76 



house-cat. They are doubtless not so rare in migrations as 

 one might suppose, from this seeming dearth of specimens 

 but in their habits they are so unobtrusive that they probably 

 pass unnoticed. 



222. Empidonax minimus. Least Flycatcher. 



Not uncommon summer resident but local in its distribution. 

 May 12 (Jamaica) to Sept. 11 (Parkville). It is heard more 

 frequently in the shade-trees of the ''north side" village streets 

 than elsewhere. INIiss Charlotte E. Lee records it at Hunting- 

 ton in June. {Bird-lore, m, 1901, p- 172.) 



223. Alauda arvensis. European Skylark. 



Apparently a permanent resident at Flatbush and vicinity. 

 Its song may be heard from March throughout the summer, 

 as late as Oct. 25, and perhaps at other times. It has been a 

 continuous resident of this section since 1887 (Foster, Forest 

 and Stream, xxix, 1887) and its nest has been several times 

 found here (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 180 and Proctor, 

 Auk, xii, 1895, p. 390). Imported birds have been liberated in 

 or about New York several times during the past quarter cen- 

 tury. The blizzard of March, 1888, was supposed to have 

 destroyed the colony and no birds were noted for several years. 

 It was later found to be reestablished and therefore some ques- 

 tion exists as to its having been actually exterminated. Birds 

 from elsewhere may have become reestablished but it is more 

 probable that a small number survived the rigors of that memo- 

 rable season. It is possible in view of the seeming absence of 

 birds in winter that they migrate southward, but where they 

 move to, is not known. The possibilities of ultimate survival 

 of this small colony, around whose chosen range residential 

 streets are rapidly closing in, offers a field for interesting specu- 

 lation. 



224. Otocoris alpestris. Horned Lark; Shore Lark. 

 Abundant winter visitant. November 7 (Rockaway) to 



March 18 (Flatlands). 



