1910] FOREST, GAME AND FISH WARDEN. 95 



THE NQN-GAME BIEDS OF WEST VIRGINIA. 



BY 



EARLE A. BROOKS, 

 West on, West Virginia. 



Speaking in a very inclusive and general manner, the non-game birds in- 

 clude a great number of the water birds, the birds of prey, and our common 

 land birds, such as the climbing and perching birds. The game birds, which 

 include Ducks, Geese, Swans, Rails, Coots, Gallinules, Woodcock, Snipe, Sand- 

 pipers, Plovers, Ruffed Grouse, Bob-white, and Wild Turkey are described in 

 another paper in this report. The paper on the Game Birds of West Virginia 

 wa read, a few years ago, before the West Virginia Fish and Game Protec- 

 tive Association, and is here reproduced. The present paper was written ex- 

 pressly for this publication and is a summary of our knowledge of the non- 

 game birds of this state. Of course, within the space of these few pages, 

 only the briefest mention of our one hundred and ninety-eight species and 

 Bub-species can be given. A brief outline of the orders, families, and specie* 

 is about all that can be presented at this time. 



The comprehensive list of non-game birds, which is given below, though it 

 is very much abbreviated, will serve as a guide to students and lovers of wild 

 life, and may help some one to learn for himself a few of our common West 

 Virginia birds. The list which follows is systematically arranged according 

 to the American Ornithologists' Union check list of North American Birds, 

 and includes every species and sub-species of non-game birds ;thus far reported 

 within the bounds of our state. This scientific list is followed for the sake 

 of those who wish to study further any bird mentioned below, by consulting 

 any of the standard works on birds: 



/. Order Pygopodes. 



1. Family Colymbidae 



(1). Holboell's Grebe (Colymbus bolboelli} . A very rare diving 

 bird. 



(2). Horned Grebe (Colymbus amitus). I have seen several speci- 

 mens of this beautiful bird. Quite common at times along 

 our larger rivers. 



(3). Pied-billed Grebe (Podtilymbus podiceps). This is the common 

 little "Diedipper" of our inland streams. 



2. Family Gaviidae 



(1). Loon (Gavia imme<r}. This bird is found occasionally ^in West 

 Virginia in cold, winter weather. It is sometimes called the 

 Great Northern Diver, and may be known by its beautifully 

 spotted plumage. 



II. Order Longipennes. 

 1. Family Laridae 



(1). Herring Gull (Larus argent atus}. Very common in late winter 

 and early spring along the Ohio river, and occurs irregu- 

 larly along all of our small streams. 



