22 BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 



Wauregan,. Conn., about April 27, 1876. The "bird first attracted Mr. 

 Carpenter's attention by its opening and closing the tail while flying 

 about a small sheet of -water in quest of insects. The only other Eastern 

 United States capture of this species is a male taken at Trenton, N. J., 

 a few years ago. as recorded by Dr. C. C. Abbott.* Of course its appear- 

 ance here is entirely accidental. 



10. Porzana jamaicensis. Black Rail. — I have lately seen a skin 

 of this species belonging to Mr. Browne, of Framingham. The bird was 

 picked up dead, in August, 1869, by a relative of his, on Clark's Island, 

 Plymouth Harbor, and was forwarded to him as something entirely new 

 to our shores. This instance • adds a new bird to the Fauna of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Of this species Mr. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., also writes me that a 

 neighbor of his, while mowing at that place, July 10, 1876, swung his 

 scythe over a nest of ten eggs on which the bird Avas sitting, unfortunately 

 cutting off the bird's head and breaking all but four of the eggs. The 

 only previous New England record of this species is that given by Dr. 

 Brewer (Proe. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. XVII, p. 477). 



11. Rallus longirostris. Clapper Rail. — In the Natural History 

 store of Brewster & Knowlton, Boston, I recently saw a mounted specimen 

 of this species. The bird was captured Ijy its flying on board a vessel in 

 the harbor, May 4, 1875. Though recorded from Maine and Connecticut, 

 it being in the latter probably quite a regular summer visitor (about the 

 Sound), I believe its appearance before in Massachusetts has been ques- 

 tioned. 



12. Rallus elegans. King Rail. — In the collection of Mr. George 

 O. Welch, of Lynn, Mass., is a mounted specimen shot at Nahant, No- 

 vember 21, 1875. This is a second species new to Massachusetts, and 

 has been but once or twice before recorded from any part of New Eng- 

 land. 



13. Sterna fuliginosa. Sooty Tern. — Mr. Clark informs me that 

 he has this species in his collection, mounted from a bird that last summer 

 flew against the side of the steamboat-wharf depot at Saybrook, Conn, 

 Stunned by the concussion, it fell and was picked up. It had been 

 noticed for several days flying about the mouth of the riv^r as something 

 unusual. 



14. Pelecanus trachyrhynchus. "White Pelican. -At the Natural 

 History store of Mr. A. J. Colburn, Boston, I saw, a fc v months since, a 

 skin of this species, freshly made up I'rom the flesh. The bird was shot 

 at North Scituate, October 6, 1876, l)y Mr. George Pratt. It was a male, 

 in fine plumage and good condition. Thouyh not new to the State, I 

 think its presence with us worthy of notice. 



* Amor. Nat., Vol. Vl, r- 3C7. 



