^"'ig^'^l Gefieral Notes. 293 



have seen an individual of this bird in Pawtucket, R. I., several times 

 during the past winter. The first date was Dec. 28, 1901 ; the second, 

 Jan. 16, 1902 ; and the subsequent dates were Feb. 3 and 12, and March 4, 

 1902. There is no doubt it was the same bird each time, as each observa- 

 tion was made in the same locality, — a swampy sheltered stretch along 

 an old canal. The last time I recorded this bird he appeared to be having 

 trouble with a flock of Jays. — C. C. Purdum, M. D., Pazviticket, R. I. 



Note on Birds from the South Pacific. — Mr. Joseph R. Slevin, cadet 

 on the S. S. Ventura, has kindly presented to the California Academy of 

 Sciences the birds that came aboard during the last voj-age, namely : one 

 male Oceanodroma leucorhoa, January 27, 1902, Lat. 3° 30' S., Long. 167° 

 10' W. ; three female Sterna ftdiginosa, one male Ptiffintis cklororkynckus, 

 one male Pi/Jifius nativitatis, January 28, 1902, Lat. 9° 21' S., Long. 169° 

 W. All these birds struck the ship in the night when it was raining, 

 probably lured to it by the lights. The Oceanodroma leucorhoa does not 

 differ from specimens from California, Oregon, and the Grand Banks. 

 This species perhaps affords another instance of interhemisphere migra- 

 tion. — Leverett M. Loomis, Califortiia Academy of Sciences, Sati 

 Francisco, Calif. 



Unusual Winter Records. — Owing to the unusually mild weather and 

 frequent thaws of the past winter, a great many birds have wintered 

 here (Cambridge, Mass.) which usually pass farther south. I have ob- 

 served the following : — 



American Robin. Large flocks, seen about Arlington Heights until 

 February i, after which date only a few were seen until the spring mi- 

 gration. Their chief food was the berries of the buckthorn. 



Hermit Thrush. One seen on the 14 and 16 of December in the Har- 

 vard Botanical Gardens in this city. 



Long-billed Marsh Wren. One seen in the Fresh Pond marshes until 

 February 12. 



Swamp Sparrow. Several seen in the Fresh Pond marshes throughout 

 the winter. 



W^hite-throated Sparrow. One seen December 7 and S ; and one 

 singing on March 28, near Belmont. They probably wintered. 



Savanna Sparrow. One seen at Ipswich on March 31. As Mr. R. H. 

 Howe, Jr., shot one at the same place on January 18, this probably had 

 wintered there. 



Meadowlark. Several seen in Fresh Pond marshes until December 17. 



Red-winged Blackbird. Several seen throughout the winter in the 

 Fresh Pond marshes. 



Cowbird. Two seen in the Fresh Pond marshes on December 26. 



American Woodcock. One seen on December i and 8 on the edge of a 

 pool near Arlington Heights. 



