tively ricli in the minute life upijn which mtinv of the water-birds feed ex- 

 tensively'. It has been found that the amount of such material in the wa- 

 ter is relatively large, althoui;h the visible animal and plant life of the lake 

 is small. 1 do not doubt that the water-birds find pretty f,'-<jod feedinj;- there 

 in spite of the apparent barrenness of the water." 



SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE UPPER EEKHORN. 



MK. MKKKITT CAKV. 



It miyht be well to state in the beginning- that, while I have entitled 

 this paper "Some Bird Notes from the Upper Elkhorn", the actual locality 

 in which the notes have been collected is Nelig^h. However, as Nelig-h is 

 situated in nearly the center of the Upper Elkhorn Valley, the topography 

 of which varies but little, these notes will doubtless give a'ou a good idea 

 of the avifauna of the region in general. 



This list of Neligh birds, incomplete as it is, is the result of no little 

 labor, the greater portion of my spare time during the past four years hav- 

 ing been employed in its compilation. But it has been a labor of love, and 

 has afforded me rare enjoyment. I present the list with the hope that it 

 may be an incentive toward the compilation of more local lists, of which 

 we are in great need; and also that it may at least more definitely fix the 

 range limits of some migTatory species. 



Following is the list, arrang-ed in the order adopted b^' the American 

 Ornithologists' Union in its Check-Eist: 



4. Colyuibiis nioricollis ca/ifoniiciis (Heerni. ) — American Eared Grebe. 

 Not common. Seen only during the spring migration, in the latter part 

 of April. 



6. Podilyuibiis podiccps (Einn.) — Pied-billed Grebe. Common mi- 

 grant. Arrives earh' in April and leaves in November. Have seen them in 

 summer, and a few doubtless breed in favorable localities. 



69. Sterna forsteri Nutt. — Forster's Tern. One seen in October, '98. 



77. HydTocliclidon nigra surinaincnsis (Gmel. ) — Black Tern. A reg- 

 ular mig-rant. Arrives Ma3' 5 to 15; leaves in latter part of August. 



120. Plialacroiorax di'lophus (Swains.) — Double-crested Cormorant. 

 A lone stragg-ler killed on the Elkhorn in Nov., '96; also May 15, '99. 



125. Pelccanus crythrorhynchos Gmel. — American White Pelican. Mi- 

 gratory, not verv common. Several killed at Nelig-h during the eariv nine- 

 ties. Oct. 25, '98; Apr. 3, '99. 



129. Merganser americanus (Cass.) — American Merganser. Migra- 

 tory, common. Arrives early in April, leaves Oct. 25 to Nov. 5. 



130. Merganser serrafor {Li'mn.) — Red-breasted Merganser. Rather a 

 rare migrant. Nov. 6, '96; Apr. 19, '99. 



131. Lophodytes ciicullatiis (Linn.) — Hooded Merg-anser. A male killed 

 on the Elkhorn in Nov., '97. 



132. Anas hoschas Linn. — Mallard. MigratorN', common, a few remain- 

 ing to breed. Arrives Feb. 25 to Apr. 1; leaves Oct. 15 to Nov. 20. 



135. Chaiilelasvius streperiis (Linn.) — Gadwall. Common mig-rant. 

 Mar. 15 to Apr. 15; Oct. 10 to Nov. 1. 



137. Mareca americana (Gmel.) — Baldpate. Abundant during mig-ra- 

 tions. Same dates as preceding. 



139. Xettion carolinensis (Gmel.) — Green-winged Teal. Our common- 

 est duck in earlv spring- and late fall. Sometimes seen in midwinter. Feb. 

 25 to Apr. 1; Sept. 9 to Nov. 20. 



