FAUNAL AREAS 13 



Cfzrulescens, Dendrceca coronata, Dendrceca maculosa, Dendrceca black- 

 burnice, Helminthophila rubricapilla, Junco hiemalis, Zonotrichia albicollis, 

 Spinus pinus ?, Loxia curvirostra minor ?. 



It may be added that of these species, the Red Crossbill (Loxia 

 curvirostra minor) and the Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) breed in 

 the State very irregularly so far as known, and may, because of 

 their erratic habits in this respect, be left out of consideration in a 

 discussion of our faunal areas. In this connection it is also inter- 

 esting to note the occurrence of the Tennessee Warbler (Helmin- 

 thophila percgrina), a bird of the Upper Canadian zone, which 

 was recorded by Dr. W. Faxon, as seen on Mt. Greylock. July 15 

 and 1 6, 1888, at about 3,000 feet altitude. 



Hudsonian : The claim of this life zone to a place among the 

 faunal areas of Massachusetts rests at present, almost solely on 

 the occurrence of Bicknell's Thrush (Hylocichla alicice bicknelli) as 

 a regular summer resident near the summit of Mt. Greylock 

 (3,505 feet) . This bird is generally considered an Hudsonian spe- 

 cies, but it ranges into the upper Canadian zone in favored locali- 

 ties, as in the instance under consideration. Mention may be 

 made here of the occurrence of an Hudsonian Chickadee (Parus 

 hudsonicus) on the 5th of June, 1896,011 the edge of a dense cedar 

 swamp in Plymouth County. 1 This swamp was of considerable 

 extent, and supported a small number of Canadian species of birds. 

 Although this record does not necessarily indicate that the Hud- 

 sonian Chickadee is, or ever was a breeding bird of Massachusetts, 

 it at least shows that there are areas in the State where, we may 

 assume, the bird finds congenial surroundings. 



To sum up the entire discussion, Massachusetts belongs in the 

 main to the Transition and Canadian life zones, the Transition 

 occupying much of the area of less than 2,000 feet altitude, and 

 the Canadian corresponding to the area above that level. A tinge 

 of the Upper Austral fauna reaches the western valley bottoms, the 

 south shore and certain portions along the east coast. A mere 

 trace of the Hudsonian fauna is found on the summit of Mt. Grey 

 lock at an altitude of about 3,500 feet. 



iChadbourne; Auk, Vol. XIII, No. 4, Oct., 1896, p. 346. 



