Prothonotary Warbler in Ontario. - While collecting Warblers near 

 Hamilton on the morning of the 23d of May, 1888, I met a group which 

 had evidently just arrived from some favored point in the South, their 

 plumage being particularly fresh and bright, and such rare species as the 

 IVIourning and Connecticut Warblers and the Green Blackcap being con- 

 spicuous. Presently I noticed one on a willow overhanging the water, 

 which seemed to be a compromise between the Summer Yellow Bird and 

 the Yellow-throated Vireo. On picking it up I was greatly pleased to 

 find I had got a specimen of the Prothonotary Warbler— a female in the 

 ordinary plumage of the season. It is the first record of the species for 

 Ontario and the second for Canada, the first being that of a specimen 

 which was found at St. Stephens, New Brunswick, by Mr. Boardman in 

 October, 1862.— K. C. IVTcIl wraith, Hamilton, Ontario. 



Auk. V. Jtay. 1888. p. 9ZI-32S. 



29. Protonataria citrea. Prothonotary Wahbler. — A female 

 taken at Hamilton May 23, 1888, by Dr. K. C. Mcllwraith; it has been 

 seen here at least once. 



Prothonotary Warbler taken on the Coast of Maine.— A number of bird 

 skins collected between about 1867 and 1874 by the late Levi L. Thaxter 

 and his two sons have recently come into the possession of the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology. Among them is a beautiful adult male Prothono- 

 tary Warbler in fresh nuptial plumage. Like many of the others it is 

 encircled by a broad, close-fitting paper band into which, no doubt, it was 

 slipped when freshly skinned and put away to dry, according to a practise 

 much in vogue half a century ago and one followed rather frequently, 

 although not invariably, by the Thaxters. This band was made to serve 

 the place of the usual tag or label, for on it is clearly inscribed in ink, and 

 in the handwriting of Mr. Levi L. Thaxter, the following brief record:— 

 "Matinicus Id., Me., August, 1868." 



In addition to these data there is the word "Lonys" faintly written in 

 pencil. "Lony," it seems, was a familiar nickname applied to Dr. Roland 

 Thaxter in his early youth and sometimes used in the possessive case to 

 designate the birds which he himself had killed. Although he has no 

 distinct recollection of the Prothonotary Warbler his brother John, whom 

 he has just questioned on the subject, remembers it perfectly and is certain 

 that it was shot on Matinicus Island. It is not less reassuring than satis- 

 factory to have so positive a statement from such a source; for when Mr. 

 Samuel Henshaw first called my attention to the bird I could not help sus- 

 pecting, and indeed, suggesting to him, that its original paper wrapper 

 might easily have been exchanged through accident for that of some other 

 skin of similar size, prepared in the same way. There is, I believe, but one 

 record besides this of the occurrence of the Prothonotary Warbler in Maine. 

 It relates to a specimen taken by the late Mr. George A. Boardman at 

 Calais on October 30, 1862.i — William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass. . 



Auk 36. Joiy-lOof.Sk 30f. , 



