368 General Notes. LJuly 



Wilson's Snipe Wintering in Nova Scotia. — Mr. R. W. Tufts of 

 Wolfville, Kings County, Nova Scotia sent me a Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago 

 delicata) which he shot at Wolfville, February 17, 1915. He said this bird 

 (which proved to be a male) was discovered in a sheltered spring swamp 

 or bog, which never wholly freezes and where the grass shows green even 

 in the severest winter weather. The bird was in fine condition, being 

 well protected with fat. — John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass. 



Spotted Sandpiper and Water. — In ' The Auk ' for April, 1915, p. 

 227, Mr. L. L. Jewel speaks of a crippled Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macu- 

 laria) diving and swimming under water. I have found this to be a regular 

 habit in young of the species at Mastic, Long Island. I remember dis- 

 tinctly the last one I banded at this place, a bird not yet able to fly, which, 

 when pursued took to the water. I reached down and grabbed it below 

 the surface where it was swimming with its wings. 



In this connection I would like to relate a boyhood experience which I 

 do not remember ever to have published. While crossing a small bay at 

 Far Rockaway, Long Island, a Spotted Sandpiper was observed flying ex- 

 citedly about close to the surface. Its actions were inexplicable until 

 suddenly a hawk swooped to it from out of the sky somewhere. The Sand- 

 piper dropped upon the surface where it lay limp as though dead. After 

 making one or two more unsuccessful swoops the hawk departed. When 

 approached the Sandpiper first sat up like a little duck, then rose and flew 

 ashore. — J. T. Nichols, New York City. 



Gray Sea Eagle off Nantucket. — I should like to record what appears 

 to be the " farthest south " record for the Gray Sea Eagle {Haliceetus albi- 

 cilla). This bird, which is in immature plumage, flew aboard the Dutch 

 steamer ' Arundo,' as she was passing Nantucket light ship, on November 

 14, 1914. It was secured alive by the captain, and is now living in the 

 New York Zoological Park.— Lee S. Crandall, Assistant Curator of 

 Birds, N. Y. Zool. Park. 



Young Kingbirds on a Cherry and Dragon-fly Diet. — I was watch- 

 ing a pair of Kingbirds feeding their young in a nest built in a pine about 

 fifteen feet from the ground. A telephone wire passing nearby furnished 

 a temporary resting place for the parent bh'ds, and at the same time gave 

 me an excellent opportunity of noting the various kinds of insects which 

 were dropped into the gaping mouths of the young birds about ten or 

 twelve days old. The exact species of insects could not be identified, but 

 among various kinds of flies, moths and butterflies, to my amazement a 

 large green dragon-fly with great head and eyes, measuring across the wings 

 at least four inches, was jammed wings and all, into the mouth of one of 

 the little ones. After a few moments, as if for dessert, a large red cherry 

 fully one-half inch in diameter was rammed home in the same manner, and 



