CIHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) - § •i 3 -- — ^. 2 1 3 _ • 1 • \ 5 6 • m ., ■^; MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TESJ CHART (ANSI and ISO TESl CflART No. 2) . ^ 1.0 ifi^ 1^ inii L25 iu 1.6 / .;• A., y^PPLIED IN/HGE li nc 165:3 East Main Street Rochester, New York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phfcne (716) 288- 5989 -FoK \ ' {From the Transact icS^of the A'om Scotiau lu-^tilute of Science., Ser. 2, Vol. J.) . I '^ VI.— Notes ON Nova ScotI an Zoology, No.2.— By Harry Piers. (Bead March 14th, J89;2.) ^^.In tl)/^ follmving paper it is my desire to bring before tlie Institute of Science such notes of new, rare or "otherwise interest- ing occurrences as have come to my knowledge or observation and been recordeil in my note-book. The present contribution is the second of a series which, if acceptable, will be prepared as often a.s time and material warrant.* Had a periodical record of similar kind been previously published in our Transactions, I do , not doubt it would Jiave been of interest and service to such" persons as myself who are occupied in studying the. fauna of Nova Scotia. As it is, much valuable infonnation has been lost through neglect to preserve it in such a way that it could be, of future use in the formation of elaborate and more particular treatises. It is* to remedy this that the present and previous collections of notes have been made. I wish to thank those who have always allowed ,me to inspect their collections, and who have ever been willing to stimulate me in my very pleasant duty of keeping Nature under police surveillance. BiRD.S. ^ ' King Eider (Somateria spectahilis). Mr. T. J. Egan informs me that during the present spring (1892) he mounted three of these rare ducks. They were shot at Lawrencetown, Sambro and Musquodoboit. Canada Goose (Bninta canade/isis). It was reported whether correctly or not, I cannot say— thatt a flock of wild geese had been observed during its northern migration on February 23rd of this year (1892)t. The main body, however, • TII« flnt number w«8 published in the Ttann. 4V. 5. I„.it. ,>f Nut. i-c, vol. v», pp. 467-474 , - (17^) \ :■■:.■ rv-r.-v-v. ..:;.;"^ - . -V . - 1. ,. -''_.. 1- ERS. tlie i ., ; est- mid ■■• ■ ; 4 176 NOTES ON NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY— PIERS» did not pass our locality until March 10th. During the after- noon of that day no le^s than ten very large flocks were seen within a short interval of time. Last year (1891) 1 noted the species on March 11th : in 1890, on March li|h ; and in 1889, on March 8th. According to this, the averagedate of their hrst passage is about March 11th. " Green Heron (Ardea virescens). This is an uncommon species in our avifauna. Mr. W. A. Purcell, taxidermist of Hali- fax, obtained a^specimen from Lawrencetown about April 20th, 1890, and shortly before the 15th of November, 1891, Mr. Arthur P. Silver was equally fortunate. , Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax mjcticorax nceuius). On^jt July 4th, 1889, Mr. Harry E. Austen, of Dartmouth, obtained a specimen of this rare wader, m full breeding plumage, at Cole Harbour, Halifax County. YiRGimA 'Rail (Rallm virginianus).- Rare in Nova Scotia. Mr. Purcell "set up" one which had been shot in the Province m^ November, 1890. ■ •% Red Phalarope (Crymophilus fulicafius). On June 10th, 189i, Mr. H. E. Austen obtained one of these uncommon summer visitors from a couple of fishermen who, early in the morning of that day, had rowed up to the bird and captured it with their hands.* As it was alive, Mr. Austen took it^^hoine and kept it about a week. An account of the capture appeared m the Ornithologist and Oologist, Boston (vol, xvi, p. 111.), a periodi- cal \Vhich frequently co'htains notes relating to our birds. While uncommon in this vicinity, I understand it is more abundant in the Bay of Fundy and at Cape Sable. Killdeer (^gialiteis vocifem). This plover is usually very rare in Nova Scotia, but in the fall of 1888 a flight of large size was driven northward by a severe storm and for a while the birds were numerous along our shore. Dr. Arthur P. Chad- bourne, who made a special study of the movements of this flock, and contributed his views to iTAe Auk for July, 1889, con- • According to Mr. Austen, the flBhermen called it » ".O^le. Bird ;" but as in ChamherWn • recent revision of Nuttall'8 Ornithology I And "Whale Btal" »)'«" " °"5^* i^; aSX to mta- this species, I am led to think that the similarity ol sounds may have caused Mr. Ausien wi u take the name by which his informers knew it. NOTES ON NOV-A SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY— PIERS. 177 sulers that the birdn while moving along the coast of Carolina had been blown to sea by a heavy gale arid from thence driven in our direction. For several days after this occurrence, the birds were abundant from this Province to Rhode Island In November, 1890, Mr. Purcell obtained a single specimen. American Rough-legoed Hawk (Archibuteo lagopus aandi- johanms). This bird has been becoming more rare than for- merly, but during the past season several were taken. Two (a .male and a female) were brought to Mr. Purcell, at different times, by "Josh" Umlah, who lives about seven miles from the city. I saw them both " in the flesh." The male was taken in a trap or snare about December 10th or 11th, 1891, and the female was shot on New Year's Day, 1892. Umlah said there was also a black -coloured hawk about his place: this was evi- dently one of the same species, but of the melanistic phase of plumage. About the middle of January, 1 892, George Umlah of Harrieisfield shot a very dark-coloured hawk, but failed to bring it out of the woods, excusing himself on the ground that, as it was almost crow-black, he thought it would be of no inter- est. This was doubtless another of the very rare, dark indi- viduals, a variety which is known by the name of "Black Hawk." Mr. T. J. Egan telLsjmfe that he had four of the birds ' in immature plujpage, and«9f <^he adult cr melanistic colour. They were all taken in the eaSy part of 1892. Saw-whet Owl (Nyctala acadica). This pretty little owl which is becoming a rarity in Nova Scotia, was very frequently observed during February, 1892.* I do not attribute this to an increase in number, but rather to the fact that, owing to a great scarcity of their usual food, the birds„were forced to leave the wowJs and come to the vicinity of dwellings. Just previous to Februafy 18th, I recorded six which were observed by various .people about my own home. Of this number two or three were picked up dead— evidently starved to death. In a single week preceding F^)ruary 19th, Mr. Purcell received three specimens, one of which was found dead beneath a quantity of lumber on one of the city wharves. Mr. Downs informs me that several ■ — ■ ■ ^ •The Kround was then covered with snow. 'Jh; 178 NOTES ON NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY— PI EJIS. were brought to him, und Mr. Egan also mounted a number. The birds were extremely thin. To exemplify the courage of this little owl when oppressed by hunger, I may relate the following incident My father, when a boy, possessed a rat which he had trained and taught to draw a small cart. One day he and Mr. George Piers discovered a Saw-whet which they captured and placed in the room with the rat, and waited to see the result. Immediately the owl pounce 180 NOTES OS NOVA SCOT! AN ZOOLOGY — ^piERS. *• July 3rd, when, Htill holding only the pair of eggH, Mr. Austen took both them and/ the nest. The outside of the latter was formed of grass w^ith/pine-needles and pieces of twigs. Without, the diameter was 4/inches, and depth, 2. Breadth of cavity, 2 J inches ; depth, 1 iyich. Mr. Austen describes the eggs aa being of a " bluish green tinge, speckled with reddish brown, and with a complete rin^ of dark-red blotches around the larger end." The identification was complete. Eggs of this species have been priee«l at a dollar and seventy-five cents each, which shows that their rarity/is such that any description of them will be of interest, / ' Yellow Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea). In 18153, Mr. William Winton sent to Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, the eggs of this species which he had co^/tht yellowish occipital ring, as belonging to the species Diadopkis Tbn T M ?r?7, '*'" '"^^' ^" ^^'^ P^-^^^»«^' ^«d which Mr. r r 7' .f^^ '^°'' "^* *^^^"^ ^^"^ *t all in Prince Edward island^y specimen is small-only '«J inches in length,-but very pretty. For some time I kept it alive, and it proved of much interest. The warmth of my skin was evidently pleasant to the reptile and It crawled over the hand "andwent around and between the fingers, occasionally thrusting out its tongue but never attempting to bite or make its escape^ /The following description may be of use in comparing this in'^ividual with othei-s from ' Pl''^' Edward Wi^d. Trans. N. S. Inst. JVat. &.. v. 1. IV.. pp. ^ / "i!.- 't " S=-T5J-AV^.'V| ■^>£, -,^ 182 NOTES ON NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY— PIERS. ■-^v . Mots along middle region of abdomen. Tip of tail for about one- thirtieth of an inch, all black (this is fiardly noticeable, except when examined closely). Occipital ring of the width of two scales, not interrupted, colour of anterior part of body beneath. Head beneath and upper labials, pale flesh-colour. Iris and pupil black. Number of abdominal scutell* from chin to anus, 155 + 1. Number of pairs of subcaudal scutellse, 56. Number of dorsal rows of scales around the body (excluding the abdominal series), 15. , - Total length (tip qf snout to tip of tail), 5^ inches. Itength of tail (anus to tip), 109 inches. The late Mr J. M. Jones, in his paper entitled " Contributions- to the Natural History of Nova Scotia : Reptilia,"* speaks of the Ring Snake as our rarest species, and Dr. J. Bernard Gilpin f likewise considered it very uncommon. The former gentleman records only two specimens — one taken at Annapolis by Dr. Gilpin, and the other captured in September, 1863, at Mr. Andrew Downs' place near Halifax. Dr. Gilpin has only recorded one, which he captured at Fairy Lake, September, 1870, and for which he sacrificed a smaU flask of whiskey in order to preserve the valuable specimen. Some, twenty-five or thirty years ago,, my father, Mr. Henry Piers, saw one of these snakes swimming with great ease across the water at " Stony Beach," about twelve miles from Halifax, on the road to Prospect. The animal wa» about a foot and a half long, and the yellowish occipital ring was conspicuous. In 1885 a popular English periodical contained a few notes on snakes in captivity, written at Halifax, in which the writer spoke of having a Ring Snake which had been cap- tured near the city in the summer of ..1885. It must of course be understood that this, coming from an unscientific sou^e, can- not be vouched for. I may say that I have now been so fortu- nate as to have personally observed all the serpents known to occur in Nova Scotia, two of which are extremely rare. . • i/Von*. N. S. iMt. Nat. Sc., Vol. I., pt. 8, pp. 114-128. t " On U>e SerpenU of Ncv« Scotta." Tran*. If. S Intt Kat. S:.. Vol. IV., pp. 80-88 NOTES ON NOVA SCX)TIAN ZOOLOGY— PIERS. 183 ^ brothers, Mr. Charlie and Sidney Piers, while fishing at Bayer^ o^^nf "^ K^^ ^"^^''^ ^*^y ^^' ^^y 21«t. 1891. netted one of these beautiful reptiles a« it swam through the wa4«r. obU rr^T"* ^"^*- ^ ^^"^^ *^« ^i°»^l i'^ ^«ter and Observed its habits and movements, which interested me much. r! uu7 P^^^°**^ description, written while it wa« alive. Should be of advantage, ^ specimens immersed in alcohol lose certain of their colours which are extracted or altered by the spirit : *' Whole animal with exception of top and sides of head and portions of legs, spotted or punctured, in a greater or less f nftJiK n^"^' ^^''' """^ ^^^^"' «"^^«y ^^'^-^ o^ ^-ek and he^ Obscure superciliary line of a colour lighter than upper part of head. On ra^h side of the vertebra are three crimson spots encircled with, black. They are not, however, regularly opposite each other. The anterior one on the left side 18 a httle posterior to the fore-leg; the second one on 'the same side IS -17 of an inch behind the anterior one; and the third or p^tenor one is 30 of an inch behind the secoAd. On the right 8ide,th« anterior spot is opposite the second^ spot on left side : the second is 23 of an inch behind the first; and the posterior one IS opposite the posterior one on the. left side. Beneath. fn, Tl K> .u' ^'^ ""d«^«d« oi head. Lower half of tail not much lighter than upper half. Line of demarcation between the dhve-brown of the upper part of animal and the yellowish colour of the lower portion, is fairly distinct; it proceeds from whichT 1Z^ *^! "^" '^ *^' ^^ ^"'^ ^y to the anus (which IS a httle posterior to the hind-legs.) Irides golden with black mark across. Snout to fore-leff . . .kc • , , . , , ° oo ins. • hm^hg J.4Q „ anterior crimson spot on left side ... 70 " "7 XXV, pp. 10S41110 # 184 NOTES ON NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY^PIERS. When laid on the carpet tbe reptile crawled very slowly and awkwardly, but it was perfectly at home when placed in a bottle of water. Thel-e it used its feet to assist the tail in propelling the body, and the tail when so employed, moved in a sinuous manner. Respiration in liquid occurred from two to three times a minute. ' Fishes. Baumaris Sh^rk (Lamna cornuhica). On April 10th, 1891, a shark was found off Sambro by Captain John Brown of Her- . ring Cove, pierced through the tail by a trawl-hook and unable to free itself. It was secured with much, difficulty and brought to this city where i examined it and prepared detailed drawinga It proved to be the Porbeagle or Baumaris Shark, a species com- mon to both sides of the Atlantic, and elsew^here. This is the first record I know of its capture in these waters, although o* course it was to be expected. Mr. J. Matthew Jones does not include it in his excellent catalogue of our fishes, and neither does Knight nor Perley in those which they prepared. The present specimen weighed four hundred pounds, and its extreme length from tip of snout to tip of caudal, was seven feet three , and a half inches. When dissected, it was found that the stomach contained a whole Cod (G. morirhua) yfeighing four or ^ve pounds, together with the head of Another Cod, and also a Hake {P. tenuis) of about the same size as the entire Cod. The liver was greenish-yellow. I, r- le it s. 1- le 3t 88 at bh id 2h kre er ^■i^ij •J/ ■^\ « '-n •^ — ^ •' ■ r' ' - .. ' . - '•J 1^ i TLi.- ^' 'k ^ -ft^'Mifea^ / J^ii^v^V^'. J*