The Blackburnian and Bay-breasted Warblers at Martha's Vine- 

 yard, Mass.— These warblers are quite rare in eastern Massachusetts, 

 therefore it may be weU to record the following observations : ^ 



Chapman notes in his ' Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America 

 Blackburnian Warbler, " Cambridge, T. V., uncommon." Bay-breasted: 



Cambridge, rather rare T. V." - - 



Howe and Allen in their 'Birds of Massachusetts' say: Blackburnian 

 Warbler: "Martha's Vineyard: 'Transient. Rare.'" Bay-breasted: 

 " Martha's Vineyard: ' Transient.' " 



When at my summer place at Oak Bluffs, M. V., which is located in an 

 oak grove, I am usually alert for birds, it being a favorable place for ob- 

 servation. About 10 A. M., May 21, 1905, a most dehghtful morning, I 

 heard a warbler's song with which I was unfamihar. Upon investigating 

 I discovered a pair of Blackburnian Warblers ( Dendroica Jusca) in the 

 lower branches of an oak, 15 feet from cottage. They were beautiful, 

 graceful birds; flitting from branch to branch, catching insects, singing now 

 and then; spreading their tails, showing their white webs and their black 

 and white and orange parts showing to perfection. I had a near view of 

 the handsome male and his shghtly plainer mate, both being in then- 

 faultless nuptial dress. I had waited years for this sight and enjoyed it 

 thoroughly. 



September 12, 1914, while exploring the pine barrens near East Chop, 

 Martha's Vineyard, where the Grasshopper Sparrow and the Heath Hen 

 sometimes occur, I encountered a flock of probably 126 migrating sparrows 

 and warblers. I examined several of the latter which proved to be Black- 

 polls, and then a warbler attracted my attention which had an unusually 

 deep yellow breast. I at first thought it one of the comparatively highly 

 colored, fall Pine Warblers. I quickly lost sight of this bird and searched 

 for another, which I soon found, and by its chestnut flanks and white tail 

 patches I recognized the Bay-breasted Warbler {Dendroica caslanea). 

 There were surely two in the mixed flock and doubtless more.— Charles 

 L. Phillips, Taunlmi, Mass. 



Warbler Notes from Rhinebeck, N. Y.— One of the most remarkable 

 features of the past spring migration has been the abundance of the rarer 

 warblers. My notes are based on daily observations made over an area 

 of about two hundred and fifty acres of mixed woodland, lawns and marshy 

 ground. The species of warblers to which I wish to make especial refer- 

 ence are the Blackburnian, Cape May, Tennessee, Bay-breasted and Wil- 

 son's Warblers. 



Contrary to the u-sual dates, the Blackburnian Warbler has arrived in 

 the past three years on April 29, May 5 and May 1, respectively. This 

 year the height of its migration was reached on May 19, when eight were 

 observed. It was last seen on the 29th. The Cape May Warbler also has 

 been coming ahead of schedule time, on May 4, 8 and 2. In 1916 it was 

 pretty steadily present until the 27th and five were observed on three occa- 

 sions. 



But the most remarkable increase has been shown by the Tennessee 

 Warbler. Up to 1915 I had only one spring and one autumn record of the 

 species. In 1915 it was observed several times from May 6 to 20, three 

 being recorded on the 19th. In 1916 it did not arrive until the 10th, but 

 immediately became the most conspicuous and constant songster of the 

 entire family, as many as half a dozen answering each other from adjacent 

 tree-tops. The climax of its migration was reached on May 22, when 

 sixteen were recorded and it remained common until the 29th. One 

 straggler was observed on June 2. 



I usually see not more than five or six Bay-breasted Warblers in a season, 

 but this year they were constantly present from May 11 until the 29th, 

 twelve being recorded on the 19th. Wilson's Warbler also arrived on the 

 11th and stayed till the 29th, singing freely and as many as four being seen 

 on two different days. 



One other unusual occurrence was a visit from a Blue-winged Warbler 

 in full song on May 19, as Dutchess County is beyond the normal range of 

 this species. The 19th of May marked the turning point of the warbler 

 migration and twenty-three species were noted on that day. — Maunsell 

 S. Crosby, Rhinebeck, N. Y. 



X XX III, O^X7, / f/'d. /^,^3P- 4^3 ?r 



