DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 7 



the examination of nests, with their fragments of food, bones, 

 etc. In the first case, it is often remarkable how well preserved 

 some specimens found in the gullets of their captors may be. 

 I have frequently secured very interesting or valuable specimens 

 of fish in this way. Often the iniportant bones are not com- 

 pletely dissolved, and usually the pharyngeal bones of cyprin- 

 oids remain intact. As these latter are the chief, and thus 

 nearly certain clues, the identification of the fish is usually easy. 



The most important conclusion which the writer may premise 

 is that the evidence shows our fish-eating birds in a very favor- 

 able, if not altogether harmless, light. The fishes they devour 

 are rarely, and in the case of the majority, of slight or no direct 

 importance to man. Even among marine fishes very few of 

 commercial value are taken by birds, and never in appreciable 

 numbers. In fresh-water streams, the herons and kingfishers 

 seldom do much damage, except occasionally taking a trout or 

 bass. There is thus no legitimate reason whatever for the de- 

 struction of any of our fish-eating birds. 



Horned Grebe (^Colymbus auritus). An irregular, though 

 sometimes abundant species along the tidal reaches of the Del- 

 aware River. I have examined the stomachs of several birds 

 killed near Philadelphia, and in each case they contained the 

 remains of small fishes. Some of these were identified as killi- 

 fish {Fundulus heteroclitus macrolepidotics and F. diaphanus). Very 

 likely other small fishes, as cyprinoids, catostomoids and cen- 

 trarchids, may also be devoured, as they are frequently active 

 in cold weather. The occurrence of several birds, or a solitary 

 individual, about ponds near the river, may be explained by 

 the great abundance of small fish which I have noted in such 

 locations during all seasons of the year. 



Dabchick (Tachybaptus podiceps). Our most abundant 

 species, and migratory, in the Delaware River tidal regions. 

 Its favorite haunts are about the breasts of dams, of water-falls, 

 mill-ponds, quiet coves, and usually where the water is still. 

 It is often confiding, even permitting a close approach, though 

 quickly diving if alarmed. Like the other grebes, as it is a good 

 swimmer and diver, it doubtless secures an ample supply of 

 food from the vast schools of small fishes. I have not exam- 



