346 Micological Flora. 



The former, originally discovered and named by Audubon 

 E mberiza leconti has long been held doubtful as a distinct 

 species, having been supposed to be either passcrinus or 

 hcnsloivii. 



Numerous collections, made in northern Dakota by Dr. 

 C o//es, when associated with the Northern Boundary Survey 

 in 1873. and by others at other localities, have determined its 

 habitation to be the central plains from northern Dakota to 

 Texas. Its presence here shows our formal relationship to 

 the province that lies to the west of us, and together with oth- 

 er species previously obtained, puts us on the alert for excep- 

 tional forms hitherto restricted to areas beyond our borders. 



The Sandpiper obtained by the Messrs. Roberts has been 

 sought for through many long years without success. Its 

 known breeding places far to the north of us and the sparcity 

 of its numbers in migration along the Atlantic coast led to the 

 anticipation that it would long since have been observed in 

 migration through the state. 



We are at last rewarded through the vigilance of these gen- 

 tlemen who have contributed so much to our already large 

 list, embracing about as many as have been identified in New 

 England, after a century's observation by a legion of experts. 



Although offering so little in this Annual Report that is 

 new, the year has not been an idle one in obtaining an exten- 

 sion of our knowledge of the habits and characteristics of 

 species that breed in our district. In this, perhaps, no year 

 preceding has given us nearly so rich results, the proof of 

 which will become evident in the future reports involving life- 

 histories of local species. 



