[iSSS. General Notes. 207 



A parallel instance of male birds wintering further north than their 

 consorts is exhibited in the case of the Towhee. Relatively few females 

 of that species are found during the winter months in this locality. 



About sixty-five per cent of the females collected had the chin and throat 

 primrose-yellow. In several it attained an intensity corresponding to that 

 of the brightest males. This depth of color does not necessarily indicate 

 an appproach toward alpestris; as the wing in one of the deeper examples 

 measures onl3'3.66 in., while in a white-throated specimen itreaches 3.88in. 



In the foregoing table are given the dimensions of twenty-six males 

 and one hundred thirty-three females. The length of tail is the actual 

 length of the longest rectrix. In the 'wing' the chord is given. — Leverett 

 M. LooMis, Chester, S. C. 



Corydomorphae. — The Lark family, Alaudidae, represents a particular 

 superfamily series of trueoscine passerine birds, distinguished from other 

 Passeres by the non-oscine scutelliplantation, and may appropriately bear 

 the above name, conformably with other passerine groups ending in 

 -morphea in Dr. Sclater's terminology. — Elliott Coues, Washington, 

 D. C. 



Molothrus ater again in Massachusetts in Winter. — On Jan. 31, 18S8, I 

 shot a male Cow Bunting at Watertown, Mass. It was in an old field 

 with a large flock of Goldfinches (>S/)?«?« tristis), feeding on the weeds and 

 stubble that had not been covered by the snow. The bird was thin, but 

 otherwise in good condition. 



This is the third time that this species has been found wintering in New 

 England.* — Arthur P. Chadbourne, Cambridge, Mass. 



Blackbird Flights at Burlington, Iowa. — The autumnal migrations of 

 the Icteridse at Burlington, Iowa, are notable chiefly on account of the im- 

 mense flocks of certain Blackbirds which congregate in that vicinity. The 

 extensive swamps bordering the Mississippi River above and below the 

 city, on the Illinois side, form an especially favorable rendezvous for these 

 birds, three species of which are i-epresented, nearly in equal numbers — 

 J^uiscalus quiscula (Etietis, Scolecophagus carolinus, and Agelaitis phoe- 

 tiicens. During September and October the cornfields of Iowa are visited 

 by countless numbers of these black marauders, which wander about in 

 mixed flocks of several thousands, passing the day in the fields and the 

 night in the woodland or marshes. And it is during this period that so 

 many thousands are poisoned and killed by the farmers. About the first 

 of October these birds begin to appear from the more northern districts, 

 pouring into the Burlington swamps in myriads, and by the middle of the 

 month immense numbers have here collected. Just before sunrise vast 

 flocks begin to rise out of the swamps and radiate in all directions towards 



*Two were killed at Belmont, Mass., Jan. 2, 1883, by Mr. Spelman (Bull. N. O. C, 

 Vol. VI 11, 1883, p. 121). One seen at Taftsville, Vt. from Dec. 30 to Jan. 30 (C. O. 

 'r[racyj, Oin. and 061., Vol. IX, 1884, p. 45). 



