Chamberlain’s New Brunswick Notes. 
9 
I 1883.] 
species are admired. Its voice has neither the compass of the 
Catbird’s nor the volume of the Purple Finch’s, while it lacks the 
free abandon of the Bobolink’s and the sentiment so sweetly voiced 
I by the Vireo when he “whispers his secrets to the passing breeze.” 
! The chief characteristics of the song of the Fox Sparrow are 
I sweetness and purity of tone, and rare beauty of expression ; 
and in these he stands the peer of the ablest of his rivals. 
When I included the Indigo Bird in my catalogue of the Birds 
I of New Brunswick I had some misgivings as to its right to a 
place there ; but that right has been established by an example 
taken at Rothesay by Mr. Henry Gilbert, in May last, and by 
others observed by Mr. Gould. On the 24th of the same month 
the occurrence of the Bluebird near St. John was confirmed, for 
I shot a pair at Westfield, evidently mated. I also know of 
numerous others having been taken or seen during the summer. 
In May a small flock of Ring-necked Plover ( NEgialites semi- 
palmatus) and Peeps ( Actodromas minutilla ) spent a few days 
near St. John; although both of these species are very abundant 
here for several weeks in the autumn they have not before been 
known to occur in the spring. Piping Plover ( NEgialites me- 
! lodus ) too were taken here last spring for the first time, though I 
am not certain that more than four specimens were observed. 
Two of these were shot by the Baron de Tuyll, and are now in 
the collection of the Natural History Society here. 
The Titlark {Ant hits ludovicianus') must also be added to the 
list of species occurring in St. John County, as numerous large 
flocks were seen here in October last. 
Another of the occurrences for which the year is remark- 
able is that of a Whistling Swan ( Cygnus americanus ) , one 
having been secured by George BarnhilP, Esq., on April 8, at 
Belvidere Lake about twenty miles northwest from St. John. It 
was in immature plumage, but the sex was not ascertained. When 
first seen it was on the wing a short distance behind a flock of 
Wild Geese, and it followed these into an opening in the Lake, 
though keeping entirely separate from them. 
The late records in the Bulletin by Mr. Harry Merrill and 
others, regarding the rarity of Lomvia trcile , prompt me to add 
my quota of information, which will support the facts already 
recorded, as I have known of but two examples of this species 
Occurring in this vicinity in ten years. There is not, however, 
