155 General Notes. 



[i have found Phalaropv.s hyperboreus to be of by no means rare occur- 

 rence in Boston market, from Gape Cod and elsewhere along the Massa- 

 chusetts coast, and remember upon one occasion purchasing four specimens 

 there. It is, however, like several other off-coast species, not commonly 

 found near the land unless forced to take shelter from severe storms. — 

 William Brewster.] 



The Glossy Ibis in Massachusetts.— I have had the pleasure of 

 examining a fresh specimen of the Glossy Ibis (Ibis falcinellus), which was 

 taken, May 4, 1878, on Cape Cod, Mass. — Charles B. Cory, Boston, 

 Muss. 



A note from Mr. Ruthven Deane, respecting the above-mentioned speci- 

 men, states that it was shot at Eastham, Mass., by Mr. Augustus Denton. 



Mr. N. Vickary, of Lynn, Mass., writes me that he has in his possession 

 also a specimen of this species (Plegadis falcinellus, Eaup, the Falcinelhu 

 ignens of recent writers, the Ibis ordi of most American writers*) taken at 

 East Orleans, May 5, 1878. This, with the specimens above recorded by 

 Dr. Brewer and Mr. Cory, makes three that were taken at nearly the same 

 date and near the same locality on Cape Cod, during the first week of 

 May, the present year. — J. A. Allen, Cambridge, Mass. 



Two more Birds new to the Fauna of North America. — Professor 

 Baird writes me that among some birds recently taken by Dr. James C. 

 Merrill near Fort Brown, Texas, and forwarded to the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, are examples of Vireo flavo-viridis and Sturnella mexicana. Both 

 of these species are new to our fauna. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 



* Opinion varies much among recent writers respecting the proper generic and 

 specific names of this species. Nearly all late writers have adopted Falcinelhu 

 (" Bechstein, 1803") for the generic name, and -ignens (Gmelin, 1771) for the 

 specific name. Reichenow, however, employs rufus (Scopoli, 1769). Salvin 

 and Sclater have recently claimed Plegadis (Kaup, 1829) for the generic name, 

 thereby teadermgfalcinellus (Linne, 1706) available for the specific designation. 

 On this point these authors write as follows : "A reference to IJechstein's work 

 shows that that author called the (Mossy Ibis Xumenius falcinellus, and in no 

 way employed the latter title in a generic sense. Failing Falcinellus, Plegadis, 

 Kaup (Skizz, Entw. Gesch., p. 82, 1829), appears to stand next in order of date; 

 and thus Plegadis falcinellus (L.) would be the correct name for the Glossy 

 Ibis." — /Ms, 4th Ser., Vol. II, January, 1878, p. 112. 





