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0/4 Norton, Birds Xeiv or Rare to the Fauna of Maine. [bet 



BIRDS NEW OR RARE TO THE FAUNA OF MAINE. 



BY ARTHUR H. NORTON. 



The following records which have come under my observation 

 during the past few years represent additions to the avifauna of 

 Maine or additional occurrences of species rarely found in the 



state. 



Xema sabini. Sabine's Gull. — On September 11, 1912, Mr. Everett 

 Smith and I saw one of these birds near Bluff Island, Saco Bay, Me. It 

 came in from the eastward with a few terns attracted by fish livers which 

 we were throwing out, but it did not come quite within gunshot. Its 

 slaty mantle, small size, and black edged wing were carefully noted. Its 

 flight resembled that of the terns, but its manner of feeding that of 

 Bonaparte's Gull. Mr. Smith secured a specimen near this spot May 31, 

 1877. 1 



The only other Maine record seems to be one near the Brothers Islands, 

 Casco Bay, September 22, 1899. 2 



Sterna dougalli. Roseate Tern. — Since there are but few records 

 of this tern for Maine and none of these are recent, it seems suitable to 

 publish this occurrence. While Mr. Everett Smith and I were near Bluff 

 Island, Saco Bay, August 19, 1912, Mr. Smith secured an adult specimen 

 of this bird, which he presented to the collection of the Portland Society 

 of Natural History. The other records are as follows: 



A small flock was seen upon the Green Islands in Casco Bay on the 20th 

 of July [prior to 1S79]. 3 



A few once bred on a small island near Tenants Harbor, St. George, and 

 at the Isles of Shoals. 4 



The two following reports are in print. " A few seen, Fox Island, 

 August 6 [and] 12 [18] 99, identification not absolute " B and " Three seen 

 on August 31, 1900 [near Isleboro] by G. C. Shattuck." 6 



Mareca penelope. European Widgeon. — Mr. E. B. Pillsbury brought 

 me a female of this bird, in the flesh which was taken at Scarborough 

 November 13, 1912, the first of the kind to be detected in the state. 



There is another specimen in the state museum at Augusta taken at 

 Swan Island, Merrymeeting Bay, September 20, 1911. I am obliged to 



« 1SS3, Smith, Forest & Stream, XX: 205. 



1 1900, Knight, Journ. Me. Orn. Soc, II: 2. 



» 1S79, Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. CI. IV: 15. 



• 1884, Brewer, Hist, N. Am. Bds., Water Bds., II: 305. 



s 1900, Howe, Journ. Me. Orn. Soc, II: 28. 



1 1901, Howe, Journ. Me. Orn. Soc. Ill: 14. 



