BIRDS OF YARMOUTH AND VICINITY. ALLEN. 77 



their retreat to the bushes was cut off, and invariably 

 they took to the water, swimming buoyantly and 

 with perfect ease out on the lake. When pursued 

 while swimming they immediately dived, swimming 

 about a foot beneath the surface and for a distance 

 of fifteen or twenty feet. When swimming beneath 

 the surface the feet were not used at all, being 

 carried straight behind, the bird propelling itself 

 by quick, regular, downward beats of its little wings. 

 Though apparently perfectly adapted for loco- 

 motion either on or below the surface of the w^ater, 

 the youngster in every case showed restlessness in 

 that element, and constantly watched^ for an open- 

 ing to reach the shore and the bush cover. The 

 wing feathers mature very rapidly, and the young 

 are often able to fly while the head and body are 

 still clothed only in down. 



270. Squatarola squatarola (Linn.). Black-bellied Plover 

 — Occurs here during both spring and fall migrations. 



274. jS gialitis semipalmata (Bona.p.). Semipalmated Plov- 

 er. — Very common during the fall migrations. 

 . Often found in compan}^ with least and semipal- 

 mated sandpipers. I have but one spring observa- 

 taion. May 3, 1901. 



298c. Canachites canadensis canace CLmn.). Canada Spruce 

 Partridge. — Seldom seen near the coast, and said 

 to be becoming less common in the interior. Oct. 

 31, 1907, one appeared in the street at the north 

 end of the town, and, after posing for several camera 

 exposures, wandered off. 



300a. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linn.). Canada Ruffed 

 Grouse; "Birch Partridge." — Apparently becom- 

 ing less common. Drumming first heard (5 years) 

 Apr. 5, and may be heard every month till Oct., 



