192 General Notes. [^uk 



Sturnus vulgaris. About a mile in a straight line from the colony of 

 Skylarks, I first saw the European Starling, where it was afterward seen 

 repeatedly. Near Kensington Station someone within the present year 

 has placed in a large tree several bird boxes, which are occupied by the 

 Starlings. 



The tower of the Boys' High School in Brooklyn noted in the article 

 referred to as occupied by these birds, still retains its attractions for 

 them. This was probably the original nesting colony on Long Island. 

 Another colony now occupies the steeple of a church at Bedford Avenue 

 and Madison Street. At several points in the environs of Brooklyn the 

 Starlings have been seen, where they were evidently visiting for the 

 purpose of obtaining food, while at various points in the city itself they 

 are commonly observed. 



Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. — The Savanna Sparrow has 

 been found on Long Island in summer, but not so far west I believe as 

 the following record. At Garden City 17th July, 1897, an adult male in 

 worn breeding plumage was found in a locality where many Grasshopper 

 Sparrows were resident. Mr. Oberholser considers this an interesting 

 discovery and at his suggestion it is made a matter of record. Mr. 

 Wm. Dutcher has recorded this species from Long Island in summer. 

 It is also a winter bird on Long Island. The writer met with a specimen 

 Jan. 30, 1895, at Flatbush, L. I. 



Contopus borealis. The Olive-sided Flycatchers were seen in limited 

 numbers in the early autumn of 1S96 in Brooklyn (Auk, XIV, p. 99). 

 They have been observed since in both 1S97 and 1898, single specimens 

 having been secured on the following dates : September 25, 1897, an 

 immature female, and August 27, 1S9S, an adult male. It should be 

 considered, I think, a regular and not uncommon autumn migrant for 

 Long Island. 



Empidonax flaviventris. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was first 

 described in 1S43 by Wm. M. and S. F. Baird as Tyrannula flaviventris 

 in Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil., I, 283. Giraud makes no mention of the species 

 in 'The Birds of Long Island,' published in 1844, though it had been 

 separated and described, as above, in the year preceding the issue of his 

 work. It is a matter of interest to note that the first specimen in the 

 series of this species in Prof. Baird's collection was taken on Long 

 Island, being labeled Raynor Sound (South), Long Island, Aug. 4, 1831 

 (Cat. No. 1951. See U. S. P. R. R. Exp. and Surveys, IX, 1S60, p. 199. 

 It seems to occur rather rarely on Long Island in spring, while in the 

 autumn it is certainly not rare. Mr. Dutcher has kindly furnished me 

 with the following data of its occurrence: Aug. 19, 1893, Parkville (Coll. 

 Wm. Dutcher); Sept. 18, 1890, Statue of Liberty, N. Y. Harbor; May 19, 

 1892, Flatbush (per A. H. Howell); June 10, 1S93, Brooklyn (per A. H. 

 H.). The following dates of their occurrence are added from my own 

 notes: May 25, 1897, Parkville; Aug. 27, 189S, do. ; Sept. 2, Sheepshead 

 Bay; Sept. 11, 1S95, Parkville. The above dates probably cover nearly 



