i887-] General Notes. 73 



the first mentioned Gallinule was shot in 18S4, the dogs drove out from the 

 reeds another, which was shot; and on the same day, a little farther down 

 the river, and about a mile north of the Connecticut State line, I saw what 

 at first seemed to be a Grebe swimming rapidly out into the river; upon 

 pursuing it with a boat it arose, flying slowly and near the water, and was 

 also killed. This made the fourth time I had been present at the capture 

 of a Florida Gallinule in this vicinity within two years. I also think I 

 have seen birds of this kind on other occasions when they have not been 

 taken, and have very little doubt but that my companion was correct in 

 his statement in 1SS4, that he had shot one, although there is a possibility 

 he had mistaken a Coot for a Gallinule. Thev very closely resemble each 

 other in every respect, except the feet. At all other places where these 

 birds were first found, the bottom was very soft and there was a rank 

 growth of wild rice, upon the seeds of which plant the birds were feeding. 

 — Robert O. Morris, Springfield, Muss. 



Wilson's Phalarope (Steg-anofus tricolor) in Rhode Island. — On Sep- 

 tember 13, 1886, one of these Phalaropes, in immature plumage, was 

 brought to me by J. Glynn, Jr., who had noticed it among some birds shot 

 by one of the local sportsmen, and seeing that it belonged to an uncom- 

 mon species had obtained it from him. I understand that when shot it 

 was in company with two 'Creakers' (JTringa maculata). This is the 

 second record of the bird's occurrence in this State. — William C. Rives, 

 Jr., M. D., Newport, R. T. 



Occurrence of Phalaropus lobatus at Syracuse, N. Y. — September 3, 

 18S6, an adult male Northern Phalarope was shown to me by Mr. Charles 

 Noxon of this city, who procured it September 2 on Onondaga Lake, on 

 the outskirts of Syracuse. 



The bird, in company with another (female), which was also secured, 

 was discovered swimming gracefully about in the middle of the lake, and 

 both were so tame as to be shot without trouble. Two days after (Septem- 

 ber 4) another specimen, a male, was shot in the same locality by Mr. 

 E. M. Hasbrouk; on September 25, following, another was seen, but not 

 procured. Previous to this the Northern Phalarope has been recorded 

 but once in this County. — Morris M. Green, Syracuse, N. Y. 



A Fern-eating Woodcock. — One of the most singular departures of 

 birds from their ordinary food-habits that I have ever observed is the fol- 

 lowing : In examining the digestive organs of more than one hundred 

 Woodcocks, I think I have never found in them anj-thing but the common 

 earth-worm, either entire or in various stages of digestion, excepting in 

 one or two instances, a leech (f/irudo medicinal is). 



The Woodcock in question was brought to me to be mounted by Mr. 

 W. C. Alvord, of Washington, D. C. , who shot it while Woodcock shoot- 

 ing at Martha's Vineyard. This bird was one of several killed on the 17th 

 of October, 18S5. When skinning it my attention was called to its very 



