4 74 Allison, Birds of West Baton Rouge Parish, La. \_o^^ 



Certain parts of the parish, some miles back from the river, 

 present an abruptly undulating surface ; these regions are drained 

 by small sluggish streams. The presence of water hickory 

 {^Hicoria aquaticd) along these streams, and the local occurrence 

 of certain dry-ground plants not found in the less well-drained 

 swamps, such as hackberry, and the various shrubs and vines 

 making up a heavy undergrowth, give a more or less definite 

 regional value to the topographical characters. 



With this hasty sketch of the parish and its floral characteristics 

 completed, I shall proceed to the main part of this article — the 

 annotated list of its birds. 



1. Larus atricilla. Laughing Gull. 



2. Larus delawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. 



To both these species, undoubtedly, belonged the few gulls that passed 

 up and down the river between Nov. 14, 1902, and March 7, 1903. I was 

 unable positively to identify these birds in any case, for a gull in mid- 

 channel of a mighty river is an ambiguous object. 



3. Anhinga anhinga. Anhinga. — A not uncommon breeder in certain 

 localities. Probably resident; but I saw none until March 20, 1903, when 

 a single male passed over at Lobdell. Early in June I found the species 

 breeding in the swampy wooded end of a lake on the grounds of the 

 Louisiana State University, in East Baton Rouge Parish, and also in the 

 deeper swamps of that vicinity; and later (June 29), I saw a male, evi- 

 dently of a breeding pair, on a heavily-wooded tract outside of the levee 

 on the right bank of the river. 



4. Aythya coUaris. Ring-necked Duck.— The species composing 

 most of the flocks noted passing southward in November, and those com- 

 monly seen on the river during the winter. Probably the last of these 

 were reported to me on March 18, 1903 ; some ducks were reported after 

 this date, but they were probably teal. 



5. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — Like most of the 

 water birds observed, this species is rather insufficiently authenticated. In 

 the dusk of Nov. 12, 1902, a flock of small ducks passed me that I referred 

 to this species. Owing to the fact that it is usually common in migration 

 in April, I also refer to it a trio reported to me on April 11, 1903. What 

 ducks may have passed besides these two species is indeterminate. 



6. Anser albifrons gambeli. American White-fronted Goose. — A 

 flock of about fifty, headed toward the north, made a noisy stay of a few 

 minutes in the fog and rain of March 27, 1903. Their clamor was con- 

 tinuous ; they settled first in the bare sugar-cane fields, then rose, flew 

 over the levee, and sat for a few minutes on the water. 



7. Ardea herodias. Gre.\t Blue Heron. — It is hard to trace the 



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