BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



l6l 



For the original and complete description the reader is referred to 

 Brewster, Auk, volume 3, pages 389-93. 



This species was made known to the scientific world from a specimen 

 secured in this State and noted by Mr Brewster, in Bulletin ISTuttall Orni- 

 thological Club, volume 6, pages 91-97. The stor\' of its discovery maybe 

 interesting to some of our readers. "Sonie months since while passing the 

 natural history store of W. J. Knowlton, Tremont street, Boston, my atten- 

 tion was attracted by a mounted petrel, which, with spread wings, hung con- 

 spicuously in the window. I saw at once it was a species new to me and, upon 

 entering, was greatly astonished to learn that it had been received only a short 



Scaled petrel. Aestrelata scalaris Brewster. Photo from t>*pe specimen taken at 

 Mount Morris. Now in Mr Brewster's collection, e nat. size 



time before I'ti the flcsJi, and in a comparatively fresh condition. Further in- 

 quiries elicited the information that it had been mounted for MrE. H. Wood- 

 man of Concord, N. H., and upon writing to that gentleman, I was very kindly 

 put in the possession of the following particulars. The bird had been sent 

 him b}^ a client, Mr Nathan F. Smith, who condvicts a large farm at Mt 

 Morris, Livingston co.. New York. One of the laborers while plough- 

 ing an old cornfield, noticed it running in a freshly turned furrow and 

 despatched it with a stick. It was apparently exhausted, for it made no 

 attempt to escape. This was earh- in April 1880, probably not far from 

 the 5th of the month, as I find its reception recorded on Mr Knowlton's 

 books as April 10. A letter afterwards received from Mr Smith confirms 

 all of these facts, but adds nothing of interest, save that the fami com- 



