10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Haven, about ten years ago. Dr. Mearns (Bull. Amer. Mus. 

 Nat. Hist. N. Y., x, 1898, p. 322) says the sole is often found 

 in the gullets of our Mergansers {Mergus americaniis and M. 

 serrator). Recently, the contents of two stomachs were given 

 to me for examination by Mr. D. E. Culver. These birds 

 were taken at the same locality in January, 1913. One con- 

 tained two silversides (Menidia menidia notata) , about 3J inches 

 long, and a mullet (Mugil cephalus) 7^ inches long, the last in 

 the gullet. Apparently such prey is quite large. The other 

 bird contained two partly-digested white perch (Morone amer- 

 icana), 6^ and 4 inches in length respectively. This merganser 

 is often fond of eels (Anguilla chrisypa), and one taken near 

 Philadelphia was reported to have contained an eel ten inches 

 long. The fishes usually devoured here are killies {Fundulus 

 heteroditus macrolepidotus and F. diaphanus), and roach (Abramis 

 crysoleucas). These, and various shiners {Notropis), will often 

 collect in shoals about the mouths of little estuaries after the ice 

 breaks in the spring, and then the mergansers may be seen in 

 small flocks, all on the lookout or chasing their prey. 



Red-breasted Merganser {Mergus serrator). This occurs in 

 similar situations as the last, and in flocks of various size. 

 They feed on small flsh, Mr. R. F. Miller having opened one 

 killed at Bristol on November 5th, 1910, which contained nine 

 unidentified "minnows." One example from the Delaware 

 River which I examined contained remains of killifish (Fundulus 

 diaphanus). 



Black Duck (Anas rubripes). A most highly valued game- 

 bird, and, while feeding largely on vegetable matter, it some- 

 times devours small fish. I have examined several stomachs 

 from Sea Isle City and Cape May that contained large killifish 

 {Fundulus heteroditus macrolepidotus) entire. 



Golden-eye (Clangula dangula americana). This duck is 

 credited by Wilson as a fish-eater, as he mentions that it feeds 

 on " small fry." Several examples in the Philadelphia markets 

 which I examined had their stomachs crammed full of the small 

 river-snail (Goniobasis virginica), so common in the Delaware. 



Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). Usually occurs in migrations, 

 lurking about swamps and marshes. I have found the stomach 



