126 C. H. Merriam Birds of Connecticut. 



246. Fuligula vallisneria (Wilson) Stephens. Canvas-back Duck. 



Rare. " Stratford," Conn., (Linsley). Mr. Robert Morris, of this 

 city, saw one May 7th, 1876. I am also informed by Rev. J. H. 

 Hand, that it occurs at Westbrook, Conn., where it is " very rare." 



247. Bucephala Clangula (Linne) Coues. Golden-eye ; Whistler. 



A common winter resident. Found on the Sound and on fresh- 

 water ponds from November to April or May (April 16th). Captain 

 Brooks writes, from Faulkner's Island, " only see them here in very 

 cold winters." 



248. Bucephala Islandica (Gmelin) Baird. Barrow's Golden-eye. 



A rare winter visitant from the North. I include this species on 

 the strength of a most typical (male adult) specimen in the cabinet 

 of Mr. John H. Sage, of Portland, Conn. It was purchased by him, 

 November 14th, 1867, from a man' who said it was killed on the 

 Sound, and there seems to be no reason for doubting his statement, 

 especially since it has been taken as far South as New York City.* 

 Mr. William Brewster records it from Massachusetts with the follow- 

 ing remarks : " I obtained an adult female in the flesh from Cape 

 Cod, December 7th, 1871, which was pronounced by Prof. Baird 

 unquestionably H. Islandica. Since then I have seen numbers of 

 females and two fine adult males in the Boston Markets, most of 

 them shot within State limits."f 



249. Bucephala albeola (Linne) Baird. Butter-ball ; Buffle-head. 



A common winter resident. Found both on fresh and salt water. 

 Nov., April 15th. 



250. Harelda glacialis (Linne) Leach. Long-tailed Duck ; Old Wife ; Old 

 Squaw. 



A common winter resident ; particularly abundant during the 

 migrations. Captain Brooks writes me that they "usually come in 

 October and leave in April or May." This is by far the most abun- 

 dant species of duck found along our coast, and during the migrations 

 (notably in November) hundreds of thousands of them can be seen 

 on the Sound, covering the water as far as the eye can reach in every 

 direction, and almost deafening one by their constant, and, to my 

 ears, not altogether unpleasant, cackle. They are continually on the 



* Coues' Birds of New England, p. 52 (300), 1868. 

 f Am. Nat, vol. vi, No. 5, pp. 306-7, May, 1872. 



