NATURAL HISTORY SKETCHES 345 



this last spring. Also a black Goldeu-wiuged Woodpecker 

 (Colaptes auratua), black as a grackle aud breeding with a wood- 

 pecker of the usual color. An albino of the Little Black-headed 

 Duck (Fulix affinis) has also been added to his collection and he 

 found a pair of Red-headed Ducks {Aythya Americana) breeding 

 near Calais. This is the first time he has found the Red-head in 

 summer. American Naturalist, volume 5, page 662. 



Mr. Geo. A. Boardman of Calais, has had presented to him a 

 deer's hoof without the cleft which is something of a curiosity, 

 though how unusual we are not iuformed. Forest and Stream, 

 May 27, 1875. 



la answer to Prof. Le Conte's question about hybrids in 

 ducks, I would say I have found the dusky and mallard cross 

 quite often ; have now three or four mounted in my collection. I 

 once found a cross between what looked like a red head and pin 

 tail, and think perhaps such changes are now observed more tlian 

 in former years. I have found no crosses within five or six years. 

 I would like to ask If the male mallard does not change its 

 plumage in summer. They are not common with us. Forest and 

 Stream, Dec. 9, 1875. 



Woodcock have been more abundant than I have ever known 

 them, some afternoons would get up a dozen ; very unusual for 

 East Florida. I wing-tipped a snipe, GalUnago Wilsonii-, it fell 

 into the water; the dog going to retrieve it, it would dive like a 

 grebe. I have known the spotted sandpiper to do this, but never 

 a snipe. They are fast leaving for the north. A quail started to 

 fly out on the St. John river and lighted in the water; ingoing 

 for the bird witli a boat, it flew from the water and saved itself; 

 no stick or chip could be seen. My friend, Mr. Livingston, shot a 

 large rattlesnake. It had a good sized rabbit in its throat all 

 covered with saliva; on pulling tlie rabbit out of its mouth it soon 

 ran away apparently uninjured. I saw the first pui-ple maitiu, 

 Progne purpura, February 2d ; have seen them come to the boxes 

 in Jacksonville the 11th February ; this year they are a little late. 

 The only swallow we see here in winter is the wliite-bellied, 

 Hirundo bicolor. Forest and Stream, March 15, 1877. 



