The Titlark (Anthus ludovicianus) its Massachusetts in June. — 

 The occurrence of the Titlark on the coast of Massachusetts so late as the 

 8th of June, with just the possible suspicion that it was about to breed 

 there, is a very interesting and characteristic fact in the history of the 

 eccentric and abnormal habits of this species. It has been claimed to 

 breed regularly in Central New York, though its presence there in mid- 

 summer would seem, of itself, so improbable as to require coniirmation. 

 The example now referred to as taken on our coast was shot by Mr. Wm. 

 A. Jeffries, on a small island off the shore, at Swampscott, on Saturday, 

 June 8. Its mate, if it had one, could not then be found, nor any trace of 

 a nest. We cannot be certain of its having been a mated bird, but the 

 condition of its reproductive organs renders this supposition probable. 

 The occurrence of this species on our coast, in the height of the breeding 

 season, while it does not necessarily coniirm that of Mr. Gilbert of Penn 

 Yan (see Bull., Ill, p. 35), goes a good way to establish its eccentric and no- 

 madic habits, and prepare us to accept as possible, irregularities that would 

 be improbable in almost any other species. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 



BuU.N.0.0. 3,Oct..l878, p. /^V- 



\ American Titlark {Antlius ludovacianus) . I 

 ! have seen large flocks of these birds along the 



bank of the Taunton river. 



[Note.— This species is very common and was 



accidentally omitted from Mr. Andros' list.— 



Ed.l 



i88. wb.n ^"^P"«^ °" February 



-5, 1S82, vvhoi I came close upon two as they sat perched upon 

 a rock on Moon Island, Boston Harbor. ^ 



BuaN.O.O, SiJwly. 1888, p, /^^ 



Distribution of Birds as influenced B-i 

 Area — Many of the readers of the Bulletin 

 of the fact that the city of Boston has been en^ag 

 in the construction of extensive works on Sudbiir 



irs to contain a 

 : completed in 

 an aggregate 

 ■ying with the 



I causes 

 nlarginj 



for reserve 

 works wer 



stantlj va: 

 well as from natnra 

 noticeable efl'ect in ( 

 ably situated (rather too fa 

 being now under water!) I ha 

 with considerable interest ar 



A. Species that, so far as I 

 (residence of 27 years), are 1 

 I. All thus ludo 



n " additional watei 

 [879, and the three 

 area of some 600 

 varying quantities 



INCREASE OF WaTER 



u-e doubtless cognizant 

 tA for several years past 

 . River in Framingham, 



ba: 



aipply '■ for the city. These 

 were speedily filled, 

 vith a water line con- 

 for consumption, as 



This increase of water surface has had 

 the Avi-fauna of the locality. Being favor- 

 ibly, in one respect, one-half of my farm 

 watched this accession to our yisiting list 

 diligence, and make the following mem- 



ascertain by enquiry and observatit 

 new to this vicinity. 



One obtained by self, Nov., 1879; several 1 

 others. 



BuU.N.0.0. e.April. 1881, p. ^X<^-/S7. 



Fntf:H''"''7'tT-~"'''' "^-^ Titlark's presence in New 



England is decidedly not "similar to that of the Shore Lark " for 



17, Jan. 1S77), the former normally occurs only as a spring and flrll micrnnt 

 while the Shore Lark regularly winters. Dr. Brewe'r isthe ^^^l 

 for the wintering of the Titlark in Massachusetts, and if there was no mi^ 

 take about the instances he records they were unquestionably exceptional. 

 The negative evidence in this case is unusually conclusive. It wonld not 

 be difficult to produce a dozen reliable persons who have had many years- 

 experience in winter collecting along the Massachusetts coast who vet 

 have never seen a Titlark there after November. Our own experience 

 IS that the species arrives from the north about the middle of Seotentber i! 

 at the height of its abundance during the latter part of that mouth and t'he 

 first half of October, and wholly disappears before the close of Novem- 

 ber to reappear in April, when it is less frequently seen and apparently 

 more irregular in its movements. ' ^ ^ 



Bull N.O.O. ^.oct, U 



^ 3 P 



