THE OOLOGIST 



355 



We rowed down to view the launch- 

 ing against the tide and had to "buck" 

 it in rowing back, and had barely 

 reached the boathouse when a fierce 

 thunder storm swept over. It was a 

 hard twenty miles row, but we never 

 complained as we were used to it, 

 and had an enjoyable trip. 



As we rowed out on and down the 

 river, off Richmond, we encountered 

 a small flock of Common Tern (Sterna 

 hirundo) flying about, in pairs and by 

 threes and fours; not over sixteen 

 were seen and they were all adults. 

 They probably came here after the 

 heavy storm that occurred on the 6th 

 inst., and they tarried the rest of the 

 month in this and other parts of the 

 river. 



They were the first Wilson Tern we 

 ever observed on the river, but since 

 then I have found them to be a com- 

 mon bird here in late summer and 

 late spring. 



While rowing past Cooper's Point, 

 Camden, N. J., a small flock of nine 

 Least Sandpipers flew by close to the 

 boat, followed by a lone squalling 

 Lesser Yellowlegs flying about a road 

 being the Peeps; both species flew 

 swiftly and less than a meter above 

 the smooth surface of the water. 



Near here we saw two Song Spar- 

 rows fly across the river into New 

 Jersey. They came from Philadelphia 

 and must have flown across the river 

 as it is built up for miles from where 

 the birds came. Quite an unusual 

 ''migration" for August. 



Everywhere along the river we saw 

 Swallows flying about and skimming 

 over the surface; Barn and Bank 

 Swallows were abundant and we iden- 

 tified at least six Rough-winged Swal- 

 lows amongst them. 



On our way and in returning we 

 rowed close to Petty's Island, which 

 is about a mile long and on the Jer- 

 sey shore, and on it observed the fol- 



lowing birds; Mourning Dove, a pair; 

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 3; Spot- 

 ted Sandpiper, 1; Red-winged Black- 

 bird, 1 ; Song Sparrow, heard two sing- 

 ing; Catbird, 2; Maryland Yellow- 

 throat, heard; Barn Swallow, few; 

 Bank Swallow, few; House Sparrow, 

 many. The Swallows were seen flying 

 about on or rather above the island. 



One of the Rubythroats savagely at- 

 tacked a Catbird which escaped its 

 fierce and diminutive antagonist by 

 promptly flying into a dense clump of 

 elders. The attack was entirely un- 

 provoked. 



Just before the storm^ broke, a large 

 flock of Barn and Bank Swallows flew 

 over high up, ahead of it, and as we 

 ran from the ship to the shelter of the 

 boathouse, as the rain swept down- 

 ward, we descried a pair of Blue- 

 winged Teal dropping into the river, 

 not three hundred yards away, which 

 were also probably seeking shelter 

 from the storm. An hour later, after 

 it had cleared, the Teals were nowhere 

 to be seen. They probably drifted 

 down with the tide, but the Swallows 

 (Barn and Bank) put in their appear- 

 ance and flew about until dusk. 



These remarks go to show that even 

 on a pleasure trip, birds can be seen 

 by the observant and records of some 

 importance obtained. 



Richard F. Miller. 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



Bartramia Longicanda. 



Upland or Field Plover is one of the 

 most difficult birds to approach. I had 

 occasion to watch during the mating 

 season, the peculiarities of the Wood- 

 cock and the Wilson or so-called Eng- 

 lish Snipe, but I prefer the girations 

 of the male Upland Plover. 



In alighting they stretch their wings 

 to the utmost, high over their backs, 

 as if to get the wrinkles out before 

 gently folding them. When flushed 



