158 



The Ottawa Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXII. 



51. *S0RA rail. PoTzana Carolina. 



During the spring visit of 1917 there were in- 

 numerable suitable places for rails and their voices 

 were heard a number of times, but we saw only a 

 single bird on May 30. The Ward brothers are, 

 quite excusably, uncertain in their identifications of 

 the various species and plumages of the rails. They 

 claim to have found nests of three species; and 

 speak of a small black one which is likely the young 

 of the Virginia. In 1918, Young reports Soras 

 rather scarce in spring but becoming very common 

 in August. On Aug. 2 he counted over fifty in 

 one small wet marsh. After that they gradually 

 reduced in number, and the last one seen was on 

 Sept. 20. 



52. YELLOW RAIL, Cotufnicops noveboracem'ts. 

 Though this little rail should be common, it is 



such an accomplished skulker that we saw none. 

 The Ward brothers tell of nests of very small rail 

 eggs, and during my autumn stay in 1917, Frank 

 Ward, while raking hay, uncovered and forced into 

 flight some small rails with large amounts of white 

 on the wing. He was unable to capture any at the 

 time, and though I later watched haying operations 

 in adjoining localities closely, no more were dis- 

 covered. In the same vicinity while hiding in the 

 grass near a small pond, I heard a repeated bird 

 voice suggesting a rail close by, but was unable to 

 flush the author. I have little doubt but that they were 

 from Yellow Rails but am unable to substantiate 

 my conclusions. Through the summer and autumn 

 of 1918, Mr. Young watched haying operations 

 closely but was unable to detect any Yellow Rails. 



53. ^AMERICAN coot, Fulica americana. 

 Chapman, in his "Camp and Cruises", gives 



photographs of a Coot's nest taken in 1901. Not 

 seen by us in 1917. but in 1918, Young observed 

 small numbers to May 21 and flocks of 100 to 150 

 the last of September. Said by Seton and the Ward 

 brothers to have been a very common breeder when 

 the water was high and even up to three years ago, 

 in favorable localities, a few still nested. 



54. ^NORTHERN PHALAROPE, Lobipes lobatus. 



A few seen in 1917 among the groups of Wilson's 

 Phalaropes between May 23 and 29, perhaps twelve 

 in all. In the autumn three were seen on Sept. 

 22 and again on the 24. Specimens were taken 

 during both seasons. Regarded by Ward brothers 

 as rather scarce. In 1918, Young noted occasional 

 flocks, beginning with 20 on May 29, culminating 

 in 100 on June 1 , and a few remaining until June 

 12. In autumn he observed small groups from 

 Aug. 20 to the end of the month with a straggling 

 flock on Sept. 21. 



55. *wilson's PHALAROPE, Sieganopus tricolor. 

 During the 1917 spring visit the commonest and 



most generally distributed wader. Nearly every 

 little slough had a pair or little group, usually 

 females gracefully swimming about, and a nest of 

 fresh eggs was collected on June 6. Young tells 

 of a flight song he saw executed by a female in the 

 presence of her (prospective?) mate. During it she 

 distended her throat in the same manner as the 

 Pectoral Sandpiper is reported to do. The Ward 

 brothers state that they have seen this courtship flight 

 a number of times. At another time a Phalarope 

 was whirligiging in its characteristic manner in 

 shallow water; upon examination the bottom below 

 it was found to be scratched in semicircles as if with 

 the feet. The Phalarope seem to be entirely surface 

 feeding birds, never dipping down into the water 

 for food. Evidently this graceful spinning is a 

 method of stirring up the water and bringing small 

 particles of food to the surface within reach of the 

 delicate, rapier-like bill. The usual note of the 

 species is a miniature quack, like that of a domestic 

 duck but less loud. From this they are locally 

 called "Grunters". None were seen during the 

 return visit in the autumn of the year. Owing to 

 the progressive drying of the marshes. Wilson's 

 Phalarope was not quite as common in 1918, but 

 Young records a few almost daily from May 7 to 

 Aug. 20 when the species disappeared. 



56. ^Wilson's snipe, CalUnago delicate. 



Quite common in 1917 and, though no nests 

 were found, evidently breeding. The sound of its 

 aerial dive and love-making flight could be heard 

 each evening, and occasionally throughout the day. 

 A few were still present during the autumn visit in 

 September. In 1918, Young found it rather less 

 numerous from May to August, but very common 

 in September, and to the time of his leaving on 

 Oct. 2. 



57. *D0WITCHER, Macrorhamphus griseus. 



On May 18, 1917, one was dropped from a large 

 flock as it passed the tent and another was taken 

 on May 30. In 1918, Young saw small bunches on 

 May 22, 25 and 28, and Aug. 9. Of six adult 

 spring specimens but one can be particularly referred 

 by bill size to M. g. griseus and two to M. g. 

 scolopaceus, the remainder falling into the over- 

 lapping measurements of the two forms as given 

 by Howe, (Auk, I90I, pp. 157-162). In colora- 

 tion the birds seem to agree most closely from de- 

 scriptions with scolopaceus but without direct com- 

 parison with birds of eastern origin I would hardly 

 like to make a definite determination ; on geograph- 

 ical grounds they should be referred to M. g. 

 scolopaceus. 



58. *STILT SANDPIPER, Micropalma himantopus. 



In 1917, a flock of twelve were noted wading 

 "knee deep" in the shallows of the Narrows on May 



