° 1918 J Saunders, Recent Connecticut Bird Notes. 341 



Ixobrychus exilis. Least Bittern. — Two seen, and one, a male, 

 secured in Great Marsh, near Norwalk, May 19, 1917. This date is rather 

 early for this species. 



Ardea herodias herodias. Great Blue Heron. — This species 

 remained later than usual in the spring of 1917, six being seen at the mouth 

 of the Saugatuck on May 26. 



Herodias egretta. Egret. — A single bird has been reported in the 

 marshes at Compo Cove, Westport, every summer since 1912. The bird 

 usually stays for several days. I saw it during the summer of 1916, when 

 it was present from July 24 to 28. It was again reported this summer, 1917. 



Pisobia maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper. — A single bird seen in 

 marshes at Silver Sands, East Haven, May 13, 1916. This is the only 

 spring record for Connecticut, but the bird was seen closely, and I examined 

 skins in spring plumage shortly after I had seen it, and am sure of my iden- 

 tification. 



Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. — This species is evidently increas- 

 ing, and is now quite common in southwestern Connecticut. I observed 

 a single bird at West Haven, March 21, 1914. I did not see it again till 

 1916, when a pair were seen several times in a plowed field near Westport. 

 In 1917 the species first appeared on March 31, and was seen commonly 

 throughout the spring and summer. Mr. Wilbur F. Smith found several 

 nests near Norwalk, and I found downy young at Norwalk on May 12. 



Arenaria interpres morinella. Ruddy Turnstone. — A single bird 

 was seen at Grove Beach September 1, 1916, and four others September 9. 

 Two were seen at the mouth of the Saugatuck River May 19, 1917. 



Cathartes aura septentrionales. Turkey Vulture. — One seen at 

 Short Beach, May 23, 1914. 



Sphyrapicus varius varius. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. — A bird 

 of this species in juvenal plumage, wintered in Norwalk in January, 1917. 

 I first saw it, January 6 and continued to find it every time I visited the 

 locality till January 27, after which I did not look for it again till March 3, 

 when it was not to be found. The bird frequented a row of Norway Spruce 

 trees, growing about the border of a large estate. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. — This 

 species was almost common in Edgewood Park, New Haven, in the spring 

 of 1915. I met with it several times between April 16 and May 4, four 

 being seen at once on one occasion. The following year, 1916, a pair 

 nested in a hole in a trolley pole at West Haven, where I saw them on May 

 13, 19 and 20. 



Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina. Evening Grosbeak. — A 

 single bird in the female plumage, seen at New Haven, April 15, 1916, and a 

 flock of twelve at Cannondale, April 17, 1917. 



Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. Purple Finch. — What was 

 apparently the spring migration of this species began at Norwalk in 1917 on 

 February 20. A few birds had been around all winter, but beginning with 

 that date the birds were plentiful everywhere, singing a great deal, and 



