BARER BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 639 



a journey and my notes were inaccessible), I state that Ac- 

 todromas Bonapartei was among the birds seen by us in 

 summer on the Massachusetts coast. This I think is an 

 error of memory, as I do not find it recorded in my note 

 book, and 110 specimens of it were taken. Arquatella mari- 

 tima is also there mentioned as having been seen; though 

 this is probable, I should add that it does not rest on 

 positive evidence, as none were taken. 



STILT SANDPIPER. Micropalama himantopus Baird. As 

 this southern species has been twice taken recently at Rye 

 Beach, New Hampshire, by Mr. William Brewster, the 

 question as to whether it should be included among the birds 

 of New England is now settled. As it must have passed 

 through Massachusetts, it is properly to be included in our 

 list, though not yet recorded as actually taken in this state. 



YELLOW RAIL. Porzana JSTovceboracensis Cass. Taken by 

 Mr. C. J. Maynard, September 8th, 1868, in a dry field in 

 Newton. 



COMMON GALLINULE. Gallinula galeata Bon. I learn 

 from Mr. Ruthford Deane of Cambridge that he shot a young 

 bird of this species in Fresh Pond on the 3d of September, 

 1868, and saw two others in the latter part of the same 

 month. The 9th of October of the same year he informs 

 me his friend William Brewster shot one which he obtained, 

 and wounded another, at the same locality. Also that the 

 latter observer saw an old bird there on the 3d of June, 

 which Mr. Deaue believes to have been the parent of these 

 young. As this species regularly breeds in New Jersey, it 

 is not improbable that straggling pairs may now and then 

 rear their young in Massachusetts, but this is much beyond 

 its usual breeding range. 



CANVAS-BACKED DUCK. Ay thy a vallisneria Bonap. It is 

 stated in my Catalogue that this species was taken near 

 Springfield by Dr. Wood. This proves to be an error, as 

 Dr. Wood has since informed me he never knew it taken 

 nearer that locality than ten miles above the mouth of the 



