Vol. XXXIIj Geneml Note ^ 367 



GENERAL NOTES. 



The Red-throated Loon (Gaoia stellata) in Jackson Park, 111. — On 



February 21, 1915, where the waters of the Yacht Harbor join those of 

 Lake Michigan in Jackson Park, a specimen of the Red-throated Loon 

 in winter plumage was seen. The weather was rather cool, being from 

 48° to 51° Fahrenheit. A light steady rain was falling with a moderate 

 southeast wind. The bird had a badly hurt left leg and wing. These 

 injuries prevented it from diving, for this would naturally be the first thing 

 to which it would resort upon being frightened. As it could neither fly, 

 dive, nor swim rapidly, we were at times within ten feet of it and directly 

 above it. 



The Red-throated Loon is considered an unusually rare winter visitant 

 here. 'Birds of Chicago Area' (Woodruff, 1907) gives the following 

 notation regarding this species: " The Red-throated Loon seemingly can be 

 admitted to the bird fauna of the Chicago Area only as a rare winter 

 visitant." As far as we have learned this is the only record for Jackson 

 Park, although it is quite possible that others have been seen in previous 



•irs. — L. L. Mackenzie, W. W. Lyon, Chicago, III. 



Another European Widgeon in Virginia. — On Christmas Day, 1914, 

 Messrs. Chas. J. and Laurence Rumsey, of Ithaca, N. Y., were duck- 

 hunting at Virginia Beach, Va. After the main flight of the morning was 

 over, a single bird came to the decoys and was shot. This bird proved to be 

 a first-year male European Widgeon (Mareca penelope). It was in nearly 

 complete winter plumage, though the back and flanks were still rather 

 plentifully sprinkled with the dull feathers of the post-juvenal plumage, 

 and the white wing-spot was only suggested by one white covert in each 

 wing. The specimen was fortunately saved and presented to me, and is 

 now in my collection. 



This note is submitted for record as it is interesting to know whether or 

 not this European species is becoming increasingly abundant in America. 

 Two others, — Princess Anne Co., Va., January 5, 1915, and Currituck Co., 

 N. C, January 27, 1915, are recorded by Mr. H. H. Bailey in ' The Oologist ' 

 for March, 1915. — Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Ithaca, N. Y. 



Snow Geese and Swans in Massachusetts. — On November 20, 1914, 

 five Lesser Snow Geese {Chen h. hyperboreus) were shot at Robbin's Pond, 

 East Bridgewater. These birds, two adults and three young, were mounted 

 by C. Emers onBrown. Three other Snow Geese are said to have been taken 

 at Robbins Pond in 1913- 



On November 21, two swans were seen by the gunners at Oldham 

 Pond, Pembroke. They circled around a number of times and then 

 headed towards Silver Lake where they were also seen. — J. C. Phillips,. 

 Wenham, Mass. 



