228 General Notes. [j^ 



dense reed-bed some 30 feet behind. It looked about as large as a Song 

 Sparrow, slate grey all over with black wings and back spotted with small 

 white specks. The iris was bright red. Knowing it to be a Little Black Rail 

 almost as soon as flushed, I shouted to my companions who immediately 

 turned round and saw the bird while it flew past and back of me. They 

 were able with glasses to make out all the color markings except the red 

 eye. I had a pair of prism glasses, but was unable to use them as the 

 bird was too near. The flight is much more feeble than that of any other 

 rail with which I am familiar; the bird seemed barely able to sustain its 

 weight in the air, while its legs dangled down helplessly behind. Unless 

 seen at very close range this species would resemble, I think, a young 

 Sora, though to anyone familiar with the latter species the great difference 

 in size would be striking. Unfortunately I had no means of collecting it, 

 and my last remark would seem to prejudice my case, were it not for the 

 facts that (1) the Sora is a rare summer resident on Long Island, (2) its 

 nest and eggs have never been found so early on Long Island as far as I 

 know, and (3) in any case, it would be impossible for a young fiora to be on 

 the wing by May 24. Finally I have been familiar with the Sora in all 

 plumages for several years. Eaton in his ' Birds of New York ' records five 

 specimens of the Black Rail actually taken in the State, three of them from 

 Long Island. It has also been reported as seen at close range on five 

 occasions from the interior of the State. Accordingly this would be the 

 fourth Long Island record and the eleventh for the State. — Ludlow Gris- 

 com, New York City. 



Richardson's Owl and Other Owls in Franklin County, New York. 



— A specimen of Richardson's Owl (Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni) in 

 the flesh was recently received by the American Museum from Dr. Wm. N. 

 MacArtney of Fort Covington, Franklin Co., N. Y. The bird was shot 

 on November 14 in a cedar thicket near Fort Covington, in the township of 

 that name, by Wm. N. MacArtney, Jr. 



Dr. MacArtney writes that he shot one of these Owls in the nearby 

 township of Dundee, Province of Quebec, within a few rods of the State 

 line in 1879 or 1880; and about 1885 one taken in the same town was 

 brought to him, the latter specimen being now in his collection. All three 

 birds were secured in late fall or early winter. 



Eaton, in his recently published ' Birds of New York,' states that there 

 appear to be but two definite records of Richardson's Owl in the State, 

 one from Oneida County, the other from Essex County. 



Dr. MacArtney states that during the winter the Snowy Owl is fre- 

 quently observed, and occasionally the Hawk Owl, Barred Owl and Great 

 Gray Owl. The Long-eared Owl is seen at times, while the Great Horned, 

 Saw-whet and Screech Owls are common, the rufus phase of the last being 

 rather rare. — W. DeW. Miller, American Museum of Natural History. 



Lewis's Woodpecker taken in Saskatchewan. — A fine plumage adult 

 male was taken at Herchel, September 24, 1914, and is now mounted in 



