158 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec. 



than known. For, after a few isolated records of its occurrence 

 here had been made up to 1909 it suddenly, on the 30th of May 

 and 1st of June of that year, appeared in great numbers over 

 the river, flying westward. Many surprises like that and 

 probably a number of unrecorded species would undoubtedly 

 await one who could give his whole time to .watching the river 

 during migration. 



16. Sterna paradiscea, Arctic Tern. This delicate, beautiful 

 "sea-swallow" has been seen and taken for the first time on the 

 same day, 30th of May, 1909, as the preceding species. They 

 were probably heading for James Bay. The presence of these 

 ocean birds in numbers on certain days, shows that the Ottawa 

 is a migration route of greater importance than has hitherto 

 been supposed. 



17. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis , Black Tern. This 

 inhabitant of large inland marshes is a rare casual visitor here. 

 On May 28th, 1888, Mr. E. White saw six on the Ottawa, and 

 Mr. McCarthy took one at Britannia, August, 1908. 



Order Steganopodes Totipalmate Swimmers. 



sulid^ gannets. 



18. Sida bassana, Gannet. This is another marine species 

 that can now be taken into a list of Ottawa birds for the first 

 time, it having been first recorded and taken at Shirley's Bay 

 on October 14th, 1909. It, otherwise, is found only in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence and along the northern coasts and islands both 

 in the Old and New World, and even here in certain circum- 

 scribed localities only. 



PHALACROCORACID^ CORMORANTS. 



19. Phalacrocorax auritus. Double-crested Cormorant. A 

 casual visitor. One was taken about 1st October, 1890, at 

 Shirley's Bay; a later date is October 17th, 1904, when one was 

 brought in to Mr. Henry, the taxidermist. Finally, on May 27th, 

 1906, Mr. Gemmill shot one on the Ottawa River. Probably 

 commoner than supposed. 



PELECANID^ PELICANS. 



20. Pelecanus eryihrorhynchos, White Pelican. This fine 

 large white bird is entitled to a place on this list on the strength 

 of a specimen captured at Manotick, 12 miles from Ottawa, May 

 26th, 1904, and reported by the late Dr. Whiteaves in The 

 Ottawa Naturalist. 



Order Anseres Lamellirostral Swimmers. 



ANATIDvE DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS. 



21. Mergus americanus, American Merganser. A common 

 migrant and a not uncommon breeder. It may almost be said 

 to be a resident, as witness these dates: 12th November, 20th 



