Taverner— On 11)08 in S. E. Michigan. 203 



tion, but to get it at this early date was considerable of a sur- 

 prise (Auk, 1908, p. 327). 



Red-breasted Mergansers are usually rather scarce on the 

 River, being generally far outnumbered by their relative, the 

 American Merganser. This spring quite a number were 

 brought in to the taxidermists to be mounted. 



April 6 an interesting Canada Goose was taken on the Flats 

 and brought in to be mounted. Its head and neck were of 

 normal color, the remainder of the body was albinistic, es- 

 pecially the upper back, sides and under parts. The rump, 

 tail and wings are darker, but still much bleached and whiten- 

 ed. The shooter said that it had been noticed in the same vi- 

 cinity for several springs and repeated attempts had been 

 made to take it. The bird was very conspicuous and could be 

 easily recognized from a distance. This is a fact of some lit- 

 tle migrational interest, bearing, as it does, on the subject of 

 individuals following identical migration routes year after 

 year, a fact easy to believe but difficult to demonstrate. 



About April 26 large numbers of Horned Grebe put in an 

 appearance on the upper Detroit River. One gunner that I 

 heard of shot thirty one afternoon from the head of Belle Isle. 

 Mr. Norman A. Wood writes me from Ann Arbor that th.is 

 spring he saw more of this species there than he ever saw be- 

 fore. 



May 29 an American. White Pelican was killed at the St. 

 Clair Flats and brought in to the taxidermist's, where I ex- 

 amined it. To my knowledge there is but one other record for 

 the county. 



May 3 a Bartramian Sandpiper was shot by some trap- 

 shooters almost within the city limits. The publication of this 

 record in the Auk, 1908, 328, brought forth other data of 

 the bird's occurrence in the coitnty, Wood ibid, 473. Ac- 

 cording tO' this authority, the bird was met with this spring in 

 Livonia and Canton Townships. Our last previous date is re- 

 corded by Mr. Swales, Auk, 190-i, 84, east of Detroit, Octo- 

 ber 20, 1903. This bird from once being quite common is 

 now rare and extremely local in its haunts. Doubtless a few 

 still breed in isolated localities, but it is a pity that this fine 



