APPENDIX. 443 



F. Additions and Corrections. 



Add to the list of books given in foot-notes to the Preface, " Studer's Ornithol- 

 ogy," '' the Birds of North America, drawn, engraved, and colored from life by 

 Theodore Jasper, A.M., M.D." This is to be published (by subscription, at one 

 dollar for each number) in about forty parts, many of which have already been is- 

 sued. Each part contains one uncolored, and three colored lithographic plates, in 

 which the figures of the larger birds are often admirable, while those of the smaller 

 kinds are generally very much less successful. The letter-press consists of short 

 biographical sketches, and synopses of classification. 



Add to § S of the Introduction, on the study of birds' habits, the following: It 

 will be found very advaatageous to make observations continuously from day to day, 

 as one will not only see many birds who otherwise would escape him, but will ac- 

 quire an invaluable familiarity with their little characteristics (which one may often 

 think insignificant) and so an intimacy with the birds themselves, which will enable 

 him, for instance, to detect the preeence of the Brown Creepers by their shrill and 

 slightly tremulous isip, where another person might require more certain indica- 

 tions, or more impressive evidence. Moreovei% one will find that intimacy suffers 

 from interruption, and that knowledge is easily lost, however thoroughly gained. 

 Therefore, one may chance to find a familiar song no longer associated with any 

 bird. On the other hand, those who in studying nature are obliged to do so at in- 

 tervals will be surprised at tlie amount of pleasurable acquaintance which they 

 can form with her at odd moments. There are few places where birds cannot be 

 studied to advantage, not excluding the hearts of our cities, where may be found 

 creepers, nutliatches, titmice, warblers, vireos, flycatchers, shrikes, etc., some- 

 times even hawks. Finally, it is to be remembered that birds are frequently er- 

 ratic, and that observations on their abnormal habits are, as a rule, interesting 

 observations rather than important discoveries. 



The Hermit Thrushes are said occasionally to catch flies in the manner of 

 Swainson's Thrushes, who perhaps are more common migrants tlirough southern 

 New England than I have indicated in my biography of those birds. 



The Hudsonian Titmice probably breed in several laarts of northern New Eng- 

 land, and in the Adirondacks. They wander in winter so far to the southward 

 as Connecticut, and more than one has been obtained in Massachusetts. The 

 Crested Tomtit {Lopoi)hanes bicolor), is said to have occurred in New England. 



To the accounts of the warblers, it may be added that several Orange-crowned 

 Warblers have now been obtained in Massachusetts (for which information I am 

 chiefly Indebted to Mr. H. A. Purdie); that the Blaokburnian Warblers are con- 

 sidered by a friend, rather to the contrary of my own observations, to be very ex- 

 pert flycatchers, and that I have seen them near Boston on the tenth of October ; that 

 the Prairie Warblers sometimes feed upon the gixiund, and, moreover, have been 

 found exceptionally among the White Mountains, at Bethlehem ; that the Hooded 

 Warbler has been definitely reported from Connecticut ; and that tlie Yellow-breasted 

 Chats are reported to be common summer-residents at Oyster Bay, Long Island, 

 where Blue Birds winter, and where Cedar-birds have been seen in autumn in 

 flocks of more than a hundred. 



Mr. Ridgway has suggested that the anecdote quoted from the " Naturalist," pp. 

 141, 142, of this book, is probably referable to the Rough-winged Swallow, a bird 

 closely resembling the Bank Swallow, and common in that section of the country, 

 Where the circumstance quoted is reconcilable to the usual habits of this species. 



On p. 257, it should have been mentioned that the Adirondacks belong to the 

 Canadian faunal district. 



