Gape Cod, Q-.S, Miller, Jr, 
Sayornis saya. — On September 30, 1889, I killed an adult male of this 
western species, near one of the High Land farmhouses. It was after 
sunset when the bird was first seen, and several times during the rather 
long chase that he gave me I nearly lost him in the darkness. Late 
though it was, he was busily engaged in catching insects, which he invaria- 
bly did by flying directly upward. The only way in which I can explain 
this peculiar action is by supposing that in the fast failing light, insects 
were most easily seen when outlined against the sky. His flight, and in 
fact all of his motions, seemed strong and active, and did not in the least 
suggest fatigue. So far as I could tell he was perfectly silent; but as 
there was a high south wind blowing at the time, some slight note 
might easily have passed unnoticed. Upon dissection the bird proved to 
be in good condition, fat, and apparently uninjured in any way, except- 
ing that the right scapula had, at some previous time, been fractured 
near its distal end. This injury was, however, so perfectly recovered 
from, that it could have caused the bird no inconvenience whatever. The 
testes were as well, if not better, developed than is usual in autumnal 
birds. The stomach was well filled, chiefly with Di-ptera , but the heads 
of a few ants were noticed among the other contents. 
It is unnecessary to say that this is the first record of the capture 
of this species in New England.^®^* "VII, July, 1890 , p, ZIXff- 
5S 
