Brewer.] 306 [February 6, 



instances of erratic presence of a distant western form within our 

 limits. It is the first instance of its capture east of the Mississippi 

 River. The example was taken in Lynn, by Mr. Vickary, Dec. 5, 1877. 



Corvus ossifragus Wilson. The capture of an undoubted 

 example of this southern species is all that is needed to confirm its 

 right to be regarded as an occasional visitant to New England, and 

 this is probably only a question of time. It is not known to have 

 ever been actually taken within our limits. 



Milvulus forficatus Sw. Mr. Purdie (Nutt. Bull., n, p. 21) 

 credits Mr. Carpenter with having procured at Wauregan, Conn., 

 April, 1876, a specimen of this bird, an occurrence exceptional and 

 accidental. 



Empidonax acadicus Bd. After all, this bird must resume 

 its place among the birds of New England, where Mr. Allen was the 

 first to place it, and on whose verdict it was withdrawn. A speci- 

 men taken by Mr. E. I. Shores in Suffield, and fully identified as this 

 bird, is cited by Mr. Merriam (Birds of Conn., p. 581). 



Strix pratricola Bon. Mr. N. C. Brown (Nutt. Bull., it, p. 28) 

 records the capture of an example of this species at Falmouth, Me., 

 June 10, 1866. 



Surnia ulllla Linn. This species, a new form to North Amer- 

 ica, as well as to New England, claims a place in this list. A speci- 

 men was taken at Houlton, Me., in the fall of 1877, and is now in 

 the collection of Mr. W. S. Brewer of this city. 



Hierofalco labradora Aud. Mr. Cory (Nutt. Bull., n, p. 27) 

 records the capture of this fine variety of the Gyrfalcon, on Breed's 

 Island, Mass., in Oct., 1876. Mr. Boardman has also secured one or 

 two specimens near Calais. I think that there are three distinct 

 forms of Hierofalco of occasional occurrence in New England, but I 

 am not prepared to designate them distinctively. 



Buteo Swainsoni var. insignatus Cassin. Mr. Brewster re- 

 cords the capture of a second specimen of Swainson's Buzzard at 

 Wayland, Mass., in September, 1876 (Nutt. Bull., ill, p. 39). It was 

 -in a less melanistic plumage than the first. 



Arquatella maritima Bd. This species is given in the cata- 

 logue as only a winter visitant, but the capture of an adult specimen 

 at Chatham, Mass., by Mr. Wm. Jeffries of Boston, Sept. 8,1877, 

 suggests a modification of this record. This early presence on our 

 coast, in mature dress, is probably exceptionaL 



