3« 



Dutcher, Bird Notes from Long Island, N. T. [January 



6. Sterna anglica Montag. Gull-billed Tern. — I shot a female in 

 full plumage July 8, 1884, at Shinnecock Bay, while watching for Limi- 

 colse. There were five in the flock, it being without doubt a family of two 

 adults and their brood of the present year. They were migrating west- 

 ward along the coast and must have bred further east than Long Island. 



7. Utamania torda {Linn.) Leach. Razor-billed Auk. — January 15, 

 1S84, I received from a correspondent at Southampton, a specimen of this 

 species accompanied by the following note: "The bird I send you was 

 found dead on the seashore. It is likely it was drowned in the heavy surf 

 we had just before. It was a new bird to me." February 2, 1884, I re- 

 ceived another from a correspondent at Smith's Point, which was also 

 found dead on the beach. February 6, 1884, I received still another from 

 Southampton, not, however, from the same correspondent who sent me 

 the one January 15. With it came the following interesting note: "I 

 found this bird on the beach last night while on my patrol, and as it was 

 a stranger to this coast I send it. I have been in the Life-Saving Service 

 nine years and have never seen one before." All three birds were 

 remarkable for the poor condition they were in, and also for the total ab- 

 sence of food of any kind in their stomachs. 



8. Lomvia arra bruennichi (Sc/i.) Ridgtv. Brunnich's Guillemot- 

 — Between January 8 and March 24, 18S4, I obtained twelve specimens 

 and noted about thirty additional individuals of this species from the 

 south side of Long Island. A large majority of the specimens obtained 

 were either found dead on the beach, generally frozen, or else so weak 

 from hunger that they were easily captured by hand and died within a few 

 hours. The only exception to the above was two that were shot by a 

 gunner at Rockaway, who had them come to his Duck decoys. Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam mentions the same circumstance of starvation in connec- 

 tion with the Foolish Guillemot in his 'List of Birds ascertained to occur 

 within ten miles from Point de Monts, Province of Quebec, Canada.'* 

 "They were all in very poor flesh, some being little more than animated 

 skeletons, and a great many died and were washed ashore." 



The notes accompanying the specimens indicate that this species is 

 a very uncommon winter visitor to the western end of Long Island, and 

 an irregular winter visitor to the extreme eastern portion of the Island. 

 From a correspondent at Ditch Plain, which is very near the eastern 

 extremity of the Island, I get the following note : "The bird sent was 

 picked up dead on the beach after an easterly storm. At such times we 

 have quite often found them, and have also seen them alive. I think 

 they are driven on our shore by severe northeast gales, as after such 

 storms is about the only time we find them." Another correspondent, 

 from Shinnecock Bay. which is about thirty miles west of Ditch Plain, 

 writes : "They are rather a rare bird on this coast, but during the winter 

 in severe storms you will see one occasionally." A correspondent from 

 Smith's Point, which is about midway between New York City and Mon- 



* Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. VII, p. 242. 



