206 SOMATERIA LABRADORIA. 



make a true ornithologist shed tears of vexation ; for he sees a celerity of 

 evil which he feels, and most acutely, that he is powerless to prevent. 



But let us grant that one or two Pied Ducks still remain. How long 

 will they do so ? How long ? only till the next species-murderer arrives to 

 snuff them out. There are plenty such, who, with perfect equanimity, would 

 breakfast on Nofornis, dine on a Do Do, and sup on Nestor productus. 



There is no need, however, to go through the funereal list of modern 

 extinction. The ^American Naturalist' appears to have first drawn attention 

 to the increasing scarcity of the Duck before us ; and the following excerpts 

 are there to be found. 



^American Naturalist,' vol. ii. p. 325, August 1868, a paper on " Shore 

 collecting about New York," by ''A. R. Y.":— 



"Anas labradora. 



" It may not be generally known, but I have been assured by ornitho- 

 logists that Long Island has produced more species of birds than any other 

 place in the United States of its size. Entomologists and botanists make the 

 same statement in regard to their respective specialities. The shores from 

 here to the extreme eastern end of the island are mostly protected from the 

 ocean by sand-bars and islands, leaving large bays and salt-meadows, which 

 are the favourite haunts of thousands of aquatic and rapacious birds. Many 

 birds have been shot here this winter that are generally considered as very 

 rare, such as the Labrador Duck, the Harlequin Duck, the Goshawk, and a 

 few others not often seen." 



Op. cit. vol. iii. September 1869 : — 



" Labrador Duck— In the August (1868) ' NaturaHst,' A. R. Y. mentions 

 that the Pied or Labrador Duck was shot on Long Island last winter. I 

 would be much obliged to A. R. Y. if he would let me know if the specimens 

 shot were fuU-plumaged males, and who has them ? This is a very interesting 

 bird to the naturahst, from the fact of its being so rare ; and I had almost 



