DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 25 



1876. J. Thomas, in Davis' History Bucks Co., Pa., Appen- 

 dix, p. 33. "Occasionally seen." 



1876. Thomas Gentry, Birds E. Penna., vol. I, p. 328. 

 "Tolerably abundant in eastern Pennsylvania." Mr. Gentry 

 evidently does not make this and his following remarks on the 

 Dickcissel from personal experience. It is more a record of its 

 past history than of conditions in 1876. 



1877. The following specimens were all taken by my friend 

 W. L. Collins in the immediate vicinity of his home near Frank- 

 ford at Bustleton pike and Castor road: 



June 4. Nest and 4 eggs in grass field along Castor road at 

 foot of daisy tussock. Eggs advanced in incubation. — Collins. 

 Aug. 25. Yg. female. — Collins. In Coll. of Witmer Stone. 

 Aug. 30. Ad. male.— Collins. In Coll. of Witmer Stone. 



1878. W. L. Collins. The following notes are quoted from 

 letters written to me by Mr. Collins: 



May 19. "There seem to be quite a number of Euspiza 

 americana about here this season." 



June 2. Two males collected in the past week. 



June 4. Just as we [Trotter and Collins] had got out of our 

 lane [Levick farm] into the Castor road we saw a pair of black- 

 th. buntings." After describing the actions of the birds near 

 their nest in the field he states, " I knew there was a nest at the 

 foot of the daisy bunch, so over I went and there, sure enough, 

 was a beautiful nest with 5 nice blue eggs in it." 



1879. Spencer Trotter, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. iv, p. 

 285. "A few pairs of these birds breed regularly every year in 

 a small area of country north of Philadeljihia [Levick and 

 Shallcross farms near Frankford], but in no other locality in 

 this neighborhood have I authentic information of their being 

 seen. In former times this bird was quite common here, but 

 has now become comparatively scarce." 



See also Trotter in Forest and Stream, vol. xii. No. 2, jd. 25, 

 for similar statements. 



1879. John Krider, Forty Years' Notes Field Orn., Phila., 

 1879, p. 49. "Many years ago this was a very common bird 

 about Philadelj)hia, but for some seasons it has become rare." 



1879. W. L. Collins. In letter June 3 ^ ' &\\oi a. ma\& Euspiza 

 but lost it." 



