NOTES ON NORTH CAROLINA BIRDS — WETMORE 521 



Family ICTERIDAE 



DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS (Linnaeus) : Bobolink 



The only specimen taken was shot 8 miles southwest of Stumpy 

 Point, Dare County, on October 24, an unusually late date. 



STURNELLA MAGNA ARGUTULA Bangs: Southem Meadowlark 



The series obtained during the present work was collected either 

 along the southern border of North Carolina or on the Coastal 

 Plain. All are the southern form. 



During the breeding season birds were obtained 7 miles southeast 

 of Rockingham, May 31; near Southport, May 12, 15, and 16; and 

 near the Dismal Swamp 7 miles west of South Mills, April 19. The 

 latter, a male, has the wing 115.2 mm. and is especially dark and 

 richly colored. The fall series also represents the southern form, 

 including specimens from the Catawba River near Catawba, Octo- 

 ber 6; Stumpy Point, October 27; Beaufort, November 15 and 17; 

 and Marshallberg, November 23. Two from Beaufort listed above 

 are somewhat intermediate but are nearer the southem form, which 

 apparently may winter in the coastal area. 



AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS PHOENICEUS (Linnaeus) : Eastern Red-wing 



In the small series obtained breeding individuals come from South- 

 port, May 10, 17, and 18, and Smith Island, May 20. Fall specimens 

 were collected at Engelhard, October 16, 18, and 24, and Williston, 

 November 17. 



ICTERUS SPURIUS (Linnaeus) : Orchard Oriole 



A second-year male comes from Southport, taken on May 18. It 

 has a small spot of chestnut in the center of the breast. 



CASSIDIX MEXICANUS MAJOR (Vieillot) : Boat-tailed Crackle 



Skins of the "jackdaw" come from Southport, May 10 and 18; 

 Smith Island, May 13 and 20; and 6 miles northeast of Beaufort, 

 November 14. Individuals were seen at Marshallberg on November 

 23 and Atlantic on November 25. I have recorded them on various 

 occasions on Roanoke Island and near Nags Head and Kitty Hawk. 

 The tips of the bills in two summer males show an interesting condi- 

 tion in which the ramphotheca on the premaxilla (upper mandible) 

 has been worn away for a distance of about 7 mm., so that this part 

 of the bill tip has been much narrowed, back of this it being normal. 

 Two females taken at the same season exhibit this condition to a 

 lesser degree. Obviously this is due to some feeding habit at the 

 area where these birds were obtained, perhaps to eating clams or 

 other shellfish. Three females taken in fall near Beaufort do not 

 show this wear. 



