JBerrier on Birds at Fort Hamilton , L. /. II 
The only other parts, of any constancy, in the limbs besides the 
bones and muscles are the nerves. And here again we find facts 
that point towards the existence of the thumb. In man and some 
mammals the I, II and radial side of the III fingers are supplied by 
the radial nerve while the ulnal supplies the rest. This also is 
the case in birds, a small branch from the ulnal running down the 
posterior face of the pinion to the III finger. 
Thus, since the arguments drawn from the Archeeofiteryx must 
be discarded, none remain to prove the non-existence of the 
thumb. On the other hand, all the facts of myology point to its 
existence, while the nerves, though not so constant, point the 
same way. Analogy to the foot also points this way, there being 
two joints in the thumb and three in the index, the same number 
that are the rule in the foot for the first and second toes. Also 
where there are two and three joints respectively in the finger 
there are often claws on the end, thus pointing to unugual pha- 
langes. 
So it seems safe to say that the structural evidence of the 
forearm and hand points to the existence of the I, II, III, and IV 
fingers in the class of birds. 
NOTES ON A FEW BIRDS OBSERVED AT FORT 
HAMILTON, LONG ISLAND, N. Y. 
BY DE L. BERRIER. 
About the 20th of September, 187 7, great numbers of the Red- 
headed Woodpecker ( Melanerpes erythrocephalus ) , made their 
appearance about Fort Hamilton. They outnumbered the “ High- 
holes,” usually so common at that time of the year, and attracted 
the attention of the local gunners. Up to this time I had looked 
upon the Red-head as a scarce bird with us, having seen it only a 
few times before. As long ago as 1844, Giraud noticed that this 
bird had become much less abundant in the Eastern States than 
formerly. Dr. Coues, in u Birds of the North West,” says it is 
now rare in New England. The conclusion is that either the bird is 
becoming extirpated in these regions, or else it is taking the advice 
