3. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus). Several specimens of this irregularly distributed, and everywhere more or less local, species, have within the last few years been taken in the vicinity of Washington, and are now in the collection of the National Museum. Most if not all of them were obtained in winter.
4. Sharp-tailed Finch (Ammodromus caudacutus). In the mounted collection of the National Museum there is a fine adult of this species labeled, “Washington City, September, 1862; C. Drexler.” (Nat. Mus. Catal. No. 25,905.)—Robert Ridgway, Washington, D. C.
Notes on Some Birds and Eggs From the Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence.—The following notes, made by Mr. M. A. Frazar during a collecting trip to the Magdalen Islands in June and July, 1882, seem of sufficient importance to merit publication, although many of them are not absolutely new. Some of the points which they cover, however, have been previously involved in more or less obscurity, while the others will be none the worse for fresh data. The specimens described, and most of those mentioned, are now in the writer’s collection, and the descriptions are on his authority.
1. Dendrœca striata. Black-poll Warbler.—A set of three fresh eggs, identified by the capture of the female parent, was taken June 23. The nest was built in a low, thick spruce which stood on the edge of a swamp, near a brook. It was placed on a horizontal branch at a height of about three feet, and was well concealed by the clusters of densely-imbricated needles above. Externally it measures 5 inches wide by 2.50 inches deep; internally 1.80 by 1.50 inches. The walls in places are 1.50 inches in thickness. The main body of the structure is composed of Usnea moss, weed-stalks, and dry grasses, closely matted and protected outwardly by coarser stalks and a few dead spruce twigs. The lining is of slender, black moss-stems (which curiously resemble horse-hair), cows’-hair, and a few feathers. The whole affair is remarkably solid and bulky for a Warbler’s nest.
The eggs are white, with brown specks scattered over the general surface of the shell and numerous spots and blotches of reddish-brown and lavender about the larger end. They measure respectively .75 × .56, .76 × .56, and .75 × .57.
2. Pinicola enucleator. Pine Grosbeak.—The Pine Grosbeak was apparently rare among the Magdalens for Mr. Frazar met with only five individuals, four of which were secured. The first pair, taken June 18, on Amherst Island, evidently had a nest among some low spruces, for both birds showed unmistakable signs of anxiety when the spot was approached, and the female proved, on examination, to be incubating. The female of the second pair, shot June 29, on Grindstone Island, had laid all her eggs but one, which, although in the oviduct and of full size, was unfortunately without a shell. Mr. Frazar searched long and carefully for both nests but without success.
Our knowledge respecting the breeding of this Grosbeak, as found in America, is so very imperfect that the above data are both interesting and valuable. The inference is that the eggs are laid late in the season, a fact which the analogy furnished by kindred species would scarcely have suggested.
3. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill.—Mr. Frazar met with these Crossbills on all the islands of the Magdalen group, where they were among the most abundant of the land birds. At the time of his arrival (June 6) they had already collected in large flocks which were composed chiefly of young birds and females, a company of fifty or more often containing only one or two males in red plumage. The latter were also found singly, and from the fact that such individuals were often in full song Mr. Frazar inferred that they might still be in attendance on sitting mates, or unfledged young. The average development of the numerous young birds collected would indicate, however, that the regular breeding season was somewhat earlier, although none of them could have been hatched much before the middle of May. Assuming, then, that the past season was not an exceptionally late one, the proper time to look for fresh eggs in this locality would be not far from May 1.
As I can find no detailed description of the first plumage of this species I append the following:—
Juv., first plumage (♀, Magdalen Islands, June 14, 1882. M. A. Frazar). Entire plumage of head and body thickly streaked with dull black on an ochraceous ground; greater and middle wing-coverts, with the tertials, broadly tipped with fulvous-white; primaries and rectrices black, edged with pale fulvous.