on toward a camp-house in hopes of flushing the birds, 
while the Doctor and myself returned to the boat and 
started out of the little creek where we had landed. As 
we did so, a great white bird (presumably the “Old Bach” 
of the upper river) flew directly astern of our boat, then 
turned and followed the line of the river toward the east, 
so close that we both had a perfect view of it, clearly dis¬ 
tinguishing the black legs and yellow bill, typical of the 
American Egret (Herodias egretta) and satisfying us 
both as to its identity. In fact, I might say, it was a 
veritable “dress parade” for our benefit. 
Although we had no such close view of the other four 
birds, I am satisfied that they were of the same species. 
While report was current that one of the birds looked 
larger than the others, I could see no material difference 
in the size of the five seen that day. They were much too 
large to be the young of the Little Blue Heron. 
It was interesting to note that later, reports were cur¬ 
rent of Egrets being seen on Plum Island to the number 
of eleven which was increased to thirteen from another 
source. Five is my record; four I am satisfied were 
American Egrets and one, by all that’s good and great, 
I’ll swear to! 
Williard B. Porter. 
THE GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. 
One evening, while eating my supper, the telephone 
bell rang and R. B. Mackintosh, at the other end of the 
line, asked me if I would like to see a Grasshopper Spar¬ 
row. There could be but one answer, especially as I had 
never seen one. S. G. Emilio had discovered two in a 
field near Howe Station, Middleton, and had shared his 
find with Mr. Mackintosh and others. 
Arrangements were made and, about 7 A. M. on Sun¬ 
day, August 14th, A. P. Stubbs and I left Lynn by auto, 
picked up Mr. Mackintosh and A. A. Osborne at Peabody 
and pushed on for Howe Station, where Mr. Emilio met 
73 
