252 Gc7icral Notes. 



Guillemots. Indeed the example of L. troile mentioned by Mr. Merrill 

 is the only New England one of which I have any knowledge. Dr. Coues 

 says that the young of L. troile in their first winter plumage "are col- 

 ored precisely like the adults, but may be always distinguished by their 

 much shorter and slenderer bills which are in great part light colored 

 (yellowish)."* If the latter peculiarity be constant it will aftbrd a ready 

 mark of distinction between young of the two species, for the bill in 

 young briiutiichi, so far as I have seen, is invariably black. — William 

 Brewster. Cambridge, Mass. 



Rare Warblers in Massachusetts. — In the wonderful flight or 

 bird-wave, especially of the Mniotilttdae, that took place with us May 21 

 and 22 last, and for some species continued during a few succeeding days, 

 three Mourning Warblers, all males, were shot near Fresh pond, Cam- 

 bridge. These, in the flesh, were kindly shown me by Mr.* C.J. Maynard. 



At Framingham,t on the above-named dates, Mr. Browne and myself 

 identified twenty species of Warblers — among them specimens of the Cape 

 May, Tennessee, and Bay-breasted ; of the last two several were obtained 

 in Eastern Massachusetts. Among New England Warblers, collectors 

 here consider Geothlvpis Philadelphia to be the rarest, and Dcndraca tig- 

 rina next in scarcity. HclmiiitJiophila feregrina and Deiidrwca casta- 

 nea follow, though in the fall migrations this latter species occurs in mod- 

 erate numbers with more or less regularity. — H. A. Purdie, Nexvton, 

 Mass. 



The Unusual "Wave" of Birds during the Spring Migration 

 OF 1882. — A note by Dr. Coues in the July Bulletinj describes the remark- 

 able "tidal wave" of our smaller birds that occurred at Washington, D.C., 

 during the spring migration this year, and it ma^' be worth while to 

 throw a little light upon its further course. 



As Dr. Coues says, the vast number of birds was doubtless due to the 

 cold and rainy weather that prevailed, checking the progress of the 

 migration beyond the latitude of Washington. When the weather 

 changed, the gradually accumulated throng was let loose, and rushed in a 

 great wave towards the northern breeding grounds. In the vicinity of 

 New York, as I learn from my friend Mr. J. Dwight, Jr., after prolonged 

 cold and wet weather a change came on the morning of May 20, and with 

 the pleasant weather the rush of birds began. Almost all the Warblers 

 and Thrushes were in great numbers, and continued very abundant at 

 least throughout the following day. In the latitude of Boston birds had 

 been unusually scarce for some days. The change to clear and warmer 

 weather took place about noon of the 21st, and before the rain ceased the 

 rush of birds had begun. All day long the smaller birds came in 



* "Monograph of the Alcidae," Proc. Phila. Acad., Vol. XX, 1868, p. 77. 

 t See F. C. Browne, Forest and Stream, Vol. XVI 11, June 15, 1882, p. 386. 

 + Vol. VII, p. 185. 



