Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 527 



outside shore, often closely associated with O. perspicillata, with which 

 it was found in mixed flocks. Such were first noted on October 9, 

 and at frequent intervals thereafter until October 27. Occasionally 

 single birds appeared on the bay, where they continued to be seen 

 until November 19, when the work of the season was concluded. 

 Mr. Simpson notes that specimens were shot at Crystal Point, Novem- 

 ber 22, 1902, and November 13, 1903, and others were seen. Mr. 

 Bacon reports specimens taken November 6, 1894, January 30, 1901 

 (a pair), and November 27, 1903. The only spring record available 

 refers to a single individual seen March 27, 1900, in a flock of Lesser 

 Scaup Ducks on the bay. The only full-plumaged bird seen by the 

 writer from this locality is a specimen in Mr. James Thompson's 

 possession, said by him to have been taken late in the fall, about 1892. 



40. Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter. 



The general notes on the last species are applicable to this as well, 

 save that there is no spring record in the present case. Flocks were 

 noted on the outer lake from October 9 to November 5, 1900, and 

 a single bird was seen as late as November 13. A specimen shot on 

 Horseshoe Pond November 7 was the only one identified by Mr. 

 Simpson during his visit in the fall of 1903. In Mr. Sennett's collec- 

 tion there is a female taken at the head of the bay October 17, 1875, 

 while Dr. Warren {Birds of Pennsylvania, 1890, 48) says that in 

 January, 1890, he purchased a bird of this species from a hunter who 

 had shot it on the bay, where a flock of about twenty was said to 

 have been seen. All three species of Scoters are known locally as 

 " Boobies," and are little esteemed for the table. 



41. Erismatura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. 



Occurs as a transient visitant only, far more numerous in the fall 

 than in the spring, although as a species much less common than 

 formerly. We did not notice it at all in the spring of 1900, but Mr. 

 Bacon has occasionally observed it at that season, and Mr. Simpson 

 saw two adult males shot by gunners April 13, 1903. A specimen in 

 Mr. Sennett's collection is marked April 18, 1875. Dr. Warren re- 

 marks {Birds of Pennsylvania, 1890, 49) that stragglers are occa- 

 sionally observed at Erie Bay in summer, but that the species is not 

 known to breed there, while Mr. Bacon records a single female (now 

 in the Carnegie Museum) taken June 8, 1892, and a pair observed 

 May 29, 1904, adding that these are the only ones he has seen 



