Vol. XI Dutcher, Hare Long- Island Birds. 2J 5 



1893 J 



of rare occurence in our vicinity. A beautiful specimen, not quite adult, 

 was most liberally presented to me by our fellow member Mr. John Ak- 

 hurst, taxidermist, of Brooklyn ; it was killed on Long Island in the winter 

 of 1856." Subsequently Mr. Lawrence informed me that the specimen in 

 the Long Island Historical collection had been presented by him and was 

 the one referred to above. 



Strix pratincola. American Barn Owl.— This specimen came from 

 Bay Ridge, Kings Co., and was purchased by Mr. Akhurst from some of 

 the local gunners in that neighborhood. This and the following specimen 

 were procured many years since when all that tract of country about Bay 

 Ridge was farm or forest land, and was not occupied by dwellings as it is 

 now. 



Surnia ulula caparoch. American Hawk Owl.— This is a fine spe- 

 cimen of this very rare Owl, and was also secured from some of the local 

 gunners at Bay Ridge. It was brought in the flesh to Mr. Akhurst who 

 purchased and mounted it. He thinks it all of thirty years since the bird 

 was secured. It is the only one that ever came to his notice or possession 

 from Long Island. 



Ceophlceus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker.— There are two spe- 

 cimens of this large Woodpecker in the collection, both of which were 

 mounted from birds brought to Mr. Akhurst in the flesh. One was pre- 

 sented by Mr. H. G. Reeve, and the other belonged at one time to the late 

 Mr. Philip M. Brasher. Further than that they are Long Island birds, 

 Mr. Akhurst can give no information. He states that before the outskirts 

 of Brooklyn were built upon, there was a large tract of forest running 

 eastward from the Flatbush road. While there were many places in it 

 that were denuded of trees and overgrown with under-scrub and second- 

 growth, yet as a whole the timber was large and of the original growth. 

 It was a very fine collecting ground, being situated at the extreme western 

 end of the Island, and a large majority of the birds migrating over Long 

 Island naturally sought this tract for resting and feeding. For years, in 

 the spring and fall, Mr. Akhurst visited this place almost daily, either 

 alone or in company with Col. Pike, and many of the rarest specimens 

 now in the Long Island Historical collection were obtained on these 

 excursions. During one of them Mr. Akhurst saw two Pileated Wood- 

 peckers, but they were so extremely wild that he did not secure either of 

 them. Being perfectly familiar with the species, he is satisfied that he was 

 not mistaken in the identification. These four specimens are all that have 

 ever come to his notice. 1 



Melanerpes carolinus. Red-bellied Woodpecker.— This specimen 

 was presented by the late Dr. H. F. Aten, of Brooklyn ; there are no data 

 connected with it. Mr. Akhurst states that during the period he was 

 actively collecting in the tract of timber referred to above, he saw several 

 specimens of M. carolinus, but for a great many years he has not found 



•See Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, Vol. VI, p. 126. 



