1909.1 THE CAYUGA LAKE BASIN, N. Y. 417 



152 (173a). Branta bernicla glaucogastra (Brehm). Brant. 

 Rare. No specimens of this species have been recorded from the 



lake basin in recent years. Foster Parker has in his possession a 

 specimen shot on Cayuga Lake a few years ago. From the Auburn 

 List^* we quote the following: 



One shot on Cayuga Lake, N. Y., near the railroad bridge by Mr. Charlie 

 Traverse. The same was identified by Mr. Greene Smith. — Horace Silsby, 

 in Auburn Daily Bulletin of December, 1877. An adult male received from 

 Cayuga Lake, November 26, 1878, which was also shot near the railroad 

 bridge by Mr. David Copeman. 



153 (180). Olor columbianus (Ord). Whistling swan. 



Rare. Two specimens were shot by Foster Parker a few years 

 ago and another is recorded by Fowler, Wright and Rathbun^^ from 

 the Seneca River. On March 16, 1908, a flock of 118 individuals 

 was reported from the north end of the lake. According to Father 

 Raffeix swan were common on the lake in the days of the Jesuits for 

 he writes:-*' "It [Cayugal abounds in swan and geese all winter." 



XXVIII. Order HERODIONES. The Heron-Hke Birds. 

 45. Family Ibidid^. The Ibises. 



154 (186). Plegadis autumnalis (Hasselquist). Glossy ibis. 

 William Hopkins recorded a specimen from Cayuga Lake in 



1854. There are two specimens in the possession of Foster Parker 

 taken on the Seneca River in 1902. F. S. Wright shot one specimen 

 and saw three others on Rowland Island in May, 1902. On May 

 27, 1907, two males and two females were shot at Cayuga by Foster 

 Parker. 



46. Family Ardeid^. The Herons. 



155 (190). Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu). Bittern. 

 Common summer resident. It nests in every marsh of any size 



throughout the basin. The average date of spring arrival is April 

 15, the earliest, March 28, 1908. Nesting begins the middle of May 



^ " A Revised List of Birds of Central New York," collected and pre- 

 pared for publication by Frank R. Rathbun, Auburn, N. Y. 

 ^ Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. 7, p. 133. 

 ■' Father Raffeix, " Relations for the Year 1671-72," Quebec edition, p. 22. 



