Ce aie: 3s 
. 
4 NoTEs ON RHODE ISLAND ORNITHOLOGY. 
expanse, 1125; wing, 350; tail, 235; cord of culmen and cere, taken 
together, 38; culmen (chord), 24; tarsus, 53; middle toe with claw, 56. 
Iris, very dark brown, appearing black. Bill and cere, greenish yellow, 
the latter slightly more greenish than the bill. Toes greenish yellow; 
claws, dusky plumbeous, horn color at base. 
Screech Owl (Megascops asto).— A male, gray phase, was trapped De- 
cember 19, 1900, in a pigeon-cote, where it had recently killed.a domestic 
Pigeon, remains of which constituted the sole contents of its stomach. 
Frequently heard throughout the period. Several were shot or caught in 
neighboring localities. 
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus).— Heard almost nightly, and 
occasionally seen, at twilight, about Lake Cottage. An Owl of some kind 
carried off meat with which our traps were baited, but eluded our efforts 
to entrap it. One was caught in a mink trap, on Point Judith Salt Pond, | 
in December, 1900, and kept in captivity. oe 
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus).— Rather uncommon and un- 
usually shy; one or more seen almost daily during our stay. One shot, 
and one seen feeding, upon the ground, in a thicket. 
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens medianus).— One taken No- 
vember 27, 1900; occasionally seen thereafter, but less frequently than the 
common type. 
Northern Flicker (Colaftes auratus luteus).— Frequently seen until 
December 24, sometimes several in one locality. Local name, ‘‘ Pigeon 
Woodpecker.” d 
Horned Lark (Ofocorzs alpestris).—Small flocks were occasionally 
seen, usually in fallows, but much less commonly than along the coast. 
Blue Jay (Cyanocittta cristata).— Common, but shy and secretive. 
Five specimens collected were all taken in traps set for mammals and 
baited with meat or apple. The outcry in Bluejayland when one of their 
number was entrapped could be heard for miles; otherwise, they were 
more silent and prone to slyly disappear than I have known them else- 
where. Many old nests were seen. 
American Crow (Corvus americanus).— The town of South Kingston 
has for years paid a bounty of twenty-five cents upon old Crows, and 
fifteen cents upon young ones. They have become scarce except for the 
occasional appearance of flocks of “coasters” from Narragansett Bay and 
the ocean. Several were seen daily during my residence at Lake Cottage, 
in which neighborhood it sometimes breeds. 
Meadowlark (Szturnella magna).— Occasionally seen in small flocks. 
Local name, ‘‘ Marsh Quail.” ; 
American Goldfinch (Astragalinus tristis).— A flock of about thirty 
was always present at Lake Cottage, frequenting a vineyard and apple- 
orchard when the ground was bare, and descending to feed upon the 
birches in a neighboring cedar swamp whenever snow covered the ground. 
Other flocks were sometimes seen in the region. 
Snowflake (Plectrophenax nzvalis).— An adult male was shot from a 


