BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 



325 



than is generally supposed and chiefly at a season when almost no one is on the 

 watch for it. The only published mention of its occurrence in the Cambridge 

 Region which has hitherto appeared is, I believe, that, in the ' Auk,' ^ relating to a 

 specimen in my collection which Mr. H. W. Henshaw took in Belmont on Sep- 

 tember 30, 1885. This bird, an adult male in full autumn plumage, was feeding 

 in company with several Yellowrumps among scattered gray birches near the 

 western end of Marsh Street, not far from Rock Meadow. 



Since the record above mentioned was made the Orange-crowned Warbler 

 has been seen in our garden in Cambridge on several different occasions. The 

 first of these was November 10, 1891, when a bird appeared in a leafless bush 

 directly under one of the windows of my museum. Standing just within the 

 window, Mr. H. W. Henshaw, Mr. S. W. Denton and I watched it for several 

 minutes. It was within ten feet of us and in a clear light, so that we could not 

 well have made any mistake as to its identity. 



I was absent from Cambridge during the remainder of this month, but on 

 my return Mr. Denton handed me the following notes : — 



November 25. "'An Orange-crowned Warbler came into the trees in front of my 

 window twice today. I tried to shoot it, but was unable to do so." 



November 28. "Saw three H. celata in the garden today and secured one of 

 them." 



The specimen 2 taken on November 28, has puzzled some of our best orni- 

 thologists. In respect to its general coloring it closely resembles H. celata, and 

 Dr. J. A. Allen, Mr. D. G. Elliot and Mr. Frank M. Chapman have expressed a 

 belief that it is a hybrid between that species and Dcndroica cBstiva. Mr. Robert 

 Ridgway, however, agrees with me in considering it merely an abnormally dark 

 example of the Yellow Warbler. As to the other two birds seen by Mr. Denton, 

 there can be little doubt that he was correct in identifying them as Orange- 

 crowned Warblers. At least it would seem highly improbable that so many 

 Yellow Warblers could have occurred at this late date, or that, if occurring, all 

 would have possessed the exceptionally dark and peculiar plumage which charac- 

 terizes the bird that was secured. 



In November, 1900, our garden was again visited by Orange-crowned War- 

 blers. On the 9th of the month my assistant, Mr. Walter Deane, called my 

 attention to one that was flitting about in a pear tree within a few yards of his 

 window (the same window mentioned in connection with the experiences of 1891). 

 I recognized it almost at a glance, and after watching it for a few minutes shot 



'W. Brewster, Auk, III, 1886, 278. 



2 No. 48,649, collection of William Brewster. 



