5. Ms. sponsa (Linn.). Wood Dnck. For- 
merly a rare summer resident. Mr. N. 
A. Francis tells me that this species 
many years ago bred near Lost pond. 
6. Branta canadensis (Linn.). Canada 
Goose. A not uncommon migrant. A 
few birds not infrequently on migra- 
tions drop into the Chestnut Hill Res- 
ervoir (Newton, Brighton) t" rest, but 
I have never heard of them being seen 
in recent years in any of our Brookline 
ponds. March, April. 
7. Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.). Ameri- 
can Bittern. An uncommon migrant, 
formerly much more common before 
the Muddy creek was improved. 
8. Ardetta exilis (Gmel.). Least Bittern. 
Formerly a summer resident, having 
been driven from its breeding ground, 
Leverett pond, by civilization. 
9. Ardea herodias (Linn.), Great Blue 
Heron. A not uncommon migrant, 
especially to the Putterham meadows. 
A single bird spent the week previous 
to December 15, 1898, at Hall's pond, 
Longwood. April 3 to June 26, Sep- 
tember 9 to October 10. 
10. Butorides viresceus (Linn.). Green 
Heron. A summer resident, known at 
least to breed just outside town limits. 
A bird remained at Hall's pond. Long- 
wood, from June 1 to 19, 1897. 
11. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Bodd.). 
Black-crowned Night Heron. A perma- 
nent resident, wintering not at all un- 
commonly. 
12. Rallus virginianus (Lmn.). Virginia Rail. 
Formerly a summer resident, but like 
the Least Bittern (Ardetta exilis) now 
deprived of its old breeding place, 
Leverett pond. 
13. Porzana Carolina (Linn.). Sora. For- 
merly a common summer resident with 
the preceding species now only found 
as an uncommon migrant. 
14. Fulica americana (Gmel.). American 
Coot. Formerly undoubtedly not an un- 
common migrant. Of late years un- 
recorded. Mr. George R. Wales shot a 
single bird on Muddy creek about 1883. 
15. Philohela minor (Gmel.). American 
Woodcock. A not uncommon migrant, 
and rare summer resident. March 22 to 
