66 



163. Haematopus palliatus. Oyster-catcher. 



Casual. In Giraud's time it was more frequent for he says 

 of it; "Those which I have procured on the shores of Long 

 Island have usually been single, or at the most at any one time, 

 a pair, ranging between Raynor South and Babylon. The 

 baymen recognize it by the name of 'Flood-gull.''' (Birds of 

 L. I., p. 222). This name is now applied to the Black Skimmer, 

 (Rynchops nigra), by those baymen on Long Island, whom I 

 have met, who know the latter bird. On May 28, 1877, a speci- 

 men of the Oyster-catcher was shot in New York Harbor 

 (Robert Lawrence, Bull. N. 0. C, v, p. 117); one was ob- 

 tained in June, 1882, at Green port, and another, March 9, 

 1880, at Ponquogue (Dutcher, Auk, iii, p. 439). 



164. Colinus virginianus. Bob-white; Quail. 



A common resident. Nests containing eggs have been found 

 in May, June, July and August (A. H. Howell). 



165. Bonasa umbellus. Ruffed Grouse. 



Not uncommon resident. Half grown young have been 

 noted by the first of July (A. H. Howell). 



166. Tympanuchus cupido. Heath Hen. 



This game bird had become almost, if not quite exterminated 

 on Long Island at the time of the publication of Giraud's 

 ''Birds of Long Island" in 1844. It formerly found a congen- 

 ial habitat on Long Island, especially on the Hempstead Plain, 

 a large tract of country extending eastward from Jamaica partly 

 covered with a scrubby growth of trees or shrubs. 



167. Ectopistes migratorius. Passenger Pigeon. 



The forest formerly occupying the ridge from Fort Hamilton 

 into and beyond the present city of Brooklyn was once a favorite 

 feeding and resting place for these birds. Verbal accounts of 

 old residents point this out as having been a place of resort for 



