286 Pennock, Birds of Delaware. [fuW 



feeding young. A severe rain-storm in early May destroyed a 

 large number of the young after they were able to crawl around the 

 tree-tops. 



American Egret (Herodias egretta). — There are several 

 recent records. In place of "straggler," as previously recorded, 

 they appear to be rather common in midsummer and may breed 

 occasionally. Mr. Hensel, late of near Stanton, and a close ob- 

 server, believed a few formerly bred in New Castle County, and I 

 have been so informed by others but have no positive record. 



Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbelhis). — Hesselius refers to this 

 bird as abundant in his day. The old residents of northern New 

 Castle County tell me that up to about 1865 or 1870 they were 

 "rather common" in suitable localities, — Ashland, Mt. Cuba, 

 and on the rough, rocky, wooded hill slopes of the Brandywine and 

 Red Clay Creeks. 



American Barn Owl {Strix pratincola). — In suitable localities, 

 near large marshes, this owl seems to be rather abundant. 



Acadian Owl (Nyctala acadica). — Mr. Geo. Hensel had three 

 specimens taken near Stanton, one during the winter of 1906-07, 

 the others earlier. 



Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca ccBvuIea). — Mr. Hensel had a mounted 

 male bird, shot several years ago near Delaware City, from a bunch 

 of three or four. I saw a male by the roadside near Lewes on May 

 7, 1906, and I believe they are not rare in the lower end of the State. 



Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra). — I found a mounted speci- 

 men in the Hensel collection shot several years ago near Stanton. 

 Mr. Hensel believes they nested in that locality, which is well up to 

 the northern end of New Castle County. 



Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans ?). — "May 

 breed occasionally" was formerly stated: Mr. Hensel told me that 

 two pairs nested in a hedge by the roadside near Delaware City 

 in 1862. My own records are all for September, October and 

 November of various years. 



To complete the record I include four introduced species: 

 1. "English" Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus 1). — Several 

 pairs were purchased and distributed over the State, a few years 

 ago, by the Delaware Game Protective Association, but it is be- 

 lieved thev have not survived. 



