1870.] REEKS — ON BIRDS OF NEWFOUNDLAND. 299 



Brent Goose, B. brenta, Stephens. — Very common on the 

 southern and western parts of Newfoundland, in its periodical 

 migrations, but very rare farther north than St. George's Bay, 

 in 48^ North latitude, or occasionally Port au "Port, whence it 

 crosses to Anticosti, and thence up the Labrador shore. Two 

 specimens were said to have been seen on wing at Cow Head 

 last spring (1868,) but the double-crested cormorant (Graculus 

 dlhplius) flies much like a small goose, and I fancy the bii'ds 

 thought to be Brents were of this species. 



Mallard, or Common Wild DucJc, Anas boschas, Linn. — Very 

 rare ; I only examined one normal specimen of this species, also 

 one of the supposed hybrids, between this species and the 

 Muscovy, [Cairina moscJiata,') which had been shot and skinned 

 by two of the settlers a few years since, and preserved as curiosi- 

 ties. The larger bird was considered by them a drake of the 

 domesticated variety, and I have certainly seen some of the des- 

 cendants of the " Lincolnshire" breed much resembling it ; but 

 as I was informed no ducks, except eiders (^S. moUissima,) were 

 kept domesticated on the island, the bird had probably wandered 

 north in company with a flock of some other species. 



Black Duck, A. obscura, Gmelin. — This is the common wild 

 duck of the island, and is abundant throughout the summer. It 

 breeds among rushes and long grass on the borders of lakes and 

 rivers, and lays from ten to fifteen eggs, which much resemble 

 those of the preceding species. The black duck is much esteemed 

 for the table, but is usually a very shy bird, and not easily 

 approached, except from the leeward, as it will " wind you like a 

 deer." 



Pintail DucJc, Dafila acuta (^Liiin.) — Very rare, but known to 

 some of the settlers as the "long-tailed duck." 



N. B. — The true "long-tailed duck" (^ffarelda glaeialis) is 

 called a "hound" in Newfoundland. 



Gretn-winged Teal, Nettioncarolinensis(G^77ie?m.) — A summer 

 migrant, and appears to be the " common teal" of the island. 



Blue-winged Teal, Querquedula discors (Linn.) — Rare in the 

 neighbourhood of Cow Head, and probably nowhere on the island 

 so common as the preceding species. 



Shoveller, Spatula clypeata (Linn.') — A summer migrant, and 

 generally distributed over the island, but is by no means common. 

 It is called " Pond diver " by the settlers. 



