18S5] Stejneger, Analecta Ornitholagica. A 'I 



the entire body rising together, after a few circuits in the air, 

 they fly directly north. Their customary time to leave us in the 

 spring is exceedingly precise, rarely varying more than from the 

 9th to the 1 2th of June. 



The Eider Ducks, called by our gunners 'Sea Ducks.' visit us 

 in the autumn in immense throngs. Flying close to the water 

 in horizontal lines, they pass along our shore early in Novem- 

 ber, and continue on through the Straits of Canso and along 

 the eastern shore of Nova Scotia to the mouth of the Bay 

 of Fundy. Occasionally, however, a flock with more sagacity 

 has been seen to mount into the air and fly across the land to 

 the head waters of the Bay. None of this species have been 

 observed on our coast during the spring months, when their 

 line of flight is said to be along the north-eastern shore of Cape 

 Breton and to the Straits of Belle Isle. In all the throngs of this 

 species that pass us no adult males are ever seen. 



Occasionally birds have been met with in this vicinity that 

 have evidently been driven off their usual haunts. For instance, 

 some twenty years ago considerable numbers of Scarlet Tanagers 

 were found here about the 10th of Ma}'. Some were dead, and 

 all were in an emaciated condition. None have been seen here 

 since. 



About the same year the Glossy Ibises were seen on the 

 margin of a small lake near here, and one was captured by a 

 countryman. 



ANALECTA ORNITHOLOGICA. 

 Fourth Series. 



BY LEONHARD STEJNEGER. 



XVII. On the Origin of the Word Quiscalus. 



The words Quiscalus of Vieillot and quiscula of Linnaeus* 

 seem to have perplexed 'ornithophilologists' considerably, and 



* Both combined in the terms Qviscalus quiscula (Lin.), Quiscalus quiscula aglceus 

 (Baird), and Quiscalus quiscula emeus (Ridgw.) for the Purple Crackles (Ridgw., 

 Nomencl., Nos. 278, 278 a, and 278 b). 



