l8o General Notes. [£* 



difficulty in taking or seeing a number each spring at South Chicago 

 along the Calumet River, and at Worth, Illinois, on the Feeder of the 

 Des Plaines River. 



While Mr. Chas. Robv and myself were collecting on his grounds at 

 South Chicago, in the spring of 1890, his dog caught two Yellow Rails in 

 less than one hour's time, bringing them to us between his lips alive and 

 with not a feather ruffled. 



Macrorhamphus griseus. — I have found this bird in Cook Count v when 

 the season has been a very dry one, the favorite feeding grounds being 

 Mud Lake, a small lake one mile south of Grand Crossing, 111., a small 

 pond at 126th Street, South Chicago, along the Calumet River, and on the 

 Sag, at Worth, 111. The bulk arrive in the months of July and August 

 after the breeding season is over, in company with flocks of Yellow-legs, 

 Pectoral, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers. The Dowitchers gener- 

 ally fly in flocks of from three to ten, and as a rule are young birds. 



I have two specimens in the rich red plumage that I shot at South 

 Chicago, May* 6, 1893. This is the only instance that I can find of this 

 bird in Cook County, prior to July. In the Chicago Academy of Sciences 

 are two birds in the light plumage taken at Mud Lake, Aug. 12, 1893. 

 Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., has frequently taken M. griseus at Mud Lake. 



Macrorhamphus scolopaceus. — I have two specimens of this bird in the 

 breeding plumage, which I bought from a market shooter at South 

 Chicago, May 6, 1S93, on the same day that I shot my specimens of 

 71/. griseus. 



Micropalama himantopus. — I have observed a large number of this 

 species, and can positively say that they are a rare spring migrant, and 

 a common fall visitant. It is very hard to distinguish them in the fall 

 plumage from the young of Totanus flavipes. I have one in the breeding 

 plumage taken at South Chicago, on the Calumet River, in April, 1890; 

 also one in the light plumage taken at Mud Lake, Sept. 23, 1893. Mr. 

 J. G. Parker, Jr., has a bright female taken from a flock of four at Mud 

 Lake, July 25, 1S93 ; also a young bird from the same locality. 



On August 24, 1895, Mr. J. F. Ferry, of Lake Forest, Ills., and myself 

 shot four Stilt Sandpipers from a flock of fifty or more at Liberty ville, 

 111., a pair of which are in the collection of the Chicago Academy of 

 Sciences. 



Tringa maritima. — I have a specimen of this bird taken at South 

 Chicago in June, 1S95. This with Dr. J. W. Yelie's specimen, taken 

 November 7, 1S91, are the only records I can find of the Purple Sandpiper 

 in Cook County. 



Tringa bairdii. — Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., has one of these birds taken at 

 Mud Lake, August 22, 1893. 



Symphemia semipalmata. — Mr. J. G. Parker. Jr., and myself have seen 

 this bird on several occasions in Cook County but have failed to shoot one. 



Tryngites subruficollis. — In the spring of 1S90 I shot one of these 

 birds from a flock of Golden Plovers at Worth, 111. The specimen is in 



