Vol. XIXT Braislin, Notes on Lon<r Island Birds. 1 4. 7 



1902 J ' * T / 



corded (Auk, XIV, p. 99, and Auk, XVI, p. 192), is one taken at Jamaica 

 South, Sept. 26, 1900. This specimen is now in the collection of the 

 Brookhn Ijistitute of Arts and Sciences. 



Quiscalus quiscula seneus. The Bronzed Grackle is rare on Long 

 Island. Its spring and autumnal migrations are ordinarily completed 

 without crossing the island. Extraordinary conditions, high north- 

 westerly winds, for example, may drive it from its regular course. It 

 is not improbable that grackles, sometimes seen here in November, are 

 this form. On Nov. 17, 1900, a tiock of six or eight grackles was seen at 

 Jamaica South, feeding in company with many robins, in recently culti- 

 vated fields. They were shy, and but one specimen was secured. It 

 proved to be a typical ^. quiscula ceneus. I know of but one other specimen 

 of this variety from Long Island. Mr. W. W. Worthington of Shelter 

 Island killed a grackle on June 16, 1886, which was of the same variety. 

 These birds were identified by Mr. Chapman. Almost all varieties of 

 intermediates occur on Long Island, all the breeding birds being inter- 

 mediates. See paper by Mr. Chapman entitled 'Preliminary Study of 

 the Grackles,' Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, 1892, pp. 1-20. 



Loxia leucoptera. During the extensive migratory excursions of cross- 

 bills down to, and south of, this latitude in January, 1900, White-winged 

 Crossbills were observed at several stations on Long Island. They were 

 seen by the writer in Prospect Park between and including the dates 

 Jan. II and Jan. 18. They chief!}' frequented the hemlocks. Both dull 

 and brightly colored birds of this species, and also mixed with them some 

 individuals of Loxia curvirostra miiior, were seen. 



Piranga rubra. The Summer Tanager has been taken on Long Island, 

 as recorded in 'The' Auk', during the past seventeen years as follows : — 

 At Sag Harbor, Apr. 7 ; at Bridgehampton, May i ; at Merrick, May 14 ; 

 (Dutcher, Auk, III, 1886, p. 442) ; at Manor in April ; at Promised Land 

 in April (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 18), and at Long Island City, May 15, 

 (Hendrickson, Auk, I, 1884, p. 290). I here record an additional specimen, 

 which was picked up on the beach at Ditch Plain, April 8, 1901. Capt. 

 Scott of the Montauk Point Light secured it from the finder and sent it 

 to me. The stomach was empty except for a little discolored sand. It 

 is remarkable that of the seven specimens, five were from stations at the 

 eastern end of the Island, where migration is normally a week later for 

 land-bird migrants than the western end. The eastern extremity, how- 

 ever, stretches well to sea and is more advantageously situated as a haven 

 for birds driven out over the ocean by storms and seeking land. 



The occurrence of this bird on Long Island, instead of a normal exten- 

 sion of the vernal migratory movement, seems to be more the result of 

 weather conditions. They are isolated survivors of coast storms. 



On sending the specimen above recorded, Capt. Scott writes me : " It 

 was found on the shore at Ditch Plain on the 8th inst., chilled with cold, 

 after this last south storm." 



The early dates on which the birds have been recorded lead one more 



