Brewer.] 452 [March 3, 



Corvus ossifragus Wils. This is included by Dr. Coues, but 

 its claim rests on no reliable data. Mr. Lawrence has never known 

 of an individual taken north of Sqham Beacli, New Jersey. 



Empidonax acadicus Gm. Mr. Allen informs me that the spe- 

 cies found in western Massachusetts, and included by him in the list 

 as the Acadian Flycatcher, is really Emp. Traillii. This leaves us 

 without any evidence of the occurrence of this species, and I have 

 therefore taken it from the list. 



iEgialitis Wilsonius Cass. I am in doubt in regard to this 

 species. It is not of Massachusetts, although my name is usually 

 quoted as authority therefor. Its occurrence on the coast of Con- 

 necticut is quite probable, but as I have no data therefor, I take it 

 from among the birds of New England, at least for the present. 



E-ecurvirostra americana Gm. This has been placed among 

 the birds of New England by Prof. Verrill and by Dr. Coues, on the 

 strength of a single specimen said to have been taken by Mr. G. A. 

 Boardman, near Calais. As this specimen was not taken near Calais, 

 but at Point Lepreaux, New Brunswick, we are without any evidence 

 that this bird belongs to our fauna, and therefore I take it out. 



Scolopax rusticola Linn. The European Woodcock has been 

 placed in our list by Dr. Coues inferentially only. We have no facts 

 that warrant our following his conclusion, and I have to omit it. 



Anser cserulescens Cassin. Dr. Coues says that if this bird 

 be really a valid species it should take its place in the list of New 

 England birds. But I can find no data for this conclusion. I believe 

 it to be a good species, but one exclusively western, and I have no 

 evidence that a single individual has ever been taken within our 

 limits. Mr. Boardman, who has been quoted as authority, writes me 

 that he has never met with it. 



Bernicla leucopsis Linn. I omit this from among the birds 

 of New England, because I am confident that all the instances of its 

 supposed capture have been birds that had escaped from confine- 

 ment. It is a bird, at best, only accidental in America in a wild state, 

 is not uncommon in private collections of water fowl, and occasion- 

 ally escapes. Eight birds escaped from the grounds of a gentleman 

 in Halifax, in the fall of 1871 or 1872, many of which were afterwards 

 shot at various points along the coast. The specimen taken in North 

 Carolina and referred to by Mr. Lawrence was probably one of these 

 escaped birds. 



