
18 NoTEs oN RHODE ISLAND ORNITHOLOGY. 
BIRDS OBSERVED ON PRUDENCE ISLAND, NARRA- 
GANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND. 
BY LOUIS DI ZEREGA MEARNS. 
On August 30, rg0o1, my father and I spent eleven hours on 
Prudence Island, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and while 
there observed the following birds : 
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo).— Flocks on the bay. 
White-winged Scoter (Gdemza deglandz).— One shot on the shore of 
Prudence Island. This was undoubtedly a ‘‘ pensioner” or wounded bird. 
As they are not often seen in summer, the coloration of the soft parts were 
noted, as follows: An immature male, having a whitish breast and a 
white spot under the eye. Iris white. Bill plumbeous-black, transversely 
banded with white (in middle) and pink (on sides). Legs and feet, blackish 
slate, with tarsi and toes madder-brown anteriorly, obscurely dusky in 
median stripes. The gullet was empty; but the gizzard contained a good 
handful of gravel and shells of the common mussel (Mytclus edulis Linn- 
zus) and the periwinkle (Lzttorzna Ilittorea Linneus). The largest 
mussel measured 43 X 24 X 20 mm., and the largest stone 25 X 18 X 12 
mm. The valves of the mussels were separate, but all matched, showing 
that the mollusks had been swallowed whole. 
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis). —Skeleton found on the beach. 
Skull preserved and identified by Dr. Robert Ridgway. 
Green Heron (Ardea virescens).— Two were seen near a small pond, 
living among button-bushes. 
Black-crowned Night Heron (Wyctzcoraw nycticorax nevius).— The 
Night-Heronry to which reference is made by Mr. Reginald Heber Howe, 
Jr., in ‘‘ Birds of Rhode Island,”’ is still occupied. It is located in a grove 
of soft maple trees, from which we flushed about 25 Night Herons at four 
o’clock in the afternoon. 
Least Sandpiper (Z+7nga minutiila).— One shot on beach. 
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Lreunetes pusilius).— Very abundant along 
the shore. Two shot. 
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia).— Three were seen on the beach. 
Semipalmated Plover (4g7alitis semipalmata).— One small flock seen. 
An immature female shot. ; 
Turnstone (Avenxarita znterpres).— Two were seen along the beach in 
company with a flock of Ring Plovers. 
Marsh Hawk (Czrcus hudsontus).— One, a brown bird, was seen cours- 
ing the island in search of prey. 
American Osprey (Pandion haliaétus carolinensis). — Several were seen 
flying over and chirping like half-grown chickens. Eight were visible at 
once, 

