428 General Notes. [£** 



probably occurs in small numbers during migrations. ..." This last is 

 highly probable, as on this page Stone further states that it is not an un- 

 common transient on the New Jersey coast, for, like all of the Limicolse 

 that occur regularly in any numbers along this coast during migrations, 

 their occurrence inland on the Delaware River and other streams is to be 

 expected and looked for during and after severe and protracted northeast 

 and southwest storms. This is a fact well known to sportsmen who take 

 advantage of such occasions to go out after shore birds and other water 

 fowls, and seldom do they return empty handed. 



During the past several years I have devoted much of my time to the 

 study of the water and shore birds, ferreting out the records of all that 

 occur on the Delaware, but nowhere have I found any recent and reliable 

 records of the occurrence of this species in this vicinity. There is a prob- 

 ability that gunners confuse it with the Pectoral Sandpiper, which it 

 resembles, and this uncertainty of the identity of the species makes it 

 almost impossible to ascertain anything definite regarding the bird's status 

 from such sources. 



The only records of the White-rumped Sandpiper's occurrence in this 

 vicinity that I know of follow: — 



A mounted bird in my collection — where it remained unidentified for 

 several years — was picked up by my brother George E. Miller on October 

 7, 1901, at Port Richmond, this county, on the shore of a pond. The 

 taxidermist who mounted it failed to ascertain the sex for me, but said 

 it was very fat and in excellent condition. It is of course in fall or winter 

 plumage. 1 



At this locality on October 10, 1906, my brother George shot one but 

 ruined it entirely as a specimen with a heavy charge of No. 6 shot, that 

 tore and mutilated the bird. It, too, was in fall plumage and also in fine 

 condition. 



These are the only records of the White-rumped Sandpiper that I can 

 vouch for now as occurring here, but further investigation may bring to 

 light several others of hazy authenticity at present. — Richard F. Miller, 

 Frankford, Philadelphia, Pa. 



The Spruce Partridge in the White Mountains. — Late in August, 1908, 

 on descending the Crawford bridle path on Mount Clinton, just below the 

 timber line, I came upon a female Spruce Partridge (Canachites canadensis 

 canace) with a single chick about one third the size of its mother. The 

 older bird was very tame. I walked within four feet of her as she stood 

 upon a little knoll of moss, while the chick made its way nervously off into 

 the forest. She was also strikingly tranquil. Once in a while, with a low, 

 guttural note, she would ruffle her plumage for a moment and look at me 



1 Since the foregoing was written the bird has been presented to Dr. Witmer Stone, 

 of the Academy of Natural Sciences of this city, in which institution it can now be 

 seen. R. F. M. 



