

644 NOTES ON SOME OF THE 
1868. Heretofore generally considered rare in this state, 
which appears to be its northern limit. 
SaxpwICH Tern. Sterna cantiaca Gmelin. (Sterna acu- 
Jlavida Cabot.) Mr. Nathaniel Vickary, of Lynn, has a 
specimen of this species in his collection, which he shot at 
Chatham, in August, 1865. The usual northward range of 
this southern species does not extend beyond South Carolina, 
and is now for the first time reported as captured either in 
this state or in New England. 
SHORT-TAILED Tern.  Hydrochelidon fissipes Gray. Oc- 
casional, chiefly after the breeding season. Mr. C. J. May-: 
nard has taken it at Ipswich, and probably it occurs all along 
the coast, though its existence here has been questioned. 
Sooty Tern.  Huliplana fuliginosa Wagl. (Sterna fu- 
liginosa Gm.) This species was given in my list as a rare 
summer visitor, on the authority of Mr. E. A. Samuels, who 
—he having found two young birds he referred to this spe- 
cies—iuformed me that it bred on Muskeget Island. As it is 
a southern species, and is only occasional on the coast of New 
Jersey, which is north of its breeding range, it is somewhat 
doubtful whether it is entitled to a place in a list of the 
birds of Massachusetts. Respecting this species Dr. Brewer 
has written me as follows: "It does not and never did 
breed on Muskeget, nor do I believe it ever comes here." 
Sinee the equally southern Sandwich Tern has been taken 
here, the probability of this being also an accidental visitor 
is increased. 
Great Auk. Alca impennis Linn. This species has re- 
cently been made known as a former inhabitant of Massa- 
chusetts. Professor Wyman first discovered its remains in 
New England at Mount Desert, in the Indian shell-heaps.* 
Mr. F. W. Putnam reports that a humerus of this bird was 
found in August, 1868, in the shell-heaps of Ipswich, by 
Professor Baird.¢ Mr. Maynard and myself found frag- 

* American Naturalist, Vol. i, p. 578. 
 [Coues « New England," Proc. Essex Inst., Vol. v, p. 310, foot note. 

