CORRESPONDENCE 181 



an inch longer than usual. The boys reported a crow hav- 

 ing quite a musical note nothing like the old-fashioned 

 croak but a neat trumpet sound. After getting it I 

 concluded the different note was caused by its beak in 

 some way being of such an odd length. I have him now, 

 mounted." July 27 : "I found a queer looking eel at 

 a fisherman's at Calais a short time ago, caught in the 

 river near the ledge. Not having any good reference 

 book on fish I do not know its name or if it is worth send- 

 ing to you. It may be what is called the American 

 Conger Eel, Auguilla oceanica, De Kay. It has a queer 

 head and in color is very prettily spotted ; colors very 

 bright and yellowish ; size about the same as the com- 

 mon eel. I put it in alcohol and will send it if you can- 

 not make it out from what I have said. It may be com- 

 mon but I have never happened to see one like it." 

 August 11 : " For the last two weeks the river and bay 

 have been full of little Gulls. I have had lots of them 

 killed but not one is Sabine ; perhaps they do not come 

 along so early in the season. I will have some of my 

 gunners looking after the Ross GuU this winter." 



" I have been at work in bad weather this winter," 

 Mr. Boardman writes on January 22, 1879, " in the bird 

 house the first real clearing out for several years. I 

 sent your big box away and put up parts of it so long 

 ago I hardly know what is in the smaller boxes in it 

 but they are bird skins, eggs, etc. Have Mr. Ridgway 

 examine the large white Goose that was shot flying with 

 Canada Geese at Mace's bay near Point Lepreaux. 

 I heard about it and sent to St. John for the bird, think- 

 ing it must be an albino, but conclude it must be a 

 tame white goose that went away with the wild birds. 



