lOO General Notes. ^yf!^ 



This specimen was likewise recorded in ' Tlie Auk' (Vol. X, p. 276), by 

 Mr. Wm. Dutcher. I take pleasure in recording two additional speci- 

 mens. Looking for fall migrants in the Parkville woods — now a part of 

 Brooklyn — my attention was attracted by three or four birds, all ap- 

 parently of the same species and evidently Flycatchers, in the tops of a 

 scattered group of lofty old trees whose upper branches were dead and 

 leafless. It at once occurred to me that these might be Olive-sided Fly- 

 catchers, though the extreme rarity of captures on Long Island was dis- 

 couraging to the probability of a whole family presenting itself there at 

 one time. In striking contrast to the familiar Kingbird, these birds were 

 extremely shy. The least fearful of them was secured after some diffi- 

 culty and proved to be a male Olive-sided Flycatcher of the year (date of 

 capture, Aug. 29, 1896). September i, three days later, in the same woods, 

 a second specimen was taken. This bird was perched among the branches 

 of a large tree which was in full foliage. This specimen was apparently 

 alone, and exhibited none of the shyness which had made the previous 

 capture difficult. This bird is also a male of the year, but measures longer 

 \)y one half inch than the first. 



Helmitherus vermivorus. — This Warbler is not a lover of Long Island's 

 woods. Reaching the northern line of his breeding range at about this 

 latitude, and evidently following regularly a route which does not cross 

 Long Island, his occurrence here is doubtless an exception. A specimen 

 of the Worm-eating \Varbler of the year was secured within the present 

 limits of Brooklyn on Sept. 16. 1896. This bird was feeding in company 

 with other Warblers in a low shrubby growth within the borders of a 

 wood. — W^iLLiAM C. Braislin, Brooklyn, N. Y. 



Unusual Visits of Birds in Western Massachusetts during 1896. — Am- 

 modramus sandwichensis savanna. — ^A Savanna Sparrow was taken in 

 Longmeadow the Sth of last February at a spot in the vicinity of which 

 it had been repeatedly observed during the six preceding weeks. This is 

 the first record of this species wintering near Springfield. 



Agelaius phceniceus. — Close to the same place a small flock of Red- 

 winged Blackbirds stayed from December until March. 



Ulula cinerea. — A Great Gray Owl was captured in Blandford, March 4. 

 This is the third of the kind known to have been taken in this county. 



Mimus polyglottos. — For a few days during the last part of May a 

 Mockingbird was observed in Ludlow. 



Corvus ossifragus. — On the 9th of June a Fish Crow was taken in 

 Springfield. This bird has often been reported as having been seen here, 

 but this is the only instance where its presence has been proved by con- 

 clusive evidence. 



Uria lomvia. — Two Brunnich's Murres were taken at different points 

 near Springfield on Dec. 19. A heavy gale had just previously prevailed 

 on the coast. — Robert O. Morris, Springfield, Mass. 



