

RARER BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 631 
The Ptarmigan (Lagopus albus), captured at Manchester 
in May, 1859,* is supposed, Dr. Coues states, "to have been 
brought alive from Labrador or Newfoundland, and es- 
caped.” t 
Great WurrE Heron. Herodias egretta Gray. To the 
previously recorded instances of the capture of this beautiful 
southern Egret in this state may be added the following. 
Two immature specimens were taken near Hudson by Mr. 
S. Jillson in 1867, and several others seen there. A fully 
plumaged male was also taken in Ashland in May several 
years since by Mr. A. L. Babcock, and another near Lynn, 
by Mr. N. Vickary. New Jersey seems to be the most 
northern point on the Atlantic coast where these birds breed, 
or at which they can be considered as regular visitors, yet 
this species, as well as the Snowy Heron ( G'arzetta candidis- 
sima), have recently been captured in Nova Scotia. 1 
LirrLE BrLvE Heron. Florida cerulea Baird. In addi- 
tion to the previously recorded instances of its occurrence in 
Massachusetts, Mr. Maynard informs me he has recently seen 
it on one or two occasions in autumn. 
YELLOW-cROWNED Nicur Heron. Vyctherodius viola- 
ceus Reich. Mr. N. Vickary, of Lynn, the well known 
taxidermist, informs me that in October, 1862, he shot a fine 
specimen of this bird in Lynn. Though occurring occasion- 
ally as far north along the coast as New York, I have learned 
of no other instance of its capture in New England. 
Grossy Iers. Ibis Ordii Bon. In addition to those 
previously recorded as having been captured in Massachu- 
setts, a specimen was taken in Nantucket, September, 1869. 
It was also taken, as I learn from Mr. N. Vickary, in New 
Hampshire, in October, 1858, by Dr. Palmer. 
Witson’s Prover. Ochthodromus Wilsonius Reich.. The 
usual northern limit reached by this bird seems to be the 


. W. Putnam, Proc. Essex Inst., Vol. ii, p. 378. 
f Ibid., Vol v, p. 289. : : 
1J. Matthew Jones, Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Nat. Sci., Vol. ii, pt. 2, p. 72 (1868). 
