510 Smyth, Birds of Montgomerij County, Va. [oc^ 



streams, are inarsliy bottoms, which used to he quite extensive, 

 before they were drained, and which attract snipe in the mi}:;ra- 

 tions, and other wading and marsh-loving- birds. Below tlie college 

 campus, an artificial causeway, acting as a dam, allows the flooding 

 during the fall, winter, and early spring, of about two acres of 

 meadow, for an ice-pond, and in spite of nuich passing of vehicles 

 over the causeway, the pond proves \ery attracti\e to water-fowl 

 dunng the migrations. I have killed fifteen species of ducks, 

 two of grebes, three of gulls, and one tern upon this pond, and have 

 twice seen Canada Geese. Bald Knob Mountain, one of the 

 higher peaks in the State is within fifteen miles of the town; and 

 is remarkable for the extensive lake almost at its summit. The 

 surrounding region is quite wild. 



As before indicated, the town is west of the Blue Ridge Moun- 

 tains, and is near the sununit of the Alleghany. It seems to be in 

 the line of the autumnal migration for many warblers, and the 

 spring migration for certain ducks. Nelson's Sparrow and other 

 birds, as the list will more clearly point out. 



With these introductory remarks, the list is presented as follows. 



1. Colymbus auritus. Horned Gkehe. — A rare winter and spring 

 visitor. Only livo rooords, all on the collejje ice-pond; one in November, 

 three in Doceniber and one in April; the hitter specimen showing traces 

 of the nuptial phunage. 



2. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. — An occasionalfall 

 and spring visitor, in late October, late March, and early April. The spring 

 specimens in breeding plumage. 



3. Gavia immer. Loon. — Accidental. Three November records, 

 all in immature plumage. 



4. Larus franklini. Franklin's Gull. — One specimen, a female in 

 fall plumage, was secured near the ice-pond on October 22, 1898 (see Auk, 

 Vol. XIX, p. 74.) This I believe, is the first record of this species east of 

 the Mississippi. The specimen is now in my collection. 



5. Larus delawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. — An occasional winter 

 and spring visitor; with one exception, all in adult plumage. I have six 

 records, all on the college ice-pond, by my house; one each for December, 

 January, April and May, and two for March. The May record was of an 

 immature specimen. My house is within fifty yards of the ice-pond, and a 

 spy-glass hangs within easy reach of my study window, so that identifica- 

 tions can easily be made; and if necessary, the gun can be called into 

 service. 



6. Larus Philadelphia. Bonaparte's Gvll. — One visited the 



