246 General Notes. [^^ 



the scattered growth of Pitch Pine {Pinus rigida) which covers the barrens 

 and reaches a height of from fifteen to twenty-five feet we found a group 

 of four Crossbills {Loxia curvirostra minor) which we watched for ten 

 minutes or more. They appeared to be two adults and two young in 

 Juvenal plumage. One certainly was and we assumed that the other was 

 also; it kept up a continual calling as if to bring the old birds but we did 

 not notice them feed it. 



They were gleaning on the new growth of the pines, quite indifferent to 

 our near approach, and seemed to be eating the pinkish terminal buds, 

 frequently cutting them off entirely or in part. We readily approached 

 within thirty feet of them. — Charles J. Pennock, Kennett Square, Pa. 



Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus) in Delaware. — 



The occurrence of this species on the Atlantic coast plain more frequently 

 than had formerly been supposed, was suggested by Mr. R. F. Miller, in 

 Cassinia for 1906, p. 63, and the same conclusion was presented to me 

 when these birds were found last winter near Delaware City, Del., as noted 

 in 'The Auk' for January, 1911, p. 114, a subsequent trip to the same 

 marshes, on December 19, 1910, resulted in finding a number of Longspurs 

 and five specimens were secured. 



On November 9, 1911, an examination of the same ground discovered 

 Shore Larks (Otocoris a. alpestris) fairly abundant; this being the species 

 with which the Longspurs had been found associated the previous winter, 

 but no Longspurs were recognized. On February 1, 1912, with snow and 

 ice covering most of the same marsh, I made a lengthy search for Long- 

 spurs. Flocks of Shore Larks were found and followed for several hours. 

 They were in bunches of 4, 8, 12 and 25. In the earlier part of the day the 

 ice and snow-crust were brittle, walking was noisy and the birds not easily 

 approached at close quarters, but by afternoon the sun shone out, the noise 

 was lessened and the birds were getting more food and showed less wariness. 

 The smaller flocks contained no Longspurs. A lone bird that was flushed 

 and gave a two-note rather soft, sweet call and flew high and wild, was 

 thought to be a Longspur, but not until the largest flock was closely followed 

 for an hour or more and carefully examined repeatedly, did I suspect it 

 contained other than Shore Larks. Finally one bird apparently smaller 

 was seen to fly off with the flock and later when they were flushed, on a near 

 approach, the single remaining bird was shot and proved to be a Longspur, 

 adult female. While I think there were few if any other Longspurs with 

 these Shore Larks, the fact of again finding even one of the rarer species 

 in the locality would perhaps indicate their rather regular occurrence. 



On bare ground it was impossible to distinguish the two species at a 

 distance of twenty-five yards. On the snow or as they arose singly the 

 distinguishing marks of the Shore Larks could be recognized but when the 

 alarm was given and several or all arose together it was not possible to 

 determine definitely the presence of Longspurs among a large number of 

 Shore Larks. 



