372 Fay, The Canvas-back in Massachusetts. [oct. 



recent occurrences strictly within the Cambridge region, just out- 

 side at Spot Pond, Middlesex Fells, Jamaica Pond and the Chestnut 

 Hill Reservoir we have four records comprising six birds, all ob- 

 served by reliable ornithologists. 



The most recent list of Massachusetts birds is that published in 

 1909, in the 'Occasional Papers of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History,' by Glover M. Allen, entitled 'List of Aves of New Eng- 

 land.' Here the Canvas-back is considered a "rare migrant," 

 so that nearly up to the present time it was still looked upon 

 as a rare species. 



Below is a table of all the records I have been able to find, 

 arranged chronologically, so that by comparing them in yearly 

 sequence the marked increase of these ducks during the fall migra- 

 tion can be seen. 



Massachusetts Records. 



(N. B. All records given refer to specimens taken unless otherwise 

 specified. The names given are the names of those who either shot the 

 ducks or saw them, or on whose authority the record exists.) 

 Previous to 1845. 



Date unknown. Capt. N. J. Wyeth.' Fresh Pond, Cambridge. 

 1845-6. 



Two, male and female. Dr. S. Cabot, Jr.,^ Newburyport. 

 1886. 



Fall. One, Herbert K. Job,^ Billington Sea, Plymouth. 

 1896. 



Nov. 6. One (young bird), C. J. Paine, Jr.,^ Wayland. 

 1896. 



Nov. 26. Male seen, J. E. Bassett,^ Nippenickett Pond, Bridgewater. 



Dec. 4. Two, Philip Jackson, West Pond, Plymouth. 



Dec. 18. Four, 2 males, 2 females, Thomas Arnold," Silver Lake, 

 Halifax. 

 1899. 



Nov. Five, H. A. Bradford, Russell's Mill Pond, Plymouth. 



I Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. II, 1846, 89. 



» Ibid. 



3 Auli, Vol. XIII, p. 201. 



* Albert Pitts Morse, Birds of Wellesley and Vicinity, p. 12. 

 ' H. K. Job, Auli, Vol. XIV, p. 206. 



• Ibid. 



