The Avocet ( Recurvirostra americana ) in Massachusetts. — A 
bird of this interesting species was shot October 19, 1880, near Lake Co- 
chituate in the town of Natick, Middlesex County, by a local gunner. Mr. 
Paul S. Roberts, in whose possession I first saw it, secured and mounted 
the specimen. The plumage is immature, being that of ll R. occidentalism 
of authors (figured in Vigor’s Zool. Voy. of Blossom, pi. xii ; Gray’s 
Gen. of Birds, III. pi. civ; Cassin’s 111 ., pi. xl). My record is the third 
authentic one for New England, and the first for Massachusetts.* 
We are indebted to Mr. E. J. Smith of Natick for knowledge of this cap- 
ture, he writing the fact to Mr. C. J. Maynard, who kindly gave me the 
information. — H. A. Purdie, Newton, N.O.C. 0, April, 1881, 
T . . , , D Anfc„ XIV, Apr., 1S97 V P- 
i ne Avocet ( Recurvirostra americana) at Ipswich, Mass. — I take 
pleasure in reporting the capture of three American Avocets, on Sept. 13, 
1896, at Ipswich Neck, Ipswich, Mass., by Mr. A. B. Clark of Peabody, 
Mass. The birds were brought into the taxidermist establishment of Mr. 
L. W. Newell in Boston, where I saw them, and where I at last found out 
about their capture. There were but three birds in the bunch. They 
were not sexed when skinned. — Fred. H. Kennard, Brookline, Mass. 
