l8o General Notes. \_£$i\ 



that mentions any difference in the size of the sexes of this species and 

 therefore believe it worthy of note. — Reginald Heber Howe, Jr., 

 Longtvood, Mass. 



The 1898 Migration of the Golden Plover [Ckaradrius dominicus) and 

 Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Massachusetts. — I have little to 

 communicate this year regarding the movements of these birds going 

 south. Their scarcity here for a number of years past is most discourag- 

 ing. During the migrating period weather favorable for their landing 

 occurred several times, notwithstanding which only scattering birds have 

 been noted. Personally I have not seen any flying. As far as I am aware 

 the first Golden Plovers seen on Nantucket this season were four birds 

 on August 12. On August 18, a flock containing about twenty-five birds, 

 was reported to have been seen, two of which were said to be Eskimo 

 Curlews. (As far as I know these two birds were the only ones seen 

 during the entire season.) On August 28, three Golden Plovers were 

 seen at the extreme west end of Nantucket Island, one of which was 

 killed. On September 1, twelve were seen flying south on migration ; 

 on September 12, wind northeast and cold, a flock of Plovers estimated to 

 contain sixty birds, were said to have been seen at the north side of Nan- 

 tucket. On this same date eleven Plovers were killed from a nock of 

 sixteen on Tuckernuck Island. These birds were sent to me; ten of 

 them were young, the other was an adult. On September 15 seven 

 young Plovers were seen at the eastern end of Nantucket, two of which 

 were shot. On September 16, thirteen young birds were shot at the 

 eastern end of the island. On Marthas Vineyard I have heard of but two 

 Plovers being taken, one a young bird too emaciated to eat; no Eskimo 

 Curlew seen. I have made enquiry of several of the large game dealers 

 in Faneuil Hall Market, Boston, and have only learned of a stray Golden 

 Plover or so, and not any Eskimo Curlew. The spring shooting of both 

 these birds in the West, as also of the Bartramian Sandpipers, is to be 

 greatly deplored. — George II. Mackay, Nantucket, Mass. 



Hybrid Grouse. — A hybrid Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosusY, PJia. 

 siaiins torqiiatus was recently shot near this city and is at present on 

 exhibition in one of the local gun stores. I could gain very little infor- 

 mation as to the history of the specimen, save that it was alone, and was 

 regarded as a freak, of more or less common occurrence. The bird was 

 evidently a young male of the year, and had just begun to take on the 

 fall garb, traces of which show through the young plumage. Above t lie 

 bird shows the Grouse parentage more strongly than the Pheasant, the 

 plumage being slaty black, somewhat barred with gray and buffv. Tail 

 slaty, central feathers mottled, and lateral more or less edged with gray- 

 ish brown. Central rectrices tipped with same. The tail is longer than 

 in Dendragapus, and the central feathers show some tendency to extend 



