2 78 General Notes. [£g 



hunting Wilson's Snipe, along the border of a stretch of stiff marsh 

 grass on the swampy shore of Banana River, a small bird started 

 up in front of me and, fluttering over the top of the grass, had the 

 appearance of a Wren, but its black plumage gave me full assurance 

 that Ammodramus nigrescens was within reach of my gun. Changing 

 cartridges, I soon had the pleasure of holding in my hand this highly 

 valued prize. Snipe shooting was now out of order, but several hours' 

 search for the Finches proved fruitless. On March 5, I had the good 

 fortune to collect another Black Seaside Finch, apparently the mate to 

 the one taken two days before. 



Several additional visits to the same and other near localities did not 

 reveal the presence of any more of these birds. Some days after taking 

 the specimens already mentioned we made a trip to the shore of the 

 Banana River, about eleven miles north of Indianola, a native of Merritt 

 Island having assured us that we would find this little black Sparrow 

 there in quantity ; but our bright anticipations were doomed to disap- 

 pointment. 



Several years later, when again on the island. I had the pleasure of 

 starting another specimen, a few miles east of Indianola, midway between 

 Indian and Banana Rivers. While in the act of raising my gun my feet 

 were suddenly entangled with a large moccasin, and a glance at this loath- 

 some cbject seemed sufficient reason for letting my coveted Sparrow 

 -escape. 



The two I took in 1S89 were a pair, male and female, and have afforded 

 me especial pleasure when looking over my collection of birds. The 

 male is darker throughout than the female, with the markings on the 

 under parts stronger and more conspicuous. — August Koch, Williams- 

 fort, Pa. 



Song Season of the Cardinal {Cardinalis cardinalis). — The following 

 is a record of the days on which I have heard the Cardinal sing, since 

 januarv, 1896. I think it is a full one. as there has hardly been a week 

 that I have not been in the haunts of the bird, and the song also is one 

 that is not likely to be overlooked. 



The record was taken in the vicinity of Anderson, S. C. [See Table, 

 pp. 279 and 2S0.] — J. Rowland Nowell, Anderson, S. C. 



Piranga rubra not Preoccupied. — Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, Jr., has kindly 

 pointed out an error of statement in regard to the names of Tanagers 

 published by the present writer in the last number of 'The Auk.' The 

 remark is there made that Yieillot used the combination Piranga rubra 

 for the Scarlet Tanager, thus precluding its subsequent employment for 

 the Summer Tanager. As a matter of fact, however, Vieillot's Piranga 

 rubra (Ois. Am. Sept., I, 1S07, p. iv, pi. I, fig. 12) is not the Scarlet, but 

 the Summer Tanager, as examination of his references and figure 



