132 BiCKNELL on the Carolinian Fauna. 



every season. The almost proverbial inconstancy and variableness of these 

 birds in the construction of their nests in different parts of the country, is 

 even apparent at a single locality. Indeed, two nests in my collection, 

 which were taken within a mile of each other, are so entirely dissimilar 

 that were they not positively identified, it would be difficult to believe that 

 they belonged to the same species. This mutability exhibited by the 

 species in question is not confined solely to the construction of their nest ; 

 for in one of the above-mentioned nests the three eggs were almost incu- 

 bated on June 18, while in the other the last of three eggs was deposited 

 on June 28, showing a difference of at least three weeks in their time of 

 laying. It is worthy of remark that the first nest found was much more 

 warmly and compactly constructed than the latter, possibly the result of 

 foresight on the part of the bird. 



Strix flammea americana. Barn Owl. — Mr. H. B. Bailey informs 

 me, that late in the afternoon of April 5, last, when passing up Fulton 

 Street, New York City, his attention was directed by a crowd of gaping 

 " citizens " to one of these birds perched upon a house-top, over the street. 

 The bird did not offer to fly, and was left where it had been found, a distinct 

 view of course rendering the identification absolute. Mr. Akhurst has 

 "repeatedly" observed it about Snake Hill, N. J. ; and two specimens 

 taken by him on Staten Island are now in the collection of the Long 

 Island Historical Society. 



Numerous other of our more southern birds have been recorded from 

 the vicinity of New York City, which lack of space will prevent my men- 

 tioning here. With regard to Goniaphea ccerulea, however, it might be 

 well to state that besides the specimen recorded by De Kay,* as having 

 been taken on Manhattan Island, Mr. Akhurst in a single day, many 

 years ago, noticed several specimens about Snake Hill, N. J., and again 

 on Long Island, both instances being in the spring. The same gentleman 

 is aware of several (five or six or more) specimens of Cyanospiza ciris hav- 

 ing been taken on the coast of Long Island, near the Narrows, and he took 

 two specimens near Brooklyn. All of these birds were in fine plumage, 

 and bore no evident signs of having been caged, agreeing in this respect 

 with a male specimen taken at Riverdale on July 13, 1875, which, how- 

 ever, was in somewhat worn plumage. In the " Elliot collection " at the 

 Central Park Museum, I recollect having seen a fine male specimen labelled 

 "New Jersey." It is within the range of possibility that some of these 

 birds may have wandered northward out of their proper habitat, but the 

 popularity of this species as a cage bird, together with the absence of any rec- 

 ords from along the Atlantic Coast north of its known range, would render 

 such a supposition improbable. On the other hand, however, the condi- 

 tion of plumage in which the birds were taken, as well as the appearance 

 of the bill and feet, are evidence which would argue in favor of their be- 

 ing wild. 



* Birds of New York, p. 146. 



