110 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



by specimens. There is every possibility that the status of 

 this species may be analogous to that of the Black Guillemot. 

 Unfortunately its identification in life is difficult, instead of 

 easy, and only the adult male is identifiable. The white spot 

 before the eye is larger and somewhat crescent-shaped, 

 instead of round. This is readily visible at close range 

 and in good light. 



BUFFLEHEAD (Charitoiietta albeola] 



This, the smallest and most graceful of our Sea Ducks, is 

 unfortunately nowhere common in our area except at the 

 eastern end of Long Island, but occurs inland a little oftener 

 than the Whistler. There is every reason to believe that its 

 numbers are steadily decreasing. The male is unmistakable 

 at a reasonable distance, but the female is a small edition of 

 the Golden-eye, unless the white spot back of the eye is 

 visible. Observers occasionally report flocks of "hundreds" 

 near New York City. Such birds are almost certainly other 

 species. 



Long Island. Fairly common winter visitant on the eastern 

 half of the island, rare at the western end near New York City. 

 October 1 to April 20. Casually as early as September 16, and as 

 late as May 13. 



ORIENT. Common winter resident, October 27, 1917 to 

 May 10, 1910; average, November 15 to April 15. 

 MASTIC. Uncommon winter visitant. 

 LONG BEACH. Very rare, usually present for a few days in 

 midwinter after severe cold, and leaving as soon as the 

 weather moderates. Noted November 25, 1920 (Crosby, 

 Griscom, and Janvrin) ; not recorded after February. 

 New York State. P'ormerly fairly common on the Hudson at 

 Ossining (Fisher), now rare (Brandreth). Still occurs off Staten 

 Island and on the Sound. 



BRONX REGION. Rare on the Sound, decreasing; De- 

 cember 7, 1921 to March 24, 1922 (L. N. Nichols). 

 New Jersey. Now very rare or casual in our area. Casual on 

 the Reservoir at Boonton, April 2, 1922 (Carter); January 7, 

 1922 on Newark Bav (Urner). 



