Field Notes on Louisiana Birds. 155 
Family Ratiipa: Fails. 
‘79. FULICA AMERICANA, Gmelin.—American Coot.—-Observed in 
small parties along the Mississippi April 19th. 
Family Anatipz: Swan, Geese and Ducks. 
80. BERNICLA CANADENSIS, Boie.—Canada Goose.—F locks of fifteen 
or twenty observed in the fields near New Madrid, Missouri, April 22d. 
81. Furrx arrinis, Baird.—-Little Black-head Duck.—Occasionally 
seen along the Mississippi during March and April. 
Family Laripa#z: Gulls. 
Note: Two species of large Gulls observed about the river at New 
Orleans and above, were presumably the Herring and Ring-billed, al- 
though no specimens were handled of either. 
Family Popicipipz : Grebes. 
82. PopiLymBus popicErs, Lawr.—Thick-billed Grebe.—Occasional 
on the Mississippi. 
Family CoLympipa& : Loons, 
83. CoLymMBus ToRQuATUS, Briinn—Zoon.—Not noted in Louisiana, 
but observed quite frequently along the Mississippi after passing 
Memphis on April 21st. At the approach of a steamboat they will 
usually dive once or twice, but finely take to their wings with labored 
flappings and out-stretched necks, leaving a long wake in their rear as 
they drag their posterior parts along the surface. In no instance were 
they seen to raise their bodies entirely clear of the water. 
