The Zoologist— July, 1809. 1755 



very rare farther north than St. George's Bay, in 48^ N. latitude, or 

 occasionally Port au Port, whence it crosses to Anlicosti and thence 

 up the Labrador shore. Two specimens were said to have been seen 

 on wing at Cow Head last spring (1868), but the double-crested cor- 

 morant {Graculus dilophus) flies much like a small goose, and I fancy 

 the birds thought to be Brents were of this species. 



Mallard, or Common Wild Duck, Anas boschas, Zm//. — Very rare : 

 T only examined one normal specimen of this species, also one of the 

 supposed hybrids between this species and the muscovy {Cairina 

 moschata), which had been shot and skinned by two of the settlers a 

 few years since, and preserved as curiosities. The larger bird was 

 considered by them a drake of the domesticated variety, and I have 

 certainly seen some of the descendants of the " Lincolnshire " breed 

 much resembling it, but as I was informed no ducks except eiders 

 {S. mollissima) were kept domesticated on the island, the bird had 

 probably wandered north in company with a flock of some other 

 species. 



Black Duck, A. obscura, Gmelin. — This is the common wild duck 

 of the island, and is abundant throughout the summer. It breeds 

 among rushes and long grass on the borders of lakes and rivers, and 

 lays from ten to fifteen eggs, which much resemble those of the pre- 

 ceding species. The black duck is much esteemed for the table, but 

 is usually a very shy bird, and not easily approached except from the 

 leeward, as it will " wind you like a deer." 



Pintail Duck, Dafila acuta {Linn.) — Very rare, but known to some 

 of the settlers as the " long-tailed duck." 



N.B. — The true " long-tailed duck" {Harelda glacialis) is called a 

 "hound" in Newfoundland. 



Green-ivinged Teed, Netlion carolinensis {Gmelin). — A summer 

 migrant, and appears to be the "common teal" of the island. 



Blue-winged Teal, Querquedula discors {Linn.) — Rare in the 

 neighbourhood of .Cow Head, and probably nowhere on the island 

 so common as the preceding species. 



Shoveller, Spatula clypeata {Linn) — A summer migrant, and 

 generally distributed over the island, but is by no means common. It 

 is called " pond diver" by the settlers. 



Gadwall, or Gray Duck, Chaulelasmus streperus {Linn) — Rare : 

 does not breed on the island, but is occasionally killed duriug its 

 periodical migration. 



