C. H. Merrian) — Birds of Connecticut. 49 



these unlucky birds, mistakiuo- liis bald head for a stone, dropped a 

 shell-fish upon it, and thus killed at once a philosopher and an 

 oyster."* 



117. Corvus OSSifragUS Wilson. Fi.sh Crow. 



This species must be regarded as a rare summer visitor so far 

 north as this State, although it has been seen in Massachusetts by 

 Mr. William Brewster, who writes: " On the morning of March 16tli, 

 1875, I saw a bird of this species flying swiftly over our place in 

 Cambridge. It was pursued by at least twenty-five or thirty of our 

 common species ( Corvus Amerieanns), and at eacli renewal of their 

 attacks gave utterance to its peculiar and unmistakable notes."f 

 Linsley gave it as occurring at " Stratford," C'onn.J 



118. Cyanurus cristatUS (Linne) Swainson. Blue .lay. 

 An abundant resident ; frequently seen about the city. 



Family, TYRANNID.^. 



119. TyrannUS Carolinensis (Linne) Temminck. King-bh-d; Bee-bird. 



A common summer resident, arriving early in May (Mr. Dayan 

 informs me that he saw one as early as April i;^, 1877). Departs 

 about the middle of September (Sept. 15) or later. Mr. Sage has 

 twice seen it at Portland, Conn., as early as May 7th (1804 and 1876) 

 and once on the first (1877), but it generally comes on the 10th. 



The habit, so characteristic of this species, of attacking, and driving 

 away from the vicinity of its nest. Hawks, Crows, and other large 

 birds, early attracted attention, for we find, in Josselyn's Voyages to 

 New England (published in 1675, }). 96), the following account of it: 

 "There is a small Ash-color Bird that is shaped like a Ilawke witli 

 talons and beak that falleth upon Croioes, mounting u]) into the air 

 after them, and will beat them till they make them cry."§ The 

 description of the bird would fit a Shrike even better than the one in 

 question were it not that it "falleth upon Crows" which pastime this 

 bird is not supposed to indulge in ; still I have seen a Northern 



* Nnttall's Manual of Ornithology, vol. i, p. 211. 1832. 

 f liull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. i, No. 1, p. 19. April, 187fi. 

 \ Km. Jour. Hci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, p. 2G0. April, 1843. 

 § Reprinted in Collections of the Mass. Historical Society, vol. iii, 3d series, p. 27.5. 

 1833. 

 Traks. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 7 July, 1877, 



