Birds of Massachusetts. 67 
from the sea. I learn also from Dr. Brewer, that three 
specimens of the Lrrrue Corporat, Falco temerarius, were 
lately killed in Stoneham and brought to the Boston market. 
This is a bird discovered by Audubon, and so rare, that 
even Nuttall professed to know nothing of it from personal 
observation, The same gentleman has also obtained in 
Boston harbor, the Pomarine Jacer, Larus pomarinus, à 
bird so rare, that the indefatigable Audubon himself never 
encountered it within the limits of the United States. 
It is well known that some birds, for obvious or unknown 
reasons, change their favorite resorts, at times withdrawing 
from places where they have been common, and appear- 
ing in other places where they have not been seen before. 
Of this singular migration, the Curr SwALLOW, Hirun- 
do fulva, is a remarkable example. It is well known that 
the Chimney swallow came from the wilderness in the 
same manner; but in that case, the reason was manifest; 
it was because, in cities and villages, chimnies are always 
to be had, while trees, hollow from the top, are not com- 
mon, even in our ancient woods. No similar reason can 
be given for the movement of the Cliff Swallow, which 
has emigrated to us with a quarter of a century, and is 
now the most common of the tribe in some parts of the 
State. The earliest information I have of its appearance 
in New England is from Chief Justice Shaw, who tells me 
that he found it at the White Mountains, in the summer 
of 1816. In the case of birds rarely or lately found among 
us, I can only offer what information I am able to obtain, 
and must leave it to the reader to judge for himself, whe- 
ther they come as accidental wanderers, as spies to explore 
the country, or as pioneers to take possession and estab- 
lish a permanent home. 
With respect to the second object of the survey, that of 
giving information which may be useful to cultivators of 
the soil, I am fully persuaded from my examination of the 
