184 General Notes. 



webs of the primaries is the same ; but directly opposite this, on the inner 

 webs, is a triangular spot of pure white. The white tip on the outer 

 webs of the secondaries is much larger than usual, and the secondaries 

 are wax-tipped. The greater wing-coverts are pure white, delicately 

 edged with brownish-ash, and broadly tipped with the same. This patch 

 of white is very conspicuous, owing to its size. The yellow band on the 

 tip of the tail is more of a lemon-color, and has not that distinct dividing 

 line Avhich is usual, but rather fades into the grayish-white of the tail- 

 feathers. The tail-feathers above the yellow band are broadly edged on 

 both webs with brownish-ash. The quills of the primaries, secondaries, 

 the primary and greater wing-coverts, and the tail-feathers, are very dark 

 gray ; while the pure white patch on the sides of the under jaw, and the 

 delicate crescent of white on the under eyelid, are the same as usual. 

 Bill and feet normal. The peculiar markings of this specimen form a very 

 beautiful bird, and, as it has been remarked, " give it a frosty appear- 

 ance." — W. L. "Walford, Minneapolis, Minn. 



First Capture of the Blue Grosbeak in Massachusetts. — Mr. 

 Gordon Plummer kindly informs me, that on May 29, 1880, he took a fine 

 male of this species (Goniaphea cccruled) in Brookline. This forms its 

 first record for Massachusetts, and the second for New England, the 

 other being Calais, Me., Boardman, who records it (Proc. Bost. Soc. 

 Nat. Hist., IX, p. 127) as " Very uncertain, but common in the spring of 

 1861." Mr. Herrick also states (Bull. Essex Inst., V, p. 32) that a male 

 was taken " in the spring of 1861 " at Grand Menan, N. B. In my " List 

 of the Birds of Massachusetts," published in 1878 (Bull. Essex Inst., X, 

 pp. 3-37), I included it among the "Species of probable occurrence," 

 remarking that it " is surely to be added, sooner or later, to the list of 

 Massachusetts birds " (I. c, p. 33). 



In this connection it may be of interest to note that during the last two 

 years nine species and two varieties have been added to the 316 species up 

 to that time fully authenticated as birds of Massachusetts. These, with 

 the four formerly occurring but now extirpated, bring the total number 

 to 32!) thus far identified as belonging to the fauna of this State. — J. A. 

 Allen, Cambridge, Mass. 



Note on the Nesting of Hammond's Flycatcher {Empidonax 

 hanwiondi) in Dakota. — Among a lot of eggs received from my corre- 

 spondent Mr. Agersborg was one set with the parent bird, which on exami- 

 nation turned out to be of the above-named species. In reply to a letter 

 asking him for further information regarding the matter, I received the 

 following : " The nest was situated on a narrow strip of grass-land, bordered 

 on one side by the highway and on the other by a wheat-field ; it was not 

 placed directly on the ground, but a few inches from it, either in a rose- 

 bush or some coarse branching weed. It was a very loose affair, and fell 

 apart by the shaking of the buggy, in which I carelessly laid it. If I 



