THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID BULLETINS or THE State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut. 1. First Biennial Report of the Commissioners of the State Geological and Natural History Survey, 1903-1904. 2. A Preliminary Report on the Protozoa of the Fresh Waters of Connecticut : by Herbert William Conn. 3. A preliminary Report on the Hymeniales of Connecticut : by Edward Albert White. 4. The Clays and Clay Industries of Connecticut : by Gerald Francis Loughlin. . 5. The Ustilagineae, or Smuts, of Connecticut: by George Perkins Clinton. 6. Manual of the Geology of Connecticut : by William North Rice and Herbert Ernest Gregory. 7. Preliminary Geological Map of Connecticut: by Herbert Ernest Gregory and Henry Hollister Robinson. 8. Bibliography of Connecticut Geology: by Herbert Ernest Gregory. 9. Second Biennial Report of the Commissioners of the State Geological and Natural History Survey, 1905-1906. 10. A preliminary Report on the Algae of the Fresh Waters of Connecticut: by Herbert William Conn and Lucia Washburn (Hazen) Webster. n. The Bryophytes of Connecticut: by Alexander William Evans and George Elwood Nichols. 12. Third Biennial Report of the Commissioners of the State Geological and Natural History Survey, 1907-1908. 13. The Lithology of Connecticut: by Joseph Barrell and Gerald Francis Loughlin. 14. Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Con- necticut growing without cultivation : by a Committee of the Con- necticut Botanical Society. 15. Second Report on the Hymeniales of Connecticut: by Edward Albert White. 1 6. Guide to the Insects of Connecticut: prepared under the direction of Wilton Everett Britton. Part I. General Introduc- tion : by Wilton Everett Britton. Part II. The Euplexoptera and Orthoptera of Connecticut: by Benjamin Hovey Walden. 17. Fourth Biennial Report of the Commissioners of the State Geological and Natural History Survey, 1909-1910. 1 8. Triassic Fishes of Connecticut: by Charles Rochester Eastman. 19. Echinoderms of Connecticut: by Wesley Roscoe Coe. 20. The Birds of Connecticut : by John Hall Sage and Louis Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. 21. Fifth Biennial Report of the Commissioners ®f the State Geological and Natural History Survey, 1911-1912. Bulletins 1,9, 12, 17, and 21 are merely administrative reports, containing no scientific matter. The other bulletins may be classi- fied as follows : -Geology: Bulletins 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 18. Botany: Bulletins 3, 5, 10, n, 14, 15. Zoology: Bulletins 2, 16, 19, 20. These bulletins are sold and otherwise distributed by the State Librarian. Postage, when bulletins are sent by mail, is as follows: No. i, $0.01 ; No. 2, .07; No. 3, .08; No. 4, .06; No. 5, .03 ; No. 6, .12 ; No. 7, .06 ; No. 8, .05 ; No. 9, .02 ; No. 10, .08 ; No. n, .07; No. 12, .02; No 13, .08; No. 14, .16; No. 15, .06; No. 16, .07; No. 17, .02; No. 18, .07; No. 19, .08; No. 20, .14; No. 21, .02. The prices when the bulletins are sold are as follows (in- cluding postage) : No. I, $0.05 ; No. 2, .35 ; No. 3, .40; No. 4, .30; No. 5, .15 ; No. 6, .50 ; No. 7, .60* ; No. 8, .20 ; No. 9, .05 ; No. 10, .35 ; No. 11, .30; No. 12, .05 ; No. 13, .40; No. 14, .75 ; No. 15, .35 ; No. 16, .35; No. 17, .05; No. 18, .25; No. 19, .45; No. 20, .48; No. 21, .05. Bulletins 1-5 are bound as Volume I. The price of this volume is $1.50. Bulletins 6-12 are bound as Volume II. The price of this volume is $2.45. Bulletins 13-15 are bound as Vol- ume III. The price of this volume is $2.50. Other volumes will follow. It is intended to follow a liberal policy in gratuituously dis- tributing these publications to public libraries, colleges, and scientific institutions, and to scientific men, teachers, and others who require particular bulletins for their work, especially to those who are citizens of Connecticut. Applications or inquiries should be addressed to GEORGE S. GODARD, State Librarian, Hartford, Conn. * If map is mounted as a wall map, and sent by express, $1.60. CATALOGUE SLIPS. Connecticut. State geological and natural history survey. Bulletin no. 20. The birds of Connecticut. By J. H. Sage and L. B. Bishop, assisted by W. P. Bliss. Hartford, 1913. 370pp., 23cm. Sage, John Hall. The birds of Connecticut. By John Hall Sage and Louis Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. Hartford, 1913. 370 pp., 23cm. (Bulletin no. 20, Connecticut geological and natural history survey. ) CATALOGUE SLIPS. Bishop, Louis Bennett. The birds of Connecticut. By John Hall Sage and Louis Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. Hartford, 1913. 370 pp. , 23cm. (Bulletin no. 20, Connecticut geological and natural history survey.) Blissy Walter Parks. The birds of Connecticut. By John Hall Sage and Louis Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. Hartford, 1913. 370 pp., 23CD1. (Bulletin no. 20, Connecticut geological and natural history survey. ) CATALOGUE SLIPS. Biology. Sage, J. H. The birds of Connecticut. By John Hall Sage and Louis Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. Hartford, 1913. 370pp., 23cm. (Bulletin no. 20, Connecticut geological and natural history survey.) Birds. Sage, J. H. The Birds of Connecticut. By John Hall Sage and Louis Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. Hartford, 1913. 370 pp. , 23cm. (Bulletin no. 20, Connecticut geological and natural history survey.) of (Scrmeelicui PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 47 State Geological and Natural History Survey COMMISSIONERS SIMEON EBEN BALDWIN, Governor of Connecticut (Chairman') ARTHUR TWINING HADLEY, President of Yale University WILLIAM ARNOLD SHAN KLIN, President of Wesleyan University FLAVEL SWEETEN LUTHER, President of Trinity College (Secretary) CHARLES LEWIS BEACH, President of Connecticut Agricultural College SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAM NORTH RICE BULLETIN No. 20 HARTFORD Printed for the State Geological and Natural History Survey 1913 PUBLICATION APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co.. Hartford. Conn. The Birds of Connecticut By JOHN HALLlSAGE, M.S, Secretary of the American OrflltTTologists' Union and LOUIS BENNETT BISHOP, M.D. Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union assisted by WALTER PARKS BLISS, M.A. HARTFORD Printed for the State Geological and Natural History Survey 1913 Contents PAGE Introduction 7 «<- Part I. Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut . 13 Appendices to Part I - 183 1 . Catalogue of Introduced Species and Doubt- ful Species - - 183 2. Statistical Summary - 190 3. List of Observers referred to by initials or by surnames - 196 4. Bibliography - 200 Part II. Economic Ornithology - - 259 PK351885 Introduction Facing Long Island Sound for practically all of its hundred Kiiles of southern border, Connecticut shows a succession of low, rocky promontories and sandy beaches divided by shallow bays and salt marshes. The latter stretch for varying distances north- ward, but soon give place to rather broad stream valleys, sepa- rated by gently rising hills. These hills, usually low and rounded at the coast, when not dikes or sheets of trap, as near New Haven, become rapidly more mountainous in the northwestern part of the state, culminating in Bear Mountain in the extreme corner, 2,354 feet in altitude and sixty miles from the Sound. The soil of these hills is usually poor and shallow, while that of many of the valleys is deep and rich, so that, while the low- lands are well cultivated and thickly settled, the uplands are gen- erally left to brush land or forest. From this configuration it will be evident that most of the streams are short and flow in a south- erly direction. Three main river courses cross the state: — the Thames on the east, which for its lower quarter is practically an arm of the sea, and above that hardly more than a small stream ; the Connecticut, which passes through the center, in a broad and fertile valley in its upper course, and in a narrow valley hemmed in by highlands below Portland ; and the Housatonic in the western part, with a narrow and much more mountainous valley. Appar- ently the Connecticut and upper Housatonic valleys and the south- ern coast line are highways for the migration of our birds in spring, and the coast line certainly is in fall, but our information on this point is at present very incomplete. The woodland consists chiefly of deciduous trees, though hem- locks and cedars are common, and groves of white pine and spruce still exist in the northwestern portion. Shut off from the ocean by Long Island, strictly pelagic birds are seldom found in Connecticut, but for many other species it is particularly fitted as regards climate and topography. Over 135 8 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. species nest more or less regularly within its borders, and it is probable there are few localities in our country where so many can be found within so circumscribed an area. Almost the entire state lies in the Alleghenian Zone, where such birds as the Ruffed Grouse, Red-shouldered Hawk, Kingbird, Least Flycatcher, Bobo- link, Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch, Towhee, Indigo Bunting, Scar- let Tanager, Red-eyed, and Warbling Vireos, Black and White, Yellow, and Chestnut-sided Warblers, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Chickadee,Wood, and Wilson's Thrushes, nest abundantly. Along the southern border and for some distance up the Housatonic and Connecticut valleys, the breeding, often in abundance, of such species as the Clapper Rail, Fish Crow, Acadian Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, Seaside Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo, Worm- eating, Blue-winged, Prairie, Hooded, and Kentucky Warblers, Louisiana Water-thrush, and Yellow-breasted Chat brings this dis- trict within the northern limits of the Carolinian Zone ; while the occasional, and in some cases regular, breeding of the Canadian Ruffed Grouse, Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Alder Fly- catcher, Savannah, and White-throated Sparrows ( ?) , Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Blue, Magnolia ( ?) , Blackburnian, and Canadian Warblers, Winter Wren (?), Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Hermit Thrush, in the northwestern part of Litchfield County, shows at least strong Canadian elements in the avifauna, though it may not be enough to include that district in the Canadian Zone. Interest in our birds must have existed among many in the earlier days of Connecticut, and scattered references to them may be found in many volumes ; but the first definite list of the birds of the state was written by the Rev. James H. Linsley, of Strat- ford,1 and published in the American Journal of Science and Arts in 1843. ^e recorded 302 species, but of these Dr. Merriam2 con- cluded that only 239 distinct species had been reported on satis- factory evidence. He recorded several birds that have not since been reported from our state, and some of his specimens are still in the Peabody Museum of Yale University, and others in the collection of the Bridgeport Scientific Society. 1 A Catalogue of Birds of Connecticut, arranged according to their natural families; by the Rev. James H. Linsley. Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, vol. xliv, No. 2, pp. 249-74, April, 1843. a Merriam, Review of the Birds of Connecticut, p. 144. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 9 Thirty-four years later Dr. C. Hart Merriam prepared a list with copious and valuable annotations, which was published in the Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Science in I87/.1 This work is a model of its kind, but has been long out of print. Dr. Merriam was able to notice 291 species with good claims to inclusion in our avifauna; and of these several have not been taken since in our state. Thirty- four years have again passed, during which enormous strides have been taken in the knowledge of the birds of our entire country. We wish we could say the knowledge of Con- necticut ornithology had kept pace. But it has not. The birds of certain localities near the larger cities are well known, but there are still large districts — in fact the greater portion — of the state from which no records have reached us. Ornithologists in Con- necticut are far too few, and many of them have little time to devote to this study; but all have responded most generously to our appeal for assistance, as the following pages will show. This list is based primarily on the notes and collections of Mr. Sage and Dr. Bishop, obtained through field work in Connecticut dur- ing the past 45 and 30 years respectively. The migration dates for Portland and New Haven, given without quotation of author- ity, are taken from their field notes, as are all other statements and dates for which the name of the authority is not cited. Practically all the other records from the western portion of the state and from New London were given to Dr. Bishop, either in the form of specimens, by notes, or by word of mouth, by the gentlemen to whom they are accredited; and he is entirely re- sponsible for the chapter on Economic Ornithology. For the citation of most of the other published and unpublished records Mr. Sage is to be credited, while Mr. Bliss has found some in ornithological literature. To Mr. Bliss has fallen the task of tabu- lating Mr. Sage's records of the past 45 years, which press of other duties prevented Mr. Sage doing himself, searching ornitho- logical works for records, preparing much of the bibliography, as well as the index, etc., and combining all the notes into as harmonious a whole as is possible in a work of this character. For cordial cooperation and assistance our hearty thanks are due to Prof. A. E. Verrill, Dr. Leonard C. Sanford, Rev. Her- 1 Review of the Birds of Connecticut with Remarks on their Habits, by C. Hart Merriam. Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. iv, pp. 1-150, July, 1877. IO CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. bert K. Job, Harry W. Flint, J. B. Robertson, Clarence R. Hooker, Aretas A. Saunders, Clifford H. and Dwight B. Pang- burn, Philip L. Buttrick, and Alfred W. Honywill, Jr., of New Haven ; Lewis B. Woodruff and Prof. C. C. Trowbridge, of New York; William H. Hoyt, Louis H. Porter, and John Schaler, of Stamford; Dr. E. H. Eames, Henry W. Beers, and George L. Hamlin, of Bridgeport; Jesse C. A. Meeker, of Danbury; E. H. Austin, of Gaylordsville ; H. Cornelius and Robert C. Judd, of Bethel; James H. Hill, of New London; Alanson Ganung, of West Haven; Willard E. Treat, of East Hartford; C. G. Hart, of East Berlin; and many others; who have contributed records of value. Mr. Walter R. Nichols, often mentioned in Dr. Mer- riam's catalogue, also gave his ready help, but him our thanks can no longer reach ; and the same is true of the late Mr. E. Sey- mour Woodruff, whose initials appear so frequently in the fol- lowing pages. A careful and conscientious observer, with won- derfully keen eyes and ears, an enthusiastic and able naturalist, a firm friend and a delightful companion, he was taken at the beginning of a most promising career, leaving all who knew him to mourn him. We wish also to add our tribute to the faithful- ness and reliability of Judge John N. Clark, who died in 1903, and whose letters and published records are often quoted in this Bulletin. A thorough and painstaking ornithologist, he did more perhaps than any one else to increase our knowledge of the breed- ing habits of certain birds along the southern border of Con- necticut. That this list is in many ways unsatisfactory and incomplete the authors realize all too well; but they hope that it may be a stimulus to others to fill up the gaps by conscientious collecting, never being satisfied with an " opera-glass record " of any spe- cies that is at all rare, or with which they are" not perfectly familiar. Field-glasses are of great assistance in the study of the habits of birds, and in identifying species with which one is already familiar; but every field ornithologist knows that the play of light and shadow often distorts colors and size so that the bird in the hand may prove a very different species from what it appeared in the tree. Therefore records of species out of their accustomed habitat should always be received with doubt unless accompanied by the bird itself. No one need fear that NO. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. II such collecting will prevent a species from establishing itself in our state; for experience has shown that birds have their nat- ural limits, within which alone they can rear young successfully, and that the reason any given species of North American bird does not nest with us is that for some cause it finds the conditions in the season of reproduction unfavorable, or that it is unable to survive our winters, unless it is destroyed for sport or millinery. The vain attempts of the Carolina Wren to obtain a foothold in southern Connecticut are a case in point. Practically all our exact knowledge of the usefulness of birds has been obtained by the labor of ornithologists, often undertaken without thought of pecuniary reward ; and it seems the height of ingratitude and folly to impede their future work by the imposition of burdensome regulations regarding collecting, or to forbid collecting entirely, as has been done by some legislatures. For, if there is one thing that is evident to those who have done much field work in ornithology, it is that the collecting of birds and eggs for scien- tific purposes, even by boys, can never appreciably reduce their numbers, as long as they are protected from too much slaughter in the name of sport, and their eggs and young are guarded from cats, which probably do as much damage to the young of our small useful birds near our towns and cities as all other agencies combined. PART I Catalogue OF THE Birds of Connecticut Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut. Order PYGOPODES. Diving Birds. Suborder COLYMBI. Grebes. Family COLYMBID^E. Grebes. Colymbus holboelli (Reinhardt). Holbcell's Grebe. A rare winter resident of Long Island Sound from November to March ; very rare inland. Earliest record. Portland, Oct. 30, 1895. Latest record. Portland, May 3, 1889. Connecticut records. Linsley recorded this species from Strat- ford;1 Oct. 19, 1860, Hartford, one shot (reported by Dr. Crary) j1 Feb. 23, 1875, Saybrook, one taken (J. H. S.) ; Feb. 21, 1885, New Haven (G. E. V., in Peabody Museum) ; spring, 1887 ( ?), Milford, one taken (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; May 3, 1889, one; April 14, 1894, one; Oct. 30, 1895, one, Portland (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Nov. 1 6, 1895, Stony Creek, female taken (E. M. Cooper, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Feb. 20, 1899, Bridgeport, young male taken (J. H. Canfield, in coll. of Mr. Beers) ; Feb. 27, 1902, Saybrook, one taken (J. N. C.) ; Jan., 1904, New Haven (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; April, 1904, Kent, one shot (recorded by H. K. J.) ;z Jan. 26, 1905, Danbury, one picked up exhausted and kept some time (Bristol, recorded by J. C. A. M., now in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Feb. 6, 1908, Gaylordsville, one found alive (G. A. Clute, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Dec. 28, 1909, one; Oct. 15, 1910, Portland, one (in coll. of J. H. S.). Colymbus auritus Linnaeus. Horned Grebe. Formerly a common fall migrant and winter resident on Long Island Sound from October to May j1 much rarer in recent years. Never common in the interior of the state. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 137. 3 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. l6 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 12, 1882; Portland, Oct. 19, 1877. Latest record. New Haven, March 16, 1894; Portland, May 3, 1889. Recent records. Nov. 6, 1905, Sept. 28, 1906, Litchfield (E. S. W.) ; Nov. 3, 1906, Guilford (L. B. B.) ; Oct. 6, and Nov. 9, 1906, Stony Creek (L. B. B.) ; May, 1906, Litchfield (H. K. J.) j1 Oct. 21, 1907, New Haven (A. A. S.) ; Feb. 25, 1909, Portland (J. H. S.). Breeding records. Mr. Job believes a pair bred in Litchfield County in 1906. The following specimens in breeding plumage are recorded for this state: North Haven, April 24, 1883; New Haven, May, 1888 (L. C. S.) ; Portland, May 3, 1889 (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Stamford, May 8, 1893 (in coll. of Mr. Porter). The Horned Grebe has been recorded from the following inland localities: Haddam (J. H. S.) ; Litchfield (E. S. W. and H. K. J.) ; Melrose (C. A. Thompson) ;2 Portland (J. H. S.) ; East Hartford (W. E. T.). Podilymbus podiceps (Linnaeus). Pied-billed Grebe. A common fall migrant in September and October on fresh- water ponds and on the creeks of the tide- water marshes. Very rare in the spring. Average fall migration. Sept. 15 — Oct. 20. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 30, 1895 ; Portland, Sept. 10, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 25, 1882; Portland, Nov. 22, 1893. Spring records. April 7, 1892, Stratford (C. K. A., in coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.) ; April 13, 1895, and April 19, 1905, Portland (J. H. S.) ; April 12-14, 1906, New Haven (A. A. S.) ; April 2-23, 1910, West Haven (H. K. J.) ; May 6, 1910, West Haven (L. B. B.). Breeding records. E. H. A. informs us that he has seen this bird almost every month in the year on the ponds in Litchfield County, and believes that they breed there. Mr. N. D. Betts of Boulder, Colo., records3 seeing five adults on a pond in Wilton, lJ6b, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 287. aO. and O., viii, i, p. 3. * Bird-Lore, xii, 5, p. 199. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 17 Conn., July 21, 1909, one of which was feeding four young. These young did not appear to be over five or six inches long, and must have been hatched at the pond. Merriam1 and Samuels2 both note that this species breeds within the state, though neither mentions any specific records. Suborder CEPPHI. Loons and Auks. Family GAVIID^E. Loons. Gavia immer (Brimnich). Loon. Great Northern Diver. A common winter resident of Long Island Sound from Novem- ber to May, the majority going farther south in the winter. Occa- sional on the inland waterways. Very rare in the summer. Earliest record. New Haven, Nov. 10, 1883; Portland, Sept. 26, 1892. Latest record. New Haven, May 24, 1900, and 1907 (C. H. P.) ; Portland, July 6, 1893. Inland records. Portland, Dec. I, 1874, Dec. 2, 1877, Nov. 7, 1890, Sept. 26, 1892, July 6, 1893; Litchfield, Nov. 6, 1905, and Sept. 28, 1906 (E. S. W.) ; Lake Waramaug, Litchfield County (no date given) ;3 East Hampton.4 Breeding records. Merriam notes4 that according to Mr. W. G. Buell this species " has been known to breed on a pond at East Hampton." Mr. W. R. Nichols informs us that a pair bred at Lake Saltonstall in 1890, since he saw the old birds with two young there the last of June or early in July of that year, and that the last previous record of their breeding on this lake was in 1878. Summer records. July 24, 1882, Goose Island, Long Island Sound, one pair (L. B. B.) ; July 6, 1893, Portland, one young female (J. H. S.). Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan). Red-throated Loon. A rather common winter resident along the coast from Novem- ber to March. Very rare inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 20, 1883; Portland, Oct. 10, 1892 ; Branford, Oct. 7, 1908, an adult in summer plumage (L. C. S.). 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 137. 3 Samuels, Birds of New England, p. 563. 3 O. and O., ix, 6, p. 76. 4 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 136. 2 l8 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Latest record. New Haven, April 23, 1887 (L. B. W.) ; Bran- ford, April 30, 1888 (W. H. Gardner). Inland records. Portland, Oct. 10, 1892, a young female (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Hartford, Nov. 20, 1895, a young bird found alive on the street, probably after being caught in the electric wires in the fog. Only rarely are birds taken in the full nuptial plumage, as most go north in March before assuming this dress. Mr. Nichols informed Mr. Merriam1 " that he saw one as late as June 2, 1877." Family ALCID^E. Auks, Murres, and Puffins. Subfamily ^ETHiiNyE. Auklets, Murrelets, and Guillemots. Cepphus grylle (Linnaeus). Black Guillemot. The only record for this species in Connecticut is that of a male, received by J. H. S. from Mr. Gurdon Trumbull, taken at Stony Creek in December, i887.2 Subfamily ALCIN^E. Auks and Murres. Uria lomvia lomvia (Linnaeus). Briinnich's Murre. An irregular and probably accidental winter visitor to Long Island Sound; found occasionally on the ponds in the interior of the state. Usual visitation between Dec. I and Jan. 15. Earliest record. Portland, Nov. 21, 1901 ; Rocky Hill, Nov. 18,1893 (W.E.T.). Latest record. Saybrook, Feb. 19, 1878 (J. N. C). Records for Connecticut. Feb. 19, 1878, Saybrook (J. N. C.) ; Jan., 1884, Saybrook (Dr. Pratt) ; Jan. 7, 19, 1891, Stamford (Hoyt and Schaler) ; Jan. 13, 1891, common at Stony Creek (W. F. Davis) ; Nov. 18, 1893, Rocky Hill (W. E. T.) ;3 Dec. n, 1894, Essex (E. Saunders) ; Dec. 14, 22, 1894, Portland (J. H. S.) ; Dec. 15, 1894, Stamford (Hoyt) ; Dec. 1894, Lake Saltonstall (A. J. G.) ; Jan. I, 1895, Stony Creek (E. M. Cooper) ; Dec., 1896, New Haven (L. C. S.) ; winter, 1900-1, Saybrook (J. N. C.) ; Nov. 21, 29, Dec. 14, 1901, Portland (J. H. S.) ; Dec. 6, i Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 136. «J. H. S., Auk, vii, 3, p. 283. 9 Auk, xii. 2, p. 177. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 19 1901, New Haven (C. A. Dorman) ; Dec., 1901, Still River, Litch- field County (H. K. J.) ; Dec., 1907, Twin Lakes (C. S. Phelps).1 According to C. K. A.2 this species occurred in great numbers along the Connecticut coast during the winter of 1890-1. Hoyt (Stamford) reported them plentiful there from Dec. 20 to Feb. 10 of that winter., he himself seeing fourteen. At that same time D. C. Sanford reported " thousands of them " in the vicinity of the mouth of the Saugatuck River. The Murre taken by Capt. Brooks near Faulkner's Island " about eight years ago " and recorded by Dr. Merriam as Uria troile is a bird of this species.3 This species was not recorded in Linsley's or Merriam's list. Alca torda Linnaeus. Razor-billed Auk. The only Connecticut reference to this species is by Merriam, who merely states that it is " a rare winter visitor in the Sound ".3 Specimens have since been recorded from points farther south (Cobb's Island and Norfolk, Va.). Subfamily ALLIN^E. Dovekies. Alle alle (Linnaeus). Dovekie. Little Auk. A rare winter visitant on the coast. Very rare inland. Coast records. Nov. 25, 1874, Saybrook, picked up on beach after a severe storm (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Nov. 26, 1877, Morris Cove, New Haven (in Peabody Museum) ; Oct., 1879, two> Guil- ford (in Peabody Museum) ; Jan. 15, 1891, Stony Creek (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Feb. 16, 1894, Stony Creek (in coll. of Mr. Porter) ; c. Dec. 10, 1893, Stonington.4 Inland records. Nov. 10, 1849, Portland (Wood) ;3 Nov., 1871, Middletown (G. B. Goode) ;3 Sept., 1874, Wallingford (W. F. Lane) ;3 Dec. 7, 1877, Portland (W. W. C.) ; Nov. 23, 1878, Pomfret, blown inland during severe gale (in coll. of C. M. Jones).5 Jjob, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 289. "C. K. Averill, Auk, viii, 3, pp. 307-8. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 138. *N. Y. Tribune, Dec. 10, 1893. 5 O. and O., viii, 4, p. 32. 2O CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Order LONGIPENNES. Long-winged Swimmers. Family STERCORARIIDJE. Skuas and Jaegers. Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus). Parasitic (or Richard- son's) Jaeger. Merriam refers to this species as a " rare winter visitor."1 Linsley notes it from Bridgeport. Taken at Portland, fall of 1875 (J. H. S.) ; at Noank, Sept. 10, 1903 (Dr. C. B. Graves, in coll. of J. H. S.). Stercorarius longicaudus Vieillot. Long-tailed Jaeger. The only record of this species appears in Merriam's Birds of Connecticut, p. 131. "I have just received from Wm. F. Lane, a beautiful adult specimen of this Larine plunderer, which he shot on the Community Lake at Wallingford, Conn., Aug. 3Oth, 1873." Family LARIDJE. Gulls and Terns. Subfamily LARIN^E. Gulls. Rissa tridactyla tridactyla (Linnaeus). Kittiwake. .A very rare winter visitant on the coast. April 2, 1880, large numbers in the Thames River, Norwich (S. T. H.) ;2 Nov. 15, 1883, one brought to the Peabody Museum and seen in the flesh by L. B. B. ; Dec. 3, 1884, one seen alive at West Haven by L. B. B.; Dec. n, 1886, and March 19, 1887, seen at New Haven by L. B. W. ; Jan. 21, 1895, a young male taken at Stamford (in coll. of Mr. Schaler). Larus leucopterus Faber. Iceland Gull. The only record for Connecticut is a young male which was shot by a fisherman between Rye and Stamford, March 3, 1894, and is now in the collection of L. H. Porter.3 Larus kumlieni Brewster. Kumlien's Gull. A young female in the collection of Mr. Porter was shot in Stamford Harbor, Feb. 16, 1894. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 131. *O. and O., vi, 4, p. 31. » Auk, xii, i, p. 76. NO. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 21 Larus marinus Linnaeus. Great Black-backed Gull. A rather rare and very shy winter resident of the Sound. Earliest record. New Haven, Nov. 10, 1883, Oct. n, 1886 (L. B. W.). Latest record. New Haven, Jan. 19, 1895, April 2, 1887 (L. B. W.). Larus argentatus Pontoppidan. Herring Gull. An abundant winter resident on the Sound and along the in- land waterways. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 14, 1883; Portland, Oct. 6, 1892. Latest record. New Haven, May 24, 1900; Portland, April 20, 1908. During the day these birds are abundant in New Haven Har- bor, but the majority do not sleep there, for they may be seen flying west along the coast toward sunset and returning from that direction about sunrise. Small flocks may often be seen during the migration in May flying high in an easterly direction and at some distance inland. A large flight, estimated at over 1,000 birds, in flocks of from three to twelve individuals, was seen at Hartford, March 20, 1889, by W. E. Treat. Larus delawarensis Ord. Ring-billed Gull. A rare fall migrant on the coast. Connecticut records. Nov. 29, 1886, West Haven (L. B. W.) ; Oct. 19, 1893, Stamford (in coll. of Mr. Porter) ; Dec. 6, 1893, Stamford (in coll. of Mr. Schaler) ; Dec. 4, 1896, Stony Creek (J. E. Cooper, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Oct. 23, 1905, Oct. 7, 1908, Branford (L. C. S., the latter in coll. of L. B. B.). Merriam asserts that it is not rare and that the young of this species may frequently be seen in the winter associated with L. argentatus^ Larus atricilla Linnaeus. Laughing Gull. At present only an accidental summer visitor. Never common. Linsley found it at Stonington. Mr. Osborne informed Dr. Merriam that he had seen one, June I, Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 132. 22 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull The only recent record is that of L. C. S., who saw an adult in breeding plumage, followed by a young bird, at Branford, Sept. I, 1904. Larus Philadelphia (Ord). Bonaparte's Gull. A rather rare late fall migrant and occasional winter resident on the Sound. Rare inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Nov. 10, 1883, Oct. n, 1889 (L. B. W.); Stamford, Sept. 15, 1904 (Schaler). Latest record. New Haven, Dec. 29, 1884, Jan., 1887 (E. F. Coe). Inland records. Litchfield, July I, 1892 (examined by L. B. W. and E. S. W.) ; Sept. 24, 1895, four (E. S. W.) ; April, 1905 (in coll. of Litchfield Sci. Soc.) j1 Haddam Neck, Nov. 17, 1900 (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Wallingford, fall, 1874 (eight seen by W. F. Lane).2 Summer records. Litchfield, July I, 1892;* Saybrook, Aug. 8, 1896 (A. Taylor, in coll. of J. H. S.). Formerly " quite common about Faulkner's Island, Conn., in October and November " and occasionally seen " at Goose Island in the summer ".2 Subfamily STERNIN^E. Terns. Sterna hirundo Linnaeus. Common Tern. A rather rare though formerly common3 summer resident, breeding in a few small colonies on islands in the Sound and in the extensive salt marshes of the eastern part of the state. Breeding sites. Prior to 1898, when the Government took over Great Gull Island on Long Island Sound for coast defense fortifications, this island was the location of a colony of 7000 terns. Since their dispersion at this time they have taken all the available islands off the Connecticut shore for nesting sites, where from one to a dozen pairs may be found every season. These include Goose I. (near Faulkner's I.), Duck I. (near Saybrook), Goose Rock (south of Niantic), Waterford I. (Niantic Bay), Two Tree I. (Millstone Point), Liddy's I. and Rocky I. (near Stonington) (Hill). A few formerly bred on Goose Island.3 ijob, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 289. 3 Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 132-3. •Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 133. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 23 On the mainland also this species occasionally breeds. L. B. B. found about twenty-five pairs breeding on the salt marshes at the mouth of the Hammonasset River, Clinton, June 23, 1904. Another colony of a dozen pairs was found at Grove Beach, Clin- ton, June 16, 1900, by Messrs. J. B. Canfield and C. H. Watrous. Nest. The eggs are either laid on the sand of the beach or in hollows in the drift seaweed lying on the wet salt marsh. Eggs, 2 to 5 ; average set, 3. Nesting dates. Earliest record, May 25, 1900, three eggs (Hill). Latest record, July 24, 1882, one egg (L. B. B.). In the fall migration this tern is occasionally common in the western part of the Sound. Mr. Hoyt reported them abundant at Stamford in August, 1894. L. B. B. saw them in West Haven as late as Sept. 20, 1889, and Sept. 27, 1901. Sterna paradisaea Brunnich. Arctic Tern. In 1876 Merriam recorded the Arctic Tern as " a rare visitor to our shores ". The only specific reference to its occurrence in Connecticut is from J. N. C. of Saybrook, who wrote : " I have an undoubted specimen in the fall plumage of the young, taken here last season — never captured a mature bird."1 Sterna dougalli Montagu. Roseate Tern. Formerly an abundant summer resident. At present, very rare. On Goose Island, about one mile from Faulkner's Island, a colony of several hundreds of these birds was carefully protected by Capt. O. N. Brooks, the keeper of the Faulkner Light, until he resigned in 1883. It is of this colony that Merriam writes: " They cover the rocks, almost hiding them from view. . . . The eggs were now hatching and thousands of downy young covered the island."2 This colony was visited by L. B. B. in the summer of 1881, 1882, and 1883, when many eggs were found and numerous birds seen, but in 1884 not a bird was to be seen and the ground was strewn with fresh or broken eggs. Practically the entire colony had been killed by a taxidermist soon after the birds had settled there for the summer. A few returned to the island the following year, when L. B. B. found one nest with two eggs and 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 133. 2 Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 133-4. 24 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. four with one egg each, but these terns are no longer common anywhere along the coast. The last record is a set of five eggs from Goose Island in 1888. According to Hill, a few still breed with the Common Terns on the different islands, though he has not identified any eggs as positively belonging to this species. The Roseate Tern was formerly common also in Stamford Harbor, though it is not found there now (Hoyt). Sterna antillarum (Lesson). Least Tern. Formerly common in certain localities along the coast. No recent records. J. N. C. reported them as quite abundant at Saybrook during migrations.1 (This was prior to 1876.) Linsley took it at Strat- ford.1 They were also formerly common at Stamford Harbor according to Hoyt, but never occur there at present. Sterna fuscata Linnaeus. Sooty Tern. The following records appear from Connecticut: 1876, Say- brook, picked up stunned by concussion with a wharf depot (in coll. of J. N. C.) ;2 Sept., 1876, two adults killed themselves by flying against the Faulkner Light (one in coll. of Capt. Brooks) ;2 summer, 1876, specimen killed with a stone by Mr. E. Coe, Stony Creek;2 Sept. 20, 1876, specimen taken at Granby;2 Sept. 16, 1878, a young male knocked down with an oar in Stamford Harbor (in coll. of Mr. Porter) ;3 Oct., 1891, one found dead in the woods at Torrington after a severe storm.* Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmelin). Black Tern. A rare visitor, usually late in August. Connecticut records. Aug. 25, 1891, Stamford, a young female (in coll. of Mr. Porter) ; Aug. 29, 1892, Little River Marshes, Middletown, four, one secured (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Aug. 24, 1893, Milford, two shot;5 Aug. 29, 1893, Quinnipiac Marshes, 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 134. aMerriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 134-5. * Auk, xii, i, p. 86. 4 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 289. 8 Forest & Stream, xli, p. 250. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 25 New Haven, a flock of between thirty and forty, probably driven from their course by a southeast gale (L. B. B.) ; fall, 1899 ( ?), Old Park Pond, Winsted,1 one seen ; Sept. 6, 1909, Hammonasset Marshes, Clinton, one young shot (C. K. Hooker, in coll. of L. B. B.). Dr. Merriam records it as a rare visitor, noting but two specimens, one taken near Goose Island by Capt. Brooks (about 1864), another shot late in August at Milford.2 Family RYNCHOPHXE. Skimmers. Rynchops nigra Linnaeus. Black Skimmer. One was taken near the Yale boat-house in New Haven Har- bor about June 16, 1883, and was identified, June 18, by L. B. B. Judge John N. Clark wrote J. H. S., Nov. 8, 1894: "A Black Skimmer was killed here (Saybrook) a few days ago." Order TUBINARES. Tube-nosed Swimmers. Family PRO CELL ART IDJE. Fulmars, Shearwaters, and Petrels. Subfamily FULMARINJE. Fulmars. Fulmarus glacialis glacialis (Linnaeus). Fulmar. A single bird of this species was shot by A. H. V. at the Thim- ble Islands, Stony Creek, Oct. 10, 1909, and brought to L. C. S. in the flesh. It is now in the collection of L. C. S. This is the only record for Connecticut, except the doubtful reference in Linsley's list, of which Merriam does not consider he had sufficient proof.3 Subfamily PUFFININ^:. Shearwaters and Petrels. Puffinus gravis (O'Reilly). Greater Shearwater. According to Merriam (1876), "not rare in winter off the coast, but generally keeps outside the Sound." Linsley recorded it as common about Stonington. Merriam further notes that " in the Museum of Wesleyan University at Middletown is the head of a bird of this species which is said to have been killed at Granby, Conn."4 ijob, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 290. 2 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 135. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 146. 4 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 136. 26 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Subfamily PROCELLARIIN.E. Storm Petrels. Oceanodroma leucorhoa (Vieillot). Leach's Petrel. Pelagic. Rarely seen within the limits of this state. Connecticut records. Oct. 27, 1857, one shot by Geo. Meigs on the Connecticut River above Hartford ;l Merriam also records (1876) that he himself has "twice seen it on the Sound in the vicinity of Faulkner's Island, and near New Haven;" Sept. 17, 1903, a female picked up in Middletown, driven inland by a terrific storm; Oct. 18, 1904, a specimen killed in Portland (both the latter in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct., 1904, one taken by Mr. James Truelove on Lake Wononscopomus, Lakeville (in coll. of L. B. B.). Mr. .Wm. Hansen reports seeing a mounted bird which was found dead in Torrington, Sept., I9O2.2 Subfamily OCEANITIN^E. Long-legged Storm Petrels. Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl). Wilson's Petrel. We have no specific records of this species. Merriam char- acterizes it as "not common; occurs off the coast in summer."3 Linsley says that he has seen this species " not only in our Sound, but even west of Stratford."3 Mr. Holt of Lyme told W. E. T. that this species " occasionally flies over land and is usually seen hovering over fern bushes " (J. H. S.). About a dozen petrels, almost certainly of this species, were seen in Long Island Sound not far from the mouth of New Haven Harbor, Aug. 5, 1911, by L. B. B. ; and to this species should prob- ably be referred three petrels seen by Mr. Edward Everit near Branford Beacon, June 20, 1909. Order STEGANOPODES. Totipalmate Swimmers. Family SULID^. Gannets. Sula leucogastra (Boddaert). Booby. The only record of this species in Connecticut is one taken at Guilford by Linsley.4 Merriam refers to it as " a rare and acci- dental visitor from the South." 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 135-6. 9 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 290. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 136. 4 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 130. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 27 Sula bassana (Linnaeus). Gannet. A very rare winter visitant. The following references are found in Merriam:1 Capt. Brooks of Faulkner's Island has seen two of this species, one of which " was killed at Guilford in the spring about ten years ago " (i. e., about 1866), and is now in his collection. Linsley took it at Stratford (now in Peabody Museum). Both these birds are in juvenile plumage. Mr. Robert Morris saw an adult specimen shot off Branford late in the fall of 1872 or 1873. Family PHALACROCORACID^E. Cormorants. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus). Cormorant. A very rare fall migrant on the Sound. Formerly a " tolerably common winter visitant." 2 Capt. Brooks wrote Merriam that they were plentiful in April and May, and were sometimes seen in the fall. Linsley took this species at Stonington. The only recent record is that of a young bird shot at Branford, Nov. 22, 1904. It is now in the collection of L. C. S. Phalacrocorax auritus auritus (Lesson). Double-crested Cormorant. A rare spring and fall migrant on the Sound, though appar- ently more common than P. carbo; very rare inland. Spring records. Linsley records a specimen from Stratford which is in nuptial plumage (in coll. of Bridgeport Hist. Soc.) ; May, 1876, Capt. Brooks saw " large flocks of them feeding about Faulkner's Island " ;* April 30, 1888, one taken at Branford by W. H. Gardner (now in Peabody Museum) ; June 8, 1892, three seen at the mouth of Connecticut River by J. H. S.; April 29, 1896, one from a flock of six taken at New Haven (seen in the flesh by L. B. B.) ; May 7, 1891, Guilford (H. W. R, now in coll. of Wm. Brewster) . Fall records. Oct. 29, 1875, one killed in Connecticut River at Portland (in coll. of W. W. C.) ; Oct., 1879, one shot at Bolton (in coll. of W. W.) ; Nov. 10, 1883, a small flock seen off Guilford 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 129. 3 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 130. 28 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. by L. B. B. ; Oct. 23, 1890, one adult seen at Little River Marshes, Middletown, by W. E. T. and S. R. ; Nov. 2, 1890, one seen at Hartford by W. E. T. ; Sept. 25, 1904, a flock seen on the beacon in Branford Harbor by G. E. V. ; Oct. 17, 1908, a young male shot at Double Beach, Branford, by C. R. Hooker (in coll. of L. B. B.). Summer record. July 18, 1906, Madison, two seen (A. A. S.). Inland records. Portland, Oct. 29, 1875 (see above) ; Bolton, Oct., 1879 (see above) ; Middletown, Oct. 23, 1890 (see above) ; Hartford, Nov. 2, 1890 (see above). Family PELECANID^. Pelicans. Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus. Brown Pelican. The only record of the Brown Pelican in Connecticut is that of an apparently uninjured specimen caught alive off Guilford Har- bor, June 6, 1902, by Mr. Levi Thrall, who reported that it seemed unable to fly far, so that he easily caught it by chasing it in a row- boat. L. B. B. saw it in the flesh. It is at present in the collection of L. C. S. Family FREGATIML Man-o'-war-birds. Fregata aquila (Linnaeus). Man-o' -war-bird. The only record of this species in Connecticut (noted both in the American Naturalist and in Merriam's Birds of Connecticut) ,* is that of Capt. Brooks, who killed a female on Faulkner's Island in the autumn of 1859, while it was hovering over the island. It is still in the collection of Capt. Brooks (L. B. B.). Order ANSERES. Lamellirostral Swimmers. Family ANATID^E. Ducks, Geese, and Swans. Subfamily MERGING. Mergansers. Mergus americanus Cassin. Merganser. A tolerably common winter resident from December to Feb- ruary, frequenting fresh-water lakes and inland waterways. Earliest record. (Coast) Clinton, Dec. 2, 1898; (Inland) Portland, Dec. 3, 1888. Latest record. (Coast) Stamford, Feb. 25, 1898; (Inland) Portland, April 23, 1904. (J. H. S. records this species at Port- land as late as April, in 1875, 1887, 1899, 1904, and 1909.) i Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 131. NO. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 2Q Unusual records. June 26, 1888, Portland (J. L. Goff) ; July 31, 1879, Portland (J. H. SO- IL K. J. reports the Merganser as a fairly common migrant and winter resident in Litchfield County between November and April.1 Mergus serrator Linnaeus. Red-breasted Merganser. A rather common winter resident on the Sound from Novem- ber to March ; occasional inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 21, 1882. Latest record. New Haven, April 4, 1895. Inland record. Portland, Nov. 9, 1884 (in coll. of W. W. C.). Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus). Hooded Merganser. A rare and irregular spring and fall migrant. Spring migration. Earliest record. Portland, March 6, 1876. Latest record. Portland, April I, 1899. Fall migration. Earliest record. Litchfield, Sept. 15, 1905 (L. S. W.). Latest record. Portland, Dec. 5, 1887. Several specimens of the Hooded Merganser have been shot in the Quinnipiac Marshes (North Haven) and in Lake Saltonstall (East Haven) ; viz., Jan. 9, 1883, one (L. C. S.) ; Oct., 1885, three young (L. C. S.) ; Nov. 14, 1904, two young (A. J. G.) ; March, 1904, one (A. J. GO ; March, 1904, several (Devine) ; March 20, 1907, two (Uhl) ; Nov. 11-13, 1908, seven (Haines, in coll. of L. B. BO- H. K. J. reports that Mr. C. H. Williams " saw a female with young in Winchester about fifteen years ago" (c. 1893).* Dr. William Wood of East Windsor Hill wrote in 1880: " It is not common here, yet some seasons I get half a dozen or more, and then several seasons may intervene before another is captured."2 There is a male of this species in the collection of J. M. W. shot on a pond in Canterbury late in October, i88o.3 Mr. J. Y. Stetson of New Haven has an adult male which he shot from a pair at Neversink Lake, Danbury, late in March, about 1885. % ijob, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 290. a O. and O., v, 12, p. 93. 3 O. and O., v, 10, p. 78. 3O CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Subfamily ANATIN^E. River Ducks. Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus. Mallard. Formerly a rare fall migrant on the coast, but much more com- mon in recent years ; occasionally a winter resident. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 25, 1904. Latest record. New Haven, Jan., 1897, and 1899 (L. C. S.) ; Clinton, March 27, 1889 (J. F. Parker). This species probably occurs regularly on the Quinnipiac Marshes and Lake Saltonstall (where L. B. B. and others have obtained many records), as well as along the Connecticut River. Merriam1 characterizes the Mallard as a " rare migrant." He notes their occurrence Sept. 30, Oct., and Nov. 13, 1875, and the observations of Grinnell in October and November, 1876. Mr. Hoyt states one was taken in Stamford in the fall of 1879. C. M. Jones of Eastford records2 a pair shot in Eastford, Oct. 30, 1882, adding that it " is the first time I have ever known of this species occurring here." The first records for New Haven were November 5, 1883, when L. B. B. reported three taken in the Quinnipiac Marshes, and Aug. 4, 1886, when E. L. Munson3 took an adult male at the same locality. However, since that time the Mallards have been increasing, so that recent records are quite numerous for this species in Connecticut. Judge Clark reported an unusual flight at Saybrook in the winter of 1901-2, saying he had seen more that winter than in the rest of his life. Anas rubripes Brewster. Black Duck. A common fall and tolerably common spring migrant and winter resident ; rare summer resident. Spring migration. Earliest record, Portland, March 10, 1878. Latest record, New Haven, June 27, 1884; Portland, May n, 1908. Fall migration. Earliest record, New Haven, Sept. 16, 1904; Portland, Sept. 14, 1877. Latest record, Portland, Nov. 8, 1892. Winter records. Portland, Dec. 9, 1896, Jan. 2, 1906. Win- ters at New Haven. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 123. 3O. and O., viii, 4, p. 32. *O. and O., xii, g, p. 156. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 31 Nest. Eggs laid on bank of a stream, in a meadow, or in a thicket, some distance from the water. Eggs. Usually 9 (n). Breeding records. May 12, 1898, nine eggs, and June 8, 1899, nine eggs, New London (Hill) ; May 20, 1901, eleven eggs, Kent (H. K. J.) ; April 22, 1904, five eggs, incomplete, Kent (Austin). At Saybrook Judge Clark found two nests of this duck. Fall migrants reached Litchfield on Sept. 7, 1905 (E. S. W.). Chaulelasmus streperus (Linnaeus). Gadwall. Very rare. Merriam1 states that it occurs during migrations, though not common (1876). At that time Capt. Brooks wrote Merriam that these birds were " occasionally seen " about Faulkner's Island. Linsley wrote that " flocks of the Gray Duck were here as early as August last season" (1842). One was shot at East Hartford, Nov. 5, 1883 (W. E. T.). The only recent records are those of H. K. J., who heard of two being shot at Twin Lakes about the middle of November, I907,2 and states that Mr. W. A. Miles has killed others there; and the two young males taken on the Quinnipiac Marshes (North Haven), Oct. 12, 1912, by A. and W. Ganung (in coll. of L. B. B.). Mareca americana (Gmelin). Baldpate. A rare winter resident on the Sound from October to March. Earliest record. Quinnipiac Marshes, New Haven, Oct. n, 1909 (A. Ganung). Latest record. Clinton, March 27, 1899 (J. F. Parker). Inland records. Hamden, Oct. 16, 1880 (Woolsey, in coll. of Peabody Museum) ; Middletown, fall, 1882, five out of a flock of seven killed by J. Taylor (J. H. S.) ; Portland, April, 1883, a male shot (J. H. S.) ; Portland, Oct. 23, 1888, a female shot by J. L. Goff (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Bantam Lake, Litchfield, one shot Oct. 20, 1904, and another, Oct. 20, 1905, by H. Sanford (E. S. W.). 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 124. 3 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 291. 32 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Besides these records a number of birds have been taken at Lake Saltonstall and in the Quinnipiac Marshes, the majority of which are in the collections of L. C. S. and L. B. B., in addition to a few birds taken at Branford, Clinton, and Stony Creek. Merriam1 mentions this species as " not particularly rare dur- ing the migrations." It was taken by Linsley at Stratford, and one by Dr. Wood at East Windsor Hill. Nettion crecca (Linnaeus). European Teal. Very rare in North America. The only Connecticut reference is furnished by W. E. T. of East Hartford, who received from a resident gunner a fine adult male, shot Nov. 14, 1889, while flying with another, apparently of the same species, over an open field. It is now in the collection of J. H. S.2 Nettion carolinense (Gmelin). Green-winged Teal. A tolerably common fall and rare spring migrant, and a rare winter resident. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 3, 1886; Portland, Sept. 27, 1903; Litchfield, Sept. 8, 1906 (E. S. W.). Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 16, 1883; Portland, Nov. 27, 1896. Spring records. April 8, 1874, and April 6, 1887, Portland (J. H. S.) ; March 21, 1896, Stony Creek (E. M. Cooper, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; March 8, 1899, Clinton (J. F. Parker, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; " Have seen it in March " (Merriam).1 Winter record. Jan. 14, 1902, one taken in Branford Harbor by Mr. J. Lanfear (in coll. of L. C. S.). Querquedula discors (Linnaeus). Blue- winged Teal. A tolerably common fall and rare spring migrant. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. i, 1886; Portland, Sept. 8, 1897. Latest record. New Haven, Sept. 20, 1896; Portland, Oct. 17, 1874. Spring records. April 14, 1896, Quinnipiac Marshes (A. R. Andrews, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; April 9, 1902, Portland; April 27, 1905, West Haven (W. L. Ganung, in coll. of L. B. B.). i Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 124. aW. E. Treat, Auk, viii, i, p. 112. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 33 Unusual record. July 26, 1890, Quinnipiac Marshes, seen by Prof. C. C. Trowbridge and L. C. S. Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). Shoveller. A very rare migrant along the coast. Connecticut records. March 20, 1854, two full-plumaged males taken at Lyme by Horace Champion (formerly in coll. of J. C. Comstock) (J. H. S.) ; Dec. 8, 1874, specimen shot by Mr. Pease at Saybrook (in coll. of W. W. C.) ; Oct. 8, 1875, two or three, near Milford (Grinnell) j1 Oct. 29, 1886, four taken in West Haven (formerly in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Nov. 27-30, 1893, a flock frequented the Quinnipiac Marshes (A. R. Andrews and E. Mitchell) ; Oct., 1894, one taken in Stamford (in coll. of Hoyt). Linsley obtained two males at Stratford1 (in Linsley Coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.) ; has been taken at Twin Lakes (Miles).2 Dafila acuta (Linnaeus). Pintail. A rare straggler in the fall. Coast records. Quinnipiac Marshes, one, Sept. 26, 1883 (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; flock of seven, Sept. 28, 1907 (J. Y. Stetson) ; two, Oct. 23, 1909 (A. Ganung, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; West Haven, Oct. 13, 1906, seven seen (A. Ganung, one in coll. of L. B. B.) ; one, Oct. 22, 1906 (E. S. W.) ; Stratford, Nov. 10, 1889 (in coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.) ; Stamford, about 1890 (Schaler) ; Stratford, (Linsley);3 Saybrook (J. N. C.), not particularly rare, (i876).3 Inland records. East Windsor Hill, two (in coll. of Dr. Wood, 1876) ;3 Portland, Oct. 9, 1890, a young male killed (Parkinson, in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Middletown, Oct. 12, 1891, four seen, one shot (W. E. T. and S. R., in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 18, 1893, four seen by same; Essex, Jan. 22, 1894, fifteen seen, two shot (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Torrington, Oct. 25, 1907, one shot (Hanson) ;2 Twin Lakes (Miles).2 Aix sponsa (Linnaeus). Wood Duck. A summer resident, breeding throughout the state but becom- ing more rare each year. iMerriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 124-5. 9 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 291. 8 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 123. 3 34 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Earliest record. New Haven, March 21, 1884; Portland, March 20, 1879. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 17, 1883 ; Portland, Dec. 3, 1888. Nest. Usually located in a hollow tree at a height of from eight to thirty feet from the ground. Eggs. Nine or ten ; the last of May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 14, 1900 (H. K. J.). Latest record. July 2, 1904 (J. C. A. M.). Breeding records, c. May 28, 1875, Portland, nest with 14 e£gs (J- H. S.) ; May 24, 1885, Hamden, nest with 9 eggs (R. Morley) ; June 18, 1891, Chester, a set of 10 eggs (Watrous, in coll. of H. W. F.) ; May 14, 1900, Kent, 10 eggs in a hay-loft of an old barn (H. K. J.) ; May, 1901, East Lyme, nest with 9 eggs (Way) ; July 2, 1904, Litchfield, nest with 10 eggs (J. C. A. M.). Subfamily FULIGULIN^E. Sea Ducks. Marila americana (Eyton). Redhead. A very rare bird until recent years, when it seems to have occurred quite regularly as a winter visitant. Merriam1 refers to this bird as " rare," noting that it has been taken at Westbrook (prior to 1876). Linsley took it at Stratford. At Stamford it has been seen frequently in the Sound, and one was taken in the winter of 1886 (W. H. H.). The next record is that of Mr. Holt of Saybrook, who says he shot twenty-eight in 1889, while he later records two or three flocks there, Oct. 19, 1893. Four were taken at Lake Saltonstall, Dec. 20, 1897, by A. J. G., and one at Stratford, Dec., 1897, by J. Locke. However, since 1902, the species has become more common, and we have records from Branford, Dec., 1901, Jan. 6, Nov. 15, 1902, March, 1904 (L. C. S.), and Jan. i, 1901 (Locke) ; Lake Saltonstall, East Haven, Oct. 25, 1902, Dec. 22, 1903 (A. J. G.), April 3, 1907 (A. A. S.) ; West Haven, April 2, 1910 (H. K. J.) ; Litchfield, Nov. 3, 6, 1905 (H. Sanford) ; Portland, Oct. 29, 1903, Oct. 16, 1906, Nov. 26, 1907, Nov. 26, 1909 (J. H. S.). Marila valisineria (Wilson). Canvas -back. A very rare accidental winter visitor. » Merriam, Birds cf Conn., p. 125. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 35 Connecticut records. 1876, Merriam1 records this species as " rare " ; May 7, 1876, one seen by R. Morris in New Haven ( ?) f J. H. Hand reports it " very rare " at Westbrook, 1876 ;* Linsley took it at Stratford j1 March 20, 1887, a flock re- ported seen at Lake Saltonstall by Mr. Folsom; 1889, two reported killed at Saybrook by Mr. Jas. Holt; fall, 1894, one reported taken at Stony Creek by E. M. Cooper ( ?) ; Nov., 1896, one shot from a flock at Twin Lakes by W. A. Miles;2 Jan., 1902, two males taken at Lake Saltonstall by A. J. G. (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; April i, 1904, one male taken at North Branford (in coll. of L. C. S.). Marila marila (Linnaeus). Scaup Duck. A common winter resident on the Sound, most abundant in November and March. Rare inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 5, 1886. Latest record. New Haven, May 23, 1902. Inland records. Portland, Oct. n, 1888, a young male shot in Connecticut River by J. L. Goff (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Port- land, Dec. 14, 1888, a female shot by Goff; Litchfield, Nov. 3, 1905, one shot by H. Sanford (E. S. W.). Unusual date. July 21, 1882, one " pensioner " taken at Stony Creek by L. C. S. Marila affinis (Eyton). Lesser Scaup Duck. A tolerably common winter resident on the Sound, associat- ing with M. marila, and most frequently taken in November and March. Less common inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 20, 1902. Latest record. Unusual date. July 14, 1904, Quinnipiac Marshes, New Haven, a non-breeding adult male in worn plumage taken by L. B. B. New Haven, March 26, 1895. Inland records. East Hartford, April 26, 1889, Oct. 8, 1888 (W. E. T.) ; Middletown, Little River Marshes, one seen Oct. 23, 1890, by W. E. T. and S. R., a female seen there also by J. H. S., June 10, 1905, and a male, June 17, 1905 ; Portland, Job's Pond, one shot July 9, 1895 (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Litchfield, Oct. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 126. 2 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 292. 36 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 19, 1907, one shot (E. S. W.) ; one killed in the vicinity of East Windsor Hill by Dr. Wm. Wood (no date given).1 Marila collaris (Donovan). Ring-necked Duck. A rare accidental winter visitor. Connecticut records. Merriam1 records that Linsley took it at Stratford, and also that " G. B. Grinnell has secured several specimens in the vicinity of Milford "; April 10, 1883, East Hart- ford, adult male shot (W. E. T.) ; Dec. 19, 1885, New Haven, adult male secured by C. R. Hooker (formerly in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Oct. 26, 1887, Little River Marshes, Middletown, female shot by Dr. A. K. Fisher in company with J. H. S. (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 3, 1889, East Hartford, female shot (W. E. T.) ; April 9, 1895, Quinnipiac Marshes, New Haven, adult male taken by R. G. Van Name (in coll. of H. W. F.) ; Jan. 7, 1898, Lake Saltonstall, young male taken by A. J. G. (in coll. of L. B. B.). Clangula clangula americana Bonaparte. Golden-eye. A tolerably common winter resident, especially along the coast, from December to March. Earliest record. New Haven, Nov. 19, 1904, Nov. 17, 1905 (E. S. W.); Portland, Oct. 29, 1898; Litchfield, Oct. 30, 1905 (E. S. W.). Latest record. New Haven, March 30, 1882, April 12, 1907 (A. A. S.) ; Portland, April 20, 1888. Clangula islandica (Gmelin). Barrow's Golden-eye. The only records for this state are: (i) that of A. J. G., who is well acquainted with the American Golden-eye, and who is positive that he took two males of this species at Lake Salton- stall, East Haven, Dec. 25, 1883 (unfortunately these birds were not preserved) ; (2), a typical male adult specimen in the col- lection of J. H. S., which was purchased by him in the flesh, Nov. 14, 1867, from a man who said it was killed in the Sound, and whose statement there seems to be no reason for doubting.2 Charitonetta albeola (Linnaeus). Buffle-head. Formerly an abundant winter resident on the Sound and tidal i Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 125. 9 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 126. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 37 creeks from December to February; also formerly common in- land, especially during March. Now not more than tolerably common. Earliest record. New Haven, Nov. 26, 1884, Nov. 2, 1888 (L. B. W.) ; Portland, Oct. 25, 1890; Bantam Lake, Litchfield, Oct. 23, 1905 (E. S. W.) ; H. Sanford reports them on same date from same locality.1 Latest record. New Haven, Feb. 13, 1894, April 10, 1882 (A. H. Baldwin) ; Portland, April 26, 1887. Unusual record. July 14, 1858, Lyme, female taken by R. Champion reported in MS. Journal of Jno. C. Comstock (J.H. S.). Harelda hyemalis (Linnaeus). Old-squaw. An abundant winter resident on the Sound from November to April. Less common, if not rather rare, inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 24, 1895. Latest record. New Haven, May 21, 1888. Inland records. Portland, Nov. 6, 1888, Oct. 15, 1890, March 23, 1894, Oct. 18, 1897, Oct. 14, 1905 ; Litchfield, Oct. 19, 1907, one taken (E. S. W.). ' Summer records. June 17, 1896, an adult male in nuptial dress, prevented from going north by an old fracture of the wing, taken at New Haven by A. R. Andrews (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Woodmont, Aug. 2-4, 1906, three seen (A. A. S.). Breeding record. A pair with young was seen near Little Gull Island at the eastern end of the Sound in the summer of 1886 by L. C. S. Mr. Grinnell in Merriam's Birds of Connecti- cut2 notes that they occasionally breed here, though probably these are " pensioners." Histrionicus histrionicus (Linnaeus.) Harlequin Duck. The only record for this state appears in Job, The Sport of Bird Study : "Mr. Williams examined a male (Histrionicus histrionicus) in full plumage shot by Matthew Parsons on Old Park Lake, Winsted, in October, seven or eight years ago "* (1900 or 1901). Camptorhynchus labradorius (Gmelin). Labrador Duck i Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 292. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 127. 3^ CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. The only references to this species appear in a paragraph in Merriam : " A very rare winter visitor. Linsley took it at Strat- ford, Conn. Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, says that this species was 'sent from Connecticut to Mrs. Blackburn in England.' Arctic Zoology, vol. ii, p. 559, 1785. "x Somateria dresseri Sharpe. Eider. Connecticut records. Linsley states that one or two Eider Ducks were killed at Stratford by Mr. Lucius Curtis.1 Grinnell informed Merriam that he had seen a specimen killed on the Sound near Milford, May 29, 1877, and that two, probably of this species, were shot there in the fall of I874.1 Branford, Dec. 2, 1879, two shot, one in coll. of Dr. Fred. Sumner Smith of Ches- ter (J. H. S.). Mr. Alanson Ganung shot a young male, Dec. 20, 1909, off West Haven. It is now in the collection of L. B. B. This is the only recent record for this state. Somateria spectabilis (Linnaeus). King Eider. A rare winter straggler in the Sound. Connecticut records. Nov. 4, 1883, an adult female taken near Milford by E. L. Munson2 (now in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Nov. 17, 1886, one shot at Portland (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 22, 1890, a female found in the bag of some sportsmen at Stony Creek by A. E. V. (now in Peabody Museum) ; Nov. n, 1893, one received by J. H. S. from Mr. Henry Noyes of Lyme; Nov., 1900, a female taken near New Haven (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; winter, 1902-3, a female taken in New Haven Harbor by A. Ganung; Nov. 14, 1904, an adult male positively identified at Branford by L. C. S. ; Oct. 26, male, Nov. 14, 1907, female, taken at Stratford (in coll. of L. B. B.)* Nov. 2, 1908, two young shot at Stratford; Nov. 4, 1908, a young male shot at New Haven by W. Ganung (in coll. of L. B. B.). Linsley also records obtain- ing two specimens at Stratford. C. L. Rawson states that a stuffed specimen is in Noank, shot off Groton Long Point in the winter of i884.3 Oidemia americana Swainson. Scoter. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 127. 8 O. and O., xii, 9, p. 156. •0. and O., x, 5, p. 74. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 39 A rare fall migrant on the Sound ; very rare along the inland waterways. Coast records. Linsley records it from Stratford, and Mer- riam1 calls it a " tolerably common winter resident," having seen it as early as Oct. 4, 1876. Oct., 1879, New Haven- Harbor, one female collected by Dr. G. Woolsey (in Peabody Museum) ; April 23, 1889, Stony Creek, one seen (J. H. S.) ; Oct., 1900, Branford, male taken by L. C. S. (in coll of L. B. B.) ; Oct. 22, 1902, Branford, male taken by L. C, S. ; Oct. 24, 1906, Stony Creek, young bird shot by A. H. V. (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Oct. 4, 1909, West Haven, two males taken by A. Ganung (in coll. of L. B. B.). Inland records. Oct. 9, 1888, Portland, seventeen of a flock of thirty shot by J. L. Goff (seven in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 21, 1890, Portland, flock of twenty-five seen (five in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 2, 1893, Portland, one seen by W. E. T.; Oct. 16, 1899, Middletown, two shot (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 19, 1900, Port- land, two shot. Spring record. April 23, 1889, Stony Creek, one seen by J. H. S. Oidemia deglandi Bonaparte. White-winged Scoter. A common winter resident on the Sound, especially abundant in October and November, March and April. Not usually com- mon inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 13, 1883; Portland, Oct. 4, 1895. Latest record. New Haven, May 21, 1888; Sachem's Head, June 8, 1892 (J. H. S.). Inland records. Oct. 19, 1881, Eastford, female shot (in coll. of C. M. Jones) ;2 Oct. 4, 1895, Portland, about seventy-five seen in Connecticut River by S. R. ; Oct. 12, 1895, Portland, adult male shot in Connecticut River (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. 1 6, 1900, Portland, one killed by C. E. Lincoln; Oct. 20, 30, Nov. 3, 6, 1905, Oct. n, 28, 1907, common at Bantam Lake, Litchfield (E. S. W.). Unusual record. Aug. 30, 1906, Pine Orchard (A. A. S.). Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 127. O. and O., viii, 4, p. 32. 4O CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Oidemia perspicillata (Linnaeus). Surf Scoter. A common winter resident on the Sound, though not as com- mon as O. deglandi, except in November. Rare inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 13, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, April 19, 1904; Stony Creek, April 23, 1889 (J. H. S.). Inland record. Oct. 15, 1890, female shot at Portland by J. L. Goff (in coll. of J. H. S.). Merriam1 records one on the Sound as late as June 29, 1877. Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmelin). Ruddy Duck. Formerly a fairly common fall migrant on the Sound and larger lakes; now rare. Very rare in the spring. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 24, 1885 ; Oct. 14, 1908 (P. B. Haines). Latest record. New Haven, Nov. i, 1882; Portland, Nov. 12, 1889; Litchfield, Dec. i, 1906 (E. S. W.). Spring records. March 19, 1889, East Hartford, five seen (W. E. T.) ; June 5, 1893, Portland, three of a flock of five killed in Connecticut River (in coll. of J. H. S.). Recent records. Since 1896 we have the following records only: Oct. 25, 1904, North Haven, a young female taken by Mrs. L. A. Farnham (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; E. S. W. reported them common on Bantam Lake, Litchfield, from Oct. 9 to Nov. u, 1905, also Nov. 24, 1906, and Oct. 11-28, 1907; E. S. W. shot one, Dec. i, 1906; Oct. 14, 1908, a young male shot at North Haven by P. B. Haines (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; April 13, 1906, Lake Saltonstall (A. A. S.) ; Oct. 5, 1907, Lake Burton (A. A. S.). Subfamily ANSERINE. Geese. Chen hyperboreus nivalis (J. R. Forster). Greater Snow Goose. An extremely rare winter visitor. Connecticut records. Linsley records seven specimens of Snow Geese from Stratford ; Merriam2 reports a specimen in the possession of W. W. C, which had been killed near Saybrook in i Men-Jam, Birds of Conn., p. 128. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 121. NO. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 41 the fall of 1875 ; E. H. Austin informs us that three Snow Geese, undoubtedly of this species, spent the winter of 1868-9 at Strat- ford; Nov. 20, 1884, Portland, one adult male taken (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Feb. 3, 1893, L. H. Porter purchased two adults and two young in Fulton Market, New York City, where they had been sent a few days before from Stratford. On the death of Dr. W. H. Hotchkiss of New Haven in 1907, there was found among his effects the head of an adult male of this species, mounted. Dr. H. had previously informed L. B. B. that all of his collection had been taken in Connecticut about 1878, so that this Snow Goose was in all probability killed in this state. Branta canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus). Canada Goose. A common late fall and early spring migrant. Winters rarely. Fall migration. Average, Oct. 15 — Dec. 15. Earliest rec- ord. New Haven, Sept. n, 1883; Portland, Oct. 13, 1886. Latest record. New Haven, Dec. 28, 1909 (Merrill) ; Port- land, Dec. 15, 1891. Spring migration. Average, March 15 — April 25. Earliest record. New Haven, March 20, 1888; Portland, Feb. 17, 1891. Latest record. New Haven, April 25, 1889 (L. B. W.), April 25, 1909 (J. Lamb) ; Portland, May 30, 1885. Winter records. Merriam records1 that Grinnell told him that over two hundred remained about the mouth of the Housatonic River during the winter of 1876-7. In January, 1904, a New Haven daily paper reported that a flock was wintering along the shore of the Sound east of Stonington. W. W. Coe2 saw one shot in the Middlefield reservoir, Jan. 4, 1883. Three were shot from a flock of six at Clinton, Dec. 28, 1909, by C. A. Merrell (one in coll. of L. B. B.). Branta canadensis hutchinsi (Richardson) . Hutchins' Goose. Very rare. Linsley records it from Stratford. G. B. Grinnell1 says it is recognized by the gunners about Milford (1877). E. H. Austin informs us that this species used to occur in small numbers at Stratford, and that he remembers seeing three, May 23, in the 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 122. 9O. and O., viii, 3, p. 24. 42 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. sixties, in the possession of a gunner at Milford Point. He also reports one shot in South Kent a few years ago (about 1900). Branta bernicla glaucogastra (Brehm). Brant. A rare straggler on the Sound in the fall and winter. Linsley recorded the Brant as " common " in Stratford in the winter. Merriam1 gives the following records: spring, 1877, Stratford Light, two killed (Grinnell) ; April 14, 1876, mouth of East Haven River, three seen (Osborne) ; spring, 1876, Con- necticut River above Hartford, one shot (Dr. Wood). The following recent records appear: 1893-4-5, a large num- ber wintered off Stamford (Porter) ; Dec. 21, 1895, Stony Creek, a male taken by E. M. Cooper (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Feb. 21, 1903, Stratford, two males and one female shot by G. Greenway (in coll. of L. C. S. and L. B. B.). Subfamily CYGNIN^E. Swans. Olor columbianus (Ord). Whistling Swan. The only records for Connecticut are as follows: Linsley mentions four specimens, two of which were killed, at Stratford; Merriam2 records that two Swans were seen in Branford Harbor during a severe gale about the middle of March, 1876 (Beers), and several were seen at the same time near Milford (Grinnell) ; a young bird was shot off Grass Island, Guilford Harbor, by Mr. Reuben Hill, Nov. 2 or 3, 1893, and mounted by Capt. Brooks3 (now in the possession of Mr. Norton of Guilford) ; an adult taken in Fairfield is in the Linsley collection of the Bpt. Sci. Soc. Order HERODIONES. Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc. Suborder IBIDES. Spoonbills and Ibises. Family IBIDID^. Ibises. Guara alba (Linnaeus). White Ibis. The only record for New England is one reported by Merriam4 as seen by G. B. Grinnell, who wrote: " Late in the afternoon of May 23 (1875), I observed near Milford, Conn., a specimen of Ibis alba. I recognized the bird as it flew over me, and following it to a small pond, where it went down, discovered it perched upon 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 121. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 120. 8 Reported by L. B. B., Auk, xi, i, p. 74. * Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. no. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 43 a tree over the water. I carefully examined it with a good glass, at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards, and by this means was enabled to note every detail of form and color. It was in full plumage, the white being pure, and the naked skin about the head bright red. After watching it for a few moments I tried to approach it, but before I came within gunshot it flew, uttering a hoarse cackle as it went off." Plegadis autumnalis (Linnaeus). Glossy Ibis. Linsley obtained five specimens at Stratford.1 The only other record is that of Dr. J. Barratt2 of Middletown, who wrote in the Middletown Sentinel and Witness for May 21, 1850, that " One of these rare birds (Ibis falcinella) was shot in Middletown on the banks of the Connecticut, May 9th, time of high flood. It has been carefully preserved and is now in the cabinet of Dr. J. Barratt." He adds, " The Ibis falcinella is very rarely seen in the United States. This is the first that has come to our notice on the Connecticut, and has not been known in this country many years." Since this article appeared, the specimen has been presented to the Wesleyan University Museum, Middle- town, and is in good condition. • On page 92 in the copy of Nuttall's Manual (Water Birds) owned by Dr. Barratt, is the following marginal note in his hand- writing: "My specimen, 28 inches, May, 1850. J. Barratt." (J. H. S.). Suborder HERODII. Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, etc. Family ARDEIDyE. Herons, Bitterns, etc. Subfamily BOTAURIN^E. Bitterns. Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu). Bittern. A common fall and less common spring migrant; rare sum- mer resident. Most common during September and October, and April. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 27, 1895 ; Portland, Sept. 14, 1892. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 2, 1903; Portland, Oct. 24, 1890. iMerriam, Birds of Conn., p. no. 3 This specimen is also recorded in Merriam, p. no, and by J. H. S. in the Auk, iv, 3, pp. 253-4. 44 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, April 20, 1887; Portland, April 8, 1887; Columbia, March 26, 1894 (W. E. T.). Latest record. New Haven, May 4, 1898; Portland, May 21, 1907. Summer records. June 9, 1892, Portland (J. H. S.) ; June 24, 1893, June 21, 1894, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven (A. H. V. and L. B. B.) ; June 20, 1904, Salisbury (J. H. S. and L. B. B.) ; May 30, June n, 15, 1891, June 30, 1905 (E. S. W.), July 3, 1895, Litchfield (L. B. W.) ; July 23, 1910, Portland (J. H. S.). Winter record. Dec. 29, 1904, Stamford, a male in perfect condition taken (in coll. of Hoyt). Nesting records. June, Portland, eggs taken (J. H. S.) ; June 27, 1907, Litchfield, four young in nest (E. S. W.). Ixobrychus exilis (Gmelin). Least Bittern. A rather rare summer resident of the marshes along the coast, occasional inland. Formerly common. Earliest record. May 29, 1875, Portland. Latest record. Sept. 22, 1902, New Haven. Nest. Usually a mere hollow of rushes fastened to the flags of a grass-grown marsh. Eggs. 4-5 ; middle of June. „ Nesting dates. Earliest record. June 8, 1898, five eggs (Hill). Latest record. June 27, 1876, one egg (Nichols). Merriam1 notes this species as a pretty regular summer resi- dent, having been particularly abundant throughout the state dur- ing the season of 1875. At that same time W. W. C. informed Merriam that they bred regularly in the vicinity of Portland. Of recent years the Least Bittern has become relatively scarce. Recent records: May, about 1896, Winchester, pair seen (Williams) ;2 May, 1904, New Haven (A. A. S.) ; June 23, 1904, Stratford, a breeding pair taken by E. Perry, Jr. ; June 18, 1907, Portland (J. H. S.) ; June 19, 1909, Morris Cove, New Haven, nest with four eggs (A. A. S.) ; Sept. 13, 1909, Goodspeed's Land- ing, bird taken (C. R. H.) ; June 15, 1910, New Haven, deserted nest with one egg (H. K. J.) ; July 23, 1910, Portland (J. H. S.). 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 113. "Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 293. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 45 Subfamily ARDEIN.E. Herons and Egrets. Ardea herodias herodias Linnaeus. Great Blue Heron. A tolerably common spring and fall migrant. Very rare sum- mer resident. Spring migration. Average, April 1-20. Earliest record. New Haven, March 22, 1902 ; Portland, April 3, 1896. Latest record. New Haven, April 29, 1884, and 1890, May 16, 1907 (A. A. S.) ; Portland, May n, 1875. Fall migation. Average, Aug. 20 — Oct. 20. Earliest record. New Haven, July 14, 1893 ; Portland, Aug. 2, 1880. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 16, 1904; Portland, Nov. 25, 1892; coast, Nov. 26, 1875 (Merriam).1 Summer records. June 2, 1877, New Haven (W. P. Nichols) ;* May 15, 1897, May 21, 1898, New Haven (L. B. B.) ; June 7, 1897, May 13, 18, June 3, 1905, Litchfield (E. S. W.). E. S. W. says this species is often seen in the summer at Bantam Lake, Litchfield. Nest found in Winchester about 1900 by Wil- liams (Job).2 Herodias egretta (Gmelin). Egret. An irregular transient visitor in late summer. Connecticut records. Prior to 1877, a specimen was shot near Middletown (in Museum of Wesleyan University) ;3 Grinnell reported seeing it on the marshes near Milford in September;3 Dr. Wood reported one near East Windsor Hill " several years ago " (i. e., before 1877) ;3 a pair, seen at Lake Saltonstall, July, 1876, and later not less than seven (F. S. Smith) ;3 Aug. 2, 1878, and Aug. n, 1882, specimens shot by J. R. Chalker near Say- brook (latter in coll. of J. H. S.) ;4 April I, 1883, Stamford, adult in full nuptial plumage taken (Schaler) ; Aug. 14, 1883, Hart- ford (W. E. T.) ;5 1883, East Haven (L. T. Hotchkiss, in Pea- body Museum) ; July 29, 1897, July 30, 1898, Aug. 8, 1898, Stam- ford, young taken (Schaler) ; Aug. 19, 1897, Clinton, one shot; Aug., 1897, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, one seen (Robert- i Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. no. a Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 293. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. in. * O. and O., vii, 24, p. 189; viii, i, p. 4. • Auk, iv, i, p. 78. 46 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. son) ; Aug., 1899, flock of a hundred seen near East Haven marshes, a number roosting nightly at Branford (Nichols) ; July 28, 1899, Kent, one taken by Hall (in coll. of H. K. J.) j1 July 25, 1906, Canaan, one shot (in coll. of Pease) ;x Aug., 1911, near Greenwich, one seen (P. G. Howes);2 Aug. 15-30, 1911, West Haven, two seen (J. Hitchcock). Egretta candidissima candidissima (Gmelin). Snowy Egret. Merriam3 characterizes this species as " a rare accidental visi- tor from the South." He further states that Linsley saw it at Stratford and that Dr. Crary has taken it at Hartford (prior to 1877). C. L. R. of Norwich writes in O. and O. :4 " In early Octo- ber I have seen eleven Snowy Herons at the point (Groton Long Point) at once, at another time nine, and smaller groups in other seasons." Mr. Jno. C. Comstock, in his journal kept at Lyme, records five specimens seen July 28, 1853, and thirteen Aug. 16, 1853 (J- H. S.). Florida caerulea (Linnseus). Little Blue Heron. A rare straggler from the South. Merriam3 gives the following records: Linsley took it at Stratford; April, 1877, one seen in Lake Whitney (doubtful record); May (1876?), Suffield, one shot (doubtful record). Other records: July 28, 1875, Wethersfield, two seen, a young male killed by Mr. Ransom T. Hewitt (in coll. of W. W. C., and recorded in part by Merriam) ; Aug. 12, 1881, Saybrook, a specimen in immature plumage obtained from a flock of about six (J. N. C.) f summer, 1895, one taken near New Haven and mounted by a local taxidermist; Aug. 4, 1897, Niantic, one taken (P. J. McCook) ; July»2i — Aug. 5, 1899, Lyme, seven seen, two taken (A. W. Brockway) ;6 Sept. 15, 1899, Stratford, one young in a flock of three taken (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; April 27, 1900, Portland, female in adult plumage shot by Hurlburt ( in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Aug. 2, 1901, Guilford, young shot (in coll. of L. B. 1 H. K. Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 294. ^Oologist, xxviii, 9, p. 152. 3 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. in. * O. and O., xvi, 4, p. 59. 6 O. and O., vi, 7, p. 51. Auk, xvi, 4, p. 152. No. 2O.] . THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 47 B.) ; July 22 — Aug. 18, and Sept. 7, 1904, Niantic, one to ten seen (McCook).1 Butorides virescens virescens (Linnaeus). Green Heron. A common summer resident throughout the state, arriving early in May, and the majority leaving early in September. Earliest record. New Haven, April 27, 1886; Portland, April 24, 1902. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 2, 1902, Oct. 15, 1898 (E. S. W.) ; Portland, Oct. I, 1894; Guilford, Oct. 22, 1909 (H. E. Watrous). Nest. In a cedar, hemlock, or white birch, as a rule, and at a height of from 8 to 30 feet from the ground. Frequently in a small colony, but often alone. Eggs. 4 or 5, usually 5 ; the last of May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May n, 1906, five eggs (E. S. W.). Latest record. July 8, 1882, five young (L. B. B.). Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Boddaert). Black-crowned Night Heron. A summer resident from May to October. Earliest record. New Haven, April 3, 1888; Portland, April 28, 1905. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 17, 1900; Portland, Nov. 12, 1902. Nest. Usually high in the top of a pine or hemlock and in colonies. Eggs. 3-5 ; the latter part of May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 4, 1902, five eggs (Beers). Latest record. June 20, 1886, two eggs. (Eames). Colonies. Rocky Hill, 1872, hundreds reported breeding in a heronry;2 Lake Whitney, prior to 1881, a colony in Heron Swamp — again occupied by many pairs in 1904 and later (Bennett) ; near Norwalk, 1903, twenty to twenty-five pairs breeding in a heronry (Canfield and Watrous), numbers greatly increased in 1904 (Perry) ; Wood3 reported a rookery where lAuk, xxii, i, p. 77. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 112. 1 Samuels, Birds of New England, p. 410. 48 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. " thousands " bred, fourteen miles from East Windsor, now prac- tically abandoned (J. H. S.). Unusual record. Feb. 9, 10, and n, 1880, a specimen flushed in the open spaces of water on the Thames River, Norwich, by C. L. R.1 Albino. Summer of 1894, Stamford, young bird, creamy white with markings of pale russet and ecru-drab (W. H. Hoyt, in coll. of L. B. B.). Order PALUDICOL^E. Cranes, Rails, etc. Suborder RALLI. Rails, Gallinules, Coots, etc. Family RALLIDyE. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots. Subfamily RALLIN.E. Rails. Rallus elegans Audubon. King Rail. Rare. Linsley found it breeding at Stratford; Merriam2 reports a specimen in the possession of J. N. C., taken at Saybrook, Jan. 14, 1876; Sept. 17, 1879, Portland, female killed (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; c.' 1882-5, specimens shot at Glastonbury, Wethersfield, and East Haddam (reported by Sperry to L. B. B.) ; Sept. 23, 1892, Middletown(W.E.T.) ; Sept. 1,1895, Little River Marshes, Middletown, male taken (in coll. of C. H. N.) ; Sept. 5, 1901, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, young male taken (G. V. Smith, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Sept. 26, 1905, same location, young female (Sperry, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; April 22, 24, 1910, Leete's Island, two females trapped (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; J. N. C. in- formed L. B. B. that he had taken one set of eggs many years ago. Rallus crepitans crepitans Gmelin. Clapper Rail. A rather rare summer resident of the salt-water marshes of the western part of the state; occasionally wintering. Earliest record. East Haven, May 24, 1879 (Woolsey). Latest record. Fairfield, Nov. 13, 1891 (Eames). Winter record. Feb. 9, 1900, Stamford (Hoyt). Nest. A nest of rushes in the marshes. i O. and O.t v, 10, p. 78. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 113. NO. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 49 Eggs. 8-14; in June. Nesting dates. Earliest record. June 17, 1893, eight eggs (Schaler). Latest record. June 25, 1891, twelve eggs (Lucas). Recent records. Stamford, 1874, fourteen eggs, Sept., 1893, four taken, Feb. 9, 1900, male taken (Hoyt), June 17, 1893, female and eight eggs (Schaler), Sept. 27, 1893, female taken (Porter) ; Fairfield, Nov. 13, 1891, female taken (Eames) ; Strat- ford, June 25, 1891, twelve eggs taken (W. H. Lucas),1 Sept., 1893, one taken (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Milford, Dec. 20, 1892 [?] (A. H. V.), May 26, 1900, male taken (Beers); West Haven, May 30, 1904, female taken (L. B. B.) ; New Haven, 1882, twelve eggs (E. H. Barbour), Sept. n, 1886, female taken (C. H. Webb) ; East Haven, May 24, 1879, male taken (Woolsey) ; Guilford, Sept. 10, 1884, female taken (L. B. B.) ; Saybrook, one record (J. N. C.). Rallus virginianus Linnaeus. Virginia Rail. A rather rare summer resident from May to October, and a tolerably common fall migrant. Earliest record. New Haven, May 19, 1904, April 20, 1906 (E. S. W.) ; Portland, April 22, 1910. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 29, 1904; Portland, Oct. 20, 1890. Nest. In rushes in fresh-water marsh. Eggs. 7-10; early in June. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 18, 1910, eleven eggs (C. G. H.). Latest record. July 3, 1892, ten eggs (J. H. S.). Porzana Carolina (Linnaeus). Sora. An abundant fall migrant in September and October, fre- quenting the wild rice and cat-tail rushes in the tidal marshes, as well as the marshes along the inland waterways. Rare in the spring. Fall migration. Average, Sept. I — Oct. 25. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 23, 1902; Portland, Aug. 17, 1897. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. i, 1895; Portland, Nov. 5, .1894. Spring records. May 28, 1898, New Haven, a female taken (Andrews, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; June 3, 1905, Litchfield (E. S. 1 Recorded in AverilPs Birds of Bridgeport as Gallinula galeata. 4 5O CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. W.) ; May 1-5, 1908, May 17, 1909, May 16, 1910, Portland (J. H. S.). Summer record. Aug. 12, 1900, Westville (G. V. Smith). Winter record. Dec. 29, 1881, Hartford, a male shot (H. T. G.).1 Breeding records. 1882, Norwich, three sets of nine eggs each (C. L. R.) ;2 May 30, 1909, Talmage Hill (New Canaan), eleven eggs (P. G. Howes).3 Nested at Portland in the early sixties, and eggs taken at that time have ever since been in the coll. of J. H. S. No recent record. Albino. Quinnipiac Marshes, Sept. 30, 1901, young female taken, colored yellowish tawny olive with markings of broccoli- brown (C. R. Hooker, in coll. of L. B. B.). Coturnicops noveboracensis (Gmelin). Yellow Rail. A fall migrant in October to our marshes; probably not un- common, but seldom taken owing to its secretive habits. Merriam* records that they breed about Middletown (W. W. C.), and that several have been taken near Milford (Grinnell) and Stratford (Linsley). Earliest record. Little River Marshes, Middletown, Sept. 8, 1894 (in coll. of J. H. S.). Latest record. Milford, Nov. 10, 1876 (Grinnell).4 Spring record. March 24, 1888, Gaylordsville, a male taken by E. H. Austin (in coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.). Fall records since 1894. Middletown, Sept. 8 (1894) — Oct. 25 (1894), five taken (Gould, Strong, Tryon, in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Quinnipiac Marshes, Sept. 15 (1908) — Oct. 15 (1894), twelve taken (Andrews, A. Ganung, P. Stetson, Whitney, H. W. R, L. C S., L. B. B., in coll. of H. W. R, L. C. S., and L. B. B.). Breeding record. The only breeding record is that of W. W. C.,* who informed Merriam that they bred about Middletown in 1874 and 1875. A questionable record — probably a misunder- standing (J. H. S.). Creciscus jamaicensis (Gmelin). Black Rail. A rare summer resident. 1O. and O., vii, 15, p. 119. > O. and O., vii, 22, p. 173. *Oologist, xxviii, 5, p. 90. 4 Merriam. Birds of Conn., p. 118. NO. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 51 Connecticut records. July 10, 1876, Saybrook, female sitting on nest of ten eggs (four eggs in coll. of J. N. C.) j1 June 13, 1884, Saybrook, nine eggs taken (J. N. C.) ? July u, 1893, Aug. 12, 1904, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, flushed ( ?) , but not ob- tained (L. B. B.) ; Sept. 14, 1904, Essex, young bird (Whitney, in coll. of L. C. S.). Crex crex (Linnaeus). Corn Crake. The only record of this species in Connecticut is that of J. N. C. of Saybrook, who obtained an adult male, Oct. 20, 1887, in a swampy thicket at the head of a marsh some two miles from Long Island Sound. It is recorded and described in O. and 0., xiii, 3, pp. 45-6. Subfamily GALLINULINJE. Gallinules. lonornis martinicus (Linnaeus). Purple Gallinule. A very rare accidental visitor from the South. Merriam1 records a specimen taken near Middletown, about 1855, and now in the Wesleyan University Museum; Henry R. Smith of Stamford mounted a specimen taken there in 1877, while Hoyt reports another from Stamford in the spring of 1884; a female was collected at Bridgeport, Jufte 26, 1903, by J. H. Canfield (in coll. of Beers). Gallinula galeata (Lichtenstein). Florida Gallinule. A rather rare fall visitant, occasionally taken by sportsmen while shooting Rail. Although Grinnell1 called it a rather common summer resident, the only summer record which we have is a specimen in the Pea- body Museum, taken by E. L. Coe, in New Haven, in June, 1899. Coast records. Sept. 28, 1889, Stratford, female taken (in Averill coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.) ; Sept. 20, 1903, Sept. 15, 1904, Essex (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Sept. 30, 1902, New Haven (H. Whitney) ; Sept. 4, 1906, Essex (F. F. Brewster, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Oct. 16, 1906, Stratford (L. C. S.) ; Sept. 15, 28, 1908, New Haven (P. Stetson); Sept. 25, 1911, Stratford, two taken (H. W. B.). 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 119. *Auk, i, 4, pp. 393-4- 52 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Inland records. Sept. 23, 1892, young female, Sept. 21, 1894, young female, Oct. 15, 1895, female, Sept. 3, 1903, male shot at Little River Marshes, Middletown (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept., 1907, Canaan, one shot by Stevens, who also saw one that had been shot there in Sept., 1906 (H. K. J.) j1 Sept., 1895, one col- lected at Litchfield by H. Sanford (E. S. W.) ; Oct. 12, 1908, Goodspeed's Landing, one shot (Brackett, in coll. of L. B. B.). Subfamily FULICIN^E. Coots. Fulica americana Gmelin. Coot. A tolerably common fall migrant in September and October; much rarer than formerly. Seldom seen in spring. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 21, 1896; Portland, Sept. 19, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 3, 1888 ; Portland, Nov. 14, 1892. Spring records. May I, 1887, April 22, May 15, 1888, Port- land (J. H. S.) ; April 2-23, 1910, West Haven (H. K. J.). Summer record. July 19, 1906, Portland (J. H. S.). Order LIMICOLJE. Shore Birds. r Family PHALAROPODID^E. Phalaropes. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus). Red Phalarope. An accidental visitor during migrations. The first record is that noted by Merriam2 (1877) : " W. W. Coe has a specimen in his cabinet killed at Portland in Septem- ber." May 22, 1881, Portland, one obtained by C. H. N.; Sept. 27, 1886, Hartford, female shot by W. E. T. ;3 Oct. 21, 1890, Port- land, female shot by J. L. Goff (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; May 24, 1894, East Haven, a male in nuptial dress taken by L. B. B. ; Nov. 24, 1895, Portland, male taken, Oct. 2, 1903, female shot (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept. 25, 1908, West Haven, a young female shot by P. B. H. (in coll. of L. B. B.). Lobipes lobatus (Linnaeus). Northern Phalarope. An accidental visitor in the spring and fall. »Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 294- 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 103. 1 Auk, iv, i, p. 78; corrected, Auk, xi, i, p. 74. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 53 Connecticut records. Aug. 4, I886,1 Sept. 12, 1889, Quinni- piac Marshes, North Haven, males, taken by E. L. Munson; Aug. 24, 1893, West Haven, taken by A. H. V. (in coll. of Porter) ; May 20, 1894, Bridgeport, male killed by flying against electric wires (in coll. of J. C. A. M.) f May 21, 1894, Quinnipiac Marshes, four seen, two females taken (L. B. B.) ; May 22, 1894, East Haven, two males and a female secured (H. W. F.). Steganopus tricolor Vieillot. Wilson's Phalarope. The only record of this species in Connecticut is the specimen recorded by Linsley as killed in Bridgeport. It is a female in breeding plumage, and is now in the collection of the Bpt. Sci. Soc. Family RECURVIROSTRID^E. Avocets and Stilts. Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. Avocet. Merriam3 notes the only specimen recorded from this state: 1871, between Saybrook and East Lyme, a specimen caught in an old seine strung out on the beach to dry, and kept alive for some time (J. G. Ely). Family SCOLOPACIDvE. Sandpipers, etc. Philohela minor (Gmelin). Woodcock. A summer resident, though more common during migrations ; occasionally wintering. Breeds in less numbers than formerly. Most common during March, and from Sept. 15 to Nov. 25. Earliest record. New Haven, March 3, 1883 ; Portland, Feb. 28, 1878. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 22, 1894, Nov. 26, 1906 (E. S. W.) ; Portland, Nov. 28, 1895. Winter records. Dec. 18, 1882, Dec. 31, 1895, New Haven (L. B. B.) ; Feb., 1884, New London County (C. L. R.)4; Jan. 26, 1890, Bridgeport (W. H. Lucas);5 Jan. I, 1903, East Haven (H. W. F.) ; Dec. 9, 1906, Dec. 28, 1907, New Haven (A. A. S.). 1O. and O., xii, 9, p. 156. 3 Auk, xii, i, p. 77; wrongly recorded as P. fulicarius (L. B. B.). 3 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 103. 4 O. and O., ix, 2, p. 57. * O. and O., xv, 2, p. 31. 54 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Nest. Eggs are laid on a bed of dry leaves or on moss, with no pretense of a nest. Eggs. 4. Nesting dates. Earliest record. March 24, 1886, egg ready for nest taken from bird (L. B. B.) ; March 29, 1898, four eggs (Hill). Latest record. June 3, 1875, Norwich, four eggs (C. L. R.).1 The strange habit of grasping its young between its claws and carrying it through the air in its flight has been noted both by J. H. S., May 30, 1874, and by L. B. B., April 27, 1894. Albino. New Haven, Nov. 7, 1894, abdomen white, and rest of plumage very pale, taken by J. B. Robertson. Gallinago delicata (Ord). Wilson's Snipe. A tolerably common spring and fall migrant in April, October and November, but rapidly decreasing in numbers. Very rare summer or winter resident. Spring migration. Average, March 25 to May 10. Earliest record. New Haven, March. 29, 1898, March 19, 1894 (H. W. F.) ; Portland, March 18, 1874. Latest record. New Haven, May 13, 1882; Portland, May 14, 1874, May 13, 1909. Fall migration. Average, Sept. I to Oct. 25. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 18, 1895; Portland, Sept. I, 1892, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, Dec. i, 1882; Portland, Dec. 7, 1877. Winter records. Feb. 4, 1872, Portland (W. W. C.) f Jan. 22, 1896, New Haven (L. B. B.). Summer records. Aug. 5, 1886, North Haven (E. L. Mun- son) ; Aug. 12, 1889, East Hartford, one found under a tele- graph wire (W. E. T.). Breeding record. May 13, 1874, Portland, nest with three eggs found and fully identified, since parent bird was on nest (J. H. S. and W. W. C.)2. Several birds of this species were in the meadow at the time and also on the following day, but we saw only the one nest (J. H. S.). Macrorhamphus griseus griseus (Gmelin). Dowitcher. Very rare; now merely an accidental fall migrant in July and August. 1 O. and O., ii, i, p. 2; and xiv, n, p. 176. a Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 105. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 55 Connecticut records. Merriam1 characterizes it as " not rare during the migrations." Linsley took it at Stratford. Aug. 21, 1874, Saybrook, two shot by W. W. C, one in collection of J. H. S. ; Aug. 20, 1892, Grove Beach, Clinton, a young male, Aug. 15, 1894, a young male and two young females (H. W. F.) ; July, 1892, and 1894, Stamford (Schaler) ; Aug. 27, 1897, Guil- ford, a young female (L. B. B.) ; Capt. Jas. Holt of Lyme in- formed W. E. T. that he had seen eight (about 1893). Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus (Say). Long-billed Dowitcher. The only record for Connecticut is that of an adult taken on the Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, Aug. 5, 1886, by Dr. E. L. Munson (in coll. of L. C. S.). Micropalama himantopus (Bonaparte). Stilt Sandpiper. A rare straggler in May, August, and September. Connecticut records. June, 1874, three, Aug. 30, 1886, Quin- nipiac Marshes, North Haven (in coll. of Dr. E. L. R. Thomp- son), incorrectly reported in Merriam2 and 0. and O.3 as Curlew Sandpipers (corrected by L. C. S.) ; Sept. 16, 1886, same locality, one young taken (E. L. Munson) ;3 Sept. 17, 1886, near New Haven (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Aug. 20, 1892, Grove Beach, Clin- ton, adult female taken (H. W. F.) ; May 30, 1894, West Haven, adult female taken (L. B. B.). Tringa canutus Linnseus. Knot. A rare straggler on the coast in the spring and fall. Formerly " common during migrations/'* Connecticut records. Merriam records that W. W. C. has " found it about the Connecticut River near Middletown in sum- mer "4 [probably a misunderstanding as to species (J. H. S.)]. Aug. 21, 1874, Saybrook (J. H. S.) ; Sept. 20, 1882, West Haven, one taken (A. H. Baldwin) ; Sept. 9, 1885, same place, one young taken (Munson, in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Sept. 25, 1903, same place, young male (A. Ganung, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Jas. Holt of Lyme 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 105. * Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 106. 3 O. and O., xii, 9, p. 156. 4 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 107. 56 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. says they were found in September (1893?) ; L. C. S. informs us that seven were shot in West Haven by Hotchkiss several years ago. Arquatella maritima maritima (Briinnich). Purple Sandpiper. A rare late fall migrant, frequenting the rocky islands off the coast, and an occasional winter resident. Capt. Brooks wrote Merriam1 that " Purple Sandpipers come here [Faulkner's Island] in early fall and stay till spring." Connecticut records. Nov., 1879, Stamford, two taken by Hezekiah Weed (Hoyt) ; April 22, 1881, Saybrook, female taken (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; c. 1882, Saybrook, one secured (J. N. C.) ;2 Nov. 10, 1883, Guilford, one secured from a small flock (L. B. B.) ; Nov. 28, 1885, Stony Creek (G. E. V., in Peabody Museum) ; Nov. 15, 1888, Stamford, one taken (Hoyt) ; Nov., 1891, Stam- ford, two taken by Hecker (Hoyt) ; Jan. I, 1893, New Haven, one shot (C. Webb, in coll. of Porter) ; March 31, 1893, May, 1897, Dec. 18, 1897, Branford (L. C. S.) ; Jan. i, 1894, New Haven (A. H. V.) ; Nov. 20, 1895, Stony Creek, one shot (E. M. Cooper) ; winter, 1898-9, a few seen frequently on the small rocky islands at the eastern end of the Sound (G. E. V.). Pisobia maculata (Vieillot). Pectoral Sandpiper. A common fall migrant; unknown in the spring. Earliest record. New Haven, July 30, 1890; Portland, Sept. 25, 1890. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 21, 1895; Portland, Oct. 31, 1891. The adults pass in August, Aug. 17 (1882) to Aug. 27 (1882, 1897). The young follow in September, Sept. 6 (1894) to Oct. 21 (1895). Summer record. July 26, 1890, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, flock of ten seen (Trowbridge). A hybrid between P. maculata and P. fuscicollis was taken on the Quinnipiac Marshes, Aug. 4, 1894, by L. B. B. It was with a few Spotted Sandpipers, and was remarkably tame. No Pectoral or White-rumped Sandpipers were seen that day. This 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 106. * O. and O., vii, 24, p. 189. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 57 bird was an adult male with rather undeveloped genitalia, its remarkably unworn plumage also indicating that it had not bred. In general coloring it resembles P. fuscicollis in breeding plumage, the rump more nearly approaching that of P. maculata. The upper tail coverts are white, the feathers, as a rule, broadly banded or striped with brown. The breast feathers are washed with brownish, as in P. maculata, and their dark centers are broader than in P. fuscicollis. In measurements this bird is exactly half- way between males of the two species, and practically identical with females of P. maculata: length, 8.25 in. ; extent, 16.62 ; ex- posed culmen, 1.07; wing, 5.07; tail, 2.46; tarsus, 1.12; middle toe with nail, I in. The sternum also is about the size of that of the female P. maculata, and intermediate between males of the two species. Pisobia fuscicollis (Vieillot). White-rumped Sandpiper. A tolerably common fall migrant on the coast in September and October. Rare inland. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 24, 1895. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 19, 1904; Lyme, Oct. 21, 1893 (W. E. T.) ; Branford, Oct. 23, 1905 (L. C. S.). Adults pass during September, Aug. 24 (1895) to Sept. 30 (1886). The young follow in October, Sept. 30 (1894) to Oct. 19 (1904). Inland records. Oct. 30, 1891, Oct. 24, 1895, East Hartford (W. E. T., latter specimen in coll. of J. H. S.). Unusual records. Nov. 4, 1896, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, a wounded bird taken (L. B. B.) ; May 19, 1904, same place, one seen (L. B. B.). Pisobia bairdi (Coues). Baird's Sandpiper. A rare and probably accidental fall migrant. Connecticut records. Oct. 28, 1887, West Haven, a female shot, Oct. 19, 1889, a male shot (L. B. W.) j1 Nov. 3, 1888, Strat- ford, female taken (C. K. A., Jr.) f Sept. 29, 1894, Bridgeport, two taken by H. H. Taylor (Eames).; fall, 1901, Saybrook, several taken (J. N. C.) ; Sept. 14, 1904, West Haven, young 1 Auk, vii, i, p. 89. a Auk, vi, 2, p. 189. 58 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. male taken by A. Gaming (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Sept. 9, 1910, Bridgeport, female taken (H. W. B.). Pisobia minutilla (Vieillot). Least Sandpiper. A common spring and fall migrant along the coast ; not rare inland. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, May 8, 1900, May 6, 1905 (A. A. S.). Latest record. June 5, 1894. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, July 14, 1904. Latest record. Sept. 22, 1883. The old birds pass south about the middle of July, and the young birds follow during August and the first half of September. Inland records. May 19, 1883, Portland, one taken (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept. 9, 1892, Middletown, four killed (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; May 23, 1893, East Hartford (W. E. T.) ; May 17, 1895, Portland, three shot by C. H. N. (two in coll. of J. H. S.). Pelidna alpina sakhalina (Vieillot). Red-backed Sandpiper. A rare spring and tolerably common late fall migrant along the coast. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 25, 1903. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 29, 1895. Spring record. May 19, 1904, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven (L. B. B.). Almost all specimens of this Sandpiper taken in Connecticut are young birds. A young female in the collection of L. B. B., shot by A. Ganung in West Haven, Sept. 29, 1904, is almost as small as a European Dunlin (Pelidna alpina alpina} : length, 8.44; culmen, 1.42; wing, 4.51; tarsus, 1.12. It was very lean, as if it had traveled far without resting, whereas our Red-backed Sand- pipers are usually very fat in the fall. It is only a trifle larger than an adult female Dunlin from England; but, as the chief character separating these races is the length of the bill, and as the bills of most sandpipers do not reach their full size until late in the first fall, it seems safer to consider this bird merely an unusually small Red-backed Sandpiper. NO. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 59 Ereunetes pusillus (Linnaeus). Semipalmated Sandpiper. An abundant spring and fall migrant on the coast; not rare inland. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, May n, 1897. Latest record. New Haven, June I, 1894. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, July 30, 1896. Latest record. Oct. 23, 1894. The adults go south in August, Aug. 2 (1894) to Aug. 27 (1895), and the young follow in August, September, and October, Aug. 9 (1882) to Oct. 23 (1894). Inland records. Sept. 25, 1890, Middletown, one killed (J. H. S.) ; Oct. 7, 1891, Middletown, seen by W. E. T. and S. R. A partially albinistic young female with the wings largely white, in the collection of L. B. B., was taken in West Haven, Oct. 2, 1903, by A. Ganung. Breeding record. The only breeding record is that appearing in Merriam,1 of the four eggs found by Nichols in Branford, July 20, 1877; but an examination of the only one of these four eggs now extant (in the Brewer collection in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge), by Mr. Outram Bangs and L. B. B., has proven this to be an unusually small egg of Actitis macularia. It does not resemble eggs of either the Semipalmated or the Least Sandpiper in shape, color, or markings, while in all these respects it is typical of Actitis macularia. We have there- fore no breeding record of E. pusillus. Ereunetes mauri Cabanis. Western Sandpiper. Probably occurs regularly in the fall, but in so small numbers as to escape notice. Connecticut records. Sept. 4, 1889, Lyme, six seen and three shot by W. E. T. (in coll. of J. H. S.) f Aug. 17, 1892, Clinton, young female taken (H. W. F.) ; Aug. 27, 1895, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, young female shot (L. B. B.). Calidris leucophaea (Pallas). Sanderling. Formerly an abundant spring and fall migrant ; now rare, and occurring regularly only in the fall. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 105. 3 Auk, ix, 4, p. 389. 60 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 20, 1902. Latest record. Oct. 20, 1902. Spring record. May 13, 1878, Saybrook, one male taken by H. W. F. (in coll. of Brewster). Inland record. Sept. 12, 1894, one male taken at East Hart- ford by W. E. T. (in coll. of J. H. S.). Linsley took it at Stratford. Merriam1 says it " occurs during migrations, and is extremely abundant in fall." Limosa fedoa (Linnaeus). Marbled Godwit. Connecticut records. Aug., 1842, Stratford, an adult female ( ?) (Linsley, in coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.) ; Aug. 26, 1909, West Haven, adult female shot by Wm. Ganung (in coll. of L. B. B.). Limosa haemastica (Linnaeus). Hudsonian Godwit. Connecticut records. Stratford (Linsley2 and E. H. Austin).1 On page 178 in the copy of Nuttall's Ornithology (Water Birds) owned by the late Dr. J. Barratt, of Middletown, Conn., is the following marginal note, in his handwriting, relating to this species : " A pair shot by Jenkins Oct. 25, 1845 — these were bought by me and set up." (J. H. S.) Oct. 30, 1852, Lyme, taken by Jno. C. Comstock (MS. Journal of Jno. C. Comstock, J. H. S.) ; Oct. n, 1897, Little River Marshes, Middletown, one shot by L. E. King (in coll. of J. H. S.). Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin). Greater Yellow-legs. A tolerably common spring and more common fall migrant, but becoming rarer at both seasons. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, April 21, 1897; Portland, May 3, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, June 4, 1900; Portland, June 5, 1882; Litchfield, June 9, 1905 (E. S. W.). Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 3, 1886; Portland, Sept. 24, 1881. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 3, 1906; Portland, Oct. 27, 1894. Unusual records. March 25, 1893, West Haven (L. C. S.) ; Nov. 22, 1895, West Haven, wounded bird (A. H. V.) ; July, 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 107. *Am. Jour, of Sci. and Arts, [i] xliv, 2, p. 267. •Avcrill, Birds of Bridgeport, p. 8. No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 6l 1897, New Haven, ten taken (Trowbridge) ; Dec. n, 1902, Port- land (J. H. S.). Tetanus flavipes (Gmelin). Yellow-legs. A common fall migrant on the coast; less common on the inland waterways. Earliest record. New Haven, July 26, 1894. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 10, 1883. The young pass south in August and September, July 30 (1896) to Oct. 13 (1903). Spring records. May 7, 1877, near Meriden, on a fresh-water pond (Merri'am) j1 May 20, 1897, New Haven, one seen (L. B. W. ). Summer record. July 21, 1900, North Haven, eighteen taken (H. W. R). Helodromas solitarius solitarius (Wilson). Solitary Sand- piper. A tolerably common spring and fall migrant in May, August, and September. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, May 10, 1898, April 29, 1905 (A. A. S.) ; Portland, May I, 1905; Litch- field, April 27, 1905 (E. S. W.). Latest record. New Haven, May 26, 1882; Portland, May 19, 1909; Litchfield, May 31, 1892 (E. S. W.). Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 7, 1903; Portland, Sept. 8, 1887. Latest record, New Haven, Oct. 6, 1897; Portland, Oct. 13, 1892. Unusual records. June 10 (Grinnell).1 East Hartford, July 19, 1887, one shot, July 14, 1888 (W. E. T.). Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semipalmatus (Gmelin). Willet. Connecticut records. Linsley found it breeding at Stratford. Merriam1 records that Grinnell took it late in the summer at Mil- ford, and that W. W. C. took a nest containing three eggs at Madison, June 5, 1873. An adult in the Linsley collection of the 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 108. 62 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Bpt. Sci. Soc. and a young specimen in the Averill collection of the Bpt. Sci. Soc. were taken at Stratford, the latter on Aug. 9, 1888. Aug. 12, 1887, West Haven, one from a flock of three shot by W. G. Van Name. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus (Brewster). West- ern Willet. Connecticut records. Sept. 3, 1885, West Haven, one young taken (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Oct., 1888, Fayerweather Island, found dead by Averill (subspecies doubtful) ; Aug. 15, 1897, Stony Creek, two taken from small flock by A. H. V. ( in coll. of A. E. V. and L. B. B.) ; Oct., 1904, West Haven, eighteen taken by A. Ganung [?]; Aug. 26, 1909, West Haven, one young (W. Ganung, in coll. of L. B. B.). Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein). Upland Plover. Bartra- mian Sandpiper. Formerly a common summer resident, breeding here; now a rare spring and fall migrant, more often heard than seen when migrating. Spring records. May 2, 1874, Portland, three seen (J. H. S.) ; May 3, 1901, New Haven (L. B. B.) ; May 10, 1905, Litch- field (E. S. W.) ; May 30, 1907, Washington (L. B. B.).1 Fall records. Sept. 20, 1882, West Haven (Baldwin) ; Sept i, 1886, Guilford (L. B. B.) ; Aug. 30, 1886, Aug. 13, 1895, 1903, New Haven (L. B. B.) ; Sept. 6, 1901, Litchfield ( E. S. W.) ; Sept. 5, 1910, Bridgeport, male taken (H. W. B.). Summer records. Aug. i, 1885, Portland (J. H. S.) ; July 3, 1888, Litchfield (L. B. W.) ; July 27, 1905, Litchfield (E. S. W.). Season unrecorded. 1873, Stamford, several seen in hands of a taxidermist (Hoyt) ; 1874-6, Greenwich Point, seen (Hoyt). Breeding records. Merriam2 was informed by W. W. C. (1877) that large numbers of them bred on Plum Island off New London; June 8, 1879, Winchester, a set of eggs taken by Wil- liams (H. K. J.) ;3 May, 1902, Torrington, a pair evidently breeding found by Hanson (H. K. J.) ;3 summer, 1904, Litchfield, pair with young seen (reported by E. S. W.). i Bird Lore, ix, 5, p. 217. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 109. 3 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 295. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 63 Tryngites subruficollis (Vieillot). Buff-breasted Sandpiper. A rare straggler in the fall. Merriam1 (1877) records that J. G. Ely reports two killed near Saybrook " a few years ago," and Dr. Crary has one in his collection shot near Hartford " some years ago." Sept. 6, 1889, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, a young male taken (E. L. Munson, in coll. of Porter) ; Sept. 30, 1895, same place, a young male (C. C. Trowbridge). Actitis macularia (Linnaeus). Spotted Sandpiper. A common summer resident from May to August, the adults almost all going south before the middle of July. Earliest record. New Haven, April 22, 1889, 1903 ; Portland, April 1 8, 1899. Latest record. New Haven, Sept. 27, 1882; Portland, Oct. 15, 1895. Nest. Eggs laid in a field of grain, the grass of a meadow, or a clump of weeds, usually not far from the water. Eggs. 4; laid early in June. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 24, 1897, four eggs (Hill). Latest record. June 19, 1893, four eggs (Watrous) ; July 2, 1904, two eggs, almost hatched, but deserted (L. B. B.). Numenius americanus Bechstein. Long-billed Curlew. The only records for this species in addition to Linsley' s record of taking it at Stratford appear in Merriam:1 Capt. Brooks, Faulkner's Island, reported that " occasionally one stops here in the fall;" summer, 1873, Milford, seen by Grmnell; Saybrook, sometimes occurs in the fall, but rare (J. N. C.) ; taken near Hart- ford (Dr. Crary). A young bird of this species is in the Linsley collection of the Bpt. Sci. Soc. Numenius hudsonicus Latham. Hudsonian Curlew. A rare straggler in spring and fall. Connecticut records. Linsley took it at Stratford, and Dr. Crary at Hartford.1 Shot at Lyme, Sept. 27, 1853, by J. C. Com- 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 109. 64 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. stock, and his MS. journal contains this entry: " Lyme, Aug. 1 6, 1858, large flocks of this species " (J. H. S.). Aug. 27, 1877, Saybrook, two specimens killed (one in coll. of W. W. C.) ; June 4, 1886, East Haven, one shot (Mitchell, in coll. of L. C. S.) ; July 26, 1890, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, one seen (L. C. S. and Trowbridge) ; c. May 18, 1896, Milford (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Sept. 19, 1900, New Haven, three shot (seen in mar- ket by L. C. S.) ; Sept. 20, 1904, West Haven, young female taken by A. Ganung (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Sept. 13, 1909, Sept. 4, 1911, Fairfield (H. W. B.). i Numenius borealis (J. R. Forster). Eskimo Curlew. Formerly an accidental visitor in the fall migration. Connecticut records. Linsley took it at Stratford, and J. N. C. has a fine specimen killed at Saybrook, Oct. 13, 1874;* Sept., 1886, West River Marshes, New Haven, one killed by flying against a wire, given to L. C. S. ; Sept. 12, 1889, Quinnipiac Marshes, New Haven, a male taken by E. L. Munson (in coll. Of Porter). Family CHARADRIIDJE. Plovers. Squatarola squatarola (Linnaeus). Black-bellied Plover. The young are sometimes tolerably common along the coast in the fall migration, but the adults are always rare. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, May 28, 1894. Latest record. New Haven, May 30, 1894. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 13, 1904; Stamford, Sept. 2, 1892 (Porter). Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 21, 1903. Linsley took it at Stratford. Merriam2 recorded the taking of a specimen in the fall (no date) at the mouth of the Con- necticut River by W. W. C., and several taken by Dr. F. W.,Hall, Oct. 1 8, 1873. An adult female in the collection of Porter was taken at Stamford, Sept. 2, 1892. Charadrius dominicus dominicus (Miiller). Golden Plover. A rare fall migrant ; formerly " common during migrations."2 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 109. 9 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 102. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 65 Fall migration. Earliest record. Guilford, Aug. 27, 1883. Latest record. West Haven, Oct. 25, 1909 (A. Ganung). Merriam1 records that Capt. Brooks informed him that they were " plenty at Guilford in spring and early fall," and occa- sional in the fall, at Faulkner's Island ; Linsley found it at Strat- ford, and W. W. C. recorded it from Portland. Other records. " Plentiful at Lyme, Sept. i, 1858, 104 being shot on that day by John Grumley " (MS. notes of J. C. Corn- stock, J. H. S.) ; Aug. 27, 30, 1883, Guilford, three adults seen and one secured (L. B. B.) ; Oct. 24, 1885, Hartford, a young male flushed from a stubble field (W. E. T.) ;2 Sept. 3, 1886, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven [?], a young bird taken (A. H. V., in Peabody Museum) ; Sept. 12, 1889, same place, one taken (Munson) ; Oct: 17, 1893, Portland, one shot (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, 1903, West Haven, about twenty taken (A. Ganung) ; Sept. 20-1, 1904, four young, Oct. 20, 1906, fifteen, Oct. 7, 1907, two, Sept. 15, Oct. 25, 1909, one, all at West Haven (A. Ganung, many of these in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Sept. 19, 1908, Sept. 10, 1909, Sept. 4, 1911, Stratford (H. W. B.). Oxyechus vociferus (Linnaeus). Killdeer. A rather rare summer resident, apparently increasing during the last decade. Earliest record. New Haven, March 6, 1902; Portland, Feb. 24, 1875 (W. W. C.).1 Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 27, 1911 (H. K. J.) ; Middle- town, Nov. 6, 1908 (J. H. S.). Connecticut records. Mr. J. C. Comstock, in his MS. notes, records seeing them at Lyme during the whole winter of 1851-2 (J. H. S.) ; April 5, 1875, Middletown, male killed (J. H. S.) ; March 12, 1886, Saybrook (J. N. C.) ; Aug. 4, 1886, Quinnipiac Marshes, North Haven, one taken (Munson) ; April 22, 1887, New Haven (L. B. W., one in coll. of L. C. S.) ; April 16, 1888, New Haven (Webb) ; summer, 1889, North Haven (Mun- son) ; Feb. i, 1889, May 23, 1902, May 25, July 2, 1904, taken, Sept. 15, 1902, Aug. 13, 1903, heard, near New Haven (L. B. B.) ; Nov., 1892, New Haven (seen in gun store, Dec., by L. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 102. ^ Auk, iv, i, p. 78. 5 66 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. B. B.) ; July 28, 1894, Bloomfield, adult and young (W. E. T., in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Aug. 18, 1894, East Haven, three shot, Aug. 21, one shot (recorded by H. W. F.) ; July 9, 1896, East Hartford, adult and young (W. E. T., in coll. of L. B. B.) ; May, 1901, Newtown (Hamlin) ; March 6, 1902, Stony Creek (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; July 17-18, 1905, Mt. Tom (H. Sanford) ; Oct. 8, 1906, one, Oct. n, three, Oct. 13, one shot, West Haven (A. Ganung, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Nov. 6, 1908, Middletown (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; March 18, 1911, Milford, male (H. W. B.) ; Oct. 27, 1911, West Haven (H. K. J.). Breeding records. According to Merriam,1 W. W. C. in- formed him (1877) that it bred on Plum Island and in the vicinity of Portland; Guilford, two eggs collected many years ago (E. C. M. Hall, in Peabody Museum) ; " about twenty years ago," a set of eggs taken in Winchester by Williams (H. K. J.) f May 14, 1898, Darien, four eggs taken (Howes) ;3 July, 1901, Bridgewater, nest with four eggs found (recorded by G. L. Ham- lin) ; 1906, Danbury, a pair watched nesting and rearing their young (G. L. Hamlin). Formerly nested in Bloomfield in con- siderable numbers. An unusual flight of Killdeer took place along the New Eng- land coast the latter part of November, 1888. Only two speci- mens, however, were reported from Connecticut.4 JEgialitis semipalmata (Bonaparte). Semipalmated Plover. A common spring and fall migrant along the coast in May, August, and September; rare inland. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, May n, 1897; East Haven, May I, 1880 (Woolsey). Latest record. New Haven, June I, 1894. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, July 30, 1896. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 31, 1902. Inland records. June 4, 1875, Portland, female taken by C. H. N. (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept. 17, 1891, East Hartford, one shot (W. E. T.) ; May 22, 1894, Portland, specimen shot by C. H. N.; June 3, 1905, Litchfield (E. S. W.). 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 102. 'Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 296. aOologist, xxviii, 1911, p. 151. 4Chadbourne, Auk, vi. 3, pp. 255-263. NO. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 67 JEgialitis meloda (Ord). Piping Plover. Formerly a summer resident of the sandy beaches; now nearly or quite extinct in the breeding season, and very rare in the migrations. Connecticut records. Merriam1 recorded that it had been found breeding at Stratford (Linsley) and Saybrook (J. N. C), and W. W. C. has taken it at Portland; Samuels2 (1872) stated that it was " pretty abundantly distributed along the coast of New England as a summer resident ;" Aug. 29, 1886, West Haven, one taken by E. L. Munson; May 28, 1888, Bridgeport, an adult male collected by C. K. A. (in coll. of Bpt. Sci. Soc.) ; Sept., 1904, New Haven Harbor, one seen by L. C. S. Ochthodromus wilsonius (Ord). Wilson's Plover. Accidental visitant. Taken at Stratford by Linsley.1 Seen at Bridgeport, July 28, i888.3 Family APHRIZIM:. Surf-birds and Turnstones. Subfamily ARENARIIN^:. Turnstones. Arenaria interpres morinella (Linnaeus). Ruddy Turnstone. A rather rare migrant frequenting the rocky islands in the Sound. Occasional about inland waters. Connecticut records. Aug. 14, 1883, Faulkner's Island, several (L. B. B.) ; Sept. I, 1883, June 27, 1884, several (L. B. B.) ; Sept. 9, 1885, New Haven (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; May 24, 1886, Saugatuck (in coll. of E. S. W.) ; May 13, 1888, Port- land, one killed by J. L. Goff; Aug. 20, 1904, West Haven (A. Ganung, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Sept., 1904, West Haven (seen by L. C. S.) ; Sept. I, 5, 1910, Stratford (H. W. B.). Hsematopus palliatus Temminck. Oyster-catcher. The only record is that of Linsley,4 who says (1843) : " The Oyster-catcher is now rare here, but fifteen years since they were not very uncommon in autumn." 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 102. a Samuels, Birds of New England, p. 421. "Averill, Birds of Bridgeport, p. 9. *Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, [i] xliv, p. 265; quoted by Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 103. 68 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Order GALLING. Gallinaceous Birds. Suborder PHASIANI. Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges, Quails, etc. Family ODONTOPHORID^E. Bob-whites, Quails, etc. Colinus virginianus virginianus (Linnaeus). Bob-white. A common resident, especially near the coast, but rather rare in the northwestern part of the state. Nest. Eggs laid on a bed of leaves, on the ground in a field or meadow. Eggs. 10-32 ; in June. Nesting dates. Earliest record. June 4, 1902, twenty eggs (Beers and J. C. A. M.). Latest record. Aug. 7, 1892, fourteen eggs (Beers). A nest containing thirty- two eggs of this species (possibly laid by two females) was seen in North Haven by H. W. F. in the spring of 1903, and on revisiting the nest a few days later he found that all had hatched. This species suffered severely during the cold winters of 1903-4 and 1904-5, and was almost exterminated over a large part of the state. Since then, and for some years earlier, large numbers of Quail from the South and West have been released, so that now it is impossible to determine what proportion of Connecticut Quail are descendants of the original stock. Family TETRAONID^. Grouse, Spruce Partridges, Ptarmigans, etc. Bonasa umbellus umbellus (Linnaeus). Ruffed Grouse. A common resident. Nest. Eggs laid on the ground under a log or fence or at the foot of a stump in the woods or brush land. Eggs. 12-16; early in May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 4, 1892, fifteen eggs (Beers). Latest record. May 26, 1885, thirteen eggs (L. B. B.). An interesting albino taken by Mr. C. E. Ailing, Litchfield, Oct., 1903, is entirely grayish or yellowish-white, the latter shade predominating on the head and upper parts. The dark mark- No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 69 ings of the plumage are plainly indicated in slate gray. Many of the tail feathers, although of full length, are still encased in their pin-feather sheaths, except at the tips. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linnaeus). Canada Ruffed Grouse. Two Grouse taken by E. S. W. in Litchfield, about Nov. 28, 1906, and given in the flesh to L. B. B., .belong to this subspecies, as do others collected there by E. S. W. Order COLUMB-2E. Pigeons and Doves. Family COLUMBIDJE. Pigeons and Doves. Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus). Passenger Pigeon. Formerly very abundant during migrations and occasionally breeding. Now virtually extinct. The latest definite record we have of the presence of this bird in Connecticut is of one adult male and three young which Mr. Outram Bangs tells us he saw within thirty yards near Willi- mantic early in October, 1901. Mr. Hoyt informs us the last record for Stamford was that of a female shot there in the fall of 1879; a young male taken by Andrew Bassett near Lake Saltonstall in October, 1882, is the last taken and preserved near New Haven (in coll. of L. B. B.) ; and a young male shot Oct i, 1889, is the last record for Portland (in coll. of J. H. S.). A flock of about two hundred doves, some of which were certainly Passenger Pigeons, was seen by L. B. B. in North Guil- ford on Sept. 4, 1883 ; a single bird was seen by him on Prospect Street, New Haven, May 13, 1882, and others in Guilford on Sept. n, 1883. A pair of very large wild pigeons, believed to be of this species, was seen in East Haven by H. W. F. and L. B. B., May 20, 1893. In Portland J. H. S. recorded this species April 7, 16, May 13, and Sept. 26, 1887. As to the abundance of the species at one time, Mr. Henry Townshend tells L. B. B. that his uncles have told him that in the old days it was an easy thing on a " pigeon morning " in September to shoot enough of these birds before breakfast to load a hay-wagon, with the sides on, full to the brim. " Pigeon mornings " were the cool, frosty mornings of late 70 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. September and early October. To the top of the highest trees on the summit of the low hills east of New Haven long poles were fastened at an angle of about thirty degrees from a per- pendicular, and near the bases of these trees huts of leafy branches were built in such a position that the hunter hiding within could rake the pole with a discharge of his gun. The migrating pigeons would alight on these poles, and great num- bers were often killed in the early morning hours. Such pigeon- ambushes L. B. B. well remembers seeing often in the seventies. The pigeons were probably migrating along the coast, and L. B. B. has been told that after stopping for a few minutes on these hills they would fly to the salt-marshes of the Quinnipiac. Regarding one of the last, if not the last, flight of any size recorded from Connecticut, Mr. Hill writes us. " On the after- noon of September 10, 1876, the writer and William Colfax went to Groton, across the river from New London, to shoot plover or shore birds that usually come along about this time during the fall migration. The wind had been blowing heavily from the northwest for some days. Nearing our destination, we observed flocks of birds circling and hovering over the woods near by. Investigation and a shot brought to hand birds we thought and proved to be wild pigeons. We bagged about three dozen, and when we turned homeward we could see flock after flock come along and alight in the woods for food and rest. None flew over the river, for it was near sunset. That evening I made arrange- ments with Hiram Chappell (still living) to try the pigeons again, and we were on the grounds by daylight next morning, the nth, and soon the pigeons commenced to fly about, and I shot ninety-six and my friend as many more. It seemed to us that the whole town, as well as the inhabitants of Groton, were out gunning for pigeons. Old flint-locks, queen's arms, and boys with gun locks tied on with string — any kind of firearm that could kill a pigeon was called into service. The height of the flight was on this day. The large flocks were the most wary, flying high in air, and were made up of many small flocks that had evidently been detached and scattered in quest of food, and when on their way to catch up with the main flight their speed was marvelous. The Thames river, at its mouth, the point where the pigeons finally crossed as they flew to the westward, No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 71 is about a mile wide, and many flocks would easily span this distance by one-half or three-quarters of a mile wide. The total number of pigeons in this flight was something wonderful and astounding. I shall never forget it. The flight lasted two days. You ask how many pigeons were in the flight? Seventy-five to one hundred thousand. And how many were killed? Remem- ber the shooting was going on on both sides of the river; say sixty shooters averaged forty or fifty pigeons per man, 2500 per day. Two days, 5000. This is a conservative estimate. Every- body had pigeon pot-pie. As to ammunition, the boys always tell that on the two days the only available shot to be had was buck shot. Ammunition dealers were cleaned out. The crops of the pigeons were filled with acorns. Mr. Chappell and I have gone over the event carefully." One morning early in the fall during the seventies, possibly at the same date recorded by Mr. Hill, L. B. B. visited Guilford and found the Green strewn with feathers of these birds that had been shot during a flight on the previous day. On May 6, 1897, a dove was flushed by L. B. B. from the borders of a small swamp on the outskirts of New Haven, and to his surprise two eggs were seen lying on a few leaves on the ground in an open space about one foot wide, in a narrow line of alders, that stretched between a small clearing and the swamp. The eggs impressed him as unusually large, and the Mourning Dove is not known to nest on the ground in Connecticut. A few minutes later the bird was again flushed from the nest, and, after flying some distance, showing an unusually white tail, wide spread, as it flew, returned and settled in a tree about thirty yards away. There it was watched for some time through powerful opera-glasses; but the light was not very good and the position in which the bird sat not favorable for study. It was evidently either a Passenger Pigeon or a Mourning Dove, and appeared to be somewhat larger than the latter, and had distinct dark markings near the tips of the outer greater primary coverts. These markings seem to be usually present in females of E. migratorius and not in females of Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. The bird would not allow a nearer approach; and, as the Passenger Pigeon was practically extinct in Connecticut, and had never been known to breed on the ground, L. B. B. de^ 72 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT, HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. cided he was mistaken in thinking the size of the eggs abnormal, and collected them, as they were not far from a well traveled road. The eggs were well advanced in incubation and one of them slightly nest-cracked. They measure, respectively, 1.52 inches by 1.12, and 1.51 by 1.12. They are evidently either eggs of the Passenger Pigeon, or eggs of the Domestic Dove which had been substituted by some one for eggs of the Mourning Dove. Dr. Charles W. Richmond, who kindly compared these eggs with a series of eggs of the Passenger Pigeon in the U. S. National Museum, informed L. B. B. that they had more gloss than any eggs of the latter in the collection, but that, as most of these eggs had been taken from the oviducts of birds found in market, this difference was not conclusive. Although there is of course no possibility of certain identification the incident seems worth recording. An egg in the cabinet of L. B. B. was collected by Mr. A. A. Kellogg of New Haven, in New Hartford before 1870. It meas- ures 1.43 by 1.03 inches. In the collection of J. H. S. are two eggs taken by W. W. C. in Portland. One was found May 29, 1873, tne male pigeon being on the nest and afterwards shot and mounted; the other June 6, 1875. J. H. S. saw the latter nest, which was on a small tree and not over ten feet from the ground. Mr. G. L. Hamlin writes that they formerly bred commonly near Neversink Pond. Near Bethel he knew of their last nesting in 1874, the nest being in a swamp maple near the edge of a small tract of woodland ; but the young birds were taken from the nest by a Cooper's Hawk, and that was seen by his father. In Septem- ber, 1880, he saw the last large flock, some 500 birds. In August and September, 1892, a flock of seven frequented a field of buck- wheat near his home in Bethel for about a month, and one bird he shot was in full moult and therefore not preserved. A single bird was seen by him in 1893, and no more until September, 1902, when for some time a flock of twenty-seven frequented a field of buckwheat and new mown rye. Of this flock all he was able to secure were the feathers of wings and tail of one that had been killed by a hawk. NO. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 73 Zenaidura macroura carolinensis (Linnseus). Mourning Dove. A tolerably common summer resident from April to October, decreasing in recent years. Occasionally winters. Earliest record. New Haven, March 18, 1882; Portland, April 23, 1892. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 30, 1897; Portland, Nov. 30, l895- Winter records. Dec. 19, 1884, Jan. 20, 1896, Portland; Jan. and Feb., 1894, Lake Saltonstall, East Haven (A. J. G.) ; last week in Dec., 1901, North Haven (Ludington) ; Feb. 20, 1882, Melrose (Thompson) ;x Jan. 16, 1883, Saybrook (J. N. C.);2 Feb. 16, 1911, Portland (J. H. S.). Nest. Most frequently in an evergreen, but occasionally in a deciduous tree or in the fork of a kalmia, at the height of from three to fifteen feet from the ground. Eggs. 2; in May. Nesting date's. Earliest record. April 29, 1894, two eggs (L. B. B.). Latest record. July 27, 1889, Norwalk, two fresh eggs (W. I. C.).3 Order RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. Suborder SARCORHAMPHI. American Vultures. Family CATHARTID^E. American Vultures. Cathartes aura septentrionalis Wied. Turkey Vulture; Turkey Buzzard. A rare visitor from the south. Connecticut records. Linsley recorded it as " not uncom- mon " when he was a child, " having at that period counted twenty in a flock in Northford in the month of August;" while an old hunter told J. N. C. that they used to be very common about the mouth of the Connecticut;4 Merriam further records that Dr. W. O. Ayers took one at New Haven in 1853, J. N. C. saw them at Saybrook prior to 1873, Dr. Wood saw one at East Windsor Hill in 1874, Rev. J. H. Hand took one at Cromwell, *O. and O., vii, 23, p. 181. aO. and O., viii, 10, p. 80. • *Oblogist, vi, 12, p. 231. * Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 91-2. 74 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Sept. 23, 1874, at Westbrook, Oct. 16, 18, 1875, and Grinnell reported one taken by Merwin at the mouth of the Housatonic River in June, 1875. Fall, 1879, Stamford, one seen (Hoyt) ; April 20, 1882, North Stonington, one shot by O. G. Brown (in Peabody Museum) j1 March 15, 1886, East Haven (L. C. S.) ; Aug., 1888, Stamford (Hoyt) ; April 23, 1893, Stratford, one seen (Eames) ; Aug. 31, 1898, Old Lyme, one seen (Brockway) f Aug. 17, 1902, New Milford, one male caught by W. C. Pomeroy (H. K. J., in coll. of L. B. B.) ;8 Aug. 21, 1902, Torrington, one seen by Hanson (H. K. J.) ;3 Aug. 27, 1902, Gaylordsville, one seen by E. H. A. and H. K. J. ; summer, 1903, Danbury, one wounded and kept in captivity (J. C. A. M.) ; May 19, 1907, Danbury, one shot (J. C. A. M., in coll. of L. B. B.). Catharista urubu (Vieillot). Black Vulture. Besides the doubtful record referred to by Merriam4 of three specimens killed by J. H. Hand at Westbrook, Aug. 10, Sept. 12, 21, 1874, the only records for Connecticut are: an adult male, shot by Robert Payne at East Lyme, July 6, 1901 (in coll. of Hill) ;5 and a specimen seen at Bolton reservoir, Oct. 10, 1879, by Dr. Wm. Wood (MS. note to J. H. S.). Suborder FALCONES. Vultures, Falcons, Hawks, Buzzards, Eagles, Kites, Harriers, etc. Family BUTEONID^E. Hawks, Eagles, Kites, etc. Elanoides forficatus (Linnaeus). Swallow-tailed Kite. Connecticut records. Summer, 1861, Portland, one seen, which " suddenly dove and arose with a snake in its . talons," which it devoured in mid-air (H. W. C., recorded by Merriam).;6 July 2, 1877, Lyme, one seen (J. G. Ely, recorded by Merriam) ;6 June 16, 1889, Saybrook, one seen, " an unmistakable specimen, gracefully soaring in slowly receding circles; his long, pointed, 1 O. and O., vii, 18, p. 141. *Auk, xv, i, p. 53. 3 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 296. 4 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 93. 6 Auk, xix, 1902, i, p. 94. •Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 76-7. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 75 narrow wings, fully expanded tail with the outer feathers of great length, pure white under parts in contrast with the dark upper, presented distinctions so marked from all other native species that recognition was instantaneous and unmistakable " (J. N. C.)-1 Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus). Marsh Hawk. A tolerably common summer resident from April to October. Occasional in winter. Earliest record. New Haven, March 22, 1884, March 12, 1887 (L. B. W.) ; Portland, April i, 1882. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. n, 1903; Portland, Nov. 3, 1908. Winter records. Feb. 8, 1882, Dec. 18, 1903, New Haven (L. B. B.) ; Dec. 25, 1903, Bristol (F. Bruen). Nest. Often built of sticks, lined with grass, and located on the ground or on a slight hillock in an open marsh of high grass. Eggs. 3 to 7; the middle of May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 9, 1878 (C. L. R.).2 Latest record. June 18, 1884, three eggs (C. L. R.).3 Accipiter velox (Wilson). Sharp-shinned Hawk. A tolerably common summer resident from May until Octo- ber; abundant in the fall migration in September and early Octo- ber. Occasional in winter. Earliest record. New Haven, March 19, 1904, March 9, 1887 (E. S. W.) ; Portland, March 27, 1886, 1899. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 4, 1897; Portland, Nov. 23, 1909. Winter records. Feb. 4, 1881, Jan. 19, 1887, Feb. 22, 1890, Feb. 4, Dec. 13, 1895, Dec. 3, 8, 1898, Portland (J. H. S.) ; Dec. 13, 1900, Woodbridge (Smith, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Jan. 14, 1902, Northford (L. B. B.) ; Feb. 22, 1887, New Haven (L. B. W.). Nest. Almost invariably in a hemlock or pine tree, occa- sionally in a maple, 10 to 50 feet above the ground. Nest made 1 O. and O., xiv, 8, p. 123. 2O. and O., ix, 2, p. 16. 8O. and O., x, a, p. 25. 76 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. of hemlock or pine sticks and twigs, the larger ones on the out- side, the smaller ones inside, with a small depression for the eggs. Eggs. 3 to 7, usually 5 ; toward the end of May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 7, 1896, two eggs (L. B. B.). Latest record. June 26, 1883, three eggs (C. L. R.).1 C. L. R. states that2 " the first clutch almost always contains five, but, if the eggs are taken successively as laid, the normal clutch may run perhaps to fifteen or eighteen," e. g., May 23, 1880, seventeen eggs.1 Both ovaries were developed in 17 of 20 females, chiefly young, examined between 1902 and 1905 by L. B. B. Accipiter cooperi (Bonaparte). Cooper's Hawk. A tolerably common summer resident from April to October, though more common during the migrations ; occasionally win- ters. This species is annually becoming rarer over most of the state. Earliest record. New Haven, March 16, 1887, March 10, 1888 (Webb) ; Portland, March 14, 1898. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 19, 1904; Portland, Nov. 12, 1904. Winter records. Feb. 20, 1888, Feb. i, 1894, Dec. 30, 1902, New Haven (L. B. B.) ; Jan. 12, 1901, Portland (J. H. S.) ; Jan. 31, 1902, Saybrook (J. N. C). Nest. In a hemlock or deciduous tree, usually toward the center of a large piece of woodland ; 30 to 70 feet above the ground. Eggs. 4 to 6 ; usually 4 or 5 ; about the middle of May. Ne'sting dates. Earliest record. April 28, 1884, one egg (L. B. B.) ; April 30, 1886, three eggs (Eames). Latest record. June 24, 1911, four eggs (C. G. H.). A pair of hawks will breed year after year in the same woods,, often in the same nest (C. L. R.).s Frequently several days elapse between the laying of the dif- ferent eggs of a set, oviposition usually occupying ten days. 1 0. and O.t xiii, 3, pp. 34-7. aO. and O., vii, 15, p. 117. SO. and O., ii, 4, p. 25. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 77 For interesting articles on the nesting and breeding habits of Hawks in this state, consult those of C. L. Rawson, who has made a special study of Hawks in Norwich, as noted in the bibliography. One instance of the development of both ovaries has been noticed by L. B. B. Astur atricapillus atricapillus (Wilson). Goshawk. A rather rare and irregular winter resident, occasionally appearing in considerable numbers. Earliest record. Oct. 5, 1886, New Haven (L. C. S.). Latest record. April 12, 1907, Guilford (S. E. Watrous, in coll. of L. C. S.). Large flights recorded in January, 1897, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the state (J. H. S.) ; in early No- vember, 1906, and on through to March, 1907, near New Haven (L. B. B.) ; and in the fall of 1907, in different parts of the state (J. H. S.)- There are about thirty-five records of this species being either seen or captured in this state. Breeding record. H. K. J.1 records that " Mr. Williams found a nest in Winchester, about fifteen years ago [about 1893]. It was in a chestnut tree, sixty feet up, and contained two eggs. He shot the female for identification, and has the eggs and complete data." Buteo borealis borealis (Gmelin). Red-tailed Hawk. A common resident of the wooded hills of the interior of the state ; much rarer on the coast except in the fall migrations. Most abundant (Portland) from April 15 to May 25, and from Oct. i to Nov. 25, although recorded there during the en- tire year. The majority pass through the state as migrants, but this species winters regularly in small numbers throughout the state, and is more common on the coast at that season than in summer. Nest. Very large nest of sticks and twigs, usually in a deciduous tree, from 45 to 75 feet from the ground. It favors ijob, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 297. 78 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. " dry hillsides where the woods are rather open and a wide range of view can be had." (C. L. R.)1 Eggs. I to 3 ; early in April. Nesting dates. Earliest record. March 24, 1903, two eggs (Beers). Latest record. April 30, 1888, two eggs (Eames) ; May 23, 1873 (W. W. C).2 This species will occupy the same nest year after year unless disturbed, when it will build another nest in the vicinity (W. W. C.2 and C. L. R.).3 Mr. Rawson also notes the facility with which they are mated when one of the pair is killed, the survivors often pairing within a week or two, leading to the supposition that the old ones prob- ably pair with the young of previous years.3 Buteo lineatus lineatus (Gmelin). Red-shouldered Hawk. A common resident of the lowlands of the larger river valleys and the marshy woodlands of the coast; the majority passing farther south in October and returning in March, but many win- tering regularly throughout the state. In breeding these hawks return regularly to the same woods, and often use the same nest as the previous year, unless that was robbed. In that case they usually take the one in which they had succeeded in raising their second set, or the nest occupied in an earlier year. If the first set is taken, a second set is laid in from three weeks to a month. The following nesting records are a summary of 112 occupied nests of this species examined by L. B. B., as well as about 60 examined by C. L. R.* Nest. Location: all in deciduous trees; chestnuts (72, L. B. B., 39, C. L. R.), oaks (22, L. B. B., 10, C. L. R.), maples (9, L. B. B., i, C. L. R.), beeches (i each), yellow birch, ash, and hickory. Height: average, 35-50 feet from the ground, with the extremes of 20 (C. L. R.) and 75 (L. B. B.). Situation in tree: usually in the forking of the trunk at the top of the tree, fre- quently lower down against the trunk at a point where two or 1O. and O., vi, 5, p. 37. a Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 85-6. *O. and O., ii, 4, p. 25. O. and O., xvi, i, pp. 1-19. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 79 more branches leave it, very rarely in the fork of a limb at some distance from the trunk (L. B. B.). Material: sticks, frequently lined with pieces of hemlock, cedar, pine, or ground pine (83, L. B. B.), or without evergreen (n, L. B. B.), or lined with leaves (C. L. R.). Oftentimes feathered. Old nests of crows and other hawks often utilized. Eggs. 2-5, usually 3 or 4; about the middle of April. Set of 5 (L. B. B.), sets of 4 (17, L. B. B., 14, C. L. R.), sets of 3 (57, L. B. B., 27, C. L. R.), sets of 2 (25, L. B. B., 13, C. L. R.), sets of i (3, L. B. B.). Eggs from the same wood and probably from the same birds have usually a certain resemblance in size, color, or markings. The number of eggs in the first set seems to depend largely on the weather in March, a warm open March with little snow being followed by large sets, a cold and stormy March by small sets. The most heavily marked egg is usually laid first. Nesting dates. Earliest record. March 30, 1894, two eggs (L. B. B.). Latest record. May 6, 1901, two eggs (L. B. B.). Late sets. May 28, 1899, four eggs (Hill, New London) ; June I, 1884, two eggs (C. L. R., Norwich). In actions at the nest these hawks vary greatly individually; some leaving silently almost as soon as one enters the woods and not returning, others waiting until the tree is struck before leav- ing the nest, when they perch near by, crying frequently, and swooping to within ten feet of the climber. As a rule, however, the degree of solicitude shown depends on the length of incuba- tion of the eggs; the nearer the eggs are to hatching, the more anxiously the hawks protect them. , The egg of a Barred Owl in the nest of a Red-shouldered Hawk has twice been found by L. B. B. ; both times in the same piece of woodland, which had been reduced from an extensive .tract by wood-choppers, thus leaving few suitable nesting-places for large birds. One (April 13, 1901) contained three eggs of the Hawk and one of the Barred Owl, with the Owl on the nest; the other (April i, 1902) contained two eggs of the Hawk and one of the Barred Owl, with the Red-shouldered Hawk on the nest. As the hawks' eggs were in both instances further ad- vanced in incubation, this species was probably the original owner of both nests. 8O CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. During the winter these hawks seldom circle high in the air, as is so common at other seasons of the year, although they have been noticed doing this (Feb. 14, 19x53, L. B. B.). Mr. C. L. Rawson of Norwich, who has made an extensive study of the hawks in that vicinity, has recorded in his numerous articles in O. and O. a considerable mass of interesting data on eggs of this species, peculiar markings, and the recurrence of these markings in one individual. Other data as to the number and description of eggs taken from the same bird in successive years are numerous, as well as descriptions of nests and their location. We refer those interested in the subject to his articles as recorded in the bibliography. Buteo platypterus (Vieillot). Broad-winged Hawk. A tolerably common summer resident from May to Septem- ber, and common fall migrant in September; breeds most abun- dantly in Litchfield county. Earliest record. New Haven, April 21, 1888; Portland, April 19, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 16, 1901, Nov. 13, 1906 (E. S. W.) [?]; Portland, Oct. 22, 1892. Nest. Situated in the center of the deepest woodland acces- sible. They vary in material from nests like those of the Red- shouldered Hawk, well-lined with various soft materials, to others resembling those of Cooper's Hawk, a loose platform of sticks lined with a few square pieces of bark. Eggs. 2 or 3 ; about the middle of May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. April 19, 1884, one egg, later three (L. B. B.) ; May 6, 1900, two eggs (Blackwood) ; May 14, 1894, three young, ten days old (G. L. H.). Latest record. June 16, 1898, two eggs (H. W. F.). The bird is very shy and is seldom seen on the nest. One bird of this species with both ovaries developed has been found by L. B. B. This species frequently predominates in the hawk flights de- scribed by C. C. T.1 Trowbridge, Hawk Flights in" Connecticut, Auk, xii, 3, pp. 259-270. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 8l Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (Gmelin). Rough- legged Hawk. A rather uncommon winter resident, living about the larger marshes from November to March. Earliest record. New Haven, Nov. 4, 1897. Latest record. New Haven, March 8, 1901, April 20, 1889 (L. C. S.). Connecticut records: Dr. Wood of East Windsor Hill occa- sionally found it abundant in that locality,1 and took about forty specimens ;z Merriam1 saw it near New Haven, Nov. 20, 1875 ; Dec. 25, 1875, Feb. 16, 1880, specimens killed near East Windsor Hill (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept., 1879, Stamford, one taken (recorded by Hoyt) ; Sept. (?), 1883, Saybrook (in coll. of J. N. C.) ;3 Oct., 1884, near Stamford (Hoyt, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; March 30, 1887, Glastonbury (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Feb. 17, 1888, New Haven (in Flint coll. of Brewster) ; April 20, 1889, New Haven (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Nov. 16, 1892, Stam- ford (Schaler, in coll. of Porter) ; Dec. 8, 1894, New Haven (A. H. V., in coll. of L. B. B.) ; Jan. 31, 1895, Nov. 4, 1897, Jan. 16, 1899, Jan. 24, 1900, March 8, 1901, Feb. 7, Dec. I, Dec. 18, 1903, between New Haven and Guilford (seen by L. B. B.) ; Dec. 24, 1896, Fair Haven, seen in taxidermist's shop (L. B. B.) ; Nov. 20, 1901, Cromwell, two (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Feb. 24, March 6, 1906, New Haven (E. S. W.). Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus). Golden Eagle. A rare winter visitant. Connecticut records. Winter, 1856-7, Hartford, adult taken, seen in the flesh by J. C. Comstock (J. H. S.) ; Dr. Wood occa- sionally saw it about Hartford (prior to 1877) ;4 Nov. 13, 1875, Deep River, one shot (in coll. of H. W. F.) ; May, 1877, Say- brook, one seen (J. N. C.) ;4 1879, Southbury, female shot (Wood coll.) ; Oct. 29, 1881, Ragged Mountain, Barkhamsted, one young shot by H. Wedge of Riverton;5 Nov., 1884, and Nov. 5, 1896, Stamford, two taken (recorded by Hoyt) ; Oct., 1887, Preston, one shot (in coll. of G. H. Martin) * Nov. i, 1892, 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 87-8. 'Samuels, Birds of New England, p. 576. 3O. and O., viii, 10, p. 80. 4 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 89. 5O. and O., vi, 10, p. 76; 12, p. 94 (more fully described). 6 O. and O.t xii, 12, p. 206. 6 82 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Essex, adult female (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Oct. I, 1896, Wood- bridge, one female shot (in coll. of A. E. V.) j1 Nov. 20, 1896, East Haven, young male trapped (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Jan. 19, 1897, Salem, adult male trapped (in coll. of C. L. R.) f Oct. 9, 1909, East Haven (in coll. of L. C. S.). Haliasetus leucocephalus leucocephalus (Linnaeus). Bald Eagle. A rather rare spring and fall migrant and occasional summer resident; formerly bred in more unsettled parts of the state, possibly a few still breeding. Earliest record. New Haven, April 17, 1885; Portland, April 25, 1889; South Glastonbury, March 16, 1899 (seen by J. H. S.). Latest record. New Haven, Sept. 10, 1883, Nov. 20, 1875 (Merriam).3 Winter 'records. Jan. 26, Feb. 25, 1891, Stamford (Hoyt) ; Dec. 25, 1893, Middletown (J. H. S.). Summer records. Numbers of this species have been seen during May, June, July, and August, at various places in the state (Deep River, Haddam Neck, Litchfield, Middle Haddam, Middle- town, New Haven, North Haven, Portland, Saybrook, Stratford, Stevenson) in 1880, 1882, 1883, 1886, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1905. Breeding record. Job records* that " Late in April, about a dozen years ago (1896), Mr. Williams found in Winsted a nest on a rocky ledge which contained two good-sized young. Several years previously he had found another nest in an un- climbable tree, and also has seen young which could not have been raised far off." Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus C. H. Townsend. Northern Bald Eagle. A young female was shot near Willimantic, Oct. 27, 1909, by G. H. Champlin, and sent to L. B. B. in the flesh by C. R. H. That the majority of Connecticut Bald Eagles belong to this subspecies, is the belief of L. B. B. *Auk, xiv, i, p. 89. *Auk, xiv, 2, p. 215. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 90. 4 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 297 No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 83 Family FALCONID^. Falcons, Caracaras, etc. Subfamily FALCONIN^E. Falcons. Falco rusticolus obsoletus Gmelin. Black Gyrfalcon. There are only two records for this state: Winter, 1879, west of Stamford ( J4 m^e over the boundary in New York State, but probably driven there from Connecticut by the northeast gale then raging), killed by Dr. Chas. Rowell (seen by L. B. B.) ; Jan. 27, 1907, Durham, female shot by A. Banks (in coll. of J. H. S.)-1 Falco peregrinus anatum Bonaparte. Duck Hawk. A rare but probably regular fall migrant; a very rare sum- mer resident. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 29, 1903 ; Lyme, Sept. 14, 1895 (W. E. T.). Latest record. Guilford, Oct. 30, 1907 (L. C. S.). Winter records. Feb. 23, 1876, Milford (Grinnell) f Jan. 19, 1894, Stamford (in coll. of Porter). Spring records. April 30, 1886, Portland, male shot (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; May 9, 1888, Mt. Carmel (Webb and Searles) ; May 9, 1899, Mt. Carmel (Bernard) ; May, 1900, Hamden (Osborne) ; spring, 1910, Mt. Carmel (H. K. J. and Buttrick). Nest. Eggs laid on a shelf of some precipitous cliff. Eggs. 2-4; early in May. Breeding records. May 25, 1861, Talcott Mt., near Hart- ford, four young (Moses, recorded in Hartford Times, June 29, 1861, and by Merriam) ;2 summer, 1863, same locality, two pairs breeding (Dr. Wood) ;3 May I, 1872, Talcott Mt., three eggs taken by P. H. Woodford (J. H. S.) ; May 9, 1888, Mt Carmel, three eggs (Webb and Searles, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; May 9, 1899, Mt. Carmel, two eggs (Bernard, in coll. of L. B. B.) ; spring, 1910, Mt. Carmel, one pair and empty nest (H. K. J. and But- trick) . Falco columbarius columbarius Linnaeus. Pigeon Hawk. A tolerably common spring and fall migrant, most abundant in October. Occasional in winter/ lAtik, xxvi, 4, pp. 429-430. 2 Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 81-2. 8 Samuels, Birds of New England, p. n. 84 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, March 30, 1904; Portland, April 24, 1873. Latest record. New Haven, April 25, 1885 ; Portland, May 25, 1882. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 10, 1902 ; Portland, Sept. 9, 1899. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 6, 1901 ; Portland, Nov. 6, 1876. Winter records. Dec. 24, 1875, Portland; March 4, 1885, New Haven; Jan. 5, 1897, Portland; Dec. 6, 1900, and Jan. 17, 1905, New Haven; Dec. 25, 1903, Bristol (E. A. Smith). Falco sparverius sparverius Linnaeus. Sparrow Hawk. A tolerably common resident, most frequently seen in the early spring and the late fall. More common in the northern half of the state. J. H. S. and L. B. B. record this species during the entire year. Nest. Hole in tree, oftentimes the deserted nest of a Flicker or other bird. Eggs. 3 to 5 ; early in May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. April 29, 1890, five eggs (Trowbridge). Latest record. May 20, 1882, five eggs (J. H. S.) ; July 4, 1900, four young (Hill). This species was formerly rare, Merriam1 thus characterizing it, adding that it breeds near Portland (W. W. C.) and some- times near East Windsor Hill (Wood). Between 1890 and 1900, however, it became somewhat if not very common during migra- tions, and since then has been frequently noted. It is still com- paratively rare as a breeder in this state. Family PANDIONID^. Ospreys. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmelin). Osprey. A tolerably common spring and fall migrant; a rare summer resident near the coast in the southeastern part of the state. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, March 24, 1904; Portland, March 25, 1903. Latest record. New Haven, May 30, 1901; Portland, May 20, 1882. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Aug. 27, 1895 ; 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 84. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 85 Portland, Aug. n, 1897. Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 18, 1888; Portland, Oct. 18, 1893; Danbury, Nov. 13, I892.1 Eggs. 2 to 4; early in May. Nesting dates. Earliest record. April 22, 1897, three eggs (Hill). Latest record. July 4, 1870 (F. S. Smith).2 They do not breed in the vicinity of Portland (W. W. C. and J. H. S.), nor along the Connecticut River, except near its mouth, where J. H. H. reports a colony of twenty-two pairs at Niantic. C. L. R. reports them breeding commonly along the shores of the Sound in New London County, and in several swamps a dozen miles in the interior up the Thames River valley.3 Mr. Williams has known a pair to nest in Litchfield County.4 L. B. B. saw a specimen in Warren, Litchfield County, June 7, 1900, and E. S. W. saw one in Litchfield, July I, 1893, and July 4, 1905. These last are our only inland records during breed- ing season. Suborder STRIDES. Owls. Family ALUCONID^. Barn Owls. Aluco pratincola (Bonaparte). Barn Owl. A very rare accidental visitor from the south. Connecticut records. Merriam5 notes the following: Linsley took it at Stratford ; about 1841, Hartford (Ayres) ; Oct. 28, 1868, Sachem's Head (in coll. of Wood) ; " some years ago " (before 1877), Madison (in coll. of Capt. Brooks). Later records. About 1875, Stamford, one taken (Schaler) ; June 15, 1891, Leesville, one shot by W. Chase (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Aug. 28, 1891, Litchfield, one shot (in coll. of L. B. W.) ;6 1892, Winsted, nest with six young in an old factory found by H. Kinney (H. K. J.) ;7 1893, same locality, same nest, set of seven eggs taken by Williams (H. K. J.) ; June 25, 1896, Port- land, a young male taken (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Sept. n, 1903, Stratford, male (in coll. of L. C. S.) ; Sept. 14, 1906, Portland, 1 0. and O., xvii, n, p. 172. 2 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 88. »O. and O., x, 6, p. 89. *Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 297. 'Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 66-7. • Auk, ix, 2, p. 202. 7 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 298. 86 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. one shot (in coll. of J. H. S.) ; Jan. 15, 1911, East Hartford, one taken (in coll. of J. H. S.)« C. L. R. has recorded several specimens from New London County. Family STRIGIM). Horned Owls, etc. Asio wilsonianus (Lesson). Long-eared Owl. A common winter and rare summer resident. Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 25, 1904; Portland, Oct. 8, 1892. Latest record. New Haven, March 21, 1904; Portland, March 25, 1875. Nesting records. April (prior to 1877), Berlin, nest with four eggs (Brandegee) j1 April 25, 1880, Ellington, five eggs taken (J. M. Wade) f spring, 1881, Bristol, a set of eggs taken (E. N. Brandegee) ; May 9, 1886, Woodbridge, nest with four young (Augur) ; May, 1890, Northford, set of four eggs (Trowbridge, in Trinity College Museum). Other summer records. July i, 1885, Litchfield (L. B. W.) ; April 24, 1906, New Haven (L. B. W.) ; May i, 1906, North Haven (L. B. B.). Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan). Short-eared Owl. A common fall and tolerably common spring migrant; most frequently noted in October and March; winters rarely. Spring migration. Earliest record. New Haven, March 2, 1894, Feb. 17, 1905 (Sherman) ; Portland, Feb. 9, 1911. Latest record. New Haven, March 31, 1896; Portland, April 29, 1883. Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 7, 1906; Portland, Oct. 8, 1890. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 29, 1884; Portland, Dec. 12, 1903. A favorite haunt of these birds is the salt-water marshes, where they sometimes congregate in flocks. Between sixteen and twenty of these Owls were found by L. B. B. in the marshes at Guilford, Oct. 17, 1890, more than half of them being within a space twenty yards square. Breeding records. " Nests on the ground. Not uncommon " (Merriam).3 Dr. William Wood of East Windsor Hill recorded4 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., pp. 69, 70. * O. and O., vii, pp. 161-2. 8 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 70. 4 O. and O., ix, i, pp. xo-xi. No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 87 that a nest was found " some thirty years ago " half a mile from his office, the nest being on elevated ground, in a meadow, and composed of fine grass, and containing four eggs; 1876, an egg presumably of this species found in the grass at Groton Long Point, and brought to C. L. R.1 Strix varia varia Barton. Barred Owl. A common resident along the coast; rarer in the interior, where it is most common during October and November. Nest. Usually in a hollow tree or in the deep crotch of a tree; frequently in old hawks' nests; most common location a chestnut tree; height from the ground, 6 to 45 feet; nest often heavily feathered, and so deep as to hide bird from observation. Eggs. 2-4 (of 22 nests recorded by C. L. R.,2 7 contained 3 eggs and 15 contained 2 eggs each) ; March 25 — April 15. Nesting dates. Earliest record. March 17, 1886, one egg (L. B. B.). Latest record. May 10, 1879, two eggs (C. L. R.). J. N. C. wrote L. B. B. that he considered this species " the most destructive enemy of birds, game, and domestic fowls among all the Hawks and Owls." In the winter the numbers of the resident birds are often augmented by a flight from the north. This was the case in the winter of 1882-3, when twenty-six were brought to Mr. Herr- man, then taxidermist of the Peabody Museum; and again in the fall of 1894, when twenty-five were brought to A. H. V. to be mounted. Scotiaptex nebulosa nebulosa (J. R. Forster). Great Gray Owl. A very rare straggler from the north. Connecticut records. Jan. 6, 1843, Stratford, one taken (Linsley) ;3 Jan. 22, 1893, North Haven, a male secured by a farmer (A. H. V., in Peabody Museum) ; March, 1907, East Haven, one secured by an Italian and sold to a restaurant in New Haven, where it was purchased, a then freshly mounted specimen, by L. C. S. 1 O. and O., xvi, 4, p. 59. * O. and O., x, 2, p. 25; xiii, 3, pp. 37-40. 3 Am. Jour. Set. and" Arts, [i] xliv, 2, p. 253; recorded by Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 70. CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni (Bonaparte). Richard- son's Owl. An extremely rare accidental visitor. The only records for this state are: mid- winter, about 1860, near East Windsor, one captured and presented to Dr. Wood:1 Nov. 12, 1906, Kent, a male found dead by an Indian woman (obtained by H. K. J., in coll. of L. B. B.).2 Cryptoglaux acadica acadica (Gmelin). Saw-whet Owl. A rather rare resident, most frequently observed in the win- ter, but breeding rarely. Of the 42 records which we have for this species, 39 were between October 12 and March 28, the other 3 being summer records. This Owl has been recorded from the vicinity of Port- land (19 times, J. H. S.), New Haven (9), Stamford (3), Bridgeport (2), Milford (2), Chester, Stony Creek, Fairfield, Winsted (i each), Litchfield (4), thus showing a pretty general distribution. Merriam3 is of the opinon that the apparent scarce- ness of the bird may rather be due to its " diminutive size and nocturnal habits." Summer records. April i, 1894, Chester, a set of five eggs taken by H. Bennett (in coll. of H. W. F.) ; June 8, 1896, Bridge- port, one seen, and later its nest probably identified (Beers) ; May, 1895 (?), Winsted, a pair with three young seen in an old Crow's nest (Williams).4 These little owls seem to suffer both from the weather and from the persecution of larger owls. One in the coll. of Porter was found dead in very cold weather, and their remains have been found in the woods several times by L. B. B. One found April 10, 1893, had been apparently killed by an owl ; and another was found in the stomach of a Barred Owl, which had been shot at Lake Saltonstall, March 3, 1883. Development of both ovaries has been seen once by L. B. B. Otus asio asio (Linnaeus). Screech Owl. A tolerably common resident. Nest. In a hollow tree, most frequently an apple tree in an orchard. 1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 73. » Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 298. 8 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 74.