iSgt.] DUTCHER 07I the La/irador Duck. 21^ 



^mall shells in its crop. It dove to the liottoin with the Squaws." 

 — S. I". Cheney, Grand Manan^ N. B.., October 30, 1890. 



'^'■Tliere \vas a nice pair in l^armim's old Aluscum, in Ne\\^ 

 York City, that were destroved by fire. I used to see them after 

 they became rare and tried to get them for the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, but did not succeed." — George A. Boardman. 



The specimen recorded by Dr. W. H. Gregg, of Elmira, New^ 

 York* has unfortunately been lost. Dr. Gregg informs me that 

 the duck in question was shot bv a lad December 12, 1S7S. It 

 was found in a broad expanse of lowlands called the Button- 

 woods. These had been overflowed by the Chemung River, 

 during a freshet. The duck had been eaten before he heard of 

 its capture : never saw or was able to procure anything but the 

 head and a portion of the neck. These were preserved for some 

 years. Recently while moving his collection to New York City 

 he entrusted the packing of his specimens to another person, and 

 as the head cannot now be found he suspects that it was thrown 

 away with some moth infested birds as of no interest or value. 



Historical Notes. 



"I recollect that about forty or more years ago it was not un- 

 usual to see them in Fulton Market, and without doubt killed on 

 Long Island ; at onetime I remember seeing six fine males, which 

 hung in the market until spoiled for the want of a pinxhaser ; 

 they were not considered desirable for the table, and collectors 

 had a sufficient number, at that time a pair being considered 

 enough to represent a species in a collection. No one anticipated 

 that they might become extinct, and if they have, the cause 

 thereof is a problem most desirable to solve, as it was surely not 

 through man's agency, as in the case of the Great Auk." — 

 George N. Lawrence, New York City^ January 4, 1S91. 



"I believe this Duck is now extinct. My business is dealing in 

 game, and I see many of the fishing people from Newfoundland : 

 I believe if any odd birds were seen that I would hear about 

 them. The name 'Pied Duck' is now applied to the Surf Scoter 

 by many of the gunners from Labrador and Newfoundland." — 

 Thomas I. Egan, Halifax^ N. 6"., Nov. 17, 1890. 



"I have in my life shot a number of these beautiful birds, 



* American Naturalist, Vol. XIII, p. 128, February, 1879. 



