°.<Ls I Correspondence. o^ 



failed to find only a very few birds, although the grounds were extensive. 

 Mr. Stone has shot over this ground for twenty-five years and this is 

 the only year in his experience that no defined flight of Woodcock has 

 been noted by him. From what I have learned I am of the belief that 

 the flight in Massachusetts passed during the last few days in September 

 and first few days in October. 



Sterna tschegrava. — Cape Cod, Mass., Sept. 20, 1893. Two Caspian 

 Terns recently came into my possession which were taken on or about 

 the above date. Both birds proved to be females on dissection, one being 

 an adult, the other immature. — George H. Mackay, Nantucket, Mass. 



Effect of the Great Cyclone of August 26-27 upon Certain Species of 

 Birds. — The cyclone which devastated the coast of South Carolina was 

 the most destructive which has ever been recorded. About 3 o'clock 

 r. m., a Frigate Bird {Fregaia aquihi) was seen, and shot at twice but 

 unfortunately was not secured. A few days after the cyclone I made a 

 trip to Long Island, S. C, which lies east of Sullivan's Island, and 

 saw and examined countless numbers of Puffin us major dead upon the 

 beach. Only a single example of Puffinus auduboni was observed, while 

 a great many Pclecauus fuscus were found strewn along the beach for 

 miles. Royal Terns {Sterna maxima) were shot at Barnwell C. H., 

 which is about eighty-five miles from the sea. — Arthur T. Wayne, 

 Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



\Cot -respondents arc requested to write briefly and to tlie point. Xo attention will 

 be paid to anonymous communications^ 



Popular vs. Scientific Ornithology. 



Editors of 'The Auk' : — 



Dear Sirs, — Mr. Brewster's gentle admonition in 'The Auk' o*f October 

 last (Vol. X, p. 365) seems to call for an explanation of my position. 

 The reasons I turn more readily to a literary than to a scientific channel 

 of expression are several, not to speak of the fact that I am naturally of 

 literary rather than scientific proclivities. There is, first, my great desire 

 to bring into the lives of others the delights to be found in the study of 

 Nature, which necessitates the using of an unscientific publication, and a 

 title that shall attract, even though it may, in a measure, "ambush" my 

 subject. 



