V "'nn < X X 1 Hathaway, Notes on Rhode Island Birds. 549 



Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus. Lessee Snow Goose. — One of 

 this species in immature plumage was shot on January 10, 1909, near a 

 spring on Hope Island in Narragansett Bay and is now in the collection of 

 Dr. Horace P. Beck of Newport, mounted on a panel as a " dead game " 

 piece. The bird was in a very emaciated condition with its stomach empty, 

 and when skinned was found to have one of its wings recently broken, and 

 while it was quite well knit together, probably accounts for its being in 

 this locality in midwinter. It measured as follows: wing 16 inches, 

 tarsus 3.37 inches, bill 2.25 inches. 



Olor columbianus. Whistling Swan. — Two were seen by one of the 

 Life Saving Crew at t lie Quonochontaug Station flying west over the ocean 

 in October, 1908. Mr. Frank D. Lisle of Providence, on September 7, 

 1910, saw a swan in Trustom Pond in South Kingstown, gray in color with 

 reddish head and neck. He watched it for some time through field glasses 

 until it flew away. Mr. C. B. Clarke wrote me that during the first week 

 of September, 1910, a swan flew over the marsh at Point Judith. In all 

 probability the above were of this species. Miss Elizabeth Dickens of 

 Block Island has given me the following information in regard to six swans 

 that were shot on November 16, 1911, in Fresh Pond, the largest fresh water 

 pond on the island. She says, " the wind was blowing at least 50 miles 

 per hour from the west and they had alighted in the pond. Mr. Howard 

 Stedman shot two of them, young birds which still retained a part of their 

 gray plumage. L. Lewis Littlefield shot the remaining four, which had 

 flown to the farther end of the pond when the first two were killed. He 

 ended the fives of two adult birds with the first shell. The two that were 

 left arose, but soon alighted beside the dead ones on the surface of the pond 

 where Mr. Littlefield killed them also. Two of the six were sent to New- 

 port, one of which was mounted and is in the possession of Mr. Clarke 

 Burdick. The others were plucked and eaten. A seventh bird was 

 killed in Harbor Pond, Block Island, December 28th or 29th, 1911, by 

 Lycurgus Negus. It is a nearly adult bird still retaining gray feathers 

 on the head and neck." This one was mounted and is now in the Park 

 Museum at Providence. 



Ardea herodias herodias. Great Blue Heron. — A very interesting 

 account of the flights of this heron on Block Island was recently given me 

 by Miss Elizabeth Dickens. " On November 12, 1910, a flock of twelve 

 appeared about 8: 30 a. m. After circling awhile like gulls playing in air, 

 they dropped down on the edge of the bluff, and they were a sight. Of 

 course the gunners got after them and they departed. All the forenoon 

 they came from the west in flocks of from two to sixty. I counted forty 

 in one flock and sixty in another, that were in sight at one time. The Life 

 Savers said this was one flock until their shooting divided them. Last 

 fall, 1911, there was a similar flight though not so large, at about the same 

 time." 



Rallus elegans. King Rail. — Three records of this large rail all taken 

 in winter are given by Howe <k Sturtevant in their ' Birds of Rhode Island.' 



