> 38 3 .] 
Recent Literature. 
2 33 
Linden on Domestication of Wild Ducks.* — After brief reference 
to the various species of wild Ducks that formerly frequented Lake Chau- 
tauqua, Western New York, which have now mostly become rare, Mr. 
Linden summarizes the results of systematic efforts continued for nearly 
thirty years by Mr. George Irwin at the above-named locality to domesti- 
cate several of the species. These were the Mallard, Dusky Duck, Wood 
Duck, Blue-winged Teal, and American Swan. All of these bred freely 
and reared their young in confinement, but the Mallard and Dusky Duck 
proved the “most tractable for domestication,” and readily became trans- 
formed into “tamed barn-yard fowl.” The Dusky Duck, Mr. Linden 
states, is fully as domesticable as the Mallard, with which it readily crosses. 
-J. A. A. 
Minor Ornithological Publications. — 365. Rarer birds of Mass- 
achusetts. By Arthur P. Chadbourne. Quarterly Journal of the Boston 
Zoological Society, \ Vol. I, 1882, pp. 4, 5, 20-24, 30-35. — A list of about 
80 species, with references to the original authorities for their occurrence. 
Mimus folyglottus is given as doubtfully entitled to a place in the list, 
“owing to many [of the specimens taken] being escaped cage-birds,” the 
author having apparently overlooked the fact of its having been found 
breeding at Springfield (see Proc. Essex Inst., IV, p. 67). We may add 
that we are credibly informed of two later instances of its breeding at 
Springfield. Cardinalis virginianus is- placed in the same category, but 
it is hardly “probable” that all the specimens recorded were escaped cage- 
birds. 
366. De 7 idroeca finus in Winter. By Robert W. Hogg. Ibid , pp. 25, 
26. — Record of a specimen taken, and of others seen, in Framingham, 
Mass., Dec. 5, 1881. 
367. Anotker Spotted Egg of Empidonax minimus. By R. Hayward. 
Ibid., p. 26. — One of a set of three eggs, found at Marblehead, Mass., 
July, 1880, had “a ring of light brown spots at the larger end.” 
368. Baird’s Sandpiper at Marblehead , Mass . By Charles R. Lamb. 
Ibid., p. 37. — Taken Aug. 15, 1881. 
369. A Third Specimen of the Swallow-tailed Gull ( Xema furcatum). 
By C. J. Maynard. Ibid., p. 37. — On the authority of Mr. Howard Saun- 
ders of London, but locality of capture not stated. 
370. A List of Birds observed near Bradford, Penn. By James A. 
Tuelon. Ibid., I, pp. 47-52; II, pp. 8-1 1. — (For further notice of this pa- 
per see this Bulletin, Vol. VIII, p. 171.) 
371. Ornithological Notes from the Magdalen Islands. By C. J. May- 
nard Ibid., I, pp. 52, 53. — Interesting notes on 8 species, from observa- 
tions by “A. M. Frazer” [=FrazarJ. Curvirostra leucoptera in nestling 
plumage taken June 18-26, 1882. 
* On the Domestication of some of our Wild Ducks. By, Charles Linden. Bull. 
Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sciences, Vol. IV, No. 2, pp. 33-39, 1882. 
fThis is the organ, now in its second volume, of a small society of young natural- 
ists, recently established in Boston. Vol. I, 8vo, pp. iv+ 58, 1882. It is well printed and 
carefully edited, and contains notes of interest in various departments of Zoology. 
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