OUR FRIENDS THE BIRDS. 
Daniel J. Marsh, Esq., 
President of Park Commissioners : 
Dear Sir.—A year ago I had the pleasure of preparing for you 
an approximate list of the birds that frequent “ Forest Park,” as 
residents, regular migrants and irregular visitants. 
With your permission I will add to that list the names of a few 
species whose presence in the Park has been observed during the 
past year. 
The Fish Crow and the Red-headed Woodpecker were identified 
by Mr. Barney, who is an interested and intelligent observer of 
the habits of birds, and who is doing a great deal in their interest 
by furnishing them with an abundant supply of food and attract¬ 
ive shrubbery for shelter and nesting places. 
The Misses Dewey of this city were fortunate enough to find 
within the limits of the Park that remarkable bird, rare in all 
parts of this state, the Yellow-breasted Chat. 
It was observed there last June, and several amateur ornitholo¬ 
gists had the pleasure of listening to its wonderful ventriloquism 
and the great variety of tones and calls in its polyglot vocabulary. 
Its return next summer is anticipated with no little interest. 
I visited the Park many times last summer, and not once in the 
song season did I fail to find, in large numbers, the most interest¬ 
ing song birds that are regular summer residents of Southern 
Massachusetts. 
In the open grounds on the borders of the Park the three lead¬ 
ing songsters of the Sparrow family could be heard on any pleasant 
dav in June. The Song Sparrow frequented the swales and moist 
runs, and his sprightly song was heard from March to September. 
