The Old-squaw ( Harelda hyemalis ) on the Connecticut Coast in. 
Summer.— Since there seem to be but few published notes concerning 
the occurrence of the Old-squaw south of its breeding grounds in summer, 
the following notes will probably be of interest. I first observed this 
species in summer on August 2, 1906, in a small bay at the mouth of Oyster 
River, West Haven, Conn. There were three of the birds at this time. 
They were observed very closely and seemed disinclined, and perhaps 
unable to fly. When I threw stones close to them they paid no attention, 
and when I ran at them suddenly, to try to make them fly, they merely 
dove. 
My second meeting with this species in summer occurred recently at 
Compo, Conn., near Westport. On the evening of July 14, 1913, I was out 
rowing with three friends. It was a warm, moonlight, summer evening 
without a breath of wind. When nearly a mile from shore we heard the 
calling of a flock of Old-squaws. As we drew nearer they called repeatedly, 
and we soon saw them, seated on the water. It was too dark to see any 
but the nearest birds, so that an accurate count was impossible. The most 
that I counted at one time was twelve, but I believe it more likely that the 
number was somewhere between fifteen and twenty. When we got close 
to them, some of the birds flew, but most of them beat along the surface 
of the water with their wings as if unable to rise, and finally dove instead. 
The birds called repeatedly, the “ south south southerly ” call. Although 
we were unable to see them clearly enough in the moonlight to make out 
anything, except that they were ducks, this call is so characteristic and 
unmistakable that the identification from it alone is certain. — Aretas A. 
Satjnders, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Ante JO, Oct, 101,3* 6'?^ Fpg. 
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