160 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 10 



be regarded as complete :— The head ia decorated with a 

 long loose crest of a gloesy dark greeu color ; the upper 

 mandible is reddish-brown, the lower one is of nn orange 

 tint; a few rather large feathers, of a pure white color mar- 

 gined with black, crop out from each side of the breast, and 

 fold over the wings when these are at rest; the upper 

 breast is reddi»h-brown, the lower is pure white, but when 

 the bird is just recently killed, there is thereabouts a beau- 

 tiful salmon-color tint; the outside of the tarsus and toes, 

 and the webs are of a purplish shade, while the claws are of 

 a light greyish-brown. The total length of the bird is about 

 twenty-one inches. As is the case with almost all the Ana- 

 tidie, a most important specific indioation is afforded by the 

 appearance of the trachea. In the Ked-brcastcd Merganser, 

 the structure and arrangement of this organ are so singular 

 as to merit a detailed description. Two inches from the 

 mouth, it swells out to four times its diameter, an enlarge- 

 ment which it maintains for the sjjace of two inches and a 

 half; it then continues as at first for another couple of 

 inches, when it becomes flattened for the same distance 

 further ; it finally appears under tlie form of a bony laby- 

 rinth which measures two inches long, by one and a half in 

 breadth, and which is covered with a yellowish skin-like 

 parclnnent- 



This species nidifies from about March till May or June. 

 Greenland, Newfoundland, and the shores of Hudson's 

 Bay are the localities which have been notified as its special 

 haunts during the breeding season. But away along the 

 margins and among the islands of the more lonely and se- 

 cluded Highland lochs, the nest of this bird has been fre- 

 quently discovered. It is said to be commonly situated 

 amongst brushwood, and at a few yards from the water, 

 and to be warmly constructed with the down taken from 

 the bird's own body. 



Brief Notes. 



Baird's aANDi'iPER at HAMILTON, Ont.— Altliough Very 

 few of the Plovers or Sandpipers raise their young in this 

 neighborhood, the Killdeer Plover and the Spotted and 

 Solitary Sandpipers being all we can name as Summer resi- 

 dents, yet ae early as the 15th of August, should it blow 

 from the northeast with a slightly lowering temperature^ 

 groups composed of Sauderlings, Least and Semipalmated 

 Sandpipers with a few Turnstones, may be seen boring into 

 the nuiddy flats or following the receding waves along the 

 sandy shores of the bay, in search of their favorite fare. 

 On the 25th ult, while examining one of these mixed flocks, 

 1 noticed one individual whose cry was different from that 

 of the others; it had also a peculiar zig-zag, Snipe-like 

 flight, often rising to a considerable height and suddenly 

 taking a header toward the ground again. Acting cm Dr. 

 Coues' advice of shooting an unknown bird at sight, 1 did 

 so us soon as I could, and had the satisfaction of picking 

 up a Baird's Sandpiper, the first found in Ontario so far as 

 I am aware. In markings it resembles both the Least and 

 Pectoral Sandpipers, but as stated in "New England Bird 

 Life," is in size intermediate between the two— a distinc- 

 tion by which it is readily identified.— A'. C. Mcltwraith, 

 Haniilton, Out. 



Notes prom Belchertown, Mass.— There are quite a 

 number in this vicinity who are interested in the study of 

 Ornithology. I commenced making my collection January 

 1st, '84, and have since then collected and mounted eighty- 

 one species of birds, all of which I have taken within six 

 miles of home. I shot a splendid Goshawk in mature 

 plumage on Jan. 25th, 'S4. This year I have added a num- 

 ber of good specimens, a male Hooded Merganser Duck, 

 April 11th, '85, one Bittern, one nice Blue Heron, one Long- 

 eared OwL My last adventure was Aug. 21st, '85, when I 



drove six miles before daylight to a sheet of water which 

 covers about five hundred acres, where I had observed 

 Eagles when driving past. After hitching my horse I 

 walked about a mile to a point of land where stand 

 three large Maple trees. Under one of these I concealed 

 myself and waited for daybreak and the Eagles, if there 

 were any. I did not wait in vain, for soon after daybreak 

 a pair of Bald Eagles came sailing over the water and 

 alighted on one of the trees, so close together that I brought 

 them both down at one shot. Length of male 30 inches ; 

 expanse of wings, G feet; weight, T pounds. Length of 

 female, 41 inches ; expanse of wings, 7 feet ; weight, 7 

 pounds. They are now in my cabinet.— G. L. Kent. 



Notes from Osweoo, N. Y.— June 7. I found near here 

 a nest of Hooded Warbler containing three fresh eggs. It 

 was in a wet swamp, one foot from the ground, in a small 

 bunch of sprouts that grew from the root of a small Water 

 Beech. I have never seen but four or five of these Warblers 

 here in the breeding season. 



June 7th, I took a nest and three eggs of the Black and 

 White Creeper. The nest was under the roof of a very 

 large Hemlock, entirely out of sight. The entrance to the 

 nest was a small mouse hole through the decayed leaves. 

 It was only by a chance step that I flushed the parent bird. 

 I waited about five minutes and she returned to the nest 

 and I caught her in my hand. I have collected about here 

 every year since '73, excepting 1880, '81, '82 and '83, and 

 never before have seen this bird at this time of year, al- 

 though it is a very common migrant.— Z>. Z*. S. 



Kare Birds Taken at Cape Cod.— An adult female 

 Stilt Sandpiper {Micnqyalama hiwaittopus^) in partly Fall 

 plumage, was shot at Monomoy Island, in company with 

 some Sauderlings, Aug. 5th, 1885. It was shot by a gunner 

 who gave it to me, and although it was pretty well shot up, 

 it made a fair skin. 



An American Oystercalcher (Ilcvmatopxts pattiatus,) wat^ 

 shot by Alonzo Nye, the veterant gunner, during the latter 

 part of April, 1SS5, near Monomoy Island.— J. C. Calivun. 



Notes.— Dr. Edwards of Hyde Park, Mass., reports that 

 while visiting a patient at Keadville, he noticed a child be- 

 ing attacked by a pair of Kingbirds. He called the father's 

 attention who ran out, and although armed with a stick, 

 was so vigorously attacked in turn that he was forced to 

 pick up the child and retreat, leaving the birds masters of 

 the situation. 



A large Kattlesuake was killed iit Keadville, yesterday. 

 They are not uncommon in that locality. 



A large flight of Short-tail Tern passed Chatham, Mass.. 

 during the past week.— K 11. W., Sept. 10, 1885. 



Mr. S. Frank Dexter reports from Chatham, Mass. : 

 This year there was no regular flight of Plover, as noticed 

 annually for four years past. From Aug. 25th to Sept. 12th, 

 they passed in small bunches. The flight of Bay Birds this 

 season has also been very limited. Weather very warm. 



Tub Cerulean Warbler lately mentioned, has been 

 added to the collection of Dr. Wm. H. Fox of HoUis^, N. 11. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



J. L. Tar/lor, H'in.— The skin you send is that of the Clay 

 Colored Sparrow [212]. We regret that the epgs were 

 broken in transit. 



F. W.K.,Biidrieimler,Maaa.—l)ie Cowbird certainly has 

 an odd appearance. We consider it merely the changing of 

 plumage from the young to that of the adult. 



Received.— £. Kdl Bacon; G. H. li. 



