Midldexy Co., Mass. 72 MASS. (Middlexax Co.) 1875 Feb. 26 which came cutting across a small apparatus of open water under the shadow of a large willow tree. Thinking it a mink I remained motionless until it with some difficulty crawled out upon the ice which margined the shore, and within gunshot of my position, when I discovered much to my surprise that my mink was nothing else than a large star nosed mole (Condylura cristata) which had probably been drowned out of his subterranean abode, and in the full blaze of the mid-day sun was con- fusedly seeking another congenial retreat. After watching it for a few moments I fired and shot it. Fired only one Shot during the forenoon - at a flock of Phe. Pheasants of which I knewed over four. They were feeding in the furrow of a ploughed field and it was interesting to see them creep at me over the ridge of a furrow then withdraw from sight behind its protecting walls and the next instant appear again perhaps 100 ft. off Upon picking up my specimens I was much surprised to find that two birds out of the four had the hind- and some of the other - toe nails produced to a most surprising length & in one specimen these were twisted slightly and attenuated at several places till it seemed wonderful that they had not been broken off. In addition to this furlal of the two in each bird were excessively swollen, but probably