ABSTRACTS 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded 'promptly to the editors. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing 

 in this issue. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Autumn water-bird records at Washington, D. C. 

 Harry C. Oberholser. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 30: 122, 1917. 

 The autumn of 1916 at Washington, D. C, was ornithologically in- 

 teresting on account of the large number of shore-bird visitors. During 

 this period, two species, Pisohia fuscicolh's and Squatorola squatarola 

 cynosurae, were first recorded from the District of Columbia. A second 

 record for Micropalama himantopus, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 records for Spatula clypeata were also obtained. Attracted by unusual 

 conditions, several species stayed far beyond their previous latest dates, 

 notable among these being Totanus melanoleucus, which was noted on 

 October 26 ; Totanus flavipes, November 1 (erroneously given as Novem- 

 ber 2) ; Pisohia minutilla, November 1 (erroneously given as November 

 2); and Pisohia maculata, November 1 (erroneously given as No- 

 vember 2). H. C. 0. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Costa's hurnminghird — its type locality, early his- 

 tory, and name. T. S. Palmer. The Condor 20: 114-116. 1918. 

 Costa's hummingbird (Calypte costae) has an interesting but some-' 

 what obscure history. It was originally described as from California, 

 but its type locality proves to be ]Magdalena Bay, Lower California, 

 the type specimen having been collected in 1837 by Dr. Adolphe Simon 

 Neboux during the course of a voyage of the French frigate Venus. 

 It was named for Louis Marie Pantaleon de Costa, Marquis de Beau- 

 Regard. Not until twenty years later was the species found in Cali- 

 fornia, and not until 1876 were its eggs discovered. 



Harry C. Oberholser. 



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