Middlsex Co., Mass. 97 MASS. (Middlesex Co.) 1875 April 22 engaged in “boring” and I had a rare chance to observe this interesting characteristic. It reminded me most forcibly of Sparrow Lels, the one standing in a crouching attitude, the body nearly horizontal thrust down his bill not straight forward similarly but slanting forwards at a downward angle of about 45 deg. The thrusts were made with astonishing rapidity at least two a second and while making them the bird stood perfectly still hanging out on all sides just as the Oel Sparrow does. When a worm was struck the bill was drawn out rapidly forward (again recalling the quick hand over hand recovery of the Oar when the oel is struck and pulled safe) elevated for a moment, and with a shake or two of the head the worm was swallowed. It seemed to be made on the average about once in a dozen thrusts. Sometimes a bird would flit like a Phygocophilus solitarius a few yards, light on the ice (the meadow was covered with water to the depth of nearly a foot) with upraised wings until run out of his footing and then walk in a crouching motion to some little mound of earth that ran above the flooded meadow. Once five or six of them walked in single file across quite