334 



;addcd to our Ibniicr lists. In Dr. Ricliardson's Xorthcni 

 Zoology, (part second, Birds,) is to Ijc fonnd much valuable 

 information, respecting our Ornithology. Audubon's synop- 

 sis of birds of America, embraces 491 species. The num- 

 ber of birds described by Wilson is 292. To this list, Buon- 

 iiparte added in his continuation 45 species, making the 

 whole numJjer to be found in the American Ornithology 337. 

 jVIr. F. W. Putnam has furnished a list of birds for the 

 'County of Essex, embracing 245 species. The whole num- 

 ber of different birds to be found in tbe Commonwealth are 

 supposed to be 293. Before closing this part of my subject 

 I would add, that a considerable amount of information re- 

 specting the birds of the United States is to Ije found in the 

 Avorks of English ornithologists, particularly in Pennant's 

 Arctic Zoology, and Dr. Latham's Synopsis. It is greatly 

 to be regretted, that we have not at this time, a cheap and 

 ■complete work, with specific descriptions of all our birds, as 

 it would very much facilitate the study of ornithology, and 

 increase the number of those, wlio would like to learn more 

 ■of their history, and although many valuable and beautiful 

 books have appeared upon the science of ornithology, still it 

 would be difficu.lt to direct an enquirer where he could obtain 

 .a work, describing our feathered tribes at a moderate price. 

 'The voluminous Reports of the United States and Mexi- 

 .can Boundary, and the Explorations for a Rail Road Route 

 to the Pacific ocean has furnished us with many new species 

 'lof birds. The whole number of birds to be found in the 

 United States and Territories as enumerated in the 9th vol. 

 of the Rail Road Reports are 738. 



On conclusion of Mr. Fowler's papers. Dr. R. H. Wheat- 

 land mentioned that a specimen of {Sahno eri/ox) taken in 

 the Merrimack River, had been presented to Prof. Agassiz. 

 This, though an occasional visitor adds a new species to the 

 fishes found within the limits of this county. It has hither- 

 to been supposed to be confined to Europe and may be con- 

 sidered as an arctic species coming down accidentally on the 

 American instead of the European coast. 



He also stated that during his rambles the past 

 .-autumn he had noticed another species of Bream (^Pomotis 

 ohesus Gerard) in considerable abundance ; a new species of 



