24 



Notes on Rhode Island Ornithology. 



Notes from Newport. — Gavia imber. — One bird noted on Sept. 15 fly- 

 ing over Brenton's Point. 



Cepphus grylle. — I have in my possession a mounted bird vv^hich was 

 shot by a fisherman off the Second Beach, Middletown, in February, 1900. 

 It is in immature plumage. Sex not taken. I believe this is the fourth 

 record for R. I. 



Hydrochelidon n. surinamensis. — Reported common in the early part 

 of August. Frequently seen at Easton's Pond, Newport. 



Puffiims stricklandi. — I have just obtained a fine male bird from Mr. C. 

 B. Clarke, a taxidermist. It was taken Mar. 28, 1902, near Pt. Judith. 



Phalacrocorax carbo. — I saw three birds on Cormorant Rock on Sept. 

 15, 1902. 



Nettion caroline?ise. — Mr. Clarke tells me an adult male was shot at 

 Lawton's Valley in March, 1902. 



Somateria sfectabilis,. — I took a young inale at Cormorant Rock on 

 Sept. 15, 1902. 



Chefi hyperborea. — I have a bird taken on Sept. 3, 1876, at Easton's 

 Pond by Mr. F. P. Sands, of Newport and a young specimen, shot at New- 

 port on Sept. 19, 1902. 



Branta bernicla. — Mr. C. B. Clarke took a bird at Cormorant Rock on 

 Mar. 24, 1902. 



Rallus elegans.— There is in my collection a specimen taken Mar. 14, 

 1899, by Mr. Clarke. The bird was shot on the Middletown marshes and 

 is a male. Mr. Clarke says he has taken two others. 



Tringa caimtus. — Mr. Clarke shot two birds at Middletown, during 

 July, 1902. 



Litnosa hcemastica. — Mr. W. A. Dring shot two specimens at Point 

 Judith on Sept. 12, 1902. 



Sytnf hernia se9nij)al?naia.- — A bird was taken at Sakonnet on July 2, 

 1902. 



Tryngites subruficollis. — I have a fine male shot on Sept. 10, 1902, on 

 the Middletown marshes by Mr. Clarke. 

 Newport, Sept. 20. Le Roy King. 



Destruction of Gavia imber (Gunn.) in Rhode Island. — The Island of 

 Rhode Island is bounded on the east by the Seaconnett River along the 

 shores of which fish traps are set on long poles driven in the bottom. 

 These traps are connected with the shore by fences of net, called leaders, 

 which are floated by corks and kept upright by sinkers, and of such a 

 width that they extend from the surface to the bottom. Thus all the fish 

 swimming up or down the river between the trap and shore are inter- 

 cepted, and instinctivel}" turn off shore, following the leader into the trap. 

 Sometimes as many as five traps and leaders are connected in line, form- 

 ing a barrier nearly a mile long. 



The loons that pass the summer in these waters are frequently caught 

 like fish. One would naturally suppose that a bird thus trapped would 

 fly over the nets and escape, but unfortunately loons are so heavy that 



