BAKER BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 581 



North-eastern states it resembles the Eremophila alpestris, 

 or Horned Lark (in the breeding season), Myiarchus cri- 

 nitus (Great-crested Flycatcher), Centurus Garolinus (Red- 

 bellied Woodpecker), Melospiza Lincolnii (Lincoln's Spar- 

 row), Zonotrichia leucophrys (White-crowned Sparrow), 

 and some other species that extend much farther north in the 

 interior than on the Atlantic coast. The Horned Lark is not 

 known to breed regularly on the coast much, if any, south 

 of Labrador, but in the interior it breeds abundantly on the 

 prairies as far south as Missouri, and even in Texas. Some 

 of the other species mentioned above do not extend farther 

 north on the coast than New Jersey, except as stragglers, 

 although in the interior they reach the Saskatchewan. The 

 climate there is certainly not warmer than that of Southern 

 New England, and some other cause must be sought to 

 explain such an unusual distribution. 



RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH. Sitta Ganadensis Linn. The 

 known instances of this bird's breeding in Massachusetts are 

 very few. Five years since, when my Catalogue was pub- 

 lished, I knew of none, and gave it as a winter visitant, 

 having then seen it only during the colder portion of the 

 year. Mr. Jillson has informed me that he found its nest a 

 few years since in Bolton. Dr. Brewer also informs me that 

 he saw it on his place in Hingham, in July, 1867, but was 

 unable to find its nest. Many experienced collectors of 

 birds in Southern New England have never met with it here 

 in summer, but it is known to breed (perhaps only among 

 the Alleghanies) much farther south. 



PINE GROSBEAK. Pinicola eneucleator. (P. Canadensis 

 Cab.). This northern bird has occurred within the state sev- 

 eral times within the last five years. During the last two 

 winters they were quite common at certain localities, but 

 were not generally distributed. As usual, they were chiefly 

 young birds. It seems to be of late a more regular visitor 

 than was formerly supposed. 



PURPLE FINCH. Carpodacus purpureus Gray. Common 



