G. H. Merrium — Birds of Connecticut. 129 



common on salt water. Remains into April (April 17, 1875, male 

 adult shot, Sage). 



259. MergUS senator Linne. Red-breasted Merganser. 



A common migrant, wintering on the Sound. Captain Brooks 

 writes me that they are "plenty during winter and spring " about 

 Faulkner's Island, Conn. Also found on fresh water. Remains into 

 April (April 14, 1876, Osborne). 



260. MergUS CVICUllatuS Linne. Hooded Merganser. 



A winter resident; not common. Linsley obtained two specimens 

 from a fresh water pond near Stratford, Conn., and Captain Brooks 

 lias one, killed at Guilford, Conn., on salt water. Mr. W. W. Coe 

 has taken it during the migrations, and I saw one in November, 

 1875. Dr. Wood has taken it near East Windsor, but finds it rarely. 

 Mr. Sage writes me that one was killed near Middletown, Conn., 

 March Oth, 1*76. 



Family, SULID^E. 

 261. Sula bassana Linne. Common Gannet ; Solon Goose. 



A rare winter visitant. Captain Brooks writes me from Faulk- 

 ner's Island, that he has "only seen two specimens," one of which is 

 now in his collection: "It was killed at Guilford, Conn., in the 

 spring, aboul ten years ago." Linsley took it at Stratford, Conn., 

 and, concerning its gastronomic proclivities, remarks: "The true 

 Solon Goose killed here, which I presented to the Yale Natural Ilis- 

 tory Society, had in its stomach a bird, and in the stomach of the 

 latter was also a bird — destruction on destruction. Mr. B. Silliman, 

 Jr., and Dr. Whelpley, who opened the stomach, observed this fact, 

 as the former gentleman informed me. It was previously supposed 

 this bird lived wholly on fishes."* Giraud saw a tew specimens, 

 killed about Long Island and in the vicinity of New York City.f 

 Mr. Robert Morris tells me that he saw an adult specimen, shot off 

 Branford late in the fall of 1872 or 1873. There is also, in a res- 

 taurant in New Haven, a mounted example of the young of the Solon 

 Goose, killed near here a few years ago. 



* Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts. vol. xliv. No. 2. p. 271. April, 184H. 

 f Giraud's Birds of Long Island, p. 345, 1844. 

 Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 17 Aug., 1877. 



