Vnl.^xrVT Bni.RR, Rare Birds iu Tiidiaua. K^'j 



THE UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE OF BRUNNICH'S 



MURRE {&^J?/A LOMVIA) FAR INLAND, WITH 



NOTES ON OTHER RARE BIRDS. 



BY A. W. BUTLER. 



The following notes upon Indiana birds will doubtless be of 

 service, not only to persons interested in the bird- life of that, but 

 also to thos^ who are studying especially the birds of neighboring 

 political divisions. While one may for certain reasons confine 

 most of his efforts to regions circumscribed by man-made bound- 

 aries birds do not obey the laws of any commonwealth, nor are 

 they confined within any limits man may set. 



A list of the birds of a locality or of any number of localities 

 can only give the knowledge acquired up to its date. Nothing 

 can be prophesied as to the future. A species which has regularly 

 appeared may change this habit. A form which has not before 

 been observed may be noted. The most unexpected may be the 

 thing which happens. Herein I have noted for the first time five 

 species which are additions to the fauna of Indiana. They are 

 Uria loim'ia^ Macrorhamphus griseits^ Triiiga famtfiis^ Biifeo borealis 

 harlani^ and Fregata aqiiila. 



Uria lomvia. Brunnich's Murre. — While at Indianapolis the last 

 week in December, 1896, Piof. W. S. Blatchley, State Geologist of Indiana, 

 told me of a strange bird that had been taken near there. His informa- 

 tion was it was some sort of a Guillemot. I learned it had been sent for 

 mounting to Mr. J. E. Beasle^', at Lebanon, Ind., and that the same 

 taxidermist had received others. Upon my return home I found a letter 

 from my friend Mr. Ruthven Deane informing me that Mr. F. M. Wood- 

 ruff of the Chicago Academy of Sciepce had received a Murre from 

 Indiana. A few days later this information was supplemented by a letter 

 from Mr. Woodruff informing me that the specimen was Uria lomvia. 



In looking over my accinnulated mail I foimd a report from Mr. A. W. 

 Hamilton, Zanesville, Ind., of the capture of a specimen near there. Prof. 

 E. S. Moselej wrote me of the capture of four specimens near Sandusky, 

 O., and Mr. J. E. Beasley, in a note, said he had received foiu- specimens. 

 Thus the total number of records received in a few davs was ten. I give 

 herewith data concerning the speciinens. 



The first specimen mentioned above was brought to Mi-. F. M. Xoe, a 

 dealer in natural history specimens, of Indianapolis, Dec 17, 1S96, by a 



