I 26 General Notes. 



2. Polioptila caerulea. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — I shot a young 

 bird. October 11. 1S79, at Fort Hamilton. It was skipping about in a row 

 of honey-locusts, and was exceedingly active. 



3. Melospiza lincolni. Lincoln's Sparrow. — An adult female was 

 taken October 8, 1S80. by my friend Mr. J. Dwight, Jr.. while we were 

 collecting at Fort Hamilton. 



4. Zonotrichia leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow. — Two spec- 

 imens captured. The first, an adult female, was taken May 19. 1S80: the 

 second, a young bird, sex not ascertained, was shot October 19. 1880. 

 Both were captured at Fort Hamilton. 



5. Stelgidopteryx serripenis. Rough-winged Swallow. — I shot 

 one at New Utrecht, April 19. 1S78. 



6. Hylotomus pileatus. Pilkated Woodpecker. — Mr. J. Akhurst, 

 of Brooklyn, informs me that at least three individuals of this species 

 have been met with on Long Island. In 1S4J or 1S43 he saw one at what 

 is now East New York. Kind's County. Another was sent to him ahout 

 thirty years ago from the eastern part of the Island; the third which he 

 obtained two years ago, was captured near Jamaica. Queens County. 



7. Falco gyrfalco obsoletus. Labrador Gyrfalcon. — Mr. J. Wal- 

 lace, of New York, informs me that a fine specimen of this bird, killed in 

 the fall two or three years ago, on the north shore of Long Island in 

 Queen's County, passed through his hands. It is now in the collection of 

 Mr. Geo. A. Boardman. 



8. Nauclerus forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. — Mr. |. Akhursl 

 tells me that about the year 1845, while collecting on the south shore of 

 Long Island, he saw a bird of this species. He spent an entire day in 

 endeavoring to secure it, but was unsuccessful. This I believe is its second 

 and latest Lony Island Record, the first being the capture of a specimen 

 at Raynor South, in 1837, as recorded by Giraud in his •• Birds of Long 

 Island." 



9. Cathartes atratus. Black Vuxtuke. — An individual of this spe- 

 cies was found dead on Coney Island Beach a few vears ago. I have not 

 the exact date, but Mr. Akhurst is my authority. 



10. Tringa maritima. Purple Sandpiper. — I shot this bird on 

 Swinburn Hospital Island. Lower New York Pay. Nov. 27. 1879. I na ^ 

 been sailing for Ducks, and the wind failing, had landed on the Island, 

 when one of the men told me a .Snipe was walking about on the stones of 

 the "crib." It was very tame and evidently engrossed with its search for 

 food, so it was easily secured. 



11. Tryngites rufescens. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. — During a 

 collecting visit 1 made to Montauk Point last summer, a specimen of this 

 bird was shot there by a gentlemen on August 26, and kindly presented to 

 me. — I)e L. Berier. Fort Hamilton. Long Island. X. )'. 



Distribution of Birds as influenced by increase of Water 

 Area. — Many of the readers of the Bulletin are doubtless cognizant 

 of the fact that the city of Boston has been engaged for several years past 

 in the construction of extensive works on Sudbury River in Framingham, 



