370 Fay, The Canvas-hack in Massachusetts. [oct. 



only to a few cases, chiefly for Plymouth County, but as for the 

 state of affairs on Martha's Vineyard that is a very different 

 matter, involving as it does a large number of records. Because 

 this seems to be scarcely known it will be well worth while to look 

 into it very carefully. 



In gathering these records together it is very evident that the 

 status of this species is changing and is very different from what it 

 was a number of years ago, or even ten years ago, for this decided 

 change has all come within the last decade. Until then it was 

 considered a very rare straggler to our coast; in fact, five years ago 

 it was generally considered so, and if I am not mistaken there are 

 some who still believe it to be the case. On investigation a great 

 many recent records came to light, and by putting these down in 

 yearly sequence we can see how this species has increased recently 

 to such an extent, I think, that it can hardly be called a rare duck 

 in our State any longer. However, before going any further it 

 will be well to consider the specimens in our Museums, and see 

 what conclusions we can draw from that source. 



In the collection of the Boston Society of Natural History there 

 are but four specimens, as follows : 



1. No date; immature male. Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jr., Newbury- 

 port. 



2. No date; female. Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jr., Newburyport. 

 (Though no date accompanies these, they were presented by Dr. Cabot, 



according to the records, in 1845 or 1846.) 



3. Nov. 10, 1908; female. Dwight Blaney, Eastham. 



4. Dec. 18, 1908; immature male. " " 



In the collection - of the Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, 

 there are two specimens, both males, taken at Ipswich in 1905. 



There are no specimens from the State in the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology, Cambridge, nor in Mr. John E. Thayer's Mu- 

 seum at Lancaster. 



Of these six specimens four have been taken within the last 

 five years. This then certainly points to the fact that until 

 recently they were so rare that very few were killed. These con- 

 clusions are further upheld by the opinions of all the leading orni- 

 thologists, for they have agreed upon the rarity of this species 

 in Massachusetts, certainly up to within the last few years. 



