1895.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 471 



On a signal from mother goose he redoubles his outcries aud, describing 

 a large circle immediately beneath the nest, beats the water with his 

 wings, dives, paddles and slashes about with the greatest fury, mak- 

 ing such a terrible noise and commotion that he can be heard for 

 several miles. This effectually drives away from that spot every 

 catfish, spoonbill, loggerhead, hellbender, moccasin, water-snake, 

 eagle, mink and otter that might take a fancy to young goslings 

 and into the midst of the commotion, mother goose, by a few deft 

 thrusts of her bill, spills the whole nestful. But a few seconds 

 elapse ere the reunited family are noiselessly paddling for the shores 

 of some secluded cove with nothing to mark the scene of their ex- 

 ploits but a few feathers and upturned water-plants and above 

 them the huge white cypress with its deserted nest. 



" Nearly every summer young geese were captured at Open Lake, 

 in Lauderdale County, but they never breed there now, I hear." 

 B. C. Miles. 



33. TBranta nigricans (Lawr. ) Black Brant. 



I have the following from Mr. Miles. "We have the Black- 

 breasted Brant, one of which I killed many years ago." Whether 

 this was nigricans or our eastern bernicla is uncertain. Judging 

 by the name used by Mr. Miles and the fact that nigricans is often 

 taken in the Mississippi Valley, it was very likely the former. 



Genus OLOR Wagler. 



34. Olor columbianus (Ord). Whistling Swan. 



35. Olor buccinator (Rich. ). Trumpeter Swan. 



Swans are now rather rare at Reelfoot Lake. A few were seen 

 the present (1895) spring, but which species it is difficult to state. 

 That both species are likely to pass along the Mississippi Valley is 

 sufficient reason for not omitting Columbian its, which is the rarer of 

 the two in that regidn. 



Mr. Miles writes: "The Swan was formerly quite plentiful here, 

 though I doubt if one has been seen in this or Lauderdale County, 

 on the water, in ten years." 



Order HERODIONES. 



Family ARDEIDiE. 



Genus BOTAURUS Stephens. 



36. Botaurus lentiginosus ( Montag. ). American Bittern. 



Two of these birds were killed (presumably in Haywood Co.) by 



