IaS Job on Massachusetts Winter Birds. 



[July 



seen in parties of more than three or four. A number were shot, 

 but others kept coming. This was May 8 to ii inclusive, 

 since which time no more have appeared. 



Horned Larks came October 20, followed in three days by the 

 Snow Buntings. Both of these usually retire northward early in 

 March, but on May 27, 1882, I started a Horned Lark almost 

 from under my feet on a rocky beach at Scituate. No nest was 

 to be found, and whether it was breeding or not, I cannot say. 



Crossbills of both species arrived November 4, and were found 

 sparingly until late in February. It was my good fortune a short 

 time ao"o (May 13) to meet a flock of five or six Crossbills in a 

 o-rove of tall pines in Brookline, from which I secured two White- 

 wings {leucoptera)^ adult male and female. Upon dissection it 

 was evident that they were not breeding. What could have 

 brought them here at this time .? 



Ipswich Sparrows can at last be ranked almost as common 

 birds upon our seacoast in the late fall. Last year I saw them 

 first on October 28, in Boston Harbor, and for about a month 

 found more specimens than I could possibly desire to shoot. 

 The main body leaves us late in November, but stragglers are 

 occasionally found during the winter. 



The first snow fell November 17. I was on an island in Boston 

 Harbor the next day, where I met with an unlooked-for bird. 

 As I was crossing the island I was surprised to see a shore-bird 

 running over the snow, beneath which lay a mud-flat, a former 

 resort for such birds. I had no difficulty in shooting the stranger, 

 which proved to be a Killdeer Plover {^..^gialites vociferus) . 

 The day was bitterly cold, and although these birds are known to 

 linger here quite late at times, it is surprising that the delay in 

 the present instance was not fatal. A week before this, — on the 

 nth, — I secured a Short-eared Owl on this island, which started 

 up from a potato field as I approached. 



The Pine Grosbeaks were later than the other birds in putting 

 in an appearance. The first, as far as I know, came on Novem- 

 ber 23 ; still they were scarce for a couple of weeks, but from 

 that time up to the middle of February they were one of our most 

 common birds. They then grew scarcer, but were seen until 

 March 10. 



November 25 brought the Snowy Owls, which were not 

 vmcommon during most of the winter, especially the early part. 



