24 QUARTERLY BULLETIN. 



was unquestionably the same bird, and its plumage remained 

 unaltered. 



Another point still more curious is: Why are some families 

 of birds effected, us a rule, more than others? Cases among the 

 Fr'mijiUidoe, Tetrao/iidae, and Anatidce, are of comparatively fre- 

 quent occurrence, while among such large families as the Syloi- 

 colidae, Tyrannidae, and Scolopacidae, we hear of but occasional 

 examples. I will not express an opinion as to the truth of 

 this problem, but leave it for more experienced heads to ponder 

 over. 



Another abnormal state (Melanism), in which our birds have 

 been found, is of exceedingly rare occurrence, and but five spe- 

 cies have been recorded on my list : — Turdus migratorius, Colap- 

 tes auratus, Melanerpes erytkrocephalus, Ortyx Virginianus, and Uria 

 grylle. 



Doubtless many other, examples of albinism, and perhaps a 

 few cases of melanism may be added to this list. 



NOTES ON BIRDS FOUND BREEDING ON COBB'S ISLAND, VA. 

 BETWEEN MAY 25th AND MAY 29th. 1875. 



BY H. B. BAILEY. 



During so short a visit to any place the birds noticed must 

 necessarily be only a small proportion of those actually occur- 

 ring. The following observations relate principally to those 

 breeding on the above named and two adjacent islands. Cobb's 

 Island is situated off Cape Charles, Virginia, and is about seven 

 miles long by half a mile wide and being little more than a sand 

 bar, is well adapted as a breeding resort for the various species 

 of Terns and Waders found there. The coast side of the island 

 is a magnificent beach which gradually rises up to an elevation 

 of about fifteen feet from sea level in the centre, on which there 

 is a rank growth of grass, while on the other side a long marsh 

 extends in some places as far as half or three quarters of a mile 

 from the main island at low water, but is nearly overflowed at 

 high tide. In addition to the species enumerated below there 

 were large numbers of shore birds migrating north, and several 

 sportsmen were enjoying such shooting as we never get on the 



