164 Cooke, Labrador Bird Notes. [ April 



9. Marila marila. Scaup Duck. — Two young males were shot at 

 Ticoralak, October 11, 1912. The only other record for the whole coast of 

 Labrador is that of one shot near Nain in October, 1899. 



10. Harelda hyemalis. Old-squaw. — The first fall migrant ap- 

 peared at Pleasure Harbor, September 16, 1912. 



11. Somateria mollissima borealis. Northern Eider. — The 

 breeding eider of this part of the coast of eastern Labrador is dresseri, but 

 the winter birds are undoubtedly the northern species since Battle Harbor is 

 at the extreme northern limit of the breeding range of dressai. In the fall 

 of 1912 the Eider Duck shooting began near Battle Harbor on September 

 20, but at that time the birds were scarce and only a few were obtained. 

 Even a month later, October 24, the gunning season had not yet reached 

 its height, and seven men in one day killed only about 80 birds. Later 

 the numbers increased and the birds remained as long as they could find 

 any open water. At West Bay on January 31, 1913, after the simultaneous 

 discharge of six guns, 140 eiders were picked up and many more were lost. 

 A flock of not less than 400 was seen at Rigolet Maich 14, 1913. The 

 first northward migrants were noted at Battle Harbor, May 1, 1913, and 

 on May 23, they passed by the thousand in companies of a hundred or more. 



12. Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus. Lesser Snow Goose. — Snow 

 Geese are only stragglers on the Labrador coast; indeed a single doubtful 

 record at Okkak is the only one for the whole coast. One was shot at 

 Independent Harbor about October 1, 1914, where none of the inhabitants 

 could remember seeing a white goose. Its skin is now in the U. S. Biologi- 

 cal Survey collection and, strangely enough, it turns out to be the small 

 form from western North America. 



13. Branta canadensis canadensis. Canada Goose. — The first 

 were noted at Battle Harbor, May 1, 1913, and at Sandwich Bay, April 30, 

 1915. These dates agree closely with those given by Cartwright, who 

 records the first as arriving near this same locality on May 4, 1775, April 30, 

 1776, May 1, 1779, and May 8, 1786. 



14. Branta bernicla glaucogastra. Brant. — There is no certain 

 record of a Brant anywhere on the Labrador coast, except the one shot at 

 Nain in October, 1899. One is reported to have been taken at Ticoralak 

 the fall of 1912 and the record is probably correct. 



15. Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. — This species is known from 

 Cape St. Francis only a few miles to the south of Sandwich Bay, and hence 

 the report that it l^reeds near this latter place is probably correct. 



16. Fulica americana. Coot. — One was shot at Table Bay in 

 October, 1913, and is now in the collection of the Biological Survey. The 

 only othei records for the whole east coast of Labrador are of one taken 

 near Nain in 1880 and one at Sandwich Bay in August, 1899. 



17. Phalaropus fulicarius. Red Phalarope. — A late record for 

 the coast of Labrador is that of several Red Phalaropes seen at West Ste. 

 Modiste, September 13, 1912. 



18. Gallinago delicata. Wilson's Snipe. — It may be well to record 



