254 General Notes. [^^ 



northeastern Philadelphia during the fall of 1912, making that year a 

 notable one for its irregular invasion. It arrived as early as September 4, 

 when I observed the first one, which is my earliest record by 21 days, and 

 remained until November 12. 



A remarkable feature, to me, about the occurrence of this little Sitta 

 here during that fall, was their habit of frequenting water courses fringed 

 with dense growths of giant ragweeds (Ambrosia trifida), in which they 

 sought food on the thick stems, petioles and leaves, often feeding close to 

 the ground. I always regarded this nuthatch as a denizen of the forest 

 and its occurrence in these weedy growths surprised me. They exhibited 

 no fear as I entered the weeds, and if I kept quiet, they fed fearles.sly within 

 close proximity of me, often only a yard away. 



On September 12, I observed in A?nbrosia weeds along Frankford Creek, 

 at Frankford, seven Red-bellied Nuthatches, four being in sight at one 

 time. This is the largest number of these birds I have ever seen at one 

 time. — Richard F. Miller, Frankford, Phila., Pa. 



The Acadian Chickadee (Penthesles hudsonicus littoralis) at Watch 

 Hill, R. I. — On the morning of October 30, as I stepped from the house, it 

 was obvious that there was a phenomenal flight of Chickadees {P. atri- 

 capillus), they were everywhere, in the bushes, hopping over stones in a 

 field, and strung out along a telegraph wire. Some hours later I was 

 walking down a road through some woods, bordered on each side by tangles 

 of vines and bushes, full, of course, of the omnipresent Chickadees. Sud- 

 denly close behind me I heard a familiar, hoarse, tsi'h-a, da'y, da'y, bringing 

 back memories of days .spent in the north woods. I turned quickly around, 

 discovered an Acadian Chickadee about twelve feet away working his way 

 through the vines, calling repeatedly to his comrades, the Black-capped 

 Chickadees, not far away. The dark brown cap, the brownish back and 

 the rufous sides contrasted very markedly with the gray, black and white 

 of atricapillus. Even at a distance of 100 feet I found that the Acadian 

 was easily distinguishable from the common species with binoculars. 

 The next day, October 31, a flock of four were feeding in some bushes bor- 

 dering the golf-grounds. As this was the second record of the occurrence 

 of this species in the state, and there was what might almost be called a 

 flight for so rare a bird, I tried to coUect one with a cap and golf -sticks but 

 was unsuccessful, succeeding merely in getting very close. On November 

 5 several miles away on Napatree Point I saw a single Acadian Chickadee 

 in a little tree near some cottages, and a little farther on two more climbing 

 over a crate. These were the last birds I saw. 



When I arrived in New York City, I received interesting confirmation 

 of my observation in that this species had been noted around Boston by 

 several observers in several localities. Recently, I have been informed 

 that they have been reported from Connecticut. Previous to this winter 

 its status in southern New England seems to have been as follows — very 

 rare winter visitor to Boston, one record for Rhode Island, and one for 

 Connecticut. — Ludlow Griscom, New York City. 



