THE OQLOGIST. 



Vol. 4, No 1. ALBION, N. Y., JAN. & FEB., 1887. \ b.-monthlv 



1 25c. Per Year. 



BIRDS OF CHESTER COJTNTY, PENN. 

 Prepared by C. J. Pennock, Kennett Square 



The accompanying list of birds of Chester county is compiled from the writer's ob- 

 servations and the lists of the late Vincent Barnard, the venerable Ezra Michener M D 

 and that of Dr. H. Warren. It is designed to embrace, as nearly as possible, a complete 

 list of species known to have been foimd within our limits: a few, as noted, are now ex- 

 tinct; several others noted as stragglers occur so seldom that the ordinary observer will 

 perhaps never meet with them. 



It was i)repared originally for the Penn'a Board of Agriculture and appeared in their 

 29th and 30th report, issued in IMarch, 1886, The entire list has been revised and new 

 notes and observations added, uj) to December 1st, 1886. In the original list the names 

 and arrangement of species was according to Dr. Coues' Check List, but at the sug^'-estion 

 ot the compiler, thereby making the list of greater value in the future, the pubHsher of 

 The OoLomsT has transijosed it to correspond with the new A. O. U List The brief 

 notes on food supi)ly was intended as an index of the value of the species to the a-a-icul- 

 tunst. As It now appears, several species are given as summer resident that ori-nuallv 

 were recorded as probably breeding or migrant, from the fact that they have been '^ found 

 nestmg durmg tlie past season. 



_ .Species in the following list marked B., M,, or W., indicate that the observation ou 

 Its occurrence w^as by \'incent Barnard. Ezra Micliener, M. D., or Dr. Warren respect- 

 ively. ' 



Barnard's ]i.st appeared in 1860, and comprised one hundred and ninety-one species 



Michener s first list, in 1863, did not include aquatic birds, and numbered one hundred 



and fitleen. His second list comprised two liundred and thirty-two species several of 



whu-h lie believed would he found within our limits; unfortunately, he does not desio-nate 



•wlncii these are. " '^ 



Dr. Warren's list of 1879 is the most valuable for present reference, as each species 

 has his record or authority for its occurrence. It contains two hundred and eighteen 



1. Colymhns Jwlbivllii (Holba-ll's grebe). A rather rare fall and spring visitor 

 L Col!nnhu8auritu.'<(\\oYm'dgri^]K). Rarely met with as aniigrant 

 -S Jodilj/m/Mis podiceps (pied-billed grebe— '• hell-diver "). ^ A rather common 

 Diig'i HUt. ^ 



4, Uvinator imber (loon). Occasionally met with as a migrant 

 in our li ' '•"* ^^"'^'^^^'^^'^''^^ (Bonaparte's gull). Several specimens have been taken with- 



6. Sterna Mrundo (common tern). According to Dr. Warren Mr C D Wood 

 has prepared specimens taken in the county. 



7 Sterna fuliginosa (sooty tern). At least three instances of its capture are on 

 recor I from our county. ^ 



8. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (black tern). Dr. Warren records the capture 

 or a male and female. 



9. Puffinusjaajor (greater shearwater). " This powerful bird, despite its strenirth 

 and endurance of wing, was storm-stranded witliin our borders and perished durin? a 

 severe storm of wind, rain, and sleet."— (Micliener.) '^ 



10. Ocmnodroma leuwrhoa (Leach's petrel). As far as I know, Dr Warren's 

 record of a single specimen is the only instance of the taking of this bird within the 

 limits ot our county. 



1 1 Merganser americanus (American merganser). Occurs occasionally late fall and 

 early spring along the streams. "Common". (W.) 



12. Merganser serrator (red-breasted merg^mser). Given in Micliener's list 



13. Lophodytes cucuUatus (liooded merganser). Rarely met with. Bernard .savs 

 i'reciuent. According to Warren, " Rare." ' 



14. Anas hoschas (mallard). A not very common migrant. (M. & W.) 



