May, 1886. 

movements here for some time past as observed 
by myself and some of my friends. Between 
1867 and 1883 only ten specimens were taken— 
the only ones observed. Fall of 88, fairly com- 
mon. Once or twice observed during the winter. 
Spring of ’84, very common. Fall of ’84, very 
abundant—at one time outnumbering all other 
birds seen in a three miles walk. Many observed 
to winter. Spring of ’85, common but not ex- 
tremely so. Fall of ’85, a very few seen early 
in the season, but none later on. Winter 
of ’86 (up to date), very rare if at all. None 
taken, but one or two sid to be seen. Perhaps 
some of your readers will offer an explanation of 
the peculiar invasion of this locality by the Cat- 
birds. It is a phenomena unique in my observtion 
and I can find no explanation at all for it. 
During the early part of the winter I spent 
considerable time working up last year’s notes 
and measurements, of which I give you some of 
the results below. My season’s work was a little 
over seventeen hundred specimens, all carefully 
prepared, measured and dissected. The specimens 
were measured to sixteenths of an inch only, but 
in reducing to an average I have carried them 
out to hundredths. The dimensions are length, 
extent, wing and tail: 
Summer Red Bird. ¢ 7.34, 11.96, 3.78, 2.77. 
@ 7.82, 11.59, 3.64, 2.82. There was a marked 
increase in the size of all specimens captured af- 
ter May ist. Also the fact that the female ex- 
ceeds the male in length of tail is quite apparent 
throughout my list. 
Loggerhead Shrike. ¢ 8.73, 12.22, 3.74, 3.84. 
@ 8.81, 12.06, 3.75, 3.90. 
Bachman’s Finch.- ¢ 5.67, 7.56, 2.34, 2.50. 
2 5.80, 7.75, 2.29, 2.38. This is the only species 
of which I yearly take more females than males 
—about two to one. 
Cardinal. ¢ 8.20, 11.11, 3.48, 3.85. ¢ 8.69, 
11.25, 3.50, 4.12. In this species the diversions 
are singularly uniform. 
Orchard Oriole. P09 NOM Os xl(9: 
? 7.00, 9.81, 3.06, 2.75. By throwing out all 
young males the adults would average slightly 
larger. 
Wilson’s Plover. 7.89, 15.48, 4.60, 1.84. 98.01, 
15.68, 4.64, 1.82. Only adults included in making 
up the average. 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 4 23.42, 43.25, 
11.389, 450. 9238.62, 42.04, 11.05; 4.35. Great 
variation among individuals. 
Louisiana Heron. 4 26.53, 
2 25.78, 35.67, 9.35, 3.35. 
Great Blue Heron. 4 49.22, 74.25, 19.62, 7.50. 
9 45.56, 72.00, 18.75, 7.31. All adults. 
o4%% 
weld. 
37.62, 9.96, 3.54. 
AND OOLOGIST. ta 
Little Blue Heron. # 22.12, 36.85, 10,09, 3.97. 
2 21.60, 86.95, 9.87, 3.77. Including young of 
the year which, however, seems not to affect the 
result in the least. 
Tern. ~~ 4 21.08.) 45/50) 
6.58, 14.35, 6 85. 
pt eae 
Winter Notes from Taunton, Mass. 
Royal 
5 ON KO 
Fe 20. 1o, 
14.215 Wieeor 

J. C. CAHOON. 
There has been a scarcity of birds about here 
this winter. With the exception of the present 
month (February) the weather has been quite 
mild. Yellow-rumped Warblers, Redpolls, Pur- 
ple Finches generally winter here, but I have not 
seen any as yet. A few Nuthatches put in an 
appearance in November, but I have not seen 
them since. Goldfinches, Chickadees, Kinglets 
and Tree Sparrows are not as numerous as usual. 
A flock of Shore Larks have paid us a flying visit 
several times, but I have not seen or heard of any 
Pine Grosbeaks or Snow Buntings being scen. 
Several Great-horned Owls were seen and shot in 
January. Our local paper gives an account of a 
Snowy Owl being taken in the eastern part of 
the city. 
December 14th, a ¢ Acadian Owl was shot at 
this place and brought to me to be mounted. 
Stomach filled with bones and feathers of small 
birds. The same man who shot this one brought 
me one last winter taken in this city. 
December 18th, an adult ¢@ Goshawk was 
brought to me that was shot about three miles 
from the center of the city. The hawk was shot in 
the act of killing a large hen. Stomach empty. 
The man who brought it to me said that he shot 
a specimen like the above several years ago in the 
same place. 
December 24th I received a ¢ Great Northern 
Shrike; stomach completely filled with large 
white worms. 
January 21st, I found a flock of six Song Spar- 
rows around a brook near my house, 
Sparrows nearly always stop about this brook all 
Song 
winter. 
February 1st four Cedar Waxwings were seen 
on a tree on one of the principal streets, but only 
remained a few moments. <A flock was also 
seen on the outskirts of the city during the latter 
part of January. 
—_—_—_—_——__—_ 
MeLAnitTic PLUMAGE OF Roprn.—I recently 
secured a Robin which showed decided traces of 
melanism, the feathers of the back possessing the 
ebony brilliancy of the Purple Grackle.—S. J. 
Leanord, Utica, N. Y. 
