96 



General JVofes. \ Jamuiry 



birch, with a sparse lining of straw and feathers. In it were two eggs, 

 which proved far advanced toward incubation ; they measure 1.94X1-50 

 and 1.95 X I-5I, and are very similar in shape and markings to those de- 

 scribed by Dr. Brewer ; though I have failed to detect any of the j^ellow and 

 purple tints mentioned by that writer. The ground-color is of a grayish or 

 dirty white tint, heavily and irregularly marked with blotches of reddish- 

 brown. On one of these eggs is a patch of dark chocolate brown, 

 with blotches upon it of a still darker shade — almost black. This patch 

 measures over one inch in length, and, at its broadest point, three-quar- 

 ters of an inch in width. On the other &gg the blotches and splashes are 

 smaller, lighter in color, and chiefly gathered upon one side. Under a 

 a glass all these 'markings' appear on the surface of the shell ; the deeper 

 tints are formed by accumulated layers of light color; an occasional blotch 

 of dark brown, however, exhibiting none of this accumulating process 

 Much of the 'dirtiness' noticed on the ground color is the effect of 

 splashes of pigment under the surface. 



The male parent was sitting on the nest at the time I approached it, 

 and, when I began to climb the tree, he flew to a bough some seventy 

 vards off, where he was shot. His stomach contained the partially digest- 

 ed remains of three unfledged Thrushes. — James W. Banks, St. yohti, 

 jY. B. 



Note on Zenaidura yucatanensis Lawr. — In the 'Proceedings' of the 

 Zoological Society of London, 18S3, part iii, p. 45S, Mr. Salvin states his 

 inability to distinguish this bird from Cuban and Janraican specimens of 

 Zejiaida amabilis. ^ This has led me to reexamine the type, with special 

 reference to the question of identy with Z. amabilis, and as the result I 

 must say that the ditference is very great. In fact, as stated in 'History 

 of North American Birds' (vol. iii, p 2>^2)^ Z. yucatanensis is exactly in- 

 termediate, both in form and coloration, between Zenaidura carolinensis 

 and Zenaida amabilis, but has 14 rectrices, as in the typical species of the 

 former genus. These facts lead ri.e to suspect that Mr. Salvin has exam- 

 ined specimens of true Z. amabilis from Yucatan, which supposition if cor- 

 rect, would render my surmise (1. c.) that Z. yucatanensis may be a 

 hybrid between Zenaidura carolinensis and Zenaida amabilis more 

 worthy of consideration. — Robert Ridgway, Washington, D. C. 



Bernicla brenta nigricans in Massachusetts. — In the spring of 1SS3, a 

 specimen of this variety was sent to Mr. C. J. Goodale, of 93 Sudbury St., 

 Boston, to be mounted. It was claimed that it had been killed at or near 

 Chatham, Mass. The bird was perfectly fresh when received.— C. B. 

 Cory, Boston, Mass. 



Night Herons and Rails in Dakota. — I have just returned (Sept. 15, 

 1883), from camp, near Wall Lake, Dakota. I found many birds moving 

 towards their southern homes, but none so pleasing to me to see as the 

 Night Herons {Nyctiardea grisea knavia). 



