INTRODUCTION. 



The following list is designed especially for the use of 

 students in Wellesley College, and others interested in the 

 bird-life of Wellesley and surrounding towns, its chief 

 purpose being to give an approximately correct idea of the 

 bird-life of the district, and serve as a convenient pocket 

 guide to observations. Its field of usefulness, however, 

 especially with reference to the land-birds, is not confined 

 to the area mentioned, but comprises the greater part of 

 Eastern Massachusetts. 



The list is based upon personal observations, the readily 

 accessible published records of occurrence of the rarer 

 species, and notes furnished by a number of observers, 

 collectors, and taxidermists having a practical acquaintance 

 with the birds of the district. The works treating of New 

 England birds have also been used, when necessary. 



The arrangement is that of the Check-list of the Ameri- 

 can Ornithologists' Union. Under each species is given 

 the A. O. U. number (for convenience in referring to other 

 lists, cataloguing, etc.) ; one or more vernacular names, 

 that adopted by the A. O. U. standing first; the scientific 

 name and authority, including the changes authorized in the 

 Eighth Supplement to the A. O. U. Check-list ; and notes 

 on the abundance, season, haunts, and site and elevation 

 of nest. The dates of arrival and departure are draw^n 

 largely from the data for Cambridge, based upon the notes 

 of Mr. Brewster, published in Chapman's Handbook. 

 These are, however, modified to some extent from personal 



