36 



such a basis, in a group of birds so difficult of discrimination as to 

 often puzzle experts with the specimens actually in hand, is certainly 

 open to censure. 



3. Thaumatias linnsei Son. (Agyrtria maculata et linncei auct.) 

 LINN^SUS'S EMERALD. Supposed to have been taken in Massachusetts, 

 and included in several lists. The probabilities seem to me to be 

 strongly against the straggling of any South American Humming Bird 

 to this state, and the history of this specimen leaves room for doubt 

 respecting its actual capture here. It was first recorded by myself 

 (Am. Nat., Ill, Feb., 1870, 645), but with much hesitation. The cir- 

 cumstances of its supposed capture here have since been more fully 

 Investigated, and I now prefer not to recognize it as entitled to a 

 record as a bird of Massachusetts. 



5. Introduced undomesticated Species, or probably introduced either 

 intentionally or accidentally. 



1. Passer domesticus Linn. HOUSE SPARROW. Abundant near 

 the larger towns and rapidly increasing, although the first importa- 

 tion was made scarcely ten years ago. 



2. Carduelis elegans Steph. EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH. Repeat- 

 edly taken or observed in a wild state, under circumstances that seem 

 to render it probable that the individuals were not escaped cage-birds. 

 Whether or not introduced originally by man's agency I consider seri- 

 ously open to question. 



3. Serinus meridionalis Brehm. SERIN FINCH. Thus far only 

 one record is known to me of its capture, Springfield, Nov., about 

 1865 (Allen, Am. Nat., Ill, Jan., 1870, 635). Perhaps an escaped 

 cage-bird, but the probabilities seem to me to be against this theory. 



4. Coturnix communis Gray. EUROPEAN QUAIL. About one 

 hundred of these birds were imported by Mr. Warren Hapgood in the 

 spring of 1877, and distributed to various parts of the State. Only a 

 few pairs are known to have raised young, and the result of the ex- 

 periment is at present doubtful. The capture of a "young-cock bird" 

 at Essex, Nov..l, 1877, is recorded in "Forest and Stream" of Dec. 6, 

 1877 (p. 345). This importation consisted of two hundred and fifty 

 birds, sixty-one of which died on the passage, leaving one hundred 

 and eighty-nine for distribution on their arrival in Massachusetts 

 about June 10. The same vessel brought a consignment of two hun- 

 dred birds of this species to Judge Martin G. Evarts of Rutland, Vt., 

 all but three of which are said to have reached Rutland alive. They 

 were turned out June 9, and 11, 1877, and are reported to have bred 

 plentifully. They disappeared from the neighborhood of Rutland 

 about September 1, and have since been reported as seen (aside from 



