132 
Bicknell on the Carolinian Fauna. 
every season. The almost proverbial inconstancy and variableness of these 
birds in the construction of their nests in different parts of the country, is 
even apparent at a single locality. Indeed, two nests in my collection, 
which were taken within a mile of each other, are so entirely dissimilar 
that were they not positively identified, it would be difficult to believe that 
they belonged to the same species. This mutability exhibited by the 
species in question is not confined solely to the construction of their nest ; 
for in one of the above-mentioned nests the three eggs were almost incu- 
bated on June 18, while in the other the last of three eggs was deposited 
on June 28, showing a difference of at least three weeks in their time of 
laying. It is worthy of remark that the first nest found was much more 
warmly and compactly constructed than the latter, possibly the result of 
foresight on the part of the bird. 
Strix flammea americana. Barn Owl. — Mr. H. B. Bailey informs 
me, that late in the afternoon of April 5, last, when passing up Fulton 
Street, New York City, his attention was directed by a crowd of gaping 
“ citizens ” to one of these birds perched upon a house-top, over the street. 
The bird did not offer to fly, and was left where it had been found, a distinct 
view of course rendering the identification absolute. Mr. Akhurst has 
“repeatedly” observed it about Snake Hill, N. J. ; and two specimens 
taken by him on Staten Island are now in the collection of the Long 
Island Historical Society. 
Numerous other of our more southern birds have been recorded from 
the vicinity of New York City, which lack of space w T ill prevent my men- 
tioning here. With regard to Goniaphea ccerulea, however, it might be 
well to state that besides the specimen recorded by De Kay,* as having 
been taken on Manhattan Island, Mr. Akhurst in a single day, many 
years ago, noticed several specimens about Snake Hill, N. J., and again 
on Long Island, both instances being in the spring. The same gentleman 
is aware of several (five or six or more) specimens of Gyanospiza ciris hav- 
ing been taken on the coast of Long Island, near the Narrows, and he took 
two specimens near Brooklyn. All of these birds were in fine plumage, 
and bore no evident signs of having been caged, agreeing in this respect 
with a male specimen taken at Biverdale on July 13, 1875, which, how- 
ever, was in somewhat worn plumage. In the “ Elliot collection ” at the 
Central Park Museum, I recollect having seen a fine male specimen labelled 
“New Jersey.” It is within the range of possibility that some of these 
birds may have wandered northward out of their proper habitat, but the 
popularity of this species as a cage bird, together with the absence of any rec- 
ords from along the Atlantic Coast north of its known range, would render 
such a supposition improbable. On the other hand, however, the condi- 
tion of plumage in which the birds were taken, as well as the appearance 
of the bill and feet, are evidence which would argue in favor of their be- 
ing wild. 
* Birds of New York, p. 146. 
