126 
General Notes. 
[April 
Winter Birds in New Brunswick. — Several correspondents have 
asked me if anything has been observed in this locality that would help 
to account for an unusually large number of boreal birds having visited 
more southern points during the season that has just passed, but I have 
failed to find any reason for such an occurrence; for, so far as I can 
gather from personal observation, and from correspondents in the north- 
ern sections of the Province, the usual species have been seen here and 
in much the same numbers as in former seasons. The Snow Buntings 
came along about two weeks earlier than th^y have been noticed for 
several years, and of the Pine Grosbeaks observed, a larger proportion 
perhaps have been in the red phase of plumage. Food of all kinds has 
been as plenty as usual ; indeed, the Raptorial species have had a better 
chance than usual to capture the small rodents, as the fall of snow has 
been extremely light. But no increase of these birds has been noticed. — 
Montague Chamberlain, St. John , N. B. 
Some Albinos in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy. — 
Among the numerous albinistic birds in the Academy’s collection, some 
species are represented in which I believe this peculiar whiteness has not 
yet been noticed. There is a perfect albino Merganser ( Mergus serra- 
tor); a Magpie (Yellow-billed?) in which the dark parts are replaced by 
coffee-color; two Red-head Ducks (. Fulix ferina americana) that have 
the head and neck white; two specimens of the Canada Goose (. Bernicla 
canadensis') that have the black of the head and neck replaced by white; 
and a Black-poll Warbler ( Dendroeca striata) in which the entire plumage 
is suffused with white. 
Of those already recorded, we have perfect albino specimens of the 
Chewink ( Piftilo erythrophthalmus) and the Kingbird ( Tyrannus caroli - 
nensis ), and a Red-tailed Hawk ( Buteo borealis) from Delaware Co., Pa., 
which is white, with the exception of the tail, which is of the usual red 
color. 
Melanism is exemplified by a handsome specimen of the Meadow Lark 
(, Sttirnella magna) from New Jersey. The upper plumage is of the 
normal color, while the whole head, neck, and under parts are perfectly 
black. There is the faintest possible trace of yellow along the sides, and 
no white feathers in the tail, which is very dark above and below. — Chas. 
H. Townsend, Acad. Nat. Sciences , Philadelphia , Pa. 
A Letter from an Old-time Ornithologist. — [The following letter, 
written about eighteen months before Dr. Kirtland’s death, seems of 
sufficient interest to be worthy of publication. — Edd.] 
Cleveland, O., May 22, 1876. 
Mr. H. A. Purdie, Sec’y N. O. C., 
Dear Sir. Yours of the 15th inst. informing me that I was 
elected a corresponding member of “the Nuttall Ornithological Club of 
Cambridge,” w'as duly received. It found me at 83 years of age, confined 
to a sick room, with no very favorable evidences of any improvement of 
