Will they survive or no? It is to be hoped that the optimists may win this time, for it would be a great pity to lose these beautiful little creatures. For their welfare during all but the bitterest of our weather there need be no fear, but the furnishing of the table of a bird who depends mainly on grain and insects for its sustenance may become a vital issue when our northern winter descends upon us, and when the door of the North Pole swings open about January 15th to stand wide until March 20th, and the north wind comes down, swirling and heaping the snow through the woods and over the open, I greatly fear that these little folk will regret the day they left the billowing grain fields and sunny vine-clad slopes of far-off Hungary.
Occasional Notes on Birds at Sea.
By Dr. William C. Kendall, Scientific Assistant U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.
The following notes were made by the writer while serving as naturalist on the U. S. Fish Commission Schooner, "Grampus," in 1891, 1894 and 1895, during cruises connected with enquiries relating to mackerel. These cruises extended from off the coast of Virginia to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and even southern Labrador, but all of the notes are not now available, thus rendering those following more or less fragmentary, desultory and indefinite. They are copied almost verbatim from the available notes, about the only change being that of adjusting such technical names as were used to the more modern nomenclature of "Knight's Birds of Maine." Owing to the writer's unfamiliarity with birds, unfortunately they could not always be identified with certainty when at a distance, and in the case of the Petrels not even when in hand. Therefore when the species is in the least in doubt the technical name when used is questioned. Many references are to Phalaropes without specifying the particular species. This is due mainly to inability to determine which they were. But always when identifiable the Northern Phalarope was the more common.
The only excuse the writer has for offering these notes for publication in the Journal is that he was urged to do so by officers of the society. So, ever desirous of obliging his friends, he has complied, even though contrary to good judgment and discretion.
1891.
May 5. Latitude 41° 16´ north; longitude 71° 2´ west. Two Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) seen flying northwest.
May 8. About 5.5 miles north and west from latitude 39° 46´ north; longitude 73° 46´ west. Two Herring Gulls were seen in shoreward. Two Loons (Gavia imber) and two Ducks (sp.?) were also observed. Fresh southwest by west breeze and hazy sky. When about six miles off Navesink a Yellow Warbler (Dendroica æstiva) flew aboard and remained for some time.
May 9. About 10.30 A. M.; near latitude 39° north; longitude 73° 55´ west. A small flock of Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus?) and one Petrel (sp.?) seen. At 12 M. Small numbers of Phalaropes and Petrels occasionally seen. Latitude 38° 39´ north; longitude 73° 39´ west; gentle west southwest breeze; temperature of air 56.5°. A flock of about thirty or more Phalaropes seen. 2.6 miles south and west of above position several small flocks of Phalaropes were observed. About latitude 38° 39´ north; longitude 73° 59´ west. Small flocks of Phalaropes seen. Have seen frequent small flocks during the afternoon. All the Phalaropes seem to be one species (P. lobatus?).