LOCAL FAUNA 



Recent Bird Notes 



Pigeon Hawk in Winter. — On February 26, 1911, took a speci- 

 men of this species (Falco columharius) in the brown immature plu- 

 mage in St. Andrews Parish, near Charleston. The skin is at 

 present in the collection of the Charleston Museum. This is the 

 first record for this species taken during the winter months. Mr. 

 A. T. Wayne records {Auk, XXVIII, 1911, 265) the occurrence of 

 two adults which he observed on Nov. 29, 1910, and Jan. 14 and 

 16, 1911, but was unable to secure. These records establish the 

 Pigeon Hawk as a rare winter visitant in South Carolina. — Julian 

 Mitchell, Jr. 



Carolina Rail in Charleston.— On October 26, 1911, at about 

 8.30 p. m., I found a Carolina Rail {Porzana Carolina) on the 

 corner of Spring and Ashe streets in the City of Charleston. 

 Though it could run, it seemed unable to fly and was easily cap- 

 tured. 



It was kept alive for a day, during which it refused to eat and 

 suffered difficulty in breathing. Otherwise it appeared to be in 

 good condition, the plumage being perfectly fresh and unworn. 

 When skinned it was found to be excessively fat. The skin is 

 now in the Charleston Museum (Spec. No. 7094). The Carolina 

 Rail or Sora is abundant in the marshes during migrations and has 

 even been taken at Otranto on February 3, but this is the first 

 record of its occurrence within the city. — E. A. Hyer. 



Redhead. — A male of this species (Marila americana) was shot 

 by Mr. Herman Speissegger on Sullivan's Island, Dec. 16, 1911. 

 The specimen was so badly mutilated that it could not be pre- 

 served as a skin, but the head was prepared by Mr. E. A. Hyer 

 and is now in the Charleston Museum [(Spec. No. 7088). The 

 characteristic blue bill and yellow eye make the identification 

 positive, and the record is important from the fact that this duck 

 has never been reported by an ornithologist, although known 

 to sportsmen and probably not excessively rare. — Ellison A. 



Williams. 



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