Feb. 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



29 



being in some years plentiful early in the season, 

 and in others few or none arc seen till well toward 

 fSjiring. 



The Hooded Merganser (KiS.) is very common, 

 arriving with great regularity the last of Noveni- 

 l)cr, and leaving before the middle of March. 

 Called here Shagpoll. The male in full plumage 

 is quite rare. While here they feed mainly on 

 acorns and acquire a very fine flavor. 



Tlie Brown Pelican (641,) is not at all uncom- 

 mon except in the breeding season when it retires 

 further South. The same probably may be said 

 of both the Cormorants ((143 and G43/(,) I never 

 see either of them afti'r the first of May. In 

 August a few 3'oung' arrive. Both are common 

 soon alter about the outer sounds and islands and 

 remain all Winter. I have never found speci- 

 mens here which iutergrade and must consider 

 P.flm'id(tiiu.s a valid species until I do. 



I have never seen the Gannet, {(ioO,) but it is 

 doubtless an occasional visitor. 



Tlie Anhi.nga (()49,) may breed sparingly on 

 some of the larger wild islands. I have seen it 

 on Edding Island as early as the last week in 

 iMarch. It breed regularly on Port Koyal Island. 

 The Black-backed Gull, (003,) rare in Winter. 

 The Herring Gull, (OOO'f,) common all Winter. 

 A tew Sunnner in young iilumagc. 



The Ring-billed Gull, (OtiO,) rather conunon all 

 AV'inter and late into the Spring. 



The Laughing Gall (073,) breeds. Ketires eaily 

 iu the Fall, but some of the young remain all 

 ^Viuter. 



Bonaparte's (iull ((ii"),|. .\ iilentil'ul migrant in 

 Spring and Fall. A few yt>ung remain aliout all 

 Summer and dejiart with the regular Fall mi- 

 grants. 



The Hoyal Tern (081,) may breed si)aringly, but 

 is scarce from May to August, and jiartially re- 

 tires in midwinter. 



The Sandwich Tern, very rare. Have never 

 ol)tained it except in Spring. 

 Wilson's Tern, (080,) occasional in Winter. 

 Forster's Tern, (683,) common in Spring and 

 Fall. I on one occasion suspected it of breeding. 

 The Hoseaf'e Tern, (688,) very rare in Spring 

 and Fall. This and tlie Sandwich seem to jiass 

 this locality very rapidly. 



The Least Tern, (000,) abundant, breeds. Ke- 

 tires about the lirst of Octuber and returns in 

 JIarch. 



The Short-tailed Tern (O'.lo,) is very rare in 

 Spring, but the j'oung are common during the 

 whole of August and September. The arrival 

 and departure ot the Fall migrants is singularly 

 simultaneous. One day none are to be seen. The 

 next they are hovering over every pond and 



creek in small parties of a dozen or more. As 

 suddenly they are all off. Not one lingers behind 

 the rest of the company. 



The Skimmer (650,) undoulitedly breeds. Com- 

 mon all Winter in inunense flocks. 



The Loon, (730,) quite common in young 

 plumage all Winter. Called "Bad Luck Bird" 

 by the natives, who will not speak of it, or if 

 possible even look at it when they meet it on a 

 journey by water. The same superstition at- 

 taches also to the Alligator, which they will only 

 speak of in a conciliatory way, as " an old person." 



The Red-throated Diver, (740,) rare in Winter. 



Tlie Dabchick, (735,) very common in August 

 and September. The Crested and Horned Grebes 

 are common all Winter. 



Brief Notes. 



Notes fi!om M.\Nn.vrT.\N, Ka.\. .Tune 7, 1884. 

 — Saw a White Pelican .sailing in circles above 

 the college orchard. It was probably delayed in 

 migration by accident. 



Oct. 11, 1884.— Saw a large flock of Cowbirds 

 in chase of a Red-tailed Hawk. They attacked 

 him from above, after the manner of the King- 

 bird, though not so vigorou.sly, He seemed aii.\- 

 ious to avoid them, and often changed his course; 

 but they pursued him until out of view. 



Dec. 27. — While hunting, I saw a male Cardi- 

 nal Grosbeak eating a field-mouse. Several others 

 attempted to take it from him, but were unsuc- 

 cessful. At m\' approach they left it lying on 

 the snow. It was aliout half consumed. 



,Jan. 14, 18S.5,— Weather very cold. Opened 

 the collecting season by taking an egg of the 

 Great Horned Owl. Tl'iis had been laid several 

 days, and was frozen. The egg was laid in cmi- 

 tlne.ment in this city. The early date of laying is 

 remarkable, as the Owl-liousc, although sheltered 

 from the wind, is open on the east side, and the 

 temperature within the cage differs biit little from 

 that outside. The three Owls in the cage fought 

 the intruder savagely, when he attempted to re- 

 move the egg. It was secured by driving the 

 Owls into one compartment of the house and 

 closing the door between it and the other, while 

 the egg was drawn out with an iron poker. This 

 is the third sea.son these birds have laid in con- 

 finement. (See Vol. IX,. page 127).— D. E. L. 



Notes fro.m Noirnt C.vroi.in.v. — Pi'rpi.e 

 G.\l.i,iNri,K, (lononiix iinirliiifai). A specimen of 

 this rare bird was inoiui-ed liy Clarki' iV Mor- 

 gan, at New Berne. The liird li.-id been cauglil 

 alive, in a ditch running through some marshes, 

 on Neuso River. The fishermen who caught it 

 kept it alive several days and then sold it to 



