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III— Notes on Nova Scotiax Zooloca- : Xo. 3.— By Harry
Piers, Assoc. ^Member A. 0. U., Halifax, N. S.

; ^\(^'ead May 14th, 1894.1.

: Two series of these notes have already appeared in the Trans-
actions of the Institute of Science. The present contribution
owing to the scarcity of unusual Occurrences relating to other
• divisions of our zoology, is ahuost Entirely confined to records of
new or rare birds recently observed in the province. More than
ten species are thus noted which were not mentioned in the late
1" IT\ 7f ' c'^talogue*, a few of which are also new to
the oi^ithological fauna of the Dominion of Canada. Of course
most .tof these are stragglers from their regular habitats

I have not been able to chronicle any item of great importance
regarding the mammals of the province. As a consequence of
their non-migratory habits, they are in one way less likelv to
present novel incidents for record than a class, such as the birds
which 18 composed of animals able to go a£ will from one region'
or country to another On the other hand, the study of the
habits of the former will still repay any labour devoted to it for
owing to their being thus confined ^ individuals .to a limited
range, they are more liable tp the development of local eharac-
teristics than most of the latter animals, which are wanderers of
cosmopolitan tendencies

During the summer of 1892, 1 was at King's College Windsor
Hants County, and thus had an opportunfty of £u6y^^7ke
natural history of tha|i district, and the relative abundance of
various species in the eastern and western parts of the province
One or two observations upon the subject have been inserted in
the present paper. The fauna! differences, however, did not
appear^to be as great as those relating to the flora of the two

•"C»i

itafbgatot

the Birda ot Nova Scotia."

(395^" ^ '^' ''■^'^'"' **' '*" '^' '"■ "'■"'•

y

396

NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PJEHS.

I wish to thank Messi-s. Purcell and Egan, taxidermists of
Halifax, for information regarding birds they have mounted,
and for the liberty they have given me of inspecting their
collections. To others, also, especially Mr. James McKinlay, of
Pictou, N. S., I am much indebted for particulars relative to

rare specimens. "^

Mammals.

Black Rat (Mus ratim). One of these animals -was killed
by a cat in Mr.S. Dawson's country house, Pictou, in Octojier,
1887. It is now preserved in the museum of the Academy. The
species is very rare in Nova Scotia, and Dr. J, Bernard'Gilpin,
at the time he prepared his papers on the mammalia of the pro-
vince* knew of pnly four instances of its occurrence. ^One
specimen was mounted by Mr. A. Downs, two others were pro-
cured by himself, and the fourth was given to hira by Mr. J. K-
Willis. It has also been observed on the Pacific sea-board, but,
nowhere has it penetrated far into the interior.

I *«. Birds. ' . , *

HoLBfELL's Grebe (Colymbm holbwln): A male was shot
near Halifax, on 9th April, 1891. Another in full breeding-
plumage was killed on 25th April, 1894; Both were mounted
by Mr. Thomas' J. Egan, of Halifax. In the spring, about five
years ago, the same gentleman obtained a specimen of the im-
'mature bird— the only one he has ever noted. At this age, the
species for many years was erroneously described by naturp^sts
as the " Crested Grebe," owing to its resemblance to the British

bird of that name.

Horned Grebk (Colymbua auritus). Mr. Downs only knew
of one instance of this bird having been taken in Nova Scotia.
It may be as well to record that the specimen which he referred
to, was one which had been set-up many years ago by Mr. Egan.
Since then, the latter taxidermist purchased two, male and
female in full si)ring plumage, which were shot together at
Lawrencetown, Halifax County, on l7th or 18th April, 1894.
They were brought to Halifax on 2l8t April. Another, a male.

• Trans. N. S. Ifut.

Nat. Sc, vol. n., pt. iv., p. 12.

."< .

NOVA SCOTIAX ZOOLOGY— PIERS.

397

.One

was killed at the same place on 20th April, 1894. It is a rare,
bird in Nova Scotia, although, strange to say, Mr. Chamberlain
(Catalogue of Canadian Birds) speaks of it as connnon through-
out the Dominion, and breeding from about latitude 45 degrees
northward,

• Ivory Gull (Gavia alha). Mr. Egan has two specimens of
this gull. The first wjfs taken on loth October, 1889, in the
island of Cape Breton. The second, a male, was Obtained al
Chezzetcook, to the north-east of Halifax, on 26th October, 1892.
This is an Arctic species which in winter comes south as far as
Labrador and Newfoundland. Its occurrence in Nova Scotia,
therefore, is probably merely accidental. Chamberlain (Cata-
logue of Canadian Birds) says that a few examples have
straggled to the Bay of Fundy and to Lake Ontario. The
species is noted as " rare " in the late Mr. Dovvns's Catalogue.
Mr. J. M. Jones in his paper "On the Laridse of the Nova
Scotian Coast,"* says that only one specimen, as far as he was
awai-e, had been observed on our coast. It had been seen by
Capt. Wedderburn, 42nd Royal Highlanders, in Halifax Harbour
some years before the time of writing. "^^

RiXG-HiLLED Gull (Laras delaimrensis). In the Ornitho-
logist and Oologist for August, 1890, page 122, Mr. F.v^. Bates
in his " Wanderings, No. 8," says, that while at TliJ^athom
Harbour, Halifax County, with Mr. Egan, a shot fired^'a gull
brought it wounded to the flats, where its cries attracted a large
flock, two of which were killed?f These two, he states, "subse-
(luently proved to be probably Ring-bills (A. Q. U. No. 54) in
young plumage." " I am informed by friends in Halifax," he
goes on to say, " that this is a somewhat unusual occurrence,
and Mr. Downs, the veteran ornithologist of Nova Scotia, never
saw it, and does not mention it in his list. This seems rather
strange, as the bird is common on all sides of the Province. Mr,
Hifirry Austen, of Halifax, who possesses one of the birds, writes
me that the nearest point at which he knows of the bird is on
the Canadian Lakes, and until further noted we must only

» I\-aus. If. S. Inst. JVnt. Sc, vol. H, pt. iv, lS7,0.
♦ This wan during the latter part of September, 1889.

398

NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PIERS.

accept it as a probable addition to the list of the birds of Nova
Scotia." Althou<Th Mr Downs had not personally observed the
bird, and therefore <lid not include it in his catalogue, yet Mr.
J. M. Jones mentioned it in his pap^- " On the Laridse of Nova
►Scotia," before quoted, appending thereto the following equivocal
note : " Although known on our coast, of the habits or distri-
bution of this species we possess but meagre information. I am
inclinlBd to think that this is the species which I have observed
keeping company with the steamer the whole way 'across the
Atlantic." Mr. Ridgway in his Manual of North American
Birds (p. 82) says tliat the species is found over the whole of
North America, breeding far northward, and migrating south,
in winter, to Cuba and Mexico. I think that there is no doubt
that it occurs on the coast of Nova Scotia, but for some reason
it. has escaped the guns of our naturalists Mr. Egan thinks
that Mr. Bates's, specimen was correctly identified.

liAUGHiNG Gull (Lams atricilla). Three specimens, all of
which came from Devil's Island, at the entrance of Halifax
Harbour, are in Mr. Egan's collection. Two of these were killed
on 10th September, 1888. The third, a female, was obtained on
15th June, 1892. There is also a fourth specimen in the
McCulloch collection, belonging to Dalhousie College, Halifax.
This species was not included in the " Catalogue of the Birds of
Nova Scotia." Its occurrence, however, was to be expected in the
province, for Mr. Chamberlain - had mentioned it as having
occasionally been found in the Bay of Fundy.

Caspian Tern (Sterna tschegrava). In May, about eight
years ago, Mr. F. Bell, of Dartn^uth, obtained a specimen of this
very rare bird, which had been killed at Cole Harbour, Halifax
County. It now belongs to Mr. Egan, who also has another
which was shot last year (1893). The late Mr. Downs, I under-
stand, got one from Cole Harbour shortly , after Mr. Bell's speci-
men was taken. The same man killed both.

Black Tern ( Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis). Mr. Egan
informs me that he has two specimens, in immature plumage,
which were killed at Devil's Island, Halifax Harbour, on 10th
September, 1888. It is the only record for the province.

NOVA 8C0TIAN ZOOLOOY'^PIERS.

399

BRbvv^• Pelican ( Pelecanua fuacus). On Slst May, 1885, a
Brown Pelican was seen to alight on a salt-water marsFi at River
John, Pictou, N, S., where it was approached without much diffi-
culty and killed. Upon examination the body was foun<l to be
emaciated and the pouch entirely empty. The skin was mounked,
and is now in the museum of Pictou Academy. It is in full
nuptual pluihage, and ha^s a greenish black pouch. The latter
was at first slightly shaded with green and blue, but it 'Won
afterwards turned to its present colour. Mr. James McKinlay
writes me that on 1st June, 1893, an adult male of the same
species was shot on Pictou Island by Mr. J. Hogg, the lighthouse
keeper. It was slightly larger than the first specimen, from
which it did not difter materially either in form or colour.
From tip of bill to end of tail, it measured 4 feet 7 inches;
bill, 12^ inches; tarsus, 3| inches. No food whatever was
found in the stomach, and its flesh was in poor condition.
It probably will be also placed in the Academy nmseum.
On 19th August, 1889, my brothers, while on the shore
of Bedford Basin, saw a bird which was probably a Pelican.
They described its general colour as grayish, and it had a pouch
beneath the bill. When observed, it was flying from the north-
east to the south-west. The species must only be regarded as an
accidental visitor. It is not mentioned at all in Mr. Chamber-
lain's Gdtahgae of Canaflian Birds, the most recent general
work upon the subject. ^||habi'tat is the coasts and islands o£
the Gulf of Mexico afflfJCaribbean Sea, including the West
Indies; north, regularly, to North Carolina, accidentaUy (blown
by storm ?) to Illinois (Ridgway). I may as well mention that
Mr. Chamberlain, speaking of another species, the American
Wliite Pelican (P. erythrorhynchos), ^aysth^t "one specimen has
been taken in Nova-Scotia and two in New Brunswick." I know
nothing of the Nova Scoti9,n specimen referred to.

Redhead (Aythya am^ricana). This is a rare migrant in
Nova Scotia, but it is common from Montreal to Western Mani-
toba, and Mr. Mcllwraith (Birds of Ontario) reports it as one of
the mast abundant s\)ecies which visit Lake Ontario. Mr. Harry

400

NOVAXSCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PIERS.

Austen, of DnrtinoutliAobtuiiied a Nova Scotiaii Kpeciiuen about
the be<,nnninfj of Februi^ry, 1H04.

KiXCJ Eider (Somatei^ia spedabilis). On 4th April, 1894, a
Kinf( Eider was brought to Halifax, which had been shot at
Sanibro, Halifax County, about" 21st Mareli. Another was
brought from Lawrencetown, to the north-east of Halifax, on
7th April, 1894. It was <|uite fresh and had evidently been
killed two or tiiree days before. Both were mounted by Mr.
Egan. Mr. F. Bell also has a specimen.

Greater Snow (Joo.se (('hen hyperbored nivalis). According
to Mr. James McKinlay, this species is seen at intervals in Pictou
County early in the season, either' in small numbers or else
singly in company with the Canada Co<}se. An instance oc-
curred in April, 1894, at Caribou Harl»our, at which place geese
are wont to congregate in' large flocks during the vernal and
autumnal migrations. It did not fly with the Canada Geese ;
and whern it attempted to join them, it was driven back. Mr.
McKiidsjy tells me that half a centuiy ago the species was less
unconnnon in the count\' just inentioned, and on two occasions a
small flock of five or six was observed. It was impossible, how-
ever, to approach within shooting distance of the birds, owing to
their extreme wariness. They were rarely, seen to alight, and
only then on some long, bare sand beech or exposed salt-water
marsh.' Their colour apparently was pure white. Unfortunately
none have yet been shot. Mr. Downs recorded severa,l specimens
in his catalogue, an<l tliere is also one, I understand, in' the Mc-
Culloch collection, Dalhousie College Museum.

Braxt (Branta herniclti). A curious freak of nature is
seen in a female Brant which Mr. Egan purchased on 9th
April, 1894: It came from Amherst, N. S. In ordinary indi-
viduals the head, neck, body anteriorly, quiUs, and tail are black,
and the back brownish-gray. The neck of the present one is
not of the normal colour, but white; the 'head, bill, sides of breast,
back, wings, tail, and legs, only being blackish. The dark colour
of the head extends posteriorly as far as the occiput, w^hereas
anteriorly it extends to the lowest part of the throat, or perhaps
somewhat bcycnd. The eyes were of the ordinary colour. Mr.

NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PIERS.

401

AlcKinlay hii.s,yinc(! written to mc that in April, 1894, a "white
Brant" had been seen ~^ith a number of others of the normal
colour. He had not heard of the specimen just noted.

Glossy IiUs (Ple</adis autunivulia).. Mr. J. McKinlay reports
that early in May, about twenty-sevyn years a<,'o, while the
weather still was cold', a fanner who lived near the head waters
of the Ea.st River of Pietou, noticed two odd-looking' birds on
the mar^rii, of a grassy lake. Witii some difficulty he managed
to get within gun-range, and fired, killing one and putting its
companion to flight. They proved to belong to the above
species, and had evidently \vandered far from their southern
habitjit. Mr. Downs ImuI one specimen (»f this bird, taken in our^
province, i^nd Mr. Thomas Brewer informed him tliat a flock
passed through the New England States about the .same time.
This is the Hock referred to in the " Catalogue of the Birds of
^ Nova Scotia." In 187H, Mr. Frank L. Tileston saw several birds
' "undoubtedly of this species" in Prince Edward Island,* and
Mr Francis Bain speaks of it as an "occasional visitant" in that
province.f The latter expression, however, does not sufficient-
ly indicate its rareness, for it isnierely mi accidental straggler «
in the Dominion of Canada.
Claim'EK Rail (Rallus longirostris crepitans). On 12th May,

1892, one of these birds was brought to Mr. W. A. Purcell, ta.xi-
dermist of Halifax. It had been killed at Lawrencetown,
Halifax County, probaby a day or two before. In October,

1893, Mr. Egan also obtained a specimen which came from tiip
same locality. These are the only ones they have ever noted n\
the province. The species is not included in Mr. Chamberlain's
catalogue, nor can I find any other record of its occurrence in
the Dominion. It is a regular visitor as far north as Long
Island, and has been observed occasionally in Massachusetts.
But one example, apparently, has been reported north of Boston ;.
it was taken neAr Portland, Maine.:J:

Mr.

* Chnmher\a.in, Catdlpffue o/ Cnnadian Bird^, ^. 31.
t Birdx of Prtpce Edward Island, 1891, p. 69.

+ Chamberlain's OrnitKf^ogy of U. H. and Canada, haxtd on NutlalVs ManiuU^
Ioi7i| p. lo7*

Ruft'. This had also been Mr. Boardman's opinion, but he sq^se^
quently waived it to a slight extent, under .the itnpression that
the SmitJjsonian Institution must be correct in its determination.
Many series of skins of the Ruff were examined, but no speci-
men agreed altogether with the exf^mple from Nova Scotia. I
think the bird may prove to be a hybrid. When killed,
its legs were black. The' "ruff" is wanting. The following
measurements were made by me from the mounted bird : lelhgt^h
of wing, 6.60 ins. ; middle ttiil -feather, 2.30 ; gape, 1.42 ; depth of
bill at base .25 ; tarsus, 1.70; middle toe, with claw, 1.37. Con-
sidering the uncertainty connected with the identification of the
^specimen, its name is inserted here with a query. If it proves
to be a Ruff, it is of course a straggler from the Eastern Hemis-

ki:

It
he
tw
lis
An
Or
thi

ra(

of
we

e sijl&fte-
on that
lination.

0 speci-
;otia. I

1 killed,
j1 lowing
: lehgtth
depth of
r. Con-
in of the
; proves

Hemis-

killed at Porter's Luke, Halifax County, on 15th October, 1887.
It was mounted by Mr. Egau, who says it is the only one
he has ever seen. Mr George A. Boardman, I understand, has
two from the Bay of Fundy. , The species is not in iMr. Downs's
list. The four forms of the Gyrfalcon— the White, Gray, Black,
and F. rusticolua gyrfalco—were separated by the Ameripan
Ornithologists' Union. Very recent researches seem to slrow
that this classification will ultimately have to be abandoned,
And but one species recognized, with tWj^L or three geographical
races.

Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinua anatuvi). About the middle
of September, 1892, two of these jxiwerful and beautiful birds
were shot on McNab's Island, Halifax Harbour, one being killed

I -

now belongs 10 air. vjeorge peanusu.m vln^ civy^

American Hawk Owl (Sarnia uluUi caparoch). On 13tb
December, 1893, one of these very rare Nova Scotian owls was-
brought to Mr. Purcell. It came from Annapolis, and was quite
fresh— probably having been killed a few days previously. Mr.
Downs got one early in 1889. Mr. Austen has two.

Piloted Woodpecker (Ceophloeus pileatua). This handsome
bird, the Great Northern Chief as it is sometimes called, will pro-
bably at length succumb to the advances of civilization. It is
an uncommon or rare resident in the province, and is only found
in heavily wooded districts. There is no record of its breeding
near Halifax, nOr have I ever heard of it even having been
observed in thaf locality. A specimen was shown to me by Mr.

thn
out
«pe4
red,
len^
Abo

Itv
heai
pro]
«ert
the
whj

Muiiif't

TT mn — TT mv^n — HI — cu^vc^a

throat, but not a white patch as is sometimes the case. The
outer tail-feathers are devoid of white, showing that the
specimen is a female. The wings are barred with yellowish
red, and -minutely sprinkled with brownish black. The exact
length could not be ascertained with certainty, but is probably
About eleven or twelve incjhes. Mr. McKinlay says "it may in
M sincerity be pronoun^d a bona-fide Chuck-will's-widow."
It was reported, he says, that the cries of the species had been
heard at certain times, but ^uch, he continues, has not been
properly substantiated. At first I was very doubtful about in-
serting the species in my liotes, for it seemed more probable that
the specimen was a Whipboorwill, whose upper parts are some-
what similar in colour ; lalter information, however^— especially

)n 13th
ivls was-
IS quite
y. Mr.

ndsome
rill pro-
1. It is
y found
•reeding
ig been
I by Mr.

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^,

BoBoLlKK (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). ine very greav aumm^
ance of Bobolinks in the western part of the province is a
noticeable contrast to the present rarity, or rather a» sence, of
these birds about Halifax. They are without doubt the most
conspicuous objects in the ornithological fauna of the flat stretcher
of dyked land from Windsor westward. When coining from
Halifax, the first of these rollicking, songsters is met in thfr
^ vicinity of the St. Croix Kiver, Mr. W. Bishop, formerly of Eent-

villa^^informs me that the males arrive in the province between theh
IStttl and 19th of May, and the females about a week later. The
first I noted in 1892, were two males on the 18th May. All
leave the province between the 6th and the 20th of September.
On 18th June, 1890, 1 heard a single bird singing its unmistak-
able ditty in a wood not far from my home in Halifaso It was;

bird
Hal
Nov
Sara
Cha
Mar
Sco<
S(
of a
nuni
Cou
cone
com<

[ &

ce is a
;nce, of
e most-
retches-
fr from

in th&
I Eent-
een thei^
r. The
y. All
tember.
mistak-

It wa»

ADoui loin ucu)t)er. l»»3, Mr. Purcell obtained two of thes^
birds which had been shot near Beech Hill, about five miles from
Halifax, on the St. Margaret's Bay Road ; and about 10th
November of the same year, ho obtained another from the
Sambro Road Mr. Egan has had about three specimens. Mr
Chamberlain says it is " an abundant summer resident from the
Maritime Provinces to the Great Plains." As regards Nova
Scotia, I think its rarity does not warrant such a statement.

Scarlet Tannaoer (Piranga erytkrdmela»). In the spring
of about 1873, when raw, chilly winds prevailed, considerable
numbers of Scarlet Tannagers appeared in varioys parts of Pictou
County. Such as were taken, were found to be in an emaciated
condition, and some were even picked up dead, evidently over-
come by cold and hunger. Mr. J. McKinlay, who informed me

Bohemian AVaxwino (Ampelia garrtUua). On 16th Novem-
ber, 1893, a male was shot at Porter's Lake, Halifax County.
It was mounted by Mr. Egan. This is only the second
record of the occurrence of the bird in Nova Scotia. A flock of
about a dozen visited us in the winter of 1864-5 (vide Downs's

Catalogue).

MocKiNO Bird (Mimus polyglotlos). On the afternoon of
Sunday, 30th June, 1889, Mr. Charles A. McLennan, of Tniro,
N. S., saw a bird on the " interval " at the back of 1;hat town,
which, from his acquaintance with the species in Virginia, he
recognized as a Mocking Bird. He followed it during the whole
afternoon. At length, in the dusk of the evening, it retired into

'Catalog*^ <ff Oanadiam Binti, p. M.

bou

exp

mi

cag(

thit

clea

for

feat

feet

accu

poss

time

•c

Ml

S^ovem-
I!ounty.
second
flock of
Towns's

loon of
' Truro,
it town,
^nia, he
e whole
red into

boured Mr McLennan examined it particularly and wi'th an
expert's eye. in order to ascertain if such had Uen the case " I
ifo. convinced." he writes to ,ne, " that it was vot an escape!
cage-b.rd-,n fact. I know it as certainly as I can know any-
thing. Its plumage was unchafed. and its feet were perfectly
clean and not perch-marked. All birds which have been caged
for the shortest time, have the plumage rubbed on the outer
feathers of the wings and the ends of the tail-feathers, and the
feet also show very plainly the effects of confinen.ent To one
accustomed to handling birds. I do not think a mistake is
possible, and I have had as many as eighty birds caged at one
time. He tells toe that he now feels he made a g?bat mis-

nawmbertain-f CUaJogu^o/ C„uuU.,h Bird, . lloIlwr«fth-. Bird, of Ontntio.

.■&4^kimi^ds^&-^

hiiMl^jt^i.

Ifjbs^]^^4d^fs^^td

and permitted me to observe them very cloeely. It wan probably

the mating season I had never before seen such great quantities I . /

of the inHects, and they were still numerous when I left Windsor

at the end of September.

IB pruiK»i/ijf

L qnaniities
;ft Windsor

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