


636 NOTES ON SOME OF THE 
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. Xanthocephalus icteroce- 
phalus Baird. The wings, tail and feet, of a specimen of 
this species taken in Watertown, in October, 1869, were 
shown me a few weeks since by Mr. C. J. Maynard. Al- 
though the whole bird was unfortunately not preserved, its 
identity could be readily determined. This is the first 
known instance of the occurrence of this species in New 
England, but Mr. Cassin* states that several have to his 
knowledge been taken near Philadelphia. Its usual eastern 
range, as ornithologists well know, is the vicinity of Chi- 
cago, it being essentially a prairie species 
Boat-TaILeD GRACKLE. Quiscalus major Vieill. I now 
seriously question the occurrence of this southern species in 
Massachusetts, or anywhere in New England, as even an 
accidental visitor. I gave it as such in my Catalogue, but a 
reexamination of the evidence has led me to my present 
opinion. I think the cases cited by Peabody f and Linsley f 
(under Q. baritus) as well as that of Mr. Samuels, refer only 
to the common Crow Blackbird or Purple Grackle. 
Spruce PARTRIDGE. Canace Canadensis Bon. The oc- 
currence of this northern species in the hemlock woods of 
Gloucester in 1851 was recorded by Mr. F. W. Putnam. || 
This instance is cited in my own Catalogue, and by Dr. 
Coues in his "List of the Birds of New England." A second 
instance is to be now added, as I have learned from Mr. 
S. C. Martin that a bird of this species was shot in No- 
vember, a few years since, in Roxbury. These two in- 
stances seem to be all thus far known, and only give it a 
place on our list as a very rare, accidental visitor. I have, 
however, recently learned from Mr. Wm. Brewster, of its 
. Capture near Portland, Maine, in the autumn of 1868,—2 
: T much south of its usual range. 

Proc. Phila. Acad. E TM Sm 11, 1866. 
: D a a mq 
I E  fAmer.Jourm. Sci. bet LI AUF: l. xliv, p. 260. 
(pite {Catalogue “ Birds of Essex Co.," Proc’d’s Essex Inst., Vol. i, p. 224. 

