LIST OF BIRDS ASCERTAINED TO OCCUR WITHIN TEN MILES FROM POINT DE MONTS, PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, CANADA; BASED CHIEFLY UPON THE NOTES OF NAPOLEON A. COMEAU.
BY C. HART MERRIAM, M. D.
Point de Monts is the southward termination of a high rocky promontory that separates the river from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the north shore. It is in latitude 49° 19′ north. The country is well wooded, the forests consisting chiefly of spruce (both white and black) and balsam. Scattered about are a few birches, poplars, cedars, and tamaracks; and on a sandy terrace near the Godbout River is a quantity of the northern scrub pine (Pinus banksiana) that here attains a height of thirty and sometimes forty feet. The region is so far north that not only are the oaks and hickories absent, but even the hardy beech and maple do not grow here.
I visited this section of the coast in July, 1881, and again in July, 1882; and with the observations made at these times I have incorporated the notes kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Napoleon A. Comeau, guardian of Godbout.
The nomenclature followed is that of the second edition of Dr. Coues’s Check List of North American Birds.
1. Turdus migratorius. Robin.—A common summer resident. Arrives about the first of May, and remains till late in November. Seen Dec. 22, 1879.
2. Turdus unalascæ nanus. Hermit Thrush.—Tolerably common; breeds.
3. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni. Olive-backed Thrush.—Not uncommon; breeds.
4. Sialia sialis. Bluebird.—Extremely rare. During a residence of many years at Godbout Mr. Comeau has seen but one pair of these birds; they nested in a stump near his house in July, 1880.
5. Regulus calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.—A male was shot June 4, 1882.
6. Parus atricapillus. Black-capped Chickadee.—A common resident.
7. Parus hudsonicus. Hudsonian Chickadee.—A common resident, like the last.
8. Sitta canadensis. Red-bellied Nuthatch.—Tolerably common in winter, but not observed in summer.
9. Eremophila alpestris. Horned Lark.—First seen April 21, 1882, after which they were common for about three weeks and then disappeared. I found a young one, dead, at Godbout in July, 1881.
10. Anthus ludovicianus. Titlark.—Tolerably common summer resident, and doubtless breeds. I have seen flocks of them in July feeding on the beach at low water. First seen May 7, 1882.
11. Helminthophila peregrina. Tennessee Warbler.—A tolerably common summer resident. First shot June 6, 1882.
12. Dendrœca æstiva. Summer Warbler.—Not very common. First seen June 6, 1882.
13. Dendrœca virens. Black-throated Green Warbler.—A tolerably common summer resident.
14. Dendrœca coronata. Yellow-rumped Warbler.—A rather common summer resident. First seen May 29, 1882.
15. Dendrœca blackburnæ. Blackburn’s Warbler.—Rather rare. Shot June 9, 1882.
16. Dendrœca striata. Black-poll Warbler.—Rare. Mr. Comeau shot a male, June 7, 1882.
17. Dendrœca maculosa. Black-and-Yellow Warbler.—The commonest Warbler, breeding abundantly. Earliest seen May 29, 1882.
18. Siurus nævius. Water Thrush.—Rather rare. Shot June 6, 1882. Others seen.
19. Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellow-throat.—Not common. Saw two in the clearing about Mr. Allan Gilmour’s camp on the Godbout.
20. Myiodioctes pusillus. Black-capped Yellow Warbler.—Rather rare. Shot June 9, 1882. Others seen.
21. Myiodioctes canadensis. Canadian Flycatching Warbler.—A tolerably common summer resident.
22. Setophaga ruticilla. Redstart.—Tolerably common. First seen June 9, 1882.
23. Hirundo erythrogastra horreorum. Barn Swallow.—Rare, and not known to breed. Mr. Comeau shot one May 29, 1882.
24. Iridoprocne bicolor. White-bellied Swallow.—Common; breeds plentifully. First seen May 12, 1882.
25. Petrochelidon lunifrons. Cliff Swallow.—A small colony nested in the deserted Hudson’s Bay Trading Post at Godbout this year.
26. Ampelis cedrorum. Cedarbird.—A tolerably common summer resident.
27. Lanius borealis. Great Northern Shrike.—Occurs, but is not known to breed.
28. Pinicola enucleator. Pine Grosbeak.—A tolerably common resident. In autumn it feeds extensively upon the berries of the mountain ash. I have already published a note on the breeding of this species at Godbout.[[115]]
29. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch.—Not very common. First seen April 26, 1882.
30. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill.—Tolerably common, but somewhat irregular in appearance. I found this species to be very abundant here in July, 1881, while in July, 1882, I did not see any.
31. Ælgiothus linaria. Red-poll.—Very abundant in winter, large flocks being seen nearly every day. They all seem to move in one direction, following the shore westward.
32. Chrysomitris pinus. Pine Linnet.—Generally common, but somewhat irregular.
33. Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch.—Rather rare. I saw a small flock in July, 1882.
34. Plectrophanes nivalis. Snow Bunting.—Very common in flocks in winter. Seen as late as the middle of May.
35. Centrophanes lapponicus. Lapland Longspur.—Large flocks of this species appear on this part of the coast during the latter part of April, remaining till about the middle of May. They are then very abundant, occurring both alone and in flocks with the preceding.
36. Passerculus sandvicensis savana. Savanna Sparrow.—Tolerably common, breeding on the thinly grassed sand-fields about the mouth of the Godbout. Mr. Comeau shot one as early as April 21, 1882.
37. Melospiza fasciata. Song Sparrow.—A rather common summer resident in suitable places, arriving early in May. Particularly numerous in the clearing about Allan Gilmour’s camp on the Godbout.
38. Junco hiemalis. Black Snowbird.—Very common. First seen May 16, 1882.
39. Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throated Sparrow.—The commonest Sparrow, breeding everywhere. First seen May 14, 1882. This bird is the “Nightingale” of the Canadians.
40. Zonotrichia leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow.—Breeds, but is not common.
41. Agelæus phœniceus. Red-shouldered Blackbird.—Very rare. The only one ever seen here was a female, and was shot by Mr. Comeau May 22, 1882.
42. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird.—An accidental straggler from the west. Mr. Comeau shot a male of this species in his door yard, at Godbout, early in September, 1878.[[116]]
43. Quiscalus purpureus. Crow Blackbird.—Rare. Sometimes seen in flocks in spring.
44. Corvus corax. Raven.—A common resident. May 12, 1882, Mr. Comeau found one of their nests on the face of a cliff about half-way between Godbout and Point de Monts. It contained four full-fledged young that must have been at least three or four weeks old.
45. Corvus frugivorus. Crow.—A common summer resident, sometimes wintering. I have observed that the Crows here find much of their food along the beach at low water.
46. Cyanocitta cristata. Blue Jay.—Resident but not very common.
47. Perisoreus canadensis. Canada Jay.—A tolerably common resident.
48. Tyrannus carolinensis. Kingbird.—Not rare. Earliest seen June 9, 1882.
49. Empidonax flaviventris. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.—I have seen a specimen that Mr. Comeau shot June 15, 1882.
50. Chordeiles popetue. Nighthawk.—A common summer resident. First seen June 5, 1883. I saw Night-hawks flying about overhead nearly every day while at Godbout, both in July, 1881, and July, 1882.
51. Chætura pelasgica. Chimney Swift.—Generally tolerably common, but not seen this year.
52. Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher.—A rather common summer resident, arriving about the first of May. About June 13, 1882, Mr. Comeau found three Kingfisher’s nests in a bank, and each contained seven fresh eggs.
53. Hylotomus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker.—Very rare. Mr. Comeau has shot but one here.
54. Picus villosus. Hairy Woodpecker.—A tolerably common resident, being particularly fond of the burnt-over scrub-pine barren near Godbout.
55. Picus pubescens. Downy Woodpecker.—A tolerably common resident, like the last.
56. Picoides arcticus. Black Three-toed Woodpecker.—Resident; not rare.
57. Colaptes auratus. Golden-winged Woodpecker.—A tolerably common summer resident. First seen May 14, 1882.
58. Bubo virginianus. Great Horned Owl.—A rather common resident.
59. Asio wilsonianus. Long-eared Owl.—Rare. Mr. Comeau shot three in May, 1877 or 1878.
60. Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl.—A rather rare summer resident. Earliest seen May 9, 1882.
61. Strix nebulosa. Barred Owl.—A tolerably common resident.
62. Nyctea scandiaca. Snowy Owl.—Very irregular in appearance; sometimes very abundant in winter, and sometimes not seen for several years. Mr. Comeau shot one May 17, 1882, and Mr. Gregoire Labrie killed one May 31, 1880. These are the latest dates at which they have been seen in this section.
63. Surnia funerea. Hawk Owl.—Common in winter, generally appearing in November and not remaining later than February.
64. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni. Richardson’s Owl.—A common winter resident, and very tame. This Owl has a low liquid note that resembles the sound produced by water slowly dropping from a height; hence the Montagne Indians call it pillip-pile-tshish, which means “water-dripping bird.” These Indians have a legend that this was at one time the largest Owl in the world, and that it had a very loud voice. It one day perched itself near a large waterfall and tried not only to imitate the sound of the fall but also to drown the roaring of the torrent in its own voice. At this the Great Spirit was offended and transformed it into a pygmy, causing its voice to resemble slowly dripping water instead of the mighty roar of a cataract.
65. Nyctala acadica. Saw-whet Owl.—Not very common. In winter Mr. Comeau once saw one of these little Owls fly out from within the carcass of a great northern hare that had been caught in a snare. The Owl had eaten away the abdomen and was at work within the thoracic cavity when frightened away.
66. Circus cyaneus hudsonius. Marsh Harrier.—A tolerably common summer resident. Three individuals were seen as early as May 5, 1882.
67. Astur atricapillus. Goshawk.—Not rare.
68. Falco sacer obsoletus. Labrador Gyrfalcon.—Mr. Comeau has killed several of these rare Falcons in the vicinity of Godbout.
69. Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk.—Not rare, and doubtless breeds.
70. Falco sparverius. Sparrow Hawk.—Rare. One shot May 5, 1882.
71. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. Rough-legged Buzzard.—Breeds, and is rather common. The southward migration commences about the last of September and continues into November. During this period large numbers of these Hawks are constantly passing over this part of the coast on the way to their winter quarters.
72. Pandion haliaëtus. Fish Hawk.—A few pairs of Fish Hawks breed in this vicinity every year. They were first seen May 2, 1882. They depart in November.
73. Aquila chrysaëtus. Golden Eagle.—Breeds, and is not particularly rare. Mr. Comeau has shot three, and knows of half a dozen that were caught in steel-traps.
74. Haliaëtus leucocephalus. White-headed Eagle.—Tolerably common; breeds. They arrive in March, and remain till December or January. Mr. Comeau found a nest, early in June, that contained three young about the size of Crows.
75. Ectopistes migratorius. Wild Pigeon.—A rather rare and very irregular visitor.
76. Zenaidura carolinensis. Carolina Dove.—Of this southern species Mr. Comeau has killed two at Godbout: the first, a male, he shot October 10, 1881, and the second, a female, June 6, 1882.
77. Canace canadensis. Spruce Grouse.—A resident species, but rather rare.
78. Bonasa umbella. Ruffed Grouse.—A resident, like the last, but not common. This appears to be the northern limit of the Grouse on the east coast, and I was unable to find any evidence of its presence lower down along the north shore of the Gulf.
79. Lagopus albus. Willow Ptarmigan.—Very abundant during the early part of some winters, but during other years it does not occur at all. They generally arrive about the first of December, and a few remain till the first of May. They are always most abundant in December, and Mr. Comeau once killed six hundred before Christmas! He has shot as many as eighty-two in a single morning.
80. Squatarola helvetica. Black-bellied Plover.—Rather rare and irregular in occurrence. Mr. Comeau has shot it in May and September.
81. Charadrius dominicus. Golden Plover.—Tolerably common in September, and sometimes seen in spring.
82. Ægialites vociferus. Killdeer Plover.—Mr. Comeau says that this species breeds and is not rare.
83. Ægialites semipalmatus. Ring-neck.—Occurs in spring.
84. Strepsilas interpres. Turnstone.—Tolerably common in September.
85. Steganopus wilsoni. Wilson’s Phalarope.—Mr. Comeau tells me that this Phalarope occurs during the fall migration, but is not common.
86. Phalaropus fulicarius. Red Phalarope.—Not rare in September.
87. Gallinago wilsoni. Snipe.—A rather rare migrant.—Earliest killed May 9, 1882.
88. Macrorhamphus griseus. Red-breasted Snipe.—Occurs during the fall migration.
89. Ereunetes pusillus. Semipalmated Sandpiper.—Tolerably common. First seen during the latter part of May, and common in August and September.
90. Actodromas minutilla. Least Sandpiper.—Rather common in spring and fall.
91. Actodromas maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper.—Occurs in fall, but is not common.
92. Actodromas bonapartii. White-rumped Sandpiper.—Mr. Comeau shot one May 31, 1882.
93. Calidris arenaria. Sanderling.—Occurs in the fall migration.
94. Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Tattler.—Common spring and fall. Earliest shot May 9, 1882. Passes south in September.
95. Totanus flavipes. Yellow-shanks.—Common during the migrations. Occurs with the preceding.
96. Rhyacophilus solitarius. Solitary Tattler.—Tolerably common, breeding about the fresh water lakes and streams.
97. Tringoides macularius. Spotted Sandpiper.—A tolerably common summer resident.
98. Numenius borealis. Eskimo Curlew.—Common in August and September.
99. Numenius hudsonius. Hudsonian Curlew.—Rather rare. Mr. Comeau has shot it in August.
100. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron.—Rather rare, and generally seen in September.
101. Ardea egretta. Great White Egret.—Accidental straggler from the south. One seen June 9, 1882, on an island in Godbout River.
102. Botaurus mugitans. American Bittern.—Rare. Mr. Comeau has shot several here, and tells me that they are common at Manacougan, thirty miles west of Godbout.
103. Cygnus SP.—? A swan was shot at Point de Monts by an Indian in 1870.
104. Chen hyperboreus. Snow Goose.—Rare. Mr. Comeau has shot it in October.
105. Bernicla brenta. Brant Goose.—Breeds, and is by no means rare. Arrives in April, remaining into November and sometimes December.
106. Bernicla canadensis. Canada Goose.—A common migrant, arriving during the latter part of March and departing in November. They breed at Natashquan, Western Labrador.
107. Anas obscura. Black Duck.—A tolerably common summer resident, breeding about the fresh water lakes.
108. Dafila acuta. Pintail.—The only one Mr. Comeau ever saw here he shot June 7, 1882.
109. Querquedula carolinensis. Green-winged Teal.—Rare here, but they breed at Manacougan.
110. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal.—Rare, but oftener seen than the preceding. Has been shot early in May.
111. Fuligula affinis. Scaup Duck.—Tolerably common in October.
112. Fuligula collaris. Ring-neck Duck.—Mr. Comeau has killed two in spring.
113. Clangula glaucium. Golden-eye.—A resident species, and tolerably common. Breeds on fresh water only. Remains throughout the winter.
114. Clangula islandica. Barrow’s Golden-eye.—A common resident, breeding, like the foregoing, on fresh water, and remaining on the Gulf all winter.
115. Clangula albeola. Butter-ball.—Rare. Has been shot in October.
116. Harelda glacialis. Old Wife.—Resident. Very abundant in winter, the largest flocks being seen in December, January, and February. Mr. Comeau took one in full summer plumage as early as April 23, 1882. Tolerably common in summer, and supposed to breed.
117. Histrionicus minutus. Harlequin Duck.—Rare, and only seen during the latter part of April and early in May. This year Mr. Comeau saw two April 16, and shot one May 8, out of a flock of four.
118. Somateria mollissima. Eider Duck.—A permanent resident, but rather rare.
119. Somateria spectabilis. King Eider.—Rare. Has been known to breed.
120. Œdemia americana. Black Scoter.—Common from early in April till some time in November. They do not remain through the winter.
121. Œdemia fusca. Velvet Scoter.—A common resident. The largest flocks are seen in April and November, and the species is common all the year round.
122. Œdemia perspicillata. Surf Duck.—Very common from April to November, but does not winter. The males greatly preponderate over the females in this species, and Mr. Comeau tells me that the proportion is always about seven males to one female.
123. Mergus merganser. Sheldrake.—Tolerably common, breeding about the fresh water.
124. Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser.—Very common, frequenting both fresh and salt water.
125. Sula bassana. Gannet.—Occasional. I have found it breeding in numbers at the west end of Anticosti, but do not think it nests farther up in the Gulf.
126. Phalacrocorax carbo. Common Cormorant.—Rare. but Mr. Comeau has shot several here.
127. Phalacrocorax dilophus. Double-crested Cormorant.—Mr. Comeau shot a female May 19, 1882.
128. Stercorarius pomatorhinus. Pomatorhine Jaeger.—Rare.
129. Stercorarius parasiticus. Parasitic Jaeger.—Rather rare. Mr. Comeau shot six in one day about the middle of May, 1874.
130. Larus glaucus. Glaucous Gull; Ice Gull.—Rather rare. Usually seen in February, March, and April. I have a handsome male which was shot by Mr. Comeau April 29, 1882.
131. Larus leucopterus. White-winged Gull.—Not common. Commonly appears and disappears with the last. Mr. Comeau has shot it as late as May 1.
132. Larus marinus. Great Black-backed Gull.—Breeds, and is tolerably common. It is absent only in January and February. July 17, 1882, I found one of their nests on Great Baule, one of the Seven Islands. It consisted of a little coarse grass placed in a slight depression in the rock, and was lined with a sort of pad, about four inches in diameter, of beautiful soft down, on which reposed a single egg. The egg had been incubated, but failed to hatch.
133. Larus argentatus smithsonianus. Herring Gull.—Very abundant, breeding plentifully on suitable rocks. Arrives about the middle or latter part of April, remaining into November.
134. Rissa tridactyla. Kittiwake.—Breeds abundantly. Arrives late in April or early in May, remaining into December. This and the preceding are the commonest Gulls along this part of the coast, and are constantly seen, both singly and in immense flocks. They follow the receding tide and cover the sand flats that are exposed at low water, feeding upon the molluscs and other marine animals that abound in such situations. I have seen more than a thousand at one time.
135. Pagophila eburnea. Ivory Gull.—Very rare. Mr. Comeau shot a male in April, 1877, at Point de Monts. The specimen was presented to the Museum at Bersimis Mission, where it is now preserved.
136. Chroïcocephalus philadelphia. Bonaparte’s Gull.—A tolerably common summer resident, arriving late in May.
137. Sterna macrura. Arctic Tern.—Very abundant at certain places, where it breeds. Mr. Comeau once killed sixteen at one shot, flying. It arrives early in June.
138. Cymochorea leucorrhoa. Leach’s Petrel.—Common in summer.
139. Colymbus torquatus. Loon.—Common. Breeds about the fresh water lakes of the interior. I saw many, and heard others, in the Gulf, near Point de Monts, in July. Earliest seen April 12, 1882.
140, Colymbus septentrionalis. Red-throated Diver.—Common, breeding with the last, but not arriving so early, usually coming in May.
141. Podicipes griseigena holbœlli. Red-necked Grebe.—Rare; one shot in September.
142. Podilymbus podicipes. Dab-chick; Hell Diver.—Not rare; killed both spring and fall.
143. Fratercula arctica. Puffin; Sea Parrot.—Not common as far up as Point de Monts, but very abundant on the Mingan Islands, where they breed by thousands.
144. Alle nigricans. Dovekie.—Very abundant in flocks during some winters, arriving early in December and remaining till some time in February. During other winters it is rare or does not occur at all.
145. Uria grylle. Black Guillemot; Sea Pigeon.—A common resident, breeding not only here, but even on the islands off the mouth of the Saguenay, an hundred and fifty miles farther up the St. Lawrence.
146. Lomvia troile. Foolish Guillemot; Murre.—Like the Dovekie, the Murre is sometimes very abundant here in winter, while during other winters it does not occur at all. It is not wary, and does not even know enough to keep out of the way of dogs along the shore. It is well named the “Foolish” Guillemot, for both its habits and appearance deserve this appellation. In fact it looks like a perfect idiot, swimming over on one side as if one leg were broken, and staring vacantly at its enemies without attempting to escape. Its tout ensemble is stupid and gawky.
During the winter of 1875 they were so exceedingly abundant that Mr. Comeau shot about a thousand for their feathers, and his dog caught over fifty. They were all in very poor flesh, some being little more than animated skeletons, and a great many died and were washed ashore.
147. Utamania torda. Razor-billed Auk.—Not common here, but breeds on the Mingan Islands.