^°^i?l2^^] General Notes. 537 



season has been later than the close of the first week in May.' — Arthur 

 H. Norton, Portland, Me. 



Uncommon Shore-birds seen in Essex County, Massachusetts. — 



Clark's Pond, Ipswich, July 24, 1912, one full plumaged Killdeer Plover 

 {Oxyechus vociferus). Eagle Hill, Ipswich, July 31, 1912, before any shoot- 

 ing was allowed we found five Killdeer Plover. Four were feeding together 

 in a marsh hole and one flew over. The birds were so tame we could see 

 all their markings. When startled they flew uttering their ' Kill-dee ' note. 

 Eagle Hill, Ipswich, August 7, 1912, one Buff-breasted Sandpiper (7'rt/n- 

 gites subruHcollis,) in the grassy edges of Mr. A. B. Clark's pond. This 

 was a new bird to me but easily identified by the general brownish yellow 

 color and the speckUngs on the wings. 



Nahant Beach, August 10, 1912, one Willet (probably Catoptrophorus 

 semipalmatus inornatiis) so exhausted after a long flight that, as it crouched 

 on some seaweed, I thought the bird was wounded and went up to examine 

 it. When I was within fifteen feet it stood up and stretched its wings over 

 its back showing the beautiful black and white markings, the black axillara 

 and the greenish legs. After a few moments the Willet took a short flight 

 over the water giving its ' Pill-willy ' notes, then returned to a clump of 

 seaweed just ahead of me and there I left it. 



Clark's Pond Ipswich, August 14, 1912, one Willet seen at close range. 



Clark's Pond Ipswich, August 17, 1912, the same Willet, which Mr. 

 Maynard said was a young Western Willet. 



Eagle Hill, August 28, 1912, three Killdeer Plover apparently in full 

 plumage. — Lidian E. Bridge, West Medford, Mass. 



Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus) at Lancaster, Mass. — I have a small 

 pond of about three acres where I keep a collection of ducks. This year 

 owing to the drought it was very low and the muddy shores afforded good 

 feeding ground for any waders that might come along. 



On June 16, I was surprised to hear the note of a Killdeer and going to 

 the pond I discovered four. They seemed very tame and were busily 

 occupied in feeding. This was in the afternoon. They remained for about 

 an hour, then flew off. The next morning they were back again and re- 

 mained until about 11 o'clock, then disappeared. The same afternoon 

 they came again and remained until 5 o'clock, when they flew away. This 

 continued until June 26, when I shot two, which proved to be adult males 

 in worn plumage. The other two came back the next day. On June 30, 

 two new ones appeared with the other two, making four in all on the pond 

 that day. On July 1, 2, and 3, only three were seen. They remained 

 until July 6, when they disappeared and they have not been seen since. 



When they left the pond they always flew in the same direction — to- 

 wards the big Clinton reservoir. My theory is that these birds bred there 

 last year and as the shores were very low it afi"orded them excellent feeding 



U. c. 



