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Apologetic. — I sincerely regret that my hasty and inaccurate reference 
to Mr. N. 0. Brown’s brief mention of the occurrence, near Portland, of 
the Sharp-tailed Finch should have given to that gentleman even a mo- 
ment’s annoyance. Nothing could have been farther from my intention 
than to “ misquote ” him. Indeed, had I quoted him the mistake could 
not have been made. My point of interest was the locality, the number 
seen was to me of no moment. Remembering that he had spoken of the 
“ bird ” in the singular number, I had a mistaken impression that he had 
seen but one. Certainly the readers of the Bulletin have no occasion to 
regret my careless mistake, since it has been the means of eliciting an in- 
teresting and more full account of the occurrence of this species in a before 
unknown and unusual locality. 
My statement that not a specimen of the Micropalama was then known 
to have been taken along the entire coast of Maine may have been “ sweep- 
ing.” It was so intended to be. At the time it was made it was literally 
and exactly true. Of the occasional and irregular occurrence, of this bird 
in the vicinity of Portland I am well aware (see Proc. Boston Sqc. Nat. 
Hist., Oct. 3, 1877). Its presence at a single point on the western portion 
of the coast of Maine, so long as all the rest of the coast is destitute, does 
not prove either that it is regular in its migrations, or that these extend 
along the whole New England coast. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 
Bull, N, 0.0, 3, July, 18?8, p, / % , 
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For, & Stream, fortTsS, 
