202 Getieral Notes. f .^"'f- 



LApnl 



s Occurrence of Tringa maculata and Other American Birds in Hawaii. 



— The following brief notes are in line with those published bv the writer 

 in 'The Auk' for July, 1900, and tend to show that a greater number of 

 American littoral species find their way annually to the Hawaiian Islands 

 than hitherto has been supposed. 



Tringa maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper. — Mr. George C. Hewitt shot 

 a specimen of this Sandpiper at Kaalualu on the Kau coast, Oct. 14, 1900. 

 Later in the month he procured a second example in the same locality, 

 kindly sending both specimens in alcohol to the writer for identification. 

 This, I believe, is the first record of the bird in the islands. Yor the 

 present, at least, we must regard its presence here as accidental. 



Charadrius squatarola. Black-bellied Plover. — A specimen of this 

 Plover was shot by Mr. Hewitt late in October near Kaalualu. This is^ 

 the first recorded instance of the occurrence of the bird in the Hawaiian 

 Islands, though no doubt its casual appearance is to be looked for in flocks 

 of its relative, the Golden Plover. 



Calidris arenaria. Sanderling. — I mention this species merely to 

 note that Mr. Hewitt shot a specimen on the Kau coast in October, and 

 that early in the same month two individuals visited the Hilo Beach and 

 remained there for more than a fortnight where I watched them daily 

 feeding unconcernedly within a few yards of the houses. As I have else- 

 where stated, the species is to be regarded as an annual winter visitor, 

 though in small numbers. 



Bernicla, sp. .? — In October at least two distinct bands of American Geese 

 were seen on a number of occasions near Hilo, and a number were killed, 

 none of which, however, was the writer fortunate enough to see. Probably 

 there were twelve or fourteen individuals altogether. Both B. nigricans 

 and B. tninima are quoted by Wilson (Birds of the Hawaiian Islands, 

 Introduction, p. xxv) from Kauai on the authority of Palmer, Mr. 

 Rothschild's collector. In time no doubt all the species of geese from 

 the west coast of America will be recorded from the islands as accidental 

 visitors. That any considerable number of geese will ever seek winter 

 quarters in the islands is more than doubtful, since suitable feeding 

 grounds of sufficient extent are not found here. 



Dafila acuta. Pintail. — I cannot learn that this duck is ever very 

 common on the island of Hawaii. It is, however, to be classed with the 

 Shoveller as an annual winter migrant, though by no means so common 

 as that species. A few are obtained each year by sportsmen. 



Graculus, sp .' — A cormorant made its appearance the last week 

 in November in Hilo Harbor, where, apparenth- it has established head- 

 quarters, wandering from here along the coast to the south for several 

 miles. Mr. Pratt, who has seen and shot cormorants in California many 

 times, is my informant, and he has seen the individual in question sev- 

 eral times at close range. It is, of course, impossible to conjecture the 

 species. — H. W. Henshaw, Hilo, Hawaii. 



