30 



MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



point to its regular migratory appearance along the Atlantic coast of 

 New Eno-land in considerable numbers." Dr. Coues in the same year 

 contributed an important paper, containing the bibliography and synonymy 

 of the species to date, as well as that of Baird's Sparrow, with a colored 

 plate of the latter. The year 1878 also marked the appearance of the 

 part of Mr. Maynard's quarto work containing a wretched colored plate 

 of ' Passerculits frincefs ' and a complete account of the species, in many 

 respects the best that has ever been published. 



In the following year appeared Mr. Jeffries's sketch of the bird as 

 observed at Swampscott, Mass., chiefly during the autumn of 1878. It is 

 an important contribution, although perhaps a little too dogmatic in some 

 of its statements which are not entirely borne out by the facts. An argu- 

 ment against the specific distinctness of frince-ps from savanna is pre- 

 sented. Unfortunately, however, the measurements given do not show 

 proper cognizance of sex in making comparisons, nor is it conclusively 

 proved that intermediate specimens were found. As a matter of fact the 

 female //-/«cc7!>5 is of the size of the male savanna, while the male frincefs 

 is considerably larger. In 1881 Mr. Stearns's work on New England 

 birds, edited by Dr. Coues, was published, in which may be found a good 

 review of the bird's history. 



By 1882, the Ipswich Sparrow began to be considered a common 

 species in New England, and Mr. N. C. Brown thus wrote of it: "The 

 once prized Ipswich Sparrow {Passercidus j^rinccps) must now take its 

 place among the common autumnal migrants of southern Maine, though 

 restricted, so far as I am aware, to the seacoast. In the spring, however, 

 it is uncommon if not rare. Since the capture of the tirst Maine specimen* 

 March 20, 1875, I have seen but two other spring specimens. These I 

 found upon Old Orchard Beach, March 28, 1882, and one of them is now 

 in my collection. In their autumnal migration the birds reach Cumber- 

 land County about Oct. 13, remaining at least until Nov. 6, later than 

 which I have never looked for them. Upon almost any day between 

 these dates the collector may find a dozen or more individuals along the 

 sandy shore between Scarborough Beach and the Saco River." (Bull. 

 N. O. C. VII, 190.) In 1883 Mr. M. Chamberlain recorded a flock of 

 about twenty (a number far exceeding anything ever recorded elsewhere) 

 seen on April 11, near St. John, N. B. In the same year Mr. H. K. 

 Job wrote that " Ipswich Sparrows can at last be ranked almost as common 

 birds upon our seacoast in the late fall. Last year I saw them first on 

 October 28, in Boston Harbor, and for about a month found more speci- 



'*See Rod and Gun, Vol. VI, p. 65 [= p. 81]." 



