"|, u; j " Hathaway, Notes on Rhod* Island Birds. 551 



Steganopus tricolor. Wilson's Phalakope. — I took a male of this 

 Phalarope a1 Quonochontaug on August 28, 1909. It came into my 

 decoys a! dusk, and alighted among them. 



Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus. Long-billed Dowitcher. — 

 A female of bhia rare shore bird was shot on September 25, 1908, by Mr. C. B. 

 Clarke at Point Judith, which lie sent to me in the meal and it is now in 

 my collection. It measured as follows: wing 5.87 inches, tarsus 1 .65 inches, 

 bill 2.87 inches. Mr. Clarke informs me thai twelve or fourteen years ago 

 he shot a bunch of eleven of this species in the spring of the year on the 

 Eastona Beach marsh at Newport, and that the above specimen is the only 

 one lie has aeen since t bal time. 



Micropalama himantopus. Stilt Sandpiper. — Some years this 

 species occurs quite commonly during the fall migration and in others 

 it is rare. During a flight at Point Judith on September 1, 1906, several 

 were shot, all young birds. 1 shot a male in adult breeding plumage that 

 came to my decoys on July 30, 1911, at Quonochontaug, R. I. 



Pisobia maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper. — I took a very late bird 

 at Point Judith marsh on November 2, 1902, the only one seen. 



Pisobia bairdi. Baird's Sandpiper. — As this is one of our rarest 

 Limicolae, individual records are of interest. I took a male August 14, 



1907, and a female August 30, 1912, both at Quonochontaug. The latter 

 was alone and came to my decoys when I imitated the call notes of the 

 Pectoral Sandpiper. 



Ereunetes mauri. Western Sandpiper. — Occurs sparingly among 

 Hocks of I.easi and Semipahnated Sandpipers. Out of a flock of a dozen 

 " pee]) " I shot a young male on September 7, 1908, at Point Judith. At 

 Quonochontaug in 1912, 1 shot three, a female August 23, a male each on 

 August 24 and 26. These were all immature birds which were easily 

 identified by their Longer bills as they searched for food on the sand flats, 

 among the flocks of "peep." 



Limosa fedoa. Marbled Godwit. — An extremely rare straggler in 

 this state. One was shot by a gunner named Merritt on September 7, 



1908, at Sakonnei Point. The specimen was mounted and is in his posses- 

 sion. 



Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus. AYlstern Willet. — 

 The western form of the Willet has never been recorded as occurring in 

 Rhode Island, vet doubtless all that have occurred in recent years belong 

 to this subspecies. It occurs as a regular fall migrant, some years more 

 abundant than others. The first bird that 1 have a record of, I shot on 

 Augu- 9, 1905, at Quonochontaii'j:. A flock of eight came to my decoys on 

 V.UgUSl 18, 1907, at the same place, two of which I shot, both females. 

 In August, 1912, they were more abundant than I have ever seen them, some 

 eighteen having been seen between the 9th and 23rd on the Quonochontaug 

 marsh. Mr. I. P. Sheldon informed me that he saw twenty-five August 

 23 on the Point Judith marsh. All of the birds thai I have shot were 

 in immature plumage. Earliest bird noted on August 5, 1906. I have 



