264 



Bishop, Whiter Birds of Pea Island, N. C. ff^^ 



LJuly 



2. Larus marinus. Black-backed Gull. — I thought I saw one or 

 two in joung plumage among the flocks of Herring Gulls, and Mr. C R. 

 Hooker told me he saw an adult on the 15th. Mr. Hooker is perfectly 

 familiar with the species. 



3. Larus argentatus smithsonianus. American Herring Gull. — 

 Abundant, but shy as a rule. None were taken. I was told that large 

 numbers are caught in the shad nets, and that after storms as many as 

 100 killed in this manner have been found in a single morning. 



4. Larus Philadelphia. Bonaparte's Gull. — An adult male, taken 

 on January 28, was still in a condition to save on my arrival. I saw none 

 during my stay. 



5. Merganser serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. — A few were 

 seen in small flocks or alone, but none taken. 



6. Anas obscura. Black Duck. — Common but shy, coming to the 

 marshes to feed at night and in stormy weather. An adult female had 

 the bill yellowish olive-buff; the nail of bill and interramal space 

 of mandible black; tarsi and toes ochraceous buff, nails and center of 

 palmations blackish. I think the coloring of the tarsi and toes in this 

 species depends on age and sex, and is not distinctive of a different race, 

 as has been suggested. An adult itiale in very high plumage, having 

 recurved feathers on the tail-coverts like the Mallard (Anas bosckas), 

 taken at New Haven, Jan. 14, 1901, had the tarsi and toes bright rufous. 



7. Aythya americana. Redhead. — Flocks were frequently seen flying 

 over the Sound, but none taken. 



8. Aythya marila. Scaup Duck. — Flocks were seen while crossing 

 Pamlico Sound and occasionally from the island. None were taken 

 during my visit, but a number had been shot a few days previous. 



9. Charitonetta albeola. Buffle-head. — Fairly common in small 

 flocks but keeping well offshore. An adult male had the bill plumbeous 

 washed with black ; nail of maxilla yellowish, interramal space of man- 

 dible black ; tarsi, toes and palmations vinaceous buff, nails black. 



10. Harelda hyemalis. Old-squaw. — I saw several small flocks in 

 Pamlico Sound on February 7, and again on the 18th. 



11. Oidemia deglandi. White-winged Scoter. — The same remarks 

 apply to this species. 



12. Chen hyperborea nivalis. Greater Snow Goose. — Among the 

 decoy geese was a fine specimen of this species in full plumage, and 

 almost as large as a male Canada Goose. It was taken in the gray 

 plumage of the first winter on Pea Island in January, 1900. I saw no 

 others, but learned that a number are shot each winter at the southern 

 end of Bodie Island. 



13. Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. — Not common during my 

 stay, altho.ugh we sometimes saw twenty flocks or more in a day. Up to 

 the last of January they had been abundant. That the male is much larger 

 than the female does not seem generally recorded. A young female taken 

 February 13 was very thin, and still retained the brownish feathers in the 



