'SSs] Chamberlain's Nexv Brunstvick Notes. ^ 



species are admired. Its voice has neither the compass of the 

 Catbird's nor the volume of the Purple Finch's, while it lacks the 

 free abandon of the Bobolink's and the sentiment so sweetly voiced 

 by the Vireo when he "whispers his secrets to the passing breeze." 

 The chief characteristics of the song of the Fox Sparrow are 

 sweetness and purity of tone, and rare beauty of expression ; 

 and in these he stands the peer of the ablest of his rivals. 



When I included the Indigo Bird in my catalogue of the Birds 

 of New Brunswick I had some misgivings as to its right to a 

 place there ; but that right has been established by an example 

 taken at Rothesay by Mr. Henry Gilbert, in May last, and by 

 others observed by Mr. Gould. On the 24th of the same month 

 the occurrence of the Bluebird near St. John \vas confirmed, for 

 I shot a pair at Westfield, evidently mated. I also know of 

 numerous others having been taken or seen during the summer. 



In May a small flock of Ring-necked Plover (y^^gialites semi- 

 palmatus) and Peeps (^Actodromas mintitilla) spent a few days 

 near St. John ; although both of these species are very abundant 

 here for several weeks in the autumn they have not before been 

 known to occur in the spring. Piping Plover i^y^gialites rne- 

 lodus) too were taken here last spring for the first time, though I 

 am not certain that more than four specimens were observed. 

 Two of these were shot by the Baron de Tuyll, and ai'e now in 

 the collection of the Natural History Society here. 



The Titlark {Anthus ludovicianus) must also be added to the 

 list of species occurring in St. John County, as numerous large 

 flocks were seen here in October last. 



Another of the occurrences for which the year is remark- 

 able is that of a Whistling Swan ( Cygnus americanus) , one 

 having been secured by George Barnhill, Esq., on April 8, at 

 Belvidere Lake about twenty miles northwest from St. John. It 

 was in immature plumage, but the sex was not ascertained. When 

 first seen it was on the wing a short distance behind a flock of 

 Wild Geese, and it followed these into an opening in the Lake, 

 though keeping entirely separate from them. 



The late records in the Bulletin by Mr. Harry Merrill and 

 others, regarding the rarity of Lomvia trcile^ prompt me to add 

 my quota of information, which will support the facts already 

 recorded, as I have known of but two examples of this species 

 occui-ring in this vicinity in ten years. There is not, however, 



