33^ Cher r IE on Cos/a Riran Birds. [October 



the notes I present may be of some value as they represent the 

 observations made in the field on an average of four mornings 

 each week. 



On the night of Sept. 2S, 18S9, great numbers of birds were 

 killed by flying against the electric light wires. The night was 

 very dark, and the birds, which were evidently migrating, became 

 bewildered by the electric lights. Their frightened cries were 

 heard all night, and in the morning many dead birds were picked 

 up in the streets. The occurrence was so novel and marked as 

 to attract general attention. I made thirty-five skins from birds 

 found dead in the streets, but generally they were too much 

 mutilated to be available for specimens. I noticed among them 

 eight species, seven of them being migrants. 



1. Anas discors. — Oct. 27, 18S9, I saw a Blue-winged Teal on the 

 river just south of the city- It is the only Duck I have seen in the vicinity 

 of San Jose. 



2. Ardea herodias. — About the first of December one was shot just 

 east of the city and brought to the museum. 



3. Ardea egretta. — During December and January several were shot. 



4. Ardea ccerulea. — During December several were brought to the 

 museum. 



5. Ardea virescens. — They are resident and breed, but are only rarely 

 seen. 



6. Nycticorax violaceus. — From Aug. 25, 1889, until Oct. 15, I occa- 

 sionally saw them. All seen were young birds. 



7. Porzana Carolina. — The museum possesses a single specimen 

 labelled, "San Jose, 1881, J. C. Zeledon." 



8. Gallinago delicata. — First noted Oct. 9, 18S9; for a time they were 

 not uncommon, but then seemed to disappear, and none were noted again 

 until Feb. 1, 1890. I saw the last Feb. 16. 



9. Tringa maculata. — This species appeared and disappeared with 

 the Bartramian Sandpiper. 



10. Totanus solitarius. — I took a female April 27, 1889. In the fall I 

 saw the first Sept. 16. They were common from that time until Dec. 1, 

 1889. I have not noted any since. 



11. Bartramia longicauda. — From Sept. 25, 1889, until Nov. 15, they 

 were common. 



12. Tryngites subruficollis. — They appeared and disappeared with Bar- 

 tramia longicauda and Tringa maculata. Their early disappearance was 

 probably due to the dry season commencing and consequently destroying 

 their feeding grounds. 



13. Actitis macularia. — I saw the first in the fall Oct. 4, 1889. They 

 were common until Feb. 16, 1890, when I saw the last. 



14. Charadrius dominicus— Sr. Don Manuel Caranza brought one to 

 the museum Dec. 2, 1889. Dec. 3 I saw three others. Not noted again. 



