2 CO Mack AY on the Hudsonian Curlew. [October 



twenty-five to three hundred birds, and late every afternoon some 

 five thousand in the aggregate have been seen going to roost, 

 that being about the number living in this vicinity. They come 

 mostly from Broad River. 



It may not be out of place to say a few^ words i^egarding the 

 occurrence of the Long-billed Curlew {N, longirostris') in 

 Massachusetts. As far as my experience shows, it is a rare bird 

 in New England, and has been for many years. Personally I 

 have seen but three of them taken. One of a pair (a friend 

 shooting tlie other) I killed at Farmer's Pond, Swampscott, 

 Mass., a number of years ago- A lone bird was shot about five 

 years ago on Nantu("ket Island, which I saw. These examples 

 were all taken during the summer. 



I append the following notes, those from 1S5S to 1876 in- 

 clusive are for Cape Cod, Mass. They were given to me in 

 1877 by my old shooting friend Mr. A. Denton. The others 

 are my own, taken, unless otherwise stated, at Nantucket. 



185S, Jul}- 20. — First birds shot. 



1859, Julj 20.- — First birds shot, most killed Julj 20 to August 21. 



i860, July 20. — First birds shot, most killed July 20 to August 2i. 



1861. — No birds of any account. 



1862. — No birds. 



1863, July 15 to Aug. 10. — A few shot. 



1S64. — No birds. 



1865. — Birds scarce in July, but nine shot in August. 



1866.— No birds. 



1S67. — Birds very scarce, scarcely any. 



1868, July 24. — Shot some birds. 



1S69. — But few birds, a few shot in August. 



1870. — No birds to speak of. 



1871. — No birds in July, but some shot in August. 



1872. — Birds very scarce. 



1873, Aug. 16. — First birds shot. 



1874. — No birds in July or August. 



1875. — Very few birds in July or August, shot two in September. 



1876. — No birds; very dry. 



1877, July 18. — Saw several small flocks, Patchogue, Long Island, N. Y. 

 •' July 19. — Shot five at Patchogue, Long Island; N. Y. 



" July 20. — Shot two, PatchoguCi Long Island, N. Y. 

 " J"'j 3°' Nantucket, Mass. — Saw twelve, shot three. 

 " Aug. 23. — Saw twelve, shot one. 

 " Aug. 25. — Saw ten, shot one. 



1878, July 25.— Shot one, saw a flock. 



