
RARER BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 581 
North-eastern states it resembles the Hremophila alpestris, 
or Horned Lark (in the breeding season), Myiarchus cri- 
nitus (Great-crested Flycatcher), Centurus Carolinus (Red- 
3 bellied Woodpecker), Melospiza Lincolnii (Lincoln's Spar- 
row), Zonotrichia leucophrys (White-crowned Sparrow), 
and some other species that extend much farther north in the 
interior than on the Atlantic coast. The Horned Lark is not 
known to breed regularly on the coast much, if any, south 
of Labrador, but in the interior it breeds abundantly on the 
prairies as far south as Missouri, and even in Texas. Some 
of the other species mentioned above do not extend farther 
north on the coast than New Jersey, except as stragglers, 
although in the interior they reach the Saskatchewan. The 
climate there is certainly not warmer than that of Southern 
New England, and some other cause must be sought to 
explain such an unusual distribution. 
RED-BELLIED NurHarCH. Sitta Canadensis Linn. The 
known instances of this bird’s breeding in Massachusetts are 
very few. Five years since, when my Catalogue was pub- 
lished, I knew of none, and gave it as a winter visitant, 
having then seen it only during the colder portion of the 
year. Mr. Jillson has informed me that he found its nest a 
few years since in Bolton. Dr. Brewer also informs me that 
he saw it on his place in Hingham, in July, 1867, but was 
unable to find its nest. Many experienced collectors of 
birds in Southern New England have never met with it here 
in summer, but it is known to breed (perhaps only among 
the Alleghanies) much farther south. 
Prive GnossEAK. Pinicola eneucleator. (P. Canadensis 
Cab.). This northern bird has occurred within the state sev- 
eral times within the last five years. During the last two 
winters they were quite common at certain localities, but 
were not generally distributed. As usual, they were chiefly 
young birds. It seems to be of late a more regular visitor 
than was formerly supposed. 
Purrte Fincn. Carpodacus purpureus Gray. Common 
