Jan., 1883.] 



AND OOLOCxIST. 



Horned Grebe in Conn. 



While in the fields, July 26, my spaniel 

 fliished a j^eciiliar looking bird which I 

 easily captured alive and found to my sur- 

 prise it was a male Horned Grebe, Dytes 

 auritus. 



I kept it in a tank of water and fed it 

 flies and biigs, and for nine days it did 

 well and seemed to be very contented and 

 would dive with great dexterity. When ap- 

 proached it would utter a pitiful cry. UjDon 

 the tenth day it refused food and died. 



It was very graceful in water, but when 

 out it could not walk ; but by the aid of its 

 wings could travel three or four feet, then 

 would tumble. When found by the dog 

 it was in an open lot and nearly one-half a 

 mile from any water. I am unable to find 

 any one that has ever seen or heard of this 

 species being found in this vicinity'before. 

 I now have it mounted and it makes a 

 valuable addition to my case of water 

 birds. — Chas. A. Thompson^ Melrose, Ct. 



Rare Specimens at Bangor, Me. 



Hawk Owl shot Oct. 28th, and two fine 

 specimens of the Kough-legged Hawk, both 

 females, one in light stage of plumage, and 

 one in the dark stages. These birds are 

 very rare in this State, also an Albino 

 Ruffed Grouse showing entire light plum- 

 age, not pure white, but of a light cream 

 color throughout. Harry Merrill has a 

 specimen showing one or two white prima- 

 ries, but this is the only perfect Albino I 

 remember of being taken in this section. 

 It is a male and its ruffs, although quite 

 large are so near the shade of neck and 

 back as to be scarcely discernable at first 

 sight. It was taken at Danforth, Me., Nov. 

 10. One Mottled Owl was killed Oct. 8th, 

 by the skillful use of a bow and arrow in 

 the hands of a would be Indian. I re- 

 member but one other taken in this vicinity. 



Snowy Owls, unusually thick, have al- 

 ready received five. — E. S. Bowler, Ban- 

 gor, Maine. 



Fishing and Catching Ducks. 



I was told by a Chicagoian (a fisher- 

 man) that while fishing in Lake Michigan 

 for Trout, Pickerel, etc.. with set lines, 

 he had often caught ducks instead of fish 

 in 125 feet of water. Not believing this 

 story I went to another person whose word 

 I could i-ely upon, Capt. Nathan Saunders, 

 wholesale fish dealer, Water street, Chicago, 

 and he corroborated his statement and 

 said that while in Green Bay, Wis., often 

 he would leave his lines set for twenty- 

 four hoiu-s in 200 feet of water and upon 

 returning he could see no ducks in sight, 

 and yet upon hauling uji the lines would 

 find a duck upon the hook instead of a, fish. 

 I call this a rather novel way of duck hunt- 

 ing or fishing. I have heard of catching 

 ducks on hooks before, but not at such a 

 great depth. Mr. Saunders is a good, re- 

 liable man. — Wm. P. Tarrant, Saratoga. 



Barked Owls. — What is the matter with 

 the Barred Owls ? Sage and I have had 

 more brought in than we could attend to 

 this Fall, and Sage tells of a taxidermist in 

 Hartford who has had ten. I guess the 

 crop was good last season. — W. W. Coe. 



Canada Goose. — Wing-broke a Canada 

 Goose a year ago last Spring. I cut off 

 the wing where it was broken and it healed 

 over nicely. The bird is as tame as can 

 be, eating almost out of my children's 

 hands. I tried to get a cross with a tame 

 goose and tried a gander, as I could not 

 determine the sex, but had no success. 

 Shall try again next Spring. I also have a 

 Great-horned Owl in a large cage which I 

 have had two years. Have lots of fim 

 with him putting in live chickens, &c. I 

 am only waiting, in case it happens to be 

 of the right sex, to have her lay me a 

 couple of sets of eggs every Spring, and 

 then I think I shall have it down fine. 

 You see I am getting too lazy to go out 

 and climb trees fifty feet high for them in 

 February. — W. W. Coe. Portland, Conn. 



