No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE ORNmiOLOGIST. 269 



arsenic for birds, the localization of arsenic in and the excretion 

 from the bii'd system. 



Tlie investigations of the last few years have shown only 

 two birds that were possibly killed by arsenate of lead. 

 When we consider the effective advertising that this investi- 

 gation has had, the number of people who have been on the 

 lookout for dead birds where spraying has been done, the 

 few birds that have been recei^'cd and the very small per- 

 centage (two birds) in the case of which the fatal poisoning 

 by arsenate of lead seems even j)ossible, it seems hardly worth 

 while to continue the investigation. 



Some Changes in Bird Life in Massachusetts. 



It has been my melancholy duty to record the decrease or 

 disappearance of many species of Massachusetts birds. It 

 now gives me some gratification to record an apparent in- 

 crease of a few sj^ecies in Massachusetts within comparatively 

 recent years. The species under consideration are the mal- 

 lard (A)ias huschas), the canvasback duck (Aythya raUls- 

 neria), the evening grosbeak {Coccolhraustcs vespertinus), 

 the prairie horned lark (Otocorys alpestris pratlcola) and 

 the Carolina wren (^Thryoihorus luduvicianus). 



The mallard, formerly rare in Massachusetts, has been in- 

 creasing in numbers during the last decade, particularly in 

 the southeastern part of the State. The canvasback, formerly 

 a rather rare straggler, has increased somewhat of late, and in 

 the fall of 1908 was seen in numbers, particularly in the ponds 

 of Martha's Vineyard. 



The evening grosbeak was first noted here in the early 

 part of the year 1890. It has been seen again in smaller 

 numbers during the winter of 1898-99 and again in Decem- 

 ber, 1899. 



The Carolina wren evidently is moving northward. It has 

 begun breeding within the State and winters here. 



The prairie horned lark appears to have extended its 

 breeding range eastward. It now breeds not unconnnonly 

 in })arts of Maine, I^ew Hampshire and Connecticut and 

 also breeds in this State. 



