/ol. X] 

 iS93 J 



Dutcher, Rare Long Island Birds. 27 J 



Anscr albifrons gambeli. American White-fronted Goose. — There 

 are two specimens in the collection, one labelled "Presented by H. G. 

 Reeve, shot on Montauk," and the other "Presented by Col. Nicolas 

 Pike." Col. Pike says of this species: "It is very rare, and I consider it 

 the finest game bird I have ever eaten, much superior to the Canvas-back 

 Duck or a young Canada Goose. I have met with it but three times in 

 my life. The first one I killed from a blind in Great South Bay in Novem- 

 ber, 1846. This is the specimen in the collection. I find in my notes that 

 a second one was killed from a battery off Islip in 1849, March iSth. 

 What became of this bird I do not know, unless I let Philip Brasher have 

 it. The third and last specimen was killed by me from a shore blind 

 where I was lying for Ducks. This was March 2, 1872. It was badlv 

 mutilated, for I killed it when close to me. It was picked and eaten and 

 pronounced a delicious morsel." 



Branta nigricans. Black Brant. — There is an exceptionally fine speci- 

 men of this species in the collection, which was shot by Col. Pike in 

 Great South Bay, off Islip, Long Island, in 1840. He tells me: "I had 

 the skin some years before Mr. Lawrence described the Black Brant as a 

 new species. 1 The late Professor Baird saw it while on a visit to my 

 house and remarked that it was an interesting specimen; this was in 1844 

 when I resided in Henry Street, Brooklyn. Some years after, but subse- 

 quent to the date Mr. Lawrence separated the Black Brant, he saw ray 

 specimen and gave me its correct name. Prior to that time I had con- 

 sidered it only an exceptional Brant." 



Plegadis autumnalis. Glossy Ibis. — Col. Pike presented this 

 specimen, and states as follows: "I have killed this species twice on 

 Long Island, one at Southampton on September 12, 1847, and one at 

 Canarsie Bay on October 10, 1848. Mr. Akhurst purchased still another 

 specimen in Fulton Market that was shot on Long Island. It was pur- 

 chased by Col. Pike who presented it to Count Tipani, who took it to 

 Italy." 



Ardea ccerulea. Little Blue Heron. — Both are in the dark phase of 

 plumage and are labelled "South Bay." Col. Pike's notes are as follows : 

 •These birds were killed by me on the meadows of the Great South Bav on 

 August 17, 1847. They were at that time frequently met with. In 1S8S I 

 passed three weeks shooting at Ponquogue, Long Island, and was sur- 

 prised not to meet with them." 



Rallus crepitans. Clapper Rail. — There is a fine specimen of this 

 common Long Island bird in albinistic plumage. There are no data with 

 it. 



1 1846. Lawrence, George N. — Description of a new species of Anser. By George 

 N. Lawrence. Read March 16, 1846. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, Vol. IV, 

 1847, pp. 171, 172, plate xii, of Anser nigricans. Issued in Nos. 6, 7, August, 1846 

 I. Anser nigricans, n. s., Egg Harbor, N. J., pages 171, 172. 



