First Capture of the Blue Grosbeak in Massachusetts. — Mr. 
Gordon Plummer kindly informs me, that on May 29, 1880, he took a fine 
male of this species ( Goniaphea ccerulea ) in Brookline. This forms its 
first record for Massachusetts, and the second for New England, the 
other being Calais, Me., Boardman, who records it (Proc. Bost. Soc. 
Nat. Hist.. IX, p. 127) as “ Very uncertain, but common in the spring of 
1861.” Mr. Herrick also states (Bull. Essex Inst., Y, p. 32) that a male 
was taken “ in the spring of 1861 ” at Grand Menan, N. B. In my “ List 
of the Birds of Massachusetts,” published in 1878 (Bull. Essex Inst., X, 
pp. 3-37), I included it among the “ Species of probable occurrence,” 
remarking that it “ is surely to be added, sooner or later, to the list of 
Massachusetts birds” ( l . c., p. 33). 
In this connection it may be of interest to note that during the last two 
years nine species and two varieties have been added to the 316 species up 
to that time fully authenticated as birds of Massachusetts. These, with 
the four formerly occurring but now extirpated, bring the total number 
to 329 thus far identified as belonging to the fauna of this State. — J. A. 
Allen, Cambridge, Mass. Bull. N.O.O. 5 , July, 1880, p. I % */ 
