344 General Notes. [f-^^ 



birds on the bare places in the road where the snow had been blown away. 

 Upon investigating I found the road literally covered with earth worms, 

 which the birds had discovered and were feasting upon. 



There were hundreds of Rusty Blackbirds, Cowbirds, White-throated 

 Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, Robins, Flickers, Brown Thrushes, Bluebirds 

 and Bronzed Crackles. By noon time the birds had had their fill and not 

 a worm was in sight. All that night the blizzard raged, but the next 

 day it moderated and I believe few if any of the birds perished. — Henry 

 K. CoALE, Highland Park, III. 



The Avocet and Other Shore-birds at Ithaca during the Fall of 1909. — 



In Eaton's recent exhaustive work, ' Birds of New York,' he states that 

 " The last authentic specimens [of the Avocet] were obtained about 50 

 years ago on Long Island." In view of this fact and the general paucity 

 of records for this bird in the east, it seems advisable to present a record 

 made at Ithaca, N. Y., last fall. The bird when first seen was flushed amid 

 a mixed flock of Lesser Yellow-legs, Pectoral Sandpipers, Sanderlings and 

 Semipalmated Plover, Sept. 15, 1909. Later in the day it was seen feeding 

 in its characteristic manner a short distance from this same flock but 

 always keeping with them. The following day, Sept. 16, it was collected 

 and is now in the C. U. collection (Ac. No. 5219). It is an adult male 

 in full winter plumage. 



In addition to the occurrence of the Avocet, the migration of other 

 shore-birds during the fall was so unusual for this station that a short 

 revieAV of the records may be worthy of note. Normally the possible 

 feeding grounds for these birds is rather scant as the lake shore is gro\vn 

 up to rank vegetation. This year (1909) however, due to the unusually 

 low level of the lake, extensive mud flats and sand beaches were left 

 exposed. Before the hunting season opened, these were teeming with 

 birds and thereafter flocks were continually dropping in, although almost 

 immediately frightened away by gunners. Morning and evening, three 

 or four times a week, these flats at the head of the lake were visited and it 

 is a summary of the records made that follows: 



Lobipes lobatus. Northern Phalarope. — Two specimens taken Sept. 

 23 and Sept. 27. 



Recurvirostra americana. Avocet. — A single specimen, Sept. 15 and 16. 



Gallinago delicata. Wilson's Snipe. — The first individual was seen 

 July 11. It was not again seen until Oct. 1, after which two or three speci- 

 mens were seen each week until Oct. 20. It was not as common as usual. 



Fisobia maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper. — First appeared Aug. 2; 

 common until Sept. 16 when they disappeared. Oct. 13 they again be- 

 came common but departed the same day, only a few remaining until 

 Oct. 20. 



Pisobia fuscicollis. White-rumped Sandpiper. — Three individuals 

 were taken Oct. 13, and 5 seen Oct. 16. They w^ere accompanying Pec- 

 torals but did not mingle with them. 



