J 26 General Notes. [April 



Winter Birds in New Brunswick. — 'Several correspondents have 

 asked me if anything has been observed in this locality that would help 

 to account for an unusually large number of boreal birds having visited 

 more southern points during the season that has just passed, but I have 

 failed to find any reason for such an occurrence; for, so far as I can 

 gather from personal observation, and from correspondents in the north- 

 ern sections of the Province, the usual species have been seen here and 

 in much the same numbers as in former seasons. The Snow Buntings 

 came along about two weeks earlier than they have been noticed for 

 several years, and of the Pine Grosbeaks observed, a larger proportion 

 perhaps have been in the red phase of plumage. Food of all kinds has 

 been as plenty as usual ; indeed, the Raptorial species have had a better 

 chance than usual to capture the small rodents, as the fall of snow has 

 been extremely light. But no increase of these birds has been noticed. — 

 Montague Chamberlain, St. John, N. B. 



Some Albinos in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy. — 

 Among the numerous albinistic birds in the Academy's collection, some 

 species are represented in which I believe this peculiar whiteness has not 

 yet been noticed. There is a perfect albino Merganser {Mergus serra- 

 tor); a Magpie (Yellow-billed?) in which the dark parts are replaced by 

 coffee-color ; two Red-head Ducks {JFulix ferina afnericana) that have 

 the head and neck white; two specimens of the CUnada Goose {Beruicla 

 canadensis) that have the black of the head and neck replaced by white; 

 and a Black-poll Warbler {Dendi-ceca striata) in which the entire plumage 

 is suffused with white. 



Of those already recorded, we have perfect albino specimens of the 

 Chewink {Pipilo erythropktkalmus) and the Kingbird {Tyrantms caroli- 

 nensis), and a Red-tailed Hawk {Bnteo borealis) from Delaware Co., Pa., 

 which is white, with the exception of the tail, which is of the usual red 

 color. 



Melanism is exemplified by a handsome specimen of the Meadow Lark 

 {Sturnella magna) from New Jersey. The upper plumage is of the 

 normal color, while the whole head, neck, and under parts are perfectly 

 black. There is the faintest possible trace of yellow along the sides, and 

 no white feathers in the tail, which is very dark above and below. — Chas. 

 H. Townsend, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. 



A Letter from an Old-time Ornithologist. — [The following letter, 

 written about eighteen months before Dr. Kirtland's death, seems of 

 sufficient interest to be worthy of publication. — Edd.] 



Cleveland, O., May 22, 1876. 

 Mr. H. a. Purdie, Sec'y N. O. C, 



Dear Sir. Yours of the 15th inst. informing me that I was 

 elected a corresponding member of "the Nuttall Ornithological Club of 

 Cambridge," was duly received. It found me at iJjj'ears of age, confined 

 to a sick room, with no very favorable evidences of any improvement of 



