NATURAL HISTORY SKETCHES 345 



this last spring. Also a black Golden-winged Woodpecker 

 (Colaptes auratus), black as a grackle and breeding with a wood- 

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

 Duck {Fiilix 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 062. 



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

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

 though how uuusual we are not informed. — Forest and Stream, 

 May 27, 1875. 



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

 ducks, [ 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 than 

 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, Gallinago Wilsonii; it fell 

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

 grebe. 1 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 with 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 the rabbit out of its mouth it soon 

 ran away apparently uninjured. I saw the first purple martin, 

 Frogne 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 white-bellied, 

 Uirundo bicolor. — Forest and Stream, March 15, 1877. 



