86 General Notes. [j* 



twice I found a strange exception to the usual food of the birds of this 

 family. In two cases I found green olives in the stomach of Tyrannus 

 verticalis, and in nearly all birds of the common species Sayornis nigri- 

 cans, killed in winter, I have found pepper berries. Tyrannus verticalis 

 is the Bee-martin of California. It flies from its perch near the apiary, 

 captures its prey, then flies back to its perch, making some rapid motion, 

 after which it swallows the bee. I have seen a toad swallow five bees 

 in quick succession; then have killed the toad to find five bee stings 

 sticking to its throat, and as many stingless bees in its stomach. Does 

 the throat of the Kingbird become a sort of pin-cushion for bee stings, or 

 does this bird extract the stings as it manipulates the bee before swallow- 

 ing? I am eagerly waiting to settle this interesting question. I have 

 taken worker bees from the stomach of the eastern Kingbird {Tyrannus 

 tyrannus) but never noticed regarding the disposition of the stings. 

 None of the Kingbirds which I have taken in California have had bees in 

 their stomach, though I am told by good observers that this bird does 

 capture and swallow bees. — A. J. Cook, Claremont, Cal. 



Rare Visitors to the Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts in 

 1895. — Seiurus motacilla. — On the 28th day of July, a Louisiana Water 

 Thrush was found dead, on the piazza of a house in the central part of 

 Springfield, undoubtedly having been killed by flying against a window. 

 The capture of a specimen by Dr. J. A. Allen on Mount Tom in April, 

 1869, is the only other record of its occurrence here. 



Rallus elegans. — October 19, a young King Rail was taken in Long- 

 meadow. It was found in the Zizania aquatica which grows so profusely 

 along the banks of the Connecticut River. The presence of this species 

 in this part of the valley, I believe, has never before been noted; and 

 the Clapper Rail {Rallus longirastris crepitans') has been captured here 

 but twice. 



Calcarius lapponicus. — A Lapland Longspur was shot in Longmeadow, 

 November 28. — Robert (). Morris, Springfield, Mas-. 



A Correction. — In -The Auk' for April, 1892 (Vol. IX, p. 144), in a 

 note on the ' Habits of the Black-bellied Plover in Massachusetts,' I stated 

 it as mv conviction that the adults do not assume the gray and white 

 winter plumage after having attained to the full adult spring plumage. I 

 also expressed the same opinion in regard to the plumage of the adult 

 Knots in 'The Auk' for January, 1893 (Vol. X, p. 32) in 'Observations 

 on the Knot, Tringa canutus' I now desire to withdraw both of these 

 opinions, as I am inclined to doubt, although not yet certain, the correct- 

 ness of such views, but believe it much better to so state, rather than let a 

 probable error remain to misguide others. — George H. Mack ay, Nan- 

 tucket. Mass. 



