Brewer^s Additions^ ^c. 435 



^^ 1 



tation is, that I was unable to find the nest after its 

 removal. In the case of the nightingale, the observer 

 was more successfuL It is to be hoped that this subject 

 will not be deemed unworthy the attention of our field 

 naturalists. A careful investigation cannot fail to lead to 

 fbe discovery of many interesting facts. And if the 

 result of these investigations shall be to overthrow and 

 refute any of the opinions of those who have gone before 

 us, let such refutations be made in a spirit of friendliness 

 and true love of science. > 



« 



ART. XX.— SOME ADDITIONS TO THE CATALOGUE OF 

 THE BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS IN PROF. HITCH- 

 COCK'S REPORT, &c. Bv Thomas M. Brewer. Read Dec. 

 7th, 1836. 



F 



* 



The ornithological portion of the catalogue of the ani- 

 mals and plants of Massachusetts, published by Professor 

 Hitchcock in his report on the geology of this State, 

 though prepared by an eminent naturalist, and with evi- 

 dent and careful labor and research, is yet deficient in the 

 names of a large number of birds that are to be found in 

 this State, some of them in great numbers. These omis- 

 sions are undoubtedly, in part, owing to the residence of 

 the author in the interior of the State, as the greater part 

 of those omitted are water-birds, and partly to the acces- 

 sion of new species. The following are not in Professor 

 Hitchcock's Report, and are all to be found in this State, 



Falco Kneatusy (Wilson). This bird has been the 

 cause of some dispute among our naturalists, owing to its 

 supposed identity with the winter-hawk (Falco hyetnalis, 

 Gmelin). It was described originally by Wilson as a 



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