THE WATER-BIRDS OF NEWPORT, R. I. 
BY CHARLES H. LAWTON. 
These observations were made by Mr. Lawton during his va¬ 
rious excursions as a sportsman around our ponds and shores: 
The Black or Dusky Duck is the commonest in this vicinity, 
and is to be found on Aquidneck Island, on which Newport stands, 
all the year round. It breeds occasionally in a marsh near the 
Hanging Rocks opposite the Second Beach. Among fresh water- 
birds he instanced the Wood Duck, so remarkable on account of 
its beautiful plumage, a species which breeds in the woods in the 
western part of this State. In former years the American Wid¬ 
geon used to be plentiful about Newport, but is not so now. 
The Pintail Duck is still occasionally met with around our bay, 
and is very abundant on Block Island. The Blue-winged Teal 
are always to be met with after the first north-west wind in Sept¬ 
ember ; the Green-winged species conies later. River ducks are 
distinguished from sea ducks by having no lobe or flap on the 
hind toe. The commonest sea ducks here are the Old Squaws or 
Long-tailed Ducks. The Velvet Scoter and Surf Ducks are often 
found together, feeding on mussels and other mollusks. They 
are called “Coots” by our local gunners. The Eider Duck, lo¬ 
cally called the Wamp, is also plentiful here some seasons. The 
allied species, the King Eider, is also now and then met with. 
The Mergansers close the list of our real sea fowl. There are 
three species, the Red-breasted or Sheldrake, the Goosander and 
the Hooded Merganser. 
With respect to those birds, which though properly sea ducks, 
are often found frequenting fresh water, may be mentioned the 
Whistler or Golden-eye, often seen in large flocks on East river 
and off' Mount Hope Bay. These with the Blue Bills, Greater 
and Lesser Scaups, and the ring necked species, form a little 
family by themselves, and are quite abundant in this vicinity dur¬ 
ing the fall and winter migration. The Red-headed Duck is 
very plentiful in the salt pond on Block Island, going out of the 
pond every night toward the west and returning at daybreak. 
Dog. 6, Dec. 1SS7. 
