Notes on Rhode Island Ornithology. I^ 



CEdemia perspicillata. — The most common of the scoters. Seen at 

 Cormorant Rock on May 21. 



Branta canadensis. — One shot at Easton's pond by local gunners on 

 April 27. I saw a flock of about fifteen birds flying north on May 7. 



Butorides virescens. — Two on May 15 at Jamestown. 



Rallus virginianus. — One was shot on May 15 at the Sachuest marsh 

 by a market gunner named Hammond. 



Gallinago delicata. — One brought to the market on May 6 ; others 

 reported seen. 



Tringa maculata. — A bird was shot by C. B. Clarke, a local taxider- 

 mist, on or about April 25. 



Tringa minutilla. — Common, first observed on May 8. A big flight 

 occurred on May 15 at Jamestown, over 25 large flocks being seen. This 

 species was common at Sakonnet on May 22. 



Ereunetes pusillus. — Eight on May 22 at Sakonnet. Two specimens 

 taken. 



Calidris arenaria. — Five birds in summer plumage were seen on the 

 Second Beach, Middletown on May 20. 



Totanus melanoleucus. — Very common from about April 25 to May 20. 

 One could hardly go to the marshes and beaches without seeing or hear- 

 ing this species. Owing to absence of all law against spring shooting 

 a number of these birds were shot for the market. It is much to be 

 lamented that this spring slaughter cannot be prevented. The shooting 

 was nearly entirely on the Middletown marshes, scarcely any birds hav- 

 ing been shot at Sakonnet as far as I could learn. Height of migration 

 May 8 to 15. 



Totanus flavipes. — I am told by C. B. Clarke, who is entirely trust- 

 worthv, that a bird was shot about April 28 by a market gunner named 

 Sprague. 



Helodromas solitarius (?). — One bird on May 20 which I am practi- 

 cally certain was this species. 



Bartramia longicauda. — C B. Clarke told me he heard one whistling 

 during the last week in April. 



Actitis macularia.— Common on rocky beaches and occasionally seen 

 in ploughed fields. 



Numenius hudsonicus. — A bird was shot, by a local gunner, on the 

 third beach, Middletown, on April 27. 



Squatarola squatarola. — Black-breasts have been quite numerous this 

 spring. Two were shot on May 15 at Middletown and several others 

 seen. There was quite a flight on May 20, several large flocks being 

 observed, and five shot by a market gunner. Three of these, which I 

 bougiit and preserved, showed different stages of plumage, a male being 

 in full breeding dress, in a female the moult was half completed, while a 

 second female showed scarcely any black feathers on the breast. 



I observed several birds at Sakonnet on May 22. 



iEgialitis semipalmata. — I flushed one bird from tiie rocky beach .at 

 lamestown. on May 15. 



