Vol. XI n General Notes. 87 



.S95 J ' 



One of the greatest enemies to bird life in New England is to be found 

 in the Italians, who during the last ten years have so numerously settled 

 in the cities and larger towns. Throughout the whole year they roam over 

 the country armed with cheap guns, shooting birds of all sizes, from the 

 Kinglet up. Two police officers recently arrested two of these men who 

 were in the outlying part of Springfield engaged in this illegal work. In 

 their possession were found nearly fifty birds, the taking of which was 

 unlawful. Among the kinds they had, I noted the Catbird, Robin, Rusty 

 Grackle, White-throated and Song Sparrows, Olive-backed Thrush, Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak, Flicker and Downy Woodpecker. 



September i, a Least Bittern (^Botaurus exilis) was taken here, and 

 October 16, a Yellow Rail {Porzana novcboracensis). I have never known 

 of the presence of the latter bird here before, and there is but one record 

 of the capture of the former in this part of the Connecticut River valley. 

 — Robert O. Morris, Springfield, Mass. 



North American Bird Notes from Costa Rica.— Tringa bairdi.— Two 



specimens of Baird's Sandpiper were taken and a number of others seen 

 June 8 on the Volcano of Irazii, above Tierra Blanca, at about 1500 

 meters altitude. The birds seemed to be at home and I have wondered 

 whether it is possible they breed there. The genital organs indicated 

 approaching activity. 



Tachycinetathalassina. — While collecting at the mouth of the Matina 

 River (Atlantic coast) in the latter part of March I found the Violet- 

 green Swallow not uncommon in company with T. albilinea. Perfect 

 friendship seemed to exist between the two species. T. albilinea was 

 breeding commonly but in none of the specimens of thalassina secured 

 did the ovaries indicate approaching activity. T. thalassina has also been 

 taken on the Pacific side of Costa Rica at Bebedero. There is a single 

 specimen from that locality in the collection of the Museo Nacional de 

 Costa Rica. 



I believe this brings the record several hundred miles southward for 

 T. thalassina. — Geo. K. Cherrie, Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, TIL 



Notes on the Summer Birds of Central Berkshire County. Mass. — 

 The publication, in 1S84, of Mr. W. Brewster's ' Notes on the Summer 

 Birds of Berkshire County, Mass.' (Auk, Vol. I, pp. 5-16), established the 

 Canadian character of the avifauna of northern Berkshire. The lists 

 published by Mr. W. Faxon (Auk, Vol. VI, pp. 39, 99), present a very full 

 account of the distribution of the birds on Graylock, and give in addition 

 an account of the birds of the southern end of the county. Attention 

 has not yet been called, I believe, to the very general distribution of 

 certain northern birds throughout the central part of Berkshire County, 

 particularly in the eastern half, so that the following notes, made in the 

 summers of 1S92 and 1893, may be of interest. 



