Perhaps some one will suggest a better method of obtaining the facts recorded in this connection.—F. H. King, River Falls, Wis., May 24, 1882.
Remarks on Five Maine Birds.—It appears that no formal announcement of the occurrence of the Gray-cheeked Thrush (Hylocichla aliciæ) in the State of Maine has ever been made, though the course the bird is known to pursue in its migrations renders such an announcement of slight importance. It may be stated, however, for the benefit of compilers, that this Thrush is a regular, not very common, spring and fall migrant in southern Maine, reaching Portland in spring about the middle of May, and in autumn about September 20.
Apropos of Dr. Coues’ recent prediction[[87]] that the Titlark (Anthus ludovicianus) will yet be ascertained to breed occasionally along the Maine coast, is there anything but inferential evidence to indicate that it occurs there at all in spring or summer? Being known to pass through Massachusetts in spring and to occur on the island of Grand Manan[[88]] at that season, it is fair to suppose that the Titlark also touches at favorable points in Maine while en route to its breeding grounds. Nevertheless neither my own observations nor the records of other observers substantiate this hypothesis.
The once prized Ipswich Sparrow (Passerculus princeps) must now take its place among the common autumnal migrants of southern Maine, though restricted, so far as I am aware, to the sea-coast. In spring, however, it is uncommon if not rare. Since the capture of the first Maine specimen,[[89]] March 20, 1875, I have seen but two other spring specimens. These I found upon Old Orchard Beach, March 28, 1882, and one of them is now in my collection. In their autumnal migration the birds reach Cumberland County about Oct. 13, remaining at least until Nov. 6, later than which I have never looked for them. Upon almost any day between these dates the collector may find a dozen or more individuals along the sandy shore between Scarborough Beach and the Saco River.
In the Proceedings of the Portland Society of Natural History for April, 1882, I spoke of the Ring-necked Duck (Fulix collaris) as having but once been taken in the vicinity of the city within my experience. On the very morning upon which my paper left the press, I found in one of the city markets two adult males which were killed in the Presumpscot River, March 31, 1882. On April 12 I found another male in the market; the next day I purchased a pair from a sportsman in Deering; and on April 17 detected another male in the market. That the bird’s occurrence in such numbers is very unusual there can be no doubt. In fact, so far as I have been able to learn, our most experienced hunters of wild fowl either knew the species only by tradition, before this year, or else were wholly unacquainted with it.
Mr. Brewster has more than once advanced good evidence to the effect that the Short-tailed Tern (Hydrochelidon lariformis) should be considered a regular and not uncommon visitor to suitable localities on the New England coast.[[90]] Specific records for Maine are, notwithstanding, few as yet.[[91]] Two recent specimens should go on the list. One of these was killed in Scarborough, the other at Wells Beach, York County, in the autumn of 1881.—Nathan Clifford Brown, Portland, Maine.
Maine Notes.—Oporornis agilis (Wils.) Baird. Connecticut Warbler.—Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown, in a paper read before the Portland Society of Natural History April 3, 1882, gives this bird for the first time a place in the Maine fauna. He met with it Aug. 30, 1878, on Cape Elizabeth. I would record a specimen which I took in August, 1879, at Ebeme Lake. This makes the second record for this State.
Hylocichla unalascæ pallasi (Caban.) Ridgw. Hermit Thrush.—These birds breed commonly with us every year (Bangor). Their eggs are usually taken early in June, but I find among my notes the record of a set taken August 5, 1873, at Dedham, Maine, the eggs being but slightly incubated. This would seem to be presumptive evidence for the belief that these birds raise two broods in a season.
Lomvia arra brünnichi (Scl.) Ridgw. Brünnich’s Guillemot; and Lomvia troile (Linn.) Brandt. Common Guillemot.—These birds are found on our coast in the winter season, Brünnich’s Guillemot being quite numerous, while the Common Guillemot is more rare. Some idea of their comparative numbers may perhaps be obtained from the fact that during the past two years I have procured some thirty specimens from different points on our coast (from Grand Manan to South Bristol) and out of this number only one was a representative of the Common Guillemot (L. troile.) The experience of Mr. N. A. Eddy of this city is exactly similar, and out of about an equal number of specimens he has obtained but a single example of troile. Other collectors in this vicinity who have received numbers of Guillemots have not obtained a specimen of Lomvia troile.
Actodromas fuscicollis (Vieill.) Ridgw. Bonaparte’s Sandpiper.—This bird is not given as a resident of our State in Hamlin’s, Verrill’s or Maynard’s lists, but is still a not uncommon autumnal migrant along our coast. They are seldom met with in the interior, and the only records of their capture away from the coast, so far as I can learn, are here given. Nathan C. Brown furnishes me the first record from his notes as follows: “Oct. 16, 1876. During the past two weeks our party has taken only three specimens of this bird at Lake Umbagog. One was shot about Oct. 2, the two others upon Oct. 14.” On October 23, 1881, I came upon a flock of four at a small pool near this city (Bangor), and obtained three of them. Mr. N. A. Eddy afterwards took one at the same place.—Harry Merrill. Bangor, Maine.