abstracts: ornithology 407 



annealing the sample has previously received, the temperature of the 

 electrolyte, and the stresses to which the specimens are subjected 

 during the corrosive attack. 



H. S. R. 



ORNITHOLOGY.— T'Fmier birds about Washington, D. C, 1916-1917. 



W. L. McAtee, E. a. Preble, and Alexander Wetmore. 



Wilson Bull. 29:183-187. 1917. 

 A record winter list of 48 species for one day in the vicinity of Wash- 

 ington was obtained on December 30, 1916. A hst of the species, to- 

 gether with the number of individuals of each seen is given in this 

 paper. A hst of 33 additional species, all observed during the winter 

 of 1916-1917, is also added. This combined hst of 81 species comprises 

 about two-thirds of the known winter birds of the region, and represents 

 the results of unusually favorable conditions, although the hst includes 

 very few species that are rare in the District of Columbia. 



Harry C. Oberholser. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — An abnormal egg of FuHca americana. Alexan- 

 der 'Wetmore. Condor 19 : 65-66. 1917. 

 A female of Fulica americana, caught alive in the delta of Bear River, 

 Utah, was found on the following morning to have laid an egg of strik- 

 ingly abnormal coloration, very much darker than the usual eggs of this 

 species. The cause of this abnormahty is attributed to the continued 

 excitement and fear of the bird at the time of its capture and the conse- 

 quent reactions of the nervous system upon the organs of the oviduct. 



Harry C. Oberholser. 



OR^YTYlOlaOGY .—Washington region [June to September, 1917], 

 Harry C. Oberholser. Bird-Lore 19 : 277; 339-340. 1917. 



The unusually late spring migration of birds about Washington, D. 

 C, during 1917 extended well into June, and many migrants remained 

 later than ever known before. Conspicuous among these were Empi- 

 donax minimus, June 2, Dendroica castanea, June 5, and Oporornis Phila- 

 delphia, June 7. A few of the summer residents were also more than 

 ordinarily numerous. 



During August and September, 1917, about Washington, D. C, some 

 migratory birds appeared earlier than usual. Most notable among those 

 was Marila affinis, seen August 31, of which the earhest previous record 

 was September 25. A number of other birds, however, remained here 



