Isle with its sand beach and fringe of strand wheat, an elevated elastic tundra of lichens, mosses and curlew berry, a pool of clear water and beyond this, fifty or sixty feet above the sea, an elevated beach of small and large pebbles. This was an example of the raised beaches which so puzzled Audubon, that are so com- mon on this rising coast. Our next landing was at Old Fort, the ancient Port of Brest, an interesting place. Forty or fifty feet above the narrow shelf close to the sea, where the little winter village stands, is a terrace and about a hundred and fifty feet higher another terrace, while on either side still higher are others. All bear the familiar earmarks of raised beaches. Behind is a Jand of rocky peaks and lakes and bogs, with small patches of forest in the protected valleys. Spruce Grouse, with their young were common and easily approached. Here and at Grand Romaine, I had seen and heard Gray-cheeked Thrushes but unfortunately secured only one specimen. The measurements! of this and of two other specimens previously 1 The measurements are as follows: Col. Bent, 3741 9 Esquimaux Point, June 13, 1909. Wing 102; Tail 73; Bill13; Tarsus 28. Col. C. W.T.1192 9 Cape Charles, July 28, 1906. Wing 95; Tail 67, Bill 13; Tarsus 23. Col. C. W. T. 1448 9 Grand Romaine. Wing 90; Tail_67; Bill 12; Tarsus 25. ae | TownsEnD, In Audubon’s Labrador. 145 secured from the Labrador Peninsula suggest Bicknell’s Thrush as they are all small. A study of a larger series is, however, needed to determine the status of this bird in Labrador. On July 26, 1833, Audubon recorded in his Journal that they intended to call at Chevalier’s settlement but were unable to do so. On the same day, of July, eighty-two years later our Captain guided us safely in the Sea Star among the maze of islands into the mouth of the Esquimaux or St. Paul River and we paid our respects to Louis Owen Chevalier, whose father, Louis David, was a baby at the time that Audubon passed along the coast. His first ancestor to come to the New World was elevated to the peerage as the Cheva- lier de St. Paul and his descendant appeared to me to retain a certain aristocratic manner and speech. He was eking out a scanty existence by netting salmon at the mouth of the river. The next day, we sailed on the final lap of the course and dropped anchor in Bradore Bay, now as in Audubon’s day, reeking of fish and fishermen and filled with fog. Perroquet Island was one of my first objective points and I found the Puffins, or Perroquets as they are called, noticeably less than when I passed the island in 1906, and immeasurably less than in Audubon’s day. If the present slaughter still goes on, they will soon be extinct here. At Greenley Island near by, the presence of the lighthouse keeper has a certain restraining effect on the fishermen, and the number of birds is larger. At Perroquet Island, the birds are shot in great numbers on their arrival in the spring by the Labradorians who camp on the island. They are shot by Newfoundland fishermen during the summer, caught in gill nets spread over the ground and dug out from their burrows.! Jacques Cartier visited this island which he calls the “Tsland of Birds” in 1534 and gives an unmistakable account of Puffins. He describes them as “Crows with red beaks and red feet; they make their nests in holes under the ground, even as Conies.” The steamer which was coming from Battle Harbor and was to take me to Newfoundland for my journey home, was due at any time, but fog and storm delayed her for five days. These days were 1See “ Bird Conservation in Labrador.’’ By C. W. Townsend, being Appendix IV in Seventh Annual Report of Commission of Conservation, Canada, 1916. Ress 146 TOWNSEND, Jn Audubon’s Labrador. spent at Blanc Sablon where I enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Edwin G. Grant, the agent of the great fishing establishment of Job Bros. & Co. Ltd. The valley of Blane Salbon is of intense interest to the botanist and geologist as well as to the ornithologist, but space does not permit me here to more than hint at its joys. There is a broad flat valley floor with terraced hillsides and raised beaches on either side and elevated plains beyond. At the shore is ancient granitic rock and white sand, while the terraces are of red Cambrian sand- stone. I found a pair of Wilson’s Snipe, evidently breeding in one of the swampy meadows, and, in the thickets about the brook, were Swamp Sparrows and Lincoln’s Sparrows and, to my great surprise, another species of the same genus, namely the Song Sparrow. As far as I know there is no other record for the whole Labrador Peninsula for the Song Sparrow except at Lake Mistas- sini, while in Newfoundland there are but few records. The Magdalen Islands are generally considered to be the northern limit on the eastern coast for this species. The specimen I obtained has, according to Mr. Bangs, the characteristics of the Nova Scotia bird. In the sand dunes here and at Anse aux Dunes, Savannah Spar- rows abounded but my search for Ipswich Sparrows was fruitless. On the afternoon of August 2, in one of the lucid intervals of fog,. the horn of the mail steamer Meigle was heard blowing and I bade good bye to my hospitable friends. I turned away from Labrador with very different feelings from those of Audubon, who recorded in his ‘Journal’: “Seldom in my life have I left a country with as little regret as I do this.” “cin Vol. XXXIV] Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. 147 THE PRESENT ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN THE VICIN- ITY OF FORT ST. MICHAEL, ALASKA.! BY F. SEYMOUR HERSEY. To the student of ornithology there is always a certain interest attached to the birds that inhabit the far north; those hardy species that disdain the milder climate of more southern latitudes and rear their young on the bleak Arctic tundra, leaving only when the threatened freezing of land and sea warns them of approaching winter. The warmer parts of the earth have bird life in great abundance and variety, with many bright plumaged forms to delight the eye and not a few that entrance us with their songs, and it seems natural that birds should flourish in such places. But, if we leave these familiar feathered friends behind and push our way northward, until the forests give place to scattered patches of low alders and willows, and these in turn are replaced by great stretches of open tundra, we will still find both sea and land inhabited by vast numbers of feathered creatures. Few in number are the species, but countless the individuals that make up the avian popu- lation of the north. Many spend their entire lives in this zone, retreating, at winter’s approach, only a short distance south where they linger about the edge of the ice pack until the snow begins to melt on the tundra and the ice to thaw about the tundra ponds. Then they again push northward to their breeding grounds where they are joined by others; winter sojourners in our own land, but now strangely unfamiliar in their nuptial plumage. While there are, probably, few places on the Arctic or Bering Sea coasts that are without bird life during summer, some localities seem to be more suited than others to the needs of boreal species. One such region is the stretch of tundra in the vicinity of St. Michael. The village, itself, is built on a spot somewhat elevated, but to the south and southwest there stretches away a great terri- tory but little above sea level; in fact, so low that an unusually high tide inundates large sections. Scattered about are innumer- 1 Read before the Nuttall Ornithological Club, June 5, 1916. 148 Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. pee able small ponds, and these are often connected by little creeks, thus forming a perfect network of waterways. In addition, two tide channels, known as ‘canals,’ run through the section cutting it off from the mainland and forming St. Michael Island. From these canals there radiate smaller channels, or ‘creeks,’ which pene- trate the region in all directions. The water in both canals is salt and varies in depth with the rise and fall of the tide. When the tide is out large mud flats, of an exceptionally soft, sticky character, are left exposed, which, during August, are frequented by large flocks of migrating shore birds. These two canals vary somewhat in size and are generally spoken of as the Big and Little Canals. They unite just before reaching the sea both at the St. Michael and at the farther ends. The banks of the Little Canal, and the country which it traverses, are of a slightly higher elevation than that described above. They are covered with a growth of moss, small creeping plants, and a little coarse grass and make a breeding ground for shore birds, ptarmigan ‘and jaegers, as well as a few ducks, terns and small birds. The lower country about the Big Canal is the chosen haunt of loons, gulls, ducks and cranes during the nesting season and in fall of migrating water fowl of all kinds. At the entrance to the canal is an island, of interest as being one of the few known breeding places of the Aleutian Tern. In St. Michael Bay and close to the village stands Whale Island, where a few Horned Puffins and occasionally a Glaucous Gull nest, while some fourteen or more miles away is Egg Island,— the resort of Pacific Kittiwakes, Pallas’s Murres and Horned Puffins. Across the bay a low range of hills stands out prominently to view. They are set back some distance from the shore and the stretch of marshy tundra between their base and the water’s edge renders them diffi- cult to reach, except when the ground is frozen in winter. They are all probably of volcanic origin; two of them, with hugh aper- tures in their sides being clearly extinct craters. This locality, so favorably situated for bird study, ha been the scene of several ornithologists’ labors, and a number of works on Alaskan birds have been published, based, more or less, on studies made at this point. Of these, Mr. Nelson’s book! stands pre- 1 Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska between the years 1877 and 1881 by E. W. Nelson. No. III Arctic Series of Publications Issued in Connection with the Signal Service, U. S. Army, Washington, 1887. ae | Hersey, Birds at St., Michael, Alaska. 149 eminent. Since 1881, when Mr. Nelson left St. Michael, very little extended work seems to have been done there. Dr. Louis B. Bishop spent a short time there in 1899 and probably a few col- lectors have stopped, for a day or two, at various times since, but for over thirty years almost nothing has been published from this part of Alaska. During this time many changes have taken place in the abun- dance of birds in other parts of North America. Species formerly numerous have become rare or even, in a few cases, extinct, while the settling up of the country has forced others to seek new breed- ing grounds, or adapt themselves to the advance of civilization in those already occupied. To set forth present conditions in this part of Alaska, and point out some of the changes that have taken place since 1881, are the purposes of the present paper; but nothing is intended in any way, as a criticism of any published statements of others. From the descriptions of the early writers, it appears that St. Michael formerly consisted of a mere handful of houses. The settlement was a post of the Alaska Commercial Company and had very little communication with the outside world. The discovery of gold at the point where Nome now is and at various places along the Yukon River, about sixteen or seventeen years ago, resulted in a short period of very rapid growth. Steamers began making regular trips from Seattle during the season of navigation and hundreds of people flocked to the country. Wooden hotels were hastily erected but many of the arrivals were obliged to find shelter in tents pitched upon the shores of the bay. Several stores were opened and without doubt their proprietors reaped a rich harvest for a while. Soon, a line of river steamers was in operation between St. Michael and points on the Yukon and passengers and provisions were transported to the various mining camps. St. Michael thus became the junction point for travel between the interior and Seattle. With the advent of so many people, it became necessary to station troops at certain points to maintain order and army posts were established at Nome, St. Michael and Gibbon. Like most towns that spring up almost in a night, a reaction soon set in and, for several years past, the population has been rapidly shrinking. Today, most of the buildings that were used as hotels 150 Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. [ack are abandoned, with doors and windows boarded up, while the river steamers, with a few exceptions, are drawn up on the beach where they are gradually falling to pieces. The outlook for the future is as dreary as the surrounding country. Fortunately the influx of so many people did not have any disas- trous effect on the bird life of the country. Without doubt some birds were shot for food, as they still are, but in the main, the people were too engrossed in their pursuit of gold to do much hunting. During the writer’s -cruise along the Alaskan coast in 1914, several short stops were made at St. Michael and in 1915 plans were laid to spend the entire summer at this place. Favorable ice con- ditions allowed us to reach our destination as early as May 29 and the entire time until September 8 was spent there. Through the courtesy of the War Department quarters were provided at the Army Post and from there the writer explored a large part of the surrounding country. At the time of my arrival and for a few days afterward, the sun shone from a cloudless sky with a warmth and brightness that I have seldom seen exceeded anywhere. This condition, however, was too good to last and there came, soon afterwards, a series of southerly gales accompanied by high tides that flooded all the low country and destroyed the nests of large numbers of breeding water- fowl. ‘The gales subsiding, there followed several weeks of as disagreeable weather as can be imagined. Heavy clouds obscured the sun and fogs and light rains were frequent. A slight breeze, at times, piled up great cloud masses which would chase one another across the sky for hours, without breaking sufficiently to allow a view of the sun. The breeze at last dying out, the fog would again settle over everything. This condition lasted until about August 20 when a few sharp frosts seemed to clear the atmosphere and more pleasant weather followed although from this time, until the end of my stay, high winds prevailed. Taken altogether, the climate of St. Michael is one of the most disagreeable I have ever experienced. Nevertheless it appears to have no depressing effect on the bird life of the country. Water- fowl are particularly numerous,— loons, gulls and ducks being most abundant. Of the Loons the Red-throated is the commonest and the one Pa | Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. 151 most often taken. A Black-throated species is also found in the proportion of perhaps ten percent, but it is a shyer species and less frequently obtained. I assumed it to be arctica, as this is the bird recorded by Nelson, but the only specimens I secured, two in number, proved to be pacifica. The Horned Grebe is rare in the region. A single bird only was seen and was secured. Horned Puffins breed quite abundantly on Egg Island and a few also nest on Whale Island. Among them an occasional Tufted Puffin may be noted. Pallas’s Murre also breeds on Egg Island in about the same numbers as the Horned Puffin but unlike that species is rarely seen in St. Michael Bay. The Pomarine Jaeger is seen about the bay for a few days after the ice goes out in spring. Usually they are found in pairs but none breed there. The Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers both breed and both are generally rather abundant, but their numbers vary somewhat on different days and in different years and I believe, from observations, as well as from the condition of speci- mens collected, that a part of the birds seen were not breeding. The Pacific Kittiwake breeds in large numbers on Egg Island and is very common in St. Michael Bay during the entire summer. Mr. Nelson states that “none were found near St. Michael’s after the migration until toward the end of July or 1st of August,” so it is evident that they have either changed their habits or increased in abundance since he wrote. When the salmon were running in June, and the natives had seines placed at various points along the shore, great numbers of Kittiwakes were present and fed upon the refuse from cleaning the fish. Even after the fishing was over they lingered about the bay and there were few days when speci- mens could not have been shot from the dock. As Mr. Nelson does not mention the Egg Island breeding colony it is possible that it is but recently established and would explain the increase in the number of birds of this species now found about the bay. Closely resembling the Pacific Kittiwake in life, the Short-billed Gull could be easily overlooked while feeding about the bays, but during the summer most of them retire to the tundra ponds. They are common at all times especially after the young have learned to fly. Large flocks of Glaucous Gulls, made up largely of birds in imma- 152 Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. Packer ture plumages, are to be found during the entire summer about the outer bays. Adults in full nuptial plumage are less common and the species appears to breed in fewer numbers than at other points on the coast. The Glaucous-winged Gull is rare at St. Michael and probably does not occur much north of there. In the fall, both the Slaty- backed and Vega Gulls are to be seen off shore but they do not often come into the bays. After I had boarded the steamer for the homeward trip, and before we got under way, both these species were seen with other gulls about the stern of the ship. Probably the most abundant gull is the beautiful little Sabine’s. This species suffered considerably from the gales and high tides during June and many nests were found that had been destroyed. No second attempt was made at nesting and less than a dozen young birds were seen during the summer. Eggs were found June 5, young but recently hatched on June 19, and the first young on the wing July 18. Two species of terns are found. The Arctic Tern is very abun- dant and is found everywhere,— about the bay, on the islands and upon the tundra, often some distance from the sea. The Aleutian Tern is restricted to two small islands (perhaps to one) and occurs in very small numbers. One of these islands is situated at the mouth of the canal as already noted. Mr. Nelson describes the island and states that “twenty pairs or so” were nesting there when he visited it. This colony was still in existence when I landed on the island in 1914 and I estimated it “did not exceed (apparently) 100 birds” (Smithsonian Mise. Coll. Vol. 66, No. 2). From the observations made in 1915, and the greater familiarity with the species thus secured, I am confident the actual number of birds in the colony was between 65 and 75. Upon my arrival in 1915 several days were spent in watching the birds and actual counts and various estimates were made of their numbers, all of which showed that the increase in the colony during the last thirty-five years had been very small. After nesting commenced, a series of photographs was secured and a few eggs collected. Then the island was not visited for a month to allow the birds to hatch their young undisturbed, but on again landing late in July very few adult birds could be found and ce | Hursey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. 153 no young were seen while the presence of a Short-eared Owl upon the island seemed to explain the cause. The Owl had apparently destroyed all the young and most of the adults as several subsequent counts showed only thirteen birds remaining. The other colony mentioned by Mr. Nelson (at Kegiktowik) I did not visit. A man was engaged to take me there but the break- ing of the propeller shaft on his boat forced me to give up the trip as no other boat could be secured. Inquiries were made of a trader who sometimes stopped at the village and it was learned that a few “small gulls” (perhaps Aleutian Terns?) nested there. So far as I know these are the only breeding colonies of this species on the Alaskan coast. Mr. Nelson states that a few Violet-green Cormorants nest near St. Michael but they are never very numerous. No cormorant, of any kind, was seen during my stay there and I doubt if any now breed there. It is probable that the greatest decrease in the abundance of bird- life in this locality is to be found in the members of the order Anseres. While ducks, as a whole, were quite abundant, their numbers were much less than at the time Mr. Nelson’s observations were made. When the ice first breaks up in the bay flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers, Scoters (O. americana) and Pacific Eiders are to be found congregated about the rocky projections of small islands, or resting and preening their feathers on large ice cakes about the entrance to the canal. The Eiders remain all summer and breed, but are confined to the strip of tundra bordering the bay and were never found very far back from the open water. They also are plentiful on Stuart Island. The Scoters all disappear after the first days in June and I never found any evidence of their breeding. The Red-breasted Mergansers also were not seen after the ice left the bay, but durmg August I obtained three or four half grown young, so a few still breed there. Back on the tundra spring arrives earlier than it does about the bay. The ice breaks up in the tundra ponds and the snow nearly all disappears long before the sea ice goes out. A trip through the canal at the time of the “break-up” shows the small ponds to be filled with ducks of several species. The Pintail is most numerous and probably nearly, if not quite, equals the combined totals of all 154 Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. Fer other species. The Old-Squaw is also abundant and the Greater Scaup ranks third. All these species breed. Other ducks are uncommon and I found few breeding. The Mallard was seen once or twice and one nest was found on June 9. I saw none of its plumage in any of the natives’ feather ornaments. The Green-winged Teal is rare in spring but for a few days in August there was quite a flight and a number were shot. One of the rarest ducks at the present day is the Spectacled Eider. In 1914 I saw three in the canal on June 8 and the remains of one at the army post the previous day. During 1915 the species was met with but once,— seven birds being seen on June 5. No evidence of its breeding was found. During the migrations in spring and fall geese occur in some abundance I was told, and by the end of August a few flocks were beginning to pass over, while after September 1 they were seen almost daily. They were largely made up of White-fronted Geese and this species also breeds in very small numbers. The only Snow Geese seen was a flock of five on June 19. I imagine the Emperor Goose occurs at times in the fall but I have no positive evidence of it. The Whistling Swan is now very rare about St. Michael. Many people told me they had occasionally seen them in spring or fall but very few had ever shot one. Some maintained that they nested “back in the hills ” (a breeding ground assigned to all species whose nests they had never seen). If they nested anywhere near St. Michael, some would surely have been seen, but I did not meet with a single swan at St. Michael or in any part of Alaska. The Little Brown Crane still occurs rather commonly and breeds. Late in August and early in September small flocks, probably migrants, were seen flying over, often at a great height. The larg- est number seen in any one flock was fourteen. The Northern Phalarope was the only species of this family found breeding at St. Michael where several of their nests were found, usually in the wetter parts of the tundra. Eggs were found from June 5 to 16 and downy young June 19. Many adults were found to be in full moult on July 18, and from July 26 to August 11 specimens in full winter plumage predominated. The most numerous sandpiper on the tundra is the Western but | Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. 155 the Long-billed Dowitcher is also quite abundant. The Pectora Sandpiper I found decidedly uncommon during the breeding season while the Red-backed was not found at all until after the fall migra- tion began. The first Red-backed Sandpiper seen was an adult in worn plumage taken July 18 and soon after the species became common. Wilson’s Snipe is uncommon. About three pairs were breeding somewhere near St. Michael,— the males, being frequently seen and heard “winnowing,” which attracted attention to the species and gave the impression that it was rather common. Toward the end of July the Aleutian Sandpiper became very common about the rocky parts of the beach. Early in August they all disappeared and no more were found during my stay. _ All the specimens collected were adults in nuptial plumage. Dr. Bishop tells me he found many in September nearly all of which were immature. Mr. Nelson gives the time of their arrival and departure as the last of July until the middle of October, so there are probably two distinct northward movements or migra- tions of this species,— an early one composed of adults and a later one of young birds. The Pacific Godwit is much less common during the summer than at the Yukon Delta but during August becomes abundant. The Hudsonian Curlew and Black-bellied Plover are uncommon, a stray pair only being seen now and then. The Golden Plover was not seen at all. As Mr. Nelson found this to be “one of the com- monest breeding waders,” and in view of its scarcity on our eastern coast in recent years, it seems not improbable that the species may be nearer extermination than is generally realized. The Pacific Golden Plover was met with three times. Once on June 30 when a bird in breeding plumage was seen and secured and on August 15 and 22 when two birds, doubtless migrants were seen, one of which was secured each date. The Black Turnstone is a common bird especially on rocky beaches,— the Ruddy Turnstone less so. In one of these rocky locations a single Wandering Tatler was seen on June 10. About the first of August a very noticable migration of shore- birds takes place about St. Michael. The great expanse of mud flats left by the falling tide along certain parts of the canal, and 156 Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. [ Fes which had previously been used as resting places by the gulls, suddenly became the resort of hundreds of sandpipers. Long- billed Dowitchers, Pectoral and Red-backed Sandpipers predomi- nated with constant additions of Western Sandpipers as the young became grown and the birds commenced to flock. Phalaropes were sometimes seen and once or twice flocks of Curlews. Here the Pacific Golden Plovers mentioned above were found, and, in one place, a very large flock of Pacific Godwits (apparently all young birds) were present for several days. As I was passing these flats in my boat on August 4, I was sur- prised to see four Knots feeding together and secured all. While Turner apparently found this species at St. Michael, Mr. Nelson secured but a single specimen during his residence there. Later in the day a flock of fifteen or more birds which I thought were this species were seen at some distance, feeding on a mud flat, but the mud was too soft to walk through and after several attempts to approach them I was forced to give it up. On August 8 I again encountered two parties of two birds each, and secured all four. Later the species proved to be quite common. During the summer of 1914, Willow Ptarmigan were numerous and I was told they were very abundant during the fall and early winter often coming about the houses. In the spring of 1915 and throughout the summer they were scarce and very few were seen. This condition was not entirely local as reports of their rarity were heard from many other parts of the coast. It is possible that, when they have increased beyond a certain point, an epidemic of some sort thins their ranks and thus keeps the species within the limits prescribed by nature. Hawks are uncommon in this locality during summer. One or two which I did not identify were seen at times and during August immature Marsh Hawks were noted a few times and one taken. The Short: eared Owl was the only species of this family encount- ered during the summer. They were quite numerous upon the tundra, being fully as common as I have ever found them to be in more southern parts of their range. Both the Snowy and Hawk Owls occur in fall and early winter according to the statements of several residents, but neither were seen by me. In the A. O. U. Check-List a form of the Great Horned Owl is eA Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. 157 credited to this locality. The range assigned to this subspecies (Bubo virginianus algistus) is the “coast region of northern Alaska from Bristol Bay and the Yukon delta northward.’”’ This is a stretch of country, that, with the exception of two or three com- paratively small areas, is without trees of any kind and is, there- fore, wholly unsuited to the requirements of this species. The few birds that occur, do so in fall or winter, and are clearly migrants or stragglers from the wooded regions. Along the Yukon, in the interior, are heavy forests where Horned Owls of some form almost certainly occur. The A. O. U. Committee do not, however, include this vast territory within the range of any subspecies. Both Oberholser and Ridgway refer specimens from Nulato to lagophonus, —a form which the A. O. U. Committee does not consider as sepa- rable from saturatus but, on the other hand, the range of satwratus is given only as including Ft. Yukon in the interior of Alaska. If all the birds from the interior are saturatus, then algistus must be restricted to the small wooded spots about the head of Norton Sound (and possibly the Kowak River), during the breeding season. This is a very small area to produce a distinct form of a species with the solitary and unsociable habits of the Great Horned Owl, but it is certain that it does not inhabit, and breed upon, the low marshy tundra that makes up the “ coast region of northern Alaska.” Woodpeckers, like most of the owls, occur in fall or early winter as stragglers or migrants from the wooded regions. While passing through the village on September 4 a familiar note arrested me in my walk and caused me to turn aside. Two Downy Woodpeckers (nelsoni?) were perched on the roof of a building where they remained but a moment or two before flying away toward the south- east. I fear they had many weary miles to cover before reaching another resting place. The Northern Raven is uncommon near St. Michael and was the only member of the family observed. Not far from the two vol- canic hills previously mentioned a single Raven (probably the same individual) was seen a number of times. This bird and one or two others observed in northern Alaska and Siberia were exceedingly wary; this trait forming a striking contrast to the boldness of the Unalaska birds. Song birds are represented by few species and none are character- 158 Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. Ack ized by very great musical ability. The simple song of even the most humble performer is, however, often a source of much pleasure. The sweetest song is probably that of the Alaska Longspur and this is also the most abundant song bird. The males in their showy nuptial dress are the most conspicuous objects on the tundra in early summer, while the duller colored and less obtrusive females are equally numerous but easily overlooked. After the young can fly and their parents have moulted into winter plumage, troops of these gay birds can often be found in patches of weeds about the houses. Here they will be flushed day after day until, toward the last of August or early in September, we suddenly miss them from their accustomed places and discover they have slipped away, un- noticed to take up a brief residence in a land less wind-swept and desolate. Another bird frequently seen about the village, but only in early summer, is the Gambel’s Sparrow. Perched on some house-top the males pour forth their songs for a short time during June. Later we find them among the alders where they nest and soon after the young are out of the nest all leave for the south. Among the alders and willows we find other birds. The shy Fox Sparrow is sometimes seen and the Western Tree Sparrow is found in almost every clump. The roving Hoary Redpolls with their darker colored cousins, the common Redpolls (in this locality, however, less com- mon than evilipes), flit about from bush to bush or roam about the country in loose flocks, visiting the village and often feeding about the door-step, but returning to the alders to build their nests and hatch their young. Sometimes they nest in other situations and I was shown one nest, built in a small bush in a dooryard in the village. The nest was finished and eggs laid about ten days before my arrival. Two species of swallows are common at St. Michael during the summer. The Tree Swallow is most numerous and nests in any available niche or crevice about buildings. Mr. Nelson has written that this species was only a migrant when he resided at St. Michael. The increase in the number of buildings in the village offers many suitable nesting sites which the swallows have not been slow to use. This species, with its graceful flight, attractive plumage, and not unpleasant twittering notes makes a welcome addition to the | Hersey, Birds at St. Michael, Alaska. 159 summer bird life of the region. The Barn Swallow is not so com- mon as the above species, probably because suitable nesting places are scarce. I have found their nests in empty houses but most of the birds about St. Michael build in or upon the unused river steamers that are drawn up on the shores of the bay. None of the warblers were seen by the writer in this locality and the Alaska Chickadee, Kennicott’s Willow Warbler and Siberian Red-spotted Blue-throat (species obtained by previous observers in the region), were not met with. The Alaska Yellow Wagtail was abundant and on August 8 a single Pipit was seen. The shy Gray-cheeked Thrush is a summer resident of the alder thickets from which his whistled call note or clear ringing song may often be heard. This is the only thrush I observed but many of the residents state that a stray Robin or two is occasionally seen in spring. In closing, I wish to acknowledge my appreciation of the interest shown in my work by all with whom I came in contact while in the north. To the officers at the Army Post,— Lieuts. Jepsom (commanding) and Rentfro, and Dr. L. T. Ferenbaugh,— I am especially indebted; not only for placing at my disposal facilities for visiting localities that would have been inaccessible without their kind assistance, but also for the pleasure of their company on several of my excursions about St. Michael, as well as for many little acts of thoughtfulness that added greatly to the pleasure and comfort of my stay there. Several of the enlisted men at the post also rendered valued assistance in handling my boat or procuring specimens, especially Sergt. Loftin who frequently accompanied me on trips afield. Freese 160 TownsENnD, Labrador Chickadee in Migration. April THE LABRADOR CHICKADEE (PENTHESTES HUDSONI- CUS NIGRICANS) IN A SOUTHWARD MIGRATION. BY CHARLES W. TOWNSEND, M. D. In my last trip to the Labrador Peninsula, I collected in the forested region at the head of Shekatika Inlet, two Hudsonian Chickadees, whose plumage was so dusky that they seemed worthy of being classed as a separate race. I described them in ‘The Auk’ of January, 1916, under the name of Penthestes hudsonicus nigri- cans. In October, 1916, there began a migration of Chickadees of the Hudsonian species into the region about Boston that soon attained large proportions. I have had the opportunity of examin- ing eleven specimens collected in this migration, as follows: four taken by myself at Ipswich, one at Belmont and one at Arlington; one taken by Dr. W. M. Tyler at Belmont and given me; one taken by Mr. J. L. Peters at Harvard; one in the Museum of Compara- tive Zodlogy at Cambridge from Lexington, and two kindly loaned me by Mr. W. DeW. Miller from the American Museum of Natural History; one of these was taken in Staten Island, one at Plainfield, N. J. All of these eleven specimens are plainly referable to the Labrador subspecies, Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans and not to littoralis nor to true hudsonicus. It had been generally assumed that the race to which this unusual migration of Northern Chickadees be- longed was the Acadian, and it had been so reported in the Janu- ary, 1917, number of ‘The Auk.’ Here, certainly, is a curious and interesting state of affairs. A new race, discovered in Labrador in 1915, appearing a little over a year later some seven hundred miles to the south in Massachu- setts. It is not often that the discoverer of a new race in a distant land is so fortunate as to have that race return his visit! The migration this winter has been an unprecedentedly large and extensive one for any form of the species. It has extended throughout southern New England and reached Long Island, Staten Island and New Jersey.! 1 See paper in this same issue by H. W. Wright. ae | TownsEnD, Labrador Chickadee in Migration. 161 In order to reach these southern regions, the Labrador Chickadees must have flown by and over the resident Acadian Chickadees of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the northern parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. It would be surprising if some of the latter race should not accompany the Labrador form to the south or come independently, as has been the case, as I shall show, in previous migrations, but all the specimens I have seen, taken this winter, belong to the Labrador subspecies. It is a familiar gibe that some races cannot be named unless one knows the locality where the specimens were taken. Not so in the case of nigricans. That the recognition of this subspecies even in the field is possible, I have demonstrated, not only by my own observations, but by those of others. The differences between P. hudsonicus hudsonicus and P. hudsonicus littoralis on the other hand are so slight that it would be difficult if not impossible to dis- tinguish them in the field. Lvttoralis is slightly smaller and slightly browner than hudsonicus. The difference in size is the more impor- tant but can only be definitely discovered by measurement. The Labrador Chickadee is distinguished from the Hudsonian and the Acadian forms by being distinctly dusky instead of brown on the back. The mouse-colored cap is generally clearly dif- ferentiated from the back which is not so dark. This cap is noticeable in life and has been referred to by several observers independently. In size, the Labrador Chickadee is intermediate between the other two. Its bill is rather heavy, like that of the Hudsonian, but about as short as that of the Acadian. It is prob- able that intergrades between these three races exist whose exact status is in doubt. This is certainly the case between hudsonicus and littoralis. My late July specimens from Labrador are indistinguishable from specimens taken in Massachusetts in December, and it is probable that they had already moulted into winter plumage. The first winter and later winter plumages in Hudsonian Chickadees are practically indistinguishable. A study of specimens of the Acadian Chickadee taken at all seasons of the year, shows browner upper parts and, with rare exceptions, no distinction in the form of a cap. The flanks are, as a rule, browner than in the Labrador or Hudso- nian form. Birds in juvenal plumage are slightly darker above. 5 res 162 TOWNSEND, Labrador Chickadee in Migration. I have, on several occasions, placed a series of specimens of nigri- cans taken in Massachusetts this winter, with one taken in Labra- dor in July and with several of littoralis taken in Nova Scotia in winter side by side with their backs up before various members of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. No one has had any difficulty in at once picking out the specimens of littoralis from those of nigricans. The Acadian Chickadee is the resident race in northern New England as it is in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. All of Mr. Brewster’s Umbagog specimens are of this race; and several speci- mens sent me from the Victoria Memorial Museum by Mr. P. A. Taverner taken in the Gaspé Peninsula, are also plainly the same. I have studied nine Massachusetts specimens of these northern Chickadees taken in previous winter migrations. Six of these are in the collection of Mr. Wm. Brewster, one from Mr. H. M. Spel- man, one from Mr. J. L. Peters and one from the Museum of Comparative Zoélogy. Five appear to be Acadian, and four Labra- dor Chickadees. The records and measurements of all are given in the following table, which also includes those of the eleven speci- mens of negricans taken this winter. For comparison, I have given the measurements of two specimens of nigricans taken in Labrador, two of littoralis taken in Nova Scotia and three specimens of hud- sonicus from Mackenzie and Alberta. I am greatly indebted to Mr. Wm. Brewster and to Mr. Outram Bangs for the opportunity of examining specimens and for their kind assistance in this study. 163 ] TownsEnD, Labrador Chickadee in Migration. Vol. XXXIV 1917 en) 91 at 91 oT OO & 1D 1D HH ~p 1D OO % aco mere 1T 9T a! ST SI a! La! a o1wwmoncoeosd a LP i LS i 2 PMDADDADAD|*N CaaS oT vI a! a! a! 9T 9T 9T ST a! LT ST la ST La! FL Sil! 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OL» » ‘uowmpeg ZLPFT » L160 1 “uEe » » IL71 » ee a » ‘Gorasdl OLPFT » » ‘GT » » ‘Suowpg 69FT » i Shs » ‘“UOJSUTIY SOFT. » ” ” ” ” ” LOFT ”» 9T6I ‘OL ‘9° ‘ssvyl ‘YOIMsdy = OFT. » ” ” ” ” ” ; IGP ” ST6I ‘Ez Alu adf) ‘topeaqey ‘vyyeyoyg OZFI ‘L°M'O sunorwbwu snawmospny sazsayjuad 164 Wricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and Vicinity. [ on LABRADOR CHICKADEE (PENTHESTES HUDSONICUS NIGRICANS) IN BOSTON AND VICINITY IN THE FALL OF 1916. BY HORACE W. WRIGHT. AGAIN after an interval of only three years another extensive southern migration of Penthestes hudsonicus into New England has occurred. The subspecific type of the birds of this incursion, Dr. Charles W. Townsend informs me he will discuss in a paper which he is preparing for “The Auk.’ Briefly it may be stated that he finds all the birds, which have been collected in this latest migra- tion and have come under his examination, to be of the nigricans ! type and not the littoralis type. My paper on the incursion of hudsonicus in 1913,? upon such testimony as is presented in the paper, assumed the type of that incursion to be littoralis. It is not the purpose of this brief article to assist in determining the subspecific type of the visitants in either migration, but to indicate by records obtained that the southward movement of hudsonicus has been general and as extensive, if not, indeed, more extensive than the migration of 1913. With the records which I have obtained I am enabled to unite those of a number of other observers, who have kindly codperated to further the purpose in view. My own records are: Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, October 29, one bird; Middlesex Fells, Melrose, November 7, two birds; 25, five birds; Belmont, November 9, nine birds; 20, eight birds; December 9, eight birds; January 1 and 3, 1917, three birds; Arnold Arboretum, Boston, November 16, three birds; December 5, twelve birds; January 8, two birds; Jamaica Plain, November 23, one bird. Other observers’ records are: Mr. William Brewster, Concord, October 7 and 12, one bird; 22, three birds; 23 and 31, one bird; November 3, one bird. Dr. Charles W. Townsend, Ipswich, November 5, three , birds; . 1 Auk, vol. XX XIII, Jan., 1916, p. 74. 2 Auk, vol. XX XI, April, 1914, p. 236. pie | Waricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and Vicinity. 165 December 10, seven birds; 17 and January 1, two birds; Belmont, November 26, five birds. Mr. James L. Peters, Harvard, November 8, one bird. Miss Mabel P. Cook, Lexington, November 9, one bird. Miss Annie W. Cobb, Arlington, November 11, two birds; Arnold Arboretum, Boston, December 1, twelve birds; Ipswich, December 2, ten birds. Dr. Winsor M. Tyler and Dr. Walter Faxon, Belmont, November 15, twelve birds; 19, eight birds; 26, two birds; December 9, eight birds, 11, four birds; January 10, two birds; Dr. Tyler, Ipswich, December 31, one bird; Lexington, January 7, one bird. Mr. C. J. Maynard, Waltham, November 18, five birds; 25, two birds. Mrs. Edmund Bridge, Middlesex Fells, Melrose, November 19, nine birds; Arnold Arboretum, December 9, two birds; Walden, Concord, January 29, four birds. Mr. Harold L. Barrett, Arnold Arboretum, November 19, 26, December 3 and 10, three to five birds; December 24, eleven birds; 31, seven birds; January 1, 1917, five birds; 7, four birds; 21, ten birds; 28, four birds. Miss Viola E. Crittenden, Beverley Cove, Beverley, November 26, five birds; December 3 et seg. to January 7, two birds; 13, none. Dr. John B. May, Cohasset, November 27 et seq. to January 5, four birds. Dr. Walter Faxon, Granny Hill, Lexington, November 18, 22, 29, December 2 and 8, three birds; December 10 and January 7, one bird; Belmont, December 3, eight birds. Mr. Campbell Bosson, Belmont, December 2, three birds. Judge Charles F. Jenney, Westwood, January 6, 1917, two birds. Miss Helen Granger, Chestnut Hiil, Brookline, January 23, one bird. The above enumeration indicates that twenty-eight birds have been noted by me in five different localities, while in 1913, twenty- five, and possibly thirty, individuals were recorded in twelve differ- ent localities, my outings extending over a wider range of country during the earlier incursion, which indicates that these Northern Chickadees have been in larger companies during the migration of 1916. Several of the records of other observers confirm this es 166 Wricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and Vicinity. view. The largest company observed in 1913 consisted of nine individuals on the Belmont lands. In this second incursion twelve birds have been reported in the Arnold Arboretum, twelve at Belmont, ten at Ipswich, and nine in the Middlesex Fells. In each instance these numbers were assembled essentially together, although on some occasions seen in scattered near groups. The crest of the wave of the 1916 migration in this vicinity seems to have been between November 9 and December 10; earlier records are of one to three individuals only, while my later records fall to two or three individuals respectively in the first week of January, 1917, three birds on the Belmont lands and two birds in the Arbore- tum. Mr. Barrett, however, furnishes a record of ten birds seen in the Arboretum, January 21, after having obtained smaller records on previous dates, and on January 28 he found but four birds. In general it may be said that these Hudsonians of the migration of 1916 have been much more shy than the birds of the 1913 migra- tion. I have seen none at as near range as I viewed many in the former migration. Then they were accustomed to be feeding in the sunlight and frequently upon stalks of golden rod and aster, allowing very near approach and as full scanning as the observer desired to make. During this migration of 1916 the birds have been very elusive and kept themselves very largely in dense shade either in the cedars, hemlocks, or pines, as the growth might be, or upon the ground underneath from which all strong light was excluded. The birds have also been very restless and suspicious upon approach, leading the observer a considerable chase sometimes to follow them up. This has made difficult the determination of their particular coloration. So “a bird in the hand” rather than “in the bush” has been required for an examination adequate to determine the subspecific type. Happily, Dr. Townsend with the assistance of others is rendering this necessary service. The call- notes, however, are always specific and distinct from those of the Black-capped Chickadee. So an identification of the species is readily made. A letter from Mr. George L. Kirk of Rutland, Vermont, to Dr. Townsend, which the latter has kindly placed in my hands with the privilege of quoting, is of so much interest as bearing on this 1916 cae | Wricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and Vicinity. 167 migration that it is herewith presented almost in full with the author’s permission. Mr. Kirk writes under date of January 12, 1917: “Your letter in reference to the Acadian Chickadee came to hand this morning....Unfortunately I did not secure any, nor have I shot any of these Northern Chickadees during the two years I have been collecting bird skins. I very much regret that I cannot supply you with material for examination in preparation for your paper, especially in view of your statement that the birds which visited us in the fall of 1916 were probably the form Penthestes hud- sonicus nigricans, but the best I can do is to give you some idea of their abundance last fall. “For some reason the birds were abnormally shy at this time. Heretofore those I have seen were so tame that one could approach within five or six feet, if they happened to be feeding low, but this year they were constantly on the move and seemed to leave the vicinity every time they realized a hunter was near... . “The Acadian Chickadee is said to be found rather regularly in northern Vermont, but eighteen years of careful observation have convinced me that it is rare in this part of the State, even in the winter season in the heavy spruce woods of our mountains. With the exception of that season, three or four years ago, when you had a visit from them in Massachusetts (I have not my notes at hand this minute to look up the date), I have seen only an occasional single bird until 1916, when they were much more abundant than during the flight previously referred to. : “During the week of October 22, 1916, I was in the mountain woods every day hunting partridges. The Acadian Chickadees were then confined almost entirely to spruce timber above 1800 feet altitude and were so abundant that their notes (so different from‘our Black-cap when the two are heard together) were heard everywhere. They kept to the thick evergreens so persistently that it would be difficult to estimate how many were seen or heard each day, but they were as abundant as any species of bird about at that time. The troops in which they travelled seemed to keep by themselves and not mingle to any extent with the native Chick- adee. The following two weeks the birds were seen in the hard- woods of the lower country, and the writer and friends who are interested in birds saw and heard them a number of times. After 168 Wricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and V: icinity. [ fen: November 20, they apparently had passed south, for, although I have been in the woods for a considerable time once each week since that date, I have heard the notes of only two stragglers... .. “This has been the best season in many years here for winter birds. Redpolls, Snow Buntings, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, and White-winged Crossbills came unusually early and are abun- dant.” Mr. Kirk in a subsequent letter states that he saw one of the Northern Chickadees on January 14 at Rutland. Mr. Richard M. Marble of Woodstock also gives interesting Vermont testimony in a letter received from him, in which under date of January 14, 1917, he states, “An Acadian Chickadee has been a visitor to Mr. Fred Dana’s feeding station since November, and possibly before,” and he adds, “also a wintering White- throated Sparrow. Doesn’t this locality seem a little far north for that bird to be wintering? Undoubtedly a home-made feeding station, which is always well supplied with food, has much to do with his stay. A Junco is almost always with him. We have all the winter visitants with us now and in fairly good numbers. I see almost every day in some large box elders on our lawn three Evening Grosbeaks. Pine Grosbeaks, of which there seem to be more adult males than usual, are quite common, as are both Crossbills and Redpolls.”’ In a later letter Mr. Marble writes: “If one is able to distinguish between the nigricans type, as described by Dr. Townsend, and the littoralis type by the brown on the sides, the Northern Chickadee which is wintering with us is unmistakably littoralis. The brown on its sides is very red and conspicuous. It also seems to me that the back shows quite a brownish tint.” May not this Woodstock bird be a northern New England resident, and, therefore, as such definitely littoralis, attracted to the feeding station in its wander- ings, and remaining a constant visitor because so well cared for? As indicating the time of the southward movement reaching northern New England, it may be stated that before my departure from my summer home at Jefferson Highland, New Hampshire, October 11, I had seen several individuals in that locality. The records are one bird on the first day of the month, three on the fourth day, one on the fifth, and one on the tenth. These records eri wl Wricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and Vicinity. 169 probably represent as many different birds on account of the various localities and separation of time in which they were seen. No hud- sonicus had been noted earlier than October 1. Its appearance was upon the first morning of heavy frost, the mercury registering 30° with ice skimming the puddles in the road. A considerable migra- tory movement had occurred in the night, bringing White-crowned Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets with an increase of White- throated Sparrows, Juncos, Myrtle Warblers, and Olive-backed Thrushes. White-winged Crossbills and Pine Siskins had already been much in evidence about the Highland. My assistant, Mr. E. D. Parker, in a recent letter informs me that he heard and saw some of these Northern Chickadees about the cottages on the High- land at various times up to the middle of December. During the week of October 22, Mr. Kirk states that while he was in the mountain woods, he found the species “so abundant that their notes were heard everywhere.”” The rapid progress of indi- viduals southward is indicated by Mr. Brewster’s records at Con- cord, Massachusetts, which range from October 7, when the first bird was noted, and October 12, when the second bird was noted, to the 22d day, when three birds were seen “pecking at gray birch seed-cones.” And Dr. Tyler informs me that he recorded on October 29 and again on November 3 in his notes respectively for those days that he heard the calls of several Chickadees flying southward and for a moment alighting in a tall white pine tree, which he was almost certain were the notes of hudsonicus, identical to his ear with the minor notes of the Acadian, as heard on several occasions in the White Mountains and in 1913 when for a few weeks the species was common in the Boston region. By the middle of November, or thereabouts, the birds seem to have been most numerous in this vicinity and not to have diminished in number, perhaps, until about December 10, after which date fewer individ- uals were in evidence. And as indicating the much farther southward movement of the migration of hudsonicus, Mr. H. H. Cleaves in a letter to Dr. Townsend states that he saw four individuals at Staten Island on December 5 and that these birds were first seen on December 2. Dr. Townsend has later received from the American Museum of Natural History a specimen taken at Staten Island on January [ Auk 170 Wricut, Labrador Chickadee at Boston and Vicinity. April - 14, 1917, and one taken at Plainfield, New Jersey, on December 31, 1916. Other southern records in this 1916 migration, which have been already published,! are of one bird on November 6 at Rhine- beck, New York, and one on November 13 at Hewlett, Long Island. Golden-crowned Kinglets have proved to be the closest compan- ions of these Northern Chickadees on many occasions. Indeed, they seem to be their natural associates. Black-capped Chicka- dees are rather their incidental companions, with whom they occasionally come in touch, but do not habitually move. Casual associates on the cedar-grown pastures of Belmont Hill were a Palm Warbler on November 9 and December 9, a full-plumaged male Cape May Warbler and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet on Novem- ber 20. The individuals which have come under my notice have usually been quite silent, giving their characteristic calls infre- quently, and so revealing their presence but little. On this account it is quite probable that more individuals have been present on some occasions than have been enumerated and the numbers actu- ally recorded fail to adequately express the size of the migration. They may be regarded, however, as serving to suggest its extent and for illustration. 1 Auk, vol. XXXIV, Jan., 1917, p. 91. ee | Farry, Ornithology at St. Marks. aie ORNITHOLOGY AT ST. MARK’S. BY J. A. FARLEY. OrnNITHOLOGY at St. Mark’s has nothing to do with the pigeons that flock to be fed in the sunny piazza in front of the ancient church. Nor does it apply to any birds, alive or dead, within the resplendent edifice. It has reference only to the remarkable mosaics of bird-life, done by an unknown medieval artist, which may be seen just inside the glistening portals of the building. Ornithology at St. Mark’s, therefore, means the pictures of birds that appear among the other rich Byzantine mosaics in the ceiling of the atrium of the venerable shrine of St. Mark the Evangelist. Most of these mosaics are of the thirteenth century and are thus among the earliest in San Marco, although exceeded in point of age by the famous eleventh and twelfth century work of the golden interior of the Venetian basilica. The Old Testament story through Genesis and Exodus is told in the mosaics of the atrium; and their chief natural history lies in the series that illustrates the life of Noah. Most notable in this. respect are the nine mosaics of the Flood. These are of the early thirteenth century. They may be seen on the under side of the arch that separates the main entrance of the church (door of St. Mark) and the cupola next to the Capella Zen. Arranged in tiers. they show in the highest the building of the Ark, following the command of the Lord to Noah. In the tier next below the animals enter the Ark, by sevens and by pairs — the clean and the unclean. The four-footed creatures are grouped on the right; the crowd of birds are on the left. Among the latter are a number of representa- tive Old World forms. These bird-pictures are of deepest interest. The medieval mosaicist (whether Byzantine master or Italian pupil), hampered though he was by his stiff art, did his work on the whole wonder- fully well in respect to a truthful representation of nature. Further- more, his art makes his remote age to live again—in a new and unexpected way. It appears that certain species of birds were as. representative forms of wild life in the thirteenth century as they L72 Faruey, Ornithology at St. Marks. [ack are to-day. Birds as well-known now as then figure in mosaics made seven hundred years ago! It is hard not to speak in extrava- gant terms of the mosaicist who proved himself no mean naturalist (or at least observant student of nature) by portraying so faith- fully the forms of wild life that he saw about him. Conspicuous among these speaking likenesses appear two of the best known game birds of Europe which for centuries have afforded food and sport for man — the Red-legged Partridge, Caccabis rufa, and the common grey Partridge Perdix perdix. Not all of the bright, showy coloration of the Red-legged Partridge is pictured in the colored cubes of the mosaic, but the artist seized upon enough salient points of plumage to characterize the species com- pletely. There is the striking, bold, black ring on the head behind the eye and the very evident row of transverse, black stripes on the sides and flanks, together with the white and brown quills of the wing. In spite of some minor faults, both of omission and com- mission, the species is exceedingly well-portrayed. Undoubtedly in the thirteenth century the Red-legged Partridge was as well- known a game bird and as much admired for its good looks as it is today. Small wonder that the artist took pains! Long, long before the Middle Ages, if report be true, this pugnacious fowl was kept for fighting purposes, like the game cock to-day, and tradition runs that the Emperor Alexander Severus enjoyed the sport. The common grey Partridge — esteemed for the excellence of its ‘flesh since the days of Martial —is as well pictured as the less succulent, red-legged species. Here again the mosaicist indicates plainly what is perhaps the best field-mark of the bird — the buffy head and throat and the contrasting, slaty, vermiculated breast. The characteristic cross-bars on the grey sides are strangely omitted, to be sure, but the narrow, whitish, linear streaking on the brown wings (another good diagnostic feature) appears plainly — though in a rudimentary way. Another good bird-portrait — broadly speaking — in spite of the relative failure as to details. A third plainly portrayed game bird of Europe is the Pheasant. The handsome pair stand directly above the Grey Partridges and behind the Red-legged Partridges. The scarlet before and below the eye of the cock Pheasant is as well brought out in the mosaic as in any Dutch painting of still life. The rich orange of the Nob Faruey, Ornithology at St. Marks. 173 bird’s back also is as well shown by the tessere as if done in pig- ment. A bird of long and famous history — and of early game law as well as myth — is Phasianus colchicus. The Argonauts brought him home along with the fleece and other spoil from the banks of the river Phasis in Colchis where in the swampy woods that border the stream the bird may be found to-day “as wild as a hawk’’ — in strong contrast to the semi-domesticated fowl of English covers. It is not impossible that this native of Asia Minor was introduced into Europe a dozen centuries before Christ. Certain it is that the Pheasant was naturalized at a very remote age to the west of its original habitat. It was well-known in Italy in the comparatively recent period of the Middle Ages, and was a table-bird in England before the Norman Conquest — as at Waltham Abbey where unus phasianus, as the substitute for two partridges, was permitted to the canons by Harold’s bill of fare. Very likely the Romans brought the bird to Britain for they sometimes naturalized “strange ani- mals” in the countries they conquered. Still another very well-known food-bird of the Old World (highly esteemed for the table in the days of Moses and ever since) which if not “as big as life and twice as natural”’ is nevertheless so vividly pictured that even the tourist who runs may read, is the Migratory Quail, Coturnix coturnix. It is impossible to fail to identify this little, plump, brown pair, with their buffy breasts and variegated backs, as the Quail of Holy Writ. Strange indeed if the artist had forgotten in his feathered throng at the door of the Ark a bird so famous in Biblical story. Ranging over such an enormous area as Europe, Africa and much of Asia, the Quail was as well-known to the nations of antiquity as the Eagle and the Crane. Well-named “Migratory” it vies with the Swallow in crossing seas, deserts and lofty mountain chains. The trusting expectant air with which these little, obedient fowl look up into the face of Noah as they await their turn at his hands is very naive. It should be observed that the bills and the feet of the Quail are red — which is an ornithological inaccuracy. But it will be noted how often in these mosaic-pictures red inaccurately appears on foot or bill. It is evident that the mosaicist deliberately availed himself of the vivid color (whether right or wrong) as the best way 174 Farry, Ornithology at St.. Marks. resi of showing plainly these small and relatively insignificant parts of a bird. Similarly, various birds which are not entitled to it are decorated with a white eye-ring to bring out an otherwise indistinct or else wholly unobvious eye. The central figure of the whole mosaic is of course Father Noah himself as he carefully puts into the Ark his pair of Peafowl. These birds are most beautiful. The splendid purple of the neck of the cock contrasts vividly with the green of the hen. As the Byzantine symbol of eternal life the Peacock is naturally the first bird to go into the Ark. The mosaicist is here at his best and with good reason. As the emblem of the beauty and glory of immortality, the lavishly-colored bird demanded special attention at the hands of the artist; and there resulted a finely drawn and colored picture as true to nature as to art. It is in the portrayal of this most magnificent of all birds that the man of the mosaics reaches his height as an artist of animal life. Like the Pheasant the Peacock is a bird of remarkable history. It was King Solomon’s ship of Tarshish (or else a craft of King Hiram’s) — the first “ East India- men” of which we have information — that brought this native of Indian forests over the old trade route from the East. This importation of Solomon’s into Palestine is the earliest record of the bird for the Mediterranean regions. Alexander the Great, however, is commonly thought to have introduced the resplendent fowl into Europe. As would be expected, some of the more striking forms of cos- mopolitan, water-bird life did not escape our medizval artist’s eye. His [correctly] red-billed, slaty Gallinule or Moorhen (one of the most familiar British wild birds of to-day and with closely-allied forms in America and Africa) is well depicted save for its red legs which artistic violation of avian proprieties has already been explained and condoned. Another extremely well-known water-bird of wide distribution is the Merganser. Here again the artist has achieved an ornitho- logical success — within limits. His pair of fish ducks have the crest and the toothed bill of their kind. Thus the strongly-marked form is extremely well-characterized. But while all-sufficient as to generic details which point unmistakably to Mergus, the crude coloration does not at all “favor” the striking and beautiful M. errs NY] Faruey, Ornithology at St. Marks. 175 serrator of the Northern Hemisphere. Save for their long crests there is nothing about these dull nondescripts to show that they are Red-breasted Sheldrakes; and even their eyes are white instead of the proper merganser red. Yet it is this well-known water-fowl of Asia, Europe and North America that the artist undoubtedly had in mind to portray. Did he tire? Or was it another hand? Surely the hand that pictured the Peacock, the Pheasant and the Partridge was skilful also to portray the green-headed and rufous- chested Sheldrake which the red Indian of undiscovered America knew as well as the Italian of the Dark Ages and he, in his turn, as well as the Venetian of a later day — the peregrinating water- bird, here, there and everywhere in the northern parts of both hemispheres; the same today and yesterday, now and forever, one and indivisible — judging by its non-plastic past. Conspicuous by reason of their stature in the crowd of birds at the Ark’s door stand the Cranes. ‘These are the common European species Grus grus. The blue, long-legged waders lack the details of their color-plan. Yet the white stripe running down the side of the neck appears; while more important still the touch of red on top of the head, indicating the semi-naked crown of Grus, shows that the artist was at least aware of this most diagnostic as well as striking external of the Crane. This most ancient form of bird- life was pictured at an earlier day than the mosaics of San Marco for Cranes appear on the frescoed walls of Dehr-el-Bahari. But even 3,000 years are made to seem but as yesterday by this Miocene bird. The “clean” barnyard Poultry are strongly represented in the throng of birds. In bold relief against the dark side of the ship, as well by their bulk as by their color, are the seven, fat, white Geese, red-legged and yellow-billed. The adjacent group of the same number of Fowl are the usual variegated barnyard lot — this old-fashioned type the same in the thirteenth century as to-day. The rooster in the corner has a splendid comb, in shape, size and color true to life; but his equally well-conceived (from an artistic standpoint), impressionistic, five- or six-feathered tail is woefully unavian in that it lacks more than half the total number of quills required to complete the thoroughly orthodox, galline tail. Again the mosaicist’s license —or his limitations. This tail has an 176 Fariey, Ornithology at St. Marks. Agu astonishing resemblance to that other weird one of six feathers worn by the famous rooster of the spire of the West Barnstable meeting- house on Cape Cod. Facing the Cock and the Hens stand the Ducks. Like their vis-a-vis neighbors these “clean”’ fowl seem also to say; “We are seven.”’ Among them the inevitable Mallard, so frequent in Italian art, with his green head and white neck-ring appears. The Com- mon Fowl alone excepted, no bird of economic importance has so greatly profited man; and the story of the domestication of this stock-form — the original of the modern barnyard Duck — is lost in the dim beginnings of history. One last barnyard bird is the discordant Guinea Hen. The pair are crudely colored, for their blue dress has only rudimentary white streaks instead of being properly polka-dotted. Their red combs and wattles are also ineffective. Yet the species is unmistakable. The pair stand at the feet of Noah, and, like the Quail, look up trustingly into the face of the builder of the ship. Not all the birds in this striking mosaic-picture are identifiable. Doubtless the artist evolved certain “freaks.” But in addition to various nondescripts the like of which were never seen on land or sea, there are a pair of long-tailed and red-billed green Parrots which are plainly the common Indian species Paleornis torquata. This is the “Ring Parrot”? which became known to Grecian bird- fanciers as one of the results of Alexander’s Indian campaigns. Linné, indeed, believed the historic bird to be the Javan species of the genus which he named accordingly alexandri. But this species never could have come in contact with the Macedonian king’s sailors. Nor is there much reason to think, as some have argued, that P. ewpatria, the Cingalese species of this long-tailed Parroquet group, was the famous green parrot with a red ring on its neck which Alexander’s people brought back to Europe. The weight of opinion favors the common Ring-necked Parroquet of India — P. torquata—as the Alexandrine bird, and its generic name sets forth its antiquity. It should be observed that the half neck-ring of P. torquata is rosy, not white as in the mosaic. But here again we must not make too deep scrutiny into the mosaicist’s mutiny. Probably he found that on the arch overhead the relatively small neck-ring of the bird eae | Farey, Ornithology at St. Marks. yy would be brought out much better by white than by pink. As to the unparrotlike white spotting on the breasts of the birds, this may be explained by the guess that either a moulting or a cage- worn specimen was copied. The artist must not be taken too strictly. It is not assumed that he ever saw the Ring-necked Parroquet in its native Indian wilds. Let it suffice that we see in the mosaic undoubtedly the first representation in color of the ancient Parrot which Aristotle mentions and Pliny describes. The flocks of the Ring-necked Parroquet swarming in the jungle are among the characteristic features of the East Indian landscape. Not only in forest but in town and village the harsh cries and abundance of the beautiful bird make it notable. It is the best known of East Indian parrots — this “ Rose-ringed Parrakeet.”’ Among the remaining birds, more or less identifiable in the picture, are a small white pair which are probably meant for Doves; and a second Columbine pair, green-backed and black-billed, which seem to represent some species of the very edible East Indian green Fruit Pigeon group — 7’ reronine — several species of which are found commonly in India today. There are more birds in the lowest mosaic which shows the entry of Noah and family into the Ark. The family stand at attention while “the father of the flock” puts into the ship his last remaining birds. As Noah hands in two splendid yellow-eyed and black- billed Eagles, he turns and gazes full-faced at the spectator with a most imposing air of playing to the gallery. These Eagles are finely colored; and this is specially true of their yellow legs and feet and black claws which are depicted — one might almost say drawn — with painstaking care. As in the case of the Peacock the artist plainly took special pains with his Eagles as would be expected in the unscientific age that regarded the Eagle as the King of birds. The naked tarsi of these birds indicate that they are Sea Eagles (Halieetus), although there is no reason to doubt that the “nobler” form — the Golden Eagle of the feathered leg — was a well-known bird of the period in Italy. Perhaps the mosaicist’s zoological knowledge did not extend so far as tarsi, whether feathered or not. On the other hand the black bills of the pair indicate the genus Aquila of which the Golden Eagle, wide-spread in the Northern Hemisphere (but a rather “ better” bird in America than in Europe), Fes 178 Faruey, Ornithology at St: Marks. is the fine type. Certainly, the artist in his benighted age had never heard of either Aquila or Halieetus. Hence this generical confusion is probably only another case of the artist’s (like the poet’s) license —a mixing, that is, not of metaphors but of characters. On the ground, in front of and facing Noah, stand a pair of either Crows or Ravens — but incorrectly yellow-eyed. Behind these come a pair of Storks, red-billed and red-legged — as in life. The only unlifelike thing about these familiar birds of tale and fable is the restricted black of their quills. In reality the extensive black on wing of the Common Stork, contrasting with the snow-white of the rest of the body and the red of bill and legs, makes the three- foot bird a conspicuous object in the Continental landscape. Behind the Storks again come a pair of Pelicans. Tiring of the long wait incidental to the movement of such large numbers of living things these honest birds have calmly and comfortably squatted down on the whole foot — giving a restful touch to the whole proceeding — like the sensible, well-conducted “ totipal- mates”’ that the artist undoubtedly intended to portray. Behind the patient Pelicans wait in their turn a pair of graceful, purple Herons, slim-necked and black-crested, which seem clearly referable to the African genus Melanophoyz. In rear of all and vivid against their gold background stand a pair of good-sized slaty birds — black-headed, billed and footed, and to a less extent black-winged. These are the well-known and wide- spread Hooded Crow of Europe — Corvus corniz. They are well depicted save for the too-restricted black of the wing. While this completes the tale of the birds of the Entry, it is hard not to glance at the extraordinary pair of smiling carnivora in the adjoining animal section which in the insistent hands of Noah are going into the Ark docilely like great, good-natured, fat, obedient Puppies which indeed they much resemble; nor at the tender face of Noah himself as he looks down fatherly at his puppy-like pets. The story of Noah is continued on the opposite [right] side of the arch. We now see a submerged world, and the rain still comes down. But in the next scene behold the hungry Raven with greedy glittering eye as he feeds, oblivious of all else, on a floating carcass; while from Noah’s hands, at a window of the ship, the gentle Dove (with most unavian wings it must be owned) is preparing in her turn to sally out. e 16g yer | Farry, Ornithology at St. Marks. 179 In the next mosaic the Dove has returned, and there ensues the exit from the rainbow-encircled Ark. We see the enterprising Red-legged Partridge already perched at the corner of the roof of the craft; the Dove standing in the gutter, as if in doubt, yet pre- paring to fly; next an unidentifiable water fowl; and last (to com- plete this party of “early birds’’) the Guinea Hen. One final-bird— an astonishing nondescript like nothing ever seen on sea or shore, with its red bill and foot, blue and white body, black crown and white crest — flies out into the very eyes of Noah who with astern face is hauling out of the Ark’s dark door the sprawling Lioness. The series of Flood mosaics ends with Noah’s sacrifice and the rapid dispersal of the animals which rejoicing in their recovered freedom are seen leaping away in every direction over the dripping rocks. It should be said in simple justice to Father Noah (and the artist) that throughout these Flood mosaics the captain of the ship wears the air of portentous gravity that well befits the individual upon whose shoulders rests the burden of the preservation of the entire animal life of the globe! The Creation mosaics (with their accompanying Latin inscrip- tions) of the cupola that adjoins the arch of the History of Noah contain more natural history which it is hard to ignore. In the section that shows the Lord making living things, Peacocks appear; while in a little pool a pair of black, coot-like birds swim close to a bright green crocodile. Most naive is the mosaic of Adam naming the beasts. (A ppella- vitque ‘Adam nominibus suis cuncta animantia.) The engaging Lioness upon whose head the First Man lays his hand has a most decile and half-human face — though with tongue far run out. That “one touch of nature makes the whole world kin” (or did at least before the Fall) is mirrored in the childlike complacency and the meek pride in her just-bestowed name of this artless beast. True indeed it is of this gentle Jane that she “bears her blushing honors” meek upon her. The medizval mosaicist rises nearest to greatness as an artist of the great out-of-doors in the beautiful mosaic that shows the creation of birds and fishes (Dizit etiam Dominus: producant aquae reptile animae viventis et volatile super terram: jumenta et omnia reptilia in genere suo.) 180 Far.ey, Ornithology at St. Marks. Fen The picture is a crowded one — full of life and motion — kaleido- scopic —a phantasmagoria in fact of bird-life and fish-life — but with really good effective grouping. There is a whirl and a swirl of fishes in the blue sea below and a crowd of flying birds in the pale sky above. The sea swarms with brilliant-hued fish darting this way and that, the whole revolving around the central figure of a terrific sea-monster, bewhiskered and with plesiosaurus-like teeth — undoubtedly the earliest known representation of the sea-serpent (but agreeing wonderfully well with latter-day descriptions by truthful mariners) and as such peculiarly fit for mural decoration in maritime Venice. The crowd of birds overhead in the breezy firmament complete the other half of this most beautiful mosaic. They are mostly seafowl although the inevitable Owl, so favored by medieval artists, appears. There are the conventional Mallard, the Swan, Gulls white and pied, an Egret (for the Egret was as well-known in a state of nature — if not on woman’s head-gear — in the thir- teenth century as in a later Audubonian day), and various non- descripts — nearly all with legs and wings poorly, yes appallingly, drawn but the whole flock well grouped nevertheless and exceed- ingly full of life and motion. The breezy picture in short smacks of the sea, and the forgotten artist who made it surely knew his sea. The simple beauty of the very early mosaics of Byzantine type in the atrium of San Marco appeals to all. Most original and often quaint they are undoubtedly among the most attractive of the earlier mosaics in the glorious building — as they are among the finest. But these Old Testament subjects take on an added interest when the fact of their origin is recalled. The mosaicists who exe- cuted them copied Byzantine originals. The illuminations in some early Bible of type similar to the Cotton Bible (if not in that ancient book itself) are evidently reproduced on the vaulting and the arches of the atrium. Even if not copied direct from the Cotton Bible of the fifth century, at least the designs are essentially identical with the paintings in that age-worn book. Lord Macauley seems to have noted as early as any the likeness of the atrium mosaics to the miniatures in an early Bible. He has told of the pleasing impressions which he gained from his inspec- tion of St. Mark’s. “I never was more entertained by any build- ae | OBERHOLSER, Hastern Subspecies of Sitta carolinensis. 181 ing,” he writes. ‘Everything carries back the mind to a remote age; to a time when Cicero and Virgil were hardly known in Italy; to a time compared with which the time of Politian and even the time of Petrach is modern.” As a Latinist he must mention the “Very badness of the rhyming monkish hexameters;” while con- fessing that “there is something attractive to me”’ in this “very badness’’ — as there is also in the “ queer designs and false drawing of the pictures.” The final comment of this busy brain is of special interest. After “an hour spent in making out” the Biblical his- tories of the atrium, the historian concludes: “They amused me as the pictures in very old Bibles used to amuse me when I was a child.” The future peer of Rothley dipped into a vast number of books in his omnivorous-reading, boyhood days. It seems a safe in- ference that some at least of his “very old Bibles” were of the Cotton type or model which furnished in the thirteenth century the designs for the Genesis and Exodus mosaics of the atrium of San Marco — and doubtless also for general Bible illustration of the day. CRITICAL NOTES ON THE EASTERN SUBSPECIES OF SITTA CAROLINENSIS LATHAM. BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. THE name Sitta carolinensis carolinensis 1s now applied to the White-breasted Nuthatch of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Recent investigation, however, shows that the Florida form must be called Svtta carolinensis carolinensis; and since none of the names for eastern birds of this species is found to be available for the northeastern race, the latter must be given anew designation. Therefore the eastern races of Sztta carolinensis will stand as below: . [ Auk 182 OBERHOLSER, Eastern Subspecies of Sitta carolinensis. April Sitta carolinensis carolinensis Latham. [Stta] carolinensis LataHaM, Index Ornith., I, 1790, p. 262 (America, Jamaica) (based principally on Sitta carolinensis Brisson, Ornith., III, 1760, p. 596, from Carolina and Jamaica; which in turn is founded chiefly on Catesby’s Svtta capite n-gro, Nat. Hist. Carolina, Fla., and Bahama Is., I, 17538, p. 22, pl. 22, from Carolina). Sitta carolensis COVERT, in Chapman’s History Washtenaw Co., Michi- gan, 1881, p. 175 (nomen nudum: = errore pro S.tta carolinensis Latham). Sctta melanocephala Vie1uuoT, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., XX XI, 1819, p. 336 (nom. nov. pro Sitta carolinensis Latham). Sitta carolinensis atkinsi Scorr, Auk, VII, April, 1890, p. 118 (Tarpon Springs; Florida). Sita carolensis RipGway, Bulletin U. 8. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part III, 1904, p. 443 (Covert MS.) (in synonymy; nom. nov. pro Sitta carolinensis Latham). Sitta atkinsi litorea Maynarp, Records of Walks and Talks with Nature, VIII, No. 1, January 12, 1916 (January 138, 1916), p. 5, pl. [1] (New River, North Carolina). : CHAPS. SUBSP.— Size small; upper parts dark-colored; lower parts soiled white or shaded with grayish; female with black of head usually not overlaid with plumbeous. MerAsUREMENTS.!— Adult male: wing, 87.3, tail, 44.6, culmen, 18.5; tarsus, 18.4; middle toe without claw, 15.6. Adult female: wing, 86.3; culmen, 18; tarsus, 18; middle toe without claw, 15.7. Type Locauity.— Mouth of the Savannah River, South Carolina? GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.— Southeastern United States: north to North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illi- nois, and southeastern Missouri; west to western Arkansas and eastern Teas; south to southeastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida; and east to the Atlantic coast from Florida to North Carolina. Remarks.— The Sitta carolinensis of Latham * was based chiefly on the Svtta carolinensis of Brisson,’ of which the habitat was given as Carolina and Jamaica; and on Catesby,° whose bird came from Carolina. As this species does not occur in Jamaica, the American Ornithologists’ Union Committee ® very properly re- 1 Average in millimeters of ten specimens of each sex, taken from Ridgway, Bulletin U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part III, 1904, p. 444. 2 Here for the first time definitely designated. 3 Index Ornith., I, 1790, p. 262. 4 Ornith., III, 1760, p. 596. 5 Nat. Hist. Carolina, Fla., and Bahama Is., I, 1753, p. 22, pl. 22. Check-List North Amer. Birds, ed. 3, 1910, p. 345. You x sei OBERHOLSER, Eastern Subspecies of Sitta carolinensis. 183 stricted the type locality to Carolina. For the present purpose of fixing more definitely the type region of Sitta carolinensis, we here designate the mouth of the Savannah River in South Carolina as the type locality, a region which Catesby is known to have visited. The name Sitta carolinensis must, therefore, apply to the form to which the birds from South Carolina belong. Mr. Robert Ridgway : has referred these to the race from the northeastern United States, which has hitherto commonly passed as S7tta carolinensis carolinen- sis. A careful examination of a satisfactory series from South Carolina shows that the birds from this region are, in both size and color, decidedly nearer the Florida subspecies, hitherto called Sitta carolinensis atkinsi;* so that, unless three forms be recog- nizable, the bird from South Carolina must belong to the same subspecies as that from Florida. Mr. C. J. Maynard has recently described a new subspecies of Sitta carolinensis from the New River in southeastern North Caro- lina as Sitta atkinsi litorea.* His type, taken by himself on Novem- ber 24, 1903, has, through his courtesy, been examined in the present connection, and found to measure as follows: wing, 87 millimeters; tail, 46; exposed culmen, 15.5; tarsus, 18.3; middle toe without claw, 15.5. In color and other characters it is identi- cal with birds from South Carolina, hence his name must in any consideration, fall as a synonym of Sitta carolinensis carolinensis Latham. Mr. Maynard also proposes to recognize three forms of the White-breasted Nuthatch in the eastern United States. Sztta carolinensis carolinensis of the northeastern United States; Sztta atkinst atkinst from Florida; and Sitta atkinst litorea Maynard from the coast region of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The specific distinctness of Sitta atkins: Scott from the form of Svtta carolinensis occurring in the northeastern United States, hitherto called Sitta carolinensis carolinensis, cannot be maintained, as may readily be ascertained by an examination of specimens from all parts of the range of these birds; in fact, the birds from South Carolina and Georgia, which Mr. Maynard calls a 1 Bulletin U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part II, 1904, pp. 441-443. 2 Sitta carolinensis atkinsi Scott, Auk, VII, April, 1890, p. 118. 3 Records of Walks and Talks with Nature, VIII, No. 1, January 12, 1916, p. 5, pl. [1]. 4 Records of Walks and Talks with Nature, VIII, No. 1, January 12, 1916, pp. 5-7. [Apri 184 OBERHOLSER, Eastern Subspecies of Sttta carolinensis. subspecies of the Florida form, are really intermediates between the latter and the bird from the northeastern United States. Further- more, none of the characters which separate the Florida race from that of the northeastern United States are entirely constant. Therefore, whether two or three forms be recognized, it is evident that all must be considered races of one species. The two forms commonly regarded valid—a northern and a southern sub- species — interdigitate over a wide area in such a perplexing manner that it would be exceedingly difficult to characterize an intermediate race; and this consideration, based on a careful examination of specimens from the entire eastern range of Sztta carolinensis, shows that it is not satisfactory to recognize three forms of the species; hence the name Sitta carolinensis atkinsi Scott becomes a synonym of Sttta carolinensis carolinensis Latham. The Sitta melanocephala of Vieillot! is simply a renaming of Sitta carolinensis Latham, and as such becomes a synonym of the latter. The Sitta carolensis of Covert? is merely a lapsus calami or misprint for Sitta carolinensis Latham, and is, besides, a nomen nudum. Mr. Ridgway, however, in his synonymy of Sztta caro- linensis*® has given it status as a synonym of Scztta carolinensis Latham. x Birds from South Carolina, the type region of Sitta carolinensis carolinensis, are slightly larger and very slightly paler than birds from Florida, and have, in the female, usually more suffusion of plumbeous on the pileum; but, as already noted, are very much nearer this form than to that of the northeastern United States. Birds from Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, western Arkansas, and eastern Texas are intermediate between the Florida bird and that from the northern United States, but are on the whole to be referred to the former. Specimens from the following localities, all of which may be regarded as breeding records, have been examined in the present connection: 1 Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., XX XI, 1819, p. 336. 2 In Chapman’s History Washtenaw Co., Michigan, 1881, p. 175. 3 Bulletin U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part ITI, 1904, p. 443. : rar | OserHouser, Eastern Subspecies of Sitta carolinensis. 185 Alabama: Autaugaville; Squaw Shoals; Carlton; Ardell; Jackson; Orange Beach; Huntsville; Sand Mountain (9 miles west of Trenton, Georgia). Arkansas: Van Buren. Florida: Cousin’s (Osceola County); Gainesville; Kissimmee; seven miles southwest of Kissimmee; twenty-four miles southwest of Kissimmee; Lake Arbuckle; Morgan Hole (De Soto County); Olney (Brevard County). Georgia: No definite locality given. Illinois: Parkersburg; Mt. Carmel. Indiana: Wheatland; Knox County. Kentucky: Lexington. Louisiana: Belcher; Hackley. Mississippi: Bay St. Louis. Missouri: Willow Springs. North Carolina: New River. South Carolina: Wayne’s Place (Christ Church Parish); Kershaw County; Georgetown; Mt. Pleasant; Chester; Lanes. Tennessee: Rockwood. Texas: Giddings. Sitta carolinensis cookei, subsp. nov.' Sitta carolinensis carolinensis Auct. nec Latham. CuHars. sussP.— Similar to Sitta carolinensis carolinensis, but larger; upper parts lighter; lower parts more purely white; bill usually relatively less slender; and female with black of head usually overlaid with plum- beous. DescripTion.— Type, adult male, No. 558, Collection of W. W. Cooke; Washington, District of Columbia, May 23, 1904; W. W. Cooke. Pileum and cervix glossy black; upper parts carbon gray, the rump and upper tail- coverts paler; middle tail-feathers neutral gray; remainder of tail black with large white terminal or subterminal spots on the three outer feathers; wings fuscous black; the median, greater, and primary coverts, the inner webs of the two inner tertials, a subterminal streak on the inner web of outermost tertial, and the basal three-fourths of outer web of the same feather, black; the lesser wing-coverts, edgings to wing-coverts and quills, together with terminal portion of outermost tertial and outer webs of inner tertials, neutral gray, palest on the secondaries and inclined to whitish on the middle portion of some of the primaries; sides of neck opposite the jugulum, black, connecting with the black of the cervix; sides of head and anterior portion of sides of neck, together with lower parts, white (in the present specimen somewhat adventitiously soiled), the crissum mixed with 1 Named for Professor Wells W. Cooke, in appropriate recognition of his services to ornithological science. hes 186 OBERHOLSER, Eastern Subspecies of Sitta carolinensis. rather light chestnut; axillars white, anterior under wing-coverts black, posterior under wing-coverts white; thighs black, somewhat mixed with pale chestnut. ; MerAsuREMENTS.— Male:! wing, 92; tail, 46.9; culmen, 19.3; tarsus, 18.9; middle toe without claw, 15.7. Female:? wing, 89.1; tail, 45.8; culmen, 18.1; tarsus, 18.4; middle toe without claw, 15.7. Type (adult male): wing, 93.5; tail, 49; exposed culmen, 17; tarsus, 18.5; middle toe without claw, 15.5. Type LOcALITY.— Washington, D. C. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.— Northeastern United States and south- eastern Canada: north to Newfoundland, southern Quebec, southern Ontario, northern Minnesota, and northern North Dakota, casually to northern Manitoba; west to middle North Dakota, eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, central Oklahoma, and central northern Texas; south to central northern Texas, central Oklahoma, Kansas, northern Missouri, central Illinois, central Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia; and east to Atlantic coast of United States from Virginia to Newfoundland. Remarks.— The best characters to separate this race from Svtta carolinensis carolinensis consist in its larger size, the darker colora- tion of its upper parts, and the usual plumbeous suffusion on the pileum of the female. The relatively shorter and stouter bill is a good average character, but so uncertain that it is of compara- tively little value in the determination of individual specimens. The broader gray margins of wing-coverts and secondaries are largely a matter of season; and the lower parts are so often adventi- tiously stained from contact with the bark of trees that the color of these parts is not of much practical value in identifications. Birds of this race from Maryland and the District of Columbia are practically identical in color and size with those from the northern United States. Specimens of Sitta carolinensis cookei, all of which may be regarded as breeding records, have, in the present connection, been examined from the following localities: District of Columbia: Washington. Illinois: Cook County; Jacksonville. Kansas: Leavenworth. Maryland: Laurel; Kensington; Montgomery County; Branchville; Finzell (6 miles north of Frostburg); Grantsville; Bittinger. 1 Average in millimeters of 13 specimens. 2 Average in millimeters of 16 specimens. og rane Moustry, Breeding of the Black-throated Blue Warbler. 187 Minnesota: Fort Snelling. Nebraska: Omaha; Douglas County; Florence. New York: Suspension Bridge; Highland Falls; Canandaigua; Hunter. Ohio: Circleville. Oklahoma: Ponca Agency; Savanna. Ontaric: Lorne Park (Peel County); Lake of Bays. Pennsylvania: Carlisle; Watsontown; Philadelphia; Chester County; Erie; Newton Hamilton; Beaver; Leasuresville. Rhode Island: Fort Adams. Texas: De Leon. Virginia: Falls Church (Fairfax County); Gainesville. Wisconsin: Kenosha. THE BREEDING OF THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER AT HATLEY, STANSTEAD COUNTY, QUEBEC 1916.! BY H. MOUSLEY. In ‘The Auk’ for January and April, 1916 (Vol. XX XIII, pp. 57-73, 168-186) I have given the status up to the fall of 1915 of the seventeen different species of warblers I had so far discovered here. Of these, four are transients, and the remaining thirteen summer visitants, out of which latter number the nests and eggs of ten had actually been found, thus leaving only three to be accounted for viz.: The Black-throated Blue (Dendroica cerules- cens), the Black-throated Green (Dendroica virens) and the Black- burnian (Dendroica fusca). Unfortunately I was prevented from doing any field work from May 10 to June 14, so that I missed the spring migration entirely, with the exception that on May 6, I saw a pair of Yellow Palm Warblers (Dendroica palmarum hypo- chrysea) on the little seventy-five acre farm, which in 1912 had given me my first and only record until the one just mentioned. 1 Abstract of paper read before the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Oct. 2, 1916, by Dr. Chas. W. Townsend, for the author. 188 Moustey, Breeding of the Black-throated Blue Warbler. eer The finding of most warblers’ nests is not an easy matter at any time, but one is generally aided to some extent if the birds can be watched at migration time, as some indication is then often gathered of where a certain species is likely to nest by always finding it near or about the same spot in the woods. ‘This missing, then, of the spring migration as will be readily understood was a great draw- back, but fortunately I had found the three species already named during the summer of 1915, frequenting a large wood not far from my house, which consisted for the most part of a mixture of such trees as maple, beech, fir, pine and hemlock with nice open spaces in many parts where young maple saplings and others had obtained a height varying from one to six feet or more. It was to this wood therefore that I repaired on June 14 with the full determination of thoroughly exploring the ground where I had located a pair of Black-throated Blue Warblers on June 23, 1915, but had failed to find any trace of their nest. Hardly had I reached the spot and started to search, when in the forks of a little maple sapling just three feet above the ground (and only fifty yards from the spot where I had flushed the female in the previous year) I came upon a beautiful nest, which was different from any warbler’s I had ever found before, and which from its construction I took to be the one I was in search of. It was not what one might describe as entirely typical of the species, for the outside construction lacked the rotten or pithy wood, which is so characteristic of these birds, but in other respects it conformed to standard requirements, as not only was it large and bulky, but the sides were thick walled, being composed for the upper part of woven cedar or grape vine bark, whilst the lower portion was of white birch bark, the lining consisting of slender, red, hair- like rootlets (exactly the same as used by the Magnolia here) and some hair. The dimensions were as follows, viz: outside diameter three and a fourth inches, inside one and three-fourths inches; outside depth four and three-fourths inches, inside one and one-half inches; and at the time of finding was empty, but apparently quite finished. On visiting it the following day about eleven o’clock it contained one egg, and for the next three days (always before the above men- tioned time) an extra one was laid until the full set of four was eee | Movustey, Breeding of the Black-throated Blue Warbler. 189 complete. It can well be understood that this being the first record of the bird nesting here, I was very careful not to linger longer than necessary on each visit, and it was not until after the fourth egg had been laid, and the female had begun to incubate, that I was able to prove beyond a doubt that the nest and set belonged to Dendroica cerulescens, as on no occasion had either of the birds put in an appearance on any of my visits. However I had now no difficulty in getting many a good look at the female as after being flushed from the nest she seemed in no way concerned and usually remained in the vicinity for some time preening her feathers and flitting about. The male never once put in an appearance nor could I find or hear him singing anywhere in the wood. After securing this nest and set I decided to keep a careful watch, and see if I could catch the birds at their second venture, but it was not until June 28, that I came across either of them, and this time it was the male (or perhaps a male) who was singing in the tree tops some 125 yards south of the site of the nest found on the fourteenth. I visited this new locality on several occasions. but could find no trace of the female or a nest, and had almost given up all hope, when by a lucky chance I came across a nest on July 10. This was quite close to a little footpath along which I was walking (the previous one having also been within seven yards of a logging road) and as in the case of the first one was in the fork of a little maple sapling, but only one foot three inches above the ground instead of three feet, and was ninety yards east of the site of the first nest, and one hundred yards from the spot where I had heard the male singing on June 28. On flushing the female I naturally concluded I had found the second nest of the only pair of birds I considered to be frequenting the wood, but on examining it, and the set of four eggs, I found both differed in a marked degree from those of the first, as not only was the nest (which I have since presented in situ to the Victoria Memo- rial Museum at Ottawa) a thoroughly typical one, being composed almost entirely of small pieces of rotten or pithy wood, but it was also much less in depth, the dimensions being; outside diameter three and one-eighth inches, inside one and seven-eighths inches; outside depth two and one-half inches, inside one and one-half inches; the pithy wood being held together by fibrous materials and spiders silk, no birch or cedar bark being present, and the inside [April 190 . Moustry, Breeding of the Black-throated Blue Warbler. lining consisted of fine black rootlets and black and white hairs, the walls also not being so thick as in the previous one. In addi- tion to this difference in the nests the two sets of eggs were not at all alike, the first one being rather pointed and minutely spotted size .70 X .51, whilst the second one was more obtuse and boldly spotted size .66 X .50. The female on being flushed behaved exactly in the same manner as before dropping to the ground and when some little distance away from the nest rising above the underbrush into the lower branches of the adjacent trees, where she preened her feathers and flitted about most unconcernedly, in marked contrast to the behavior of the Redstart, Myrtle, Magnolia and Chestnut-sided Warblers, all of whom show great concern when flushed from their nests after incubation has been in progress a few days, which was the case in the above instance. As regards the male he behaved as before not putting in. an appearance, although on the day of finding the nest I located one (presumably the male of this pair) singing in the tree tops some two hundred and fifty yards away. Certainly in my experience the behavior of the male of this species is not very complimentary, but I have to write as I found him. | After locating this second nest at such a late date, and apparently belonging to another pair of birds, I made renewed efforts to try and find a third one, but without success, although on August 1 I found a female feeding a young bird just able to fly, at a spot some seventy-five yards north of the first nest, and on this occasion the male put in an appearance for a brief period only, but made no effort to feed the young one. Probably these were the advance guard of the fall migration and have no bearing on the matter, in which case it is of course possible that the two nests and sets of eggs although differing so greatly may have belonged to the same pair of birds, in favor of which my inability to find a third nest and the unusual behavior of the male in keeping out of the way in both instances would seem to point. As regards the Black-throated Green Warbler I found the parent birds feeding young on the ground on June 28, and also located two empty nests, thus definitely adding it to the breeding list, so that there only remains the Black- burnian Warbler of the summer visitants whose nest, eggs or young I have so far failed to find. In conclusion I may mention that I sete mie OBERHOLSER, Notes on North American Birds. 191 have been fortunate in adding the rare Cape May Warbler to my list, as well as the Nashville and Water-Thrush (noveboracensis) having obtained examples of all three towards the end of August, so that my total now stands at twenty species of these interesting little birds that I have found here so far. NOTES ON NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. i BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. Tuis is the first of a series of articles on the status, relationships, and nomenclature of various North American birds. These notes have been gathered during the course of many years of work, largely on the collections of the Biological Survey and of the United States National Museum, and in the identification of specimens for other institutions and for individuals. They are now presented for the benefit of ornithologists interested in the birds of this region. ° Cepphus snowi Stejneger. A specimen of this species said to have been taken on the Kenai River, Alaska, on October 7, 1906, is recorded by Dr. Anton Reichenow in Niedieck’s “Kreuzfahrten im Beringmeer,” 1907, p. 250. A recent letter from Dr. Reichenow says that this speci- men reached the Berlin Museum in too poor a condition to be preserved. He says, moreover, that while the identification of the specimen is correct, there is considerable doubt about the proper labeling of the specimens in the collection made by Mr. Niedieck. In view of this likelihood that the labels were in some manner trans- posed, it seems quite inadvisable to add the species to the North American list on the basis of this record. 192 OBERHOLSER, Notes on North American Birds. fen Dendrocygna viduata (Linnzus). A specimen of this South American duck was killed on the Hackensack Meadows in New Jersey in October, 1912, and sub- sequently recorded by Dr. George B. Grinnell.!_ While there seems to be no doubt of the proper identification of the specimen, its presence in New Jersey, so far beyond the limits of its normal home in South America and the West Indies, together with the fact that it is a common species in zoélogical gardens, strongly indicate that it probably escaped from captivity rather than that it wandered so far out of its normal range. In view of this fact it seems unde- sirable to include it in the list of North American birds without further and more positive evidence of its entirely natural occur- rence within our limits. Anas rubripes tristis Brewster. This poor duck has indeed had an unfortunate history, but it is sincerely to be hoped that brighter days are in store. The name Anas rubripes tristis was proposed by Mr. William Brewster? as a substitute for Anas obscura Gmelin, which is preoccupied by Anas obscura Pontoppidan for a species of the Old World. Previously Mr. Brewster had separated the red-legged form of this species as a distinct race and named it Anas obscura rubripes, taking as his type an autumn specimen from Lake Umbagog, New Hampshire. That there are two well-marked forms of this species, one of them with bright red legs, the other with legs of an olivaceous brown, or at most only slightly reddish color, is apparently admitted by all. Whether these forms are really distinct subspecies or merely individual or other variants is of course the point at issue. Mr. Brewster has consistently claimed the subspecific distinctness of the two forms, but from this view some other ornithologists have dissented. Subsequently, however, Dr. Charles W. Townsend‘ 1 Auk, XXX, January, 1913, p. 110. 2 Auk, XX VI, April, 1909, p. 176. 3 Auk, XIX, April, 1902, p. 184. 4 Auk, XXIX, April, 1912, pp. 176-179. Vol. XXXIV] Opernotser, Notes on North American Birds. 193 published the notes made by him on some young captive ducks of this species reared from the down and kept under observation for two years. During this time the birds maintained the char- acters of the smaller form with brownish or slightly reddish legs; so that these observations, so far as they go, fully bear out Mr. Brewster’s contention of the validity of the two subspecies, Anas rubripes rubripes and Anas rubripes tristis. When the description of Anas obscura rubripes was first published and the distinction between the two supposed races first. pointed out, the present writer was inclined to believe that these differences were due either to age, season, or individual variation. During the years that have intervened, however, every opportunity to investigate the status of these two birds has been taken; and all the results of these investigations are now seen to strengthen Mr. Brewster’s view of the subspecific distinctness of the two forms. In fact, for a time it looked very much as though the two birds were specifically distinct; but there are, as Mr. Brewster says, numerous specimens variously intermediate between the two, so that subspecific titles more properly express their true relationships. The technical name for the Red-legged Black Duck becomes Anas rubripes rubripes Brewster, since this is the first tenable name applied to the species; and the ordinary Black Duck, formerly known as Anas obscura, becomes, as above indicated, Anas rubripes tristis. The principal characters and the geographic distribution of the two, so far as now determinable, are as follows: Anas rubripes rubripes Brewster. SUBSPECIFIC CHARACTERS. — Size somewhat larger; feathers of the pileum usually much edged with grayish, ochraceous or tawny; entire throat normally spotted or streaked with very dark brown or blackish; the dark markings on the anterior lower parts and on the sides of the head larger and more blackish as well as usually more sharply defined; bill yellow; tarsi and toes bright red. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.— Breeds from northern Ungava to the west- ern side of Hudson Bay in the neighborhood of Fort Churchill, south to southern James Bay and for an undetermined distance southeastward. In winter it ranges south to Arkansas, southern Texas, southern Louisiana, southern Georgia, and Florida. 194 OBERHOLSER, Notes on North American Birds. Ack Anas rubripes tristis Brewster. SUBSPECIFIC CHARACTERS.— Size somewhat smaller than Anas rubripes rubripes; feathers of the pileum not conspicuously edged with paler; chin and throat usually with very few dark markings or none; the dark markings on the neck and sides of the head smaller or narrower and not so deeply blackish; bill greenish black or olivaceous; legs and toes olivaceous brown, yellowish or pale orange. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.— Breeds from southern Maryland and northern Indiana north to Wisconsin, southern Ontario, New Hampshire, central Quebec, Newfoundland, and the coast of Labrador; in winter south to southern Louisiana, southern Georgia, and North Carolina. Lophortyx catalinensis Grinnell. This bird was originally described by Dr. Joseph Grinnell as Lophortyx catalinensis,‘ but it has since been considered merely a synonym of Lophortyx californica vallicola. An examination of the material now available shows, however, that it is a recognizable subspecies, differing from Lophortyx californica vallicola in its decidedly larger size, particularly of wing, tail, and feet, and in its rather darker coloration. It is larger also than Lophortyz califor- nica californica, but much paler. While these differences are not entirely constant, and therefore do not justify specific rank, they are excellent average distinctions, and fully warrant the sub- specific separation of this bird, which is confined to Santa Catalina Island. It should therefore stand as Lophortyx californica cata- linensis. Myiarchus crinitus residuus Howe. The Florida race of the Great-crested Flycatcher was first dis- tinguished by Mr. Outram Bangs, who named the northern bird Myzarchus crinitus boreus.2. Unfortunately, however, as Mr. R. H. Howe has pointed out,’ the birds from South Carolina, which must be considered the type locality of Myiarchus crinitus (Linnzeus),' 1 Auk, XXIII, July, 1906, p. 262 (Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California). 2 Auk, XV, April, 1898, p. 179. 8 Contrib. North Amer. Ornith., I, May 21, 1902, p. 30. 4 Turdus crinitus Linneaus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, I, 1758, p. 170. Magee | OBERHOLSER, Notes on North American Birds. 195 are nearer the northern than the southern bird. This makes neces- sary the use of the name Myzarchus crinitus crinitus for the north- ern race. Mr. E. W. Nelson,! some years ago, as a result of his studies on this difficult genus, endorsed the opinion of Mr. Bangs and Mr. Howe that the Florida form is worthy of recognition. Now, after a careful examination of pertinent material, the present writer is convinced that this is the correct view. The Florida bird differs from that of the northeastern United States in its strikingly larger bill and somewhat shorter wing. Care must be taken in making comparisons to select actually breed- ing birds from Florida, since a mixture of migrant northern birds would of course readily obscure the characters of the race inhabit- ing Florida during the breeding season. The name for this Florida subspecies is, of course, Myiarchus crinitus residuus Howe,” and the type is a specimen taken at Istokpoga Lake, Florida. Compara- tive measurements of these two races may be found in Mr. Nelson’s paper.’ The summer distribution of Myzarchus crinitus residuus is limited to the peninsular portion of Florida; its winter range is unknown. Planesticus migratorius caurinus Grinnell. This northwestern form of the American Robin was first described by Dr. Joseph Grinnell from specimens taken at Windfall Harbor, Admiralty Island, Alaska.* It has generally been regarded as an untenable race, but Mr. H. 8. Swarth has recently claimed its distinctness on the basis of a study of an extensive series from Vancouver Island.’ Examination of a large series of western robins now fully substantiates Mr. Swarth’s view and shows that Planesticus migratorius caurinus is a form well worthy of recog- nition. It differs from Planesticus migratorius migratorius in its much smaller white terminal tail spots, paler upper parts, and more sharply defined blackish pileum. From Planesticus migratorius 1 Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, X VII, March 10, 1904, pp. 30-31. 2 Contrib. North Amer. Ornith., I, May 21, 1902, p. 30. 3 Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, X VII, March 10, 1904, p. 31. 4 Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., V, No. 2, February 18, 1909, p. 241. 5 Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., X, No. 1, February 13, 1912, pp. 81-82. 196 Howe., A New Red-winged Blackbird. ree propinquus it differs in smaller size, larger terminal white tail spots, and darker coloration. Its breeding range extends from the Pacific slope of the State of Washington north through the Pacific coast region of British Columbia to the coast of southeastern Alaska as far north as Glacier Bay. A NEW SUBSPECIES OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD FROM WESTERN CENTRAL AMERICA. BY A. BRAZIER HOWELL. Among a collection of birds which was made by A. van Rossem in Salvador, during 1912, are five red-wings —four males and a female — which prove to be of a form heretofore unnamed. I am indebted to H. W. Henshaw of the Bureau of Biological Survey, and to D. R. Dickey, for the loan of specimens that were necessary for working up this material. The series of Agelaius p. richmondi used in making the comparisons, comprise skins from the states of Vera Cruz, Tabasco, and Yucatan, Mexico. Those of A. p. sono- riensis are from the Imperial Valley, and the Lower Colorado River in California. Agelaius phoeeniceus grinnelli, new subspecies. GRINNELL’S RED-WING. Type.— Male adult; no. 1585 coll. A. B. H.; San Sebastian, Salvador, July 18, 1912; collected by A. van Rossem. Driaaenosis.— From richmondi, the males differ in being larger, espe- cially the wings; the culmen is slightly shorter, but the bill is much heavier, thicker, and deeper. The length, taken in the flesh, is about the same as that of sonoriensis, but wing and tail are shorter, especially the former, while tarsus, middle toe with claw, and culmen are longer, the bill being also heavier, thicker, and deeper. The wing formula agrees with the usual one of richmondi (ninth primary shorter than fifth), as opposed to that of = ytt 4 et Ny] HoweE.1, A New Red-winged Blackbird. 197 sonoriensis (fifth primary shorter than ninth). The female, in comparison with the same sex of richmond., lacks the pinkish tinge of the throat, and the dark streaking of the underparts is broader, and extends higher on the throat. The ear coverts are grayish as in sonoriensis, rather than buffy as in richmondi, but are paler than those of either. The upper parts are about the same as those of the last-named race, and hence darker than in sonorien- sis — that is, the dark centers of the feathers are broader —, but as the only female at hand is considerably worn, nothing can be told in regard to the lighter margins of these feathers. Measurements of type.— Length (in flesh) 230 mm., wing 122.5, tail 82, exposed culmen 23, tarsus 32, middle toe with claw 23.5. Remarks.— Three of the males are fully adult, and are of uni- form size, but the fourth is a second year, breeding bird, very much under sized. The middle wing coverts are black, and the lesser covers have only a very little red at their bases. The five specimens of grinnelli were collected in July, whereas most of the other material used in comparison was taken during the spring, but in reaching conclusions in regard to markings, due allowance has been made for seasonal wear. As sonoriensis has been taken no farther south than the Territory of Tepic, Mexico, and richmondi extends at least to eastern Nica- ragua, I assume that grinnelli was derived from the latter form. In his notes, A. van Rossem states that San Sebastian is six miles from the Pacific Coast, and lies about in the center of an immense mangrove swamp, which is some sixty miles long by six wide. Near San Sebastian is a large brackish, tule swamp, and in this he saw but seven red-wings, although his stay was of eighteen days dura- tion. The female, which he secured July 22, was engaged in building a nest. I take pleasure in naming this form after Dr. Joseph Grinnell, who has done so much for western ornithology and ornithologists. 198 Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. at SECOND ANNUAL LIST OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE A. O. U. CHECK-LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Tus is the Second Annual List of proposed A. O. U. Check- List additions and changes in the names of North American birds. Like the First,! the present list comprises only ornithological cases, — 4. e., such as require specimens or the identification of descrip- tions for their determination, and consists of additions, subtrac- tions, rejections, and changes of names due to various causes. As far as possible the subject is here brought up to December 31, 1916, and nothing proposed after that date is included. A few mis- takes in the First Annual List are now corrected, and some other points, notably newly recognized genera, more fully treated than space in the previous list would allow. There are, for various reasons, a number of omissions in the present list, but it is as nearly complete as possible. In the Third Annual List, which will be published in the Auk for April, 1918, it is purposed to bring the subject up to the close of the calendar year 1917; and thereafter, by annual lists, each comprising the ornithological activity of a calendar year, to keep the Check-List in this respect up to date.— Harry C. OBERHOLSER. I. AppiTrions AND CHANGES IN NaMEs. Hydroprogne tschegrava imperator (Coues) (cf. Stone, Auk, XX XIII, 1916, p. 429) should be Hydroprogne caspia imperator (Coues), since (Hydroprogne) caspia is the accepted specific name of this bird. Thalasseus Boie, Isis, X, 1822, p. 563 (type, Sterna sandvicensis Latham). Recognized as a genus (cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, II, pt. 3, 1912, p. 338; and Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XLIX, 1915, pp. 516- 517). Includes the following North American species now in the genus Sterna: 1 For the First Annual List of Proposed Changes, see Auk, XX XIII, 1916, pp. 425-431. It will be understood that these lists cover proposed changes. The A. O. U. Committee has not as yet acted upon any of them, but they are presented in order to have them for handy reference and use, as well as to invite investigation and discussion. Vol. XXXIV) Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. 199 Thalasseus maximus (Boddert). Thalasseus elegans (Gambel). Thalasseus sandvicensis acuflavidus (Cabot). Sternula Boie. Recognized as a genus (cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, II, pt. 4, 1912, p. 373); and will contain the following North American forms now included in the genus Sterna: Sternula antillarum antillarum Lesson. Sternula antillarum browni (Mearns.) Sternula antillarum browni (Mearns). New subspecies. Sterna antillarum brownt Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XIX, 1916, p. 71 (near Monument No. 258, Mexican Boundary Line, on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego County, Calif.). Range: Pacifie Coast region from California to Peru. Sterna fuscata (Linnzus) becomes Onychoprion fuscatus (Linnzus), by recognition of the genus Onychoprion Wagler. (Cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, II, pt. 4, 1912, p. 388.) Melanosterna Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, XV, 1846, p. 373 (type, Sterna anetheta Scopoli). By recognition of this as a genus (cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, II, pt. 4, 1912, p. 395), Sterna anetheta becomes Melanosterna anetheta recognita. (Cf. also Stone, Auk, XXXIII, 1916, pp. 429-430.) Pheebastria Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. Vogel, 1852, p. V (type, Diomedea albatrus Pallas). Recognized as a genus (cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, pt. 3, 1912, pp. 242-244). Includes the following North American species now contained in Diomedea: Pheebastria nigripes (Audubon). Pheebastria albatrus (Pallas). Pheebastria immutabilis (Rothschild). Puffinus borealis Cory becomes Puffinus kuhlii borealis Cory, since it is now regarded as a subspecies of Puffinus kuhlii (Boie). (Cf. Banner- man, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, XX XV, 1915, p. 121.) Puffinus griseus (Gmelin) becomes Puffinus griseus chilensis Bona- parte (Puffinus chilensis Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium, II, 1856, p. 202; Chile) in so far as records from the Pacific Coast of North Amer- ica are concerned. (Cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, II, pt. I, 1912, p. 96.) Puffinus griseus stricklandi Ridgway, in Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, Water Birds North Amer., II, 1884, p. 390 (North Atlantic Ocean). Revived as a subspecies, for Puffinus griseus from the Atlantic Ocean. (Cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, II, pt. I, 1912, p. 96. Phaethon americanus Grant becomes Phaethon catesbyi Brandt, Bull. Sci. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., IV, No. 7, 1838, p. 98, in text (Bermuda Islands), since the latter proves to refer to the same bird, and is of much earlier date. (Cf. Mathews, Auk, XXXII, 1915, pp. 195-197.) Pecilonetta bahamensis (Linnzus). Anas bahamensis Linnzus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, I, 1758, p. 124 (Bahama Islands). Taken at Cape » Canaveral, Florida. (Cf. Brooks, Auk, XXX, 1913, p. 110.) 200 Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. ee Dafila acuta americana (Bonaparte) becomes Dafila acuta tzitzihoa (Vieillot) (Anas tzitzihoa Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., V, 1816, ; p. 163; Mexico), as the description of the latter evidently applies to the same bird. (Cf. Thayer and Bangs, Auk, XX XIII, 1916, p. 45.) Melanitta Boie. Recognized as a genus (cf. Miller, Auk, XX XIII, 1916, pp. 278-281) to include the following North American species now in the genus Oidemia: Melanitta fusca (Linnzus). Melanitta deglandi (Bonaparte). Melanitta perspicillata (Linnzus). Ardea herodias hyperoncha Stone, Auk, XX XIII, 1916, p. 426 (error), should be Ardea herodias hyperonca Oberholser. Tringa canutus (Linnzeus) becomes Canutus canutus rufus (Wilson) (Tringa rufa Wilson, Amer. Ornith., VII, 1813, p. 43; shores of the Middle States), since the American bird proves to be subspecifically separable from that of the Old World. (Cf. Mathews, Birds Aus- tralia, III, pt. 3, 1918, pp. 272-273.) Limnocinclus Gould, Handb. Birds Australia, II, 1865, p. 254 (type,. Totanus acuminatus Horsfield). Recognized as a genus to include Pisobia acuminata Horsfield (= Pisobia aurita of the A. O. U. Check- List). (Cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, III, pt. 3, 1913, pp. 259-262.) Pisobia aurita (Latham) becomes Limnocinclus acuminatus (Hors- field) (Totanus acuminatus Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., XIII, May, 1821, p. 192; Java); since Tringa [= Pisobia] aurita Latham is the same as Actitis hypoleuca (Linneus). (Cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, III, pt. 3, 1918, pp. 258-259.) Pelidna alpina sakhalina (Vieillot) becomes Pelidna alpina pacifica Coues (Pelidna pacifica Coues, Proce. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, p. 189), since the North American bird proves to be separable from that of eastern Asia. (Cf. Thayer and Bangs, Proc. New Engl. Zoél. Club, ¥, 1914, ‘p:.17,) Arenaria interpres oahuensis (Bloxham). Tringa oahuensis Bloxham, Voyage Blonde, Sandwich Is., 1826, p. 251 (Sandwich Islands). Recognized as a subspecies for the birds from the Pacific Coast of North America now referred to Arenaria interpres interpres. (Cf. Mathews, Birds Australia, III, pt. I, 1913, pp. 5-10.) Lagopus lagopus lagopus (Linnzus) becomes Lagopus lagopus albus Gmelin (7'etrao albus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I, pt. Il, 1789, p. 750; Hudson Bay), since the Northwestern North American bird is sub- specifically separable from the European, which is Lagopus lagopus lagopus (Linnzeus). (Cf. Clark, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XX XVIII, 1910, pp. 52-53.) Range: Hudson Bay to Alaska. Lagopus rupestris kelloggz Grinnell. New subspecies. Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., V, No. 12, March 5, 1910, p. 383 (Zaikof Bay, Montague Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska). Chloreenas Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. Vogel, 1852, p. XXV (type, Columba naar ig my Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. 201 fasciata Say). Recognized as a genus (cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VII, 1916, pp. 283-307). Includes the following North American species now in the genus Columba: Chlorcenas fasciata fasciata (Say). Chlorceenas fasciata viosce (Brewster). Chlorcenas flavirostris flavirostris (Wagler). -Patagicenas Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. Végel, 1852, p. XXV (type, Columba leucocephala Linnzus). Recognized as a genus (cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VII, 1916, pp. 308-315). Includes the following North American species now in the genus Columba. Patagicenas leucocephala (Linnzus). Patagicenas squamosa (Bonnaterre). Melopelia asiatica mearnsi Ridgway. New subspecies. Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXVIII, May 27, 1915, p. 107 (5 miles north of Nogales, Ariz.). Chemepelia passerina bermudiana (Bangs & Bradlee) becomes Chemepelia passerina bahamensis Maynard (Chamepelia ba- hamensis Maynard, Amer. Exchange and Mart, III, 1887, p. 33), since the bird from the Bermuda Islands proves to be inseparable from that of the Bahama Islands. (Cf. Todd, Annals Carnegie Mus., VIII, 1913, pp. 568-571.) Oreopeleia Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. Vogel, 1852, p. XXV (type, Columba martinica Linnzeus). Recognized as a genus (cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. 5. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VII, 1916, pp. 467-495). Includes the follow- ing North American species now in the genus Geotrygon: Oreopeleia chrysia (Salvadori). Oreopeleia montana (Linnzus). Hierofalco Cuvier. Recognized as a genus (cf. B. O. U. Committee, List Brit. Birds, 1915, pp. 147-148). Includes the following North Amer- ican species now in the genus Falco: Hierofalco rusticolus candicans (Gmelin). Hierofalco rusticolus obsoletus (Gmelin). Hierofalco mexicanus (Schlegel). Falco fuscocerulescens Vieillot becomes Falco fuscoccrulescens septentrionalis subsp. nov., Todd, Proc. Biol. Soe. Wash., XXIX, June 6, 1916, p. 98 (Fort Huachuea, Ariz.). Cerchneis Boie. Recognized as a genus (cf. Chapman, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., XXXIV, 1915, pp. 372-382). Includes the following North American species now in the genus Falco: Cerchneis tinnunculus (Linnzus). Cerchneis sparveria sparveria (Linnzus). Cerchneis sparveria phalzna (Lesson). Cerchneis sparveria peninsularis (Mearns). Cerchneis sparveria paula Howe and King. Cerchneis sparverioides (Vigors). Otus asio asio (Linnzus) becomes Otus asio nevius Gmelin (Strix 202 Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. [ Ree nevia Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I, pt. I, 1788, p. 289; New York); since Otus asio asio of the A. O. U. Check-List refers properly to the Florida race now called Otus asio floridanus. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, pp. 690-692.) Otus asio floridanus (Ridgway) becomes Otus asio asio (Linnzus); since birds from South Carolina, the type locality of the latter, are referable to the Florida race. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, pp. 687-690.) Bubo virginianus neochanes Stone, Auk, XX XIII, Oct, 1916, p. 427 (error) should be Bubo virginianus neochorus Oberholser, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., X XVII, 1914, p. 46 (Fox Island River, Newfound- land). Surnia ulula ulula (Linnzeus) becomes Surnia ulula pallasi Buturlin, Ornith. Monatsb., XV, June, 1907, p. 100 (Siberia); since the Alaska record of the species is referable to the latter. (Cf. Hartert, Vég. Pal. Fauna, VIII, 1913, pp. 1012-1013.) Glaucidium phalenoides (Daudin) becomes Glaucidium brasilianum ridgwayi Sharpe (Glaucidium ridgwayi Sharpe, Ibis, 1875, p. 55, in text; Guatemala); since the Mexican bird is a recognizable race, and a subspecies of the South American Glaucidium brasilianwm (Gmelin). (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, pp. 798- 803.) Micropallas whitneyi idoneus Ridgway (cf. Stone, Auk, XX XIII, 1916, p. 427) should be Micropallas whitneyi idonea Ridgway, since the gender of the subspecific name should conform to that of the genus. Conuropsis carolinensis interior Bangs becomes Conuropsis caro- linensis ludoviciana (Gmelin), since birds from Louisiana, the type locality of Psittacus ludovicianus Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I, pt. i, 1788, p. 347, are referable to the interior race. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VII, 1916, p. 150.) Trogon ambiguus Gould becomes Trogonurus ambiguus ambiguus (Gould), by recognition of the genus Trogonurus Bonaparte (Ateneo Italiano, II, No. 8, May, 1854, p. 129; type, Trogon collaris Vieillot), and of an extralimital subspecies. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. V, 1911, pp. 761-773.) Megaceryle Kaup becomes Streptoceryle Bonaparte, (Ateneo Italiano, II, 1854, p. 320; type, Alcedo alcyon Linnzeus), because the latter is recognized as a genus and the former is consequently found to be extralimital. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, pp. 407-421). The genus Streptoceryle includes the following North American forms: Streptoceryle alcyon alcyon (Linnzus). Streptoceryle alcyon caurina (Grinnell). Streptoceryle torquata torquata (Linnzus). Ceryle americana septentrionalis Sharpe becomes Chloroceryle americana septentrionalis (Sharpe), by recognition of the genus eee | Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. 203 Chloroceryle Kaup., Verh. Naturhist. Vereins Hessen, II, 1848, p. 68 (type, Alcedo superciliosa Linneus). (Cf. Miller, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., XX XI, 1912, pp. 264-311; and Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, pp. 407, 421-441.) Dryobates villosus leucomelas (Boddzrt) becomes Dryobates villosus septentrionalis (Nuttall) (Picus septentrionalis Nuttall, Man. Ornith. U. 8. and Canada, ed. 2, I, 1840, p. 684; Saskatchewan River, Saskatchewan, Canada); since Picus [=Dryobates] leucomelas Bod- deert proves to be the same as Dryobates villosus villosus (Linnzeus). (Cf. Oberholser, Proc. U. 8S. Nat. Mus., XL, 1911, p. 604.) Dryobates borealis (Vicillot) becomes Phrenopicus borealis (Vieillot), by recognition of the genus Phrenopicus Bonaparte, Ateneo Italiano, II, 1854, p. 123 (type, Picus borealis Vieillot). (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, pp. 268-271.) Balanosphyra Ridgway. New genus. Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXIV, 1911, p. 34 (type, Picus formicivorus Swainson). Includes the following North American woodpeckers now in the genus Mela- ner pes: Balanosphyra formicivora formicivora (Swainson). Balanosphyra formicivora aculeata (Mearns). Balanosphyra formicivora bairdi (Ridgway). Balanosphyra formicivora angustifrons (Baird). Balanosphyra formicivora formicivora (Swainson). Recorded from south central Texas. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, p. 104.) Antrostomus vociferus vociferus (Wilson) becomes Setochalcis voci- fera vocifera (Wilson), by institution of the new genus Setochalcis. (Cf. Oberholser, Bull. U. 8S. Nat. Mus., No. 86, 1914, p. 12.) Antrostomus vociferus macromystax (Wagler) becomes Setochalcis vocifera arizonze (Brewster) (Antrostomus vociferus arizone Brewster, Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, VI, 1881, p. 69; Chiricahua Mts., Ariz.), by recognition of the Arizona race as distinct from that of central Mexico. (Cf. Oberholser, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 86, 1914, py 12:) Chordeiles virginianus aserriensis Cherrie, Auk, XIII, 1896, p. 136 (valley of Aserri River, near San José, Costa Rica). Recognized as the form breeding in central southern Texas. (Cf. Oberholser, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus., No. 86, 1914, p. 71.) Cypseloides niger borealis (Kennerly) becomes Nephoscetes niger borealis (Kennerly), by recognition of the genus Nephecetes Baird, Rep. Explor. and Surv. R. R. Pac., IX, 1858, p. 142 (type, Hirundo nigra Gmelin). (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. V, 1911, pp. 703-710.) Uranomitra salvini (Brewster) becomes Amizilis salvini (Brewster), by the combining of Uranomitra with the genus Amizilis. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. V, pp. 406, 429-430.) 204 Proposed Changes in the A. O. U. Check-List. Fee Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa (Cabanis and Heine). Laphyctes satrapa Cabanis and Heine, Mus. Hein., I, 1859, p. 77 (Lichtenstein MS.) (Guiana). Taken at Scarborough, Maine. (Cf. Norton, Auk, XXXIII, 1916, p. 382.) Agelaius phoeniceus pheeniceus (Linnzus) becomes Agelaius phoeni- ceus predatorius (Wilson) (Stwrnus predatorius Wilson, Amer, Ornith., IV, 1811, p. 30, pl. XXX, figs. 1, 2; eastern Pennsylvania); since Agelaius pheniceus pheniceus of the A. O. U. Check-List refers properly to the Florida race now called Agelaius pheeniceus flori- danus. (Cf. Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXIV, 1911, pp. 226— 227.) Agelaius pheniceus floridanus Maynard becomes Agelaius pheeniceus pheeniceus Linnzus, since birds from South Carolina, the type local- ity of the latter, are referable to the Florida race. (Cf. Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXIV, 1911, pp. 226-227.) Loxia curvirostra sitkensis Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., V, Feb. 18, 1909, p. 223 (Windfall Harbor, Admiralty Island, Alaska). Recog- nized as a tenable subspecies (cf. Brooks, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., LIX, September, 1915, p. 406). Range: Coast district of southeastern Alaska. Passerculus sandwichensis brooksi Bishop. New subspecies. Bishop, Condor, XVII, Sept., 1915, p. 187 (Chilliwack, B. C.). Range: south- western British Columbia to western Washington; in winter to California. Melospiza melodia fisherella Oberholser. New subspecies. Ober- holser, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXIV, Dec. 23, 1911, p. 251 (Honey Lake, near Miullford, Calif.). Range: eastern California, western Nevada, and central southern Oregon. Melospiza melodia mailliardi Grinnell. New subspecies. Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., VII, No. 5, Feb. 18, 1911, p. 197 (Rancho Dos Rios, near Modesto, Calif.). Range: Lower San Joaquin valley, California. Guiraca cerulea salicaria Grinnell. New subspecies. Guiraca cerulea salicarius Grinnell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXIV, June 16, 1911, p. 163 (Santa Ana River, near Colton, Calif.). Range: central and southern California. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons (Say) becomes Petrochelidon albifrons albifrons (Rafinesque) (Hirundo albifrons Rafinesque, Kentucky Gazette, February 14, 1822, p. 3, col. 4; Newport, Ken- tucky); since Rafinesque’s name is clearly identifiable as Hirundo [= Petrochelidon] lunifrons Say and is of earlier date. (Cf. Rhoads, Auk, XXIX, 1912, pp. 192-195.) Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans Townsend. Newsubspecies. Town- send, Auk, XX XIII, Jan., 1916, p. 74 (Shekatika, Saguenay County, Quebec). Range: Forested region of Labrador Peninsula. Corthylio Cabanis, Journ. f. Ornith., I, Jan., 1853, p. 83 (type, Motacilla ve ae | General Notes. 205 calendula Linneus). Recognized as a genus (cf. Miller, Auk, XXXII, 1915, pp. 234-236). Includes the following North American species now in Regulus: Corthylio calendula calendula (Linnzus). Corthylio calendula grinnelli (Palmer). Corthylio obscurus (Ridgway). Regulus calendula obscurus Ridgway becomes Corthylio obscurus (Ridgway), because considered specifically distinct from Corthylio calendula. (Cf. Miller, Auk, XXXII, 1915, pp. 235-236.) II. Resections AND Evimrnations.! *Melopelia asiatica trudeauii (Audubon) = Melopelia asiatica asiatica. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VII, pp. 378-382.) Strix occidentalis huachuce Swarth (Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., VII, No. I, May 26, 1910, p.3 [Huachuca Mts., Ariz.]) = Strix occidentalis lucida (Nelson). (Cf. Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XLIX, July 26, 1915, p. 253.) *Glaucidium gnoma vigilante Grinnell = Glaucidium gnoma californi- cum Sclater. (Cf. Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, pt. VI, 1914, p. 791.) GENERAL NOTES. Type of the Large-billed Puffin.— In the third edition of the A. O. U. Check-List, 1910, p. 27, the name Fratercula arctica naumanni is stated as “based upon Mormon glacialis of Naumann, Isis, 1821, 782, pl. VII, fig. 2. In conducting a study of the Puffins brought from Labrador by the Bowdoin College Expedition of 1891,2 I found it desirable to examine typical representatives of Fratercula arctica (Linnzeus) from Europe, and also Fratercula arctica glacialis (Naumann) as then understood. I was at the time aware that the status of the latter had been questioned by some writers, and as I became convinced that the bird was recognizable, wished to emphasize the fact. As the bird had no place in the Labrador fauna it was disposed of in a footnote. I now think that in the endeavor to treat the matter briefly, and credit Naumann with its discovery I may 1 Eliminations of forms already in the A. O. U. Check-List, the Sixteenth Supplement or the First Annual List, are prefixed with an asterisk. 2 Proc. Portland Soc. N. H., If, p. 140-145. 31. c. p. 144. 206 General Notes. eae have erred in over emphasizing his work, without specifying a type for the new name found necessary. It is however, evident from the same paper, that I had for study a specimen of the bird. Since Naumann did not indicate a type for his figure and description, and since a new name had to be given the bird to which his description applies, I consider the specimen which I had in hand, really the convincing element in the consideration, (number 86019 of the United States National Museum, from Spitzbergen) to be the type of Fratercula arctica nawmanni.— ArtHUR H. Norton, Portland, Maine. The Possibility of Puffinus bermudz Nichols & Mowbray in the North Atlantic.— An old Shearwater skin presented by G. A. Boardman in 1867 to the Boston Society of Natural History, now M. C. Z. 73408, taken on the coast of Maine or New Brunswick by Dresser, was originally determined as Puffinus puffinus (Briinnich). Recently Mr. R. C. Murphy compared this specimen with the type of P. f. bermude Nichols & Mowbray, and found it very similar. It therefore seems reasonable to suspect that former records of the Manx Shearwater in the northwest Atlantic might really have been this Bermuda form.— W. SpracuE Brooks, Boston Society of Natural History. Sooty Tern in New Jersey.— On September 7, 1916, I obtained an adult female Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) at Corson’s Inlet, Cape May County, New Jersey. This specimen, which is in perfect adult plumage, was resting in the long grass in the sand dunes, a very short distance back from the beach. It was very tame and allowed me to get quite close before flushing. This specimen is now No. 2817 of my collection— WHARTON Huser, Gwynedd Valley, Pa. Coloration of Down in Adult Ducks.— It is not impossible that the writer has been alone in his ignorance of the fact that in a goodly number of ducks there is a great difference in the color of the down during the winter and the summer months. My observations of summer down have been taken entirely from the nests accompanying sets of eggs in my collection, which would seem beyond a doubt to furnish correct data. These nests contained eggs only of the duck under discussion, which makes it almost a certainty that the down could have come from no other species (I specify this for the reason that it is not uncommon in some localities for two or more species of ducks to lay in the same nest). Down from winter females has been used in all comparisons, as it seems unlikely that the males would contribute to the nesting material. The down seen in nests of the Mallard (Anas boschas) found in April and May is many shades darker than the down on birds of this species shot in October, November, and December. In the winter it is a very ight brownish gray, while in the summer it is changed to a dark, sooty brown. Vol. ao | General Notes. 207 While this difference is most marked in the Mallard, the same facts hold good to a large extent in my nests of the following species of ducks:— Red-breasted Merganser (Merganser serrator), Green-winged Teal ( Nettion carolinense), Cinnamon Teal (Querquedula cyanoptera), and Pintail (Dafila acuta), all of which show the down to be considerably darker than in birds of the same species shot in the winter. In the following species the same variation holds good, although in a somewhat lesser degree:— Canvas- back (Marila valisineria), Seaup Duck (Marila marila), and Lesser Scaup Duck (Marila affinis). There would seem to be a possibility, even though a scant one, that this difference in coloration might be caused by dirt from the parent bird soiling the down. This theory is made practically untenable by the fact that in the following species there is very little difference between the down found in the nests and that on females shot during the winter months: — Mergan- ser (Mergus americanus), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), and Redhead (Marila americana). Lack of material at hand prevents any further comparison, but these few notes may prove of interest to someone as ignorant on the subject as myself. These notes are not sent in with the wish to publish a well established fact, as possibly the observations of other collectors in different sections of the country may show very different results. However, the nesting season is close at hand, so it would seem to be worth while putting in print the results of my own observations in order that the subject may be brought before other observers as. a matter for more extended study.— J. H. Bowuzs, Tacoma, Wash. Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus vociferus) in Massachusetts.— Upon the authority of many of the older ornithological writers it is evident that this species bred in earlier years at various widely separated stations in the state of Massachusetts. In more recent years however, it has become rare, so much so, as to make its occurrence noteworthy. It is with a sense of pleasure and satisfaction that at this time I can submit evidence of an increase in its numbers and frequency in this northeastern portion of the State at least, an increase due quite probably to the better protective laws now in force. The following notes briefly record its occurrence in a region where it has been absent for a number of years. West Newbury, Mass., May 24, 1915, 5.30 a.m. While walking along a road in the open country I was attracted by the petulant cry of a Killdeer Plover, and in a moment discovered the bird flying low and coming toward me. He alighted about 60 yards distant in an open pasture, offering me a very good view, and an opportunity to identify him with certainty if his ‘ voice had not been sufficiently convincing. After afew moments of erratic running about in the cpen pasture he took flight in a southerly direction. West Newbury, Mass., Sept. 6, 1915—3 p.m. Three Killdeer Plover noted flying northward at great heights, their unmistakable notes bespeak- ing their presence and identity. 208 General Notes. Apel West Newbury, Mass., Oct. 18, 1915—11 p.m. Hear the notes of Killdeer Plover overhead, presumably from several birds migrating. Newburyport, Mass., May 5, 1916. Two Killdeers walking about on ploughed fields. June 23, 1916. Probably the same birds seen again in the same field. Jan. 24, 1916. About a half mile from the above mentioned field heard the notes of a Killdeer and on investigation found four adult birds, running about erratically and uneasily amid the sparse grass of the pasture. They allowed me, however, to approach quite closely and I had an excellent opportunity to observe their coloring. By an odd coincidence, in making my way back to the road, and about 300 yards from where the Killdeer were seen, I flushed three Upland Plover. (Bartramia longicauda). These last have been sufficiently scarce of late to make their occurrence interest- ing. June 28, 1916. In the same locality as above mentioned, saw one Kill- deer Plover.— S. W. BatLey, Pittsfield, Mass. Note on the Passenger Pigeon.— About a year and one half ago, the Cornell University Museum came into the possession of a mounted adult male Passenger Pigeon through the kindness of its collector, Mr. J. L. Howard of Clyde, N. Y., a justice of that city. He is now over 80 years old and had the bird mounted by a local taxidermist, George L. Perkins, who is now dead. According to Mr. Howard’s memory the bird was taken in 1909, 11 years after the last certain capture (Sept. 14, 1898) of a Pas- senger Pigeon in the State. On the bottom of the mount is the legend, “Geo. L. Perkins, July 5, 1898,” — a date in close agreement with Mr. Wilbur’s record (Sept. 14, 1898) at Canandaigua, N. Y. The mount might be an old mount from some other bird. Mr. Howard’s letter follows: ““My account of the shooting of the Passenger Pigeon must be short as there was but little of it. Upon the John Heit farm about 23 miles s. w. of Clyde and near the Clyde River is, and has been longer than I remember, a small pond nearly round and about 3 rods in diameter. A low hill upon the south reaches to the water’s edge forming a sloping beach. Years ago this pond was in a large forest. Now this was always, as long as there were any pigeons, a favorite place for them to come and drink. Six years ago (1909) I think, I took my gun and went to this pond in hopes I might get a Blue Heron, which I very much wanted. There were tracks of herons, plover and other birds in the mud around the shores, so I sat down in some bushes and pulled them up around me so as to partly conceal myself, facing the East where I could see a long distance. Presently I saw, far to the East, a bird coming directly towards me. I took it to be a Pigeon Hawk. It flew off to my right and turned in behind me and the next instant I heard its wings beating for a short span and then I heard to my right and very near the loud and distinct crow of a Wild Pigeon. Well that was a surprise. I had not seen a pigeon in fifteen years or more and now I sat within a few feet of one and he kept on crowing. Well I went aera General Notes. 209 .to work at those bushes, pulling them apart when suddenly I saw him standing upon the top of a fence post and still crowing. I picked up the gun and placed it to the shoulder and old hunter and old trapshooter as I was I could not hold the gun still I trembled so. But I took a trap-shooter’s chance and got the bird.’’—§. C. Bisnor and A. H. Wricut, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Feeding Habit of the Sparrow Hawk.— The month of March, 1916, was spent by the writer in the longleaf pine forests of northern Louisiana. In the region of lumbering operations fires were of frequent occurrence. The hawks took full advantage of the action of the fire in driving out insects, small reptiles, and rodents, and, in spite of the great heat and intense black smoke arising from the resinous wood, the birds would not only dash past within a few feet of the flames, but would actually alight on stubs and fallen branches in smoke so thick that they were frequently lost to view. In the vicinity of every fire observed hawks were present and as many as twenty individuals were noted at one time.— A. W. SHORGER, Madison, Wisc. The Barn Owl (Aluco pratincola) in Western New York.— The writer wishes to record the capture of the Barn Owl in the town of Eden, Erie Co., N. Y. Noting a mounted adult specimen of this species in the taxi- dermist’s shop at Hamburg, he was surprised to learn that the bird was taken on a large produce farm about fifteen miles southwest of Buffalo. Subsequent correspondence with the owner of the farm revealed the fact that it was captured alive in a silo during the month of April, 1916. The bird was first seen in the barn about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, but flew into the silo when attempts were made to catch it. Here it was easily procured by closing a small door. Rumors of the occurrence of this species in the town of Eden have come to the writer’s attention several times within the past ten years. How- ever, Mr. Wm. D. Henry, the owner of the present specimen, states that he never saw a bird of this kind before and is inclined to regard such state- ments as erroneous.— THomas L. BouRNE, Hamburg, N. Y. An Unrecorded Bird from the Bahamas.— When compiling my list of Bahama birds (Shattuck, The Bahama Islands, 1905, pp. 347-368), I overlooked a specimen of the Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) taken at Nassau, New Providence, April 22, 1864, by Lieutenant Fitzgerald and now in the U. 8. National Museum, No. 33171. Mr. Ridgway also failed to record this specimen in Bull. U. 8S. Nat. Museum No. 50, Part IV, 1907, 689, and as it has not been previously or subsequently recorded from the Islands to my knowledge, I have thought it best to put the specimen upon record.— J. H. Ritey, Washington, D.C. Blue Jay in Jefferson Co., Colorado.— I was startled on the morning of Sept. 24, 1916, to hear the calls of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata cristata) 210 General Notes. fees in the orchard of our farm in Jefferson County, Colorado, located a mile: and a half south of the little town of Broomfield. I hurried to the spot whence the cries came and found that I was not mistaken in the notes with which I was familiar in my boyhood days in Illinois, for, there in a high cottonwood tree in the midst of the orchard were two Blue Jays. They were wild and restless and flew off at once in a southwesterly direction, passing near enough, however, for positive identification. The following day my son saw one in the same tree and it flew in the same direction. Blue Jays have previously been observed around Wray, in the eastern part of our State but it is my impression that this is an extreme western record.— A. H. Frucmr, Denver, Colo. Note on the Bronzed Grackle in Maine.— Mention should be made, I think, of the increase in the numbers of the Bronzed Grackle (Quiscalus quiscala eneus) in and about Portland, Maine, since it was recorded,} many years ago, as “rare,—even in the migration uncommon.” It is nowadays one of the common species of this part of southwestern Maine, and during the migration periods sometimes occurs in large flocks. On April 13, 1915, I saw at least six hundred birds together in the town of South Portland. The possibility suggests itself that more than one geographical race may be represented in such an increase. Recent specimens in evi- dence are lacking.— NaTHAN CLIFroRD Brown, Portland, Maine. A Bird new to the North American Fauna.— The Bureau of Fisher- ies has transferred to the collection of the U. 8S. National Museum a fine adult male Pine Grosbeak taken on the tundra of St. George Island, Pribilofs, Alaska, Oct., 1915. This specimen proves to be Pinicola enucle- ator kamtschathensis (Corythus enucleator kamtschathensis (sic) Dybowski, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 8, 1883, 367; founded on Taczanowski, t. c., 7, 1882, 394), and measures as follows: wing, 112; tail, 92; culmen, 14.5; depth of bill at base, 11.5; width of bill at base, 9.5; tarsus, 21.5; middle toe, 15 mm. ‘These measurements are almost exactly duplicated by a specimen taken by Mr. A. H. Clark at Petropaulski, Kamchatka, June 17, 1906 (Proc. U. 8. Nat. Museum, 38, 1910, 64).— J. H. Riney, Washington, DC en- The Evening Grosbeak ( Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina) in South- ern New Jersey and Pennsylvania.— On January 29, 1917, at about noon in the midst of a cold rain I was walking along a road which passed by a little clearing near a saw-mill at New Lisbon, New Jersey. I heard a series of loud chirpings, something like the chirping of English Sparrows only more resonant. On looking up I saw a small yellow locust tree by the side of the road almost filled by a flock of Evening Grosbeaks. The birds kept motionless for some time and I had an opportunity to count them three times in succession and found that the flock consisted of seventy-four. 1 Proc. Portland Society Nat. Hist., Dec. 4, 1882, p. 16. “iges isin General Notes. PA Some six of them were males. I had never seen the bird before, but it was, of course, easy to identify it by the thick white beak and by the bright gold, ivory white and velvety black of the males. A male Evening Grosbeak in full plumage with its black head, golden forehead, thick white beak, black and white wings, golden back and breast and forked black tail impresses me as the most spectacular bird that I have ever seen. Probably this was owing to the winter background of cold rain, brown fields and leafless trees. New Lisbon is in the center of the pine-barren region. This flock seemed to be feeding on the locust tree as one of the birds had a pod in its mouth. On subsequent occasions I would frequently find them in locust trees and there were always on the ground pieces of freshly opened pods. The favo- rite food during the times that I observed them appeared to be the pits of the common Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina). They fed in a circle in the clearing about one hundred yards in diameter and were frequently found on the ground under the various Wild Cherry trees in this tract. The ground under these trees was covered with cherry-stones neatly split in half, while the droppings of the birds showed that they had fed there for a considerable space of time. The birds were restless, but not particularly wild. They would feed together in the trees for a time and then fly all together to the ground and then back again to the trees. I was able to approach several times within about thirty feet of the flock. On inquiry the miller reported that he had never seen or heard of these birds before although he had lived in that part of the country all his life. They had a clear trilling note besides the chirp above mentioned. At times they would all join in a chirring chorus. They reminded me very much of a flock of overgrown Goldfinches with their forked tails and the gold and black and white of their plumage, just as a flock of Pine Grosbeaks makes one think of a flock of overgrown Purple Finches. J am under the impres- sion that I heard the call-note of this bird the night before in a swamp near my camp though at the time I thought that it was the chirp of some winter- ing Robins. , I saw and studied this particular flock on January 29, again on February 11, February 12, February 17 and February 22. On February 11 and 12 the flock had been reduced to about forty birds with only three males. On February 17 there were not more than twenty birds there and not more than one or two males. On the afternoon of February 17 a friend of mine reported that he had found a detached pair. On February 22 there had been a light fall of snow and the birds were not found at all in the usual place. Two flew overhead in the early afternoon and in the middle of the afternoon four females were found in the top of a pitch-pine tree. The miller told me that every morning this flock would come into his dooryard at dawn and even feed on crumbs put out on the porch by the children. He said that the full flock at that time was nearly a hundred and that even so late as February 21 there had been seventy or eighty of them in his yard. His figures, of course, were only estimated. A flock of 65 was seen by Dr. E. P. Darlington, at Browns-Mills-in-the-Pines, a little farther east, on January 10, 1917, and they had been seen a number of times by Miss Rachel Weston near the Browns-Mills Inn. This is doubtless the 212 General Notes. Fes same flock which I studied at New Lisbon. So far as I can find the other records of Evening Grosbeaks in this vicinity are as follows: December 5, 1916, at Cinnaminson, N. J., Charles Evans. December 24, at Smithville, N. J.. N. D. W. Pumyea. December 26, at Westville, N. J., Julian K. Potter, and on December 31, on Mill Creek at Ardmore, Pa., one male was seen by W. J. Serrill. Doctor Stone also advises me that a flock was reported at Hammonton, N. J., on February 22, 1917, by Mr. Geo. W. Bassett, who says they have been present most of the winter feeding mainly on the seeds of the box elder. A single bird was also seen at Lumberton, N. J., March 14, 1917, by Mr. B. F. Clayberger.— SAMUEL ScovILLE, JR., Philadelphia, Pa. First Recorded Nesting of Bachman’s Sparrow in Pennsylvania.— During the summer of 1913 the writer had the good fortune to see the Bachman’s Sparrow (Peucea estivalis bachmani) as a summer resident in southwestern Pennsylvania. At that time the birds were noted at several places in southern Greene Co., close to the Mason and Dixon line. A close watch was made for the birds during successive seasons but none were seen until the spring of 1916. On May 12, while I was instructing a field class in bird-life, we encountered a pair of Bachman’s Sparrows. My attention was first called to them by the continual singing of the male. The female was soon located and the pair carefully watched. The female soon gathered nesting material and flew to a cluster of weeds just inside the border of an open grove of large white oak trees. I made a search and soon found an almost completed nest. Upon returning to the nest in about one week I found the bird at home protecting her five white eggs. The birds were carefully examined after collecting and proved to be Peucea estivalis bachmani. The skins of this pair of birds are now in Waynesburg College collection. The set of 5 eggs and nest are in the collection of Mr. James Carter, Waynesburg, Pa. —S. 8. Dicxny, Waynesburg, Pa. Bohemian Waxwings at Seattle, Wash.— During the present winter, 1916-1917, this region has had some remarkable invasions of certain species of birds, the most noticeable perhaps being the Bohemian Wax- wing (Bombycilla garrulus). As nearly as can be ascertained this species made its first appearance about December 10 in flocks of considerable size, but on the 26th or 27th the great body of the birds arrived numbering thousands of individuals, which thereafter for some considerable period could be observed almost every day within a comparatively restricted area some six miles in length along the eastern boundary of the city, adjacent to Lake Washington. This was accounted for by the fact that within this particular section was an abundant food supply in the form of the berries of the Madrona tree (Arbutus menziesii) which had fruited with unusual abundance the past season and of which the Waxwings appeared very fond, it not being uncommon at times to count in one of the larger trees upwards of five hundred of the birds. Vol. raed General Notes. 213 Always associated with the Waxwings were flocks of the Western Robin (Planesticus migratorius propinquus), of this species the individuals num- bered several thousands, and at times when suddenly startled, this immense body of birds would arise scattering in every direction, and then begin to congregate in flocks. On some occasions they would all amalgamate into one vast flock and after flying about, would again break up into small flocks which alighted in the berry laden trees and immediately resumed feeding until again disturbed, when these evolutions would be repeated. At all times the soft rolling chatter of the many Waxwings could be heard, which added to the interesting spectacle. On one particu- slar occasion apparently all the individuals in a large portion of the section became associated, forming a flock that by careful estimate was an eighth of a mile in length and of considerable width. Many times in these flocks of Bohemian Waxwings we observed a few Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), and also in the same locality small flocks of Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) and Willow Goldfinches (Astra- galinus tristis salicamans), which would sometimes mingle with the former in flight but disassociate when the Waxwings alighted. About January 25 the supply of Madrona berries in the section described became practically exhausted, and thereafter the Waxwings were seen in smaller flocks and became scattered throughout the city in quest of suit- able food. On many occasions the birds were seen in the parks of the city and about the residences wherever there was shrubbery that might bear berries, and this continued until about February 15, after which date we have failed to note them. How extended the incursion of this species has been we do not know, but have received reports of its occurrence at Port Angeles, sixty-five miles northwest on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and beyond Olympia to the south, and it is fair to assume that it must have been of very marked extent. During this winter season there has also been an unusual flight of Rap- tores. About the middle of November, Snowy Owls ( Nyctea nyclea) began to appear in numbers, the first flight of any importance since 1896: the local taxidermists up to February 1 having received upwards of fifty specimens, most of which present the usual form of plumage. The species has also been quite generally observed throughout the Sound region. There have also been brought to the local taxidermists a very large number of Great Horned Owls, and on looking over the mounted specimens, I found that the larger proportion were typical saturatus, among them some very dark and beautiful birds. There were also certain specimens apparently assign- able to occidentalis and lagophonus, and one particular specimen which was very light and quite suggestive of wapacuthu. Numerous reports have alse been received of individual birds being seen in various localities, and the flight of this species seems to have been widely extended throughout this region. Goshawks likewise have appeared in more than the usual numbers and with hardly an exception those examined were representative of striatulus. Mr. D. BE. Brown of this city has two adults in fine plumage taken January 7 and 18.—S. F. Ratusoun, Seattle, Wash. 214 General Notes. [Ath Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) at Newburyport, Mass.— On August 28, 1915, a short distance outside the city limits I noted a Migrant Shrike, my first acquaintance with the rather uncommon species. And again on August 21, 1916, in the same region a single bird of this species was noted.— 8. W. Battey, Pittsfield, Mass. The Cape May and Other Rare Warblers at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec.— The fall of 1916 will ever remain a memorable one from the fact of my having added the rare Cape May Warbler ( Dendroica tigrina) to my list, as well as the Nashville (Vermivora rubricapilla rubri- capilla) and Water-Thrush (Seiwrus noveboracensis noveboracensis) two examples of the first, and one each of the two latter having been obtained. Of the Cape May five were seen between August 28 and September 12, one only of the Nashville on August 16, and one of the Water-Thrush on August 26. In addition to these a fine male Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla pusilla) was obtained on August 24, the second only that I have seen here so far. Two Northern Parulas (Compsothlypis americana usnee) were observed on August 13, and between August 23 and September 22, nineteen examples of the Bay-breasted ( Dendroica castanea) were noted, as well as eleven of the Blackburnian ( Dendroica fusca) between August 11 and September 9, and twenty of the Canada (Wilsonia canadensis) between August 11 and September 17. Two examples of the Yellow Palm ( Den- droica palmarum hypochrysea) were seen on May 6, and another interesting item was the finding of the Black-throated Blue ( Dendroica cerulescens cerulescens) breeding for the first time in June and July— H. Mousey, Hatley, Que. Breeding of the Canada Warbler in Northern New Jersey.— On June 12, 1915, Dr. Wm. H. Wiegmann and the writer observed an adult male Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) at Budd’s Lake, New Jersey. This date is more than a week later than transients of this species are ordinarily met with. Furthermore, the low woods near the lake are char- acterized by a number of northern plants such as the Bunchberry, Gold- thread, Dwarf Birch, Larch and many others. There was reason to believe, therefore, that the Canada Warbler might prove to be a summer resident in this locality. Revisiting the Lake on July 4, 1916, I was gratified to find an adult female in the same spot and am practically certain that the male also was seen. On July 8, the female was observed busily engaged in searching for food, its action indicating that it had young nearby. On the following day I was so fortunate as to discover one of the young birds only a few days out of the nest, a fluffy, brownish fledgling with a tail not more than two- thirds or three-fourths grown. It was fed by the mother bird several times while I watched. Budd’s Lake is situated among the mountains of the western part of ror | General Notes. 215 Morris County, at an altitude of 933 feet above sea-level. The low, moist woods that the Warblers had chosen for their home consists chiefly of Red Maple, with an undergrowth of Sweet Pepperbush, Swamp Azalea, Arrow- wood, Black Alder, High Blueberry, Skunk Cabbage, Cinnamon and Royal Ferns, etc. The birds were always met near a road where the swamp was bordered by higher ground, about one-eighth of a mile from the Lake. This is, so far as I know, the first recorded instance of the breeding of the Canada Warbler in New Jersey — W. DEW. MILLER, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Mockingbird at West Haven, Conn.—A Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos polyglottos) appeared near the center of West Haven, Conn., on November 8, 1916, and has been observed almost every day up to January 22, 1917. It usually appears with a flock of Starlings. It pays no attention to food put out for the birds but prefers to eat the berries of the Bitter Sweet and Honeysuckle vines which grow along the fence. It does not appear to be wild as on two occasions I have walked under the apple tree in which it was perched.— N. E. Witmot, West Haven, Conn. Hudsonian Chickadees at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec.— On October 10, 1916, I came across two examples of the Hudsonian Chick- adee (Penthestes hudsonicus subsp.?) in the same wood as the pair recorded in ‘ The Auk,’ Vol. 33, 1916, p. 184; and they remained there until Novem- ber 12. Between these dates I saw them on ten occasions, and generally they were in the company with a few P. atricapillus but it was quite an easy matter to locate them from the latter by their notes alone, without seeing them, and this I often did following up the sound until a view of the birds was obtained and identification confirmed.— H. Moustery, Hatley, Que. Penthestes hudsonicus at Portland, Maine.— Penthestes hudsonicus, which did not come under the writer’s observation at Portland during his collecting days, has twice made known to him its presence there since. On April 27, 1913, I watched a bird for three quarters of an hour as it moved about in trees and bushes at the west end of Portland,— alone most of the time but occasionally joined by a small party of Black-capped Chickadees (P. atricapillus atricapillus) which chanced to be in the neighborhood. Another bird passed much of the afternoon of October 27, 1913, near my house on Vaughan Street, Portland, and was identified only by its frequent call-notes. Since no specimens of P. hudsonicus are in existence from Portland or its vicinity, so far as I am aware, it seems best at present not to express an opinion as to the subspecies which was represented by these birds.— NaTHAN CuLirrorD Brown, Portland, Maine. “ One of the Rarest Birds.” — Under this caption Dr. Hartert (Novit. Zool., XXIII, Dec., 1916, 335-336, pl. 1) has recently given a brief history, 216 General Notes. fee with a colored plate, of the supposed unique type of Callaeops periophthal- mica Ogilvie-Grant, a bird purchased in Manila by the late John White- head, and now in the Tring Museum. Mr. Ogilvie-Grant compared the bird with Arses, but Whitehead thought it nearest to Terpsiphone, while Dr. Hartert affiliates it with Xeocephus. The latter ends his account with a reference to the literature of the species, omitting, however, two statements by McGregor which have much to do with the case. In the Philippine Journal of Science, II, A, No. 5, Oct., 1907, 340-342, pls. I-III, Mr. McGregor described Terpsiphone nigra, from Batan Island, north of Luzon, where he found it an abundant species. He called attention to its simi- larity to Callaeops, saying “ It also agrees with the meagre description of Callacops periopthalmica Grant; the latter, however, has no lengthened central rectrices and the type may be a young bird.”’ In the ‘ Manual of Philippine Birds,’ Part 2, p. 467, he says, “‘ The short-tailed black males of this flycatcher agree with the description of Callaeops periopthalmica, but the identity of the two species has not been established.” At the first place citéd he mentions the fact that the type of Callaeops was shot “ with a blow gun at Malabon, near Manila,’ a locality, he adds, ‘ entirely unsuited to birds of this kind.” On comparing some topotypes of Terpsiphone nigra with the plate of Callaeops, I find Mr. McGregor had good reason to suspect the identity of the two supposed species. In color they are identical, except for slight differences in the under tail-coverts; the appearance of the fleshy eye-ring is the same, and there are no differences in size or proportions aside from the length of the middle tail feathers. The last may be ‘explained on the ground that 7’. nigra, like some (possibly all) of the species of Terpsiphone, probably has a non-breeding plumage in which the males become short- tailed birds, as in Diatropura and some other groups. Oates (Fauna Brit. India, Birds, IJ, 1890, 46) says of 7. paradisi, “ the median tail-feathers grow to a great length, and are retained till May or June, when they are east.” Of 7. affinis, he writes “the male after the moult of the second autumn acquires two long median tail-feathers, but probably sheds them at the end of the breeding-season.’”’?’ McGregor visited Batan Island at the end. of May, when the birds were nesting, and the males collected by him are chiefly long-tailed ones. The date of capture of the type of Callaeops has not been recorded. Terpsiphone nigra, in full long-tailed plumage, has the next to the middle pair of rectrices considerably lengthened, as noted in the original descrip- tion. This character I do not find in 7. princeps (sometimes called atro- caudata, but the description of Muscipeta atrocaudata Eyton applies better to ‘ Callaeops’ than to T’.. princeps, and the type ought to be examined, if still extant) or 7’. owstoni, which appear to be its nearest relatives. These species, as well as a number of others examined in this connection all have fleshy rings round the eyes, and Hartert’s remark that Callaeops ‘ would thus only differ from all forms of Tchitrea [i. e., Terpsiphone} in having the ring or ‘‘ wattle ”’ of bare skin round the eyes ”’ is quite misleading, as is also his reference to Xeocephus as its ‘ real nearest relative.” Vol. cael General Notes. 217 As a result of the above comparison, I am convinced that the identity of the two alleged species is established beyond reasonable doubt, and that the bird is generically the same as T'erpsiphone, at least that group contain- ing princeps, owstoni, and doubtless illex (the last not seen by me). Finally, as Mr. McGregor described the adults, immature and young, the nest and egg, as well as the flight, song and native name of the bird, Dr. Hartert’s remark that “ the efforts of the industrious American ornitholo- gists who have been working for years in the Philippine Islands should have brought it to light again ere this’ has been fully met.— Cuas. W. Ricu- MoND, Washington, D.C. . Townsend’s Solitaire (M. townsendi) at Seattle, Wash.— Although not rare in this immediate locality, Townsend’s Solitaire is rather infre- quently met with. This winter however, we have found it not at all uncom- mon, on one occasion five being seen feeding on the berries of the Madrona tree and associated with numbers of the Western Robin and Varied Thrushes.— 8. F. Ratusun, Seattle, Wash. Winter Birds at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec.— The winter of 1916-17 is certainly proving an interesting one, for after an interval of three years Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator leucura) have again visited the district. I first noticed them in my garden on December 16. Two females (out of which one was obtained) of the White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) a species new to my list, were observed on the early date of August 31, and a flock of fifteen again on October 27. Redpolls (Acan- this linaria linaria) have been plentiful, first, arriving on November 5, but Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) and Evening Grosbeaks (Hesperiphona ves- pertina vespertina) have not put in an appearance as yet. Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis) arrived on November 14, and an example of the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox) was seen on December 19. Two Hudsonian Chickadees (Penthestes hudsonicus subsp.?) were seen on several occasions between October 10 and November 12, and on January 10 an example of the Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) was obtained.— H. Moustey, Hatley, Que. Unusual Late Autumn and Winter Records for Eastern Massa- chusetts.— On the 15th of November, 1916, Dr. W. M., Tyler and I dis- covered a Cape May Warbler ( Dendroica tigrina) in the town of Belmont, Mass., and we found it again in the same place on the 19th and 25th of the same month. _ In this region, on the 9th of December, 1916, we saw a Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum palmarum).. Mr. H. W. Wright had seen one of these birds (probably the same individual) in this neighbor- hood on the 9th of the previous month. On the 25th of February, 1917, Mr. Charles W. Jenks showed me a Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca iliaca) wintering in Bedford, Mass., where it had been under observation since the 6th of January.— WatrerR Faxon, Lexington, Mass. 218 | General Notes. [ fers Rare Winter Visitants in the Vicinity of Plainfield, New Jersey.— The past winter has been the most interesting, ornithologically, in the writer’s local field experience of more than twenty years. The following five rare winter visitants are the most noteworthy species observed. EVENING GROSBEAK (Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina). A pair of Evening Grosbeaks were observed in a grove of cedars on December 17, 1916, and the female was still present on December 25. This cedar grove is in the Washington Valley near Scotch Plains, and is the spot in which Evening Grosbeaks were found in January and February, 1911, my only other record of this species (see Bird-Lore, Vol. XIII, 1911, p.95). It may be well to record that a male was collected on February 12, and a female on February 19, 1911. As on former occasions the Grosbeaks were feeding on the drupes of the Flowering Dogwood, particularly on the kernel, but probably to some extent on the pulp also. PINE GRosBEAK (Pinicola enucleator leucura). In the same cedar grove a female Pine Grosbeak was seen on December 31, 1916, and on January 28, 1917, two females were present. On February 11 only a single female could be found. On all three occasions they were eating the Red Cedar berries in company with Purple Finches. My only previous records of this species were made in the winter of 1903-4. A number of specimens were collected on January 4, 1904. Rep CrosssBiLL (Loria curvirostra minor). No White-winged Cross- bills have been observed during the winter to date of writing (February 16) and Red Crossbills have been noted but twice, a single bird on December 10, and another on December 24, 1916. Both were flying over, the charac- teristic ‘‘kip kip” serving to identify them. It is probable that there would have been more Crossbills in this region but for the local scarcity of spruee and pine cones this season. ReEpDPOLL (Acanthis linaria linaria). Redpolls have been more abundant than ever before in my experience. They were observed on numerous occasions from late November to February 11. The largest number was recorded on December 25 when about 120 were counted. The seeds of the White Birch constitute their chief food. An adult male collected on January 1 agrees with A. l. linaria in size, but is decidedly less brown above than typical specimens of that form. It is now in the collection of Dr. Jonathan Dwight. LABRADOR CHICKADEE (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans Townsend). On December 17, 1916, a couple of Labrador Brown-cap Chickadees were discovered in the same cedar grove, in which the Pine and Evening Gros- beaks were found. One was seen in the same spot on December 25, and on the 31st both birds were again met with. On the latter date one bird, a female, was collected. This specimen has been identified by Dr. Charles W. Townsend as belonging to his recently deseribed Labrador race. Later: dates for the remaining individual are January 14 and 28. On January 7, a single bird of this species was seen on the north side of the Third Watchung Mountain between Plainfield and Stirling. Judging by its dark cap it also a Yi General Notes. 219 was P. h. nigricans. On February 4 in company with Mr. C. H. Rogers, another individual was met on the First Mountain between Westfield and Summit. In every case the Labrador Chickadee was associated with larger num- bers of the Black-cap Chickadee. The bird seen on January 7 was accom- panied by three Tufted Titmice also. No form of Penthestes hudsonicus has ever before been recorded from New Jersey— W. DEW. MILLER, Plainfield, N. J. Notes from Madison, Wisconsin. —Rep-THroatTEep Loon (Gavia stellata). On June 7, 1916, a loon was seen on Lake Mendota that at once attracted attention by its small size. The bird was not more than one hundred yards from shore and by a cautious approach I was able to study it carefully. Although in winter plumage, the character of the bill left no doubt but that it was of this species. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Centurus carolinus). A male was seen at frequent intervals in the immediate vicinity of my home from January 3 to May 20, 1916. Possibly the same bird was again noted from October 4 to October 8. Not noted during the summer months. WESTERN MerapowuarK (Sturnella neglecta). On April 13, 1916, a Western Meadowlark alighted on a fence a short distance away and sang for several minutes. The writer at one time spent several months in western Texas and adjoining regions where the thoroughly characteristic song of this species could be heard almost daily. The following quotation with the exception of (this) is taken verbatim from Kumlein and Hollister — ‘Birds of Wisconsin.’ ‘It is found regularly in Rock, Jefferson and Dane (this) counties, but only (?) in very late fall, November and even December, but not having as yet been noted in spring.’ It is probable that most observers will consider it uncommon at any season. Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula). One seen on May 11, 1916. — A. W. SHorcer, Madison, Wisc. Notes from North Carolina.— The writers spent from December 30, 1916, to January 1, 1917, on and around Monkey Island, Currituck Sound, North Carolina, studying the winter bird-life of the region. Three obser- vations are worthy of record. ReppPouu (Acanthis linariasubsp.). Two observed on December 31, 1916, feeding on the beach opposite Monkey Island, in company with Ipswich and Savannah Sparrows. They were so tame as to permit an approach within ten feet. One was heard in the same place the next day. Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson informs us this is the second record for the State. As we had no means of collecting a specimen, it is impossible to state definitely to which subspecies the birds belonged. ‘They were noticeably smaller than the Sparrows with which they were associated, and the presumptive evidence is of course strongly in favor of their being straight linaria. 220 General Notes. [ jot - ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Vermivora celata celata). A single bird was very satisfactorily observed December 31, on Monkey Island in a grove of live oaks, by Johnson and Griscom. Readers of “The Auk’ may recall that Nichols and Griscom collected a specimen in the same locality January 3, 1915. Although this is only the fourth record for the State, the conditions on these outer islands are so similar to those obtaining farther south where the species is known to be a regular winter resident, that we should not be surprised to find it of regular occurrence in North Carolina. (See Wright, H. W., Auk, January, 1917.) It should be borne in mind that no other eastern warbler known to us is so inconspicuous and so easily overlooked. Biur-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila cerulea cerulea). A single bird of this species was seen on Monkey Island on December 30, and heard December 31, entirely normal and active. Mr. Pearson kindly informs us that this is the first winter record for the State. As with the Orange- crowned Warbler, however, we should not be surprised to have it recorded more frequently in winter along the coast should the number of competent observers increase. Barring a specimen observed by Mr. Horace W. Wright in Boston on December 3, 1910, which may be regarded as purely casual, this is the most northern winter record known to the writers.— J. M. Jonnson, J. T. Nicnots and Luptow Griscom, New York City. Acknowledgment.— In our description of a new subspecies of the Western Meadowlark, S. n. confluenta, which appeared in the January, 1917, number of ‘The Auk’, we inadvertently omitted to make acknowl- edgment to Mr. D. E. Brown of Seattle, for the loan by him of certain specimens that were used in connection with the preparation of the paper, and we, therefore, herewith wish to express to him our sincere thanks for his courtesy in this respect.— 8S. F. Ratusun, Seattle, Wash. Marts >| Recent Literature. 221 RECENT LITERATURE. The Allen Bibliography.'!— A most welcome addition to bibliographic literature is the catalogue of the published scientific writings of Dr. J. A. Allen. We feel sure that all readers of ‘The Auk’ will heartily endorse the foreword by Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn in which he states that the life and writings of Dr. Allen ‘‘have exerted so great an influence on the progress of ornithology and mammalogy in America that all who have the interest of these branches of science at heart, both in this country and abroad, will welcome this biographical and bibliographical volume.” ‘“‘It is issued’’ he adds ‘‘as an expression of the appreciation of Doctor Allen’s life work by the Trustees of The American Museum of Natural History and his devoted colleagues on its Scientific Staff’’. The total number of titles amounts to 1453, of which 966 relate to birds, the other topics covered being mammals, reptiles, zo6geography, nomen- elature, and biography. Of mammals he has described no less than 573 new forms and 21 new genera and subgenera, while of birds he has named 49 new forms and 4 new genera. These figures alone will give some idea of the tremendous amount of work that Dr. Allen has accomplished and a perusal of the titles themselves will further emphasize the breadth of his knowledge and the part that he has played in developing his favorite branches of science. By far the most interesting portion of the volume, however, is the de- lightful autobiographical sketch which precedes the bibliography. Others can express their appreciation of a man’s life work and set forth its value to the world, but no one can describe the conditions under which it developed or the factors that contributed to its growth, so well as the man himself. Weare therefore, under obligations to Dr. Allen for this sketch which is most. interesting reading and rich in historical detail, much of which probably no one but Dr. Allen could furnish at this late day. To quote again from Prof. Osborn’s foreword: “we are sure that natu- ralists in all parts of the world will unite in felicitating Dr. Allen on the great work which he has accomplished and in wishing him many more years of strength and activity ’’.— W. S. Thorburn’s ‘ British Birds ’.2— With the third and fourth volumes of Mr. Thorburn’s splendid work before us, another of the many books 1 Autobiographical Notes and a Bibliography of the Scientific Publications of Joel Asaph Allen. Published by the American Museum of Natural History, New York. 1916. S8vo. pp. 1-215, frontispiece portrait. 2 British Birds | written and illustrated by | A. Thorburn, F. Z. S. | With eighty plates in colour, showing over four hundred species. | In four volumes | Vol. III | Longmans, Green and Co. | 39 Paternoster Row, London | Fourth Avenue & 30th Street, New York | Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras |1916.! All rights reserved.| Large 4to. pp. 1-87, pll. 41-60. Vol. IV. 1916. pp. 1-107, pll. 61-80. [Price $10. per volume, net.] 22 Recent Literature. [ack dealing with the birds of Great Britain is brought to completion. The bird life of any country appeals to such a large number of people, that there will doubtless always be a demand for bird books which present the subject in an attractive manner. There have appeared during the last century and a quarter, the ‘British Birds’ of Bewick, Yarrell, Selby, MacGillivray, Gould, Lilford and others of lesser prominence, and some of these have gone through many editions, edited and amplified by ornithologists quite as notable as the original authors. Each author has approached the subject in his own manner. Some, like MacGillivray, have made the text their main interest, and there is little doubt but that Dr. Coues, who was a great admirer of MacGillivray, got from his writings the idea of his famous ‘Key’. Others who like our own Audubon were artists first and authors of necessity, have been mainly interested in the plates and some of them indeed did not write the text of their works at all. Mr. Thorburn belongs to this latter, artist, class and as we explained in . reviewing the earlier volumes of his work ! he originally intended that it should be simply ‘‘a sketch-book of British Birds” but was induced later to write a short account of each species which is admittedly largely a compilation. It is from the standpoint of the plates, therefore, that his work is to be judged and we think that on this basis it stands ahead of anything of the kind that has been produced. Bewick and Yarrell were noted for the beauty of their woodcuts, those of the former being executed by himself, those of the latter by Thompson. In comparing the two a reviewer in the ‘Report of the British Association’ for 1844 states that the beauty of the latter is ““much enhanced by the improvements in the prepara- tion of paper and ink and in the mode of taking off the impressions,” and adds that were Bewick’s blocks ‘‘intrusted to one of our first rate London printers an edition could be now produced, far superior to any which was issued in the lifetime of the author.” This fact must be borne in mind when considering the relative merits of colored plates and we think that Mr. Thorburn has been most fortunate in his engravers. .The softness of the plates and the delicate gradation of the colors we have not seen ex- celled in any ornithological work, and one has to look close to be convinced that they are really produced by the ‘half-tone’ process. While it would be interesting to see the paintings of some of the other British artists reproduced with the same excellence, we do not think that Mr. Thorburn would have any difficulty in holding the foremost position. He and Mr. Fuertes stand apart from all others except Audubon in the thoroughness of their knowledge of the activities and postures of the birds which they represent. Many an artist can paint what has been aptly termed a “‘map”’ of a bird, accurate in proportions, colors etc., but it is quite another thing to give to each bird that individuality of pose or action which characterizes its species, and this is what Thorburn and Fuertes have done. 1‘The Auk,’ January, 1916, p. 84. gi | Recent Literature. Dee The two volumes before us cover the water birds (except the Stegano- podes and one plate of Herons, which appeared in Vol. 2), the Gallinaceous Birds and Pigeons. The Ducks, Pheasants and Grouse give the artist his best opportunities and he has prepared some superb plates. As in all such works the pleasure which we derive from the beautiful pictures is mingled with regret that it is not possible to give each species a plate to itself instead of having to crowd so many together. This is, of course, not the artist’s fault and as we said in connection with the earlier volumes he has displayed wonderful ability in grouping his subjects, so that each plate appears as a single finished painting, while each figure is displayed to the best possible advantage. All in all we think that Mr. Thorburn’s work will ‘alee its place as the best series of colored illustrations of British birds that has yet appeared, and is a work that should be in all reference libraries. It will appeal moreover to many lovers of the beautiful in art and in illustration, to whom birds are of only secondary interest.— W. 8. Evans’ ‘ Birds of Britain.’ !— “ This little work’ we are told in the preface “though primarily intended for schools, may be found useful by those who require a short hand-book which includes the results of the most resent observations.” With sucha plan and with an author of Mr. Evans’ reputation and ability we are led to expect an authoritative and thoroughly up-to-date treatise. This expectation has apparently been realized in the main text, but a perusal of the introductory chapter covering the more general principles of ornithology, is decidedly disappointing. In his treatment of migration the author has nothing to say of the work of the late W. W. Cooke, while he seems to be quite ignorant of the experi- ments of Dr. J. B. Watson, with terns on the Dry Tortugas islands, which have probably thrown more light on the subject of migration than any other recent investigation. The time-honored causes of migration — changes of temperature and abundance of food supply — are cited, but no mention is made of periodic physiological activities; while the statement. that “Hardy birds such as Penguins... .need hardly migrate at all,’’ does not aecord with the accounts of the recent Antarctic expeditions, in which regular migrations covering hundreds of miles, from the pack ice to the nesting grounds, are described. The half-tone illustrations are of varying merit and unfortunately we are not told which are photographs from nature and which from mounted specimens. In some the figures are so minute as to be of little value and this obscurity has led to the printing of the cut of the Spotted Flycatcher upside down. The book will, however, prove of much value in spreading a knowledge of the British avifauna, which after all is its chief object.— W. S. 1The Birds of Britain, their Distribution and Habits. By A.H. Evans. Cambridge, 1916. Small 8vo., pp. 1-275, numerous text figures. $1.25. (G. P. Putnam’s Sons.) 224 Recent Literature. [ ee] Todd on New Birds from Colombia and Bolivia.'— ‘ The Auk’ has on several occasions felt compelled to take exception to the wholly inade- quate diagnoses which some authors issue as the basis for new names. From the letters received from many prominent ornithologists we are assured that our stand is endorsed by the great majority of those who have the advancement of ornithology at heart. We regret exceedingly to have to revert to the matter again, but in a recent paper by Mr. Todd, we find new names proposed without adequate descriptions some of which have al- ready proved stumbling blocks to others, working in the same field, the progress of ornithology being thus hindered instead of advanced. These diagnoses are styled ‘‘preliminary,” but both author and pub- lishers know that a name must stand upon the original description, that is the one to which our reference leads us, and in the majority of cases we do not know whether supplementary diagnoses have appeared or not, and even if they have we are compelled in involved cases to rely upon the original diagnosis alone, additional information given subsequently may refer to the original species or it may not. Why — and we ask in all seriousness — cannot all who are engaged in systematic work realize, as most of them do, that they are under a serious obligation to their fellow workers in making their descriptions as clear and definite as they possibly can, supplying measurements and comparisons with all related forms, so as to make the consultation of types a last resort instead of, as it often is, the only method of determining what a writer is naming? It is we think high time that all ornithologists realize the seriousness of the work in which they are engaged or they will become the laughing stock of other systematists. In the volume of the ‘Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington’ in which this paper appears there are new species of mammals, birds, reptiles, ophiurans, fossil insects, mollusks, etc. all well described. Why cannot the journal insist upon the same standard for all the diagnoses which appear on its pages? Some time ago there was a general agreement among American scientific publications that they would publish no new genera unless types were designated by the authors. If a similar stand were taken with regard to new species by refusing to publish “preliminary” or inadequate diagnoses systematic ornithology would be greatly benefited. If neither authors nor editors will realize the serious- ness of this matter there will ere long be a call to revise the Code of No- menclature so that the citation of a type specimen will not save a wholly inadequate description from the unidentifiable category. The new names proposed by Mr. Todd in this paper are as follows: From Bolivar, Colombia: Phenicothraupis rubiginosus (p. 3) Turbaco; Myiobius modestus suffusus (p. 4) Turbaco; Attila caniceps (p. 4) Jaraquiel; Xiphocolaptes procerus rostratus (p. 5) Jaraquiel; Pheochroa cuvierit notia 1 Preliminary Diagnoses of Apparently New Birds from Colombia and Bolivia. By W.E. Clyde Todd. Proc. Biol. Soc. of Washington, Vol. 30, pp. 3-6. January 22, 1917. tas pee Noise Recent Literature. 225 (p. 5) Turbaco; Celeus innotatus (p. 5) Jaraquiel; Bubo virginianus elutus (p. 6) Lorica; Pyrrhura subandina (p. 6) Jaraquiel; Hupsychortyx decoratus (p. 6) Calamar; from Santa Marta, Colombia: Ostinops decumanus melanterus (p. 3) Las Vegas; Icterus mesomelas carrikeri (p. 4) Fundacion; Eupsychortyx cristatus littoralis (p. 6) Mamotoco; from Bolivia: Ostinops sincipitalis australis (p. 3) Buenavista; Attila neorenus (p. 4) Rio Yapa- eanl; Microrhopias melanogastris iliaca (p. 5) Rio Pilcomayo; Xiphocolaptes obsoletus (p. 5) Rio Yapacani. X. major obscurus is also proposed (p. 6) as a substitute for X. m. satwratus Cherrie preoccupied.— W. S. Grinnell on the Evening Grosbeak.1— Just at the time when the eastern race of this erratic bird is attracting attention through the New England and Middle States, by a southward migration of unprecedented extent, Dr. Grinnell gives us the results of a prolonged study of the rela- tionship of the western birds which he considers are divisible into four geographic races instead of two, as given in Ridgway’s ‘Birds of North and Middle America.’ No matter how many races we may decide to recognize we must agree with Dr. Grinnell’s contention that the type of Hesperiphona vespertina montana was definitely fixed on the plate which accompanies the original description in ‘The History of North American Birds,’ and that this name belongs to the Mexican bird; Chapman’s H. v. mexicana becoming a pure synonym. Furthermore Dr. Grinnell finds that birds from the mountains of extreme southern Arizona agree with the Mexican race rather than with that of the Rocky Mountains, which brings this southern form into the limits of the A. O. U. Check-List. The birds from farther north — representing ‘montana’ of the Check- List —he divides into three races: H. v. brookst (p. 20), from British Columbia, type locality, Okanagan; H. v. californica (p. 20), from the Sierra Nevada of California north into Oregon, type locality, Crane Flat, Mariposa Co., Cal., and H. v. warreni (p. 210), southern Rocky Mountains from Colorado to northern Arizona, type locality, Colorado Springs.— W. S. Brooks’ ‘Game Birds of West Virginia’. ?— Nearly half of the fourth ‘Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden of West Virginia’ is devoted to an account of the game birds by Mr. E. A. Brooks, consulting ornithologist to the warden. The eight chapters of this excellent report cover the subjects of forest conditions as related to game birds; hunting game birds; economic value of game birds; propagation; protection; and description of the game birds of the State. 1The Subspecies of Hesperiphona vespertina. By Joseph Grinnell. The Condor, Vol. XIX, January, 1917, pp. 17-22. 2 The Game Birds of West Virginia. By Earle A. Brooks. Fourth Biennial Report of the Forest, Game, and Fish Warden of West Virginia. 1915-1916. July 1, 1916. pp. 93-160. ’ [Apri 226 Recent Literature. The list of game birds contains not only descriptions and other informa- tion of value to the general reader and sportsman, but a discussion of the distribution of each species in the State including a large number of original records. The report forms another valuable addition to the literature of West Virginian ornithology and a work that can be consulted with profit by anyone interested in the history of American game birds, either from the point of view of the sportsman or the naturalist. A number of interest- ing photographs illustrate Mr. Brooks’ paper the most noteworthy from an ornithological standpoint being a set of four eggs of the Duck Hawk on a ledge on the Great Cacapon River and a nest with three eggs of the Mourn- ing Dove.— W. 8. Forbush’s recent Bulletins on Economic Biology.— The Massa- chusetts State Board of Agriculture has recently issued a valuable Bulletin on ‘The Natural Enemies of Birds,’! by Edward Howe Forbush, State Ornithologist. The balance of nature, a matter that is too often ignored in the present day enthusiasm for bird protection, is first considered, and then follows a detailed discussion of the several classes of bird enemies; mammals — domestic and wild; birds and reptiles. Mr. Forbush rightly divides bird enemies into two groups ‘‘(1) Those introduced from foreign countries and which therefore tend to disturb the balance of nature, and should be eliminated so far as possible except when under control, either in domestication or in captivity. Such are the dog, house rat, ferret, cat, hog, ox, horse, sheep and goat, English Sparrow and Starling. (2) The native natural enemies, which have through thousands of years become perfectly adjusted in their relation to the species on which they prey. These should not be eliminated, with the exception of those few that threaten our lives or our material welfare, but should be con- served and controlled according to our needs. When a species becomes too numerous it should be reduced in numbers, if too few it should be allowed to increase.” The ninth annual report of the State Ornithologist ? presents much matter of interest to those who are trying to interest the public in methods of practical bird protection, while another edition of Mr. Forbush’s admir- able Bulletin on ‘The Domestic Cat’? testifies to the demand for this publication and the awakening of the public mind to a serious consideration of the cat question. Arrangements have been made to supply this Bulletin to Audubon societies which may desire it for distribution.— W. 8. 1The Natural Enemies of Birds. By Edward Howe Forbush. Economic Biology — Bulletin No. 3. Mass. State Board of Agriculture. 1916. pp. 1-58. ‘ 2 Ninth Annual Report of the State Ornithologist, Mass. State Board of Agriculture, for the year 1916. By Edward Howe Forbush. December 6, 1916. pp. 1-26. 3 ef. Auk, 1916, p. 339. ar | Recent Literature. 237 A Bibliography of British Ornithology.'— Three more parts of this work which was first noticed in ‘The Auk’ 1916, p. 448, have since appeared carrying it well through the letter ‘R’. Among the most interesting of the biographical sketches are those of Latham, MacGillivray, and Pennant. The first we learn was a strict disciple of the Linnzan School, and strongly prejudiced against the growing innovations upon his master’s nomenclature, which were even then being made on the Continent. Latham’s plan to describe all known birds, while thoroughly commendable, was too great for his talents, especially when we consider the vast number of new birds quite unknown to Linneus which were at this time pouring into the mu- seums of Europe. Of MacGillivray, whose collaboration with Audubon brings him into close connection with American ornithology, it is sad to learn that no detailed biography has ever been written and that the mate- rials for such do not now exist. Pennant a descendant of a distinguished Welsh family united more than an average ability as a naturalist with the reputation of an elegant scholar and refined gentleman. In glancing over the long list of the contributors to British ornithology one is struck by the very small number of titles from the pens of many of the foremost bird students that England has produced — such as Godman, G. R. Gray, Gould, ete. These men labored almost entirely in wider fields, leaving the British avifauna to others who preferred to concentrate their attention on the home birds, and who in consequence are for the most part but little known to the world at large. The excellent typography of the first part of the work is fully main- tained and when finally bound up it will form a handsome volume as well as a storehouse of information.— W. 8. Cory on New South American Birds.?— In a recent publication Mr. Cory describes three new subspecies of South American birds from the collections of the Field Museum of Natural History, as follows: Nyctipolus hirundinaceus ceare (p. 4) Quixada, Ceara, Brazil; Scardafella squammata ceare (p. 6), same locality and Leptotila ochroptera approximans (p. 7) Serra Baturite, Ceara, Brazil. There is also discussion on the races of Nyctipolus hirundinaceus and.on the southern forms of Speotyto cunicularia and some further remarks on the author’s Piaya cayana venezuelensis— W. 8. Oberholser on the Birds of Bawean Island.*— In this paper Mr. Oberholser describes a collection made by Dr. W. L. Abbott on Bawean Island, in the Java Sea about 175 miles south of Borneo. The collection 1A Bibliography of British Ornithology from the Earliest times to the End of 1912. By W. H. Mullins and H. Kirke Swann. MacMillan and Co. 1916. S8vo. Pts. II-IV, each 6/net. . 2 Notes on Little Known Species of South American Birds with Descriptions of New Subspecies. By Charles B. Cory. Field Museum of Nat. Hist. Publ..193. Zodlogical Series, Vol. XII, No.1. January 25,1917. pp. 3-7. 3 The Birds of Bawean Island, Java Sea. By Harry C. Oberholser. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 52, pp. 183-198. February 8, 1917. 228 Recent Literature. [April which was made in 1907, comprises fifteen species, eight of which had not been previously known from the island, and which bring the total number of its bird fauna up to 26. Seven of the forms represented in Dr. Abbott’s collection prove to belong to undescribed races which are here named and diagnosed by Mr. Oberholser as follows: Spilornis bassus baweanus (p. 185); Sauropatis chloris cyanes- cens (p. 189); Strix baweana (p. 190); Microtarsus atriceps abbotti (p. 193); Malacocincla abbotti baweana (p. 194); Gracula javensis baweana (195); and Anthreptes malacensis baweanus (p. 196). In a footnote Mr. Oberholser discusses the question of family names and argues that the name Bubonide should not be changed to Strigidze simply because the name Strix (of earlier date than Bubo) is found to be applicable to the genus formerly known as Syrnium, and hence takes its place in the family Bubonide. In other words a family should take its name, not from the oldest generic name in the family but from the genus upon which the family was originally founded. It follows that the family name need only be changed when the name of the ‘‘type genus” is changed. This seems to be a sound argument and if followed will avoid some very undesirable and misleading changes.— W. 8. Wetmore on Secondary Sexual Characters in the Ruddy Duck.!— In dissecting some Ruddy Ducks Mr. Wetmore was able to verify the statement, first made by Macgillivray, that in this species the bulla ossea usually present in the trachea of the males of river and sea ducks, was entirely absent. Carrying his investigations further he discovered a remarkable tracheal air-sac which is used when the males are displaying during the mating season. The presence of this sac is responsible for the full and loose condition of the skin of the neck in this species, which renders it possible to slip the head through it when skinning a specimen, something which is quite impossible in our other ducks. Upon examining skins of other members of the subfamily Erismaturine he found the same condition of the neck skin in other species of EHrismatura as well as in Thalassornis and Nomonyz. ; Mr. Wetmore’s studies are particularly welcome as we are badly in need of more knowledge of the anatomy of birds in arriving at a true understand- ing of their systematic relationships. The field is a large one but for some reason or other has not been attractive to ornithologists. We hope that Mr. Wetmore may receive every encouragement to continue his investiga- tions along these lines.— W. 8S. Mathews’ ‘ Birds of Australia.’ ? — The first part of volume six which is now before us begins the treatment of the Parrots, a group of birds 1QOn Certain Secondary Sexual Characters in the Male Ruddy Duck, Erismatura jamai- censis (Gmelin). By Alexander Wetmore. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 52, pp. 479-482. February 8, 1917. 2The Birds of Anstralia. By Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. VI, Part I. November 22, 1916. = ad is? | Recent Literature. 229 abundantly represented on the Australian continent and closely associated with it in ornithological history. This number covers the Lories (Tricho- glossoide), the Lorilets (Opopsittide), the Palm Cockatoos (Probosci- geride), and the Black Cockatoos (Kakatceide —in part). The discus- sion of the nomenclature of both genera and species is as usual very full, and there is an historical résumé of the systematic literature of the entire group of Parrots. Now that Mr. Mathews has reached families that are largely limited to the country of which he writes, or those in the same region, there are but few extra-limital forms discussed and fewer far-reaching changes in nomen- clature. We note the following new names in this installment of the work: Parvipsitta subgen. nov. (p. 43), type Psittacus pusillus White; Nannop- sittacus gen. nov. (p. 65), type Cyclopsitta suavissima Sclater; Probosciger aterrimus oorti subsp. nov. (p. 94), type locality, Dutch New Guinea. There is an elaborate discussion of the geographic races of the great black Palm Cockatoos and their proper nomenclature, which throws much light on a vexed question.— W. S. Origin of the Generic Name A&thia.1— Dr. E. Hartert has recently called attention to the fact that the name 4thia adopted in the last edition of the A. O. U. Check-List in place of Simorhynchus, should be cited from Merrem (Versuch eines Grundnisses zur Allgemeinen Geschichte und natiirlichen Eintheilung der Végel, Leipzig, 1788) instead of from Dumont (Dict. Sci. Nat., revised edition, I, 1816, Suppl., 71). This is a very wel- come addition to our knowledge of the history of the name, but Dr. Hartert seems rather severe in his criticism of the A. O. U. Committee for not running the name back to its original source. The writer is responsible for calling attention to the name (see Auk, 1907, p. 190) and so far as he is aware it had not been quoted by any orni- thologist except Dumont, which would indicate that Merrem’s work referred to by Dr. Hartert as ‘‘ well known but somewhat scarce,” is de- cidedly less well known than he seems to think. It is moreover not to be found in the libraries of either Philadelphia or Washington. Dr. Hartert asks: ‘“‘Why was no search made for Merrem’s name?”’ The writer would reply that a search was made. Sherborn’s ‘Index Animalium’ was con- sulted and while the work cited by Dr. Hartert was found it is stated that it contains no new species and as the name thia is not listed by Sherborn, it was a natural inference that it did not occur in the work. Curiously enough Dr. Hartert corroborates Sherborn by stating that the German work contains only vernacular names but adds that 4thia occurs on page 7 of a Latin edition which he quotes as ‘Tentamen Naturalis Systematis Avium.’ This work seems to be less known than the other, although what appears to be the same thing is quoted by Engelmann and 10On the Name of the “Auklets.’”” By Ernst Hartert, Ph.D. Novitates Zoologice. XXIIT, No. 3, p. 339. December 1, 1916. 230 Recent Literature. Fem some old reviews as ‘Prime linexw ornithologize.’ As Dr. Hartert has the advantage of having access to a copy of the work we should be glad to know which is the correct title of the Latin work; also why it is necessary to quote the name from the German edition; and why he quotes the date as 1788 instead of 1787 which is given by both Sherborn and Engelmann as the date of Volume I. It would benefit those interested in ‘priority hunt- ing’ for which Dr. Hartert states that he has “no time,” if he would also tell us what other new names, if any, the work contains thus supplying a valuable addition to Sherborn’s list. It might be remarked that from the way in which Dr. Hartert gives the ‘correct quotation”’ for Athia, it would appear that the Latin edition was part of the German one but if this were the case we cannot understand how Sherborn missed the name. With Dr. Hartert’s opinion that the adoption of the name from Dumont is quite impossible we cannot agree. The specific name cristatella had been applied to but one Auk-lke bird, Alca cristatella Pallas, and the indication of this species as the type of 4thia is, we think, perfectly clear.— W. S. Bird Enemies of a few Insect Pests.— The following statement about the bird enemies of grasshoppers is made in Farmers’ Bulletin 747, prepared in the U. 8. Bureau of Entomology: ‘‘The Bureau of Biological Survey has found that wild birds play a great part in the natural control of grasshoppers. These feathered friends of man are always present where grasshoppers abound and work almost constantly in aiding the farmer. The statement that all birds feed upon grasshoppers is so near the absolute truth that it needs only insignificant modifications. From the largest hawks to the tiny hummingbird there are no exceptions other than the strictly vegetarian doves and pigeons. Although birds of all families prey upon grasshoppers, the following may be selected as the most important destroyers of grasshoppers for their respective groups: Franklin’s gull, bobwhite, prairie chicken, red-tailed, red-shouldered, broad-winged, and sparrow hawks, the screech and burrowing owls, yeilow-billed cuckoo, road-runner, nighthawk, red-headed woodpecker, kingbird, horned lark, crow, magpie, red-winged and crow blackbirds, meadowlark, lark bunting, grasshopper and lark sparrows, butcher bird, wren, and robin.”’ ! It is not possible to present as good an account of the bird enemies of many other pests for birds are particularly fond of grasshoppers. Another injurious insect recently published upon by the Bureau has its bird enemies however, and the statement is made that: ““Among the important enemies of the fall army worm are our common wild birds. Some of these are the following: Crow blackbird or grackle, yellow-headed blackbird, chipping sparrow, bluebird, mockingbird, and meadowlark.”’ 2 1 Walton, W. R., Grasshopper Control in relation to Cereal and Forage Crops. Farmers’ Bull. 747, October, 1916, pp. 11-12. 2 Walton, W. R. and Luginbill, P. The fall army worm or “grass worm,”’ and its control. Farmers’ Bull. 752, Nov., 1916, p. 12. ee | Recent Literature. 231 Birds are also given considerable credit as predators upon the common cabbage worm. The species which “are known to feed upon cabbage worms are the chipping sparrow, English Sparrow, and house wren. It is certain, however, that other species eat them, and in one case it was found that during the winter the number of pup of the cabbage butterflies was reduced more than 90 per cent by birds feeding upon them.” ! This is high praise for the birds and gives them commanding rank among predacious enemies of the cabbage worm. In the case of another injurious insect also, the velvet-bean caterpillar, it is said that the red-winged blackbird is the most important predatory enemy. Other birds feeding upon the pest are the mockingbird and field sparrow.2— W. L. M. Annual Report of the National Association of Audubon Soci- eties.— The Annual Report of the Audubon Societies? is a revelation to those who labored in the cause of wild bird protection twenty or more years ago, before public sentiment was aroused, and we think it is safe to say that the present development of the movement is far beyond their most sanguine expectations. While the reports of the Secretary and the various special agents, are exceedingly interesting reading and the long list of members and contribu- tors, most encouraging, we think the most significant feature is the series of reports from local societies of which nearly 100 are listed. These show how widespread is the interest in bird protection and what a tremendous hold it has upon the people of the country. Another point in the development of the work is the apparent passing of the State Audubon Society except where it is well endowed or else purely local in character. Independent local clubs, conducted in accordance with the needs of the local community and working in affiliation with the National Association, seem to be the more natural form of development. While the State Societies did excellent service at the start it is impossible now to meet the demands made upon them without independent endow- ment, and the local organizations seem to turn naturally to the National Association as the central or affiliating body. The number and size of the units engaged in the work however are simply matters of organization, the objects attained are the same in any case. In the introduction to his report Secretary Pearson calls attention to a very significant feature in the development of bird protection; that is the growing tendency of sportsmen’s organizations to take up the cause of the non-game birds. These societies were established originally for the protection of game birds for food and for recreational shooting, and this extension of their activities is a recognition of the broader principle of the 1Chittenden, F.H. The common cabbage worm. Farmers’ Bull. 766, Nov., 1916, p. 9. 2Watson, J. R. Life-history of the velvet-bean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatilis Hiibner), Journ. Ec. Ent. 9, No. 6, Dec., 1916, pp. 526-7. 3 Annual Report of the National Association of Audubon Societies, Bird-Lore, January, 1917. 232 Recent Literature. [ awh protection of wild life for its economic value to our trees, flowers and crops — and necessarily to man himself. This report should be read through by every one interested in wild bird life and every reader will we feel sure join with us in congratulating the National Association and its officers upon the completion of a most success- ful year’s work.— W. 8S. Lloyd-Jones on Feather Pigments.'— This investigation while car- ried on primarily in connection with the study of color-inheritance in Pigeons, has an important bearing upon the general subject of coloration in birds. The author finds that there are only two pigments in domestic Pigeons, a red-brown, which produces the red and yellow colors, and # black, which under different conditions produces black, dun, blue and silver. In typical “red” birds the pigment granules are about 0.3 m. in diameter; in ‘plum colored’ individuals they are 2.0 m. or more, while in yellows they are so minute that their granular structure cannot be determined. Blue as in all birds is a structural color but just what physical peculiarities of the feather produce it has not yet been determined. An interesting point in the author’s paper is that he finds that the black pig- ment may exist either in spheres or in rods so that genetically speaking we may have two different blacks which to the eye appear absolutely identi- eal. Mr. Lloyd-Jones is to be congratulated upon a piece of careful work in a field which offers opportunities for many important investigations.— W. S$. Grinnell on Distributional Control.?— Dr. Grinnell’s object in this interesting paper is to demonstrate that data secured through field observa- tion can be so employed as to bring results essentially similar to, and just as conclusive as, those secured through laboratory experimentation, in determining the factors which govern the delinitation of animal habitats. The cases of several species of bird and mammals are considered in detail and the possible effect of various environmental factors is carefully weighed. Dr. Grinnell finds that in the majority of cases which he has studied, temperature looms up as the most frequent delimiter of distribution, but he argues that this fact is in no way antagonistic to the claim that other factors such as humidity, food-supply and shelter also figure critically. The paper is suggestive and gives one a deeper insight into the complica- tions of a problem that we are perhaps too much inclined to regard as entirely solved.— W. S. Recent Publications of the U. 8S. Biological Survey.— Three bulle- tins have recently been issued by the U. 8. Biological Survey. One of 1A Microscopical and Chemical Study of Feather Pigments. By Orren Lloyd-Jones. Jour. Exper. Zodl., Vol. 18, No. 3, April, 1915, pp. 453-495, pll. 1-7. 2 Field Tests of Theories Concerning Distributional Control. By Joseph Grinnell. American Naturalist, LI, pp. 115-128, February, 1917. Vol oi7 “al Recent Literature. 933 these! consists of popular economic accounts of twenty-three of the most common birds of the southeastern states with especial emphasis on those species which destroy the cotton boll weavil. Another? tells how to attract birds in the northwestern states. It is a reprint of similar bulletins for other sections of the country with a different list of fruit trees and shrubs. Still another * deals with the care and breeding of Canaries and seems rather outside of the regular activities of the Department though if it tends to do away with the caging of native birds where this is still permitted: by law it will serve a good purpose.— W. S. The Ornithological Journals. Bird-Lore. XVIII, No. 6. November—December, 1916. Winter Bird Photography. By C. F. Stone. Dick, the Sandhill Crane. By Florence M. Bailey. Observations on Woodpeckers. By W. O. Doolittle. A House Wren Record. -By Hubert Prescott.— Tabulation of food. A colored plate by Fuertes, illustrates several species of Wrens, while the Educational Leaflet treats of the Black-necked Stilt. The Annual Report of the National Association of Audubon Societies, makes up the bulk of the number (see p. 231). Bird-Lore. XIX, No. 1. January-February, 1917. Birds in the War-Zone. By Major Allan Brooks. A Condor’s Quill. By F. M. Chapman.— Trapping the birds in the Andes. An Effective Feeding Device. By J.C. Lee. The colored plate illustrates the Thrashers and the Educational Leaflet covers the English Sparrow. The usual Christmas Bird Census is issued in this number. The Condor. XVIII, No.6. November—December, 1916. Some Results of a Winter’s Observations in Arizona. By A. B. Howell. Meeting Spring Half Way. By Florence M. Bailey. Nesting of the Leconte Thrasher. By J. R. Pemberton. The San Domingo Grebe in Bexar County, Texas. By R. W. Quillin and R. Holleman. More Summer Birds for San Francisco County. By M.8. Ray.— Fifty- six species added to his previous list. 1Common Birds of the Southeastern United States in Relation to Agriculture. By F. E. L. Beal, W. L. McAtee, and E. R. Kalmbach. Farmers’ Bulletin, 755. October 26, 1916. 2 How to Attract Birds in the Northeastern United States. By W. L. McAtee.” Farm- ers’ Bulletin, 760. October 16, 1916. 3 Canaries: Their Care and Management. By Alexander Wetmore. Farmers’ Bulletin 770. December, 1916. 234 Recent Literature. [ Pes The Condor. XIX, No.1. January—February, 1917. Further Notes on the White-throated Swifts of Slover Mountain. By W. C. Hanna. Birds of the Humid Coast. By Florence M. Bailey. The Townsend Solitaire. By F. 8. Hanford. Further Notes on the Birds of Forrester Island, Alaska. By George Willett. The subspecies of Hesperiphona vespertina. By J.Grinnell. (see p. 225). The Odlogist. XXXIII, No. 12. December 15, 1916. Northern Ravens in Nova Scotia. By R. W. Tufts. Account of nesting. Nesting Birds of Copan, Washington Co., Okla. By Albert J. Kern.— 77 species. The Cactus Wren. By D. I. Shepardson. Habits etc. at Los Angeles, Cal. Some Nesting Birds of the Judith Basin, Montana. By P. M. Sillo- way.— Nesting of the Magpie and Desert Horned Lark. The Wilson Bulletin. XXVIII, No. 4. December, 1916. The Mating and Nesting Habits of Fregata aquila. By Homer R. Dill.— On Laysan Island. \ Birds by the Wayside — In Greece. By Althea R. Sherman. The Albatross of Laysan. By Homer R. Dil!l.— Numerous illustrations from photographs. The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) During July and August, 1916. By Katharine C. Post.— A valuable intensive study of the nest- building, nestlings and food habits of the species. Blue-Bird. VIII, No. 10. IX, Nos. 1 and 2. November to January, 1917. Miss Cordelia J. Stanwood has several interesting biographies; the Alder Flycatcher and Olive-backed Thrush in November issue; Redstart in December. The Ibis. X Series, V, No.1. January, 1917. Notes on Birds Observed at Erzerum. By P. J. C. McGregor. Notes on Birds observed in the North Sea and North Atlantic Ocean during the Autumn and Winter of 1914. By Lieut. J. N. Kennedy. A little-known Bird Colony in the Gulf of Mexico. By Lieut. J. N. Kennedy.— Alacran Reefs, ninety miles north of Yucatan. With the British Association in Australia. By A. H. Evans.— A delight- ful account of the trip describing the native birds as a visitor with limited time is able to see them. Mr. Evans actually made the acquaintance of nearly one third of the 395 species credited to Victoria, and has given us a most satisfactory picture of Australian bird-life. On the Breeding of the South African Black Duck (Anas sparsa). By F. E. Blaauw. Remarks on Some Recent Collections of Birds made by Mr. G. L. Bates in Camaroon. By W. R. Ogilvie-Grant.— Notes on a number of species and eet | Recent Literature. 935 descriptions of the following new forms: Apalis jacksoni minor (p. 76) Bitye, River Ja., Apalis ansorgeit (p. 77) N’Dalla Tando, N. Angola; Bradypterus grandis (p. 78) Bitye, River Ja. Dr. John C. Phillips has an interesting letter on the Steamer Duck embodying some of the observations on this species made by Mr. W. 8. Brooks on his recent expedition to the Falkland Islands. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. CCXX, January 2, 1917. Rothschild and Hartert review the races of Lalage karu recognizing six forms of which L. k. obscurior (p. 16), Fergusson Isl.; L. k. keyensis (p. 17) Little Key Isl. and L. k. pallescens (p. 17) Sudest Isl., are described as new. Lord Rothschild further discusses Mr. Mathews’ races of owls of the genus Tyto. British Birds. X, No.7. December, 1916. British Birds Marking Scheme — Progress for 1916. By H. F. Witherby. A summary shows that up to the beginning of 1916 48,950 birds had been banded, of which 1903 had been recovered. Notes on the Breeding-Habits of Temminck’s Stint. By Maud D, Haviland.— Illustrated from photographs. British Birds. X, No. 8. January, 1917. Notes on the Breeding Habits of the Red-backed Shrike. By J. H. Owen. Supposed Breeding of the Barnacle Goose in Iceland. By H. Noble: Avicultural Magazine. VIII, No.1. November, 1916. Breeding of the Little Bustard. By W.H. St. Quintin. Avicultural Magazine. VIII, No.I. December, 1916. Notes on a few American Warblers. By Lady William Cecil. South Australian Ornithologist. III, PartI. January, 1917. Field Notes on Acanthornis magnus (Gld.) Scrub Tit. By E. Ashby. Revue Frangaise d’Ornithologie. VIII, No. 93. January, 1917. Possible Utilization of the Kerguelen Islands as a National Park for the Conservation of Antarctic Animals. By A. Menegaux. List of Birds Collected or Observed on the Ivory Coast (Guinea). By Drs. Bonet and Millet-Horsin.— Concluded. Messager Ornithologique. VII, No. 4, 1916. 9 (In Russian). Subspecies and Natio. By P. P. Sushkin.1\— A plea for the adoption of quadrinomial names, the fourth term to indicate, as it were, a subspecies of a subspecies, since in many cases subspecies are not of equal value. On the Birds of the Far East. By S. A. Buturlin.— Cetrastes bonasia ussurtensis (p. 222); T. b. kolymensis (p. 226); TJ. b. amurensis (p. 226); and 7’. b. volgensis (p. 227), subspp. nov. Preliminary List of Birds Observed in Sochi District of the Black Sea Government. By Alex. Koudashev. Observations on the Rare and Little-known Birds of the Government of Moscow. By A. M. Kaminsky. 236 Recent Literature. La Ornithological Articles in Other Journals.! Pearson, T. Gilbert. How the Birds Get through the Winter. (The New Country Life, February, 1917.) Stanwood, C. J. The House Beautiful. (The House Beautiful, February, 1917.) — Red-eyed Vireo’s Nest. Chapin, J. P. Migration of Birds in Africa. (American Museum Journal, December, 1916.)— A valuable paper, giving probably the first definite knowledge of migration among tropical African birds, with inter- esting data on the arrival of European species in the Autumn. S(ass), H.R. Bird Life in Charleston. (Bull. of the Charleston Mu- seum. December, 1916.) North, A. J. The Birds of Coolabah and Brewarrina, North-western New South Wales. (Records of the Australian Museum, XI, No. 6.) — An annotated list with illustrations of the country. “K. P. & E. W. V.”’ Bird Lovers in Prospect Park. (Brooklyn Mu- seum Quarterly. July, 1916.) McClintock, N. The Telephoto Lens in Cinematography with Special Reference to its Application in the Problems of Bird Photography. (Amer- ican Museum Journal, January, 1917.). Craig, W. Synchronism in the Rhythmic Activities of Animals. (Science, Dec. 1, 1916.) — Comment on paper in ‘The Auk’ by Prof. W. B. Barrows, April, 1913, p. 187. Taverner, P. A. The Faunas of Canada. (Canada Year Book, 1915.)— A review of the Faunal areas of Canada. with lists of the characteristic- mammals: and birds of each. Wetmore, Alexander. A New Cuckoo fons New : Zealand. (Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 30, pp. 1-2, January 22, 1917.) — Urodynamis taitensis pheletes, Gtaze Province. Oberholser, H.C. Description of a New Sialia orn Mexico. (Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 30, pp. 27-28, February 21, 1917.) — Sialia sialis episcopus, Santa Engracia, Taniauiaes: Baker, E. C. Stuart. The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon (continued). (Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XXIV, No. 4, October 25, 1916.) — Colored plate of Crosseptilon harmani. Whistler, Hugh. Notes on Some Birds of the Gujranwala District, Punjab. (Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XXIV, No. 4, October. 25,-1916.) Wait, W. E. Notes on Ceylon Rails, Waders, Gulls and Terns. (Spolia Zeylanica, X, Part 38, November, 1916.) — An instalment of a proposed ‘Handbook’ of Ceylon birds. Publications Received.— Allen, J. A. Autobiographical Notes and a Bibliography of the Scientific Publications of Joel Asaph Allen. Pub- 1Some of these journals are received in exchange, others are examined in the library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The Editor is under obligations to Mr. J. A. G. Rehn for a list of ornithological articles contained in the accessions to the library from week to week. rg ar | Recent Literature. hist lished by the Amer. Mus. of Nat. Hist., New York, 1916, pp. i-xi, 1-215. Frontispiece portrait. Brooks, Earle A. The Game Birds of West Virginia. Fourth Biennial Report of the Forest, Fish and Game Warden 1915-1916, pp. 93-160. July 1, 1916. _ Cory, Charles B. Notes on Little Known Species of South American Birds with Descriptions of New Subspecies. Field Museum of Nat. Hist. Publ. 193. Zoél. Series, Vol. XII, No. 1, pp. 3-7. January 25, 1917. Evans, A. H. The Birds of Britain. Their Distribution and Habits. Cambridge: University Press. 1916. Small 8vo., pp. 1-275. Price $1.25. G. W. Putnam’s Sons, New York. Forbush, E. H. (1) Ninth Annual Report of the State Ornithologist of Massachusetts. (2) The Natural Enemies of Birds. Bull. No. 3, Mass. State Board of Agriculture. December 6, 1916. (8) The Domestic Cat. Econom. Biology, Bull. No. 2, Mass. State Board of Agriculture. Fuertes, L. A. The Larger North American Mammals. From Draw- ings by L. A. Fuertes, Text and Descriptions by E. W. Nelson. (Nat. Geogr. Mag., November, 1916.) Grinnell, J. (1) The Subspecies of Hesperiphona vespertina. (The Condor, January, 1917, pp. 17-22.) (2) Field Tests Concerning Distri- butional Control. (Amer. Nat., 1917, Feb., pp. 11-128). Henshaw, H. W. Report of the Chief of the Biological Survey, pp. 1- 16, 1916. Lloyd-Jones, Orren. Studies on Inheritance in Pigeons. II. A Microscopical and Chemical Study of the Feather Pigments. (Jour. Exper. Zo6él., Vol. 18, Ne. 3, April, 1915.) Beal, F. E. L., McAtee, W. L:, and Kalmbach, E. R. Common Birds of the Southeastern United States in Relation to Agriculture. Farmers’ Bulletin, 755, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. October 26, 1916. McAtee, W. L. How to Attract Birds in Northwestern United States Farmers’ Bulletin 760. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. October 16, 1916. Mathews, G.M. The Birds of Australia. Vol. VI, Part I. November 22, 1916. Mullens, W. H. and Swann, H. Kirke. A Bibliography of British Orni- thology from the earliest Times to the End of 1912. Parts ITI-V. Oberholser, H. C. The Birds of Bawean Island, Java Sea: Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 52, pp. 183-198. February 8, 1917. Pearson, T. Gilbert. How the Birds get through the Winter. (The New Country Life.) February, 1917. Stanwood, Cordelia J. The White-throated Sparrow, Songster. (The New Country Life, March, 1917.) (2) The House Beautiful. (The House Beautiful, February, 1917.) rShe Thorburn, A. British Birds. Vols. III and IV, 1916. Longmans, Green and Co., London and New York. Price, $10.00 per volume. Taverner, P. A. Faunas of Canada. Reprint, repaged, from the Canada Year Book, 1915. Ottawa, 1916. 938 Recent Literature. ree Wetmore, Alexander. (1) Canaries: Their Care and Management. Farmers’ Bulletin No. 770, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, December, 1916. (2) On certain Secondary Sexual Characters in the Male Ruddy Duck, Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmelin). Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., Vol. 52, pp. 479-482, February 8, 1917. American Museum Journal, The, XVI, No. 8, December, 1916, and XVII, No. 1, January, 1917. Ardea, V, No. 3-4, December, 1916. Avicultural Magazine, (3) VIII, Nos. 2 and 3, December, 1916 and January, 1917. ; Bird-Lore, XVIII, No. 6, November—December, 1916, and XIX, No. 1, January—February, 1917. Bird Notes and News, Vol. VII, No. 4. Blue-Bird, The, VIII, No. 10, and IX, Nos. 1 and 2, November, 1916- January, 1917. British Birds, X, Nos. 7 and 8, December, 1916 and January, 1917. Brooklyn Museum Quarterly, III, No. 3, July, 1916. Bulletin British Ornithologists’ Club, CCXIX and CCXX, November 27, 1916, and January 2, 1917. Bulletin of the Charleston Museum, XII, No. 8, December, 1916 and XIII, No. 1, January, 1917. Condor, The, XVIII, No. 6, November—December, 1916 and XIX, No. 1, January-February, 1917. Current Items of interest, No. 30, December 8, 1916. Forest and Stream, LX XXVI, No. 12, December, 1916, and LXX XVII, Nos. 1-3, January-March, 1917. Ibis, The, (10) V, No. 1, January, 1917. Messager Ornithologique, VII, No. 4, 1916. New Jersey Audubon Bulletin, No. 17, January 1, 1917 and No. 18, March 1, 1917. Odlogist, The. XX XIIJ, No. 12, and XXXIV, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Decem- ber, January, February, and March, 1917. Ornithologische Monatsschrifte, 1914, No. 12, 1915, Nos. 3 and 4. Ottawa Naturalist, XXX, No. 8, November, 1916. Philippine Journal of Science, XI, Sec. D, No. 5, September, 1916. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, LXVIII, Pt. 11, May—December, 1916. Records of the Australian Museum, Vol. XI, Nos. 5 and 6. Revue Francaise d’Ornithologie, VIII, Nos. 92 and 93, December, 1916 and January, 1917. Science, N.S., XLIV and XLV, Nos. 1147 to 1159. Scottish Naturalist, The, Nos. 60 and 61, December, 1916 and January, 1917. South Australian Ornithologist, The, III, Part 1, January, 1917. Wilson, Bulletin, The, XXVIII, No. 4, December, 1916. Zoologist, The, XX, Nos. 239 and 240, November and December, 1916. Mok eal Correspondence. 239 CORRESPONDENCE. Description of Audubon. Epiror or ‘THe AuK’ Dear Sir:— Recently when examining a file of the ‘Sentinel & Witness,’ a weekly newspaper published in Middletown, Conn., now discontinued, I found in the issue for September 6, 1843, the following letter, copied from the ‘ Buf- falo Courier.’ I do not recall seeing elsewhere such a vivid description of Audubon. “Messrs. Editors: Mr. Weed, in one of his recent letters from London, quoting Mr. Audubon, our great ornithologist and naturalist, as one of the American authors, says: “he is not sure that Mr. Audubon is an Ameri- ean.’ Should the remark catch the eye of the great ‘trapper’ nothing would give him more displeasure than to be even suspected of being an European. Mr. Audubon was born in New Orleans, is now sixty years of age and resides in New York City about nine miles up town. The writer had the pleasure of a personal interview with him at St. Louis, in April last, and learned these facts from his own lips. “Mr. Audubon is a man about the middle statute; his hair is-white with age, and somewhat thin; he combs it back from an ample forehead, his face being sharp at the chin; has grey whiskers, an aquiline nose, and a hazle eye, small, keen and indicative of great tranquility, and sweetness of temper, cheerfulness and genius. He is a man of robust constitution though not of a stout frame. He told me he had not taken a particle of medicine for twenty years. He is capable of any fatigue; can walk thirty-five miles a day with ease, for months; can sleep any-where in the open air; endure all climates; his principal food being soaked sea biscuit and molasses. He cannot well masticate meat on account of having lost his teeth, from which he suffers, and is obliged to boil his meat to rags. “He wore a dark frock coat, velvet vest and blue hunting shirt; is very pleasing and agreeable in conversation, and makes one perfectly at ease in his presence. He says a man can live one hundred years with temperate habits, regularity, and attention to diet. “He was about starting up the Missouri — said he was entirely done with ornithology; his object now being to classify the American quadru- peds. He was severe on Buffon, whose book he regarded of no authority; said Buffon was a man of wealth, resided in Paris, and wrote his descrip- tions from dried skins, and drew largely upon his fancy. Mr. Audubon anticipated a good deal of pleasure, and much hard trapping, shooting, 240 Notes and News. AC drawing and writing. He takes all his drafts from the animal as soon after it is taken as circumstances will admit.” The Secretary of the Buffalo Historical Society writes me that the letter above referred to was published in the ‘Buffalo Courier,’ August 22, 1843. No signature was attached. Sincerely yours, Jno. H. Saas. Portland, Conn., Feb. 12, 1917. Concealing Coloration. Epitror or ‘THE AvuK’ Dear Sir:— In our book on Concealing Coloration the Schillings flashlit zebra photo- graphs were included solely to show what kind of background zebras have at their drinking places. Flash-light, illuminating so disproportionately the nearest objects (the zebras) could not, of course, illustrate these patterns’ normal function. Our omission to state this beneath the pictures was an oversight. To every owner of our book whom I ean reach, I am now sending, gratis, for substitution for one of the Schillings pictures, a copy of the very remarkable zebra-concealment illustration that I published in the bulletin of The Am. Museum of Nat. History. I beg every owner of our book, who lacks this picture, to ask me for one. Respectfully, Asspott H. THAYER. Monadnock, N. H., March 6, 1917. NOTES AND NEWS. SAMUEL WariGut, an Associate of the American Ornithologists’ Union since 1895, died at Yonkers, N. Y., on January 18, 1917. Mr. Wright was born June 25, 1875, at Conshohocken, Pa., where his entire life was spent until about a year ago when business interests compelled him to move temporarily to New York. He was the son of William Wright and Frances Cresson, and was educated at the Friends’ boarding school at Westtown, Chester Co., Pa. After graduation he held one of the Jessup scholarships at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, where he rendered valuable service in the ornithological department and delighted in the etl Notes and News. 241 opportunity to devote himself to a study in which from early youth he had been deeply interested. He joined the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club soon after its organization and later became one of its active mem- bers and served as treasurer 1908-1911. In these years he formed a good local collection of birds and acquired an accurate knowledge of our native species and an experience in field observation which made him an ornitholo- gist of no little ability. Leaving the Academy in 1892 to enter business he became connected with the J. Ellwood Lee Chemical Company of Conshohocken of which he was assistant secretary for many years. In 1911 the Lee Tire and Rubber Company was organized and Mr. Wright became its secretary, a position which he held until he removed to New York in 1916, becoming associated with the Philadelphia Rubber Work Company and general manager and treasurer of the Acushnet Process Company. He was untiring in his devotion to business and his abilities contributed largely to the success of the interests with which he was connected. In spite of the continual pressure of business obligations he never lost his interest in birds and his greatest pleasure was to get out in the open, either in the vicinity of his home, where his early studies had been conducted, or on the tract that he had secured in the Adirondacks. He was devoted to the American Ornithologists’ Union and attended the annual meetings whenever possible. In company with Mrs. Wright he joined the ‘overland’ party which attended the San Francisco meeting in 1915, and with keen delight made the acquaintance in life of many of the western birds which he had previously known only as museum specimens. Mr. Wright had a delightful personality; cheerful under any conditions and kindly disposed toward everyone with whom he came in contact. He was married in 1910 to Miss Louise Weston who with two daughters survives him.— W. 8S. Mrs. KATHARINE REBECCA STyER, an Associate of the American Orni- thologists’ Union for fourteen years, died of pneumonia on January 20, 1917, at her residence in Concordville, Pa. She was born November 1, 1859, at Chester Heights, Pa., the daughter of Henry Lincoln Paschall and Anna Thompson Pancoast, and was married in 1880 to Mr. J. J. Styer. Soon after her marriage she took up the study of birds, and with no as- sistance but such as she could obtain from some of the older ornithological books, she acquired a remarkably thorough knowledge of the local avifauna and since 1902 has been one of the most reliable members of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club’s migration corps. She was also deeply inter- ested in the work of the Pennsylvania Audubon Society and did much to encourage the study of ornithology among boys and girls of her acquaint- ance. Mrs. Styer’s interest in birds was far above that of the average bird lover, she was all that this term implies and a good ornithologist besides.— W.S. 242 Notes and News. ‘Sn Tue Annual Meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club was held on January 4, 1917, at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. The election of officers for the present year resulted in the choice of Henry W. Fowler, president; George H. Stuart 3rd, vice-president; J. Fletcher Street, secretary; Dr. Samuel C. Palmer, treasurer and Dr. Spencer Trotter, editor of ‘Cassinia.’ The Club held fifteen meetings during 1916, which were well attended, as were the field trips conducted during the spring. THOSE who have on so many occasions derived pleasure from the bird portraits that have appeared from the brush of Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes have now the additional pleasure of seeing what he has been able to do with the larger mammals of North America. Fifty of his paintings have been reproduced in colors in the ‘National Geographic Magazine’ for November, 1916, with text by Mr. E. W. Nelson, chief of the U.S. Biological Survey. Mr. Fuertes’ success with the mammals is quite as striking as with the birds and we are glad to learn that a series of the smaller species is to follow. The ‘National Geographic -Magazine’ has again done a splendid piece of educational work in making this series of pictures available to the public at large. WokrkK in ornithology will be offered again this coming summer at the University of Michigan summer biological station in northern Michigan, under the direction of Professor R. M. Strong. There will be a general course devoted to identification work, primarily, and research for properly qualified students. The station is located in wild country where a number of northern species breed. Further information may be obtained from Dr. George R. La Rue, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. THE well known and old established natural history monthly, ‘The Zoologist,’ having been acquired by Messrs. Witherby & Co., will in future be incorporated with the illustrated monthly magazine, ‘British Birds’, published by the same firm at 326, High Holborn, London, England. Messrs. WITHERBY & Co., have been appointed European Agents for the ‘Journal of the Natural History Society of Siam.” The work is illustrated with plates and figures, and deals with all branches of the Natural History of that Country. ee PUBLICATIONS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION FOR SALE AT THE FOLLOWING PRICES: The Auk. Complete set, Volumes I-X XXII, (1884-1915) in origi- nal covers, $108.00. Volumes I-VI are sold only with complete sets, other volumes, $3.00 each; 75 cents for single numbers. Index to The Auk (Vols. I-XVII, 1884-1900) and Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club (Vols. I-VIIT, 1876-1883), 8vo, pp. vil + 426, 1908. Cloth, $3.75; paper, $3.25. Index to The Auk (\ols. XVIII-XXVII, 1901-1910), Svo, pp xviii + 250, 1915. Cloth, $3.00; paper, $2.00. Check-List of North American Birds. Third edition, revised, 1910. Cloth, 8vo., pp. 426, and 2 maps. $2.50, net, postage 25 cents. Second edition, revised, 1895. Cloth, 8vo, pp. xi + 372. $1.15. Original edition 1886. Out of print. Abridged Check-List of North American Birds. 1889. (Abridged and revised from the original edition). Paper, 8vo, pp. 71, printed on one side of the page. 25 cents. Pocket Check-List of North American Birds. (Abridged from the third edition). Flexible cover, 3} X 5? inches. 25 cents. 10 copies for $2.00. : Code of Nomenclature. Revised edition, 1908. Paper, 8vo, pp. Ixxxv. 50 cents. Original edition, 1892. Paper, 8vo, pp. iv + 72. 25 cents. A. O. U. Official Badge. An attractive gold and blue enamel pin, with Auk design, for use at meetings or on other occasions. Postpaid 50 cents. Address JONATHAN DWIGHT (64 We alist 2St, New York, N. Y. American (rnitolagists Unit Check-List of North American Birds Last Edition, 1910 Cloth, 8vo, pp. 480 and two maps of North America, one a colored, faunal zone map, and one a locality map. The first authoritative and complete list of North American Birds published since the second edition of _ the Check-List in 1895. The ranges of species and geographical races have been carefully revised and greatly extended, and the names conform to the latest rulings of the A.O. U. Committee on Nomenclature. The numbering of the species is the same as in the second edition Price, including postage, $2.75. POCKET EDITION A pocket Check-List (3 by 5% inches) of North American Birds with only the numbers and the scientific and popular names. Alternate pages blank for the insertion of notes. Flexible covers. Price, including postage, 25 cents; or 10 copies for $2.00. Address JONATHAN DWIGHT 134 W. 7\Ist St. New York City Vol. XLII Old CONTINUATION OF THE (New Series, BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB ele The Auk } H Quarterly Journal of Ornithology Vol. XXXIV JULY, 1917 No. 3 PUBLISHED BY The American Ornithologists’ Union CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Boston, Mass. | CONTENTS Lire AND WritiINnGs OF Proressor F. E. L. Beau.. By W. L. McAtee. (Plate VI.) 243 Some SuMMER Birps or Nortaarn New Bronswick. By P. B. Philipp and B.S. Bowdish. (Piates VII-LX.) 265 Miss Lawson's REcouLEcTIONsS OF ORNITHOLOGISTS. By Frank L. Burns . : 275 THe STATUS OF THE BLACK-THRIATED LOON (Gavia arctica) as 4 NortH AMERI- can Brrvo. By F. Seymore Hersey : : : H : ‘ 4 5 283 An ImMpROVED OBSERVATION TENT.» By R. M. Sirong. (Plate X.) . 5 < 290 Fiseip Nores on tHe Sertema (Chunga burmeistert). By Howarth S. Boyle . z 294 Tuirty-Two YEARS OF Birp Micration aT Rauerau, NortH Carouina. By C. S. Brimley 5 A 2 ; F 4 SS ee . = 4 : 296 A Revision oF THE Marsa WRENs OF CaLirornia. By Harry S. Swarth . 4 308 NestTING oF THE Froripa GaLLiIncLe. By Verdi Burtch. (Plates XI-—XII.)_. 319 Nores on NortH AMERICAN Birps. II. By Harry C. Oberholser é 4 ; 321 A Synopsis OF THE Races OF Bombycilla garrula (LINN@mUS.) By Harry C: Oberholser 5 5 : 2 330 Gerneraut Nores.— An Early Record of the White-tailed Ptarmigan, 334; Wild Geese at Moose Factory, 334; Wood Duck Removing Young from the Nest, 335; Northern Phalarope in Michigan, 336; The Western Goshawk (Astur atricapillus striatulus Ridg.) in Iowa, 336; Chimney Swift Nesting in a Well, 337; Muscivora tyrannus (Linn.) in Massachusetts, 337; Prairie Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris praticola) Nesting at Newbury, Mass., 338; Starling Nesting near Washington, D. C., 338; A Pennsylvania Starling Roost, 338; Evening Grosbeak at Birdsboro, Pa., 340; The San Lucas Sparrow (Passerculus rostratus gultatus) in California, 340; Nelson’s Sparrow in Vermont, 341; Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrula) in Colorado, 341; Regurgitation in the Bohemian Waxwing, 341; Orange-crowned Warbler (Ver- mivora celata celata) in Cohasset, Mass., 342; The Cape May Warbler at Washington, D. C., in Winter, 343; Kirtland’s Warbler in Wisconsin, 343; Yellow-throated Warbler in Brooklyn, N. Y., 343; Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) Nesting in Southern Connecticut, 344; The Hudsonian Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus subsp.?) in Lycoming County, Pa., 344; Hudsonian Chickadee on Long Island, 345. Recent Lireratury.— Wayne's ‘A List of Avian Species for which the Type Locality is South Carolina,’ 346; Chapin on the Classification of the Weaver-Birds, 347; Pearson's, ‘The Bird Study Book,’:348; Henshaw and Fuertes on North American Warblers 349; Mrs. Bailey's ‘Handbook of Birds of the Western United States,’ 350; Wood's ‘The Fundus Oculi of Birds,’ 350; Mathews’ ‘The Birds of Australia,’ 352; Matthew and Granger on Diatryma, 354; Dabbene on New Species of Geositta and Cinclodes, 355; Chapman on Santo Domingo Birds, 355; Sclater on the Birds of Yemen, 356; Henninger on the Ornithological Work of Dr. E. I. Shores, 356; Rhinebeck Birds and Seasons, 357; Shufeldt on fossil Birds from Florida, 357; ‘ Cassi- nia,’ 358; Shelton’s ‘Land Birds of West Central Oregon,’ 358; McGregor on New or Noteworthy Philippine Birds, 359; The Ornithological Journals, 359; Ornitho- logical Articles in Other Journals, 365; Publications Received, 367. CorresPponpENcE.— Plumage Importation in England, 369; Coloration of Down in Adult Ducks, 369; Subspecific Designations, 370. Norres anp News.— Obituaries: Dr. Edward Pierson Ramsay, 376; Newell A. Eddy 376; Norman DeWitt Betts, 377; Samuel Thorne, 378; Henry W. Marsden, 378; Sociedad Ornithologica del Plata, 379; Youngstown Bird Preserve, 379; Expedition to Nicaragua, 379; Expedition to Labrador, 379; Secretary Sage’s Birthday, 379; Exploration in Arizona, 379; Resolution on Bird Treaty, 380; Book Notice, 380. ‘THE AUK,’ published quarterly as the Organ of the American ORNI- THOLOGISTS’ UNION, is edited, beginning with volume for 1912, by Dr. Wirmrer STONE. Terms :— $3.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num- bers, 75 cents. Free to Honorary Fellows, and to Fellows, Members, and Asso- ciates of the A. O. U. not in arrears for dues. Tue OFrricE OF PUBLICATION Is AT 30 Boytston St., CamprinGe, Boston, Mass. Subscriptions may also be addressed to Dr. JonatHan Dwiaut, Business Manager, 134, W. 7ist Sr., New York, N. Y. Foreign Subscribers may obtain ‘Tue Auk’ through WirHERBYy & Co., 326, High Hoitsorn, Lonpon, W.C. All articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, may be sent to DR. WITMER STONE, ACADEMY OF NATURAL SciENCES, LOGAN SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Manuscripts for general articles should reach the editor at least six weeks before the date of the number for which they are intended, and manuscripts for ‘ General Notes’, ‘ Recent Literature’, ete., not later than the first of the month preceding the date of the number in which it is desired they shall appear. HE AUK VOls SXONDVe PLATE VI. THE AUK : A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. NOG ORE XIV: JOLY 19eL7, No.3: LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PROFESSOR F. E. L. BEAL.! BY W. L. MC ATEE. Plate VI. On Saturday, September 30, 1916, Professor Beal was in his usual health and busy all day at his accustomed tasks in the Biologi- cal Survey. On the next day, October 1, while at home and work- ing with his flowers, he was fatally stricken with cerebral hemor- rhage. All things point to the conclusion that loss of consciousness, if not death itself, was instantaneous. It was a good way to go and the Professor himself had often expressed a wish for such a passing. He had returned to Washington only a short time before, from a vacation spent in the land of his youth and was especially pleased with the trip. Professor Beal was in the 77th year of a life which began January 9, 1840, at South Groton (now called Ayer), Middle- sex County, Massachusetts. Professor Beal’s father, J. Foster Beal, at various times was a school teacher, teacher of penmanship, overseer of the poor, foreman of a railroad construction gang and farmer. He died of tuberculosis when his son was about 8 years of age. The career of the boy subsequent to the death of his father, I quote from an incomplete biographical sketch left by Professor Beal. “It became evident, “he writes, “that in taking 1 Professor Beal’s given mames in full are: Foster Ellenborough Lascelles. 243 244 McAteg, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. [ae care of my father in his last sickness, my mother had also con- tracted the disease and could not long survive. Her one thought was to provide for me. For this purpose she took me and visited Nathaniel C. Day of Lunenburg, Mass., who was her cousin once removed. He was a bachelor about 38 years of age and lived upon a farm where he kept a housekeeper and several hired men. He agreed to take care of me until I was of age. My mother left me the very day we arrived at the farm and I never saw her again alive. This was in early October, 1850, and she died the following December. I lived with Mr. Day on this farm for the next four- teen years. He had various housekeepers during the next three or four years but finally secured the services of Miss Harriet L. Gray. After she had worked for him for about a year, they were married. This lady took some interest in me and my tastes. I was a rather shy, quiet boy fond of reading and of nature. The other house- keepers and the hired men all thought this was nonsense. Mrs. Day, however, thought differently and encouraged me to get an education and make as much as possible of myself.” Here you will join me, I am certain, in saying “All honor to Harriet Day.” Even that were weak praise for one who recog- nized the spark of intellectual power in this orphan boy, sheltered and aided it until it became a steady flame, past the danger of smothering or of being totally extinguished in the vitiated at- mosphere of rustic indifference. We have Professor Beal’s own words that he was “fond of nature” even in his early years. He has told me of some of his earliest memories relating to natural history: of finding a snake swallowing a frog; of watching a downy woodpecker drilling holes in an apple tree; and of being acquainted with all the flowers along the course he took the cattle to and from their pasturage. He loved nature, and when I tell you he was fortunate enough, in these early years to read Gilbert White’s “Natural History of Selborne,”’ you will understand he never could have slackened in this affection. Continuing the account of his life in the Professor’s own language (the period now being subsequent to his attaining majority): “During the ten years,! that I had been on the farm, I had been so 1 Up to the time he was of age; it is believed he was formally apprenticed. — Yet) McAtex, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 245 kindly treated by Mrs. Day, that having no other, I had come to look upon this as a home. So I remained working upon the farm of which I was now practically the foreman. My love of learning was such that, encouraged by Mrs. Day, I had demanded and obtained the privilege of attending several fall and spring terms at the Academy in Lunenberg, in addition to the regular winter term of the district school. In 1860 I attended the fall term of Lawrence Academy at Groton and was at school there when Abraham Lincoln was elected.” “In the turbulent times that followed his election and the secession of many of the southern states, I was very anxious to enlist in the Federal Army, but Mrs. Day always dissuaded me. After the disaster of our arms at Bull Run, I insisted that it was my duty to go and opposition was withdrawn. I enlisted in Company A of the 36th Massachusetts Regiment, recruited at Fitchburg, and went into camp at Worcester, Mass.” Professor Beal’s regiment together with one from Maine was embarked on the transport Merrimac. One of the first entries in his diary! shows that his interest in natural history was irre- pressible. On September 4, he notes “Last night I observed the phenomenon of the phosphorescence of the ocean.” The regiment arrived at Alexandria, Va., September 6, and was transferred to Washington, D. C., the next day. Marching at intervals they reached Frederick, Md., September 18. At this period they could hear the cannon at the Battle of Antietam, and met prisoners and wounded men being taken to Washington. Professor Beal says “Tt was a ghastly sight. The pale drawn faces and bloody bandages made an impression that time has never effaced. It was a de- pressing introduction to the grim realities of war.” The regiment proceeded to a point near Harper’s Ferry where it was incorpo- rated in a brigade and was reviewed by President Lincoln and Generals McClellan and Burnside on October 3. Professor Beal says “Saw all three of these worthies and took notes.’ After being marched about the country more or less aimlessly, Professor Beal was taken sick with chills and fever at Point of Rocks, Md., October 20. He was left behind and ordered to go to the Con- 1 Professor Beal kept a diary during his Civil War experience and continuously from Jan. 1, 1864, until the day before his death. 246 McAteE, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. [uty valescents Camp at Harper’s Ferry. He did so, and by November 10, after enduring considerable hardships, reached a similar camp at Alexandria, Va. Here the men lived in tents and looked after themselves, so they could hardly be said to be receiving treatment. On December 8, he says “the Doctor put his ear to my breast and then told me to go to the hospital.’’ Nothing came of this order, however, and on December 29, while still in camp he was examined and recommended for a thirty day furlough. The furlough papers were not received until January 12. He left Washington the next day, reached New York and took a boat for New London. On the boat, he says “I took off my clothes for the first time in over four months and went to bed.’”’ On February 5, he was discharged from the service of the United States. An epitome of Professor Beal’s soldiering is: that he was sub- jected to unnecessary exposure, due to the unpreparedness of the nation in military ways, and fell a victim to the same disease that had taken both of his parents and was then discharged for disa- bility. However, as the long subsequent course of his life attests, Professor Beal made a complete recovery. After his discharge from the Army, the young man returned to life on the farm on which he grew up. He had a financial nest- egg derived from a small legacy from his mother’s estate and wages received on the farm during the later years of his apprentice- ship, and he now built a greenhouse and attempted to establish a market-gardening business. He was occupied with this and work on the farm from February, 1863, to December, 1865. Entries in his diaries show that study was not neglected during this period, and notes on birds and insects are frequent. It was at this time that he made the observations on the assembling of moths which he published several years afterward. On January 1, 1866, he began working as a gardener for a florist in Fitchburg, a position he held until the end of March, 1867. Evidently, it was at about this time that the idea of going to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came to him. He visited Boston March 23, probably for a preliminary investigation, but he notes also that he visited the Natural History rooms — undoubtedly those of the Boston Society. From April to September, 1867, he lived with his foster-parents, the Days, at Leominster and prepared for the entrance examination to ee ee — Nea | McAtexr, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 247 the Institute. This he passed on October 5 and class work was begun October 7. At the end of his 1867 diary, he remarks “I have been sitting alone studying all the evening, thinking of the past and trying to look forward into the dark, misty future, and wondering what another year has of joy or sorrow, in store for me; but joy or sorrow it matters little which, a few short years and both will be as naught in the light of a higher and nobler future.” During the summer vacation of 1868, he superintended the out- side work of prisoners of the Leominster jail, and at the end of the summer cared for his foster parents, both of whom were sick. Mrs. Day died in December, 1868, a great loss to the young man. Other- wise the school year of 1868-9 was uneventful. In the summer of 1869, he took a leisurely western trip by way of Chicago, Burlington, Iowa, up the Mississippi River to St. Paul, back to Prairie du Chien, Wis., Niagara Falls, N. Y., and home. Besides this, he made two short camping trips, one of them in New Hampshire. The next summer vacation was taken up by several similar outings. From the second year on, throughout his course, Professor Beal was President of his class. He was older than most of his class- mates and evidently filled well the réle of an elder brother. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was young and when Professor Beal graduated in 1872, he was the oldest living graduate, a distinction which he naturally held the remainder of his life. During his third and fourth years at the Institute, he taught lower classmen, which sufficiently indicates that his record was a good one. The entry in his diary for March 17, 1870, is: “Delivered my first lecture today.” Professor Beal received his degree March 8, 1872, but continued school work until April 29 when he left for the West, his destination being Crete, Nebraska, where he began surveying for the Burling- ton and Missouri River Railroad, which is now known as the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. This season in the prairies gave him an opportunity of studying nature under conditions entirely different from those in New England. From a sketch-book he kept at the time (and he was no mean artist), it is evident he was strongly impressed by the presence of antelope and of the abundant remains of the buffalo. This sketch-book contains pictures also of a horsefly, lubber grasshopper, milkweed butterfly, hog-nosed 4 248 McAtes, In Memoriam F. EH. L. Beal. ay snake, and other animals. Professor Beal often referred to his experiences on this trip; one reminiscence, in particular I remember, related to nighthawks. The birds immediately availed themselves of the newly-laid rails as perches, upon which, according to their custom, they sat lengthwise. They were so abundant, Professor Beal says, that he was certain there were enough nighthawks immediately along the right-of-way, to make a continuous row of the birds on both tracks clear across the state of Nebraska. The work on the railroad ended in November, and Professor returned to Boston. The next year was spent in an attempt to establish a Civil Engineering business at Fitchburg; the field was limited however, and Professor began teaching again at the Institute of Technology in October, 1873. He taught there one school year, spent the next vacation in Boston and on camping trips, and proceeded October 5, 1874, to Annapolis, Md., where he had secured a position as Pro- fessor of Mathematics in the United States Naval Academy. The position was held only one year, but I imagine that this was not a serious disappointment to the Professor. The system of formal calls demanded by the naval social code, irked him considerably, and it is certain he would not have stayed indefinitely at the Naval Academy. During the spring of 1875 he actively collected natural history specimens around Annapolis, particularly birds, of which he mounted a number. He returned to Boston June 26. The following summer and winter were passed in Boston and Fitchburg and in short excursions in New England. March 20, 1876, was an important date in Professor Beal’s life, as it was then he started for Ames, Iowa, to take a position in the Agricultural College there; where he met the girl he was to marry and where he remained for the next seven years. After the first semester at Ames, he took an Eastern trip of about a month’s duration, attending the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia and visiting in Boston and Fitchburg. On his next visit to the east which began in November, 1876, he was married on his 37th birth- day, January 9, 1877, to Mary Louise Barnes,! at Cortland, N. Y. 1 Mrs. Beal was born at Bath, N. Y., July 22, 1844, and was educated in the Elmira Female College, and the Lyons Musical Academy. She has published two books for boys under the titles: ‘“‘A Misunderstood Hero” and “‘ Boys of Cloverdale.’’ Professor Beal is survived also by a son Kenneth Foster Beal who was born March 20, 1880. 0 a ae Ne | McArter, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 249 The newly married pair spent their honeymoon in Professor Beal’s old haunts in Massachusetts and proceeded to Ames, Iowa, in March, 1877. Professor Beal went to Ames as professor of civil engineering. On July 23, 1879, he notes, “heard my first class in Natural History”’ and on July 24, he was elected Professor of Zodlogy and Compara- tive Anatomy. In his 39th year, therefore, he finally was enabled to take up as a vocation what all his life had been his favorite avocation. The occasion must have been a happy one though possibly tinged with regret for the lost time. There is no doubt that Professor Beal took the course in Civil Engineering at the Institute of Technology chiefly because he did not know that a living could be made in Natural History. However, he was destined to work almost continuously in that field for the next 38 years, longer than most people are able to follow out any one line of endeavor. During his stay at Ames, Professor Beal worked unceasingly at natural history problems; the long vacation in the midwinter was occupied largely in study of minute forms with the microscope, in research in comparative anatomy, and in collecting and mount- ing birds and mammals. He wrote numerous articles on the birds of Iowa which were published in Iowa newspapers, and sent a number of short contributions to the American Naturalist. It was at this period that his interest in the economic value of birds came to the fore; he examined the contents of birds’ stomachs and his accounts of various species always contained some discussion of the food habits. Professor Beal’s early studies of Economic Ornithology, thus were strictly contemporaneous with those of Professor S. A. Forbes of Illinois. These two are the founders of the scientific method of studying the economic value of birds. Professor Forbes dealt with the subject in a broad, philosophical way, but soon gave it up, while Professor Beal devoted himself practically for the remainder of his life to piling up detailed evi- dence, leaving the general principles to become apparent of them- selves. In an article published while he was at Ames, Professor Beal gave the famous estimate that the tree sparrows of Iowa annually destroyed 196,000 bushels of weed seeds, which has been quoted hundreds of times, and which apparently will go on forever. Perhaps, the greatest privilege enjoyed by Professor Beal at a July 250 McAtTeE, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. Ames was association with intellectual men interested in the things that he had previously been compelled to study alone. Among these men were Charles E. Bessey, the botanist, Herbert Osborn, the entomologist, A. S. Welch, President and professor of philo- sophy, W. H. Wynn, Professor of English Literature, J. H. Ma- comber, Professor of Physics, T. E. Pope, Chemist, and Charles Aldrich, who like himself was interested chiefly in birds. A number of the professors including Professor Beal formed a dining club known as the Lamellibranchophagists. This organization no doubt was modeled after the contemporaneous New York Society called the Ichthyophagists, and Professor Beal was interested in the latter to the extent of sending a shipment of Iowa river mussels for trial at one of the dinners of the club. During the last year he spent at Ames, 1882-83, Professor Beal gave courses in geology. In September of that year he went to Massachusetts and bought a farm near that on which he had grown up. Returning to Iowa he made all preparations to move the family and they were settled on the farm in December, 1883. Here he remained for the next eight years, with the exceptions of a stay in Chicago, where he taught mathematics in the Manual Training School from January to June, inclusive, 1886, and in Washington where he held a temporary appointment in the Divi- sion of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy from December 16, 1886, to June 30, 1887. Even when isolated from the intellectual world and occupied with the daily round of duties on his New England farm, Professor Beal did not give up his interest in scien- tific things. He lectured to the Grange and State Agricultural Association on various scientific subjects, and it is interesting to note, gave an address to the Lunenberg Farmers’ Club on ‘The Usefulness of Birds.’ At this time he still wrote articles on birds for publication in the Iowa Homestead. Professor Beal’s second and permanent term of service in Wash- ington began February 17, 1892, five years after his temporary appointment. Thereafter he worked for the Biological Survey continuously for more than twenty-four years, making a total of about twenty-five years spent in professional pursuit of the science of Economic Ornithology. During his short period of service in 1886-7, Professor Beal spent his time in making digests of answers ee Wao | McAter, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 251 to questionnaires on the rice-bird or bobolink and on the English sparrow. He also studied the distribution of the latter species and prepared the range map published in Bulletin 1, 1889. Up to the time of Professor Beal’s second appointment, the Biological Survey had not succeeded in finding a man to carry on systemati- cally the examination of bird stomachs. Professor Beal proved to be the best possible choice as he threw himself immediately at the task, and except for intervals spent in field work and in pre- paring reports, kept steadily at it throughout his career. To what purpose he labored may be judged by the results. The grand total of bird stomachs examined by Professor Beal for the Biological Survey is 37,825, an average of more than 1500 per year. This enormous number includes birds of almost all families, but Pro- fessor Beal paid particular attention to the woodpeckers, the Icteridze, cuckoos, flycatchers, thrushes, and swallows, upon all of which he wrote reports. He made a study also of the mockers, wrens, thrashers, titmice, creepers, nuthatches, and kinglets, but did not report upon them. Professor Beal performed five pieces of field work for the Biologi- cal Survey; he collected material for the reference collections, and studied the feeding habits of birds, particularly nestlings, in Massa- chusetts, from June 11 to September 14, 1898. From May 22 to September 22, 1901, and from February 16 to October 1, 1903, and April 6 to December 11, 1906, he worked in California. From July 7 to November 25, 1909, he investigated birds in Washington, Oregon, and California. The results of the first three California trips are embodied in two 100-page bulletins on Birds of California in Relation to the Fruit Industry. Professor Beal was sole author of 20 publications of the Biological Survey, one of which — ‘The Swallows, a Family of Valuable Native Birds’ — has not yet been issued. He collaborated on four other bulletins, treating in a popular way, the economic value of a large number of common birds. His Farmers’ Bulletin entitled “Some Common Birds in Their Relation to Agriculture (F. B. 54, 1897, revised 1904, re- written as F. B. 630, 1915) has been reprinted more than 50 times and over a million copies distributed. It has had the largest circulation of any Biological Survey publication, and probably indeed of any publication on American Ornithology. 292 McAtex, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. ne On the basis of his work in Economic Ornithology, Professor Beal must be given a large share of credit for the progress that bird protection has made in the United States, and we have the most advanced laws in existence. He did more than any other man to reveal the basic facts that were needed to convince the so-called “practical” men of the value of bird protection. He often re- ferred to the Audubon Societies as the army, fighting for bird protection, but, he said, we furnish the ammunition. His non-official publications included ten Short articles in the “American Naturalist,’ and ‘Forest and Stream,’ numerous news- paper articles, mainly in the ‘Iowa Homestead’ and ‘Iowa State Register,’ and a few others in ‘The Auk,’ ‘Science,’ etc., and most important of all, his paper on “Birds as Conservators of the Forest”’ in the ‘Report of the New York Forest, Fish and Game Commis- sion’ for 1902 and 1903. Professor Beal also diffused knowledge of Economic Ornithology, to a certain extent, by lecturing. He read a paper on the food habits of birds at Carlin Springs, Va., in 1895, before the State Horticultural Society of New Jersey, and the Eastern New York Horticultural Society in 1899, and the California Academy of Sciences in 1901. He gave shorter talks on the same subject at meetings of the Fitchburg Grange, Potomac Valley Ornithological Club, Biological Society of Washington and Cooper Ornithological Club. Professor Beal’s connection with the American Ornithologist’s Union dates from 1883 when he was elected an active member. This membership was allowed to lapse, however, and he was re- elected in 1887 and made a fellow in 1901. He attended nine meetings of the Union as follows: 1892 and 1895, Washington; 1896, Cambridge; 1898 and 1902, Washington; 1903, Philadelphia; 1903, San Francisco; and 1910 and 1914, Washington. At the 1898 meeting, he read a paper on “Polygamy among Oscines.”’ Professor Beal was a member also of the Cooper Ornithological Club, being transferred to the honorary roll in 1910, and of the Biological Society of Washington. He was one of the organizers of the Potomac Valley Ornithological Club (December 22, 1892) of which he was elected vice-president, January 16, 1893. This organization was short-lived, its activities merging into those of iene Mai3 > Ce | McArerx, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 293 the Biological Society of Washington. Professor Beal, however, never tired of referring to one feature connected with its organiza- tion, that being, the perfection of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Club. Frank Hitchcock, then a member of the Biological Survey, later Postmaster General of the United States was on the Committee, and his persistence in pointing out ambiguities of language and dangers of misinterpretation, resulted in giving his fellow committeemen several evenings of stiff work on a document which they, otherwise, probably would have completed at one sitting. All were agreed, however, that the finished product was strictly iron-clad, and a veritable model of its kind. Professor Beal was a member also at one time of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, and for many years of the Massachusetts State Grange. Having thus sketched the career of Professor Beal, it remains to appraise it. In estimating the results of his life, we must not forget the early disadvantages: his being orphaned, his struggle for an education, the comparative lack of encouragement, and total absence of advisors qualified to help him choose a career. Yet the ambition and determination were there, and although most things came to him unusually late in life, he patiently forged ahead. Taking his life as a whole, the guiding star was love of nature. It was in him early and the ‘ Natural History of Selborne’ fixed it. Like I know not how many of us, he was also inspired by the writings of Hugh Miller. ‘The Testimony of the Rocks,’ and ‘The Old Red Sandstone,’ fired him with a zeal to callect fossils, but the metamorphic rocks about his early home yielded not one. It was not until he went to Iowa, as a teacher, that he saw fossils, and then he found them everywhere. They were in the sidewalks, in the building stones and even the roads were paved with broken crinoids; what a reward it was for his years of waiting! Professor Beal was a florist by profession and by choice; he never gave up working with flowers and he died among them. Hardly one of his diaries but was used to preserve small specimens of plants in which he was interested. Professor had the enviable experience of spending a day in a field excursion led by Louis Agassiz, and he never ceased to refer to it with the greatest pleasure. He was always an interested 254 McAteg, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. [fas listener to the natural history experience of others, and from the enthusiasm he showed and care he took in conveying information asked for, I have no doubt he was an excellent teacher. Further evidence of this is his assertion that teaching was the hardest work he ever did. In reviewing Professor Beal’s career, an unusual handicap under which he labored must not be forgotten. For the greater part of his life he was subject to serious nose-bleeding and to violent sick- headaches. For many years, at least one day in seven, saw him incapacitated for duty. It is not surprising, therefore, that at times he manifested a tendency toward the blues. This did not interfere, however, with the development of a keen sense of humor. He greatly appreciated a good story and never lacked a better one bo. Gap it. Despite the presumption that he should have inherited a weak constitution from his parents, and the fact that his vitality was subjected to the severe strains above-noted, physically, Professor Beal was a marvel. Up to his 70th year he was equal to another man in his prime. At that period he took all day tramps with me, leaped over brooks and vaulted fences with ease. Symptoms appearing subsequently, and which probably were the first warnings. of angina pectoris, together with the advice of doctors, caused him to adopt as a matter of policy, a less strenuous life. Nevertheless, he rendered full service to the Biological Survey, up to the very day of his death, besides overseeing and personally doing much of the work required to keep going a 3-acre flower, truck, and chicken farm. Bodily, he failed a little, and his memory for some things became impaired, but these changes were noted only by those who had known him long. In no sense of the word could he have been called feeble. He was indeed a grand old man and was so recog- “nized by everyone. Professor Beal held vigorous views and before he adopted the more staid behavior of an elderly man, was prone to express himself freely when occasion arose. He grew really eloquent at such times and often I have felt thrilled at the power of his thought and speech. Professor was not a religious man but his life was as blameless as if it had been guided by the most perfect religion. I believe I — ieee | McAtTeEE, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 250 am absolutely correct in saying that in his relations to other people, Professor Beal was always in the right. That is a great deal to say; 1t means devotion to— nay it means more — means living the Golden Rule. Yet my calm judgment is that he succeeded in doing just that. It is unnecessary, therefore, to add that he won the admiration and affection of all who became acquainted with him. Fortu- nately, his was not a case in which expression of these sentiments was deferred until after death. On his 70th birthday, the staff of the Biological Survey united in congratulating him and in pre- senting him with a loving cup. Dinners or luncheons were ten- dered him on all of his recent birthdays, and the occasion of his 75th, January 9, 1915, is thus recorded in his diary. “The boys took me to Harvey’s and stuffed me with oysters, and then pre- sented me with a beautiful piece of cut glass.”’ As noted at the outset, Professor Beal was in his 77th year. In all probability, therefore, death could not have been long deferred. Is it not much better, then, that it came before there was marked impairment either physical or mental? Certainly that is the way it appears to me, and the conviction that all was for the best for him, checks the feeling of sadness, which, after all is selfish in origin. Our nobler impulses prompt us only to high appreciation of his long career so honorable and useful, of a most admirable growing old, and of a passing that was really enviable. Professor Beal lived the life of a man, unafraid, and was fortunate enough to die in the harness. Our memories of him, therefore, can only be of one well and vigorous, alert of mind, a hard worker and a good companion. [If all lives were as productive and all natures so open and honest, it would indeed be a better world. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Much of Professor Beal’s earlier writing was published in news- papers, and is practically lost. In a scrap-book kept by the Pro- fessor are clippings of the newspaper articles hereunder listed, exact references to which are lacking. Most of the sketches were pub- lished in the Iowa State Register and in an editorial note included 256 McAtex, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. way with them, we are informed that they appeared in the Sunday editions of that journal. The Editor further states with reference to the articles: “They are by Professor Beal of the chair of Zoology in the State Agricultural College, and we consider them, modest as they are, to have decided merit. No one who has intelligent sympathy with the charming little world of bird life, can begin to read one of the articles without finishing it..... Several of our most intelligent and critical readers tell us they are charmed with them and that all the articles....have gone into their scrap- books.” In a letter to the editor sent from Webster City, Iowa, probably by Charles Aldrich, is high praise of Professor Beal’s writing. “He is master of a bright, lively, piquant style of writing and is never dull and prosy. He reminds us of Dr. Elliott Coues, and that is praise enough to award any writer on birds.” Following is a short extract from one of the sketches to illustrate Professor Beal’s style. The,subject — The Catbird — is one that inspired Coues also to some of his finest passages. “There is nothing, unless it be the ubiquitous birch, more closely associated with school days in the recollections of the New England country boy, than the catbird. He always declares that he hates a catbird, but there are few of his surroundings with which he would more unwillingly part. The fun of stoning one of these birds is a joy not to be lightly given up and the best part of it is the bird seems to enjoy it as well as the boy, and it is certain that there results no harm to the former while the latter has all the fatigue. Down in the elder thicket by the brookside, when the boy goes to cut a stick of elder to make a pop-gun with which to en- liven the dreary hours of school, the catbird meets him and taunts him with a long drawn m-i-a-u. Fired with rage at this insult he hurls stone after stone with no other effect than to put himself in a heat and waste his hour of nooning, till at last he is late to school, for which he is punished; then, while attempting to make his pop-gun during school time, he is detected, his elder and his dearly beloved jack-knife both confiscated, and he sent in disgrace to sit among the girls for the rest of the afternoon; and all because of that catbird upon whom he vows revenge.” Probably most of the articles were printed during 1876-1883 inclusive, the period of Professor Beal’s residence in -Iowa, but in vay) McAtez, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 250 his diaries I find mention of articles being sent to the Iowa State Register as late as 1893. It is practically certain that a number of newspaper contributions by Professor Beal are entirely buried. For instance his diaries mention articles being sent to the Guide and the Tribune about which nothing further is known. Most of the known sketches appeared in the Iowa State Register; these are listed below in the order in which they are arranged in Professor Beal’s scrap-book. From the Iowa State Register. The House Wren (Troglodites aedon). Description of habits, especially as to choice of nesting site and amount and kind of food consumed. The Swallows. General and food habits of 4 species. The Woodpeckers. Use of their nest cavities by other birds; general notes on habits and food. The Sparrows. General remarks on composition and habits of group; destruction of weed seeds. The Nuthatch and His Friends. General notes on the White-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Downy Woodpecker, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet; value of their services in destroying insects. The Blue Jay (Cyanurus cristatus). General discussion of habits opposing the popular opinion prejudicial to the bird. The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus Baltimore). Comment on colors, nest, and food habits. Iowa Birds. The Purple Grackle (Quiscalus purpureus). Habits and economic value. Iowa Birds. The Catbird (Mimus carolinensis). General habits and summary of food. Birds of lowa. The Shrike or Butcher Bird. (Lanius borealis). General habits and food. Secrets of Bird Life. The Robin (Zurdus migratorius). [sic.] General habits and food. The Birds of Iowa. The Bluebird (Sialia sialis). General habits and food. The Birds of lowa. The Fly Catcher. The habits and economic value of the Kingbird and Pheebe. The Birds of Iowa. The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorzzs). A vivid account of the birds habits, with remarks upon food. 258 McAtes, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. The Birds of Iowa. The Meadow Lark (Sturnella magna). General habits and food. The Birds of Iowa. The Swifts (Choetura pelasgia). Habits; only general remarks on food. The Birds of Iowa. The Little Screech Owl (Scops asio). Description of notes, the color phases, food habits, comment on a captive. The Birds of Iowa. The Horned Lark. Notes on habits and value as destroyers of weed seeds. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (Goniaphea ludoviciana). Description of plumage, habits, and particularly of relations to potato beetles. The Birds of Iowa. Brown Thrush (Harporhynchus rufus). Song, habits, and food. Game-shooting in Iowa. A suggestion as to the farmers and gentlemen sportsmen. Suggestions for curing trespass abuses. Our Iowa Winter Birds. A general account of the winter avifauna; notes on food habits. The Birds of Iowa. The Crow (Corvus frugivorus). General and unfavorable account of the habits. Place of Publication Unknown, Probably the Register. The English Sparrow. Unfavorable account. Usefulness of the Seed-eating Birds. Fringillidee and Horned Lark. From the Iowa Homestead. The Marsh Wren. Notes on the false nests, and song. A Chapter on Snakes. A popular account of the structure and habits. About Bats. Structure contrasted with that of birds; habits. From the Chicago Herald. How Farmers Should Treat the Birds. Protect them, furnish nesting sites, and nest boxes. Prof. Beal’s other publications follow in chronological order. “ Assembling’? among Moths. Am. Nat. 8, No. 4, April, 1874, pp. 234— 236. ; Males of Prometheus moth attracted to vicinity of female cocoon. (Report of the Professor of Civil Engineering) 7th Biennial Rep. Board of Trustees, lowa Agr. Coll. (1876-7), 1877, pp. 90-93. Limited Appropriations Needed from the State. By Budd, J. L. and Pee | McAteer, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 259 Beal, F. E. L. 7th Biennial Rep. Board of Trustees, Iowa Agr. Coll. (1876-7), 1877, pp. 121-125. Relates to roads, garden, and sewer. Birds’ Nests in Unusual Places. Forest & Stream 10, No. 7, March 21, 1878, p. 118. Robin’s nest on ground. Our Most Useful Birds. Trans. lowa State Hort. Soc. 1878, pp. 350- 355, 1879. This article contains the original estimate of the quantity of weed seeds destroyed by winter birds in Iowa: 196,537 bushels. In various forms this statement still has constant currency in the press. Report of the School of Biology. By Bessey, C. E. and Beal, F. E. L. 8th Biennial Rep. Board of Trustees, Iowa Agr. Coll. (1878-9), 1879, pp. 188-190. Report of the School of Civil Engineering. 8th Biennial Rep. Board of Trustees, lowa Agr. Coll. (1878-9), 1879, pp. 195-6. Sandie. The College Quarterly, Iowa Agr. Coll., Ames, 2, No. 2, July, 1879, pp. 45-47. Account of a tame sandhill crane; notes on food. The Northern Waxwing in Iowa. Forest & Stream 13, No. 22, Jan. 1, 1880, p. 947. Occurrence at Ames, Nov., 1879. The Potato Bug Bird Again. Forest & Stream 13, No. 25, Jan. 22, 1880, p. 1005. Rose-breasted Grosbeak eating potato beetles. Greenhouses. The College Quarterly, Iowa Agr. Coll., Ames, 3, No. 2, July, 1880, pp. 32-33. Tardigrades and Eggs. Am. Nat. 14, No. 8, Aug., 1880, pp. 593-594, 3 figs. Eggs laid in shed skin. Report of the Department of Civil Engineering. 9th Biennial Rep. Board of Trustees, Iowa Agr. Coll. (1880-81), 1881, pp. 45-46. Report of the Department of Zoology. 9th Biennial Rep. Board of Trustees, Iowa Agr. Coll. (1880-81), 1881, pp. 47-48. “During the past year one young lady student had made a special study of birds, in relation to their food habits, and has ascertained some important facts,” p. 48. This young lady was Miss M. J. Crossmun, the results of whose studies were published in an article entitled ‘‘Food of Birds” in Trans. Iowa State Hort. Soc. for 1881 (1882), pp. 264-276. A brief introduction is by Professor Beal. Data obtained from stomach examination are given for the Bluejay, Cuckoo, Baltimore Oriole, Kingbird, Robin, Catbird Brown Thrasher, White-throated Sparrow, and Crow Blackbird. In the last instance the information based on 44 stomach analyses is presented in considerable detail. 260 McATeE, Jn Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. [ak hn! Migrations of the Sand-hill Crane. Am. Nat. XV, No. 2, Feb., 1881, pp. 141-142. Drifting backward before wind. A Shower of Cyclops quadricornis. Am. Nat. XV, No. 9, Sept., 1881, pp. 736-737. A “blood rain” in Henry County, Iowa. Does the Crow Blackbird eat Crayfish? Am. Nat. XV, No. 11, Nov., 1881, pp. 904-905. Gastroliths found in stomachs probably picked up as grinding material. Ampelis cedrorum as a Sap-sucker. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club., 7, No. 1, Jan. 1882, p. 54. Taking sap flowing from broken twigs. Nesting Habits of the Horned Lark. Am. Nat. 16, No. 3, March, 1882, pp. 240-241. In very early spring. Report of Committee on Ornithology. Trans. Iowa State Hort. Soc. for 1882, pp. 289-301, 1883. An account of the habits and usefulness of the family of woodpeckers in general and of 7 Iowa species in particular. Twigs Killed by Telephone Wires. Am. Nat. 20, No. 9, Sept., 1886, pp. 806-7. Some Notes on Bird Migrations. Am. Nat. 20, No. 9, Sept., 1886, pp. 817-819. Woodpeckers in Chicago; birds killed at lighted tower. Food Habits of the Cedar Bird (Ampelis cedrorum). Annual Report, U.S. Dept. of Agr., 1892, pp. 197-200. Report upon the examination of 125 stomachs. The Crow Blackbirds and Their Food. Yearbook, U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture 1894, pp. 233-248, fig. 25. This is the most authoritative account of the food of any species of bird, being based upon the examination of 2,258 stomach contents. The Food and Tongues of Woodpeckers. Biological Survey Bulletin 7, 44 pp. 5 pls., 1895. Preliminary report on the food of woodpeckers (pp. 7-33, 1 pl. frontispiece, figs. 1-4). Formal reports on the food habits of 7 species of woodpeckers and brief notes upon 3 others are given. The Meadow Lark and Baltimore Oriole. Yearbook U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1895, pp. 419-430, figs. 110-111. The food habits of both species are fully discussed, and the verdict in each case is in favor of the bird. A Demand for English Names. Auk, 12, No. 2, April, 1895, pp. 192-194. Cites popular use of scientific names, and impracticability of making to order common names. Busy Bird Architects. The Marsh Wren and his Fondness for Con- structing Nests. Washington, D. C., Evening Star, July 6, 1895. Mee | McAtexr, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 261 The Bluejay and its Food. Yearbook U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture 1896, pp. 197-206, figs. 40-42. This is a complete discussion of the range, habits, and economic value of the bluejay. Details are given as to the insect and vegetable food, and experiments to determine preferences of a captive jay are de- scribed. Food of the European Rook (Corvus frugilegus). Science N.S. 3, pp. 918-919, June 26, 1896. Review of paper by M. Hollrung. Birds that Injure Grain, Yearbook U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture, 1897, pp. 345-354. Professor Beal discusses the cause of the increase in numbers of the principal grain-eating birds, outlines the damage done, and gives some- what extended accounts of the food habits of 5 species, particularly in relation to grain. Four other species are briefly mentioned. Recent Investigations of the Food of European Birds. Auk 14, No. 1, Jan. 1897, pp. 8-14. Review of John Gilmour’s article on rook, starling, and wood-pigeon, M. Hollrung on rook, and comparison of food-habits of rook with those of American crow. Some Common Birds in their Relation to Agriculture. Farmers’ Bulle- tin 54, 40 pp. 22 figs. May, 1897. Revised edition. 48 pp. 22 figs., March, 1904. See discussion under Farmers’ Bulletin 630, 1915. Cuckoos and Shrikes in their Relation to Agriculture. Biological Survey Bulletin 9, 26 pp. 1 pl. 1 fig. 1898. The food of cuckoos (pp. 7-14, fie wl) i After noting briefly the general habits of the Yellow-billed and Black- billed Cuckoos, this bulletin treats their food habits collectively. Some of the Economic Relations of Birds and their Food. Proc. 24th Ann. Session N. J. State Hort. Soc., Jan., 1899, pp. 104-129. The Feeding Habits of the Chipping Sparrow and the Winter Food of the Chickadee. Bird-Lore 1, No. 3, June, 1899, pp. 97-98. Review of 2 papers by Clarence M. Weed. [Review]. Bird-Lore 1, No. 4, Aug., 1899, pp. 133-4. Review of an article entitled “Birds” by Annie M. Grant and of “The Birds of Ontario in relation to Agriculture by Chas. W. Nash.” Food of the Bobolink, Blackbirds, and Grackles. Biological Survey Bulletin 13, 77 pp. 1 pl. (map). 6 figs. 1900. This bulletin contains formal reports on the food habits of the Bobo- link, the Cowbird, and 7 species of blackbirds. Tabulations of the princi- pal food items, by months, follow the general account of each species, and diagrams graphically conveying the same information are given for the Bobolink, Cowbird, and Red-winged Blackbird. How Birds Affect the Orchard. Yearbook U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture, 1900, pp. 291-304, figs. 34-38. bee 262 McAtes, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. Birds affect orchards directly by stealing fruit, feeding upon buds, flowers, or the inner bark and sap of the trees, and indirectly by destroying mammals and insects injurious to orchards. This article gives brief accounts of the birds most important in these relations. Remarks on Economic Value of Nighthawks. Educational Leaflet No. 1, Nat. Comm. Audubon Soc., Jan. 1, 1903, pp. [2-4]. The Relation of Birds to Fruit Growing in California. Yearbook U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture 1904, pp. 241-254. Most of this article is devoted to the discussion of the species injurious to fruit, but some of the chief enemies of fruit pests are briefly mentioned. Birds as Conservators of the Forest. Rep. New York Fish and Game Commission 1902-3 (Nov., 1906), pp. 236-274, 2 figs., 14 colored plates. A fresh and important discussion of the birds that have especial relation to forests. Birds of California in Relation to the Fruit Industry. Part I. Biological Survey Bulletin 30, 100 pp. 5 pls. (1 colored), Nov. 11, 1907. The food habits of 35 species are fully discussed, including the most important species from the tanagers to the thrushes, in systematic order, together with the linnet, or house finch, the worst fruit pest among the birds in the State. The account of this species is based upon the exam- ination of 1,206 stomachs. The Relations Between Birds and Insects. Yearbook U. 8S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1908, pp. 343-350. The principal points made in this paper are that birds are a very important check upon insects and that their true function is not so much to destroy this or that insect pest as it is to lessen the numbers of the insect tribe as a whole. Birds of California in Relation to the Fruit Industry. Part II. Bio- logical Survey Bulletin 34, 96 pp. 6 colored pls. Aug. 8, 1910. A continuation of Bulletin 30, dealing with 32 species of birds, in the families Tetraonidae to Fringillide inclusive. The conclusion is stated that only four species of birds common in California, can be regarded of doubtful utility. These are the house finch, California jay, Steller jay and red- breasted sapsucker. Food of the Woodpeckers of the United States. Biological Survey Bulletin 37, 64 pp. 6 pls. (5 colored), 3 figs. May 24, 1911. The accumulation of woodpecker stomachs in the 16 years since the publication of Bulletin 7 enabled Professor Beal to present in Bulletin 37 formal reports on the food habits of 16 species, 9 more than were treated in the preliminary report. Brief notes upon the food of 6 other species also are included; the food of 11 species of woodpeckers which were not even mentioned in Bulletin 7 is discussed. Our Meadowlarks in Relation to Agriculture. Yearbook U. 8. Dept. of Agriculture, 1912, pp. 321-324. In this treatise the two North American species of meadowlarks are considered together, as their habits and food are practically identical. In es Vol. XXXIV] = McArex, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. 263 the laboratory 1,514 stomachs were examined, and the birds proved to be mainly insectivorous, with their vegetable food (22.78 per cent) taken mostly in the winter months. The author concludes that the meadow- larks are ordinarily very beneficial, but under certain local conditions, may do appreciable damage, ‘principally to grain. Some Common Game, Aquatic, and Rapacious Birds in Relation to Man. By W. L. McAtee and F. E. L. Beal. Farmers’ Bulletin 497, pp. 30, figs. 14, May 6, 1912. This bulletin contains brief accounts of the food and economic status of 19 birds of which those on the California Quail and Franklin’s Gull were prepared by Professor Beal. The Nighthawk. Educational Leaflet No. 1 (2nd ed.), Nat. Assoc. Audubon Soe., pp. 1-4, 1 pl., 2 figs., July 1, 1912. Entirely revised from original edition of 1903. The Tree Sparrow. Educational Leaflet No. 16, Nat. Assoc. Audubon Soc., 4 pp., 1 pl., 1 fig., July 1, 1912. Food of Our More Important Flycatchers. Biological Survey Bulletin 44, pp. 67, pls. 5 (4 colored), Sept. 19, 1912. This is a formal report on the food of 17 species of our flycatchers based upon examination of 3,398 stomachs. Food of Some Well-known Birds of Forest, Farm, and Garden. By F. E. L. Beal and W. L. McAtee. Farmers’ Bulletin 506, pp. 35, figs. 16, September 25, 1912. The food and economic status of twenty species of birds are briefly discussed. Accounts of the following were prepared by Professor Beal: Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Cali- fornia Woodpecker, Lewis Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ruby- throated Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Arkansas Kingbird, Ash- throated Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Chipping Sparrow, Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Southern Butcher-bird, Audubon Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Fifty Common Birds of Farm and Orchard. By various members of the Biological Survey. Farmers’ Bulletin 513, 31 pp., 50 colored figures, 1913. . The separate accounts of birds prepared by Professor Beal are those on the Bluebird, Robin, Russet-backed Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Myrtle Warbler, Loggerhead Shrike, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Crow Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Bullock’s Oriole, Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Bobolink, Arkansas Kingbird, Kingbird, Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Food of the Robins and Bluebirds of the United States. Department - Bulletin 171, pp. 31, figs. 2, February 5, 1915. This bulletin consists of formal reports on the food of our five species. of Robins and Bluebirds, of which a total of 2,432 stomachs were examined. 264 McAteer, In Memoriam F. E. L. Beal. ere Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer. Farmers’ Bulletin 630, pp. 27, figs. 23, February 13, 1915. In this bulletin are discussed the food habits of 59 species of birds. The bulletin was prepared to take the place of Farmers’ Bulletin 54 origi- nally issued in 1897 which contains summaries of the food habits of 28 species and brief references to the nature of the food of 8 others. The revised edition (1904) contains 40 specific summaries and notes on 14 species. Farmers’ Bulletin 630 is the one article on bird food to have if the complete series of bulletins and other publications of the Biological Survey is inaccessible. Many of the food summaries, though brief, are important, being based on the examination of large numbers of stomachs. Farmers’ Bulletin 630 and its forerunners have been reprinted more than 50 times and a total of over a million copies have been distributed. Food Habits of the Thrushes of the United States. Department Bulle- tin 280, pp. 23, figs. 2, September 27, 1915. Bulletin 280 is a formal report on the food of the thrushes, other than the robins and bluebirds, of the United States. There are six species plus subspecies of three and a total of 1,453 stomachs were examined. The Bird’s Impulse to Song. Country Life (London), 39, p. 520, April 22, 1916. In response to a letter about the singing of birds along the battle line in France. Professor Beal shows that various forms of exeitement are apt to inspire song. Common Birds of Southeastern United States in Relation to Agricul- ture. By F. E. L. Beal, W. L. McAtee, and E. R. Kalmbach. Farmers’ Bulletin 755, 39 spp., 20 figs., Oct. 26, 1916. The accounts of the food habits of 13 of the 23 species treated were prepared by Professor Beal. The Swallows, a Family of Valuable Native Birds. Bulletin No. — U.S. Department of Agriculture, 191-. at a THE AUK, VOL. XXXIV. PLATE VII. 1. Nest or Writson’s WARBLER. 2. NeEsT or PHILADELPHIA VIREO. eal Puiniep AND Bowpisu, Birds of New Brunswick. 265 SOME SUMMER BIRDS OF NORTHERN NEW BRUNSWICK. BY P. B. PHILIPP AND B. S. BOWDISH. Plates VII-IX. DurinG the past summer the authors made a second reconnois- sance of the region in northern New Brunswick covered by the previous year’s study of the breeding of the Tennessee Warbler, which was described in ‘The Auk’ for January, 1916. The period embraced by this study in 1915, was from Juné@ 18 to July 2; that in 1916 from June 2 to 27. The nature of the country visited, having been described in the above mentioned paper, repetition of that description is un- necessary. An annotated list of the birds noted follows: Gavia immer. Loon.— Frequently noted. Doubtless breeds. Larus marinus. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GuLL.— A number noted. Larus argentatus. Hrrrine Guitu.— Common and doubtless breeds. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern.— Abundant. Breeds. Phalacrocorax auritus auritus. DovuBLE-cRESTED CoRMORANT.— A few noted. Mergus serrator. Rrp-BREASTED Mrercanser.— Abundant. Breeds. Anas rubripes. Buack Duck.— Common. Breeds. Marila marila. Scaup Duckx.— Breedssparingly. A few seen through- out our stay, both years, and a parent with brood of small young noted, June 19, 1915. Branta bernicla glaucogastra. Brant.— Two flocks of at least sixty each noted June 3, 1916. Botaurus lentiginosus. Birrern.— A few scattering birds seen and heard during 1916 visit. Ardea herodias herodias. Great BLur Heron.— One noted July 1, 1915. Gallinago delicata. Wutson’s Snipz.— On June 15, 1916, we saw a pair of these birds whose actions gave all the indications of nesting. Under the same conditions, they were noted on several later occasions. The situation was boggy ground of excellent character for the breeding of these birds, but no nest was discovered. Totanus melanoleucus. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS.— A few noted with Black-bellied Plover, June 4, 1916. Actitis macularia. Sporrep Sanppreer.— Fairly abundant breeder. Squatarola squatarola. BuLAck-BELLIED PLover.— A flock of twelve Auk July 266 Puitiep AND BownisH, Birds of New Brunswick. [ or fifteen noted on the day of our arrival, June 2, 1916, and for several days thereafter. fegialitis meloda. Piprnc PLover.— June 5 we found a small colony of breeding birds, five nests, each containing four eggs, being located. The nests were on sandy beach, some in the open, others among sparse clumps of beach grass. They were slight hollows in the sand, some quite unlined, others with a well formed rim of bits of broken shell or slate. The sitting birds usually flushed before they were seen, while the intruder was at a distance of a hundred feet, or more, and, sneaking quietly away, gave no clue to the whereabouts of the nest. If concealment offered, and one observer remained hidden, while the other walked away, the parent bird soon returned to the nest. In most instances incubation was well advanced. Bonasa umbellus togata. CanapiAn Rurrep Grouss.— Common breeding bird. On June 16, 1916, a parent with brood of recently hatched young was observed, and others were noted with young on various occasions during both visits. Accipiter velox. SHARP-SHINNED HawKk.— One noted June 10, 1916. Halizetus leucocephalus leucocephalus. Batp Eacur.— Common. Breeds. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. Osprrey.— One seen June 12, 1916. Asio fammeus. SHoRT-EARED Owx.— June 19, 1915, we found two nests of these birds, each containing five young, in varying stages of devel- opment, the largest being nearly a third grown, the smallest not appearing to be over a week old. In 1916 no birds were seen in the same locality. Ceryle alcyon alcyon. Brtrep KinerisHpr.— Abundant breeding bird. Dryobates villosus leucomelas. NorrHern Hairy WoopPECKER.— A few noted in both visits. A nest with young observed early in June, 1914. Dryobates pubescens medianus. Downy WoopprcKkrer.— Appar- ently breeds sparingly. Nest with young noted June 14, 1916. Picoides arcticus. Arctic ,THREE-TOED WooDPECKER.— June 24, 1915, we found a nest of this species about ten feet up in a hard, bare, dead snag, in a partial clearing. It contained young still too small to appear at the entrance. June 10, 1916, another nest was located, some twenty feet from the ground, in a dead yellow birch, in partial clearing. This nest also contained young, which had left it by the 14th. Picoides americanus americanus. THREE-TOED WoopPECKER.— One seen June 21, 1916. Sphyrapicus varius varius. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.— Com- mon breeding bird. June 7, 1916, one nest contained five fresh eggs, another five well incubated eggs, and of three other occupied nests, which were not investigated, one appeared to have young. On the 9th, another nest held five fresh eggs. Another nest, found on the 14th, evidently con- tained young as we could plainly hear them. The favorite situation was the dead heart of a live poplar, most often on the bank of a stream, and eee. | Puiuipp AND Bowpisu, Birds of New Brunswick. 267 facing same, but some nests were in totally dead trees, of different kinds. They ranged from eight to forty feet from ground. Phicotomus pileatus abieticola. NorrHeRN PILEATED Woop- PECKER.— One noted June 12, 1916. Colaptes auratus luteus. FLicker.— Fairly common. Breeds. Antrostomus vociferus vociferus. Wuip-PooR-wILL.— Several heard. Chordeiles virginianus virginianus. NicgHrHawKk.— Very common. Breeds. One found sitting on two nearly fresh eggs, June 21, 1916. Chetura pelagica. CHIMNEY Swirt. A few noted. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kinasirp. Several noted. Nuttallornis borealis. Oxive-sipep Fiycatcuer. Frequently noted on both visits. Empidonax flaviventris. YrELLOW-BELLIED FiycatcHer. Fairly common. A nest found with one egg on June 21, 1916, on the 24th, con- tained three eggs, on which the bird was sitting quite closely. It was built on the ground in the side of a large tussock of moss on which grew a scant covering of low sheep laurel bushes. The nesting site was an extensive, fairly open tamarack and spruce bog, and the tussock selected for the nest was a few yards from the edge of the thick spruce forest surrounding the bog. The nest was quite open and was a firmly built structure well cupped, composed of a thick foundation of dead fine grass with a few sphagnum moss fronds, well lined with fine dried grasses and some species of fine black rootlets. The three eggs were fresh and measured .69 X .52, .65 X 52, .66 X 52. The nest measured, outside diameter 3 inches, inside diameter 14 inches; outside depth, 2 inches, inside depth 1} inches. The eggs are typical flycatcher eggs and cannot be mistaken for those of any of the small ground nesting warblers, and are of a white ground color, sparsely spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with fine reddish brown spots. Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Buur Jay. Apparently not common. Only one or two noted. Perisoreus canadensis canadensis. Canapa Jay.— Common. On the occasion of our visits the birds were in family parties,— pairs of adults with families of usually three well grown, but dusky young. Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos. Crow.— Common. Breeds. Euphagus carolinus. Rusty BLackpirp.— A number of birds with well grown young seen on both visits. Quiscalus quiscula eneus. Bronzep GRAcKLE.—Abundant. Breeds. Large young observed June 2, 1916. Pinicola enucleator leucura. Pine GrospEak— Two noted June 12, 1916. Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. PurpLe Fincu.— Common. Breeds. Loxia leucoptera. WHITE-wWINGED CrossBILL.— Two June 3, 1916. Astragalinus tristis tristis. GotprincnH.— A few noted. 268 Puitipr AND BowpisuH, Birds of New Brunswick. pak Spinus pinus. Pine Sisxry.— Noted quite commonly in early June, 1916, in pairs. Doubtless breeds. Poccetes gramineus gramineus. VESPER SparRow.— Common. Breeds. Passerculus sandwichensiss avanna. SavaANNAH SPpARROW.— Com- mon. Breeds. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.— One noted. Zonotrichia albiccllis. WuitTrk-THROATED Sparrow.— Abundant breeding bird. Two of the nests found were in small spruces, one being forty inches from ground to bottom of nest, and both unusually bulky. One nest noted contained a lining of moose hair. Spizella passerina passerina. CuippINc Sparrow.— Common. Breeds. Junco hyemalis hyemalis. SLatTe-coLoreD JuNco.— Common. Breeds. Two nests with five eggs each noted. Melospiza melodia melodia. Sona Sparrow.— Common. Breeds. Melospiza lincelni lincolni. Lincotn’s Sparrow.— Apparently not rare. A nest with five fresh eggs was found June 12, one with four small young and another with four well incubated eggs on June 21. These nests are well hidden in tussocks in marshy ground, and are hard to find as the bird sneaks off in a mouse like fashion and easily escapes notice. The nests and eggs largely resemble those of Song Sparrows, the nests noted differing in the absence of hair in the lining. Melospiza georgiana. Swamp Sparrow.— One noted June 10, 1916. Pirangaerythromelas. ScarLteT TANAGER.— One noted June 6, 1916. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons. Cuiirr SwaLttow.— Abundant breeding bird. Hirundo erythrogastra. Barn Swattow.— Common. Breeds. Iridoprocne bicolor. TREE SwaAttow.— Common. Breeds. A nest found June 12, 1916, contained six well incubated eggs. Riparia riparia. Bank SwaLttow.— Common. Breeds. On June 19, 1916, the nests examined in a fair-sized colony contained mostly five fresh or nearly fresh eggs, each. Bombycilla cedrorum. Crpar Waxwine.— Noted commonly. Vireosylva philadelphica. PHrmAapDELPHIA VrrEo.— Three nests with eggs of this species were found during our 1916 visit, and a number of pairs of birds were noted, where the nests were not located. The situations where nests were found, as well as where additional birds were observed, were, in every instance, on islands or along the shores of river bottoms, with a growth of willow and alder. The nests found were in slender forks of alder, at a height varying from ten to seventeen and one half feet (the latter actual measurement). On June 17, two of these nests held four eggs each, the third five, the only set of five vireo eggs of any species, of which we have knowledge. The nests are very beautiful structures, and quite different from those of the other Eastern Vireos. They are most compactly sen le ea Sac aad Asst Nui WOILS OOS PLATE VIII. 1. Nest or OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. Nest or YELLOW PatmM WARBLER. bo Vol. ata | 1917 Puintipe AND Bownitsu, Birds of New Brunswick. 269 built with thick outer walls of strips of birch bark, bits of rotten wood and the outer coverings of coarse weeds, well interlined with strands of a wiry moss (some species of usnea), this outer material giving the nests a tawny appearance, and even though, on June 6, 7 and 8, when the nests were first discovered, the alders were far from being in full foliage, they were very difficult to discern. Fine strands of some tree moss were used to bind the exterior material in position, the abundance of this material varying. Fine whitish shreds of grass and a little black hair formed the lining. One nest measured 22 X 13 inches in depth, and 27 x 13 inches in diameter. The eggs from this nest measured .76 X .53, .73 X .55, .74 X .55, and .75 X .55, m., and were white with dark brown spots and specks, the larger spots tending to have a rusty border, and resemble eggs of the Red-eyed Vireo, though smaller. The markings were rather sparse, fairly well distributed over the whole surface, though tending to greatest abun- dance about the larger ends. The eggs of the other set of four measured 2 Oa Geta 00e 10 >@ 005) ..72 < 4 Iniand: they nest 23 <2 inches outside diameter; 2} 1} inside diameter; 23 outside depth; 1 inside depth, in inches. The birds sit close, and when disturbed from the nest come close about the intruder, with none of the shyness that marked the behavior of Solitary Vireos whose nests we found. Mr. William Brew- ster described the song, in the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. V, 1881, p. 5, as being in general scarcely distinguishable from that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but mentioned that the present species ‘‘ has, however, one note which seems to be peculiarly its own, a very abrupt, double-syl- labled utterance with a rising inflection which comes in with the regular song at irregular but not infrequent intervals.” In our experience with the birds, this distinctive song absolutely predominated with the general impression of a song quite distinctive from that of the Red-eye, or, in fact, of any other Vireo we had heard. These birds have the common scolding note characteristic of Vireos, but, in addition, they gave voice to several rather musical, but apparently protesting notes. In one instance, the female sung a subdued but musical reply to the song of her mate who was at a little distance from the nest on which she sat. Writers refer to color differences as furnishing the key to the identity of this species, but we found, in addition to this, that the difference in size is so apparent as to be very readily noticeable. Lanivireo solitarius solitarius. BLur-HEADBD VirEo.— Common. Breeds. Two nests, each with four fresh eggs, were found on June 7 and 17, respectively. The former was about ten feet from the ground in a slender fork of a cedar tree, the exterior material being bound on with a considerable profusion of tree moss strands. The other was about six feet above the ground, in a spruce fork. Mniotilta varia. Buack AND Wuitrr Warsier.— Not common. Several seen on both visits. Vermivora rubricapilla rubricapilla. Nasavintte Warsier.— In 1916 we found this species far more abundant than we did in the previous [ Auk July 210 PHILIPP AND BowptsH, Birds of New Brunswick. year. Two nests, containing six and four eggs, respectively, were located, the situation and general appearance being much like those of the Tennessee Warbler nests. An unusually situated nest was found in 1915 on dry upland, in a grove of small pines. Vermivora peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER.— To our experiences with this bird in 1915, as described in ‘The Auk’ for January, 1916, we would simply add that our 1916 experiences confirm the former ones. Four- teen nests were found, of which four contained seven eggs each, six con- tained six, three contained five eggs each, and one contained five newly hatched young, which were covered with black down. The earliest nest with five well incubated eggs was found on June 11. A nest was found June 12 containing five fresh eggs, a sixth being laid the following day. In the case of the latest nest, the sixth egg was laid on the morning of June 27 — the day of our departure. The nest of young was found on June 25. Our data for this second visit would seem to indicate that the breeding season is liable to vary considerably with different individuals. Compsothlypis americana usnee. NorrHERN PARULA WARBLER.— One seen, June 15, 1916, a male, in song. Dendroica czrulescens czrulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WaARBLER.— Fairly common. Breeds. Dendroica coronata. Myrrte WarBLer.— Common. Breeds. Dendroica magnolia. Maacnonta Warsier.— Abundant breeding bird. Dendroica castanea. BAy-BREASTED WARBLER.— Common. Nearly every suitable bit of woods contained at least one pair of these birds. Six nests were found in 1915, as follows: one with seven fresh eggs, June 25; one with six fresh eggs, June 26; two with six eggs each, one fresh, the other about half incubated, June 27; one with seven half incubated eggs, June 29; and one with six eggs, incubation advanced, July 1. These nests were in small spruces, two of them being well out on horizontal limbs, the others close to the trunk, at heights varying from four to ten feet. None were very well concealed and some of them were remarkably open, but they blended so well with their surroundings that they were exceedingly difficult to dis- cern. All of the nests of this species that we found resemble large struc- tures of the Magnolia Warbler, being rather loosely constructed, of fine spruce or similar twigs, exteriorly, a little dead grass and some insect webs entering into the composition, and fine, black rootlets being commonly used as a lining. Although the birds were apparently as abundant as in 1916, only three nests were located, one with six fresh eggs June 14, eight feet up, one with six slightly incubated eggs, June 23, fifteen feet from ground, supported by two horizontal branches, against the main stem of a small balsam, near its top, in a clump of same, in partial clearing in spruce forest; the other with six shghtly incubated eggs, twenty feet up against the trunk of a spruce tree at the edge of a clearing. This latter nest was in a very thick portion of the foliage and absolutely invisible from the ground, being found only by flushing the bird. A nest found June 27, SEE eAUIKe VO Oe. PLATE IX. See! y 4 : . pepe Ee ® 1. Nest or Bay-BREASTED WARBLER. NEST OF YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. ree | Puitiee AND Bowpisu, Birds of New Brunswick. 2/1 1915, measured 2.50 X 1.25 inches in depth, and 3.50 X 2.12 inches in diameter. Another found June 23, 1916, measured 2.37 x 1.50 inches in depth and 4 X 2.12 inches in diameter. The eggs in the first of these two nests measured .69 X .52, .69 X .52, .69 X .51, .68 X .52, .70 X .54, .71 X .54. The ground color is a faint greenish-gray shade, heavily marked with spots and specks of reddish brown, with one or two slight washes of lighter tint and lavender shell blotches. The eggs in the other nest measured Hd MeO 400 MDs) C72 5b; © 70 54, ATL XS, © 7S" X (50. : Ehe ground color was rather more grayish than in the former set, thickly marked with lighter reddish brown, more in blotches, with lavender shell blotches. A set of seven measured .73 X .55, .738 X .55, .70 X .54, .73 X .55, .73 X 54; .73 X .55, .73 X .54; and the nest outside diameter 4 inches with a depth of 2 inches; inside diameter 2.15, inside depth 1.15 inches. These eggs were very heavily blotched with reddish brown and lavender, chiefly at the larger end, with a ground color of a pale blue. Some of the nests found were substantial and well built structures, though exteriorly loose, others very frail, one on a horizontal limb being so thin of bottom as to endanger the eggs falling through. The song is of a character quite similar to that of the Blackburnian Warbler, but slightly stronger and louder. It is delivered for long periods, with considerable frequency, and at all times of day, though less frequently toward the middle of the day. It appears that the female sings from the nest, in answer to the male, and the song is markedly weaker, being scarcely distinguishable from that of the Blackburnian Warbler. The approach of an intruder is apt to cause the female to become silent. Dendroica striata. Buack-poLL WARBLER.— Fairly common. Breeds. Dendroica fusca. BLAcKBURNIAN WARBLER.— A not very common breeding bird. Dendroica virens. Buack-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.— Fairly common breeder. A nest with four slightly incubated eggs was found on June 23, 1915, about five feet from ground in little balsam in thick growth of same, in a clearing in the woods, and another, near the same place, and also in a little balsam, the bottom of the nest being only twenty-seven inches from the ground, was found June 19, 1916, containing four fresh eggs. Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. YrLLOw PALM WARBLER.— Fairly common breeding bird in suitable spots. While the majority of the birds and nests noted were in damp, boggy ground, as recorded by Knight in the Birds of Maine, one small breeding colony were nesting on high, dry ground, in a grove of small pines. Here, on June 24, 1915, a nest with four well incubated eggs was found, at the base of a tiny spruce and some shoots, quite unconcealed. Another with four newly hatched young was on a quite bare spot of ground, but concealed under a low hanging branch of a little spruce. On this occasion it appeared probable by the action of the birds, that most nests held young. On June 28 another nest with five eggs was found, incubation almost complete. It was well concealed in a grass tussock in a boggy little creek bed. In 1916, on June 9, a nest with 272 Puitipp AND Bowopisu, Birds of New Brunswick. a four partly incubated eggs was found in the top of a tussock in a bog, under a little spruce, but not very well concealed, and another in a thick little spruce, bottom of nest fourteen inches above ground, containing four fresh eggs. On June 14 a nest was found in a pine grove where, in 1915, birds were noted, containing five young, several days old. It was on dry ground, under a little spruce. On June 15 a nest with four well incubated eggs was found in a tussock in a large bog. Another nest, containing four newly hatched young was found in a tussock in the same bog, June 19. A sixth nest, also containing small young, situated in a tussock in a bog, was found June 20. On June 21, in boggy ground, birds were observed feeding young out of the nest. On June 23 a deserted nest of this species was found in a tussock, well concealed by a small spruce growing over it, containing five eggs in which incubation had advanced prior to desertion. Slight decay of embryos had commenced. Though lacking parent birds, the identity of this nest, owing to composition and situation, was well established. The nest found in the spruce on June 9 was rather more substantial than most of the ground nests, though none were frail. It measured 3.50 X 1.75: inches in depth, and the same dimensions in diameter. It was composed of fine dead weed-stalks, strippings of dead weed bark and dead grasses, lined’ with the finest of same material, and with a few feathers worked into lining. The feathers in nest lining seem to be characteristic of this bird. A set of four eggs measure .74 X .55, .75 X .55, .73 X .55; .76 X .54, and the nest diameter outside 33 inches and inside 2 inches with a depth of 24 inches. outside and 2 inches inside. Another set of four measure .63 X .50, .67 X .52, .64 X .52, .65 & .50, and the nest, diameter outside 3 inches, inside 1.75: inches, outside depth 1.75 inches, inside depth 1.75 inches. A set of five measure .67 X .52, .67 X .52, .67 X .52, .66 X .52, .67 X .52, and the nest outside diameter 3 inches, inside 2 inches, outside depth 2.25 and inside depth 1.25inches. The eggs show little variation, and have a creamy white ground well spotted and blotched with brownish and lavender markings. The sitting Yellow Palm Warbler usually runs, mouse fashion, from the nest, while the intruder is still some feet distant, and it is with greatest diffi- culty and the most acute watching that this movement is detected soon enough to serve as a clue to the immediate whereabouts of the nest. The bird remains silent until well away from the nest, usually until the intruder has been in the vicinity for a few minutes, when it commonly begins a vig- orous chipping, the sharp, strong note characteristic of the species. The song is described in Knight’s ‘ Birds of Maine,’ as a “‘ characteristic whistled or warbled ’tsee, tsee, tsee, tsee, tsee, tsee,’ or ‘ peacie, peacie, peacie, peacie, peacie;’”’ which is doubtless as good a description as the present authors could attempt. At any rate, those familiar with it find it easily recogniz- able. Seiurus aurocapillus. Ovensirp.— Apparently not common. A very few noted on each visit. Seiurus noveboracensis noveboracensis. Water THrusH.— One noted June 25, 1915. Vay | PuHILIPP AND BowptsH, Birds of New Brunswick. 273 Seiurus motacilla. Louistana Water THrusH.— A pair were ob- served feeding young on the wing, June 25, 1915. Notwithstanding the fact that the region is well north of the recognized range of this species, and of the further fact that no specimen was taken, the birds being carefully observed at close range and noted to possess the characteristics of this species, in addition to the immediate comparison with a specimen of S. n. noveboracensis, the authors feel convinced that the identity was correctly designated. Geothlypis trichas trichas. MaAryLanp YELLOW-THROAT.— A quite common breeder. Two nests, each containing four fresh eggs, were noted on June 15 and 23, respectively, 1916, and another with four well incubated eggs on June 25. Wilsonia pusilla pusilla. Wuitson’s WarBLER.— We first noted this bird on June 9, 1916, when two males and a female were observed in the bog where two nests of the Yellow Palm Warbler were found. The actions of these birds indicated that nesting might be under way. On June 16, a nest with five eggs, in which incubation was well commenced, was found in a boggy and quite wet clearing, surrounded by woods, with a consider- able growth of small cedar, tamarack, spruce and balsam saplings. This nest was built in the side of a moss tussock, resting in the angle formed by the abrupt side of the tussock and a little cedar, at the base of which the nest was placed. It was composed of moss, dead leaves, fine weed stalks and grasses, a little hair being mingled with the lining of fine, dead grass. It measured 3.50 X 1.50 inches in depth and 3.50 X 1.75 inches in diame- ter. These eggs, ovate in shape, were white, profusely marked with spots, specks and blotches of rusty, reddish-brown, blotches of lighter shade, and fine specks of lavender, thickest about the larger end, where they formed well defined wreaths. They measured .65 X .47,..65 X .48, .64 X .47, .67 X .49, .66 X .47. On June 10, 1916, a female was observed building, and by watching from concealment, the nest site was located. The first material, consisting of fine reddish roots was just being placed in the cavity, which was carefully hidden within a thick tuft of dried grass along the edge of an old log, near to, but not really in boggy ground. On June 17 this nest was completed and contained one egg. In the very few moments that we were there the birds were not seen. On June 21 the nest contained four eggs, on which the female was sitting. These eggs were a different type from those described above, being quite round and heavily sprinkled with fine reddish- brown spots thickest near the larger end. On June 19 another nest with four fresh eggs was found in a tussock. in the same bog and within a few rods of the spot where the one found June 15 was located. June 21 another nest was located containing five well incubated eggs of the ovate type, which measured .65 X .50, .67 X 47, .66 X .48, .66 X .47, .65 x .46. It was in the same general locality where the birds were first observed on the 9th, but was concealed in heavy grass cover, in a fairly flat spot, and in the midst of a dense tangle of coni- 274 Puitiee AND BowonisuH, Birds of New Brunswick. pie fers and other brush. This nest would probably never have been located, but for the accident of the bird flushing right from our feet. The eggs of the two sets of four were very different in shape, being much rounder. A set measured .61 X .51, .61 X .51, .63 X .51, .68 X .50, and the nest measured, outside diameter 3.50 inches, inside diameter 2 < 1.50 inches, outside depth 2.50 inches, and inside 1.50. Another four measured .61 X .50, .62 x .50, .60 X .50, .62 X .50; and the nest, outside diameter 3 3.25, inside diameter 1.75, outside depth 2.50, inside depth 1.50; all in inches. These eggs were heavily spotted with reddish brown and cinnamon, and the coloring is such as to give a pinkish cast to the eggs even when blown. The nests are typical and readily distinguishable from other ground nesting warblers of the region, being very bulky for such a small bird. In the case of the nest with five eggs, first found, the female continually returned to the nest with intruders close at hand, but others were rather more shy. The male was not noted about the site of occupied nests to any extent, in any instance. The song is compared by Minot to that of the Redstart or Yellow Warbler; is given by Nuttall as “‘ tsh-tshtsh-tshea ”’ and by Goss as ‘“‘ zee- zee-zee-see-e,”’ the latter being indorsed by Knight, who says, “ with a rising inflection on the last e.” Wilsonia canadensis. CaNnapA WARBLER.— Common and doubtless breeds. Setophaga ruticilla. Repstart.— Fairly common. Breeds. A nest was found building on June 28, 1915, and another just completed July 1. Two nests found just completed on June 8, 1916, contained four eggs each on the 17th. These were in willows at a height of about eight feet, in the same locality as the Philadelphia Vireos, while the 1915 nests were in good sized yellow birches in partially cleared woods. Nannus hiemalis hiemalis. Winter Wren.— A few noted. A pair were feeding large young, which were beginning to fly on July 1, 1915. Two of these young birds were caught and banded. Certhia familiaris americana. Brown Creeper.— A nest contain- ing young about a week old, was found June 22, 1916, under loose bark on a dead stub in damp and fairly heavy woods. The bark on which the nest rested had started to break away, requiring repairs on our part to obviate danger of the young birds being prematurely deprived of a home. Sitta canadensis. Rrp-spreastep NutTHatcH.— Common. Breeds. Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus. CxHickapEE.— Fairly common. A nest was found June 17, 1916, containing young. It was ina dead willow stub, only two and one half inches in diameter and five feet in height. Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis. AcapriaANn CHICcKADEE.— Fairly common. One seen carrying nesting material, June 7, 1916. On the 20th, a nest with young was found, about a foot above the ground in a stump, and on the 28rd, in a similar situation, a nest just completed. Regulus satrapa satrapa. GoLDEN-CROWNED KincLeT.— Very com- mon. Breeds. June 26, 1915, a nest was found, hung in the fronds of Nee | Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. 279 spruce branches close to the trunk, thirty feet up. It contained bits of egg shell, and appeared to have been broken up by some mammal. Regulus calendula calendula. RuByY-CROWNED KINGLET.— Com- mon, breeds. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. OLive-BAcKkeD THRusH.— Abun- dant breeding bird. Nests building, just completed or with eggs were found during the entire period of both visits, and with young after the middle of June. Hylocichla guttata pallasi. Hrrmrr THrusH.-— Common. Breeds. Nests with four eggs each, incubation nearly complete, were found June 18, 1915, and June 11, 1916, and a nest with three fresh eggs, June 24, 1916. Planesticus migratorius migratorius. Rosin.— Abundant breeding bird, nests being found everywhere, even out in fairly dense second growth woods. One nest contained young nearly ready to leave it on June 21; another held three nearly fresh eggs, June 24. Sialia sialis sialis. Biursirp.— A very few seen. A nest containing young and one addled egg was found on June 9, 1916. MISS LAWSON’S RECOLLECTIONS OF ORNITHOLOGISTS. BY FRANK L. BURNS. In a batch of papers relating to the life of Alexander Wilson loaned me by the late Frederick B. McKechnie, I found an inter- esting series of letters running from June 21, 1879, to February 20, 1883, signed by Malvina Lawson. The matter which appeared most valuable was copied verbatim but owing to my friend’s desire to publish, it was scarcely drawn upon for my papers on Wilson. Mr. McKechnie’s sad death occurred before he was able to carry out his intention and the original letters having been lost or de- stroyed, it seems desirable to publish my extracts. Miss Lawson was the eldest daughter of Alexander Lawson, who was born in Ravenstruthers, Scotland, December 19, 1773; came to Phila- delphia in May, 1792, and died there August 22, 1846. He is described as a tall thin man of large frame and athletic; full of animation, good feeling and the love of truth, but inclined to be satirical. Miss Lawson says: “My father has been represented as 276 Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. ae speaking broad Scotch which is simply ridiculous, I never heard him use a Scottish word except in jest or in reading his favorite Scottish poets.” He engraved plates for the ‘American Ornithology’ of Alex- ander Wilson and Charles Lucien Bonaparte; George Ord’s un- published work’ on mammals; the ‘Monograph of the Fresh- Water Univalve Mollusca’ of Prof. Samuel S. Haldeman and the ‘Terrestial and Air-Breathing Mollusks’ of Dr. Amos Binney, be- side various illustrations on botany, chemistry and mineralogy. There were eight children, five of whom reached maturity: Malvina, Helen E., Catherine, Oscar A. and Mary, all inheriting the artistic talents of their parent. Malvina and Helen colored by hand most of the plates of Ord’s edition of Wilson’s ‘Ornithology’ and whatever superiority it possesses is entirely due to the skill of the girl artists. It is said that with the beautiful preparations from the Philadelphia Museum for models, they labored steadily at this work for three years and received five thousand dollars, at that time an almost unheard of sum for two young girls to earn. Helen, perhaps the most versatile of the sisters, executed the drawings for the works on conchology by Prof. Haldeman and Dr. Binney, and also engraved the life-sized figure of the Rice Bunting used in Harrison Hall’s prospectus of Wilson’s ‘Orni- thology.’ Oscar was born in Philadelphia, August 7, 1813; learned engraving under his father; was employed by the U. S. Coast Survey at Washington from 1841 to 1851, and died in Philadelphia, September 6, 1854. The surviving sisters, Miss Malvina and Mrs. Mary L. Birck- head, removed to West Chester, Pa., in 1872, where the former died on April 6, 1884. Mr. R. P. Sharples of West Chester, to whom I am indebted for much information, was well acquainted with the sisters and recognized them as ladies of great refinement and culture. Among the family treasures was a handsome oil painting by Miss Malvina of her three sisters and a sketch book containing the work of all members of the family. Miss Lawson was born about 1806; she possessed a strong personality, a vigorous mind and was most loyal to her friends; yet it is to be feared that certain unfortunate events resulting in the loss of long cherished family treasures, somewhat embittered her later days. Mrs. Birckhead, a a rae | Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. 277 who was twenty years younger, survived her sister but a short time and the family is now without a living representative. Miss Lawson writes of her father’s distinguished visitors with an artist’s love of detail and all the frankness of an impressionable child. How well she recalls a little act of kindness by good old William Bartram, and her description of the personal appearance of Alexander Wilson ought to set to rest the talk of his absolute poverty and especially that of his “fingers stiffened by toil and manual labor.” It has been said that Wilson owed little to his engraver, but it is shown here that he sometimes made only an outline drawing leaving Lawson to fill in the details directly from the specimen; and this must be true since drawings of this nature are still in existence. Miss Lawson’s analysis of the character of George Ord can scarcely be excelled. Ord, admirable in many ways, was insanely intolerant of any opposition and was the instigator of the persecu- tion of John J. Audubon by Waterton and others. The only pleasing feature of this attack 1s the refusal of “Good Charles” Bonaparte to allow his judgment to be swayed by the prejudice of his friends. But we shall let Miss Lawson tell of these things in herown way. Of Bartram she writes, “When a child I saw Mr. Bartram. He was a very charming old gentleman and he gave me a very double yellow rose, a great rarity at that time, and every summer we made more than one excursion to the garden.” “The article on the death of [Governor Meriwether| Lewis,”’ she writes, “recalled to my mind hearing my father speak of him as being one of the most proud and sensitive of human beings. The neglect of the Government to ratify the arrangements he had made in good faith, seemed to madden him. He was rather small and dark, in strong contrast to Clark his companion. My father engraved the new Antelope they discovered, and the Horned Sheep of the Rocky Mountains. They certainly were the first animals (mammals) fit to be looked at that were ever PEN in this country.” The Wilson matter follows: “T do not feel certain whether the profile likeness (of Wilson) drawn by Barralet, was taken before or after death. My father said it did not do him justice although it gave some idea of him. Barralet had been a teacher of drawing in England and Ireland, ke 278 Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. and you see he knew something of engraving as he copied his own work in stipple which was fashionable in that day. He certainly took a good profile, as the one he made of father proves.” “Wilson was very particular on the subject of the linen he wore, and the white cravat and ruffles were as important to him as a fine ladies’ dress is to her. J am certain of all I say on this matter, not from my own memory but from the discussions I have con- stantly heard all my youth on the habits and manners of a man whose work has rendered him famous. My father received numberless visitors from all parts of the world, and particularly Scotland; who desired to learn everything concerning him. He might have been a little careless, but nothing eccentric; his dress was that of other gentlemen of the period. Wilson was almost a pure type of the bilious temperament, which you are aware is one best fitted for constant exertion, either mental or physical. He could bear great fatigue without flinching. His height was five feet and eleven inches. When preparing for one of his expeditions he was in the habit of taking a walk every morning, increasing the distance daily and when he could make twenty miles without much fatigue, he started on his journey.” “Some twaddle speaks of his bony hands knotted and hardened by labor, struggling to paint birds! In the first place Wilson never painted birds, he drew them in water colors, and more frequently in outline, either with pencil or pen, and my father finished them from the birds themselves. I have heard my mother speak of his hands as being small and delicate, and there was nothing in his occupation to particularly injure his hands; as I mentioned before, he wrote beautifully and played charmingly on the flute.”’ “T think I mentioned the drawing of Wilson’s school house my sister Helen had made when quite a young girl, many years before Mr. Weaver’s; it has the old trees around it and is very picturesque. Mr. Eastwick who purchased Bartram’s garden, saw it and pro- nounced it excellent and indeed historical.’ “The tomb which covers the remains of Wilson was erected by the lady he was to have married, Miss Sarah Miller, sister of the Hon. Daniel Miller, Member of Congress from the upper section of the City. The Swedes’ church now occupies an obscure portion of Philadelphia, but at that time it was open to the Delaware and aap ae wigs 4 > = Tee | Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. 279 nearly in the country, so that the old Lutheran pastor could see his apple orchard from his pulpit. Many years ago, a gentleman much interested in Wilson, was anxious to have his remains trans- ferred to Laurel Hill Cemetery, a beautiful and picturesque place on the banks of the Schuylkill; he consulted my father who saw no objection but on applying to Mr. Ord, who was the sole sur- viving executor, he positively refused to permit the removal.” “Rider, the artist who undertook the coloring of Wilson’s first edition, was a Swiss painter in oils; he understood water colors however, but to facilitate his work, spoiled a great many copies by using opaque colors both in Wilson’s and afterwards in Bonaparte’s works. Of course none of this trouble was felt in the same way by Bonaparte, although he complains bitterly of Rider.” George Ord, Wilson’s biographer and editor of the latter volumes of his work Miss Lawson knew personally. Of him she writes: “Mr. Ord was a very singular person, very excitable, almost of pure nervous temperament. Proud, shy and reserved toward ‘strangers; but expansive and brilliant with his friends; an elegant belles-lettres scholar and when he chose, shone in conversation. In his moral character and his business relations he was one of the most upright of men. He had many excellent qualities, was a strong partizan and was charming in conversation when it pleased him to be so. Hehad much of the nervous grace of a woman when he spoke on literary or sentimental subjects. I remember my father laughing heartily when I was about nine years old; I said I thought Mr. Ord conversed like a woman, and being asked why I thought so, I said: because he could show off all his knowledge to the best advantage. He particularly detested children and the fear of intruding on him accompanied me all his life. He would get in a.temper of rage at times. Father, who valued his good qualities, never very steadily opposed him; but my mother had many arguments with him. I have seen him snatch up his hat and rush out of the house, declaring he would never enter again, and the next Sunday he would walk in to tea a usual as if nothing had happened. He took tea at our house every Sunday for years. He was very much respected but not very much loved. He would often speak very rudely to gentlemen, and more than once father was consulted as to whether Mr. Ord should receive a challenge for what he said, but father was always a peacemaker.”’ Exe 280 Burns, Miss Lawson's Recollections. “Toward the close of his life he did some queer things. He must have destroyed the likeness of himself that his son painted and also the plates that my father engraved for his proposed work on animals (quadrupeds); nothing of the kind was found among his effects and not a line of the descriptions I know he had written. He dropped this work on a reverse of fortune; having lost heavily in railroads. Had the work been continued it would have been an honor to the country. There are only two works that would have approached it: Scotts’ Dogs and Churchs’ Horses. There were only four plates engraved. Mr. Ord allowed the Academy of Natural Sciences to print a limited number of copies from the plates of the Rat and Ground Hog, I think about 100 impressions. I have only one copy of the frontispiece, a group of the smaller Quadrupeds, Weasel &c. drawn by Le Sueur, a French artist, and very prettily engraved. I wish I could send you entirely finished copies, but the Ground Hog is the only one that is so. The Elk and the Florida Rat are not finished, as you will observe on the impressions of the Rat that my father has written ‘unfinished.’ In the Ord letter edited by Dr. Coues, he mentions presenting impressions to Leach of the British Museum. Mr. Ord often expressed a determination that no one should profit by these engravings and no one has done so. To his other oddities he added the last whim of leaving all he died possessed of, about $40,000. to the Penn. Hospital for the Insane, although he had nephews and nieces in very limited circumstances. Toward the close of his life he shut himself out entirely from the world, living with his books. He had lost most of his old friends and made no new ones.” “Charles Bonaparte,” writes Miss Lawson, “married one of his cousins (Zenaide) a daughter of Joseph, ex-king of Spain. She accompanied her husband several times to our house. Her sis- ter Charlette, Joseph’s youngest daughter, was quite an artist. While she lived with her father at Bordentown, she took several views on the Delaware. Mr. Ord accompanied her on some of these occasions and said that he had never seen such a rapid pencil. She afterward engraved all the drawings she took here, on stone, and Charles Bonaparte gave father impressions of her’ work. She married a cousin, I think a son of Jerome, who also was an veer Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. 281 artist and etched very spiritedly on copper. Charles sent this with some of his sister-in-law’s drawings from Florence.”’ “T do not know whether you ever saw any uncolored impressions of Bonaparte’s work? Every one said it was a pity they should ever be colored. The Condor in particular is wonderful and so are some of the Geese.” “T do not know the commencement of the strife, but the advent of the Prince of Munsigno set the whole Academy [at Philadelphia] by the ears. He appeared to make warm friends and equally warm enemies. He would come to father and tell him in high glee of the last war-whoop and its effect, laughing heartily. For a time he seemed to take a sort of boyish delight in setting them all by the ears, but he grew tired of the fuss and I think it was one reason of his return to Europe.” “T only caught a glimpse of Mr. Waterton when he called on father; he was the darkest white man I ever saw. He left a bird set up in the style he had invented, for father to examine. It was the most perfect thing I ever saw, not a feather was rumpled. It was hollow and the shape of the bird carefully preserved. Father did not think it would last long and I believe this was the case.”’ “T have no doubt Mr. Ord does not spare Audubon, I have heard him expatiate too frequently on that subject not to be fully aware of his bitter scorn and contempt. I saw Audubon when Bonaparte brought him to see father. He looked like the back- woodsmen that visit the city. His hair hung on his shoulders and his neck was open.” “Ord wrote Lawson from Paris, dated Mar. 14, 1830: ‘You make some pretty tart remarks upon the work of that imposture Audubon, who has endeavored to keep the public curiosity alive for a long time. Your criticisms are just and men of intelligence will be obliged to acknowledge them. If one of your uncommon experience be not a complete judge of these matters; then in the name of common sense who is judge? You tell me that a certain Professor of Botany declared that the drawings of the plants are excellent. Now I have the pleasure of conversing when in London with two botanists quite as well known as Soloman C., one was the illustrious Robert Brown, they both asserted that the Botany of Audubon’s plates was good for nothing. What is the fellow doing in America? He surely cannot be in want. of matter, for 282 Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. Auk ’ July what he carried to Europe would suffice for a long time. Did he expect to procure subscribers? If so he surely made a mistake. I hope I. C. will prevail with the Library com. to subscribe for a copy; otherwise I fear that when one wants to examine the Ele- phant with a view of studying its character, one will not know where to find it.’ “ Another letter written by Ord about 1838, from the home of Waterton, Walton Hall, Wakefield, Eng.: ‘By the way, some of Waterton’s essays would amuse you vastly; he gives some terrible thrusts at Audubon. Lizars of Edinburgh, Audubon’s first engraver, was here a few days ago; if I had room I would tell you what he said of the great ornithologist whose reputation is sadly on the wane.’ “Here is an extract from a letter of Charles Lucien Bonaparte in reply to one from Lawson: ‘Rome, July 2, 1836. As to Audu- bon, although his work is not faultless; be sure you under rate him alittle too much. There is some merit in some of his plates, that of the Goldfinch appears to me very superior. Iam sorry to hear that he had such a bad reception in the U. 8S. I have got him several subscribers. I cannot take your wicked commission to Temminck for I have scolded him severely for not subscribing to the work at my recommendations. Some of Audubon’s plates are superior to Temminck’s, who vilifies them. As to Audubon’s new species, I shall never rely on that; slight variations do not make new species.’ “The only acquaintance I had with Nuttall,’ writes Miss Lawson, “was when I colored his plates in his continuation of Michaux’s work on the trees of America. You know the drawing and coloring of the original Michaux were exquisite. Nuttall had his coloring made up from other works, especially from Michaux. Nuttall himself was the least attractive of the Genus Homo I ever met. I could never imagine any Englishman so dirty and dis- orderly in his dress and appearance. I suppose he was a good botanist. I have heard young men who studied with him, speak of him with great respect as a teacher, but I thought his manners rough and abrupt.” In a five page reference to Dr. Coues’ criticism of some of her father’s work, Miss Lawson writes: “Never again will such en- graving be seen! The day of fine work of that kind is over; and except one or two English works on natural history, nothing has approached it.” Vol. IY] Hersey, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. 283 THE STATUS OF THE BLACK-THROATED LOON (GAVIA ARCTICA) AS A NORTH AMERICAN BIRD. BY F. SEYMOUR HERSEY. In collecting and tabulating data for use in the distributional portion of Mr. A. C. Bent’s work on the Life-Histories of North American Birds, the published material on the Black-throated Loon was found to be unsatisfactory,— the records of various observers being frequently indefinite or in many cases not based on actual specimens secured. The earlier writers gave the species a rather wide range in North America, which has been gradually restricted until in the present A. O. U. Check-List it is stated to breed only in the Kotzebue Sound region of Alaska, and from Cumberland Sound south to Ungava, while some half dozen scattering localities in the United States are said to have been visited casually in winter. It was finally decided to verify, so far as possible, all North American records and requests for data were sent to all who were in a position to give authentic information concerning any of the various records or the specimens on which they were based. The results of this correspondence proved no less interesting than surprising. Mr. Bent has very generously placed all this data in the hands of the writer. He has also examined and measured the specimens of this species and Gavia pacifica in the collections of the U. 5. National Museum, the Museum of Comparative Zoélogy (includ- ing the Bangs collection) and the private collection of Mr. William Brewster. Mr. W. DeW. Miller of the American Museum of Natural History and Mr. P. A. Taverner of the Geological Survey of Canada have measured the birds in the collections of those institutions and Dr. Louis B. Bishop has sent notes and measure- ments from the specimens in: his collection. I have tabulated below, by locality, the various records and the results of our investigations. Alaska: It was formerly supposed that the Black-throated Loon ranged along the whole Bering Sea coast of Alaska. There (oe 284 Hersey, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. Tale are two specimens in the National Museum collection (No. 64303, St. George Id., Pribilofs, June 22, and No. 76004, St. Michael, taken by Nelson) and one in the collection of Mr. Brewster (No. 48760, Nome, August 20, 1905). All other Alaskan specimens that we have examined are pacifica. The breeding of the species in Kotzebue Sound appears to rest on the records of Grinnell (Pacific Coast Avifauna, No. 1) of two sets of eggs taken in 1899. Dr. Grinnell writes under date of April 11, 1916, “In my Kotzebue report it is my impression that I simply followed the custom of preceding naturalists in the region (Nelson, et al) and used the name arctica on no other ground.” He also states, “There are no birds in any of our collections, from the Kowak region of Alaska, but I think it is justifiable to suppose that they are the same, namely pacifica.” Hudson Bay Region: In the ‘ Ornithological Results of the Cana- dian ‘Neptune’ Expedition to Hudson Bay and Northward,’ 1903-1904, Eifrig records (Auk, XXII, p. 234) both birds and eggs taken at Southampton Island by A. P. Low and that they were breeding abundantly. Mr. Taverner writes, “I have Low’s Hudson Bay birds and I can see absolutely no difference between them and the Pacific. In fact, of some thirty birds taken from Southampton Island all along the Arctic Coast and B{ritish] C[olumbia] I can make but one form.” Cumberland Sound Region: Kumlien’s record (Bull. 15, U. S. Nat. Mus.) is apparently our only authority for this region. While he states a bird was shot June 24, this specimen is not now in the National Museum and no others appear to have been taken. Ungava: I do not know on what authority this loon has been attributed to Ungava. Turner in his list of Labrador birds (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1885), based principally on his observations in Ungava, mentions only Stearns’ record and this record refers to the Labrador coast and not to this locality. Mr. W. E. Clyde Todd found birds paired and evidently breeding on the east coast of James Bay but all were pacifica. Mr. J. H. Fleming writes that all birds from James Bay that he has seen were Pacific Loons. Labrador: Audubon mentions (Birds of America) that he saw a few pairs while in Labrador, but apparently none were secured. — He does not state where the specimens were obtained from which Vol. XXXIV) Hersey, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. 285 his drawings were made but probably they were European birds. R. Bell records (Rep. Prog. Geol. Surv. Canada) male, female and young shot on Nottingham Island, Hudson Strait, August 28, 1884. If these birds were preserved they are not now in the mu- seum at Ottawa. Mr. J. H. Fleming states that birds from Hud- son Strait in his collection are pacifica. Mr. W. A. Stearns men- tions (Notes on the Nat. Hist. of Labrador) two specimens shot by one of the French priests at Bersimis but does not indicate what finally became of them or if either was preserved. Dr. Charles W. Townsend informs us he does not know of any Labrador speci- men of this species in:any collection. It appears that some form of Black-throated Loon occasionally occurs on the Labrador coast but until a specimen is secured and compared with specimens of pacifica it seems best to consider all records as more or less questionable. Greenland: As Gavia arctica occurs in Iceland, it seems probable that it may occasionally be found in southern Greenland but there does not appear to be any trustworthy record. Mr. J. H. Fleming writes that he has specimens from the Carey Islands north of Baffin Bay and they are Pacific Loons. Quebec: All records for this province that I‘have seen refer to Labrador. New Brunswick: Baird, Brewer and Ridgway (Water Birds, Vol. 2) mention a single specimen taken at Point Lepreau, in the Bay of Fundy. This is the same as the record in the ‘ Proc. Bost. Soe. of Nat. Hist.,’ Vol. 17. It is very indefinite and no further information is given. Herrick’s statement (Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. 5) that this species “occurs in winter” at Grand Manan is not verified by more recent observers or substantiated by specimens. Maine: A bird taken at Cutler, Maine, in December, 1881, is said to be in the possession of Mr. Newell Eddy of Bay City, Michigan. Knight says (Birds of Maine) that its correct identifica- tion has been “shown to be unquestionable.”’ As so many speci- mens supposed to be correctly identified have proved to be some- thing very different, it seems desirable that this bird be reexamined. I am informed by Mr. Norman A. Wood that Mr. Eddy has recently passed away and it is not possible, at this time, to examine the birds in his collection. 286 Hersey, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. [oe Massachusetts: There is no authentic record for this State although young birds supposed to be Black-throated Loons have been occasionally recorded. The records are not allowed by Howe and Allen (Birds of Massachusetts). Connecticut: Sage and Bishop (Birds of Connecticut) do not list this species in their book. It has been given by early writers, undoubtedly in error. New York: A full plumaged adult male was shot April 29, 1893, on Long Island and was recorded by Mr. William Dutcher in “The Auk’, Vol. 10, p. 265. This record is the only one for New York that is based on an actual specimen and it has been very generally quoted. The bird is now in the American Museum of Natural History and Mr. W. DeW. Miller, who has recently criti- cally examined and measured it, writes that it “is unquestionably G. pacifica.”’ South Carolina: Audubon is the only authority for the occur- rence of the Black-throated Loon in this State. It has not since been observed. Wayne (Birds of South Carolina) states, “ Audu- bon was unquestionably mistaken in the identification of the bird shot.” Texas: Audubon also recorded this species from Texas. Baird, Brewer and Ridgway discredit the record which is, with little doubt, an error. Ontario: It is supposed that this loon has occurred several times in Ontario. Mr. J. H. Fleming has looked up several records from this region and says that, so far, he has “found no record that will bear investigation.” Also, “if any Black-throated Loons occur in the Great Lakes they will be pacifica.” Ohio: There are also several supposed occurrences of this species in Ohio. Prof. Lynds Jones, writing in regard to these records, says, “Dr. Wheaton mentions the capture Of one specimen, but on hearsay evidence. I had several reports of specimens captured by trustworthy persons, but I cannot vouch for them personally. A specimen was sent to me two years ago from Painesville, pur- ported to be a Black-throated, but I did not make it out such, and so sent it to Oberholser, who pronounced it a Red-throated.” Illinois: Mr. Ridgway writes regarding including this loon in the avifauna of Illinois, that “it was based on purely ‘general Vel REN) Hersey, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. 287 considerations only’ at a time when probably no one doubted the occurrence of that species in North America and that it was not based on a specimen. We were, unfortunately, not so particular about such things in the earlier days.” Wisconsin: It is supposed that the Black-throated Loon has been taken three times in Wisconsin. Kumlien and Hollister refer to these records (Birds of Wisconsin) very briefly. One is said to have been taken at Milwaukee and to be in the Public Museum of that city. Mr. Henry L. Ward, director of that institution, writes under date of February 8, 1917, “I have been trying to run down the reported Black-throated Loon contained in this museum, but can find no trace of it at all. The specimen is evidently not contained in any of our series of mounted birds, nor in the series of bird-skins.” Another bird, taken at Racine, is reported to be in the collection of Dr. Hoy and a bird said to have been shot in 1860 on Rock River, near Janesville, in the collection of a gentleman from Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Hollister says of these records (letter February 20, 1917), the Rock River record “is from the notes of Thure Kumlien and considering the date and circumstances I should not accept it as a real record to-day.” He further says, “I have been over the Hoy collection very carefully and do not remember seeing the specimen recorded from his collection, but as the Hoy collection was left without any labels whatever (except the name of the bird) and his records were not to be found, that record would be far from satisfactory.” He concludes, “At any rate, I am prepared to drop the bird from the Wisconsin list.”’ Michigan: It was once supposed that this species occurred in Michigan but the latest authority on the birds of that State, Prof. W. B. Barrows (Michigan Bird Life) does not accept any of these records. He says, “ We have been unable to find a Michigan specimen in any collection, and have been equally unsuccessful in finding an unquestionable record of its occurrence. Until something more definite can be shown it seems best to exclude it from the regular list.” Minnesota: Dr. P. L. Hatch (Notes on the Birds of Minnesota) lists this species on the strength of supposed specimens seen be- tween 1858 and 1869. No birds were secured. 288 Hersey, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. [ais Iowa: Dr. R. M. Anderson records (Proce. Davenport Acad. Sci., Vol. XI) three specimens of this loon from Iowa. One was, at that time, in the collection of the State University at Iowa ’ City (No. 10175). Regarding this bird Prof. Dayton Stoner writes, “T am sorry to report that I am unable to find any specimen of Gavia arctica in our collections.”” The two remaining records are of birds reported by Mr. H. J. Giddings. One of these is said to have been identified by Dr. C. Hart Merriam and is still in Mr. Giddings’ possession. Dr. Merriam has written us that he does not now recall this bird but a memorandum he has, which was made in connection with the examination of this specimen, states that all United States records are pacifica. Mr. Giddings states in a recent letter that the bill of this bird measures 2.15 inches from which it seems evident that it is a Pacific Loon. In a recent letter Dr. Anderson says, “I have no doubt personally that either Gavia arctica or Gavia pacifica occurs occasionally as stragglers or accidentally in Iowa. From what I have learned in the last few years, however, I am inclined to think the bird would be pacifica.” Nebraska: Regarding supposed records from this State Prof. Myron H. Swenk writes (January 27, 1917), “I think you will find that all of the several records of this species depend back on the record published in the ‘Birds of Nebraska (1904)’ from Curtis, Nebraska, in the Rees Heaton collection. This bird is in immature plumage and resembles in size and the broad edgings of the back feathers immature specimens of the black-throated loon, but a careful study I made of it a couple of years ago convinced me that it was really referable to the common loon. Fortunately, a little later Mr. H. C. Oberholser was visiting me at Lincoln and examined this specimen carefully, with the result that he pro- nounced it the common loon. We have accordingly stricken the black-throated loon from the Nebraska list, since this was the only specimen even supposed to be that Spenies which has been taken in the state.” Colorado: All definite records from this State are from the vicinity of Colorado Springs. C. E. Aiken reported five birds taken, although apparently but one was preserved. This bird is in the Aiken collection at the Colorado College. Mr. Edward R. Warren re a | Hersry, The Black-throated Loon in N. A. 289 informs us this bird was sent to Prof. W. W. Cooke in 1915, and “he reported it to be an immature Common Loon.” He also says, “ Aiken told me that other Loons have been taken in this vicinity and were like this bird.’’’ Washington: Mr. Samuel N. Rhoads recorded (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. of Phila., 1893, p. 29) a female secured and others seen at Nisqually during April, 1892. This bird is now in the Academy of Natural Sciences and has been recently examined by Dr. Witmer Stone, who says, “I am confident that this specimen in only immer. It is very much worn and is ‘made up’ small. The bill is smaller than some specimens of 7zmmer but matched by others and is much larger than any pacifica.”’ Dawson and Bowles (Birds of Washing- ton) refer to another specimen, in the collection of the State Normal School at Bellingham, taken by J. M. Edson. Mr. Edson informs us that “this is clearly an error. I have never succeeded in securing a specimen of the Black-throated Loon. I think the statement was intended to apply to the Red-throated Loon.” British Columbia: According to Fannin this species has been taken at Burrard Inlet and at Dease Lake, Cassiar, B. C. I have not been able to obtain any further information concerning these records.! Conclusion: From the above it appears that there is not a single North American specimen of the Black-throated Loon in any collection in this country or Canada, with the exception of the three Alaskan birds. Every record that is based on a specimen proves to refer to some species other than arctica when the specimen is carefully examined. In view of this fact, we cannot place much value on the records that cannot be verified at the present time. The three Alaskan specimens, when compared with available material from Siberia and northern Europe, prove to be the Asiatic form, Gavia arctica suschkini Sarudny, and not Gavia arctica arctica (Linnzeus). If this Asiatic subspecies is accepted as distinct from the European bird, it is this form that should appear on our Check- List and Gavia arctica arctica should be dropped until such time as a North American specimen is procured and, by careful comparison 1Since the above was written I have examined the two British Columbia birds. One is clearly a Pacific Loon. The other is most like Siberian specimens and may be a straggler from that country. It is nof the European form of arctica. 290 Stronc, An Observation Tent. pak with European birds, proved to be of that form. If, however, we do not recognize Gavia arctica suschkini as distinct, then the Euro- pean bird is entitled to a place in our avifauna only on the strength of its casual occurrence in Alaska. AN IMPROVED OBSERVATION TENT. BY R. M. STRONG. (Plate: XxX. In a preceding number! of this journal, I described with an illustration, a tent which I had used in studying gulls at their’ breeding places. This tent was a modification of a type described by Sawyer.2 It is inexpensive and free from certain objectionable features of other bird blinds. However, it is small and low. Being only four feet high, one is not able to stand erect in it, and there is not sufficient space to handle apparatus comfortably. In the same communication, I stated that I had devised and used a larger tent since doing the work there described. It has occurred to me that an account of the improvements might be useful to some readers of this journal. Tents of this type have no stay lines to interrupt the camera view, and they can be set up on rocky sites where it is not practica- ble to drive tent stakes. Furthermore, they are of very convenient shape, and are economical of ground space. The contour of the tent is maintained by a frame which gives a flat horizontal roof and steep, slightly-sloping sides. The frame consists of eight poles held in position by four socket pieces at the corners of the roof and four anchoring poles to be described later, In the older tent, the frame poles were held together by blocks of 1 Strong, R. M. On the Habits and Behavior of the Herring Gull, Larus argentatus Pont. The Auk, Vol. XX XI, Nos. 1-2, January—April, 1914. Plates III-X and XIX-XX, 1 text figure. : 2 Sawyer, E. J. A Special Bird-Blind. Bird Lore, Vol. XI, no. 2, March-April, 1909, pp. 71-73. One page of text figures. THE AUK, VOL. XXXIV. PLATE X. 1. Corner BrAcKET oF BRAss TUBING. 2. TENT 1n Position, MusKEGET IsLAND, Ava. 7, 1913. pee | StrronG, An Observation Tent. 291 wood in which holes were bored on three sides for the end, side, and upright poles. It has been my experience that these blocks are very unsatisfactory. Wear and shrinkage at the sockets make the fitting insecure, and a very small amount of looseness allows a large amount of sagging of the whole tent to leeward in a breeze. Furthermore, the blocks must be relatively large and clumsy to stand the strain put upon them, and they make a smooth fit of the cloth impossible. I found it necessary to brace the leeward side with sticks or boards which of course interfere seriously with the view and are often blown down by a strong wind. I have been unable to get satisfactory poles for the tent frame in the vicinity of the places where I have used the tents. Further- more, it requires more time to prepare poles properly than I have wished to spare after reaching a place for work. Since my first day in the field with a tent, I have always taken poles with me carefully prepared in advance. In place of the clumsy wooden blocks, I had some brass corner pieces constructed. These consist of three short tubes brazed together (see Fig. 1), and lacquered black. These tubes have an inside diameter of 22 mm., and each is about 70 mm. long. One of these receives the end roof pole, another a side roof pole, and. the third an upright supporting pole. The roof poles each make an angle of 103 degrees with the upright supporting pole. The angle of the two horizontal poles is of course 90 degrees. In place of the heavy hardwood, I have substituted bamboo poles. These are prepared from ordinary bamboo fish poles, selecting portions of suitable diameter. Brass ferrules were fitted on the ends of each roof pole and on the upper ends of each upright pole. These are necessary for a firm joint and were prepared at a hardware shop. A portion of such a ferrule projecting from a socket, appears in Fig. 1, at the right. The tent proper was made from the same material used in my smaller tent, i. e. dark-green cambric or lining cloth which was purchased at 6 cts. a yard. About thirty yards 26 inches wide were used. I cut the cloth, pinning the sections together for the seamstress. The roof is in one section, which spreads slightly over the sides and ends of the tent. The angles were determined on cross section paper, and the material was cut into strips, three 292 Srrone, An Observation Tent. ae to each side. The strips were sewed together with the seams parallel to the ground as may be seen in Fig. 2. When complete, the tent made a huge four cornered sack with two sides not sewed together half way from the bottom to the roof in order to provide an entrance, (see Fig. 2). All of the seams were sewed twice, and the edges of all openings were hemmed. Tapes were sewed to the edges of the entrance for closing it. A deep hem was made at the bottom to hold bamboo anchoring poles which also served to hold the cloth in position. Openings were made in convenient positions for observation and camera work as may be seen in Fig. 2. These are closed by cloth doors which are fastened on the inside by hooks and eyes of the largest size. There is also an opening about six inches square, in the roof near one end, for ventilation. The whole outfit is packed into a long narrow box of suitable size and strength for transportation. When the tent is to be set up, a site is chosen carefully with relation to the position of the sun at various times of the day, the direction of the wind, and of course the material to be studied The roof poles are first inserted in the corner sockets and then the uprights. After the frame is properly erected, the tent is slipped over it. A certain amount of latitude in locating the lower ends of the upright poles is permitted, and they are spread until the cloth is taut. The bottom anchoring poles are inserted and are anchored at their protruding ends with stakes or with rocks where stakes cannot be used. I have often used drift wood on a beach, instead of rocks. After all outside work is done, I go inside with my equipment, i. €. cameras, etc., and arrange the interior. Even though a strong wind may not occur at the time, one may arise before the day’s work is done, and it is wise to be prepared for a possible heavy strain upon the light tent frame, so reinforcing lines are arranged. Strong twine (shade cloth is good) must be used, and three lines are kept permanently tied to each corner piece. These lines are stretched under tension diagonally to screw eyes on the upright poles, so that they lie close to the cloth and do not cross any ob- servation openings. One runs diagonally across the roof to the opposite corner piece. If the tension of all the lines is sufficient, ee | Srrone, An Observation Tent. 293 they help greatly in holding the tent in shape during a strong wind. In a stiff breeze, there is considerable bellying of the cloth on the windward side, but with so much space inside this is not serious. The tent is six and one half feet high which accommodates most men in the erect position even with a hat. It is five and one half feet wide and seven feet long, at the ground. The four upright poles are six feet, eight inches long. The two end bottom poles are six feet long and the side bottom poles eight feet. The end roof poles are two feet six inches long, and the side roof poles are four feet long. The usual method of entering the tent with a companion who may emerge at once and go away with any boat or vehicle used in transportation is always followed. I have never known this procedure to fail to deceive birds. They show vastly less concern than when there is no companion to leave the tent and the vicinity. It is possible to see a good deal through the tent cloth without being visible from outside, and one may look through the openings rather freely without being noticed by birds. For a more complete discussion of the behavior of birds about a tent, and for various details in its use, the reader is referred to my paper on the behavior of the Herring Gull. Professor Reighard of the University of Michigan spent two days with me in this tent during July, 1913, and he appears standing beside it in Fig. 2. This picture was made at Muskeget Island off the Massachusetts coast. We were comfortable and had abundant space for work. He has made some improvements in the line of portability which he has kindly described for me to publish with this account. The corner pieces are of aluminum and are made extra strong. The longer poles are provided with brass socket and ferrule joints so that no pole piece is over four feet long. He writes that “the whole outfit is compact and can be carried in a canvas bag with a handle like a valise.” [Aue 294 Boye, Field Notes on the Seriema. Taly FIELD NOTES ON THE SERIEMA (CHUNGA BURMEIS- TERI). BY HOWARTH S. BOYLE. On October 21, 1914, Mr. Leo E. Miller and the writer left New York for South America on an extended collecting and exploring trip of two years. Collections were made in various parts of Colombia, Bolivia and the Argentine. It was in the sandy wastes of the latter country that the Seriema was found and its habits observed. Lavalle, 1800 feet, our collecting station, was about seven hours by train south of Tucuman, the capital of the Argentine state of that name. The soil, for the most part, is very dry and affords little oppor- tunity for cultivation. Thorn bushes and stunted trees form the main growth which, in some places, is really very dense and all but impregnable. Water is scarce, though there are several small, artificial ponds used mostly by cattle. The railroad furnishes water to the few inhabitants once or twice daily. Desert-like as it seemed, with its cactus, heat and dust, Lavalle proved to be an exceedingly interesting locality for collecting. Mammals were very abundant. Viscachas were so numerous as to be a pest; their huge and scattered runways were to be seen on all sides; living with them, in apparent harmony, were rabbits, foxes, skunks, cavies, owls, and boa constrictors. It was in this type of country that we found this queer, long- legged runner, Chunga burmeisteri, or chufia, as the natives call it. Being unique, not only in its classification, but in appearance as well, this species as it skipped along a dusty trail only to disappear into the dense, brush patches at the slightest sign of danger, gave us at once not only an admiration for its beauty and grace, but a desire to know more concerning its secretive habits. The eall- notes were a series of cries and yelps which were given in chorus; that is, one individual would start his queer, turkey-like yelps, while other birds joined in until four or five would be chanting at the same time. The volume of sound would then diminish and 2", AE NIV Boyix, Field Notes on the Seriema. 295 the song end abruptly. We rarely saw more than one individual at a time. Apparently they move continuously, running away at the slightest sound; yet the word run can hardly be used in this connection, as there is no visible motion of the body, just a graceful glide, at once both swift and deceiving. During the early evening is the best time to view them as they seem to frequent the larger and more open of the numerous cow- paths at this hour. They show great fondness for horses and cattle; benefiting, no doubt, by the insects which they disturb. On several occasions we had ample opportunity to observe solitary specimens which were kept by the natives as pets. It was most interesting to watch them feed. On giving one individual the body of a large bird, it attempted to swallow the meat whole, but with- out success; it then proceeded to tear the flesh by placing it under foot and using its bill, but even this failed; finally, taking the body firmly in its beak the bird ran a few paces, then reared to full height and brought the meat to the earth with considerable force; this was repeated until the entire amount was consumed. During the whole performance the head and neck feathers were raised and lowered in apparent anger. The same individual was seen to perform what was either a dance or a fight. Nervously jerking its tail and uttering a short cluck, the bird ran forward with lowered head at a small tree. Suddenly stopping, it struck at the tree with both feet; this was repeated a number of times in rapid succession, and with great excitement. Then just as abruptly as it had started, the bird stopped, raced around the yard and returned once more to renew its queer antics. In preparing the skins of our specimens, several interesting observations were made. There is, of course, no visible crop; the gizzard was exceedingly large and usually contained a varied assortment of food which, perhaps owing to the lack of water, was rather dry, and easily examined. The gizzards of. four specimens showed little or no variation; hard beetles, both large and small, together with large locusts, formed the greater portion of insect diet; green leaves and grasses with a small quantity of hard seeds made up the vegetable food; while in one specimen an entire rat, or young cavie, was found. 296 Brey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. ae It might be interesting to note that we observed but few locusts in the field, perhaps proving that the Chufias made special effort to secure them. I imagine that the examination of a large series of gizzard contents would reveal a great variety of food stuff. The tame birds greedily ate the bodies of birds and rats, while one individual consumed small tacks and broken china without embarrassment. Of special interest perhaps was the finding of the double ovary in two of the specimens, while another female had but the usual single ovary. It is difficult to estimate just how numerous these birds are. There is one section of the “Gran Chaco” of northeastern Argentina that is called “Campo de las Chufias” where the natives go each year to secure the eggs of this bird for eating purposes. We believe these to be the same species as Chunga burmeisteri; the red-legged variety is said to live in the uplands and on the mountain slopes. The flesh of this bird is very much esteemed by the natives, who, after carefully boiling the meat, make it into a stew and serve with potatoes, rice, raisins and a quantity of spice which forms quite a palatable dish and, after the usual diet of very young goat or kid, is a most welcome change. THIRTY-TWO YEARS OF BIRD MIGRATION AT RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. BY C. S. BRIMLEY. In the spring of 1885, I first began to fill out migration schedules for the U. S. Biological Survey, and have kept up the habit every succeeding spring since, except in 1902, in which year I made observations, but lost my records, and the little data I have for that spring comes from the dates of a few skins which I collected then. The share others have had in the work is indicated at the end of Table I. Not only have “arrivals” in spring been noted, but the “lasts” ‘co ll Brimtey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. 297 of winter visitors also, though to a less extent. The fall migration has been taken note of as well, and quite full records have been made both of arrivals and “lasts” at that season from 1885 to 1894, and in 1907 and 1908, while considerable though less abun- dant observations have been made in nine other years. I can generalize but little from my observations, the most posi- tive deduction being that a wet spring is liable to be characterized by a comparative abundance of sandpipers and swallows. The weather also, particularly the prevailing temperature during the previous few weeks, has a great effect in hastening or delaying the arrival of the late March migrants, and to a lesser extent the arrival of those reaching us in April. Thus the year 1915, was unusually cold in March and early April, and the early migrants were un- usually late, while the opposite was the case with the year 1890. In making up the average dates for “first seen”’ and “last seen,” abnormally early and later dates have been excluded, as well as those in a species must certainly have been here for some time before it was actually observed. As however, a bird cannot be observed until it is actually present, while it may be overlooked even though here, the average dates of “first seen” are undoubt- edly to some extent later than the actual average date of arrival of the species, while the average dates of last seen are of course somewhat earlier, than the actual average dates of departure of the different species. In all 165 species are included in the following tables, which are, I hope, self explanatory. I. Number of species observed in each year of observation. Spring Migration Autumn Migration Year Arrivals Lasts Total Arrivals Lasts Total 1885 59 21 80 36 22 58 1886 59 0 59 46 33 79 1887 67 20 87 44 42 86 1888 69 7 76 4] 38 79 1889 65 8 73 37 31 68 1890 54 243 77 32 22 54 1891 59 il 60 33 30 63 1892 61 18 79 25 34 59 1893 53 23 76 50 39 89 298 Brim.Ey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. ane July Spring Migration Autumn Migration Year Arrivals Lasts Total Arrivals Lasts Total 1894 61 13 74 29 21 50 1895 42 27 69 Sil 1 32 1896 50 0 50 1 0 il 1897 50 0 50 5 0 5 1898 57 2 59 24 2 26 1899 39 0 39 15 1 69 1900 58 6 64 5 4 1 1901 41 0 41 —_— — a 1902 17 2 19 — — = 1903 35 0 35 = — — 1904 34 1 35 = — — 1905 28 2 30 15 0 15 1906 i 14 AT 11 0 11 1907 54 16 70 17 19 36 1908 49 0 49 24 28 52 1909 55 18 73 — —_ — 1910 11 0 i! — — —_— 1911 45 13 58 11 2 13 1912 52 13 65 == aS = 1913 12 0) 12 — — = 1914 35 6 41 3 0 3 1915 68 18 86 6 2 8 1916 56 19 US (not included) The preceding table contains the number of species observed in each year by my brother H. H. Brimley and myself up to about 1892, and from that time to 1916 by myself alone in most years, except that in the spring migration, Mr. 8. C. Bruner’s records constitute the greater part of the data for “arrivals” in 1908, 1912 and 1915, and more or less of the data for the same in 1907, 1911, and 1913, while he also gave me some autumn records in 1908. Mr. Z. P. Metcalf assisted me very considerably in the spring of 1911, and he and his assistants at the A. and M. College contributed about one half the data for the spring of 1916. Mr. Franklin Sherman and my brother have also contributed much data from time to time. The autumn data, and the “lasts” of winter birds are almost exclusively my own, or in the earlier years mine and my brother’s, but Mr. Bruner furnished a number of interesting “lasts” for the spring of 1915. Vol. a | i917 BrimuEy, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. 299 II. SumMMER VISITORS. Note. The number of years in which the species has been observed in the spring and autumn is given in parentheses in those columns. The numbers following the average dates, indicate the number of years on which the average is based. Name of Species First Noted in Spring Last Noted in Autumn Earliest Date Average Average Latest Date Least Bittern May 3,'89(3) May 3(3) SR Siciserkiterate Sept. 11,’88(3) Little Blue Heron (a) June 21,’94(8) July 8(7) Aug. 15(4) Aug. 21,’93(4) Green Heron Mch. 29,’93(22) Apr. 9(21) Sept. 3(9) Oct. 2,’94(9) HCingepaucdD)§ Me ek” Bok wererety stain IMGH 2S CNL ws de aceerereore Noy. 17,’92(3) Spotted Sandpiper Apr. 3,’93(26) IATA (TS) he ce eneteree ae Sept. 14,86 (4) Broad-winged Hawk Apr. 4,’98(6) Ane S (A) scree deren cere Aug. 26,’89(1) Yellow-billed Cuckoo Apr. 26,’90(21) May 5(21) Oct. 7(9) Oct. 17,’87(9) Black-billed Cuckoo Apr. 30,’00(4) May 2(3) Sept. 27(3) Oct. 10,’91(4) Chuck-wills-widow Apr. 10,’90(7) LN) RPV ACO) SOR OO COE Sept. 21,’03(10) Whip-poor-will (c) Mch. 31,’16(13) Apr. 11(13) Sept. 24(8) Nov. 6,’94(8) Nighthawk Apr. 15,’87(9) Apr. 27(5) Sept.26(9) Oct. 6,’86(12) Chimney Swift (d) Apr. 3,714(29) Apr. 15(26) Sept.7(10) Oct. 14,715(10) Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr. 10,’95(27) Apr. 17(25) Sept.15(11) Oct. 7,’07(11) Kingbird Apr. 12,’15(27) Apr. 20(25) Aug. 28(9) Sept. 18,’93(9) Crested Flycatcher Apr. 9,’88&’08(29) Apr. 18(28) Sept.17(9) Sept. 28,,93(12) Wood Pewee Apr. 18,'10&716(30) Apr. 25(29) Oct.6(10) Oct. 13,’ 1(12) Acadian Flycatcher Apr. 20,’94(25) Apr. 29(23) Sept.7(7) Sept. 11,988(9) Orchard Oriole Apr. 16,’88(30) Apr. 25(30) Aug. 6(10) Aug. 22,93 (10) Grasshopper Sparrow Mch. 25,97 (18) Norse GO lO)ee a evecinet sai Oct. 22,’ 93(8) Chipping Sparrow (e) Feb. 23,'12(16) Mch. 8(16) Oct. 31(4) Nov. 25,’88(4) Bachman’s Sparrow Meh. 19,’87(11) INDE O CH) Fou cuderd evcsisens Sept. 20,01(1) Blue Grosbeak Apr. 25,’88&'16(24) May 3(24) Sept. 12(10) Sept. 27,’87(10) Indigo Bunting Apr. 19,’712(27) May 2(27) Oct. 7(8) Oct. 19,’07(9) Summer Tanager Apr. 6,’88(29) Apr. 19(29) Sept.7(10) Sept. 30,’86(11) Purple Martin (f) Apr. 8,°12(19) Apr. 16(11) Aug. 16(8) Sept. 9,’97(8) Rough-winged Swallow Mch. 28,’08(26) Apr. 6(18) July 3(8) July 17,’86&’08(8) Red-eyed Vireo Apr. 6,°88(30) Apr. 17(30) Oct. 9(8) Oct. 16,’07(11) Yellow-throated Vireo Apr. 3,’88(32) Apr. 14(32) Sept.1(10) Sept. 16,’91(10) Blue-headed Vireo (g) Mch. 18,’90(23) Mch. 28(20) Oct. 28(12) Nov. 15,’86(12) White-eyed Vireo (h) Mch. 24,’99(32) Apr. 2(29) Sept. 25(12) Oct. 16,’07(12) Black and White Warbler (i) Mch. 19,’94(29) Mch. 28(27) Oct. 8(8) Oct. 13,’86&'91(9) Prothonotary Warbler Apr. 18,’87(4) Apr. 21(4) Aug.19(3) Aug. 25,’87&'90(4) Worm-eating Warbler Apr. 19,’85&87(14) Apr. 24(11) Sept.2(9) Sept. 20,°93(9) Parula Warbler Apr. 1,’89(26) Apr. 10(20) Oct.9(10) Oct. 14,’90(12) Yellow Warbler (j) Apr. 5,’88(31) Apr. 17(30) Aug. 26(6) Sept. 20,’01(6) Yellow-throated Warbler Mch. 13,’90(30) Mch. 26(29) Sept.12(9) Sept. 20,701(12) Prairie Warbler Apr. 6,'93(29) Apr. 15(29) Sept.4(10) Sept. 20,’01(11) Ovenbird (k) Apr. 7,'92(30) Apr. 17(27) Oct.12(9) Oct. 23,’85(13) Louisiana Water-Thrush (1) Mch. 14,’08(28) Mch. 29(23) July 25(8) Aug. 4,’88(8) Kentucky Warbler (m) Apr. 18,10&’16(17) Apr. 30(17) Aug. 29(9) Oct. 13,'98(9) Maryland Yellow-throat (n) Mch. 20,°94(30) Mch. 28(30) Oct. 13(8) Oct. 24,'93(12) Yellow-breasted Chat Apr. 18,’88(29) Apr. 25(29) Aug. 8(8) Sept. 13,’01(8) Hooded Warbler Apr. 6,’12(28) Apr. 17(26) Sept.13 (8) Oct. 1,°91(12) Redstart Apr. 4,'92(31) Apr. 12(27) Oct. 3(12) Oct. 13,’86&791(12) Catbird (0) Apr. 13,°16(31) Apr. 20(30) Oct.17(11) Nov. 17,’11(11) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Mch. 16,’94(32) Mch. 28(31) Sept. 18(11) Oct. 2,’°86&’89(11) Wood Thrush Apr. 10,°93(30) Apr. 18(30) Oct.1(10) Oct. 16,°85(10) 300 Brimtey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. [sie Notes on preceding table of summer visitors. (a). Little Blue Heron is a post breeding summer visitor. (b). King Rail has been recorded on January 23, 1890, February 29, 1896, March 9, 1905, March 17, 1888, March 23, 1897 and March 30, 1896, so that although we are certain it is only a straggler in winter, we cannot tell which date should go on record as the earliest date of a summer bird. (c). The next latest date for Whip-poor-will is October 10, 1885. Excluding the extra late date of November 6, 1894, the average latest is September 19. (d). The first dates for Chimney Swifts fall into three groups, the first centering on April 6 (7 yrs.), the next on April 13 (9 yrs.), the last on April 22 (10 yrs.). The breeding birds come on the latter date. (e). Chipping Sparrow once taken on December 29, 1890. (f). Purple Martin once seen on March 16, 1907. (g). Blue-headed Vireo on December 15, 1885, and January 3, _ (h). White-eyed Vireo on March 8, 1890. (i). Black and White Warbler once also on November 10, 1885. (j). Yellow Warbler only occasional after August. (k). A probably more nearly correct date for the arrival of the Ovenbird is obtained by taking the average of the 19 years giving earliest dates, which gives us April 13 for the average date of arrival. (1). I have a single record of the Louisiana Water-Thrush for August 22, 1888, but it was “seen” and not taken, and I think was probably a Water-Thrush. (m). Next latest for Kentucky Warbler, September 12, 1894. (n). Maryland Yellow-throat also observed on December 6, 1889, January 8, 1891, January 30, February 4, 1890, and February 7, 1889. (0). Catbird also seen on January 4, and February 17, 1887, and January 8 and 12, 1910. Vol. yet | 1917 Note. III. TRANSIENTS. Brimuey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. 301 The letters “S” and “A” after the name of the species stand for spring and autumn respectively, the numbers after these letters are the number of years the species has been observed in these seasons, the numbers after the averages, the number of years on which the averages are in each case based. Name of Species Pied-billed Grebe, S(4) pede 148@) Loon, S(1) i 2A) Black Tern, S(2) ENS Blue-winged Teal, S(5) S oe A) Bittern (a), S(15) Virginia Rail S(5) a LN) Sora Rail, S(10) “" “~— A(6) Coot, S(4) oN) Pectoral Sandpiper, S(8) . = A(1) White-rumped Sandpiper, S(1) Least Sandpiper, S(5) Semipalmated Sandpiper S(1) Greater Yellow-legs, S(10) Yellowlegs, S(10) Solitary Sandpiper, S(25) A(8) Bartramian Sandpiper, S(9) Semipalmated Plover, S(2) Pigeon Hawk, S(8) - : A(8) Osprey, S(15) e A(1) Alder Flycatcher, S(1) “ “ A (2) “ “ Bobolink, S(24) a A(14) Baltimore Oriole, S(3) A(3) Rusty Blackbird, S$(17) “ is A(12) Bronzed Grackle, S(2) 2 . A(6) Henslow’s Sparrow, S(7) Leconte’s Sparrow, S(1) White-crowned Sparrow, S(1) “ “ First Seen Earliest Date Mch. 15,’99 Aug. 7,’08 Apr. 13,’97 only Nov. 17,’87 Apr. 18,’07 July 28,’84 Mch. 23,’88 Oct. 19,’88 Mch. 19,’08 Mch. 7,’91 Sept. 8,96 Apr. 8,’86 Aug. 21,94 Apr. 6,'98 Oct. 28,714 Mch. 22,93 Novy. 15,94 only May 22,’09 Apr. 30,85 May 22,’09 only Mch. 22,93 Mch. 25,’93 Apr. 4,’89 July 14,94 Mch. 28,96 May 5,’84 Apr. 19,92 Sept. 2,710 Mch. 18,711 Aug. 25,’87 only May 14,’92 Aug. 27,98 Apr. 19,88 Aug. 15,’93 Apr. 26,°90 Aug. 31,’89 Feb. 15,90 Oct. 17,92 Feb. 26,95 Nov. 5,'95 Mch. 18,’88 Apr. 21,’94 only Apr. 14,’12 only Average Apr. 10(3) Noy. 5(4) Mch. 27(5) Apr. 3(8) Apr. 3(5) Apr. 22(13) July 25(4) Apr. 6(6) May 2(24) Aug. 29(11) Mch. 2(10) Oct. 28(8) Last Seen Average May 11(4) Oct. 13(5) May 8(4) Apr. 30(4) May 17 (12) Oct. 6(3) Apr. 24(4) May 23(5) Sept. 29(7) Apr. 17(6) Nov. 17(8) Latest Date Apr. 20,’09 Sept. 30,’08 Dec. 9,96 May 10,98 Sept. 23,92 May 6,89 Dec. 7,93 May 30,93 May 9,00 Oct. 9,93 May 13,’88&’89 Oct. 17,96 May 16,84 Dec. 1,’82 May 24,’09 May 24,09 May 29,’88 May 18,’88 May 25,94 Oct. 10,93 Apr. 30,’87 May 22,’09 Apr. 29,716 Oct. 4,714 May 6,91 May 16,792 Sept. 21,93 May 27,’87 Oct. 7,96 May 4,715 Sept. 17,’86 Apr. 26,’87 Dec. 16,’89 Mch. 3,’93 Dec. 11,'95 May 3,01 302 Brey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. ae Name of Species , First Seen Last Seen Earliest Date Average Average Latest Date Rose-breasted Grosbeak, S(7) Apr. 22,09 Apr. 27(4) May 6(5) May 8,’85&’97 Seeder Tanager, S(20) Apr. 19,711 Apr. 30(20) May 11(6) May 14,’01 us A(5) Sept. 11,86 Sept. 18(3) Oct. 8(3) Oct. 14,’91 Barn Swallow, S(22) Apr. 2,’88 Apr. 10(13) May 15(10) May 25,’99 . A(10) Aug. 6,°99&’08 Aug.9(10) Aug. 30(9) Sept. 16,’86 Cliff Swallow S(5) Apr 20S) Bees crac: ean aye eae May 9,’91 Tree Swallow S(16) Mch. 12,’87 Apr. 4(12) May 16(5) May 30,7i86 Ly A(1) Septcsa.-S80 6s Waa oe cee ee ee Oct. 13,’88 Bank Swallow, S(1) Apr n 24788 Onlyy so. esx Coe se an ee ee is ¢ A(1) AugS. OH only iN te ees UU Secs eee BAe eee Warbler, S(3) NaN} 3) ab” 10 heel (aI g RON enn =O eWeek May 6,’07 v3 A(8) Aug. 20,08 Aug. 22(3) Aug. 29(3) Sept. 4,’88 Brewster’s Warbler, A(1) Sept..6;]88ionlys <5... a. 5.00 WA aoe Ca nen eee Golden-winged Warbler, S(2) May i 89G3O1r i eis. Ben iecth Cee > incr eee only € co A(2) Aas FORASAS “5 Oe Nett Gets’ an Cie ead ee Aug. 30,°93 Tennessee Warbler, A(3) Septovgr sot” » Ryerciic tac. ee aes Oct. 12,’87&’88 are May Warbler (b), S(5) Apr. 7,°92 Apr. 30(3) May 7(4) May 9,’92&711 i‘ A(1) INovi.l 31ikonly schon ce. ast ence. Beene Black-throated Blue Warbler Apr. 6,’88 Apr. 26(25) May 13(22) May 19,’88&’09 (c) S(25) Black-throated Blue Warbler Sept. 20,’93 Sept. 30(5) Oct. 18(4) Nov. 19,86 (c) A(7) Magnolia Warbler, S(4) May TOVSOT Waveeaerens Aleem te May 15,’93 * ib A(7) Sept. 11,89 Sept. 13(3) Oct. 14(4) Oct. 20,’90 Cerulean Warbler, S(1) May-8,93:only* Stine ate te oe RG SRro Oneinens eS 4 A(2) Avge 29890 i. Gt aihartens ime taeteec he tiats Sept. 16,’87 Chestnut-sided Warbler, S(5) ARE 27 S6u 0 fe tat pou end hae Loe May 15,’90 “ i A(8) Aug. 17,91 Aug. 24(4) Oct. 2(6) Oct. 12,’91 Bay-breasted Warbler, S(1) Miayi5, L5only): ic a2. onl) ee esters Recto ae he eee iain poll Warbler, (d) S(22) Apr. 16,16 May 2(15) May 26(9) May 31,’92 © A(10) Sept. 24,88 Oct. 2(8) Oct. 21(9) Nov. 5,’86 Blackburnian Warbler (c), A(7) Aug. 25,’87 Aug. 31(8) Oct. 3(7) Oct. 13,791 Black-throated Green Warbler, Mch. 22,'96&’97 Mch. 28(10) .......... May 11,794 $(13) Black-throated Green Warbler, Sept. 7,91 Sept. 19(4) Oct. 8(5) Oct. 16,°93 A(7) We Blan Thrush, S(17) Apr. 18,93 Apr. 27(15) May 20(10) May 28,787 £ A(15) July 25,°95 Aug. 3(7) Sept. 29(9) Oct. 6,’94 Connecticut Warbler, A(3) OGL ayISie me Nake ees. oaracnas Oct. 24,'96 Wilson’s Warbler, S(4) May SMS G a eect tig vusdhectiertis ats May 19,715 Canadian Warbler S(2) IMiagnlisG2" yt a tee See oe meas May 18,712 ake Wren (f) S(18) Apr. 10,93 Apr. 20(16) Apr. 30(9) May 4,’85 - A(10) Sept. 21,’08 Sept. 25(5) Oct. 11(5) Oct. 16,’88 OS billed Marsh Wren, S(.) May 4"92/onlyaiae cca cee cto ciss cicee ee eee eee EAC) (Arig. JOP OA ae onesie. citi Oe ca ci ostrer ow ls Sept. 20,793 Long-billed Marsh Wren(g),S(10) Apr. 21,’92 Apr. 26(5) May 5(6) May 7,’05 i iy 4 A(3) Sept. 20,792 Septoze(8)) teen oe Oct. 19,’92 Miao s Thrush, S(15) Apr. 23,85 Apr. 29(9) May 8(5) May 9,85, ’91,’92 = A(6) Aug. 28,88 Sept. 1(4) Sept. 14(8) Sept. 18,’90 Gray- checked Thrush, S(8) May 4,94 May 6(3) May 16(5) May 24,92 . A(4) OG ESB 4 ae so tioenae oe Oct. 12,’88 Bicknell’s Thrush, S(3) May 3) 704) 90 ke Shel aerrct t.\n,c) Moca Fe May 18,’89 7 = S A(2) SeplsZal St Van vasoeiniy o cacao ke Oct. 12,’87 Olive-backed Thrush, S(13) Apr. 22,792 Apr. 29(8) May 12(6) May 17,’93 % 4 A(4) Sept. 26,°87 Oct. 3(3) Oct. 16(3) Oct. 21,’85 _—— i ee Vol. a | 1917 (b). Notes on preceding Table. Bittern once on December 7, 1886. Except for the one taken on April 7, 1892, all the dates for Cape May Warbler fall on or after April 27. (c). Black-throated Blue Warbler. year, and the next April 17, 1894. Next earliest date for Black-poll Warbler is April 26, 1912. In 1906 the Blackburnian Warbler was taken in the ad- (d). (e). Brey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. 303 The earliest date April 6, 1888, is abnormally early for Next earliest is April 14 of same joining county of Durham on May 3, and October 24, by Ernest Seeman. (f). Ihave an extra early date of April 1, 1887, for House Wren, but the bird was seen, not taken, and now think it was a mistake. (g). March 13, 18, 1889, and March 17, 1888. IV. WInTeER VISITORS. Long-billed Marsh Wren also on January 14, 30, 1890, The numbers after the dates have the same meaning as in the case of Summer Visitors. Name of Species Hooded Merganser Mallard Black Duck Baldpate Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Duck Wilson’s Snipe (a) Marsh Hawk Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Saw-whet Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Horned Lark Prairie Horned Lark Cowbird (b) Meadowlark (c) Purple Grackle (d) Purple Finch Pine Siskin Lapland Longspur Vesper Sparrow (e) Savannah Sparrow First Seen Earliest Date Noy. 4,’88(1) Noy. 6,’85, ’95(6) Dec. 1,’94(1) Novy. 12,’91(1) Dec. 1,’88(2) Sept. 20,’03(10) Aug. 15,’96(11) Dec. 11,’93(2) Nov. 8,’87(8) Dec. 4,’97(3) Sept. 27,’87(15) Dec. 7,°86(1) Dec. 7,’86(1) Sept. 4,°90(10) Aug. 8,’87(18) Oct. 26,'93(12) Oct. 28,’89(10) Nov. 3,’86(6) Jan. 13,'93(2) Oct. 11,’93(12) Sept. 16,’87 (13) Average Oct. 26(9) Sept. 12(5) Dec. 13(2) Nov. 23(6) Oct. 17(5) Oct. 7(10) Noy. 1(11) Noy. 4(10) Nov. 21(6) Oct. 20(12) Oct. 11(13) Last Seen Average Latest Date EER ye Bago he 5 Jan. 31,°08(1) Mch. 31(5) Apr. 7,’85(5) Apr. 6(3) Apr. 11,’95(5) Cane e Ae Apr. 26,'92(1) Adages Mae Apr. 13,’00(4) Ae ie hea Mch. 28,’08(3) Apr. 18(14) Apr. 28,’98(17) Apr. 15(7) Apr. 29,’87(7) Feb. 22(2 Feb. 24,710(3) Jan. 18(4) Feb. 9,’10(4) ae oe Dec. 18,'94 Apr. 14(7) Apr. 29,87 (12) EO eee Pas Feb. 20,'95(2) eee cee Feb. 20,’95(2) Apr. 3(9) Apr. 29,’90(9) Apr. 20(7) Apr. 29,’87(10) Apr. 15(7) May 8,’86(13) Apr. 17(8) Apr. 30,’90(11) May 2(4) May 11,’11(6) ae cee Feb. 20,95 Apr. 12(9) Apr. 19,’07(13) May 6(8) May 13,716(17) 304 Name of Species First Seen Brimmtey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. [Ag Last Seen Earliest Date Average Average Latest Date White-throated Sparrow Oct. 4,°88(19) Oct. 16(19) May 12(9) May 19,’15(15) Slate-colored Junco Oct. 23,’86(15) Oct. 31(15) Apr. 12(13) Apr. 24,’07(14) Song Sparrow (f) Oct. 2,’91(18) Oct. 13(18) Apr. 4(14) Apr. 28,715(14) Swamp Sparrow Oct. 10,’88(13) Oct. 21(11) May11(11) May 19,’93(15) Fox Sparrow (g) Oct. 17,’93(12) Noy. 15(11) Mch. 15(9) Apr. 6,715(9) Towhee (h) Oct. 4,’89(13) Oct. 11(12) Apr. 30(16) May 10,’11(16) Migrant Shrike (i) Aug. 18,’88 (21) Sept. 3(14) Mch. 25(4) Apr. 1,°15(7) Myrtle Warbler Oct. 11,’86(15) Oct. 17(13) May 4(17) May 18,’93(18) Yellow Palm Warbler (j) Sept. 16,’86(12) Oct. 7(8) Apr. 19(12) May 1,’93(18) Pipit (k) Oct. 17,’87(6) Oct. 24(6) Mch. 22(6) Apr. 6,715(6) Bewick’s Wren Sept. 24,’05(9) Octsi8@) WAS are. Apr. 3,’09(1) Winter Wren Sept. 26.’87(17) Oct. 11(13) Apr. 14(11) Apr. 23,’90(13) Brown Creeper Oct. 3,’88(13) Oct. 10(10) Apr. 10(12) Apr. 19,’15(14) Red-breasted Nuthatch Sept. 13,’86(10) Oct. 7(9) Mch. 30(4) Apr. 10,’97(4) Gold-crowned Kinglet Oct. 7,’89(14) Oct. 15(13) Apr. 5(8) Apr. 19’07(8) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) Oct. 1,’88(20) Oct. 16(19) Apr. 20(18) May 10,710(18) Hermit Thrush Oct. 16,°88(14) Oct. 21(11) Apr. 18(19) Apr. 29,’92(20) Notes on preceding Table. (a). Wilson’s Snipe is mainly a spring migrant. (b). Cowbird is commonest in spring migration and has been scarcer of late years. (c). Meadowlark has been observed June 1, 1913, at Morris- ville this county and at Raleigh, June 4, 1916, so is presumably a scarce breeder in this vicinity. (d). Purple Grackle also taken on June 16, 1891. monest during the migrations. (e). Vesper Sparrow also recorded by me on May 11, 1893, but now think I made a mistake in the identification. (f). Second latest date for Song Sparrow is April 11, 1890. (g). Second earliest date for Fox Sparrow is November 3, 1886. (h). Towhee is commonest in migrations. (i). Migrant Shrike is commonest in autumn, scarcest in spring. I have an old record of May 6, 1887, but now think it was a case of mistaken identity. (j). Yellow Palm Warbler is rare and irregular in winter. March 31 is. the average of nine years of late March and early April dates and may indicate average arrival of transients. (k). Pipit also recorded for May 5, 1887, but think it a case of mistaken identity. (1). Next latest date for Ruby-crowned Kinglet is April 28, 1887. It is com- Orr anal BriMLey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. 305 V. STRAGGLERS AND SPECIES OF UNCERTAIN STATUS. Horned Grebe. January 14, 1909, one taken. Sooty Tern. July 1, 1909, one male taken. White Pelican. May 12, 1884, one taken. Baldpate. November 12, 1891, April 26, 1892. Shoveller. March 31, 1902, a pair seen. Bufllehead. December 16, 1893, a female taken. Old-squaw. January 14, 1910, one taken. Wood Ibis, July 4, 1884, one taken. Egret. July 15, 1884, one taken. Black-crowned Night Heron. April 6, 1915, one taken, April 9, 1916, one seen. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. June 25 and July 14, 1894, two immature birds taken. April 4, 1911, four adults seen. April 2, 8, 16, 1915, seen. Black Rail. Two taken June 8, 1892. Eggs taken on eight different occasions, in six different years between 1889 and 1902, and on dates ranging from May 27 in 1889 to July 12, in 1894. Purple Gallinule. One seen June 3, 1887, one taken three days later. Florida Gallinule. April 20, 1907, one brought alive to S. C. Bruner. May 30, 1916, one brought alive to myself. Dowitcher. July 29, 1884, one taken. Ruff. May 6, 1892, female taken. Passenger Pigeon. April 18, 1891, one seen. Barn Owl. January 17, 1896, January 5, 1900, specimens taken. Bald Eagle. August 24, 1893, adult seen. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. April 22, 1890, April 16, 1897, April 20, 28, 1898, also taken at least once in winter by Bruner. Crossbill. March 11, 23, 1885, June 5, 1887, January 16, 26, February 8, 1897, May 9, 1907. Specimen taken on the last date by Bruner, and others on the other dates by myself. White-winged Crossbill. Three taken by Bruner on February 23, 1907. Bachman’s Warbler. April 27, and May 22, 1891,.two males taken. 306 Auk Brimiey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. July VI. Serine TRANSIENTS AND SUMMER VISITORS. Arranged in order of their average date of arrival (first seen). March 2. 8. bo wb bo ~J o> _ 29. ol. Rusty Blackbird. Chipping Sparrow. Yellow-throated Warbler. Pectoral Sandpiper. King Rail, Blue-headed Vireo, Black and White War- bler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat, Blue-gray Gnateatcher. Osprey, Louisiana Water-Thrush. Bittern. April 2. White-eyed Vireo. 3. Yellow-legs, Greater Yellow-legs. 4. Tree Swallow. 5. Bachman’s Sparrow. 6. Rough-winged Swallow, Bartramian Sandpiper. 8. Broad-winged Hawk. 9. Green Heron. 10. Barn Swallow, Parula Warbler, Virginia Rail. 11. Whip-poor-will. 12. Redstart. 14. Yellow-throated Vireo, Spotted Sandpiper. 15. Chimney Swift, Prairie Warbler, Purple Martin. 16. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Yel- low Warbler, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler. 18. Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush. 19. Grasshopper Sparrow, Summer Tanager. 20. House Wren, Kingbird, Prothonotary Warbler, Catbird. 22. Chuck-wills-widow, Sora, Solitary Sandpiper. 24. Worm-eating Warbler. 25. Wood Pewee, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat. 26. Long-billed Marsh Wren, Black-throated Blue Warbler. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Water Thrush. Poy 8 “I ) i se Vie a) Vol. eal 1917 29. May 2. VIL: Brimuey, Migration at Raleigh, N. C. 307 Acadian Flycatcher, Olive-backed Thrush, Wilson’s Thrush. Scarlet Tanager, Cape May Warbler, Kentucky Warbler. Least Sandpiper, Bobolink, Indigo Bunting, Black- poll Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo. Blue Grosbeak. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Least Bittern. Gray-cheeked Thrush. AUTUMN TRANSIENTS AND WINTER VISITORS. Arranged in order of average arrival (first seen). July 25. August 3. 9. 22. 24. 25) 29. September 1. October Solitary Sandpiper. Water-Thrush. Barn Swallow. Blue-winged Warbler. Chestnut-sided Warbler. Blackburnian Warbler. Sora, Bobolink. Wilson’s Thrush. Migrant Shrike. Marsh Hawk. Magnolia Warbler. Scarlet Tanager. Black-throated Green Warbler. Long-billed Marsh Wren. House Wren. Black-throated Blue Warbler. Black-poll Warbler. Olive-backed Thrush. Meadowlark, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow Palm Warbler. Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Savannah Sparrow, Towhee, Winter Wren. Song Sparrow. Gold-crowned Kinglet. [se 308 SwartH, Marsh Wrens of California. July October 16. White-throated Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 17. Cowbird, Myrtle Warbler. 18. Bewick’s Wren. 20. Vesper Sparrow. 21. Swamp Sparrow. 24. Pipit. 26. Wilson’s Snipe. 28. Rusty Blackbird. 31. Slate-colored Junco. November 2. Purple Grackle. 4. Purple Finch. 10. Mallard. 15. Fox Sparrow. 21. Pine Siskin. 23. Short-eared Owl. A REVISION OF THE MARSH WRENS OF CALIFORNIA.! BY HARRY S. SWARTH. AN extensive series of marsh wrens from the delta region east of San Francisco Bay has been accumulated in the California Museum of Vertebrate Zodlogy, chiefly through the personal efforts of Misses Annie M. Alexander and Louise Kellogg. The appear- ance of these birds contrasts so strongly with specimens avail- able from other parts of California that it has seemed desirable to make a careful study of their systematic status. With this object in view, as many specimens as possible have been assembled illustrative of the Long-billed Marsh Wren (7elmatodytes palustris) upon the Pacific Coast, especially in California. Although each of the several collections examined or appealed to contained but a meager representation of the species, still, by assembling material 1 Contribution from the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zodlogy. arr aah Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. 309 from many sources, and for the use of which specific acknowledg- ment is made beyond, a total of 239 skins became available. This series, while still leaving gaps to be filled before any precise plotting of breeding ranges can be made, is more than any previous student ae — x Points from which specimens were ex- 0 ‘amined: | Telmatodytes p. paludicola breeding Telmatodytes p. paludicola winter Telmatodytes p. estuarinus breeding Telmatodytes p. estuarinus winter Telmatodytes p. plesius breeding Telmatodytes p. plesius winter DISTRIBUTION MAP MUSEUM OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Distribution in California of the subspecies of Telmatodyles palustris. of the subject has had at his disposal, and is sufficient to indicate that there are three, instead of two, distinguishable subspecies in California. It also suffices to indicate with a fair degree of accuracy 310 Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. [huts the summer and winter distribution of these three races within the State. The greater part of the series under consideration is from the Museum of Vertebrate Zodlogy, including, besides the State collec- tion, the Grinnell, Morcom, and Swarth collections. This, how- ever, although by far the most extensive series available from any one source, still left much to be desired in the way of adequate material from certain regions. The loan of specimens from other collections has filled these gaps to some extent. The collections in the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art, ' were at the writer’s disposal, including the Daggett, Richardson, Willett, Lamb and Law collections, which are housed there. To the United States National Museum, through Dr. C. W. Richmond, Assistant Curator of Birds, the writer is indebted for the loan of certain specimens, particularly the type of Baird’s “ Cistothorus palustris, var. paludicola.” Other institutions which generously responded to requests for the loan of material were the Biological Survey of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Uni- versity of Oregon, and the Oregon State Fish and Game Commis- sion. Messrs. Joseph and John W. Mailliard, A. B. Howell and L. E. Wyman also kindly permitted the use of the specimens con- tained in their several collections. To each of these imstitutions and individuals the writer wishes to express his sense of obligation, and his appreciation of the aid afforded. Telmatodytes palustris estuarinus, new subspecies. Type.— No. 25349, Museum of Vertebrate Zodlogy; adult male; Grizzly Island, Solano County, California; April 17, 1915; collected by J. Grinnell; original number, 3152. Subspecific characters— In coloration @stuarinus is darker than the average of paludicola, especially as compared with southern Californian examples of the latter. Occasional specimens of paludicola, however, from all parts of its range, are quite as dark colored. In dimensions, 7’. p. estuarinus differs from T. p. paludicola in its greater size throughout, being of about the same dimensions as 7’. p. plesius. From plesius it differs in its much darker coloration, Specimens examined from the following localities.— California. Solano County: Cordelia Slough, 7; Grizzly Island, 3; Suisun, 18. Sonoma County: Second Napa Slough, 3. Santa Clara County: Palo Alto, 1. ee | Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. okt Los Angeles County: El Monte, 1; San Gabriel River, 1; Los Angeles, 4; Bixby, 1. Riverside County: Corona 1. San Luis Obispo County: San Luis Obispo, 1. Merced County: Los Bajios, 15. Kings County: Tulare Lake, 1. Oregon: Netarts, 1; Elmira, 1; Eugene, 1. Total, 60. Remarks.— The characteristics of the bird and mammal fauna of the San Francisco Bay region have been set forth by Grinnell (Univ. Calif. Publ. Zodl., vol. 10, 1913, pp. 191-194) in a concise summary of conditions at that point, so that there is no need here of dwelling further upon the topic. In the paper cited the possi- bility is pointed out of the marsh wren of this region proving to be different from the recognized Pacific Coast races, a statement that is borne out by the present study. The naming of this form of Telmatodytes palustris adds another to the five distinctive species of vertebrates already known from the Suisun region, giving added emphasis to the strongly marked faunal peculiarities of the section. The characteristics of the marsh wren are again exactly such as occur in the song sparrow, meadow mouse, and shrew of the same locality and association, namely, an extreme of dark coloration and maximum of size as compared with those forms most nearly related and geographically closely adjacent. The wren is not so closely circumscribed in its habitat as are the song sparrow, meadow mouse, and shrew, its breeding range including at least a part of the San Joaquin Valley. This is shown by fifteen specimens at hand taken at Los Bajos, Merced County, in June, four of which are adults and eleven juvenals. The four adults are in excessively worn plumage, but though color characteristics are obscured thereby, measurements of these birds accord so closely with those of Suisun specimens as to leave no doubt as to the subspecific identity of the two series. The young birds also are appreciably larger than full-feathered juvenals of paludicola from Humboldt Bay. Three non-breeding birds from Modesto, Stanislaus County, while not extreme ex- amples of @stuarinus, are apparently to be referred to this form rather than paludicola. A juvenal from Tulare Lake is not with certainty identifiable, but I have tentatively referred it to estuari- nus, regarding it as probable that this form inhabits the entire San Joaquin Valley. 312 Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. [ae Whether the breeding ground also extends northward in the Sacramento Valley, remains to be demonstrated. Three winter birds at hand from the coast of Oregon, apparently referable to estuarinus, point to the possibility of a breeding ground farther north and nearer the point of capture than is the Suisun region. Of these three specimens just one is fairly typical of @stuarinus in appearance, the others tending toward paludicola. Possibly all three are merely variants of the latter race, showing individual variation towards estuarinus. There are also at hand, as listed above, a few individuals appar- ently of this race, from Palo Alto, San Luis Obispo, and various points in the San Diegan region, taken from October to December. This is indicative of a slight migratory movement, or rather a scattering of individuals slightly beyond the breeding confines. Certain of the specimens from the San Diegan region are not absolutely typical, and may be representative of the form as it occurs in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Conditions on the Pacific Coast are such as to render it not so much a matter of surprise that three races of marsh wren should now be recognized from California, as that the species should not be found to have split up into a greater number of forms. Suitable breeding grounds for birds of this nature are limited in area and isolated at widely separated points. The Pacific Coast marsh wrens, with the exception of plesius, are not markedly migratory in habit, and it would seem fair to suppose that these several factors would produce more conspicuous results in differentiation of races than has actually taken place. On the Atlantic Coast of the United States less apparent differences of environment, in a region otherwise not noticeably productive of geographical variants, ‘are accompanied by strikingly differentiated. local races of the same species. Telmatodytes palustris paludicola (Baird). Type locality— Shoalwater Bay, Washington. Range in California.— Resident locally in marshy tracts. In northern California, the region west of the coast ranges; south of San Francisco Bay, along the coast, in the Santa Cruz and San Diegan regions, probably to the Mexican boundary line. There are no specimens of this subspecies at hand oi | SwartH, Marsh Wrens of California. aus from the Colorado or Mohave desert regions which would serve to indicate seasonal migrations to these points. Specimens examined from the following localities.— California. Los Angeles County: Los Angeles, 5; Nigger Slough, 3; Torrance, 1; Garnsey, 1; El Monte, 9; Long Beach, 2; Bixby,3. Orange County: Sunset Beach, 1. Riverside County: Riverside, 2. Santa Barbara County: Guadalupe Lake, 1. San Benito County: Paicines, 3. Stanislaus County: Modesto, 3. Alameda County: San Lorenzo, 2; Berkeley, 1. Santa Clara County: Palo Alto, 15. San Mateo County: San Mateo, 1. Marin County: Head of Limantour Bay, 2; Point Reyes, 2; Bolinas, 1. Sonoma County: Santa Rosa, 1. Solano County: Suisun Marsh, 1; Grizzly Island, 2; Cordelia Slough, 1. Humboldt County: Humboldt Bay, 1; Eureka, 3; Arcata, 1. Del Norte County: Crescent City, 3. Oregon: Netarts, 2. Washington: Shoalwater Bay, 1. Seattle, 2. South Tacoma, 1. Total, 77. Remarks.— But a cursory examination of the material assembled for the present study was necessary to demonstrate that there were three types represented therein, separable with a fair degree of ease and certainty. The specimens of plesius disposed of, there remained the two dark colored coastal races, with the at- tendant problem as to which of them should bear the name paludi- cola. By the courtesy of the United States National Museum, through Dr. C. W. Richmond, I was enabled to examine Baird’s type of Cistothorus palustris, var. paludicola, indispensable for a proper understanding of the question. There are also at hand, received from the collection of the above mentioned institution and from those of the Oregon State University and the Oregon State Fish and Game Commission, some additional skins from the coast of Oregon and Washington, in the same general region as the type locality of paludicola. While there is no doubt as to the distinctness of the two dark- colored coastal races here recognized, for the differences are trench- ant enough to be appreciable at a glance, the nature of the type of paludicola makes it difficult to decide as to which of the two is the unnamed form. The type specimen of paludicola is a non-sexed bird taken October 31, a date that renders it possible at least that it was a winter visitant at the point of capture (Shoalwater Bay, southern Washington), and not representative of the breeding bird of that region. In size it is somewhat larger than the average 314 Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. ae of the subspecies as here recognized, and tends accordingly towards estuarinus in appearance. Judging from the appearance of this specimen, the suggestion arose of the probable division of the Pacific Coast marsh wren into two races, northern and southern; one of the two, a larger form, paludicola, in the north, south to San Francisco Bay and the Suisun region; the other, a smaller, un- named race, along the southern coast district. This was the writer’s first idea of the state of affairs; but breeding birds which became available from scattered points along the entire coast from Washington to southern California, demonstrated the essen- tial unity of the series, though with an appreciable diminution in size southward. (Most breeding birds from the San Diego region are decidedly smaller than any from other points.) Telmatodytes palustris plesius (Oberholser). Type locality— Fort Wingate, New Mexico. Range in California.— Breeds in the northeastern corner of the State (the Modoc or Great Basin faunal area). There are breeding birds at hand from the following localities: Pit River near Alturas, Tule (= Rhett) Lake, and Eagle Lake. One from Fort Crook may or may not be a breeding bird. There are no data to indicate whether or not any individuals of this race remain through the winter on the breeding grounds. The subspecies is abundant in winter in suitable spots on the Colorado and Mohave deserts; it also occurs in large numbers in the San Diégan region, and in much lesser numbers in the San Joaquin Valley and northward along the coast as far as Marin County. : Specimens examined from the following localities.— California: Imperial County: Fort Yuma, 5; Brawley, 1. San Diego County: Tia Juana River, 1; San Diego, 1. Riverside County: Mecca, 7; Palm Springs, 2; Riverside Mountain, 1; Lower Chemehuevis Valley, 1; Corona, 2. San Bernardino County: Yermo, 3; Victorville, 4; San Bernardino, 1. Los Angeles County: Long Beach, 4; Bixby, 4; San Pedro, 1; Alamitos, 1; El Monte, 2; Los Angeles, 7; Pasadena, 2; Nigger Slough, 1. Inyo County: Death Valley, 1. Mono County: Gem Lake, 1. Mariposa County: Yosemite Valley, 1. Stanislaus County: La Grange, 1. San Benito County: Paicines,1. Santa Clara County: Palo Alto, 2. Merced County: Los Banos, 1. Alameda County: Berkeley, 1. Marin County: Point Reyes, 1; Tomales Point, 1. Lassen County: Eagle Lake, 1. Shasta County: Fort Crook, 1. Siskiyou or Modoc County: Tule (= Rhett) Lake, 2. Modoc County: Alturas, 2. Oregon: Burns, 1; Camp Harney, 1; Fort Klamath, 2; Corvallis, 1. Mee | Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. 51D Nevada: Lovelock, 1; Quinn River Crossing, 1. Idaho: Nampa, 6. British Columbia; Cariboo Road, 1. Total, 82. Remarks.— The known breeding range of the western marsh wren in California is very limited, being merely the restricted northeastern corner of the State, a region which shows strongly Great Basin faunal affinities. In winter, however, plesius is per- haps the most abundant of any form of the species, occurring in numbers over a large part of the state. It is an especially numer- ous winter visitant in the San Diegan district of southern Cali- fornia. In this region summer is the dry season, a period of such excessive aridity that birds with the needs and proclivities of the marsh wrens are closely limited as to habitat, being restricted to extremely circumscribed areas about the few suitable permanent streams and sloughs. In winter this is all changed. Abundant rains often transform what were dry fields and pastures into ponds and marshes, while every roadside ditch is running full, and bordered with dense vegetation. In consequence, the visiting marsh wrens are enabled to scatter widely over the country. It may be that the resident birds even at this time adhere somewhat closely to their restricted summer habitat, but, however that may be, it is the writer’s experience that in southern California indis- criminate winter collecting of marsh wrens in the places where they are most easily obtained, will produce several examples of plesius to one of the resident paludicola. Going northward in California there is a great and abrupt lessening of numbers of the subspecies plestus as the San Diegan region is left behind. There are a few specimens at hand from various scattered points: One from Los Bafios, in the central San Joaquin Valley; one from Paicines and two from Palo Alto, from the coast region south of San Francisco Bay; one from Berkeley; two from Point Reyes and Tomales Point, Marin County. It is worth noting that there is not a single example of this subspecies in the extensive series of marsh wrens collected in the Suisun region. These facts are clearly illustrative of the winter range of plesius in California, with its metropolis in the southern end of the state (both on the deserts and in the San Diegan region) and with 316 Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. Fer scattering individuals occurring northward in the San Joaquin Valley and along the coast at least as far as Marin County. The presence in the series from Oregon, however, of a typical example of plesius (a winter bird) from Corvallis, in the northern coast region of this state (University of Oregon Mus. No. 1081) shows that individuals of this form may occasionally be found in winter at any point along the coast. The subspecies is generally regarded as a winter visitant, only, on the Colorado Desert (see Grinnell, Univ.’ Calif. Publ. Zodl., vol. 12, 1914, p. 211), as in the San Diegan region, but there is one specimen in the Morcom collection collected at Fort Yuma on May 7, a date which suggests the possibility, at least, of its being a breeding bird. The extensive series from southern California contains few specimens which are helpful in determining average dates of arrival and departure, most of them having been taken from November to February. The earliest date represented is for a specimen from San Pedro, October 3, but it seems probable that the species arrives in southern California some weeks earlier. The latest date from southern California, aside from the Fort Yuma example above mentioned, is from Mecca, about the center of the Colorado Desert, April 17. The series of plesiws here assembled exhibits a rather wide range of variation, both as to color and size, so much so as to suggest the possibility of more than one recognizable form being included under this name. This suspicion is emphasized by the appearance of six fall birds from Nampa, Idaho, which are of an extreme grayness of coloration not to be matched by any winter birds from California. The status of these several series, however, is a prob- lem to be solved by some future worker with an abundance of breeding birds from appropriate localities. In series of winter specimens of this or comparable species there are sure to be many intermediates, sometimes extremely difficult to recognize as such, and always hard to adjudge as to their real significance. So it must suffice to say here that, compared with the Idaho specimens (which may be presumed to be fairly typical of plesius), winter birds from California are, with hardly an exception, more richly colored, less grayish, and with appreciably darker flanks. This generally darker coloration is by no means correlated with small var tamed Swartu, Marsh Wrens of California. al? size, so is not to be looked upon as indicative of mere intergradation with the smaller and darker race paludicola. There are, however, a number of small sized individuals in the series, which, despite this character, are readily distinguishable from the latter race. These are nearly all from the Colorado and Mohave deserts. In Oberholser’s description (Auk, Vol. 14, 1897, pp. 186-196) of Cistothorus palustris plesius mention is made (p. 192) of an August specimen from Fort Klamath, Oregon, which though referred to plesius, is regarded as intermediate between that race and paludi- cola. This skin is before me, and the characteristics mentioned are readily appreciable. There is another specimen at hand, a January bird, from Camp Harney, in the same general region, which is even darker in appearance, though again apparently referable to plesius. The Fort Klamath bird can be closely matched as to color by others from southern California, which I also regard as non-typical examples of plesius. The question arises as to the relationships of the breeding bird of south-central Oregon to estuarinus of the Suisun region, a ques- tion that cannot be settled without material from the Sacramento Valley. This region is not represented by a single specimen in the series under consideration. It is at any rate a possibility that estuarinus extends north through the Sacramento Valley to south- ern Oregon, its range interposed between those of plesius and palu- dicola, and that at the north mergence of characters occurs with either one or both of the latter races. The few birds at hand from southern Oregon, and from certain other points (as noted under estuarinus) are certainly suggestive of such a possibility. “‘paleg njoopnjod si.qsnjpd sns0yjzo}s17) Jo UouTIOads odXy Jo syuaMEIMSeO|] x “FIPD OUASIp UeSaIq] URS (0'€I-0' TT) 6 IT | (G'0Z-Z' LT) 6ST | (¢°gI-S'ZT) 6' ZT | (°0S-S' IF) SSF | (G°SS-0'6F) GIG] pue Jasaq opBIo[O ‘seyvuIay g “FeO ‘s}tesap (¢°€1-0 ZI) 6°ZT | ('0Z-0' 61) 2°61 | (G'FI-O'S1) FST | (0° 6F-0'SF) 2° LF aARYOTT pue opriojory ‘seyeur (OT (G°GG-0 ZG) 9° eG snisajd a: saphipojouja TE; “yyRD ‘sory (0° SI-S ZI) 2°2T 0'6T | O'SI-G'Z1) L°21 | (0° 6F-0'SF) FSF! (O° SS-0'TS) 0°Zg | -Unod vUIOUOg puR oUR[Og ‘Sa[eMa; Z “FBO ‘serzunod (G*€T-0'Z1)F0' ST | (0'0Z-0' ZT) 8°LZT | (G'EI-Z' ZI) O'ET | (O'6F-S'SF) 8°9F | (O° ES-8'0G) 9° Tg | FMOUDgG pue oURjOgG ‘sevu OT SNULLDNISD ‘d sajiipoyowya J, U0} SUI -yseA, “euoony, pue Avg Jo7eA -jBoys s yyeO ‘AYD yusdSeI_) pur keg ypjoqumny, ‘Ayunog uweyy (0° €1-O' TT) FST | (42° 6T-0'° LT) OST | (8° ZT-S' TT) 6'IT | (,0°St-0' OF) TSF | (49° 6F-0 OF) TSF | ‘(poutmsezapun xes Z% ‘sojvul F) 9 “FyeO ‘sorjunoo (¢°ZI-0'ZI) TZ | (0'61-G'Z1) O'ST | (¢°ZI-O' 11) 811 | (O'FF-O' IF) FCF) (O'SF-G'SF) ELF | URL pue viel vzURG ‘sajeulo} OT “FyeO ‘sorjunod (0'S1-Z' ZT) 2°21 | (O'SI-O' LT) FLT | (S°ZI-G°'IT) VST | (G°St-O' TF) S'&% | (O'SF-S' ZF) G ZP | UVP, pue ear vyueg ‘sojeu ¢ ywyeo (0°GI-S' II) 8'IT | (O'ST-O'ZT) 2°21 | (¢°ZI-G' IT) 6 IT | ('SF-S'68) OIF | (¢°6F-0'SF) T LF oLystp UesaIq] URG ‘SoyRutoy g Pile) (0'€I-0' Il) 2°2r | O'6I-O0'ZT) Z°ST | (O'SI-G' IT) SZ | (G°FP-O' TP) 2 Sh | (S°6F-0' FF) 2 BF ‘qoNysIp USVI] UG ‘SoyRUT g : pjooupnyod *d sajfipojowyja J, MET THOYIIM snsJe T, uewyny) TL Sul 90, ®[PPHAL = ee ‘sausnyod sajiipojpuyay, LO SHOVU LSVOD OWIOVG JO (WOWIXVW GNV WOAWININ ‘ADVUGAV) SUMLAWITIN NI SINDWAYASVA]L 318 PEO SV me petite ie APG ‘ISHN NO DNITLLGG * “LSHN DNISNVYUVW °G LSAN Soil ‘ATONITIVY) VAINOT "IX ALV1d “AIXXX “1OA ANY FHL ici | Burtcu, Nesting of the Florida Gallinule. 319 NESTING OF THE FLORIDA GALLINULE. BY VERDI BURTCH. Plates: AT-NTT. In the spring of 1916 the water was very high in the marsh at Branchport, N. Y., and nearly all of the early nests of Red-winged Blackbirds and Florida Gallinules were submerged and destroyed. One pair of Gallinules had completed their nest near the margin of the marsh and only a short distance from my house. Six eggs had been layed when a rise of the water covered the nest causing it to disintegrate, letting the eggs through the bottom of it where I found them resting on the mud below. Soon after this, June 11, and a beautiful moonlight night, I was pushing my boat through the flags when I found a Gailinule’s nest containing one egg. It was in the same locality as the first men- tioned nest and I have no doubt that it was constructed by the same birds. On the 16th, it rained very hard all day and all night and when I visited the nest next day I found it under water. The five eggs which it now contained were nearly under water and the female Gallinule was swimming around close to the nest. Think- ing that she might desert the nest if I disturbed her I passed quickly on. The next day there were six eggs in the nest and I was sur- prised to find that the Gallinules had added new green flags to the nest raising it, eggs and all at least ten inches higher. The eggs were now about ten inches above the water and no more eggs were laid but the nest was made more compact and substantial. July 1, I erected a blind about ten feet from the nest and at 8.50 A. M. next day I concealed myself therein. Both Gallinules were heard when I first arrived then were still until 9.15 when there was a splash in the water near by and the female appeared for a moment then went away again. At 9.380 she cackled cut, cut, cut-cul-cut-cul—cut and at 9.40 she came to within ten feet of the nest, sounded alarm note then made a complete circle around the blind and went on the nest at 9.50 unobserved by me. There she sat pulling the growing flags to and around her and at 10.15 320 Burtcu, Nesting of the Florida Gallinule. [sais the male called kr-r-r-r-k, kr-r-r-r-k, and she answered, krup’. The nest was exposed to the hot sun, as I had cut some of the flags away, and she stood in the nest with her feathers ruffled, panting and trying to pull the flags around her, and frequently uttered a low ku ku ku. At 10.50 she went to the edge of the nest and drank some water, arranged her feathers a few minutes then slid into the water and swimming rapidly away met and passed the male as he came swimming towards the nest. He did not go on the nest at once but maneuvered around until 11 o’clock, then as he was going on I released the shutter of my camera and he jumped back and scolded. Again he cautiously approached and then retired again. Once again he came and was all settled on the nest at 11.10. How- ever he appeared rather suspicious, stretching out his neek and swaying his head from side to side, his dark red eyes shining and his tail flipping as he scrutinized the blind. At 11.30 the female called kr-r-r-r-k from way out in front and was answered from the nest by the male. At 11.40 she uttered conversational notes then the creak and was answered by the male with explosive base notes in a low tone. She kept up the conversa- tional notes until the male called rather impatiently. Then she appeared at 11.45 and they changed places, she going on to the nest immediately after he had left it. I remained in the blind until 12.15 when my movements alarmed her and she left the nest. July 3, we had another hard rain and when I visited the blind the afternoon of the 4th, more green flags had been added to the nest raising it several inches higher. July 5, I arrived at the blind at 1.30 P.M. The female Gallinule was seen back of the nest at 1.40. The wind was blowing hard flapping the cover of the blind, which seemed to bother her and she came on cautiously, advancing and retiring again several times, then she gave a sharp cak’ and swam rapidly to the nest. Behind her came the male following her up close to the nest when she went on and settled down, then he retired. She spent much of the time while she was on the nest in arranging the nest materials and trying to pull the growing flags around her. At 2.40 she was peering ahead into the water, the nest began to move and a turtle appeared close beside the nest. She stood up a ‘NIVDW NOILISOG ONIWASAY ‘Z ‘HTILUOT, V AM GaaunLsIq ‘TJ ‘HIANITIVS) VAINOT A Wx ava “AIXXX “TOA ‘NOV FHL Se a OBERHOLSER, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. BPA backing to the edge of the nest where she raised her wings threaten- ingly and uttered the creaking note in a frightened tone. The turtle soon disappeared but she remained at the side of the nest creaking softly for several minutes, then peering ahead she cau- tiously settled down to brood. Next day I found the nest all mussed up with three of the eggs remaining in it and two more in the water on one side. I was in the blind nearly an hour and although I heard Gallinules near several times none came to the nest. On examination the nest appeared to have become water soaked one side disintegrating so that the weight of the Gallinule had caused it to sink and spill the eggs. Or perhaps a turtle had tried to climb upon the nest. However this does not seem probable as the eggs had not been destroyed. Incubation was almost complete in some of the eggs and there would have been young in the nest inside of two days and I had hoped to be in the blind at this interesting time. NOTES ON NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. i, BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. Like the first installment! the present paper is made up of various notes on North American birds. A few of the birds treated below belong to species or genera which are much in need of revision, and the notes on such have been withheld for years in the expecta- tion that time and opportunity would avail for thorough study of these groups. But since this does not appear possible in the near future, these comments are now presented in this form in the hope that they.may be of at least some assistance to ornithologists. 1For the first paper of this series see “The Auk,’ XX XIV, April, 1917, pp. 191-196. o22 OperHoLsER, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. eats Vireo bellii arizone Ridgway. The Arizona form of Vireo bellit was originally characterized by Mr. Ridgway in 19031 from a type collected at Tucson, Arizona. It has commonly been considered as inseparable from Vireo bellii pusillus Coues, but by a study of our Texas and other material, some of this additional to that available to Mr. Ridgway, the race is shown to be readily distinguishable from both Vireo bellit pusillus of California as well as from Vireo bellii medius of central western Texas. It differs from the former in having the upper parts decidedly more greenish (less grayish), and the lower parts less whitish, the sides and flanks much more strongly tinged with olive grayish and more washed with yellowish. The wing and tail average somewhat shorter, but these differences are not of much value in identifying specimens. From Vireo bellii medius Ober- holser it may readily be distinguished by its decidedly longer tail and much paler and more grayish coloration, both above and below. The geographic distribution of Vireo bellii arizone extends from the extreme western portion of central western Texas west to south- ern Arizona, and south to the Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua. Beolophus inornatus murinus Ridgway. This race of Beolophus inornatus was first made known by Mr. Ridgway in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washing- ton, Volume XVI, June 25, 1903, page 109, as Beolophus inornatus murinus, from a specimen taken in the Nachoguero Valley, northern Lower California. It was later more fully described by him 2; it was also recognized some years later by Dr. Joseph Grinnell and Mr. H. S. Swarth;? and subsequently, though without comment, by Doctor Grinnell in Pacifie Coast Avifauna No. 11, 1915, p. 163; but it seems to have been otherwise generally ignored by ornitho- 1 Vireo bellii arizone Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, XVI, September 30, 1903, p. 108. 2 Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part III, 1904, pp. 389-390. 3 Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., X, No. 10, October 13, 1913, p. 310. Vol. XXXIV] Oseruotser, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. 329 logical writers. Examination of the material available shows that it is, however, a recognizable subspecies, differing from Baolophus inornatus inornatus in its more grayish coloration and additionally in its darker under parts; and from Baeolophus inornatus griseus in its decidedly darker color. It ranges in the Pacific coast region from northern Lower California north through southern California to Santa Barbara County. Beolophus wollweberi annexus (Cassin). The existence of two forms of Beolophus wollweberi (Bonaparte) was first noticed by Mr. Ridgway. His distinction has subse- quently been ignored and the entire species included under one form. That there are, however, two readily distinguishable races is evident on comparison of specimens from Arizona with those from central and southern Mexico. The northern race differs from the southern in its decidedly paler coloration both above and below. This species was originally described as Lophophanes wollweberi from Zacatecas, Mexico, by Bonaparte.? Birds examined from Huasamota, Durango, which is considerably north of Zacatecas, prove to be almost identical with those from southern Mexico, though verging slightly toward the northern race; consequently the specific name wollweberi must apply to the southern bird, which, therefore, becomes the typical race. A name for the north- ern bird is, as already shown by Mr. Ridgway, found in Parus annexus Cassin,’ described from a specimen purporting to be from the Rio Grande in Texas. As, however, the species is not known to occur in Texas, this locality is probably erroneous; but the applica- bility of the name is undoubted, since the type, which has been ex- amined, proves to be identical with birds from Arizona. The northern race of the species must, therefore, stand as Beolophus wollweberi annexus (Cassin). Its geographic distribution is as follows: 1 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part III, 1904, p. 393. 2 Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci., XX XI, October, 1850, p. 478. 3 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., V, October, 1850, p. 103, pl. I. 324 OBERHOLSER, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. [jute Mountains of northwestern Mexico and contiguous portion of the southwestern United States; north to southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona; west to Sonora; south to Sonora and Chihuahua; and east to Chihuahua and southwestern New Mexico. The range of Beolophus wollweberi wollweberi is consequently restricted to the mountains of central and southern Mexico, north to Zacatecas and Durango, and south to Vera Cruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla (Swainson). This race of Geothlypis trichas was first properly distinguished by Mr. William Palmer,! although the 7'richas brachidactylus of Swainson,” based on birds from the northern provinces of the United States, is its earliest name. It has in recent years been generally discredited, possibly on account of the difficulty in dis- tinguishing worn specimens; but with the proper material from typical sources, it may be easily recognized. It differs from Geothlypis trichas trichas in its larger size, and, in the male, by reason of its more greenish upper surface, more whitish frontal band of gray, more extensively yellow posterior lower parts, and its usually more brownish flanks. The female is similar to that of Geothlypis trichas trichas but is larger, more greenish above, and slightly paler. The geographic range of Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla includes the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada; the bird breeding north to Newfoundland, central Quebec, northern Ontario, northern Minnesota, and northeastern North Dakota; west to central North Dakota and central Nebraska; south to northeastern Kansas, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, Ohio, northern Pennsylvania, and northern New Jersey; and east to the Atlantic coast from northern New Jersey to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It winters south to the Bahama Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Swan Island in the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, southern and eastern Mexico. 1 Auk, XVII, July, 1900, pp. 221, 226-228. 2 Anim. in Menag., 1838, p. 295. | OBERHOLSER, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. 320 Dendroica cerulescens cairnsi Coues. The status of this race has recently been questioned by Mr. C. W. G. Eifrig + on account of two intermediate male specimens collected in the Allegheny Mountains of western Maryland; and on this basis it is proposed to eliminate the form from the North American list.? Examination, however, of a large series of birds of this species representing both Dendroica cerulescens cerulescens and Dendroica cerulescens cairnst indicate that the two current races are clearly recognizable. While it is true that the amount of black on the back of the male varies considerably in both forms and that males from New York and New England occasionally have much black on the interscapulum, it is also true that the southern birds have on the average a much greater amount of black and are almost never entirely without these black markings. There are, however, other characters in the male which serve to separate Dendroica cerulescens cairnst from Dendroica cerulescens cerulescens, such as the darker shade of the bluish ground color of the upper parts, especially the pileum, which also is sometimes streaked with black. The female of Dendroica cerulescens cairnsi is even more easily distinguished than is the male, for it is darker and duller above as well as less yellowish on the lower parts, and has the olivaceous color of the flanks darker and more strongly contrasted with the pale dull yellowish of the middle of the abdomen. In characteriz- ing this southern race of the Black-throated Blue Warbler alto- gether too much emphasis has heretofore been placed on the amount of black on the back of the male, for the subspecies, as above indicated, would not fall with this character alone, since the coloration of females is undoubtedly the best diagnostic character. In fact, Dendroica cerulescens cairnsi is a perfectly recognizable race and deserves retention in our list. Mr. Eifrig, in the communication above mentioned, has ‘inti- mated that the breeding form of this species in the mountains of western Maryland is the northern race, Dendroica cerulescens 1 Auk, XXXII, January, 1915, p. 110. 2 Cf. Stone, Auk, XX XIII, October, 1916, p. 431. 326 OBERHOLSER, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. fuk cerulescens, basing this statement on two adult males which seem to be nearer that form. In this region, which is the transition ground between many northern and southern races, particularly those of the Allegheny Mountains, we should expect to find speci- mens that would give more or less trouble in their identification, and this is true not only in the particular species under considera- tion but in several others. There are in the Biological Survey collection 9 adult specimens of the Black-throated Blue Warbler from the mountains of western Maryland, taken at Finzel, Bittinger, and Kearney. This series includes both males and females, and while some of the specimens incline strongly toward Dendroica cerulescens cerulescens, and all of them are more or less intermedi- ate, the series as a whole shows that the breeding form of this region is Dendroica cerulescens cairnsi. Vermivora celata orestera Oberholser. The Rocky Mountain form of Vermivora celata was originally described ! from Willis in northern New Mexico. Most subsequent authors, doubtless from lack of sufficient material, have failed to recognize its distinctness. Additional material from various parts of its range, examined since the original description was published, fully substantiates the characters of the race as they were given. It is readily distinguishable from Vermivora celata celata by its larger size and much more yellowish coloration both above and below; and from Vermivora celata lutescens by its much greater dimensions and by the duller, less yellowish color of both upper and lower parts. Thus, while Vermivora celata orestera is inter- mediate in the character of its coloration between Vermivora celata celata and Vermivora celata lutescens, it is not so in size, for it is larger than either. It occupies much the same relation to the eastern and western races of its species as does Wilsonia pusilla pileolata to Wilsonia pusilla pusilla and Wilsonia pusilla chryseola. Detailed measurements of this and the other forms of Vermivora celata may be found in the present writer’s previous paper on the subject. 1 Vermivora celata orestera Oberholser, Auk, XXII, July, 1905, p. 243. 2 Auk, XXII, April, 1905, pp. 246-247. eee | OperHo.seR, Notes on N. A. Birds. IT. eae The geographic distribution of Vermivora celata orestera is as follows: Western United States, southwestern Canada, central and northern Mexico. Breeds north to southern Alberta and southern British Columbia; west to eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and eastern California; south to southeastern California, southern Arizona, and central New Mexico; east to New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Winters south to the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero, Michoacan, Jalisco, and southern Lower California. Migrates east to Minnesota and casu- ally to Pennsylvania. Molothrus ater artemisiz Grinnell. The northwestern form of Molothrus ater was described by Dr. Joseph Grinnell as Molothrus ater artemisie | from the Quinn River Crossing in Humboldt County, Nevada. Five days later appeared the description of Molothrus ater dwighti by Dr. Louis B. Bishop,? based on specimens from Crane Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. These two birds.are undoubtedly the same, and of course the former name has priority. This race has since been generally ignored, but examination of a large amount of material shows that it is nearly as well characterized as Molothrus ater obscurus. It is even larger than Molothrus ater ater, as may be seen by consulting the detailed measurements given by Dr. Bishop,’ and has a longer and relatively slenderer bill, the outline of the culmen being not so convex. The female is similar to the same sex of Molothrus ater obscurus, but is paler, more brownish, with a usually more whitish throat. With Molothrus ater obscurus it scarcely needs comparison, as it is in every respect so much larger. The geographic ranges of the three forms of Molothrus ater, after the revision now necessary by the recognition of an additional subspecies, are as follows: Molothrus ater ater.— Eastern North America: breeds north to New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario; west to Minnesota, Iowa, 1 Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., V, No. 5, December 31, 1909, p. 276. 2 Auk, XX VII, No. 1, January 4, 1910, p. 61. 3 Auk, XXVII, No. 1, January 4, 1910, pp. 61-62. 328 OsrRHoLser, Notes on N. A. Birds. II. ne southeastern Montana, eastern Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico; south to southern New Mexico, central western and central Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina; east to the Atlan- tic coast from North Carolina to New Brunswick; and winters south to the Gulf coast of the United States and the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Yucatan, Zacatecas, Michoacan, and Sinaloa. Molothrus ater artemisie.— Western United States and western Canada: breeds north to southern Keewatin and southern Mac- kenzie; west to Alberta, Oregon, and California; south to south central California, Nevada, central Utah, southwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana, and central Montana; east to eastern North Dakota and Manitoba; and winters south to southern Texas and the Mexican states of Vera Cruz, Michoacan, Tepic, and southern Lower California. Casual east to Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Molothrus ater obscurus.— Mexico and the southwestern border of the United States: breeds north to southern Louisiana, southern Texas, central Arizona, and southern California, south to Tamau- lipas, Oaxaca, Colima, Sinaloa, and southern Lower California. Loxia curvirostra bendirei Ridgway. This crossbill was first described by Mr. Ridgway from Fort Klamath, Oregon.'| Although Mr. Ridgway has since consistently recognized it, and in his “Birds of North and Middle America” has set forth its characters in detail with tables of measurements,” it has been generally. discredited. A recent careful examination of all material available shows, however, that this race is well de- serving of recognition, although, as often happens in closely allied subspecies, the characters are largely average distinctions. It differs from Loxia curvirostra minor in decidedly larger size and rather paler colors; and occupies, moreover, a definite and very extensive range in the western United States. From Lozia curvi- rostra stricklandi it differs in being decidedly smaller. While it thus is intermediate between Loaia curvirostra minor and Loxia 1 Loxia curvirostra bendirei Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., II, April 28, 1884, p. 101. 2 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part I, 1901, p. 50. Vol. | OBERUOLSER, Notes on N. A. Birds. TI, 329 1917 curvirostra stricklandi, and some of its specimens are troublesome to distinguish with certainty, most individuals are without difficulty determinable. In view of these facts it seems desirable to recognize Loxia curvirostra bendiret as an additional race. Detailed measure- ments of all three American forms of this species can be found in Mr. Ridgway’s “Birds of North and Middle America.” ! The geographic distribution of Loxia curvirostra bendirei as now made out is as follows: Breeds in the mountains of the western United States, north to Wyoming and Montana; west to Oregon and California; south to southern California and northern New Mexico; and east to Colo- rado. Migrates east to eastern Nebraska, Kansas, and central Texas; west to the coast of southern California; and casually to Guadalupe Island, Lower California. Passer hostilis Kleinschmidt. The British form of Passer domesticus, with which the birds from the United States are identical, was recently described by Klein- schmidt as Passer hostilis.2 Notwithstanding the fact that Kleinschmidt used a binomial designation he really intended to describe the British bird as a subspecies of the typical continental form, as may readily be seen by consulting his remarks. Further- more, the difference between the two forms is not a constant one, being merely a matter of the average smaller size of the British bird. The proper designation of the British and consequently the North American bird is, therefore, Passer domesticus hostilis. In view of this recent development, the name “English” Sparrow, by which this bird is commonly known in the United States, is not such a misnomer after all. 1 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part I, 1901, pp. 47-52. 2 Falco, XI, No. 2, December, 1915, p. 19 (type locality, Tring, England). 330 OBERHOLSER, Races of Bombycilla garrula. acs A SYNOPSIS OF THE RACES OF BOMBYCILLA GARRULA (LINNAUS). BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. Wuen Mr. Ridgway last treated the Bohemian Waxwing he found no subspecific differences in any part of its range.! A recent examination and comparison of specimens of this species from Europe, Asia, and North America, including much material addi- tional to that examined by Mr. Ridgway shows that the North American bird is decidedly different in coloration from that of Europe. The bird from Asia, though to a certain extent inter- mediate, is yet racially distinguishable from those of both Europe and North America. Three subspecies are thus recognizable, as set forth below. The generic name Bombycilla Vieillot,? which has currently been used for this group, has been rejected * in favor of Ampelis Linnzeus, on the ground that the type of Ampelis Linnzus is by tautonomy Lanius garrulus Linneus. A recent examination of the original description of Ampelis Linnzeus* shows, however, that while the word Ampelis was used in the synonymy, it was not in the sense of the Ampelis, but merely as part of a descriptive polynomial. Thus, according to the ruling of the International Commission on Nomen- clature, this can not be construed as constituting tautonomy in a pre-Linnean publication such as Linnzeus’ Fauna Suecica. Conse- quently the type of Ampelis must be subject to subsequent designa- tion, which apparently was first made by Gray in 1840, by whom Ampelis cotinga Linneus was selected.2 The generic name for the waxwings, therefore, must revert to Bombycilla Vieillot. 1 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, part 3, 1904, pp. 105-109. 2 Ois. Amér. Sept., I, 1807 (1808), p. 88, pl. 57 (type, by monotypy, Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot). 3 Committee Brit. Ornithologists’ Union, List Brit. Birds, 1915, p. 362. 4Syst. Nat., ed. 12, I, 1766, p. 297. 5 List Genera Birds, 1840, p. 34. a. ae | OBERHOLSER, Races of Bombycilla garrula. BOL Bombycilla garrula garrula (Linnzeus). [Lanius| garrulus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, I, 1758, p. 95 (Europe and North America). Corvus lientericus Tremminck, Cat. Systématique Cabinet d’Ornith., 1807, p. 43 (nom. nov. pro Ampelis garrulus Gmelin). Bombyciphora poliocelia Mryrr, Vogel Liv.- u. Esthlands, 1815, p. 104 (nom. nov. pro Lanius garrulus Linnzus). Bombycilla Bohemica Lnacu, Synopt. Cat. Brit. Birds, 1817, p. 6 (nom. nov. pro Lanius garrulus Linnzus). Garrulus europeus Dumont, Dict. Sciences Nat., XXIV, 1822, pp. 184, 185 (nom. nov. pro Ampelis garrulus Linneus). Garrulus major Dumont, Dict. Sciences Nat., XXIV, 1822, pp. 184, 185 (nom. nov. pro Ampelis garrulus Linneus). Parus Bombycilla Patuas, Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat., I, 1826, p. 548 (nom. nov. pro Lanius garrulus Linneeus). Bomblycilla|. brachyrhynchos Breum, Vogelfang, 1855, p. 79 (middle Europe). Bombycilla cerulea Dupois, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., XII, 1860, p. 2 (lapsus calami pro Bombycilla garrula). Bombycilla garrula vulgaris HaRTERT, Vogel paliiarkt. Fauna, 1, Heft IV, March, 1907, p. 456 (A. E. Brehm MS.) (nom. nov. pro Lanius garrulus Linnzus) (in synonymy). Chars. subsp.— Colors darkest and most vinaceous. Measurements.— Male:! Wing, 114 mm.; tail, 62; exposed culmen, 10.5; tarsus, 20; middle toe without claw, 16. Both sexes:2 Wing, 110-120; tail, 62-70; exposed culmen, 11-12; tarsus, 20—21.5. Type locality Sweden (designated by Hartert).* Geographic distribution.— Europe: Breeds north to northern Russia and northern Norway, and south to about 65° north latitude; winters north to southern Norway; west to Ireland; and south to England, southern France, northern Italy, and Turkey. Remarks.— This is the darkest form of the species, and in colora- tion is decidedly vinaceous above. So far as we are able to deter- mine, it is confined to Europe. In the present connection specimens have been examined from Russia, Norway, Prussia, and Denmark. 1 One male from Norway. Most of the European birds examined in the present connec- tion are without indication of sex, and therefore have not been used in the above-given measurements. 2From Hartert. 3 Vogel palaarkt. Fauna, I, Heft IV, March, 1907, p. 456. Fes 3a2 OBERHOLSER, Laces of Bombycilla garrula. July Bombycilla garrula centralasie Poljakov. Bombycilla garrulus centralasie PousaKov, Messager Ornith., VI, April, 1915, p. 137 (Zaissan district, southwestern slope of Altai Mountains, Turkestan, central Asia). Chars. subsp.— Similar to Bombycilla garrula garrula, but paler and somewhat less vinaceous (more cinnamomeus) above, particularly on back and cervix; also averaging less vinaceous below (more grayish). Measurements.— Male:+ Wing, 111-119 (average, 114.4) mm.; tail, 59-63 (61); exposed culmen, 10.5-11.8 (11.3); tarsus, 20-20.5 (20.1); middle toe without claw, 16-17 (16.7). Type locality.— Zaissan district, southwestern slope of Altai Mountains, Turkestan, central Asia. Geographic distribution — Asia: Breeds in northern Siberia south at least to Vladivostok; winters south to Turkestan and central eastern China. Remarks.— Birds of this species from northeastern Asia differ from Bombycilla garrula garrula of Europe as mentioned by Polja- koy in his original description of Bombycilla garrula centralasia, and undoubtedly belong to the same form. This race, though to some extent intermediate between Bombycilla garrula garrula and the North American bird hereinafter separated as Bombycilla garrula pallidiceps, is nevertheless. worthy of recognition. The limits of the breeding range are at present unknown, but it is without much doubt the breeding bird of northern Siberia. We have examined a summer specimen from Vladivostok. The area of its intergradation with Bombycilla garrula garrula is probably somewhere in western Siberia, but this remains yet definitely to be determined. A specimen from Hsing-lung-shan, 65 miles north- east of Peking, China, taken February 12, 1915, is paler and much more grayish both above and below than other specimens of Bombycilla garrula centralasie, and may possibly be a wanderer from North America, but for the present it is referred to Bombycilla garrula centralasie. ‘Specimens of this subspecies have been ex- amined from also Tokio, Iwaki, and Hakodate, Japan; Shanghai and Peking, China; and Bering Island in the Commander Islands. 1 Average of 6 specimens from Japan, Siberia, and China. Vol. XX idl 1917 OBERHOLSER, Faces of Bombycilla garrula. 333 Bombycilla garrula pallidiceps Reichenow. Bombycilla garrula pallidiceps Re1cHENow, Ornith. Monatsber., XVI, No. 12, December, 1908, p. 191 (Shesly River, northern British Columbia). Chars. subsp.— Similar to Bombycilla garrula centralasie, but decidedly more grayish (less cinnamomeus) both above and below. Measurements.— Male:! Wing, 111-117 (average, 114.5) mm.;_ tail, 63-70 (65.5); exposed culmen, 11.5-12.2 (11.9); tarsus, 20-21.5 (20.8); middle toe without claw, 16-19 (17.2). Type locality — Shesly River, northern British Columbia, Canada. Geographic distribution — Northern and central North America: Breeds north to northern Mackenzie and northern Alaska; west to western Alaska and western British Columbia; south to southern British Columbia and southern Alberta; and east to northeastern Manitoba. Winters east to Nova Scotia; and south, though irregularly, to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, southern Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, and southern Cali- fornia. Casual in Arizona. Remarks.— The North American representatives of this species constitute a well-marked and readily recognizable subspecies which differs from Bombycilla garrula garrula in its paler, very much more grayish (less vinaceous or cinnamomeus), coloration both above and below, and from Bombycilla garrula centralasie as above indicated. There is considerable individual variation in the color of the upper surface, and some specimens in this respect overlap the characters of Bombycilla garrula centralasie; but as a whole the large series which we have examined shows a good average difference. So far as we have been able to determine, there is no geographical variation among the birds from North America, since those from the easternmost part of the range of the species appear to be just the same as those from far western localities. This to a certain extent might be expected, since this waxwing, so far as we know, does not breed east of Hudson Bay. No comparison, how- ever, has been made of breeding birds from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia with those from more northern localities. 1 Average of ten specimens from Oregon, Washington, and Montana. 334 General Notes. [july GENERAL NOTES. An Early Colorado Record of the White-tailed Ptarmigan.— There is an exceedingly interesting, but almost unknown book, dealing in part with pioneer times in Colorado entitled Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border. It was written by Capt. R. B. Marcy, who later rose to the rank of General in the U. 8. Army; his daughter married General Geo. B. McClellan, and his grandson was sometime mayor of New York. Capt. Marcy had in him the making of a splendid naturalist, but duties and training turned his activities into other channels. This particular book of his, contains many references to birds, and should be read by every one interested in western bird life. During the course of his military duties, Capt. Marey made a trip from Fort Bridger, Utah, to Fort Mont- gomery, New Mexico, crossing the Continental Divide over Cochetopa Pass, doing so in the dead of winter (January, 1858); he and his men suffered almost unbelievable hardships from the arctic cold, and from hunger, yet they succeeded in reaching their goal. On page 234 of the above cited book, Capt. Marcy says, ‘‘One day we were....near the summit of the mountains....my guide pointing to a snow bank, said there were some birds he had néver but once before seen....we.... killed two of them. They were white as the snow itself... . two speci- mens which were sent to Professor Baird of the Smithsonian Institute showed them to be Sagopus leucurus {spelling as in original], or white- tail ptarmigan. This beautiful bird was before supposed to be confined to that part of the Rocky Mountain Chain north of latitude 54° north. The specimens sent to Professor Baird are said by him to be the first indication of their occurrence within the limits of our possessions, and it extends the supposed range about a thousand miles to the south.”’— W. H. Brereroup, Denver, Colo. Wild Geese at Moose Factory.— In connection with his work with the wild geese at Kingsville, Ontario, Mr. Jack T. Miner has put tags on a number of Canada Geese, some of which have been returned to him, mainly from the north country, and he has had some interesting letters from Hudson Bay men, from one of which, from Mr. Owen Griffith, Moose Factory, the following quotation is taken. ‘‘T am now stationed here at Moose for the winter and shall be going to Albany in the spring. This is a post on the opposite side of James Bay to Fort George, but a very. good place for game, especially those birds we call ‘‘ Wavies ”’; it is a strange thing that on the West Coast of James Bay, we get almost nothing but ‘‘ White Wavies”’ with an occasional blue one in the flock, while on the East Coast it is just the opposite with almost nothing but Blue (grey) with a few white ones in the flock. While a short distance farther north (on the East Coast) at Whale River the tigi | General Notes. 335 White reappear again in large numbers, so that they evidently cross the Bay on their annual migrations. “There are lots of geese both on the East and West sides of the Bay, but I believe that more pass on the East (Fort George side) than the other as the Coast is rocky with lots of islands where they can breed. We have some Islands out in the Bay called the ‘‘ Tioms ”’ which are great breeding places and every summer the Indians make quite a haul of young and moulting geese there. “The Indians who killed those tagged geese said that they seemed to be tamer than the others and came out of large flocks and down to the decoys when the rest of the band would not turn. “‘ About three miles north of Fort George Post there is a big Bay (salt water) with lots of mud and grass at low tide and in the spring almost every flock of wavies and some geese feed in this Bay on their way North; the Indians never hunt them on their arrival in this Bay but gather on a long hill on the other side and then shoot at the birds as they are going off; they generally get up in small flocks and as they have to rise consider- ably to clear the hill, they can be seen getting up sometime before they get to the hill, and then everyone runs along a path and tries to get right under where the flock is going to pass; of course if three or four flocks get up at the same time, there is shooting on different parts of the hill and the hunters are apt to spoil one another. The Indians say that once these birds leave this Bay that they do not feed again till they get far North (Hudson Straits or Baffin Land) in fact a Wavies’ nest is a great rarity. Strange to say they do not feed in this Bay in the fall. “We have no wild rice in the Bay and the birds seem to feed mostly on grass in the salt water and in the fall they go out to the Islands to feed on berries; . they fly out to the Islands in the mornings and back into the small Bays for the nights.’”? — W. E. SaunpEers, London, Ont. Wood Duck Removing Young from the Nest.— How does the old Wood Duck get her little ones into the water from the nest in a hollow tree or stub, forty or fifty feet from the ground and which is, may be, two or three hundred feet from the water? Mr. Burroughs says, ‘ That the feat of getting down from the tree top cradle had been safely affected probably by the young clambering up on the inside walls of the cavity and tumbling out into the air and then coming down gently like huge snowflakes. The notion that the mother duck takes the young one by one in her beak and carries them to the creek is doubtless erroneous. But this is precisely how she gets them into the water. Early in July, 1898, while tented on the bank of the Michigamme River, Township 43 — North Range 32 west section one, Iron County, Mich., I had the good fortune to see it done. The nest was in a hollow pine that stood directly back of the tent and about two hundred feet from the water, and the hole where the old duck went in, was fifty or sixty feet from the ground. After seeing the old duck fly by the tent, to and from her feeding 336 General Notes. [i a grounds up the river many times during the time of incubation, one morn- ing before sunrise she flew by, from the tree to the river, with a little duck in her beak which she left in an eddy a short distance up stream. She then made ten or twelve trips to the nest and each time took a little duck in her beak by the neck to the water, where they all huddled in a little bunch. It was all done in a few minutes and she evidently took them to the water very soon after they were hatched, as they were only little balls of down. In going to and from work, we passed the little bunch many times. On our approach the old duck would fly away and leave the little ones huddled in a bunch near the shore where the water was quiet. John Muir in his ‘ Boyhood and Youth, a Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf’ tells of a friend of his who was a keen observer who had seen the mother wood duck perform this same feat.— E. G. Krnesrorp, Jron Mountain, Mich. Northern Phalarope in Michigan.— I am glad to be able to record two specimens of this rare bird taken within our limits. In November last, we received from Mr. Albert Hirzel of Forestville, Sanilac County, Michigan, a mounted specimen of a female Northern Phalarope (Lobipes lobatus) taken on October 4, 1911, while swimming in Lake Huron near Forestville. At the same time Mr. Hirzel sent us a male bird of the same species taken on October 28, 1911, while running along the beach at the same place. This species was given a place in my ‘ Michigan Bird Life’ on the strength of several more or less definite Michigan records, no one of which, however, was supported by an actual specimen which could be located, in addition to several unquestioned records from adjoining states. The above specimens seem to establish the bird properly in the Michi- gan list and they are numbered 9687 (female) and 9688 (male) in the museum catalog of the Michigan Agricultural College, East Lansing.— WALTER B. Barrows, Lansing, Mich. The Western Goshawk (Astur atricapillus striatulus Ridg.), in Iowa.— So far as the writer is aware the Western Goshawk has not been reported hitherto from Iowa. Two Goshawks of this subspecies have come to hand during the past season. The first was secured by Mr. Wesley F. Kubichek of Iowa City, having been shot in Johnson County, Iowa, during the last week in October, 1916. The sex of this specimen was not deter- mined. The second specimen, a female, was shot by Mr. Joseph Shell- horn on his farm near Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, November 16, 1916. Both of these birds were adult. Mr. C. B. Cory in his ‘ Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin,’ 1912, p. 460, mentions a specimen taken by Chas. K. Worthen near Warsaw, Illinois. The second of the two above mentioned specimens was submitted to Mr. Cory for confirmatory identification. The past season has witnessed an unusual flight of Goshawks in Iowa, Pa | General Notes. 337 no less than thirty-three individuals having been examined, or reported o me by accurate observers in various parts of the State.— B. H. Bartey, r Rapids, Iowa. Chimney Swift Nesting in a Well.— On July 23, 1916, Mr. S. V. LaDow and I hopefully approached a well in an open field between houses along a highroad near Westfield, Bergen Co., N. J. It was a rather fancy well, with a curb about a yard high and four columns supporting a pointed roof, the whole affair of stone. But we found it evidently unused, as the water was about twenty-five feet down, scummy and with no means of drawing it. As we sat on the curb, a strange noise came from below; on repetition, we decided that it was of wings, probably a bat’s. Hitting the inside of the well with a stick caused further repetition. Long looking revealed three blind, naked, pink-skinned Swifts (Chetwra pelagica) in a nest attached to the smooth, rounded concrete wall about seven or eight feet down, and finally an adult (disclosed by the whitish throat) perched a little to one side, also against the concrete. The young wriggled a little and made faint but distinct squeaking. We withdrew and after a few minutes returned and found the old Swift sitting on the nest covering its babies, its face toward the wall. As after gazing sorrowfully at the water, we had sat quietly for a space before the Swift flew, and as it had not flown upward to any extent as though to escape, perhaps the rather loud noise of the wings in flight was made to scare us away. Though the file of ‘ The Auk ’ contains occasional records of the Chimney Swift’s nesting in hollow trees and in buildings, I have found no record there or elsewhere of a nest in a well except in Bendire’s ‘ Life Histories of North American Birds,’ 1895, p. 178: “In a letter from Dr. William L. Ralph, dated San Mateo, Florida, May 19, 1895, he says: ‘One of my men brought me the eggs of a Chimney Swift that he said he took from a nest attached to the sides of a well, 4 feet below the surface of the ground. He says they often nest in such places in this vicinity.’ I consider this as a very unusual nesting site for this species.” — CHARLES H. Rogers, American Museum of Natural History, New York. Muscivora tyrannus (Linn.) in Massachusetts— On October 22, 1916, I saw a Fork-tailed Flycatcher perched on the top of a wire fence at the side of the main road a short distance below Gay Head Lighthouse, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. When disturbed by my repeated approach, the bird flew only a short distance each time, and returned to the fence. The conspicuously long outer tail-feathers and general coloration made it easily recognizable. Subsequently, by the kindness of Mr. Outram Bangs, of the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, I have examined specimens of this and other species, which entirely confirm my identification.— FRANCIS A. Foster, Edgartown, Massachusetts. 338 General Notes. [} ae Prairie Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris praticola) Nesting at Newbury, Mass.— On August 4, 1908, I discovered this species in a low brood tract, a short distance outside the city limits, locally known as ‘Common Pas- ture.’ This is nearly level, clayey, open pasture land extending from the rolling coastal hills on the west, down to the border of the salt-marshes, with an area of about two square miles, a region which I should think was well suited to the tastes and habits of this bird. On this date I saw a single lark, in company with Vesper Sparrows, along the roadside, and for several days following noted the same bird in about the same locality, mingling freely with the sparrows, or alone. Each season since 1908 I have found this species in about the same place. During the earlier years I saw rarely more than two or three birds but of late they have increased in numbers. In June, 1915, I found, and fre- quently saw throughout the remainder of the month and during early July two adults and five immature birds, which would seem to indicate their breeding here. During the season of 1916, necessary attention to business precluded my searching for more substantial evidence of their breeding. The birds were present however throughout the greater part of the summer and I saw what were probably individuals from this family on one or two occa- sions in one of the neighboring towns. Apparently they have become regular summer residents.— S. W. Battery, Pittsfield, Mass. Starlings Nesting near Washington, D. C.— A pair of Starlings have taken up their abode in a locust tree on my place, eight miles north of Washington, D. C., and at the present date (25th of April, 1917) have young in the nest. I should be very glad to learn if others have noted Starlings nesting this year south of Pennsylvania. In this connection I would add that the male bird utters the notes that sound like a coarser and lower rendering of the Wood Pewee’s usual three-note phrase, con- cerning which there was some comment in ‘ Bird-Lore’ for March—April, 1911. This is the first time I have heard this utterance of the Starling, but from the pitch and quality of the notes I feel no hesitation in ventur- ing the opinion that the phrase is normal with the bird and not an imita- tion of the Wood Pewee.— Henry Oupys, Silver Spring, Maryland. A Pennsylvania Starling Roost.— For some years past an enormous flock of English Starlings has roosted in the evergreens at ‘ Aldie,’ the estate of Mr. William R. Mercer, on the outskirts of Doylestown and during the winter of 1915-16 a number of Purple Grackles associated with them, being ‘ resident ’ for the first time within my experience. The flock of Starlings presents the most interesting bird phenomenon I imagine, since the disappearance of the Passenger Pigeon. My attention was first called to the birds by the late Arthur Chapman, member of the Board of Game Commissioners of Pennsylvania, whose residence farm adjoined ‘ Aldie.’ He estimated that there were a million birds in the i Foie | General Notes. 339 flock, but, while it was impossible to make an accurate estimate of the number, my impression is that Mr. Chapman’s figure was far too low. The birds first began to assemble late in December, reached the largest number in January and early February, and from that time began to decrease until about the first of March, when all but a limited number disappeared. I walked out to ‘ Aldie’ to see this curious sight several times. On January 17, when the flock was as large as it was at any time, I stationed myself at the top of a gentle elevation in the Dublin Pike, about 500 yards from the evergreen roosting place,— a good point for observation. A few minutes after 5 o’clock in the afternoon the birds began to congregate from all directions, most of them coming from the north and west. In small flocks of from 50 to probably 500 they flew past me in rapid succes- sion — flying low until they came to a tree in the open upon which they would alight. I could see the birds alighting upon other trees a quarter of a mile away, in flocks of varying sizes, while Chapman’s woods, a large tract of timber, possibly thirty acres in extent, was black with the birds. The notes of many Purple Grackle were heard mingled with those of the Starlings. By 5.20 o’clock the birds grouped themselves in larger flocks and settled on trees nearer their roosting ground. Then, a few minutes later, as the twilight began to deepen, the birds arose, not by any con- certed movement, but always in one flock from a tree, and gradually centred in one great flock directly over ‘ Aldie ’ — the flock soon becoming compact and deep and stretching out over an area of several acres. The writhing, twisting mass performed many curious evolutions and gyrations. At first the bird mass resembled very much a vast rolling black cloud, driven before a thunder-gust, the edges curling and overlapping and then broadening out. The individual birds on the outer edges of the flock could be distinguished, but it was the mass effect that was impressive. The whir of the countless wings was like the sound of distant wind or the roar of a waterfall. It was such an unusual sound that the horse driven by a farmer, who halted his team to talk with me, became frightened and so nervous that he was obliged to drive away. Gradually the cloud-like formation changed to funnel-shape, resembling nothing so much as a cyclone cloud and the change was made with a sound resembling that produced by a cyclone’s sweep. Then the cloud-like mass changed again and lined up in plane formation, with a straight front like an army in battle array for a final charge. This line moved directly towards me overhead. Strangely enough, a line of Purple Grackles was in the forefront of the army, their larger size and darker color making them conspicuous. In fact the Grackles seemed to endeavor to keep on the outer edge of the mass as much as possible, and they were noticeable because they had difficulty in falling in with the rolling and more graceful flight-gyrations of their more numerous companions, the Starlings. Frequently the whole vast flock made sharp turns, and as they did so it was with a sound that was audible for a long distance, somewhat like 340 General Notes. [3 He the crack of a gigantic whip, only deeper, mellower and more voluminous. These evolutions were continued for fully ten minutes, when the vast flock began to settle into the evergreens for the night somewhat after the manner of Chimney Swifts dropping into a chimney. Then something, perhaps a hawk or a squirrel, would disturb them after nearly all the birds had secured a perch, and with a roar that was really awe-inspiring the whole flock would again take flight, circle over the trees for a few moments and again alight. This performance was repeated perhaps half a dozen times by all or a part of the flock until, just at dusk, they settled into the trees to rise no more that night. But they kept up an incessant chatter resembling the sound made by a locomotive in the distance blowing off steam, and it was long after dark, before this sound wholly died out. People interested in bird study came long distances to witness this sight. It is possible this flock of Starlings may have been the cause of the Purple Grackle remaining here all winter. The weather was mild down to February 1. They did not seem to suffer for food until then. They associated with the Starlings until well into February, when they seemed inclined to flock by themselves. February, with its snow and low tem- peratures, alternating with warmer conditions, was rather hard on them, but a great deal of food was put out for them by people of the town, and they weathered the month out pretty well. Indeed, they seemed to suffer more from the bad weather which prevailed after the usual date of their arrival here from the south than they did prior to that time. William R. Mercer, Jr., who resides at ‘ Aldie,’ informed me that in the middle of January, following a snowstorm, he found thirty dead Purple Grackles and two or three dead Starlings at the roosting place. He esti- mated the total dead Purple Grackles there for the entire winter at about 40. The excrement from the roosting flock was in such quantity that it was hauled away in carts and was sufficient to fertilize a considerable area of ground.— Gro. MacRrynotps, Doylestown, Pa. Evening Grosbeak at Birdsboro, Pa.—I would like to report the presence of a male Evening Grosbeak on the Brooke Estate, Birdsboro, Berks Co., Pa., on April 15, 1917. On April 22, accompanied by a party of students, I again saw what was apparently the same bird at the same place— G. Henry MENGEL, Reading, Pa. The San Lucas Sparrow (Passerculus rostratus guttatus) in California. — Among some sparrows collected by the writer and sent to the U. 8. National Museum are nineteen skins of this subspecies, a form not hitherto recorded from California. One male was obtained at Anaheim Landing, Orange County, Oct. 5, 1916, and eighteen skins, of both sexes, were col- lected at Sunset Beach, Orange County, between November 18, 1916, and January 31, 1917. A few examples of true P. r. rostratus were col- lected with them. The birds were identified by Mr. H. C. Oberholser.— EpWwARrp J. Brown, Los Angeles, Cal. , Vol. XXXIV] General Notes. 341 Nelson’s Sparrow in Vermont.— While watching the fall migration of sparrows on October 8, 1916, Mr. George H. Ross and the writer col- lected two adult male specimens of Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni. These are the first records for this bird in Vermont as far as the writer can ascer- tain. The birds were obtained in sedges in the wettest parts of swampy meadows adjacent to Otter Creek which runs from the Green Mountains into Lake Champlain. One of the birds was taken in Rutland and the other in Clarendon, about three miles apart. They were not in company of any other birds.— Grorce L. Krrx, Rutland, Vt. Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrula) in Colorado.'— The oc- currence of this sub-arctic species in Colorado is always at irregular intervals and in varying numbers, so it is with pleasure that I place on record what has unquestionably been the largest flight in the history of Colorado ornithology. The birds were first reported by Dr. W. H. Bergtold on February 22, a large flock having been seen, although at that time, the doctor was not sure of their identity; simply noting them as “a large flock of strange birds.” In view of the developments of the next few days, however, there seems but little doubt that they were of this form. They were first seen by the writer on the 26th; a flock of at least 200, observed in the Clear Creek valley between Denver and Golden, from which a number of specimens were secured. On the next day (the 27th) flocks 'began to appear around the Colorado Museum of Natural History in City Park, Denver. These were continually augmented until hundreds, if not thousands, were gathered in this area. Reports of their presence then began to come in from other parts of the city, some even from the business section, while the orchards and neighboring foothills were liter- ally alive with them. It was, of course, impossible to form an accurate estimate of their num- bers, but one, which I consider conservative, put ten thousand birds within the corporate limits of Denver. All the parks contained large flocks, bunches of variable numbers were seen in all parts of the residence sections, and they were even noted from the office buildings in the business section. The last occurrence of this species was during a corresponding season in 1908, when flocks of several hundred were observed by the writer and others, in the South Platte and Clear Creek valleys, over a period of about six weeks.— F. C. Lincoun, Denver, Colo. Regurgitation in the Bohemian Waxwing.— While studying this _ species during its present remarkable visitation to Denver, Colo., and its environs detailed elsewhere by Mr. F. C. Lincoln, I was struck by a curious regurgitation habit of the birds. It was first noticed while I was watching 1 Through the co-operation of Dr. W. H. Bergtold, his extensive notes of this occurrence have been at my disposal, and are here included.— F. C. L. 342 General Notes. his a flock in Cheesman Park, where the birds were feeding on ‘ Russian Olives’ and snow. After apparently becoming satisfied with food and snow, the birds would rest for a while in the trees, and then suddenly forcibly regurgi- tate a large quantity of clear fluid, which when it fell upon the snow, depos- ited undigested seeds. The same habit was noticed with a number of captive waxwings, which I was able to watch through the courtesy of Director J. D. Figgins of the Colorado Museum of Natural History (Denver). It is highly probable that this queer habit of the Bohemian Waxwing has been spoken of before now; unfortunately I do not have access to avicultural magazines, or to such works as ‘Bird Life in Sweden,’ where it probably is on record, and hence I am now risking a duplication of a well known fact.— W. H. Breratoup, Denver, Colo. Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata celata) in Cohasset, Mass.— On December 8, 14, 26, and 31, 1916, and January 9, 1917, I saw a single Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata celata in Cohasset, Mass. This is, as far as I know, the first specimen reported from this town, which is about twenty miles southeast of Boston, on the coast. In each case it was with Black-capped Chickadees, with Myrtle Warblers near, and usually Hudsonian Chickadees, and Golden-crowned Kinglets. It was usually in small cedars, near the ground. One point in Mr. Wright’s paper in the January ‘Auk’ is of especial interest in relation to my own experience. He quotes Mr. Wayne as say- ing that the Orange-crown “‘never displays its crown patch while here in winter or early spring’? and Mr. Wm. Brewster as saying that he has never seen the concealed crown patch shown by a living bird. My first view of the bird was while observing, at about twenty feet, a Brown-capped Chickadee in a small cedar. (I think these birds are refer- able to Penthestes hudsonicus hudsonicus rather than P. h. littoralis, this winter.) Into my field came a yellowish green bird, which showed dis- tinctly a reddish brown crown patch. In a moment it was gone to shrub- bery near by and though I flushed it some half dozen times, I did not again see it at rest. The glimpse of the crown was only momentary, as the bird swung over on its side, showing the entire back but no underparts, but the impression of the reddish crown was very distinct. On December 8 I had one brief glimpse of the bird in flight. December 26 I had an excellent study of the bird, in a small scrub oak, under very good light conditions, The streaky breast was seen for the first time. On the 31st, with Mr. Chas. B. Floyd, I had another excellent study. This time the bird was in company with Black-capped Chicka- dees, Tree Sparrows, Purple Finches, Myrtle Warblers, and a Downy Woodpecker. Today, January 9, I heard its call note for the first time, very different from the calls of the Myrtle Warbler, louder, clearer, and of different quality.— JoHn B. May, Cohasset, Mass. Ge | General Notes. 343 The Cape May Warbler at Washington, D. C., in Winter.— An adult female Dendroica tigrina. was brought to the Division of Birds, National Museum, on December 16, 1916, by Mr. R. M. Brown, librarian of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, who had found it outside the window of his office at about 11 A. M. The weather was cold (temp. 13° F. at 8 A. M.) and the earth covered with snow, and the bird had probably had difficulty in securing food. It was, however, fairly active, and an effort was made to keep it alive. It fed eagerly on ripe banana, and seemed in condition to outlive its experience, but was found dead the next morning. As an unusual coincidenee, it is recalled that the only other winter record for this species in the vicinity of Washington is that of a male, collected on December 16, 1888, by Mr. J. D. Figgins — Cuas. W. Ricumonp, Wash- ington, D. C. Kirtland’s Warbler in Madison, Wisconsin.— On the afternoon of May 19, 1917, my wife and I while on an observing trip had the good fortune to come upon a female Kirtland’s Warbler. For almost three quarters of an hour we subjected it to the closest inspection, often within an arm’s length of it. It was tame to the point of idiocy, and during the last fifteen minutes of our intimacy almost paid the ‘last full measure for its trust.’ For in the absence of my collecting gun —a friend had borrowed it for the day —I assaulted it from every point of the compass. There is no definite Wisconsin record for this warbler. The nearest approach goes back to 1893 when a supposed specimen was wounded, only to escape under a brush-pile — as recorded in Kumlien and Hollister’s ‘ Birds of Wisconsin.’ The present specimen was scrutinized painstakingly from bill to toe and found to correspond accurately with published descrip- tions save that the black streaks on the crown were very faint; and that the patches on the inner webs of the tail-tips were dull gray rather than white, and like the crown marks not readily apparent. The tail-dipping was more incessant and deeper than that of the Palm Warbler. During the period of our inspection the bird never mounted higher than fifteen feet and preferred a plane within three feet of the ground.— WARNER Taytor, Madison, Wisc. Yellow-throated Warbler in Brooklyn, N. Y.— On the morning of April 29, 1917, while walking through Prospect Park, Brooklyn, I was attracted by a loud ringing song quite strange to me, though somewhat suggestive of that of the Indigo Bunting. I easily located the singer in some low maple trees on the bank between the Rose Garden and Flatbush Ave. In its actions the bird was very deliberate, strikingly different from most members of its family in this respect. I was able to approach within a few feet as it was so tame or perhaps exhausted from its unusual journey, and I was thus able to identify it at my leisure. I could see no trace of yellow in the line in front of the eye which would indicate that the individual belonged to the western race known as the 344 General Notes. pus Sycamore Warbler, but as the amount of yellow is variable and the geo- graphical probability is in favor of the Yellow-throated Warbler I leave the subspecific identification open. This is in all probability the same bird seen by Mr. Fleisher (Bird-Lore, 1917, p. 150) on the day previous and identified as the eastern subspecies. Later in the day I again saw the bird, in company with Mr. Preston R. Bassett. It was not singing on this occasion but was still so tame and deliberate in its movements that it was easily studied. Since then on subsequent visits to the same locality I have been unable to find any trace of the bird— Ratpa M. Harrineton, Brooklyn, N. Y. Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) Nesting in Southern Con- necticut.— On June 3, 1917, I was rewarded by finding a nest of this species at Hadlyme, New London County, Connecticut. The female was flushed from its nest nearly under my feet. The nest was near a large stream of water, not more than thirty feet away and in one of the most impenetrable places thickly covered with laurel bushes. The nest was at the foot of a laurel bush, sunken level with the surface and composed of dry leaves, bark strips and lined with fine rootlets and grasses, etc. The ground was well carpeted with dry leaves. The male could be heard singing most any time during the day on the wooded hillsides. While its mate was nesting in the low ravine below, some distance away. ‘The male was never seen near the nest. These birds have apparently nested in this vicinity for at least three summers arriving about May 5 and not leaving until September when most of our summer resident warblers have left.— ArtHur W. Brockway, Hadlyme, Conn. The Hudsonian Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus, subsp.?) in Ly- coming County, Pa.—On March 18, 1917, one of these birds was seen feeding with a single Black-capped Chickadee in some underbrush at the side of a road in a gap through the mountains, some fifteen miles east of Lock Haven, Pa. It happened that I was sitting on a log by the roadside when I noticed a small bird in a thicket near me and as I gazed at it, it hopped into plain view and showed itself to be a Hudsonian Chickadee. What first caught my eye was the splash of umber on its sides and the next instant the brownish gray head it turned toward me as it peered about for insects made me realize that there could be no doubt as to what it was. For fully half an hour I followed it about as it fed on or near the ground and I was interested to see how wren-like its actions were as it crept about logs and piles of brush. To my mind, it showed none of the nervous activity that I have always associated with our common Chickadee for it seemed rather deliberate in its actions. For the most part it was silent although it occasionally gave a feeble chirp and twice uttered a nasal “ chick-a-dee-dee-dee”’ that was quite distinct from Vol. a) General Notes. 345 that of its rather noisy companion. This is, as far as I can find, the farthest south that one of this species has ever been recorded, and is also the first record for the state of Pennsylvania— Tuos. D. Bur.Leiau, State College, Pa. Hudsonian Chickadee on Long Island.— The Hudsonian Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus) has appeared,— as was expected in this season of its unwonted southward flight,— upon Long Island. On December 2, 1916, at Roslyn, Long Island, I was out searching for birds with Ogden Phipps, the eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Phipps. We had heard Kinglets lisping in a patch of planted evergreens bordering a private roadway, and I was ‘ squeaking’ with my lips to call them. What came was a brown-capped Chickadee. He sat on the outer twigs of a small blue spruce, about four feet above the ground and less than four yards from where we stood. We saw him well, as he fidgeted about in various postures, inspecting us, for several seconds. He did not make a sound, however, and after he had dodged back into the evergreen thicket, we could not find him again. Immediately afterwards, though, we saw a White-winged Crossbill, which I understand is a rarity on Long Island and not recently recorded. This bird, a very dingy red (probably immature) male, perched in a tree- top in a deciduous wood near by, making his ‘ bleating’ call-note, and then flew, twittering, down to the evergreens where the Tit had been, and we watched him at almost as close range as we had watched the Tit. Both species are birds with which I am very familiar. The spot where these two appeared is on the estate of Mr. S. Mortimer, close to Mr. H. P. Whitney’s land. On Saturday, December 16, the morning after the big snowstorm, several of us made a long search, both in the same tract of evergreens and in neigh- boring tracts, but we found neither Tit nor Crossbill. Out party consisted of Messrs. Nichols and Griscom from the American Museum of Natural History, Ogden Phipps, and myself. We saw a Siskin, three Robins, several Juncos, and, in a hardwood tract, a lively gathering of Kinglets, Creepers, Nuthatches (both kinds) and a Downy Woodpecker. This seemed a likely company for the rare Tit, but we could not spot him. It was a bleak day and the birds were restless and not very talkative.— GeRALD H. Tuayer, Monadnock, N. H. 346 Recent Literature. [sce RECENT LITERATURE. Wayne’s ‘A List of Avian Species for which the Type Locality is South Carolina.’— This list ! numbers 76 species, of which 52 were based solely or primarily on Catesby and 4 others in part on this author. It is interesting to note that 58 were named by Linneus in his ‘Systema Nature’ (43 in the 10th edition and 15 in the 12th edition), 7 by Audubon, and the remaining 18 by various European authors, including 5 by Gmelin. On comparing Mr. Wayne’s list with the A. O. U. Check-List (1910) edition) the type localities given by Wayne agree in 54 cases with those of the Check-List; in most of the others the Check-List localities differ from Wayne’s in being less definite, in several instances the range of the species as assigned by the original author being given instead of definite type localities. As in most of these cases Catesby is the most important refer- ence cited by the original author, and evidently the one on which he mainly based his species, Mr. Wayne seems fully justified in giving in these instances the type locality as Carolina. In place of ‘ North America,’ ‘‘ eastern North America,” ‘‘ Carolina to New England,” “ east- ern United States,” ‘‘ Virginia or Carolina,’ ete., Mr. Wayne substitutes Carolina. In his introduction to the list Mr. Wayne refers at length to Catesby’s great work, through which so many North American birds came to be described from ‘ Carolina.’ He says: ‘It should be explained that although Catesby’s book treats of Florida (the part now known as Georgia) and the Bahama Islands, as well as of Carolina, he devoted his time in Carolina to the study of birds and plants, while in the Bahama Islands he studied fishes. Nearly all his birds, therefore, are described from Carolina. ... ““ Although the province of Carolina originally included what is now both North and South Carolina, it is clear that Catesby’s work was con- fined exclusively to the latter. His own description of his travels gives no indication of work beyond the borders of South Carolina. Furthermore, at the time Catesby wrote, the term Carolina was used to refer to South Carolina.” The Nonpareil (Passerina ciris) is not included in his list, but he states there is reason to believe that it ‘‘ may be credited to South Carolina with as much propriety as to Vera Cruz, which is the type locality usually assigned.’”’? As Catesby described and figured the species, and his descrip- tion is cited by Linnzus, it seems reasonable to definitely assign South Carolina to this species as its type locality.— J. A. A. 1A List of Avian Species for which the Type Locality is South Carolina. By Arthur Trezevant Wayne, Honorary Curator of Ornithology in the Charleston Museum. Contri- butions from the Charleston Museum, III, pp. i-vi, 1-8. Charleston, S. C., 1917. yee ae Recent Literature. 347 Chapin on the Classification of the Weaver-Birds.'— This notable paper is another result of Mr. Chapin’s studies while a member of the American Museum’s Congo Expedition, 1909-1915. The weaver-birds constitute the commonest family of African birds and no less than eighty- two forms were collected by the expedition so that Mr. Chapin had abun- dant opportunity to study them. He was early impressed by the similarity in nesting habits in species usually arranged in different sub-families, and subsequently a study of the curious markings within the mouths of the young, pointed to like relationships. A thorough study of the family after his return convinced him that the extent of development of the tenth primary which had generally been used as a sole criterion for the separation of the two subfamilies ‘ Ploceine’ and ‘Estrildine’ was not a reliable character, when it failed to accord with those above mentioned, while the association of all the long-tailed species of the family was not a natural arrangement as some of them were obviously true ‘ weavers’ (Ploceinz) and not ‘ weaver-finches’ (EKstrildine). This latter fact had long been suspected by the reviewer and doubtless by others. Mr. Chapin’s investigations however did not stop here and in studying the relationships of the outlying genera he discovered that T'extor possesses such striking structural peculiarities that it must be regarded as consti- tuting a distinct family, Dinemillia and perhaps some other genera being probably associated with it. The skull of Textor differs from those of all other weavers examined in having the fenestre associated with the orbital foramina different in form and number, and in the presence of an oblique ascending median bar. The sternum however exhibits the most remarkable peculiarity, as pointed out to the author by Mr. W. DeW. Miller, in the presence of a spina interna, the first recorded occurrence of this process in any passerine bird. Parmoptila a genus which has been shifted about from the Sylviide to the Diczeidz and Paridze was suspected of being a weaver-finch by Mr. Chapin, and a subsequent examination of the young discovered the curious mouth markings almost as in Nigrita, while the character of the nest as described by Bates agrees with those of the weaver-finches. Philetairus in all its structural features is apparently a finch and has been so considered by some authors, but its remarkable nest is so unlike those of the finches and so distinctly Ploceine, that Mr. Chapin prefers to keep it among the Weavers in spite of the extreme reduction in the tenth primary. We find all gradations in the size of this feather among the weavers and Philetairus may well be regarded as the culmination of the series, being the only genus to have reached the ‘ nine primaried’ condi- tion which is normal in the Fringillide. Mr. Chapin’s final arrangement differs from those of recent authors in the recognition of a distinct family, Textoride, for Textor and Dinemellia; 1The Classification of the Weaver-Birds. By James P. Chapin. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XX XVII, Art. IX, pp. 243-280. May 8, 1917. 348 Recent Literature. cae in the rejection of the ‘ Viduine ’ either as a subfamily or a group and in the transference of Spermospiza from the Ploceine to the Estrildine (= Spermestinz) and of Quelea, Pyromelana, Euplectes, Urobrachya, Colius- passer, Diatropura, Drepanoplectes, and Pseudonigrita from the latter to the former. Parmoptila and Pholidornis are added to the Estrildine while Philetairus and Anomalospiza are retained in the same group. An appendix contains brief accounts of the nest and eggs, and size of the outer primary in each genus, and in the Estrildine the mouth markings of the young as well. These are based upon Mr. Chapin’s personal observa- tions and the published accounts of others. A number of half-tone plates showing photographs of nests and drawings of the mouths of young birds complete this valuable paper which is one of the most important contribu- tions to avian taxonomy that has appeared in America for some time.— Wes: Pearson’s ‘The Bird Study Book.’ !— Realizing from his own wide experience the many questions that beginners in bird study are constantly asking of those who are more advanced in the subject, Mr. Pearson con- ceived the idea of embodying in book form such information as would serve as answers to these queries, and the work before us represents the result of his efforts. He begins with general instructions as to the best ways to become familiar with wild birds, following with a discussion of the structure of birds’ nests, their variability and where to look for them, and then an account of the domestic life of birds. The migration of birds and birds in winter very properly form the subjects of two separate chapters, as these are perhaps the two most popular topics in outdoor bird study. All of this naturally leads up to that phase of the subject with which Mr. Pearson is especially identified —the protection of birds, to which all students of outdoor life will sooner or later be attracted. Chapters on the economic value of birds; the bird supply; the traffic in feathers; bird protective laws; bird reservations; bird sanctuaries and the teaching of - bird study follow in natural order. The work is admittedly intended primarily for the beginner, and the author seems to have been most happy in the character of the information which he has collected and in the manner of its presentation. ‘The Bird Study Book’ will give just the information that many persons are seeking, while the later chapters will give many more or less advanced field students an intelligent idea of the problem of bird protection and what has been accomplished towards its solution, thereby forestalling much well intended but misdirected effort. Mr. Pearson has included many original incidents and ideas in his 1The Bird Study Book. By T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary, National Association of Audubon Societies. Colored Frontispiece. Pen and Ink Drawings by Will Simmons and sixteen Photographs. Doubleday, Page & Company, Garden City, New York. 1917. Svo, pp. i-xv, 1-258. Price $1.25 net. oe boa isiy vi Recent Literature. 349 various chapters and the book will well repay a careful perusal by all con- cerned with bird conservation. One point is especially worthy of consider- ation by game commissioners, who in spite of the evidence in favor of most hawks and owls are still inclined to recommend their unlimited slaughter, along with all other vermin, on game preserves, on account of their destruc- tion of a certain number of game birds. Mr. Pearson cites a case in which such slaughter was carried on most thoroughly for the sake of protecting a large preserve of English Pheasants. The birds were later almost wiped out by disease and he says: “Is it going too far to say that the gunmen and trappers had over done their work? So few Hawks or Owls or foxes had been left to capture the birds first afflicted, that these had been per- mitted to associate with their kind and to pass on weakness and disease to their offspring until the general health tone of the whole Pheasant com- munity had become lowered.” All animals, as Mr. Pearson says, ‘‘ have their part to play in the great economy of the earth, and it is a dangerous experiment to upset the balance of Nature.”— W. 8. Henshaw and Fuertes on North American Warblers.'\— The interest in this publication centers about the thirty-two Warbler pictures in colors reproduced from paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. We have several times had occasion to congratulate the ‘ National Geographic Magazine’ upon the splendid educational work that it is doing, in the publication of these colored pictures illustrating various branches of natural history, and once again we express our appreciation. The present pictures are larger than the former bird series, each one being half, instead of one third the height of the page and this of course presents the work of the artist to much better advantage. Mr. Fuertes has published warbler portraits before, notably the series in ‘ Bird-Lore’ which appeared later in Chap- man’s ‘ Warblers’ and those in Eaton’s ‘ Birds of New York,’ but we think the present figures are better than either, and they will give pleasure to thousands of bird students to whom the warblers are always the favorite group for study. Mr. H. W. Henshaw has written a descriptive text in which are embodied many interesting personal experiences of this veteran ornithologist, while the introductory pages discuss the relationship, migration and economic value of these interesting little birds, while frequent references to the publications of the U. S. Biological Survey enable the reader to follow up the subject at his pleasure. The only flaw in this admirable publication is the caption to a half tone illustration from Chapman’s ‘Camps and Cruises,’ which is used. to fill out p. 303. It depicts an interesting family of young Blue Jays under which has been placed, without the authority of either Mr. Henshaw or Mr. Fuertes, we are sure, the following inscription: ‘‘ Young Fish-Hawks about to Leave their Nest’ ! — W. 8. 1 Friends of Our Forests. By Henry W. Henshaw. Illustrations by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. National Geographic Magazine, April, 1917. pp. 297-321. 390 Recent Literature. [jute Mrs. Bailey’s ‘Handbook of Birds of the Western United States.’ 1 — The popularity of Mrs. Bailey’s standard work on the birds of our western states is attested by the fact that a seventh revised edition has just been published by the Riverside Press. Since the appearance of the fourth edition, which was noticed in these columns in January, 1915, additions appear in the list of species to be added, while the list of proposed changes in the A. O. U. Check-List published in ‘ The Auk’ for October, 1916, are printed in so far as they apply to western birds. The ‘ List of Birds of the Western United States in the Nomenclature of the 1910 Check-List ’ now appears under the caption ‘ Revised Ranges of Western Birds,’ and contains additional matter. There are also many additional titles in the supplement to the list of ‘ Books of Reference.’ All of these additions tend to bring the work up to date and give us the very latest information on the birds of the west, a region in which bird students are increasing at a wonderful rate, while its avifauna is steadily becoming of greater interest to eastern bird students owing to the increas- ing travel in the west during recent years.— W. S. Dr. Casey A. Wood on the Fundus Oculi of Birds. ?— There are many points in the anatomy and physiology of birds upon which the ornithologist needs light but which he finds himself unfitted to investigate because of his lack of technical training in these special lines of research. This is of course perfectly natural as ornithology like any other branch of systematic zodlogy is so broad a subject and so intricately related to various special lines of investigation that no one man could possibly speak authoritatively upon all its aspects. It is fortunate therefore that special- ists upon anatomy, physiology, etc., who lay no claim to being ornitholo- gists, are willing from time to time to give us the benefit of their special training, and to elaborate the particular line of research to which they have devoted their lives, in its relationship to ornithology. In studying the systematic relationship of any group of birds or the behaviour of a certain species, the ornithologist may have occasion to: consider the power of hearing or sight, but without the special or technical training possessed by the medical practitioner who has specialized upon. these subjects his deductions are likely to be faulty if not absolutely absurd. With the results of the specialists’ researches before him however, he can make use of data on these topics without danger of error. One special work of the kind we have in mind which might be mentioned 1 Handbook of Birds of the Western United States. Seventh edition, revised. Houghton and Mifflin, Boston and New York, 1917. Price $3.50 net. 2 The Fundus Oculi of Birds Especially as viewed by the Ophthalmoscope. A Study in Comparative Anatomy and Physiology. By Casey Albert Wood. Illustrated by 145 drawings in the text; also by sixty-one colored paintings prepared for this work by Arthur W. Head, F.Z.S. London. Chicago, Lakeside Press. 1917. 4to, pp. 1-181. Price, until March 15, $12.50. After that date $15. H. A. Fox, publisher, Chicago Savings. Bank Bldg., State and Madison Sts., Chicago, II. pet aa | Recent Literature. out in this connection as it does not seem to have ever been noticed in ‘The Auk’ is Reichert and Brown’s monograph ! on hemoglobin crystals in which the structure of these crystals in the blood of various birds as well as other vertebrates is discussed and its weight as a taxonomic character considered. Another work of the same class is Dr. Wood’s beautiful monograph on the eyes of birds which is now before us. This work deals mainly with the fundus oculi, or the back part of the eye, as viewed through the pupil by means of the ophthalmoscope, and presents in the main observations of the eyes of living birds, although studies have also been made of prepared specimens of birds’ eyes and of eyes of birds recently dead as well as micro- scopic studies of the tissues. The topics considered in the various chapters may be outlined as follows: A review of the anatomy and physiology of the organs and tissue seen in the fundus oculi; explanation of the ophthalmoscope and its use; study of the fundus of living birds through the ophthalmoscope,— the eye- ground, pecten, areas of acute vision, ete.; study of the fundus in prepared specimens; effect of domestication on the fundus oculi of wild birds; the appearance of the fundus in the various orders of birds; the ocular fundus in relation to a classification of birds; relation of reptilian to avian fundi. The work is illustrated by sixty-one beautifully prepared color plates from paintings by Mr. A. W. Head, of the fundi of various species of birds, as well as numerous outline cuts in the text. Birds according to Dr. Wood possess the most highly developed vision of any of the classes of vertebrates. They exhibit several different fovez or areas of acute vision, some concerned only with monocular vision, others with binocular. ‘‘Birds with double foveae”’, says Dr. Wood, “have exceptionally good eyesight with each eye separately; they are by this effective combination, enabled not only to command a view of the highest efficiency over the whole horizon, but also have the power to concentrate it when needed upon particular objects invisible or indistinctly visible to other species not so provided.’”’ But he adds ‘‘only when the histology, pathology, and experimental physiology of the avian cerebral organs and their connections have been worked out, as they have been in man, shall we know how the paths pursued by ‘brain currents’ involved in this switching from monocular single vision to binocular sight, run and are controlled.” Dr. Wood shows that there are six different arrangements of the areas of acute vision which seem to correspond quite closely with tle habits of the birds, the gallinaceous birds all coming under one head, the owls under another and the terns and swallows under a third. In the last chapters of the work he describes and figures in detail the structure of the fundus, the location of the areas of acute vision and the shape of the pecten, in a large number of species representing practically a Crystallography of Hemoglobins. Publ. 116, Carnegie Inst., Washington, D. C., 1909. 352 Recent Literature. aes all the principal types of birds, and indicates the possibilities of using characters drawn from these structures in the systematic arrangement of the class Aves. Dr. Wood is to be congratulated upon his success in securing such a representative lot of material and such splendid results — a task which must have required much time and patience, as well as upon providing for - ornithologists a work of reference on a subject upon which very few have had any accurate knowledge. The value of Dr. Wood’s researches to ophthalmology must also be very great and his work furnishes another instance of the praiseworthy tendency of modern medical research to carry investigation beyond the human subject through the lower types of verte- brates. The publishers have done their part of the work well and both plates and text are beautifully printed. The only regrettable feature is the lack of an index which would have enabled the reader to bring together scattered information dealing with single topics.— W. 8. Mathews’ ‘The Birds of Australia.’ '— Two thick parts of Mr. Mathews’ great work have appeared since the last notice in these columns. While the paper and typography remain fully up to the high standard that. the publishers have set, we think that some of the recent plates are not equal to those of the early numbers. The parrots which furnish the subject matter of these last two parts present a gorgeous array of species and the plates are among the most brilliantly colored of any that the work will contain. The text is very full and as usual is devoted largely to a discussion of questions of nomenclature and taxonomy. We feel sometimes that the author would have made his points clearer if he had condensed his dis- cussion, for in his praiseworthy efforts to present all the evidence to the reader, he has reprinted large sections from his previous publications which sometimes tend to confuse, especially when double sets of quotation marks are used as on page 234, where it looks at first sight as if some of the quoted ‘““ subspp. n.” appeared here for the first time. The accounts of the various species are based upon the observations of Mr. Mathews’ correspondents in Australia as well as upon published accounts and appear to bring the subject fully up to date. The frequent allusions to former abundance and present day scarcity among these splendid birds will be read with regret by all who peruse Mr. Mathews’ pages. As to matters of nomenclature, those who enjoy delving into puzzling problems will find plenty to occupy their attention in the parts before us. The discussion under the genus Kakatoé is particularly interesting. The A. O. U. Committee on Nomenclature some years ago adopted certain 1The Birds of Australia. By Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. VI. Part II, February 6, 1917. Part III, April 17, 1917. Vol. eae 1917 Recent Literature. 300 generic names from Cuvier’s ‘ Lecons d’Anat. Compt.,’ 1800. This action has lately been endorsed by the International Commission which necessi- tates the recognition of certain other names from the same source which do not figure in North American ornithology, and which had therefore not been taken up by the A. O. U. Committee. Among these is Kakatoé the type of which Mr. Mathews fixes as Psittacus galeritus Lath., and which he adopts in place of the later Cacatoés of Dumeril which he had previously used and for which he had selected the same species as type. Recently he has discovered that Froriep years before had selected as the type of Cacatoés, Psittacus cristatus a species which some authors have considered unrecognizable. Now if these two generic names are regarded as simply different spellings of the same word the question arises whether Froriep’s designation of a type for the later one does not force us to accept the same type for the earlier one; in which case both may have to be rejected as based upon an unidentifiable species. Mr. Mathews thinks not, and we agree with him, but in order that the group, to which galeritus belongs will be sure to have a name he proposes Hucacatua for it, with the rather unique remark: ‘‘ My name will become a synonym if my conclusions be accepted, but will come into use if they are rejected ” ! Another of these early Cuvierian names is Psittacula which as used in the ‘ Lecons’ has for its type ‘ Pale@ornis’ alexandri. Conurus, as has been pointed out for some time, must also be applied to the same group and being of earlier date than Palwornis has been used in place of it by some recent authors. Now however, we have the still earlier Psittacula, which as Mr. Mathews points out, must be employed for these birds, while the group for which it was formerly used will be known as Forpus Boie 1858. Mr. Mathews has made one change to which especial attention might be called, i. e. the name Callocephalon which has been variously emended into Callicephalus, Callocephalum etec., is rejected on account of an earlier Calocephalus. While we think that this is in accord with the A. O. U. Code we have been unable to find that the International Commission has as yet taken any action on the vital question of the status of emendations and variant spellings. We therefore are at a loss to understand Mr. Mathews’ statement; ‘‘ The International Commission have decided upon the item, ‘ errors of transliteration ’ in the recognition of their amendment.” Has he not confused proposed amendments with those actually adopted? Among the several questions of taxonomy that are discussed in the present installments of the work is one regarding the status of the genus Ducorpsius. According to Mr. Mathews it is exactly like Licmetis in every detail of structure and coloration, except for the longer bill of the latter, and he therefore thinks that the two should be united. The difference in the bill, if constant, might easily we think be sufficient ground for generic separation but a far more important argument for uniting the two is found in the text under Licmetis tenuirostris, 1. e. the admission that a race referred by Mr. Mathews to Ducopsius sanguineus, “might be almost as well classed as a subspecies of Licmetis tenuirostris.”’ 354 Recent Literature. [ie This seems to show that the relative size of the bill is not a constant differ- ence. We had occasion to criticise the brevity of some of Mr. Mathews’ diagnoses in former parts of his work, and the general lack of measure- ments. He says in reply to this criticism (p. 148) “if I gave pages of measurements, as is the custom of my American friends, it would not prejudice any worker in favor of my subspecific forms,” and adds, “ the work [of measuring] must be done, but the results only are necessary, not the methods whereby the results were achieved.’”’ Mr. Mathews seem to have misunderstood our criticism. We did not demand all the individual measurements, we quite agree with him on that point. What we did demand were measurements of some sort, either averages or those of a typical individual, in all cases where relative size is taken as the basis for subspecific differentiation. In the present numbers of the work there are a gratifying number of measurements. The following new forms are proposed in the two parts before us. In Part Il: Calyptorhynchus banksii samueli (p. 120), Cent. Austr.; Callocory- don fimbriatus superior (p. 158), N.S. Wales; Kakatoé galerita interjecta (p. 184), Victoria; K. g. aruensis (p. 187), Aru Isl.; Lophochroa lead- beateri superflua (p. 196), S. Australia; Ducorpsius sanguineus westralensis (p. 211), Mid-west Australia; D. s. normantoni (p. 211), Queensland. Also the following new genera: Callocorydon (p. 150), type Psittacus fimbriatus Grant. Eucacatua (p. 169), type Psittacus galeritus Lath. In Part II: Holophus roseicapillus howei (p. 234), Victoria; and the new genus Layardella (p. 289), type Psittacus tabuensis. This takes the place of Pyrrhulopsis Reich. which is based upon an unidentifiable figure of the head of a parrot.— W. 8. Matthew and Granger on Diatryma.'— Mr. William Stein of the American Museum’s Paleontological Expedition of 1916, was fortunate enough to discover a nearly complete skeleton of this remarkable bird previously known only from a few fragments obtained by Prof. E. D. Cope in 1874, in the Wasatch formation of New Mexico, and some others ob- tained in the Eocene of Wyoming, in 1911, by Mr. Granger. A single toe bone from the Eocene of New Jersey described by Prof. Marsh as Barornis regens has been referred to the genus by Dr. Shufeldt, but is regarded by the present authors as “ practically indeterminate.” For the first time therefore we are able to determine what this extinct bird looked like and what are its relationships. It was about seven feet in height, ground-living, with vestigial wings, and with a shoulder girdle remarkably like that of the Cassowary. The resemblance to the Ratite birds is however considered by the authors to be due to parallelism and 1 The Skeleton of Diatryma, a Gigantic Bird from the Lower Eocene cf Wyoming. By W. D. Matthew and Walter Granger. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XX XVII, Art. XI, pp. 307-326. May 28, 1917. Vol. ae | Recent Literature. 390 Diatryma is to be regarded as a primitive Carinate form most nearly re- lated to Cariama among existing birds, although it was probably only an early offshoot from the line of which Cariama is the sole survivor, and not intimately related to it. It had an enormous skull measuring seventeen inches in length consisting mainly of a hugh compressed beak.’ In this character it resembles the extinct Phororhachos of the South American Miocene but there the resemblance apparently stops. Fossil birds as we know are extremely rare and the authors regard the discovery of the skeleton of Diatryma as a fifth landmark in the history of fossil ornithology, the earlier ones being the discoveries respectively of Archeopteryx, of the Jurassic; the Toothed Birds of the Cretaceous — Hesperornis and Ichthyornis; the Moas of New Zealand; and Phororhachos of the South American Miocene. Dviatryma lived during the Lower Eocene near the beginning of the Age of Mammals and was a contemporary of the Four-toed Horse, Hohippus. The corresponding bones of the complete skeleton seem to differ from those described by Cope as Diatryma gigantea as well as from Mr. Granger’s specimens named D. ajax by Dr. Shufeldt, so it is described as a dis- tinct species, D. steini, in honor of the discoverer. In their conclud- ing pages the authors make some very pertinent remarks regarding fossil birds. They commend the revision of the fossil birds of North America and the figuring of the types, but call attention to the provisional nature of all the identifications, and the fragmentary and inadequate character of the material. ‘‘ The identifications should not be changed but they should always be understood as comparisons and not as positive refer- ences.” ‘They afford no ground for concluding that the antiquity of modern groups of birds is greater than that of modern groups of mam- mals. Nor, on the other hand, does it appear that they were notably less ancient.’””-— W.S. Dabbene on New Species of Geositta and Cinclodes.'— In this paper Mr. Dabbene states that his researches have enabled him to recog- nize no less than 30 species of these two genera of which seventeen are residents of Argentina. The following are described as new: Geositta punensis (p. 54), La Guiaca, Province of Jujuy; G. rufipennis Burmeistert (p. 55), El Voleon, Province of Jujuy; Cinclodes Oustaleti hornensis (p. 58), and C. antarcticus maculirostris (p. 59), Isla Hermite, Cape Horn.— W. S. Chapman on Santo Domingo Birds.?— In spite of the many explora- tions in Santo Domingo the avifauna, even at this late date, does not seem 1 Especies y Subspecies Aparentemente Nuevas de Geositta y Cinclodes de la Republica Argentina y del Sur de Chile. Por Roberto Dabbene. Physis III, pp. 52-59. March 17, 1917. ; 2 Descriptions of New Birds from Santo Domingo and Remarks on Others in the Brewster- Sanford Collection. By Frank M.Chapman. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XX XVII, Art. XII, pp. 327-334. May 14, 1917. 356 Recent Literature. [suis to be thoroughly known. Following on Dr. Wm. L. Abbott’s remarkable discoveries, noticed recently in these columns, come the results of Mr. R. H. Beck’s explorations on the island, carried on in the interests of Mr. F. F. Brewster and Dr. L. C. Sanford, during the early part of the present year. Mr. Beck visited Mt. Tina and other points in the province of Azua and secured numerous specimens of the crossbill and finch discovered by Dr. Abbott, and also a new species of ground dove, a new goatsucker and a new warbler. These Dr. Chapman has described in the paper before us as: Oreopeleia leucometopius (p. 327), Mt. Tina; Microsiphonorhis (gen. nov.) brewstert (p. 329), Tubano, allied to Siphonorhis and Microligea montana (p. 330), Mt. Tina.— W. S. Sclater on the Birds of Yemen.'— Mr. G. Wyman Bury who spent a year in the province of Yemen in southern Arabia making zodélogical collections for the British Museum in 1912 and 1913, secured a series of over 400 bird skins. Eight of these represented undescribed forms which have been duly published by Mr. Ogilvie-Grant while Mr. Sclater in the present paper lists the entire collection adding the field notes of the collector and other comments. In all 111 forms are listed, 27 of which besides the new forms had not previously been recorded from southern Arabia. An interesting historical note describes the various explorations of southern Arabia the earliest of which were those of Forsk4l (1761-63), Hemprich and Ehrenberg (1825) and Riippell a little later. Both Forskal and Hemprich “ sacrificed their lives to their enthusiasm,” the one dying at Yerim and the other at Massowah. A map and a colored plate of Pseuda- canthis yemenensis and Accentor fagini complete Mr. Sclater’s interesting paper.— W. S. Henninger on the Ornithological Work of Dr. E. I. Shores.2— The collection and manuscript diary of Dr. Shores having recently come into the possession of Mr. Henninger he has prepared a very appreciative notice of Dr. Shores, who was apparently born in the late 50’s and who died in Schenectady, N. Y., May 6, 1906, and has added the more important records contained among his notes. These refer in the main to Suffield, Conn. and West Bridgwater, Mass., but there are also records for other parts of New England and for Florida. Some of these have already been published but those compiling New England lists will do well to consult Mr. Henninger’s paper. It is unfortunate that so many collectors who have extensive ornithological knowledge have published nothing and too often have left not even a manuscript record. When the latter does exist it is most commendable for those who may have access to it to make it public as Mr. Henninger has done in the present case.— W. 8S. 1 The Birds of Yemen, south-western Arabia, with an account of his journey thither by the collector, Mr.G. Wyman Bury. By W.L.Sclater. The Ibis, April, 1917, pp. 129-186. 2The Diary of a New England Ornithologist. An Appreciation. Wilson Bulletin, March, 1917, pp. 1-17. hives camel Recent Literature. 357 Rhinebeck Birds and Seasons.'— The numerous ‘ Bird Clubs’ that are springing into existence all over the country find it necessary to issue some sort of annual report which is often enlarged, by the addition of special articles and illustrations, into quite a pretentious publication. With men of experience to guide them such as Mr. Baynes in the Meriden Club, and Mr. M.S. Crosby and Mr. Clinton G. Abbott in the Rhinebeck Club, these brochures may be made into valuable contributions to ornithological literature. The present publication is one of these and gives an excellent resumé of methods to attract birds; an account of the winter bird life of the vicinity of Rhinebeck, N. Y.; the spring and autumn migration and the nesting season, all of which abound in accurate dates drawn from Mr. Crosby’s large experience. As these clubs increase in their number of trained observers why cannot they conduct codperative studies of at least the spring migration in their vicinity? Such work under competent direction is much more valuable than that of scattered individuals, and the director, knowing the members of his corps personally, can form a better estimate of the accuracy of their work than a distant compiler, and censor the manu- scripts accordingly. The results can then be communicated to some center, national or state as the case may be, and the work of the central compiler greatly reduced. The methods of coéperative work adopted by the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club for the past sixteen years are well worth studying in this connection. Meanwhile we have only praise for the ‘ Report of the Rhinebeck Club’ which is not only valuable for its contents but is a neat and attractive piece of book-making.— W. 8S. Shufeldt on Fossil Birds from Florida.?— In a paper by Mr. E. H. Sellards on ‘ The Association of Human Remains and Extinct Vertebrates at Vero, Florida’ there are two pages on the fossil birds of the Vero deposit, contributed by Dr. Shufeldt in advance of his complete report. The following new names are here proposed, Querquedula floridana, Larus vero and Ardea sellardsi. The first two are nomina nuda as no descriptions accompany them, the last must however, rest upon the diagnosis here given. Nothing whatever is gained by quoting these new names in ad- vance as is here done, except to provide a stumbling block for all bibliog- raphers of the future. The rules of nomenclature are clear enough as to the fact that there is no such thing as a ‘ preliminary’ description. The 1 Rhinebeck Birds and Seasons. Articles Published in the Rhinebeck Gazette October 3rd, 1914, to September 25th, 1915. By Maunsell Schiefflin Crosby. Illustrated with Photographs by Members of the Rhinebeck Bird Club. To which is added the Second Annual Report of the Rhinebeck Bird Club. Published by the Rhinebeck Bird Club, Rhinebeck, N. Y. 1916. 2 On the Association of Human Remains and Extinct Vertebrates at Vero, Florida, By E.H.Sellards. Reprinted from The Journal of Geology, Vol. XX V, No. 1, Jan.—Feb., 1917. Report on Fossil Birds from Vero Florida. By R. W.Shufeldt. pp. 18-19. 358 Recent Literature. ewe first description is the original description upon which a name must stand, and in these days there is absolutely no excuse for such careless practises. When so much time has to be taken up in going over the imperfect work of the older writers it is hard to understand why present day authors persist in perpetrating the same sort of crimes against taxonomy, to trouble future generations. ‘The Auk’ has no personal feeling in such cases, but is doing its utmost to discourage careless systematic work and to persuade all journals to insist_upon full and adequate diagnoses of new forms.— W. S. ‘Cassinia’.'— With the current issue of the Delaware Valley Ornitholo- gical Club’s annual, Dr. Spencer Trotter assumes the duties of editor. The high type of the publication both as to typography and character of contents is fully maintained and both the editor and the Club are to be congratulated upon the appearance of this, the sixteenth annual number. The opening article is by Dr. Trotter and is an interesting biography of Wm. P. Turnbull, author of that beautiful little brochure on the ‘ Birds of East Pennsylvania and New Jersey’ which Dr. Coues refers to as “‘ the best printed treatise on American birds extant ’’ and in which his aman- uensis found “‘ no typographical error after close scrutiny.” Henry W. Fowler, the president of the Club, presents a list of ‘Some Rare or Unusual Birds in Upper Philadelphia’, supplementary to a pre- vious list published in ‘ Cassinia’ fourteen years ago. An excellent account of the nesting of the Least Bittern is furnished by Julian K. Potter, who fortunately studied the habits of the birds and devel- opment of the young, and photographed the nest at various stages, thereby adding to our knowledge of the species to an extent that could not be done by the mere collecting of the set of eggs. Thomas D. Burleigh contributes a list of breeding birds from Samar, Clinton Co., Pa. The usual ‘Report on Bird Migration’ and ‘Abstract of the Proceedings of the Club’ close the number. Those possessing this issue should make sure that reprinted pages have been substituted for pp. 27-30 which contained errors in the migration tables.— W. S. Shelton’s Land Birds of West Central Oregon.?— In this well’ prepared bulletin Mr. Shelton presents a list of 143 species with the status of each in the district under consideration, which is nearly coincident with the boundaries of Lake County. The method of treatment follows that of Dr. Joseph Grinnell’s distributional list of California birds with the synonyms omitted. An introduction discusses the life zones of the area, 1 Cassinia, Proceedings of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, of Philadelphia. 1916. Issued March, 1917. pp. 1-58. 2A Distributional List of the Land birds of Western Oregon. By Alfred C. Shelton. University of Oregon Bulletin, New Series, Vol. XIV, No. 4. January, 1917. S8vo, pp. 1-51, figs. 1-10. a Vol. Steal Recent Literature. 359 the physical features of each being described as well as the characteristic forest trees. We note that two Transition Zones are recognized; a ‘Normal Transition’ covering most of the interior, and a ‘ Humid Transition ’” occupying most of the coast, the Canadian being limited to a very nar- row strip immediately on the ocean. The nomenclature is essentially that of the A. O. U. Check-List although certain forms not accepted in that publication are considered valid by Mr. Shelton, though his reasons are not stated. In the introduction we learn that the distributions are based largely upon work carried on in the interests of the University of Oregon, while the collection of the Oregon Fish and Game Commission was also placed at the author’s command. The half-tone illustrations are from photographic views of typical areas in the several zones. Mr. Shelton is to be congratulated upon a very creditable piece of work, which will no doubt stimulate others to carry on local distributional work in Oregon on the same plan that Dr. Grinnell and his associates have done in California— W. S. McGregor on New or Noteworthy Philippine Birds.'— Leucotreron merrilli (269) is described as new from Luzon while notes on the occurrence of Platalea minor, Ardea cinerea, Totanus stagnatilis, Sporaginthus amandava in Luzon; and of Pycnonotus plumosus on Cagayan Sulu Island, the fauna of which is more Bornean than Philippine. In Platalea Mr. McGregor found a curious diminutive feather at the base of the first primary. A note from Dr. C. W. Richmond is published in this connection calling attention to the discovery by Prof. Baird, many years ago, of similar feathers on the wings of Vireos.— W. S. The Ornithological Journals. Bird-Lore. XIX, No. 2. March—April, 1917. The Great Blue Herons of Honeoye. By Verdi Burtch. An excellent study of a New York heronry, with good photographic illustrations. The Purple Martin at Wichita, Kansas. By R.H. Sullivan. Migration and nesting data. The Educational Leaflet treats of the Sage Grouse and Dr. Chapman discusses the plumages of the Marsh, Winter, House and Bewick’s Wrens, with a colored plate by Fuertes, which brings this series to a close. Bird-Lore. XIX, No. 3. May-June, 1917. Our Neighbors of the Grape-Vine. By T. Macklin. A study of nesting Robins. 1 New or Noteworthy Philippine Birds. By Richard C. McGregor. Philippine Jour. of Science, XI, No. 4, Sec. D, July, 1916. pp. 269-275. 360 Recent Literature. [sate Bird Gardening on Cape Ann. By F. G. Speck. A New department is called ‘The Season’ edited by Mr. Charles H. Rogers, with reports of the condition of bird-life for each two month interval by local authorities in six different regions surrounding the following centers; Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Oberlin, Ohio and Kansas City. The Educational Leaflet treats of the White-throated Sparrow, with a colored plate by Sawyer. The Condor. XIX, No.2. March-April, 1917. An Annotated List of the Birds of Fremont County, Idaho, as Observed During the Summer of 1916. By Henry J. Rust.— An excellent annotated list of 103 species with photographs of the country and nests of the Green- tailed Towhee, Brewer’s Sparrow and other species. Some Notes on the Effects upon Bird Life, of the Corpus Christi Storm of August 18, 1916. By R. A. Sell— We wonder if the author and editor realize that in the final paragraph the Searlet Ibis which stood on the mass of drift ‘‘ like a garnet in the sands, or a rosy promise of the morning sun ”’ is the first record of the species for Texas and only about the sixth for North America. Birds of the Humid Coast. By Florence Merriam Bailey (continued). A List of Birds Breeding in San Francisco County, Cal. By H. E. Hansen and W. A. Squires.— Seventy species. Geographical Variation in Sphyrapicus thyroideus. By H. 8. Swarth.— The Rocky Mountain bird is separated as S. ¢. natalie (Malherbe). An Abnormal Egg of Fulica americana. By Alexander Wetmore. Names of Writers on California Birds. By T. S. Palmer.— Completes many names which were not given in full in Grinnell’s Bibliography. The Wilson Bulletin. XXIX, No.1. March, 1917. The Diary of a New England Ornithologist. By W. F. Henninger— . See antea, p. 356. A Coéperative Bird Census at Washington, D.C. By H. C. Oberholser. — Thirteen parties participated, each covering a different section. Total number of species observed, 129; total number of individuals, 12,257. The average number of species for each party was 66, the number varying from 51 to 91, with one-record of only 34. Of 16 species only a single individual was seen. The count was made on May 12, 1913. Remarks on the Mid-May Census. By W. DeW. Miller and C. H. Rogers.— Argues for accurate counts of individuals, not estimates. Cites apparent errors in the list of L. 8. Kohler; and questions his record of the breeding of Wilson’s Warbler in New Jersey. The Correlation between the Migratory Flight of Birds and Certain Accompanying Meteorological Conditions. By Frank Smith.— Claims a distinct correlation. The Odlogist. XXXIV, No.3. March 5, 1917. Some Nesting Birds of the Judith Basin, Montana. No. 2. By P. M. Silloway. | Recent Literature. 361 A Collecting Trip in Southern California. By J. B. Dixon. The Odlogist, XXXIV, No. 4. April 15, 1917. A Day and Night on Buck Hummock [Ga.]. By T. D. Petry. The Odlogist. XXXIV, No. 5. May 15, 1917. White-tailed Hawk. By D. B. Burrows. The Bluebird. IX, No. 3. February, 1917. A Guest from Central America. By C. J. Stanwood. 381 Some ALAsKA PENINSULA Birp Notes. By Charles A. Gianini . F 394 Tue SuMMER BIRDS OF THE ST. Matnaw Istanp Brrp ep aiaphee ae By G. Dallas Hanna a 403 NESTING OF THE CAPE Max Wisneun AT rar ges ‘Epwanp, Quenee. “Ey ‘H. F. Merriam , 410 Tue STATUS OF Liens ayer. Beasts Gaus By Tonathar Dwight, M. D. (Plate XV) . : 413 SHEDDING OF THE STOMACH Erste BY Brats Pismiaeenee AS Recnw cies BY THE ANATID&. By W. L. McAtee. (Plates XVI—XVII.) 5 415 Notes on KENNICOTT’S SCREECH OwL (Otus asio RSBELORE) IN THE PuGET Sas ; Recion’ By J. Hooper Bowles E : 422 Tur Nicue-RELATIONSHIPS OF THE Sarwan Penne By Fase Getnnell 427 Nores on Lone ISLAND Birps. By John T. sttachials, Robert C. Murphy and Ee low Griscom . 5 434 PERSONALIA IN Guarecioass Randa _OF THE Couurrran ON Broanpae AND BipuioGcrapHy. By T. S. Palmer . - 4 - E 445 REMARKS ON CoLoRADO Birps. By Willoughby P. Fakta 2 ’ 453 FurtTHER Notes oN ALABAMA Birps. By Lewis S. Golsan and Ernest G. Holt A 456 Ontario Brrp Notes. By Hoyes Lloyd ‘ Z 7“ ¥ 3 457 Somr Notes on Connecticut Birps. By Ira a Gibecelebn r 5 ‘ 3 461 Notes on NortH AMERICAN Birps. III. By Harry C. Oberholser : * : 465 Norvres ON THE GENUS PurFriNnus Brisson. By Harry C. Oberholser - 471 Generat Notes.— Man-o’-War-bird etc. on the North Carolina Coast, 476: Gaawall in Massachusetts, 476; Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) in a Phenomenal Position at Boston, Mass., 476; Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos) at Springfield, Mass., 477; Sparrow Hawks Nesting in a Bird House, 478; Black Vulture in Massachusetts, 478; Crow Roost near Boston, Pennsylvania, 478; Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina) at Springfield, Mass., 478; "Evening Grosbeak at Lakewood, N. J., 479; Evening Grosbeaks at Hatley, Stanstead Co., Quebec, 479; English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Feeding on the Larve of the Elm Tree Beetle, 479; The Slate-colored Junco in Colorado, 480; Nesting of the Chiapas Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca cerulea chiapensis), 480; Brewster’s Warbler (Vermivora leucobronchialis) in Lexington, Mass., 481; Late Southward Migration of the Cape May Warbler on Long Island, 483; Rare Warblers at Hatley, Stanstead Co., Quebec, 484; Sap Drink- ing Habits of Warblers, 484; A Roosting Place of Fledgling House Wrens, 485; The Labrador Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) at Cohasset, Mass., late in May, 486; Labrador Chickadees at Hatley, Stanstead Co., Quebec, 486; Rare Winter Visitants in Northern Indiana, 487. Recent Lirerature.— Bergtold on the Incubation Periods in Birds, 488; Howell on the Birds of the California Coast Islands, 489; Shufeldt on a Fossil Bird from the Florissant Shales, 490; Richmond’s ‘Third Supplement’ to Waterhouse’s “‘ Index Genera Avium,’’ 491; Avesin the Zoological Record for 1915, 491; Kuser’s ‘The Way to Study Birds,’ 492; The Birds of Australia, 492; Brooks on Some Falkland Island Birds, 492; Richmond on New Birds from Haiti, 493; Brooks on ‘The Food of West Virginia Birds, 493; Bird Pests in War Time, 494; Field Study of the Food of Nestlings, 494; Effect of Poisoning Operations on Birds; Value of Carrion Feeders, 495; Economic ‘Ornithology in Recent Entomological Publications, 497; Report of the Biological Division of the Canadian Geological Survey, 498; the Ornithologi- eal Journals, 498; Ornithological Articles in Other Journals, 502; Publications Received, 504. CorRESPONDENCE.— Definite Localities, 506; Appeal for Assistance in Work of the Biological Survey, 507; ‘‘The Way to Study Birds,’’ 508; Concealing Coloration, 508. Notes anp News.— Obituaries: Dr. Emil August Goeldi, 510; Alfred John North, 510; Rev. William Rogers Lord, 511; Dr. Bert Heald Bailey, 512: Francis Windle, 512; Covington Few Seiss, 513; Charles §. Welles, 513; 1847— 1917, 513; Animal Colora- tion, 514; The Thirty-fifth Stated Meeting of the A. O. Wg, 514. INDEX . : s ; ; g : 3 5 2 a : - 515 ERRATA é j : : ¥ : : 542 Dates or Issue . : : . 3 Z : 7 F 2 : p ; 542 ConrTENTS i i THE AUK,’ published quarterly as the Organ of the AmericAN ORNITHOL- oaists’ Union, is edited, beginning with volume for 1912, by Dr. Wirmer STONE. Trrms:— $3.00 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single num- bers, 75 cents. Free to Honor ary Fellows, and to Fellows, Members, and Asso- ciates of the A. O. U. not in arrears for dues. Tue OFFIce OF PUBLICATION Is AT 30 BoyLsTon St., CAMBRIDGE, Boston, Mass. Subscriptions may also be addressed to Dr. JonaATHAN Dwicut, Business Manager, 134, W. 7lst St., New Yorx, N. Y. Foreign Subscribers may obtain ‘Tue Aux’ through Wirnersy & Co., 326, High Hotgorn, Lonpon, W. C. All articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, may be sent to DR. WITMER STONE, ACADEMY OF NATURAL ScIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Manuscripts for general articles should reach the editor at least six weeks before the date of the number for which they are intended, and manuscripts for ‘ General N otes’, ‘ Recent Literature’, etc., not later than the first of the month preceding the date of the number in which it is desired- they shall appear. een acs enti te 2 So ll ol aoe a ee ee coal 4» \. oe =P ay . « aay _ S 5 THE AUK, VOL. XXXIV. PLATE XIII. NAturRAL Size. Proto. sy L. W. BrowNELL. BuLAcK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (1 AND 2). NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER (3 AND 4). WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (5 AND 6). SUCCESSIVE SETS FROM THE SAME PAIRS OF BIRDS. Satie per AUIS A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. VOL.