82 UPTON, MAINE 1874 August 28 sailed down the lake to Black island cove, firing a long shot at a black duck as we passed out of the river. In the pond hole of the cove we found about a dozen merganers but they all got off without our getting a shot. As we approached it at least 30 Ardea Herodias rose at once and after wheeling about in cir- cles lit on the tops of some dead pines which presented a cur- ios appearance covered with the great birds. Here I also saw two adult Larus agentatus light on an immense dead tree top and sit there sometime, their white plumage contrasting beautifully with a dark cloud which formed the back-ground. We found a flock of 4 Gambetta flavipes feeding in the mud and S. fired at one of them flying without success. Took the boat off B. cove and reached the house by sunset. All the swallows left here day before yesterday (25th) when we noticed them collecting in- to large flocks. August 28. Clear and a very warm day. In A.M. skinned a few birds. Late in P.M. took a tramp with S. over on the Tyler road but had miserable luck, bagging only 4 virds. Tetrao Can. ^ y.y. and D.maculosa y.y. Just beyond the bog as we were wal-k- ing quietly along I chanced to look up and my attention was im- mediately attracted by a pair of young spruce grouse which were sitting on a small larch over the path, one with neck outstretch- ed, the other squatted close on the limb. There they sat per- fectly motionless and presenting a beautiful sight amid the del- icate green frondage of the tree. After looking at them for some moments I shot one sitting and missed a snap shot at the