152 
General Notes. 
[ [I have found Phalaropus hijperboreus to be of by no means rare occur- 
rence in Boston market, from Cape Cod and elsewhere along the Massa- 
chusetts coast, and remember upon one occasion purchasing four specimens 
there. It is, however, like several other off-coast species, not commonly 
found near the land unless forced to take shelter from severe storms. — 
William Brewster.] 
The Glossy Ibis in Massachusetts. — I have had the pleasure of 
examining a fresh specimen of the Glossy Ibis ( Ibis falcinellus ), which was 
taken, May 4, 1878, on Cape Cod, Mass. — Charles B. Cory, Boston , 
Mass. 
A note from Mr. Ruthven Deane, respecting the above-mentioned speci- 
men. states that it was shot at Eastham, Mass., by Mr. Augustus Denton. 
Mr. N. Vickary, of Lynn, Mass., writes me that he has in his possession 
also a specimen of this species ( Plegadis falcinellus , Kaup, the Falcinellus 
igneus of recent writers, the Ibis ordi of most American writers *) taken at 
East Orleans, May 5, 1878. This, with the specimens above recorded by 
Dr. Brewer and Mr. Cory, makes three that were taken at nearly the same 
date and near the same locality on Cape Cod, during the first week of 
May, the present year. — J. A. Allen, Cambridge , Mass. 
Two more Birds new to the Fauna of North America. — Professor 
Baird writes me that among some birds recently taken by r Dr. James C. 
Merrill near Fort Brown, Texas, and forwarded to the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, are examples of Vireo flavo-viridis and Sturnella mexicana. Both 
of these species are new to our fauna. — T. M. Brewer, Boston , Mass. 
* Opinion varies much among recent writers respecting the proper generic and 
specific names of this species. Nearly all late writers have adopted Falcinellus 
(“ Bechstein, 1803”) for the generic name, and igneus (Gmelin, 1771) for the 
specific name. Reichenow, however, employs rufus (Scopoli, 1769). Salvin 
and Sclater have recently claimed Plegadis (Kaup, 1829) for the generic name, 
thereby rendering falcinellus (Linne, 1766) available for the specific designation. 
On this point these authors write as follows : “A reference to Bechstein’s work 
shows that that author called the Glossy Ibis Numenius falcinellus , and in no 
way employed the latter title in a generic sense. Failing Falcinellus , Plegadis, 
Kaup (Skizz. Entw. Gesch., p. 82, 1829), appears to stand next in order of date; 
and thus Plegadis falcinellus (L.) would be the correct name for the Glossy 
Ibis.” — Ibis, 4th Ser., Vol. II, January, 1878, p. 112. 
