1 °|- 8 * VI ] General Notes. 1 9 1 



day, together with one other specimen, which was given by him to a local 

 taxidermist, and which I saw later. The sex of the latter bird was unde- 

 termined. Mr. Chapman believes these to be the first spring records for 

 this vicinity. Mr. Dutcher, writing me in regard to this species, says 

 they constitute the first record of this species occurring here in spring. 

 In the autumn of this year, at the same place, September 3, I met with 

 two more specimens ; one, an immature female, which was shot, and an 

 adult bird. Mr. William Dutcher informs me that he has always seen the 

 young accompanied in this way by an adult and never alone. 



Aythya collaris. The Ring-necked Duck has been so infrequently 

 recorded from Long Island that it is well worthy of mention. The 

 gunner above mentioned sent me this specimen, a male, which he believed 

 to be a "cross between a Red-head and a Broad-bill." He had "never 

 seen one like it before," and consequently it must be rare on Long Island, 

 as during his long experience as a gunner in the Great South Bay he has 

 met with many rare, as well as the ordinary, species which frequent this 

 famous resort of water-fowl. The bird came alone to the decoys. 



Tringa bairdii. While on a visit to Shinnecock Bay on Oct. 31, 1S94, 

 a number of Snipes w^ere seen and secured, notably White-rumped Sand- 

 pipers. This specimen, among others, was labeled as such, but not with- 

 out some misgivings. Only recently it was more critically examined and 

 found to be T. bairdii. Mr. Arthur H. Howell, who was at the same 

 place when the bird was shot, recently recalled to my mind the fact that 

 the bird was alone, on a sandbar, when shot. The bird was not very 

 active, and it is possible may have been previously wounded. Mr. N. T. 

 Lawrence has obtained three or more specimens from Long Island. The 

 species is not included by Giraud in 'The Birds of Long Island.' 



Ereunetes occidentalis. In the fall of 1S97, the Western Semipalmated 

 Sandpiper was abundant on Long Island. Besides three or more speci- 

 mens from Shinnecock Bay, collected by Mr. Howell, it was met with by 

 Mr. H. C. Burton on the South Bay in July and by the writer during the 

 same season (once each) on both the Great South Bay and (August 28) 

 on Jamaica Bay. 



Alauda arvensis. The English Skylark is at present firmly established 

 as a Long Island resident. Between Flatlands and Holy Cross Cemetery, 

 and to the east of the latter, many are to be seen and heard. On March 

 28, 1898, while on the Neck Road, I heard for the first time the twittering, 

 burring, continuously sustained song of this species and saw it rising 

 gradually on fluttering wings up into the blue ether. At a later date one 

 was heard singing continuously for eight minutes while in the air and 

 for two minutes more after alighting on the ground. They were neither 

 seen nor heard in September and October, though doubtless they might 

 have been at suitable times; namely, early in the morning or in the 

 evening. Several were heard and seen at the same time in the locality 

 indicated above. It is likely they will later be found at other points on 

 Long Island. 



