jfft 



644 NOTES ON SOME OF THE 



1868. Heretofore generally considered rare in this state, 

 which appears to be its northern limit. 



SANDWICH TERN. Sterna cantiaca Gmelin. (Sterna acu- 

 flavida Cabot.) Mr. Nathaniel Vickary, of Lynn, has a 

 specimen of this species in his collection, which he shot at 

 Chatham, in August, 1865. The usual northward range of 

 this southern species does not extend beyond South Carolina, 

 and is now for the first time reported as captured either in 

 this state or in New England. 



SHORT-TAILED TERN. Hydrochelidon fissipes Gray. Oc- 

 casional, chiefly after the breeding season. Mr. C. J. May- 

 nard has taken it at Ipswich, and probably it occurs all along 

 the coast, though its existence here has been questioned. 



SOOTY TERN. Haliplana fuliginosa Wagl. (Sterna fu- 

 liginosa Gm.) This species was given in my list as a rare 

 summer visitor, on the authority of Mr. E. A. Samuels, who 

 he having found two young birds he referred to this spe- 

 cies informed me that it bred on Muskeget Island. As it is 

 a southern species, and is only occasional on th6 coast of New 

 Jersey, which is north of its breeding range, it is somewhat 

 doubtful whether it is entitled to a place in a list of the 

 birds of Massachusetts. Respecting this species Dr. Brewer 

 has written me as follows : "It does not and never did 

 breed on Muskeget, nor do I believe it ever comes here." 

 Since the equally southern Sandwich Tern has been taken 

 here, the probability of this being also an accidental visitor 

 is increased. 



GREAT AUK. Alca impennis Linn. This species has re- 

 cently been made known as a former inhabitant of Massa- 

 chusetts. Professor Wyman first discovered its remains in 

 New England at Mount Desert, in the Indian shell-heaps.* 

 Mr. F. W. Putnam reports that a hurnerus of this bird was 

 found in August, 1868, in the shell-heaps of Ipswich, by 

 Professor Baird.f Mr. Maynard and myself found frag- 



* American Naturalist, Vol. i, p. 578. 



t Cones' " Birds of New England," Proc. Essex Inst., Vol. v, p. 310, foot note. 



