2 ORNITHOLOGIST | 
Sept. 10; fresh N. E. wind. More Purple Mar- 
tins passed over, and a single Nighthawk seen. 
Sept. 12; Maryland Yellow-throats seen to-day. 
Passed through a patch of heavy pine woods, 
which for years has been the nightly resting place 
of numberless Blackbirds of both varieties—Crow 
and Redwing. I noteda flock enter late in the 
afternoon, which I estimated to contain two thou- 
sand birds. A single Yellow-throated Vireo, and 
several Pine Creepers were noted. 
Sept. 18; a large number of Chimney Swifts 
flew over, and with them came about a score of 
Purple Martins. They were the last seen of 
those species. 
Sept. 14; a Ruby-throated Hummer was noted 
about some flowers to-day. 
Sept. 16; a single Prairie Warbler seen to-day. 
Sept. 17; three Ruby-throated Hummers were 
noted perched on a fir tree. They were uttering 
mournful chirps. I had never before heard a 
sound from these diminutive creatures save the 
“mouse like squeak” uttered when they meet in 
mid-air. A young bird which I once attempted 
to keep in confinement gave vent to a faint hoarse 
sound repeated at intervals of five or six seconds. 
Sept. 20; a large flock of both Cow Buntings 
and Red-and-Buff-shouldered Blackbirds were 
noted. Our Grass Finches are being reinforced 
by migrants from the north. 
Sept. 22; Sora Rails, (Porzana carolina), were 
noted for the first time to-day. While passing 
through a piece of woods bordering on a marsh I 
nearly trod upon a Woodcock, which after run- 
ning a short distance took to flight. 
Sept. 24; a single Chimney Swift was seen this 
morning winging its way southward. I noted 
two instances of the weakness of the English 
Sparrow to-day. On one of our public streets I 
saw one running, now and then tumbling over 
after the manner of a young Robin. Again, as I 
Was passing a brook where several of them were 
enjoying a bath, they took to flight save one, 
which jumped into the water where for some mo- 
ments it swam about or rather beat the surface 
with its wings, and before it could reach terra 
firma it sank back exhausted, and by the time I 
rescued the body all life was extinct. Can any 
of the readers explain this apparent feebleness of 
this Sparrow ? 
Sept. 26; Towhee Buntings still remain com- 
mon, though keeping rather out of sight. Towards 
night a flock of about twenty White-breasted 
Swallows were noted soaring about overhead. 
Sept. 28; Sora Rails still remain. A Solitary 
Tattler noted to-day. 
a reliable friend. 
Oct. 7; two W. B. Swallows were noted to-day 
making their way south. The last seen. 
Oct. 9; Pine Creepers are at present very 
common. 
Oct. 10; heard the “ank,ank” of the Red-bellied 
Nuthatch this morning. The Yellow-rumped 
Warblers arrived ina body to day, over a hundred 
being seen in a short walk. Towhee Buntings 
also seen. 
Oct. 11; Juncos came to-day, and a single 
Pewee seen. Towards night a large flock of 
Purple Grackles passed over us towards their 
roost near the “clay beds.” At this time we were 
within forty rods of their nightly abode and the 
noise was fairly deafening. Two or three of their 
number stood higher upon the trees than their 
companions, as if keeping sentinal duty. In a 
moment another flock came sailing over the trees 
and swelled the tumult until the air seemed tur- 
bulent with the racket. By skillful manceuvres we 
managed to get directly underneath them, and 
the air seemed filled with hundreds of revolving 
wheels, all decidedly in need of lubrication. 
Oct. 18; noted Chipping Sparrows and Bay- 
winged Buntings as common. Several Swamp 
Sparrows also observed, and a single White- 
throated Sparrow seen. 
Nov. 1; the Purple Grackles still remain, though 
not in such large numbers as two weeks ago. 
Noy. 15; Tree Sparrows first noted as common. 
Noy. 22; four flocks of Canada Geese passed 
over towards the south. Two of them which I 
observed contained twenty-seven and forty-two 
respectively. 
Nov. 26, very stormy. Golden-crowned King- 
lets, Tree Sparrows, Juncos and Goldfinches were 
noted, and my brother reports a Pine Grosbeak. 
Nov. 30; A White-throated Sparrow (Zono- 
trichia querula,) seen this morning, perched on a 
Willow tree, on the south side of a sloping sand 
bank. It appeared cold and languid, and when I 
frightened it from its perch it uttered a faint 
“tseep.” I had an opportunity to take notes of 
its colorations, which correspond with those given 
by Minot and Samuels. Mr. Minot says in his 
note on this species, in his book: “I have seen 
them as late as November 14th, and have heard 
of them being seen near Boston in winter, but 
from insufficient authority.” Considering the 
weather which we have had during November, 
itis not remarkable after all, that a single speci- 
men (or more) should be seen. 
Dec. 25; Weather mild. No new arrivals from 
the north as yet noted. 
