506 APPENDIX. 



rare in Eastern Massachusetts, though not unknown. A remarkable exception to 

 this otherwise general rule occurred in the spring of 1872. For several daj-s, in 

 the latter part of Maj', they were found in great abundance in the vicinity of 

 Boston. As the same unusual occurrence of this species in large numbers was 

 noticed by Mr. Kumlieu in Southern Wisconsin, it is probable that along the 42d 

 parallel something occurred to cause a deviation from their usual migrations. 

 The long pause of this species in its spring migrations, and its appearance in 

 large numbers, are not known to have occurred before. 



Mr. Salvin (Ibis, April, 1872) expresses the opinion that this Warbler, in its 

 southern migration, does not pause in its flight from the Southern United States to 

 stop in any of the West India Islands, nor in any point of Central America north 

 of Costa Rica. It is by no means rare at Panama during the winter. We may 

 therefore infer that in both its southern and its northern migrations long flights 

 are made, at certain periods, over sections of coiuitr\- in which they do not appear 

 at all, or where only a straggling few are ever seen, and that their abundance in 

 1872 was exceptional and due to causes not understood. 



Dendroica nigi-escens (I, 258). Obtained in El Paso Coimty, Colorado ; 

 Aiken. 



Dendroica occidentalis, D. to^Tisendi, and D. nigrescens (I, 258, 265, 

 266). While travelling over tlio Cuyaiuaca ^luuutains I'a.^t o[' Sau Diego, in 

 April, 1872, Dr. Cooper found 1). occidentalis, for the first time, quite common. 

 They seemed to be still migrating during the last week of April, but perhaps were 

 onh' moving upwards, being numerous between the elevation of 1,500 and 4,000 

 feet, while heavy frosts still occuiTed at the latter height. They probably go in 

 May as high as 6,200 feet, the summits of the highest peaks, which are densely 

 covered by coniferous trees. D. townsendi and D. niffrescens were in company 

 with occidentalis in small flocks, among the oaks, and all seemed to be following an 

 elevated route northward. In 1862, Dr. Cooper found them among the chapaiTal 

 along the coast, but he regards this as exceptional and probably occasioned by a 

 severe storm in the mountains, as he saw none in 1872 in a spring of average 

 mildness. They o^-cur about Petaluma as earl\- as April 1. 



Seiurus ludovicianus (I, 287). Mr. E. lugersoll met with tiie nest and 

 eggs of the Large-billed Thrush near Norwich, Conn. The nest was sunk in tiie 

 ground, in some moss and in the rotten wood underneath the roots of a large tree 

 on the banks of the Vautic River. It was covered over, except just in front, by 

 the roots. The nest was 2| inches in internal diameter and rather shallow, and 

 was somewhat loosely constructed of fine dry gi'asses and little dead fibrous 

 mosses. About the nest, but forming no part of it, were several loose leaves. 

 These were chiefly' in front of the nest, and served as a screen to conceal it and its 

 occupant. The nest itself was placed under the edge of the bank, about ten feet 

 above the water. The eggs were four in number and were quite fresh. Unblown, 

 they have a beautiful rosy tint, the ground-color is a lustrous white, the egg hav- 

 ing a polished surface. They are more or less profusely spotted all over with dots 

 and specks, and a few obscure zigzag markings of reddish-brown of two shades, 

 and umber, with faint touches of lilac and very pale washing of red. These mark- 

 ings are much more thickly distributed about the larger end, but nowhere form a 



