204 General Notes. [^^^^ 



Anatidse. Ducks. — Ducks were plentiful, but were flying high and 

 frequenting the middle of the lake. They did not decoy well, nor in other 

 ways offer the sportsman good shooting. The species mentioned are 

 Canvas-back, Blue-bills, Redheads, Widgeon, and Mallards. As Mr. Mer- 

 shon is a sportsman well acquainted with the ducks of North America, 

 and as he mentions only such species as we found common during our stay, 

 it is probable that a number of species of ducks avoid Quill Lake to a 

 great extent. 



Oidemia fusca. Velvet Scoter. — "I noticed a great many flocks of 

 Velvet Scoter, and succeeded in killing one fine specimen that I am now 

 having mounted." (Mershon.) 



Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. — Geese were reported as tliick in 

 wheat stubble west of Quill Lake. 



Olor columbianus. Whistling Swan. — "I saw quantities of swans." 

 (Mershon) Date. October 9. 



Charadrius dominicus. Golden Plover. — One seen on October 9, 

 and two on October 11. 



Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. Gray Ruffed Grouse. — Contrary to 

 our experience, Mr. Mershon found tliis bird not rare at Quill Lake, getting 

 three specimens and seeing another. He comments upon the unusually 

 heavy feathering of the tarsus of the birds taken. 



GENERAL NOTES. 



A Parasitic Jaeger near Ottawa, Ontario. — A bird of the year of «S^er- 

 rorarius parasiiicus was brought to the undersigned during the first week 

 of September, 1909. It had been shot on the 4th of that month on the 

 Ottawa River, near where the Lievre empties into it. It was a male; the 

 stomach was empty. The nearest localities given in Macoun's latest cata- 

 logue for this species are the Great Lakes (Fleming) and the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence (Dionne). If I remember correctly, there had been no great 

 storms or other violent meteorological disturbances previous to the date 

 of capture. It therefore seems somewhat remarkable that this species 

 should be found in the place mentioned. — G. Eifrig, Addison, 0. 



European Widgeon {Mareca penelope) in Florida. — I want to record 

 the taking of two specimens of Mareca penelope near Titusville, Florida, 

 on February 20, 1907. Both were fuU-plumaged adult males and were 

 shot by N. F. Emmons of Boston. One bird he had mounted for himself 

 and the other, which he presented to me at the time, is in my collection. 

 The only mention that C. B. Cory makes of this bird in his book entitled 



