22 0. II. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut. 



1875. Nearly four years ago Mr. H. A. Purdie called attention to 

 the fact that it had been obtained, in September, at Saybrook, Conn., 

 by Mr. ,T. N. Clark;* and Mr. Clark has recently informed me that 

 he has taken several specimens there in fall, and one " full-plumaged 

 male in spring." This last is the finest specimen I have ever seen, 

 and, at first sight, I mistook it for the Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis 

 Philadelphia), the male of which it closely resembles, both in the 

 deep ash of the throat and breast (which is almost black where it 

 joins the yellow below), and in the shade and limited extent of the 

 yellow of the belly. The ring around the eye, however, is well 

 marked, and pure white. 



As its name indicates, this species was first discovered in Connecti- 

 cut, and by the distinguished Ornithologist, Alexander Wilson. lie 

 met with it but once in this State, but afterwards found it in 

 Pennsylvania, and says, " It was found, in every case, among low 

 thickets, but seemed more than commonly active, not remaining for a 

 moment in the same position. "f Its habits are such :is to render it 

 unlikely to be observed unless present in considerable numbers. 



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



A rare summer visitor from the South. Mr. Erwin I. Shores, who 

 has favored me with so many valuable notes concerning our rarer 

 birds, writes that he " obtained a male of this species at Suffield, 

 Conn., Aug. 16th, 1 S70,"J thus adding another bird, not only to the 

 Avi-fauna of Connecticut, but also to New England. I am aware that 

 Dr. Coues, in his "Birds of the Northwest" (p. 73), states that the 

 species occurs " north to the Connecticut Valley," but on what 

 authority I am unable to surmise. Perhaps the learned Doctor's 

 knowledge of the distribution of birds, and of that something in their 

 hearts which ofttimes causes those inexplicable peregrinations, together 

 with his marvelous power of intuition, told him that it did occur in 

 the Connecticut Valley, and had long been waiting to be discovered 

 by Mr. Shores. Indeed, nearly ten years ago, Dr. Coues prophesied 

 that " the occurrence of this species as a rare or casual summer visitor 

 in southern New England is to be confidently anticipated, "§ and it 

 is an old saying that probabilities become facts if only given time 

 enough. 



* Am. Nat., vol. vii, No. 2, p. 693, Nov. 1873. 



\ American Ornithology. Vol. ii, p. 160. Edinburgh. 1831. 



\ MS. notes of Erwin I. Shores. 



§ Proceed. Essex Inst., vol. v, p. 269. 1868. 



