l8 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



presence of the l^rd on the sandy beach of the point. From a flock 

 of four, two were secured. They were so restless that we could not 

 be absolutely sure that there were more than this number, yet it is 

 my belief that there were. This was my only visit to the place that 

 fall, after it was late enough for the birds. 



In this Joi'RN.VL several notes on the occurrence of the Long- 

 spur at this place have appeared,' enouj^h to show that it has been a 

 frequent visitor for the past five years. 



It is of much interest in this connection to learn that Mr. Nathan 

 Clifford Brown conducted nearly uninterrupted field work there dur- 

 ing the late seventies and early eighties, with the result of finding it 

 but once. Thus it seems certain that it could not liave Iwen so fre- 

 quent at this place. 



The past fifteen years has witnessed remarkable changes in this 

 point of sand, and these changes may or may not be responsible for 

 the seemini^ increased occurrence of the bird. 



Recent Capture of a Jerfalcon at l^ortland. Me., 

 and Review of Local Records of the Group. 



Hy Akthik II. Norton. Pr)rlland. 



The specimen of Falco rusticolus gyrfalcoy represented in Plate I, 

 was killed at North Deering, now a part of Portland, on December 

 1 1, 1906. It swooped into the hen yard of Mrs. John Smith on Allen 

 Avenue, killing a large, pugnacious rooster, which it speedily began 

 to devour. The outcry of the poultry attracted attention, which 

 caused the bird to leap to flight, thrusting its head through the wire 

 yard, where it was dispatched with a cudgel by Cyrus Thurlow. 

 It was mounted and is still in the possession of Mrs. Smith. 



This account of desperate strength calls to mind that given by 

 Mr. H. A. Purdie,'^ of the specimen witli such a remarkable history 



iJoUR. Me. Urn. Soc., Vol. VI, p. 44. Oct. 31, 1901, five; Vol. VII. p. 79. 

 Nov. 5. 1905, four. 



•^Bull. NuU. Orii. dull, Vol. IV, p. 188. 



