Vol i£f*] eral Notes. 115 



72-79). I urrived in Newfoundl.-tnd :il Port aux Basque on July 7, 1911, 

 and proceeded at once to Stevenville Crossing on St. George's Bay. 

 Here I remained one week returning to Cape Breton Island on July 14. 

 Though my interests were mainly botanical, I made notes and observa- 

 tions on all tin' birds that came directly under my notice of which the 

 following seem worthy of note. I was particularly anxious to study the 

 Veery, its habits and notes, since I described it as a variety in ' The Auk ' 

 (Vol. XVII, 270, 271, 1900), based on material collected in this portion of 

 the island. 



My friend, Dr. Geo. C. Shattuck of Boston has also lately given me 

 some notes made on the llumber River between September 13 and 

 October 4, 1912. 



Mergus americanus. American Merganser. — Two seen by Dr. 

 Shattuck. 



Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. — Dr. Shattuck was 

 told that this species breeds regularly on the Bay of Islands. 



Botaurus lentiginosus. American Bittern. — One seen by Dr. 

 Sh:ittuck. 



Ardea herodias herodias. Great Blue Heron. — One seen by Dr. 

 Shattuck. 



Philohela minor. Woodcock. — A young chick, I think undoubtedly 

 of this species, was closely observed running on a swamp and tree grown 

 wood road near Indian Head on the 12th. It took at once to the under- 

 brush, and from the locality, position of its eye, etc., I felt little doubt of its 

 proper identification. 



iEgialitis meloda. Piping Plover. — A pair was seen continually 

 on the beach at the Crossing. Though I did not find their nest, they 

 were evidently breeding and showed much anxiety at my presence when 

 I crossed a certain portion of the beach. I believe this species has not 

 been reported except as a migrant from this island. 



Sphyrapicus varius varius. Sapsucker. — One seen by Dr. Shattuck. 



Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens. Wilson's Thrush. — Though it 

 is not my desire to question the ruling of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, yet the long sought opportunity to hear the bird inhabiting New- 

 foundland has at last been gratified, and I am more strongly convinced 

 than ever that my fuliginosa is distinct. Its darker coloring leads one at 

 sight to confuse it with the Olive-back, and I had to shoot the bird in one 

 case to be positive of my identification. Its call note pheu has what seems 

 to me quite a different quality, and its song, if my birds were not peculiar, 

 instead of being an uninterrupted performance is divided into three dis- 

 tinct parts, and unlike any Veery song I have ever heard in New England. 

 I listened to several birds singing near the mouth of Harry's Brook, and I 

 believe the difference would be noted by any one familiar with the stereo- 

 typed song. — R. Heber Howe, Jr., Thoreau Museum, Concord, Mass. 



