^°^flV"] General Notes. 221 



Bird Notes from Springfield, Mass., and Vicinity. — Gallinule galeata. 

 On January 17, 1910, William Dearden, a taxidennist, residing in Spring- 

 field, received a Florida Gallinule, to be mounted, which was sent to him 

 from the town of Ware. The occurrence of this bird in Massachusetts at 

 this season of the year, was so unprecedented, that deputy game warden, 

 Dennis F. Shea, residing in Ware, was asked to inquire into the matter, 

 which he did, and reported that this bird was first seen about the middle 

 of December in a field on the farm of Arthur F. Bennett, in the town of 

 Palmer, feeding on an old pig's head that lay upon the ground ; that for a 

 nmnber of days after that time, Mr. Bennett saw the bird near his hen- 

 coop, searching for food. Finally he caught it and put it in with his fowls, 

 where in a few days it died. Mr. Bennett states that he thought his hens 

 killed it. 



Sialia sialis. Early in the past winter four Bluebirds were observed in 

 the town of Westfield, and they have since been seen in the same locality 

 in this town many times during the months of January and February. 

 The region adopted by these birds as their winter home was near a trolly 

 line and the passengers in the cars were often entertained by seeing these 

 imusual winter \'isitors. This is the first authenticated instance of Blue- 

 birds wintering in the Connecticut Valley as far north as Springfield. 



Mimus polyglottos. About the 20th of last November, a Mockingbird 

 appeared in the residential part of Springfield, where the homes are sur- 

 rounded by ample grounds, and in that vicinity made its home during the 

 past winter. Very soon after it was first observed, food was furnished it 

 and it became quite tarne. So-called mockingbird food, rice, bread crumbs, 

 and suet, were provided for it, which latter it seemed to prefer. During 

 severe storms this bird would disappear for a day or two, but with the 

 return of pleasant weather would again be seen. The suggestion that it 

 was an escaped cage bird has not the force it would have had a few years 

 ago, as in Massachusetts, we now have a generally respected law forbidding 

 the sale or confinement of these birds. Mockingbirds have been frequently 

 seen in the vicinity of Springfield during the warmer months, and have 

 rarely bred here, but never before has one been known to pass the winter 

 in this part of the Connecticut Valley. 



In 'The Auk' for last October, Francis H. Allen stated that a pair of 

 Mockingbirds successfully raised a brood of four young in the eastern part 

 of Massachusetts, and this bird may be one of that family. — Robert O. 

 Morris, Springfield, Mass. 



Another Tagged Bird heard from. — Mr. J. T. Miner of Kingsville, Ont., 

 has a number of wild ducks in semi-domestication along with geese and 

 pheasants. Each year he has interesting experiences with wild birds, 

 which are attracted by the presence of their kind. 



Last fall hLs Black Ducks attracted a wild one of the same species on 

 August .5, and within a few weeks the bird became so tame, that it could be 

 handled. Mr. Miner then put a ring around its leg, and left it at Uberty 



