BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 549 
Querquedula discors), Shoveller (Spatula clypeata), Widgeon 
(Mareca Americana), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Whistler 
(Bucephala Americana), and Bufle-head (Bucephala al- 
beola). i | 
After the waters have subsided they generally congregate 
at the river, and after a week or more, during which time 
many are killed, they have left. But not wholly so, as 
during the summer months, besides the beautiful Aix sponsa, 
. which we always have, there are quite a number of Anas 
obscura always to be met with, and not unfrequently the 
four species we have mentioned above. Of the four species 
the Mallard is the most abundant, and the " Buflle-head" 
least. That they all breed in the state there can be no 
question. ` 
We conclude with the above, the selections from our 
notes, made in the field and at various times, on the peculi- 
arities, if we may call them such, in the ornithology of New 
Jersey, with the thoughts they have suggested, believing 
they will be of interest to those especially giving attention 
to the subject of geographical distribution. Of the three 
hundred species of birds included in the ornithic fauna of 
New Jersey, of course there are many that are exceedingly 
rare in our territory. Among some species there have hap- 
pened freaks of habit, unique instances so far as our experi- 
ence goes, that though entertaining, are doubtfully of suffi- 
cient value to warrant their publication; but as apparently 
trivial occurrences have sometimes proved a help in the 
solution of difficult questions, we propose to give a plain 
narration of one or more such occurrences. 
In January, 1869, an acquaintance in hunting over the 
Delaware (Trenton) meadows for hawks came to a lively 
spring in a hillside having a southern exposure. As he was 
about leaving it he flushed from grass still green and long, 
a pair of Virginia Rails (Rallus Virginianus), and fortun- 
ately killed them. They were both fat, showed no signs of 
having been previously wounded and thereby detained, and 
