370 General Notes. [july 



Prothonotary Warbler at South Vineland, N. J.— On June 19, 

 1914, while studying birds in the Maurice River swamp, about, two miles 

 west of South Vineland, New Jersey, — a swamp with which I have been 

 long familiar — I had the pleasure of observing a Prothonotary Warbler 

 (Protonotaria citrea) under conditions which left no doubt as to the bird's 

 identity. For several seasons past I had observed a male Redstart (Seto- 

 phaga ruticilla) during the month of June in a certain portion of the 

 swamp and went there on this occasion to determine whether or not this 

 species was breeding. On arriving at the spot I not only found the male 

 Redstart but also the female and soon noticed the latter carry food to its 

 young — a bird just able to fly — in a small water birch tree near by. The 

 Redstarts kept up an incessant chirping and soon other birds in the neigh- 

 borhood joined in with their notes of alarm, creating quite a disturbance. 

 Presently a new note was heard, well back in the swamp, which I took for 

 the alarm call of the Water-Thrush (Seiurus n. noveboracensis) although I 

 knew that it was hardly probable that such was the case, it being far too 

 late for such an occurrence. I waited quietly; the bird continued chirping 

 and drawing nearer, and I was soon able to see the bright yellow bird at 

 a distance of about fifteen feet. I observed it for a number of minutes 

 while it continued to hop about and utter its Water-Thrush like note of 

 alarm. The bird appeared quite excited and I searched a number of likely 

 looking stumps for a nest but without result, nor did I see more than one 

 bird. After a short time the bird disappeared in the thick undergrowth. 

 I was positive that I had seen a Prothonotary Warbler which I believe is a 

 very rare bird in this locality, and on looking the matter up in Chapman's 

 ' Warblers of North America ' found that the alarm note of this species 

 is very difficult to distinguish from that of the Water-Thrush and this fact 

 I think cleared up any possible doubt as to the bird's identity. The only 

 other bird inhabiting this region that could possibly be mistaken for the 

 Prothonotary is the female Hooded Warbler and although this bird has a 

 very sharp note of alarm it does not in the least resemble that of the Water- 

 Thrush, 



The swamp at the place mentioned extends for about a quarter of a mile 

 on each side of the river. The vegetation of course is, like that of all south 

 Jersey streams, very thick and difficult to explore. The warbler was 

 observed in that portion quite close to the river which is covered most 

 of the time with a few inches of water although during droughts it is com- 

 paratively dry, with water in small pools only. — Julian K. Potter, 

 Camden, N. J. 



Brown Thrasher Wintering in Mass.— There are one or two records 

 of the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) having been seen in Massa- 

 chusetts late in the winter or during one month of the winter. On Janu- 

 ary 3 I saw an individual, which I took to be a male, sitting in some low 

 bushes beside the Boston and Albany R. R. tracks on the Brookline side 

 of the Parkway near the Longwood station. He seemed to be in good 



