-*THE * OOLOGIST.^ 



VOL. VIII. ALBION, N. Y., APEIL & MAY, 1891. No. 4 & 5 



A List of the Birds of Elgin County, Ontario- 



F. L. Farley, St Thomas, Ontario. 



St. Thomas and vicinity where most of these observations were made, is sit- 

 uated centrally in this county, eight miles from Lake Erie, north. Kettle Creek 

 has its source about fifteen miles north-east from here, flowing around the north 

 and west sides of the city, and thence to the lake. 



My observations are given briefly, nothing being presumed, only such occur- 

 rences as I have personally noticed or obtained from authentic sources are 

 given. 



Of the well known and generally distributed species, no reference is made, 

 but when there are only one or two specimens taken, the authority is given, as 

 also the date of the capture, etc. 



I am indebted for valuable assistance in completing this list, to Mr. B. P. 

 Wintermute, Mr. William Dodd, and Mr. Orville Foster, local Ornithologists. 



1. Colymbus auritus (Horned Grebe). A tolerably common spring and fall 

 visitor. 



2. Podilymbus podiceps (Pied-billed Grebe). Occurs under the same circum- 

 stances as the foregoing species. 



3. Urinator imber (Loon). An uncommon migrant. 



4. Urinator lumme (Red-throated Loon). A very rare migrant; one was 

 shot on the mill pond west of this city on the 25th of November, 1886, with the 

 chestnut patch on the throat. It is now in my collection. They are seldom 

 taken in this part of Canada in this plumage. 



'5. Larus argentalus smithsonianus (American Herring Gull). Sometimes 

 common on the lake during the migrations, a few remain all winter. 



6. Larus Philadelphia ^Bonaparte's Gull). An uncommon migrant at the 

 lake. 



7. Merganser americanus (American Merganser). Our commonest river 

 Duck in winter. 



8. Merganser serrator (^Red-breasted Merganser). Very rare, Mr. Wm. 

 Dodd of this city has one in his collection, taken here some years ago, the only 

 record. 



9. Lophodytes cucullatus (Hooded Merganser). A regular spring and fall 

 visitor. 



10. Anas boschas (Mallard). Rare, several have been shot on the creek. 



11. Anas obscura (Black Duck). Sometimes appear in small flocks in spring 

 and fall. 



12. Anas americana (Baldpate). Migrant, not common. 



13. Anas carolinensis (Green-winged Teal/. A tolerably common spring 

 and fall visitor. 



14. Anas discors (Blue-winged Teal). Occurs as the preceeding, more often 

 seen in the flocks. 



15. Dafila acuta (Pintail). Migrant, not common. 



16. Aix sp>onsa (Wood Duck). A regular spring and fall visitor. A few 

 may breed. 



17. Aythya ameiicana (Redhead). Rare. Two shot on the creek in Novem- 

 ber, 1889. 



18. Aythya vallisneria (Canvas-back). A very rare migrant, several shot on 

 the pond. 



19. Aythya niarila nearctica (American Scaup Duck). Sometimes common 

 in flocks, in spring and fall. 



20. Olaucioneita clangula americana (American Golden-eye). A spring and 

 fall visitor, a few remain through the winter. 



21. Charitonetta albeola (Buffle-head). Quite a common migrant in flocks 

 on the ponds. 



