1883,] 367 [Brewster. 



days before at our last stopping place. The drying and subse- 

 quent care of bird-skins in such a climate was also a matter de- 

 manding constant attention. They had to be spread out in the 

 sun whenever the weather permitted, and in other ways guarded 

 against injury from dampness. These duties consumed so much 

 time that but little was left for field-work. 



One of the bitterest disappointments was that attending our 

 search for nests. I had hoped to find eggs of the Black-poll 

 Warbler, Lincoln's Finch, Fox Sparrow, and similar desirable 

 species, but the only land birds' nests actually seen were one each 

 of the Robin and Downy Woodpecker, both containing young. 

 This ill-luck was due partly to the lateness of the season, partly to 

 the character of the forests — which in many places were postively 

 impenetrable — but chiefly to the lack of opj)ortunities for search. 



As has been already explained the majority of these difficulties 

 could not have been foreseen, or if foreseen, avoided ; I take 

 pleasure in adding that my catalogue of personal grievances in- 

 cludes none which in any way reflect up<3n the management of 

 the expedition. On the contrary I was furnished with every fa- 

 cility, possible under the circumstances, for the collection, preser- 

 vation, and storage of specimens, while there is not a member of 

 the party to whom I am not indebted for acts of assistance or 

 self-sacrifice. My obligations to its leader are especially great, 

 not only for material aid in the furtherance of my work, but also 

 for a large-hearted sympathy with, and appreciation of, its difficul- 

 ties, which lightened many an irksome task and encouraged me to 

 further exertions. Nor should I omit special acknowledgment 

 of Mr Warren's kind help in preparing specimens, as well as Mr. 

 Gardiner's unceasing efforts to procure for me rare or desirable 

 birds. 



Although the expedition resulted in a reconnoisance rather 

 than a thorough exploration, a fairly large number of specimens 

 was collected and some important notes made on the habits and 

 distribution of several species as yet imperfectly known. A 

 nearly full series of the specimens has been mounted for the 

 ~New England Collection of the Society, while the notes are em- 

 bodied in the following paper. With few exceptions it includes 

 only such species as were actually observed by our party, and no 

 attempt has been made to swell the list of names by citing species 



