342 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



long migrations to distant lands stimulate our imagina- 

 tions. 



Some of the waders and phalaropes breed in northern 

 Labrador and winter in Patagonia, going a hundred 

 degrees of latitude, fall and spring ; and tempt us to 

 inquire what are the causes of those wonderful periodic 

 movements ; and, finally, the endless modifications of 

 form and habits by which they are enabled to live under 

 most diverse conditions of food and climate on land 

 and at sea invite the student of nature into fields 

 inexhaustible of pleasurable research. 



Minor Notes on Natural History 



I have lately obtained a black specimen of the common Red 

 Squirrel. It was killed at Letang, New Brunswick, where neither 

 the Gray nor the common Black squirrel are known to occur. 

 American Naturalist, volume 1, page 53. 



How does it happen that we find the Black Guillemot, Uria 

 grylle (Lath.) in full black plumage all winter? All our works on 

 Natural History tell us they change to white or gray in winter, 

 but I often get specimens which are black in raid-winter. IMay it 

 not be that only the young are light in winter? I can hardly 

 think it possible some would remain black and others change ; I 

 can see no difference between my dark winter and summer speci- 

 mens. American Naturalist, volume 1, page 53. 



A correspondent of the American Naturalist inquired in the 

 number for November, 1867: "Can you inform me wliat is the 

 use of the comb-like formation on the inside of the middle claw of 

 the Night-heron, the Night-hawk and Whippoorwill ? Is it peculiar 

 to night-birds?"' This inquiry was referred to Dr. T. M. Brewer 

 who referred it to Mr. Boardmau, who writes that INIr. Boardman 

 answered it in a very satisfactory manner. Tlie peculiar " forraa- 

 ation," says Mr. Boardman, is used by the birds to clean their 

 heads and such portions of their neck, back, etc., as they cannot 



