Vol. XII 



1895 



1 General Notes. 297 



Mackav informed me that he had frequently seen this nuchal white 

 patch well developed in the female. I trust that Mr. Gurdon Trumbull 

 will soon conclude his scholarly article on ' Our Scoters,' with a descrip- 

 tion of this species in all stages of plumage. -Loui.s B. Bishop, M.D., 

 New Haven, Conn. 



The Masked Duck (Noinonyx doniinicis) in the Lower Rio Grande 

 Valley, Texas. — There is a female specimen of the Masked Duck in the 

 United States Department of Agriculture collection, which was killed by 

 William Llovd five miles north of Brownsville, Texas, on July 22, 1891. 

 In his field notes the collector states that several others were seen at the 

 same place, and a local hunter killed a male in the vicinity. He also 

 feels quite positive that ducks seen in a fresh water pond near Matamoras, 

 Mexico, on Sept. 8, were of the same species. The occurrence of this 

 tropical duck in southern Texas is probably more than casual, and a 

 careful search among the numerous bayous would undoubtedly bring 

 to light more specimens.— A. K. Fisher, Washingion, D. C. 



Lincoln Salt Lake and the Occurrence of Strepsilas interpres.— Local 

 ornitholoc^ists are considerably interested in the occurrence of the Turn- 

 stone {sPrepsilas interpres) in this State. Three were shot at Lincoln 

 Salt Lake on the 25th of May of this year. These were secured by 

 Mr W D Hunter of the Department of Taxidermy, and were placed by 

 him in the State Museum. This is the first authentically reported 

 occurrence of this bird in Nebraska. So far as we can learn it is not 

 reported for any of our neighboring States. 



It maybe of interest to note that within the last three years the basm 

 of Salt Creek has been artificially dammed, and the water set back so as 

 to form a saline lake about two miles long and one mile wide. Here 

 during the springtime are found great numbers of Gulls, Terns, Ducks, 

 Geese Waders and Water-birds of all sorts. The Lincoln Gun Club has 

 bought the privileges of this lake, otherwise there would be a continual 

 fusilade kept up against the flocks of birds which hover there. There 

 are but few lakes or marshv places in semi-arid regions to entice Water- 

 birds, and any one could, by indiscriminate shooting, destroy large num- 

 bers of them. 



Possibly the salt water of this artificial lake provided food and familiar 

 conditions for these birds which tempted them to linger here in their 

 flight.— Erwix H. Barbol-r, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr. 



A Sora caught by a Mussel.- When hunting in the marshes in this 

 vicinity, September 3. 1894. Mr. Joseph D. Clarke noticed a Sora ^Porzana 

 Carolina) hopping along and trying hard to fly. His dog finally captured 

 the bird. It had a " freshwater clam " attached to one toe, being firmly 

 caught by the bivalve. The poor bird in its eftorts to release itself had 



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