EXTINCT AND EXTIRPATED SPECIES 379 



LABRADOR DUCK (Camptolaimus labradorius) 

 This species was apparently not uncommon in winter on 

 Long Island in former years. It is now totally extinct, and 

 the last specimen was taken in 1875. 



SNOWY EGRET (Egretta candidissima) 

 In former times Giraud regarded this species as not un- 

 common on Long Island from "late in the spring till the last 

 of September," and it undoubtedly bred. Small companies 

 of these birds were recorded every year from 1881 to 1885, 

 since when no specimens have been taken on Long Island to 

 my knowledge. The Snowy Egret is consequently extirpated 

 as a summer resident, and its occurrence at the present time 

 would be purely accidental. Many years ago Dr. A. K. 

 Fisher collected a casual individual at Ossining. 



WHOOPING CRANE (Grus americana) 



In colonial times this splendid bird undoubtedly occurred 

 on migration in New England, New York, and New Jersey. 

 "De Vries in his Journal, describing the country of New 

 Netherlands, mentions White Crane as occurring (1639-42) 

 with the swans, geese, and ducks which swarmed on the 

 coast of New York Bay " (Eaton) . It, had apparently become 

 extirpated by 1800, as it was unknown to Giraud or De Kay, 

 but there is a record for New Jersey as late as 1857. This 

 Crane is now on the verge of extinction, and is one of the 

 rarest of North American birds. 



BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) 

 The history of the Stilt in our area is a repetition of the 

 Avocet's. Two specimens from Long Island are in existence, 

 the last taken in 1843. While commoner than the Avocet in 

 southern New Jersey a century ago, it has been a much rarer 

 species there in the last 50 years, and Dr. Stone gives only 

 one record. Its occurrence on Long Island now would, 

 therefore, be even more unlikely than the Avocet's. 



