NATUKAL SCIENCE NEWS. 



47 



hillside and ridge until we arrived 

 at the head spring of the Comal 

 Creek. From here we struck 

 across the country towards the 

 Guadalupe River, crossing and 

 working down said river to the 

 railroad bridge, crossing which we 

 worked back to town. This is one 

 of the most beautiful and fertile 

 valleys in this or any other state, 

 bounded on the west by a high 

 mountain ridge covered with ever- 

 green trees; the springs burst from 

 the foot of this ridge and flows 

 along southward for about two 

 miles when it turns to the east and 

 flows by the town of New Braun- 

 fels, furnishing a bountiful supply 

 of the purest water for the town; 

 power to run a large flour mill, 

 oil mill, electric light plant, to the 

 Guadalupe River. From the top 

 of this ridge, the scene is most 

 beautiful and one well worth a long 

 trip and tiresome climb, to enjoy; 

 the bold running stream, clear as 

 crystal, filled with aquatic plants 

 and vegetation, among which num- 

 erous sun perch and bass are swim- 

 ming, meanders through the val- 

 ley to the Guadalupe River, whose 

 wanderings can be traced in the 

 distance by the timber. The thrif- 

 ty little town of New Fsraunfels, 

 near the middle of the valley, the 

 farm houses scattered all over the 

 valley, makes up a scene long to 

 be remembered. Following are 

 the shells we found. 



Goniobasis comalensis, Pilsby. 



" pleuristriata, Say. 



Helix auriformis, Bid. 

 " dorfiuelliana, Lea. 

 " texasiana, Mor. 

 " monodon, Rack. 

 " MooreanF, W. G. Birm. 

 " griseola, Pfr. 

 " roerneri, Pfr. 

 " hippocrepis, Pfr. 

 Holospira goldfussi, Mke. 

 Macroceramus gossei, Pfr. 

 Physa heteaostiopha, Say. 



" halei, Lea. 

 Bulimulus schiedianuss, Pfr. 



" dialbatus, Say. 

 Unio undalatus, Barnes. 

 " aureus, Lea. 

 " auodentoides, Lea. 

 " laticostatus, Lea. 

 " tuberculatus, Barries. 

 " Mitchelli, Simpson. 

 Zonites minusculus, Birris. 

 Glaudina decussata, Desh. 

 Succinea avara, Say. 

 Planorbis leutus, Say. 

 Planorbis liebmani, D. Ke. 

 Segmentina arenijera, Say. 

 Unio bulandieri, Lea. 

 " pitrpuratus, Lam. 

 " acevcianus, Lea. 



J. D. Mitchell, 

 Victoria, Texas. 



BIRDS OF WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ERNEST H. SHORT. 



172a. Hutchin's Goose. Branta canadensis hutchinsii. Probably 

 more common than generally supposed. Migrating in company with 

 the Canada Goose. Mr. Newell Beckwith, of Gaines, Orleans Co., 

 has a specimen taken there about 1888. 



□ 180. Whistling Swan. Oior columbianits. Rare Migrant. One 

 taken near Medina, Orleans Co., in the spring of 1886. 



Order HERODIONES. Herons, Ibisis, etc. 



Family IBIDID/E.— Ibises. 



186. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis autumnalis. A rare straggler. One 

 taken in Tonawanda Swamp and brought to Mr. George H. Hedley of 

 Medina. 



Family ARDEID.ffi. — Herons. 



190. Americrn Bittern. Boiaurus letiginesus. Summer resident. 

 Breeding in suitable marshes. 



191. Least Bittern. Ardetta exilis. Summer resident. Breeds. 



194. Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias. Summer resident. 

 There are several breeding places where these birds colonize, especial- 

 ly in Tonawanda Swamp. 



196. American Egret. Ardea egretta. Rare straggler. Two spec- 

 imens reported from Olcott and one from Medina. 



201. Green Heron. Ardea v. 



Summer resident. Breeds. 



202. Black-crowned Night Heron. Nyctocorax nyctocorax navius. 

 Rare straggler. 



Order PALUDICOL/E. Cranes, Rails, etc. 

 Family RALLID-iE. — Rails, Gallinules, etc. 



212. Virginia Rail. Rallus virginiamis. Summer resident. Breeds. 



214. Sora. Porzana Carolina. Summer resident. Breeds. 



215. Yellow Rail. Porzana noveboracensis. Very rare. One re- 

 ported by G. F. Guelf and A. H. Davis as taken near Brockport. Al- 

 so taken near Murray, Orleans Co., by C. Cliff. 



219. Florida Gallinule. Gal/inn/a ga lea/a. Summer resident. 

 Breeds. 



221. American Coot. Fulica ainericana. Common migrant. Prob- 

 ably breeds. 



Order LIMICOL^E. Shore Birds. 



Family SCOLOPACID^;.— Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 



228. American Woodcock. Phi/olie/a minor. Common summer 

 resident and breeder. 



230. Wilson's Snipe. Gallinago delicata. Migrant. Common in 

 some localities. 



239. Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata. A rare migrant; re- 

 ported by Mr. Davison. 



242. Least Sandpiper. Tringa minutilla. Migrant. Most com- 

 mon in the fall. 



246. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Ereunetes pusillus. Occasional 

 migrant. 



