ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. \l 



some two hundred of these Owls examined by me, nearly all were in 

 very dark plumage, and none wore that almost spotless dress which[ 

 we occasionally see. 



The cause of the sudden visit of such au unusual multitude of 

 these boreal birds, coming as they did when the weather for a 

 few days was unilsually warm for the season, the thermometer stand- 

 mg at 75° at noonday, is a question not easily solved. Scarcity of 

 food would seem the most probable solution, or perhaps an early 

 severe cold snap started them on their southward flight. If so, it 

 seems strange that other less hardy species should not be affected 

 in a similar way, as but few Geese and Brant had passed south 

 when the Owls had been with us for a week. 



About ten years since there was a somewhat similar migration 

 of this species into the British Provinces and New England, but 

 the birds appeared later in the season, and not in such great num- 

 bers as in the present instance. 



DISTRIBUTION OF NEW ENGLAND BIRDS. — A REPLY TO 

 DR. T M. BREWER. 



BY H. A. PURDIE. 



Whkn asked, some time since, to review a " Catalogue of the 

 Buds of New England," by Dr. T. M. Brewer, I at first declined, 

 feeling that if I e.xpiessed myself conscientiously, I should give 

 some d\spleasure to its author But I finally consented, and penned 

 the short article in the third number of this Bulletin, bearing the 

 signature " H A. P " I intended to give the writer of this Cata- 

 logue all the credit due him , but in this, according to his reply m 

 the following number, I have signally failed. The tone of Dr 

 Brewer's article, and the demand he makes that I must produce 

 something of more weight than " unsupported assertions," " sweep- 

 ing generalizations," opinions and conjectures unsupported by facts, 

 and " positive dogmas given out quite ex cathedrd," renders it neces- 

 sary for me, in defence, to reply somewhat in detail. He must, 

 however, be aware that reviews are generally limited as to space, 

 and especially so was the case in this instance, so that full citations 

 in support of my difTerences with him were out of place. He now 



