548 Hathawat. Notes on Rhode Island Birds. [bet. 



had a pure white albino in her flock of twenty-three domesticated Black 

 Ducks. 



Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. — This is one of the rarest 

 ducks that visit us in the fall there being but two or three records of its 

 occurrence in the state. An immature male was shot in a small fresh water 

 pond at Point Judith on November 11, 1909, by Mr. Leon Champlin, from 

 whom I secured it in the meat for my collection. The bird was alone at 

 the time. 



Mareca americana. Baldpate. — While a few of this species are taken 

 every fall on our coast it is uncommon in winter and early spring. A male 

 and female in full nuptial plumage were shot by Mr. C. B. Clarke near 

 Newport on March 19, 1909. Both birds were added to my collection. 

 Mr. Harold N. Gibbs shot a female at Barrington on January 21, 1913. 



Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. — The following records of this rare 

 migrant are of interest. A j'oung female was shot at Point Judith, Sep- 

 tember 24, 1908, and an immature male at Newport, November 7, 1908, 

 by Mr. C. B. Clarke. A male and female in full nuptial plumage were 

 shot in a small fresh water pond at Point Judith on April 29, 1911, by Mr. 

 Leon Champlin who sent them to me in the flesh. They had been observed 

 for a week previously in this pond in company with a pair of Black Ducks. 



Marila valisineria. Canvas-back. — A few are taken every fall in 

 Charlestown Pond in company with the large flocks of Redheads that occur 

 there more or less regularly in November. Two males in adult plumage 

 were shot in a fresh water pond in Middletown, R. I., on November 18, 

 1905, one of which is in the Park Museum in Providence and the other in 

 my collection. 



Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. — Mr. C B. Clarke 

 informs me that he saw a bunch of a dozen in December, 1904, in the 

 vicinity of Cormorant Rock, Newport, and that he shot two immature 

 males on December 17, 1905, at the same localitj-. He had a very good 

 chance to watch this pair as he lay concealed behind a rock. Speaking of 

 their habits he says, " they are the most graceful birds in the water that 

 I ever saw. They have a very peculiar way of swimming, moving along 

 in a zigzag manner with their heads bobbing up and down as if in search of 

 food. The rougher the water the better they seem to like it. Most ducks 

 will dive through a breaker but the Harlequin swims right through as if 

 the breaker did not exist." Mr. C. M. Hughes of Newport informed me 

 that an adult male, two immature males and a female were shot at Cormo- 

 rant Rock, Newport, on February 9, 1911. I purchased the adult male 

 which is in full nuptial plumage. 



Somateria spectabilis. King Eider. — This species occurs rarely 

 among the flocks of American Eiders that resort to the vicinity of Cormo- 

 rant Rock, Newport. Mr. C. B. Clarke during some fifteen years shooting 

 at this locality has taken three specimens in that time. Two of these are 

 in my collection, a male in post nuptial plumage of a mature bird probably 

 two years or more old, shot January 21, 1909, and a female taken February 

 16, 1911. 



