104 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 13-No. 7 



Sparrows decreased until about April 1, when 

 there was but one left. The Shrikes shortly 

 afterward disappeared. On several occasions I 

 observed Shrikes pursuing the Sparrows, but 

 did not witness a capture. lu aftei-wards re- 

 ferring to it, while in company with Mr. S. F. 

 Dexter of I'awtucket, H. I., I found that gen- 

 tleman had also been observing the same case, 

 lu the previous June, I witnessed a Shrik(> cap- 

 ture a Sparrow within ten feet of my window, 

 and Hy oft' with it strugfiling in his beak. 



In examining the contents of several stom- 

 achs, I have occasionally found parts of birds ; 

 in one instance, tlie entire body of a field 

 mouse, but as a rule they have proved to have 

 beeu subsisting principally on beetles. 



F. 15. \V. ] 



Winter Notes From Wellesley, 

 Mass. 



BV S. W. DENTON. 



I have the pleasure of recording the capture 

 of a specimen of Greater Shearwater (Fuffinus 



major), about Nov. 



1887, in the town of 



Dover, near the Wellesley line, by a young 

 man in the emi)loy of B. P. ('hceney. The 

 night preceding the day of its capture ha,d been 

 a very windy one, accompanied by heavy rain. 

 As Mr. Nilan was passing a hedge near the 

 barn, he noticed this strange bird crouched be- 

 hind it. It was easily caught, but bit furiously 

 when taken in hand. Mr. Nilan, however, 

 took it home in the hope of being able to keep 

 it alive, but as it refused all food and was so 

 ugly, snapping at any one who approached 

 the cage, he gave it to Mr. Thomas Smith of 

 Wellesley, who mounted it for his collection. 

 Mr. Smith endeavored to kill the bird as one 

 would a Sparrow, by pressing tightly with his 

 fingers and thumb on each side of its body, and 

 though finally successful, he assured me h(! 

 never wanted to try another, the bird coming 

 to life .several times after he supposed it dead. 

 It was a male, no doubt blown in from the sea 

 by th(! storm, and had evidently been without 

 food for some time, as it was in poor condition, 

 and the stomach contained absolutely nothing. 



Dec. 27, while passing through Watertown, 

 Mass., in the horse-car, I saw an albino Eng- 

 lish Sparrow (Passer dumesticus), alight for ii 

 few moments in the street. So far as I could 

 see it was pure white, with the exception of a 

 slight reddish tinge on the back. 



On Dec. 30, a Catbird {Minus curoliiicusis). 



was shot by a young man in Wellesley in some 

 bushes on the edge of Chai les Kiver. It was a 

 male in full plumage. 



All winter. Bronze Grackles (Quiscalus p. 

 <i-neus), have been seen in .Wellesley, but none 

 were secured until Feb. 5, when a fine male 

 was shot by Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald. Its crop 

 was full of coin and one foot was gone, there 

 being only a stub in its place. 



On Jan. 30, a IJed-headed Woodpecker (mr- 

 laiK'rpi's cri/thruce/iluijns), was seen by a young 

 friend of mine while riding from here to Fox- 

 boro. 



Seven Screech Owls {Scoj)s asio), several of 

 them being in the red phase of plumage have 

 been taken here during December and January. 

 They weie found in holes in old trees or were 

 shot in the evening, being lured within giui- 

 shot by an imitation of their note. A Hock of 

 White-winged Crossbills {Loxia Icucopti-rii), 

 about fifty in number, were seen Feb. 4. 



Feb. 22 and 23, 1 saw and heaid several Blue- 

 birds {Sialia sialis), and Song Spari'ows {Me- 

 Uispiza melodid. 



Winter Notes. 



l'.V .1. WALDO NASH. 



North Conway, N. II., Feb. 20, 1888. 

 Editor O. & O. : 



I guess you think by this time I am frozen 

 up. Well, I have been very near it, and the 

 snow is enough to make one long for the 

 sweet " Sunny South," though natin-e is letting 

 up some now. I had something new, to me at 

 least, sent in last week. A Blue .Tay, with a 

 pure wbitt! collar, half an inch wide all around 

 the neck just liack of the crest, ciossed on the 

 sides by the usual black line, the crest in fiont 

 being nuule up largely of pure white feathers, 

 making a very curious looking bird. 



Birds are not plenty here this winter, ow- 

 ing, I suppose to the severity of the weather, 

 indeed, so far, I have not seen a single Nut- 

 hatch, though 1 have been in the woods a great 

 deal. 



There are a few Blue .lays, but they do not 

 appear like their usual saucy selves, but half 

 frightened as if they expected an avalanche of 

 snow. Redpolls have been fairly common 

 among the gray birches. 1 have noticed some 

 Crossbills on Moat and Middle Mountains. 



Snowbuntings came before the snow last fall 

 in abundance, but have been very scarce since. 

 Three Crows have kept us company all winter. 



