ANCYLOCHILUS SUBARQUATUS : CURLEW SANDPIPER. 225 



than a straggler in this country. Audubon regarded its 

 occurrence as accidental. Nevertheless, it has been 

 several times observed in New England, and we have 

 taken the pains to look up the record of these occur- 

 rences, concerning which a singular confusion appears to 

 have possessed the minds of several writers. 



The name occurs in the Rev. Mr. Linsley's Connecti- 

 cut list of 1843, but without sufficient data. This 

 record is discredited by Dr. Merriam, and may be passed 

 over, though very likely quite correct, as too indefinite 

 for citation. 



In 1862, Mr. G. A. Boardman includes the Curlew 

 Sandpiper in his list of Calais (Maine) birds, with only 

 the remark, "not very plenty." (Pr. Bost. Soc, ix, 

 1862, p. 128.) 



In 1867, Mr. E. A. Samuels refers to the capture of 

 the Curlew Sandpiper on Cape Ann, Mass., in 1865 

 (Orn. and Ool. of New England, 1 867, p. 444). " This 

 is undoubtedly the most rare of all our shore birds. I 

 found a single specimen in a bunch of Sandpipers shot 

 on Cape Ann, in the autumn of 1865, for sale in the 

 principal market. This is the only instance that has 

 come to my knowledge of its being found here. Audu- 

 bon speaks of two ; and other writers of a few more in 

 different years." This is the earliest definite record ^& 

 have, although, as we shall see presently, the bird had 

 really been taken in New England long before. 



Coues, in 1868, includes the species on the strength 

 of Samuels' example, calling it " very rare," and stating 

 that it is seen chiefly during the migrations. He also 

 adds, that " the species is in America hardly more, 

 perhaps, than a visitor from Europe." (Pr. Essex Inst., 

 V, 1868, p. 293.) 



