458 General Notes. [^ t k 



the identicalness of the Yellow Rail and the 'Kicker' did not impress 

 him after reading Mr. Ames's article for two reasons: first, that the Yellow 

 Rail's notes were heard in the autumn, and second, that it uttered its 

 cries when disturbed or irritated by the presence of persons in the room 

 or by the light of the lamp. He also says, "nothing is more certain to 

 my mind than that what I have heard is the spontaneous love song of the 

 'Kicker,' and that it is uttered chiefly if not solely during the season of 

 reproduction. Assuming (what is quite possible, of course) that it may 

 be occasionally produced in autumn, I do not consider it likely that it 

 would be ever given under conditions such as Mr. Ames describes." 



In discussing the probable identity of the 'Ornithological Mystery' 

 Mr. Brewster dismisses the Yellow Rail with the statement: "There are 

 no good reasons for suspecting that the Yellow Rail ever breeds in any 

 part of New England." However, now that it has been found in Massa- 

 chusetts at a corresponding date to some of the 'Kickers,' and under 

 conditions which may possibly indicate its breeding in the vicinity, it 

 may at least be considered in determining the identity of the latter. 

 Theoretically it seems hardly probable that two different species of birds 

 could utter exactly the same notes, regardless of season. This combined 

 with the fact that the notes of the Little Black Rail as heard in the south, 

 where its calls have been identified, do not bear a close resemblance to 

 the notes of the ' Kicker ' would seem to point towards the Yellow Rail 

 as a solution of the mystery. 



With the exception of gunners, few persons have met the Yellow Rail, 

 and comparatively little is known of the bird during the breeding season. 

 Mr. Edward A. Preble has described their notes in ' North American Fauna ' 

 (No. 22, page 93) and has written me as follows about the birds which he 

 heard near York Factory, Hudson Bay: "The notes I heard were a suc- 

 cession of chips or clucks somewhat similar to the alarm notes of a Brown 

 Thrasher, but less sharp. Stated in 'kiks' it would be 'kik-kik, kik kik 

 kik.' Sometimes an additional 'kik' was given, making the last bar con- 

 sist of four instead of three notes. I did not hear the 'crow' alluded to 

 by Mr. Brewster, but it is quite possible I did not hear the full song, as 

 my observation covered only a part of one day. In spite of this discrep- 

 ancy I have been of the opinion that the notes described by Mr. Brewster 

 were those of the Yellow Rail." 



The secretive habits of both these Rails as well as the difficulty of ob- 

 serving or securing them in the spring makes one record at this season of 

 exceptional value, and the above instance seems worthy of some consid- 

 eration until more is known of the breeding range of Porzana novebora- 

 censis. — F. B. McKechnie, Ponkapog, Mass. 



The White-rumped Sandpiper in Wayne Co., Michigan. — I added 

 the White-rumped Sandpiper (Actodromas fuscicollis) to the county list 

 by securing a specimen May 20, 1906, on P. C. 50, Ecorse Township. 

 This was badly shot and could not be saved so I returned June 3 and 



