274 General Notes. |_ April 



Phaenicopterus ruber. One was seen at Cameron, La., Dec. 6, 1910. 

 Apparently the first definite record for Louisiana. 



Querquedula cyanoptera. Dr. A. K. Fisher sends me notes on this and 

 the following species. A Cinnamon Teal was killed by Mr. John Dymond 

 at the Delta Duck Club, La., Jan. 15, 1911, and Mr. F. M. Miller, President 

 of the Board of Game Commissioners, says that the species is not uncommon 

 in Louisiana this year, he having reports of about 20 specimens taken. 



Melopelia leucoptera. One of a pair was collected by Mr. Gus Smith at 

 Venice, La., about Nov. 20, 1910.— W. L. McAtee, Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Enormous Death Rate among Water Fowl near Salt Lake City, 

 Utah, Fall of 1910. — In reply to a letter of inquiry I am in receipt of 

 some interesting information (dated Dec. 10, 1910) from the State Game 

 and Fish Commissioner of Utah, Mr. Fred W. Chambers of Salt Lake City: 

 " . . . . will state that early in September, 1910, a malady came amongst the 

 ducks and wild water fowl of this section, which has proven very disastrous, 

 it being estimated that over two hundred thousand (200,000) have died 

 from this disease. Mr. J. H. Mohler, Chief of Division of Pathology, 

 Washington, D. C, who took the matter up, states that the disease is 

 intestinal coccidiosis — which from appearances is a sort of cholera. On 

 account of having scarcely any rain during the past season, the water was 

 very low, and was to a great extent used for irrigation purposes. The 

 ducks nested and hatched in the various sloughs, and the young being 

 unable to fly, subsisted in the waters of said sloughs, which from long 

 drought had become stagnant and filthy. The disease is supposed to 

 have started in this way. Conditions have cleared up and very few sick 

 ducks can now be found. The disease is not infectious to animals and 

 people, as has been reported." — Henry K. Coale, Highland Park, 

 III. 



Notes on Some Species from Eastern Oregon. — The winter of 

 1909-1910 was perhaps the most severe that has been experienced in eastern 

 Oregon during the past 20 years. The unusual amount of snow, as well 

 as the long continued cold, caused the death of many birds and to some 

 extent forced others to change their normal habits. 



A flock of a dozen Oreortyx was several times seen feeding on stable 

 refuse hauled out from the town of Vale, Malheur County. Just where 

 these wanderers came from would be a problem, as the nearest body of 

 timber, the natural home of the species, is about 75 miles to the west- 

 ward, and so far as I can learn the species is not found there. 



The unusually deep snow handicapped the jackrabbits, which were very 

 abundant at this time, rendering their capture by the ever hungry coyote 

 merely a matter of a moment's effort. Early in the winter I began to 

 notice that a small company of Magpies accompanied each and every 



