Lake Umbagog journals, 1871-1916 (inclusive)

SB 97415 (6) 6. Birds of Lake Umbagog, Maine. ✓ Canachites canadensis canace-I. ✓ Bonasa umbellus togata - - - 2. ✓ Ectopistes migratorius - - - 3. ✓ Zenaidura macroura - - - - - 4.

Canachites canadensis.

Canace canadensis. Maine (Lake Umbagog). 1872 June -- Gideon Stone, one of the early settlers of this region tells me that he has frequently seen the Spruce Grouse drum. He describes the performance as follows: The male springs from the ground vibrating its wings rapidly and rises at an incline of about 45° to some horizontal branch ten or twelve feet above the ground, where it rests a moment and then returns to the ground on about the same incline also drumming as it descends. The sound thus produced is much like that of the Ruffed Grouse but lacks the preliminary, disconnected thuds, andis altogether shorter, more hurried, and not as loud, although it may be heard a considerable distance in still weather. 1873. June 20. An adult female with a chick about five days old were brought to me alive by one of the guides who took them on the Tyler Path. He said that there were ten young in the brood. He snared the female in the usual manner with a nooseof twine attached to the end of a short pole, passing the noose over her head. Aug. 13. Two young birds, a male and female in first plumage and about half grown, were killed on the Tyler Path, and brought to me. Their crops contained raspberries, blueberries, checkerberries, fir buds, and needles. 1874. July 28 Among the thickly growing young firs and spruces behind the mill, I came upon a brood of young Spruce Grouse about as large as Quail. They rose t with a heavy whirring to the tops of the low firs where they sat watching me, uttering occasionally a low whistling noise. The mother, also alighted on a fir near by and called incessantly kruek-kruck, krrr-kruok to her young. Approaching her cautiously I actually got near enough to prod her in the breast with the muzzle of my gun pushing her off the branch, when she flew rapidly with a loud whirring to another small tree and allowed me to approach quite as near again. Upon my withdrawing a few yards she began to call again, and the young birds answering she shortly after took wing and alighted among them. In flight and general altitudes I noticed nothing very different from those of the Ruffed Grouse. The young looked very like those of that bird at a corresponding age.

Canachites canadensis. Maine (Lake Umbagog). 1874. July 31. Came upon the same brood soon on the 28th, in the spruces behind the mill. One of the young, the largest, walked out along a spruce limb with his tail erected like a turkey cock's, calling continuously in nearly the same tones as his mother. Canace canadensis. 1874. Maine (Lake Umbagog). (Aug. 20) Shot a female which I flushed in a tangle of rasp- berry bushes in a perfectly open pasture on the side of Upton Hill, nearly one hundred yards from the edge of the woods, which for a long distance in, were composed exclusively of hard woods. 24. Killed a very fine adult male on the road to the Sluice. 29. While walking quietly along the Tyler Path just beyond the bog I happened to look up and discovered two young Spruce Grouse sitting in the branches of small larch directly over my head, one with neck outstretched, the other squatted close on the limb. They sat perfectly motionless, their statuesque figures framed by the deli- cate green foliage which surrounded them. After watch- ing them a moment I shot one and missed the other as it flew. The bird killed had its crop filled with larch needles. Sept. 4. Leaving the Tyler Path to pick up a bird that I had shot I came suddenly upon an old male Spruce Grouse. As he stood on a little knoll in a clump of bunch berries with a stray sunbeam lighting up his dark plumage he pre- sented a most beautiful appearance and I looked at him several moments before shooting. Henry Douglass kill- ed another, a fine male in fall plumage. 11. A very fine adult male shot on the Tyler Path.

Canachites canadensis. Maine (Lake Umbagog). 1876. June 14. Between the entrance to the Tylor Path and the bog I came upon a fine male Spruce Grouse. He rose from the path with a faint flutter and alighted in a low alder. I watched him for some time and noticed that the red space over the eye was very conspicuous; that he held his tail high with the under covert striking down below it; and that he turned his head very slowly and steadily and slowly as if it were moved by automatic machinery. At length I turned to walk away to fair shooting distance when he immediately took wing, flying directly after me along the path and actually alighting within six feet of my heels. The next moment afterwards, however, he skulked into the bushes and again flew to a low limb where I shot him. 1879. May 24. In the woods immediately behind the house, I discovered a female Spruce Grouse sitting erect near the trunk of a spruce. After a moment she walked deliberately out along the limb and began to feed. Plucking mouthfuls of needles with a quick, nervous motion. Canace canadensis. 1879. Maine (Lake Umbagog). (May 30) Oscar Moss who has often seen this Grouse drum discredited it as follows: The male flies straight upward from the ground to the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and as it descends produces a muffled roll exactly like the closing part of the Ruffed Grouses. The favorite haunts of this Grouse here are said to be larch swamps. 1880. May 19. Alva Coolidge tells me that a nest containing thirteen eggs was found several years since in the open end of a hollow log in the larch bog on Mollidgewalk Stream.

Canachites c.canace. (n) 3920. 6 eggs. Upton, Maine, May 24, 1901, John E.Thayer, Incubation slight. Nest on ground on knoll under small fir balsam, discovered by Alva Coolidge. Presented to Wm.Brewster, by Col.Thayer, June II, 1901.

Canachites canadensis. L. Umbagog, Maine. 1 Brood of 10 chicks about 2 days old with parent 2 jun Tetrao canadensis.- June 28 ; Aug. 13 1873. July 28th with brood of young - 31 ♀ with nest, eggs being laid ♀ Aug 20 shot in fashion - 23 ad ♂ 28 2nd ♂ Sept. 4 ad ♂ 11 ad ♀ 1874 June 14 '13 15-16 / May 24 2 Tetrao canadensis Oct. 15 & shot, Tyler Rd.; June 18, 2 ad ♂ Tetrao canadensis - Oct. 17 3rd shot - 23 ad ♂♂ 1886. 1888. Sept. 1887. Tetrao Canadensis 17- two jun, & 1 ♀ shot on Tyler path by Mr. Munson / 3 jun. in coll. 14053. Sept. Tetrao Can 11/2 ad ♂ / 1889 Tetrao can 1889 68 Canace Can. Sept. 28 (ad ♀) shot Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1890. 1889. L. Umbagog, Maine. Spruce Grouse Sept. & Oct. Although I saw no Spruce Grouse during this autumn, they were said to be very numerous in suitable places. Mr. Charles R. Sherman told me that he met with nearly double as many as last year, when they were more numerous than they had been for a number of years previously. He saw them repeatedly along the Tyler Road, and on one occasion he met with a flock of five composed of three hens and two cocks in perfect plumage. It would seem as if they were getting back to their former numbers in this region. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Canace canadensis 1893 Oct. 16 Mr. Sherman who has been hunting Partridges daily since the 1st tells me that he seen the Spruce Partridge but once when he came upon a flock of six in the old locality the rocknutuck brush on the road to the Tyler place. He believes however, that they have not diminished much in numbers since he came to Upton Elliott Rail has seen them this season on two occasions and the Middlewood burnt land.

Dendragapus canadensis. 1897 Lake Umbagog. May 29 A female seen by C. H. Waters among pasture stones at the eastern and western end of the Sists (formerly Heyward) farm near the Mansion. The bird was exceedingly tame and Mr. Watkins was for upwards of an hour hoping that she might go to her nest. But instead she remained in practically one place occasionally pecking at the grass & green leaves of plants, apparently feeding. At length he tried to flush her but when he got within about 15 feet she slowly walked in under the overhanging branches of a shrub where she left him. June 18 Fred Flint tells me that the Spruce Partridge has become increasingly rare throughout the whole region of the upper Megalloway as far, at least, as Lake Passadumkeag. It began diminishing in numbers 12 or 15 years ago. He can suggest no explanation of the fact. 1903 June 14 Alva Coolidge tells me that he has seen at least four different Spruce Partridges (one of which was with three mates) this season, most of them along the track leading from Upton to B. Pond.

Dendrograms canadensis. 1898 September Two young girls were shot about Sept. 26th and a fair adult ♂ (by Miss Seguin) Sept. 28 on the Middlebridge burnt Cands. Mr. Shumway tells me that he saw only one last autumn in all his hunting & Daniel Haywood has seen but one in the Berkshire Hills again in the last five years.

Canachites canadensis. Undescribed First Plumages, Brewster 115. Tetrao canadensis. Downy stage: chick about a week old. General ground-color buff-yellow. Central area of crown bright rufous, with a marginal lining of black. A spot of black on the forehead and on each lore, with three nearly confluent ones over the auriculars. Rump yellowish-rufous. Back and wings fulvous, the primaries, secondaries, wing-coverts, and scapulars barred with brownish-black. Under parts immaculate. From a specimen in my collection obtained with the female parent at Upton, Me., June, 1873. First plumage: female. Ground-color above bright reddish-brown, becoming reddish-chestnut on the crown. The feathers are marked everywhere with black blotches of angular outlines and irregular shapes. Upon the neck and rump they form transverse bars: they are broadest and most conspicuous on the scapulars, where they restrict the ground-color to a narrow central lining along the shaft of the feathers, and a few irregular outlying spots. Primaries and secondaries edged and tipped with pale fulvous. Tail crossed by eight distinct, continuous black bars. Auriculars spotted with dusky black. Throat and a broad superciliary line pale buff. (It should be stated that these parts are covered with what seems to be the still unchanged feathering of the chick.) Breast and sides bright rufous-orange, each feather with a pair of black spots on the outer webs. Upon the breast these spots are small and nearly round, but along the sides they become broader until about the anal region they form transverse bars. Central, abdominal, and anal regions immaculate buffy-white. From a specimen in my collection obtained at Upton, Me., July 28, 1874. Among the series of young males before me there are none in strictly first plumage. The moult begins early in August and proceeds very gradually, a few of the feathers dropping out at a time, as they are replaced by the more permanent fall plumage. The wing and tail feathers are invariably moulted; thus through the last half of August and nearly the whole of September the plumage presents a curiously patched appearance. In this condition the young male may be distinguished from the female by the black feathers which begin to appear in patches on the breast. The sexes are otherwise quite similar at this age. In both, the throat, cheeks, and sides of the neck are profusely but rather finely spotted with black upon a yellowish—in some examples ashy—white ground. This is unquestionably a remnant of the first plumage, which in the young female previously described had not replaced the down. The feathers upon the throat and crown are apparently the last to go, as they are not replaced in any of the specimens before me until the succeeding plumage is nearly complete. Both sexes acquire their full plumage during October, and by the latter part of that month, adults of either sex can only be distinguished with the greatest difficulty from birds of the year. Bull. N.O.C. 4, Jan., 1879, p. 43-44.

Canachites canadensis. Lake Umbagog, Maine. Tetrao canadensis 1888 Habits, call notes, food, quality of flesh etc Sept. 11 My pointer found & pointed a brood of five or six in an open meadow among long grass fully 30 yards from the brush. They rose like quail all at once, with a loud whirr & flew straight & strongly making directly into the woods. One Ruffed Grouse a minute after the others. I shot two flying, in the meadow & three in the woods, the first of the latter my dog roaded & pointed as it sat on a log. The second we discovered low down on a balsam on a dead branch. The third my guide found near the top of a spruce fully 40 ft. above the ground, this last Upton, Maine. Tetrao canadensis 1884 Oct 25 Upon inquiring among the guides regarding the drumming of this Grouse I have the following somewhat conflicting accounts from two men of unspeakable veracity. Benjamin Sargent many years ago heard a peculiar whirring sound in a cedar swamp. Cautiously approaching he discovered two Spruce Grouse, a D & O, the male, from rose and mounted slowly into the air in a spiral course directly around the stem of a large balsam. His wings vibrated with great rapidity producing a continuous "roaring" sound. He encircled the tree about three or four times moving rapidly feet & at length alighted among the branches, after resting a moment he descended to the same way producing the same sound circling the tree as before ascending. Upon reaching the ground where they were sitting he while he spread his tail like a fan and fluttered like a turkey cock. The sound could be heard at least fifty yards. Sargent saw this performance repeated at least twenty times. The first was without branches for the first ten feet. For the last ten the

Canachites canadensis. Then young I found them delicious, much softer than the flesh both before & after cooking was in the flesh and checked my mind. The memory of a stuffed goose. Young birds usually full for K-I known Sauguet this one that in her own before lunch a great some coffee any good her raw game bread done in the hot water the only sweet appetizer, the most delightful meat you should lean back and under than the stuffed goose. Canadian Oriental Fruits Game dish, on dashing the young gamey flavor that I do I found that my plate was satisfying packing hours of fun, certainly then but but a few fowl before murder. On cutting two of find a B, I think very few have a few wandering relatives, gone, was never not called the call of a long drawn out. mind it lead up to them perhaps The making full butter: cupids & offspring of me a big piece of the tail and checked my mind. the memory of a stuffed goose. Young birds usually full for K-I known Sauguet this one that in her own before lunch a great some coffee any good her raw game bread done in the hot water the only sweet appetizer, the most delightful meat you should lean back and under than the stuffed goose. Canadian Oriental Fruits Game dish, on dashing the young gamey flavor that I do I found that my plate was satisfying packing hours of fun, certainly then but but a few fowl before murder. On cutting two of then document things the reading of the very great T. Robinson, when you come to think of it, many years in this world's domain. I must confess that once a grand slam to the top. In my hands they used to be at their feet, my pocket, but it is gone, during cat law the great game, during cat law I found the crisp little decided I would do it again. My wife Oct 17th 1883 The great test was then done in the order of their position for the Sauced Musket ball. One shot down.

Canachites canadensis. In captivity Will Peaslee tells me that some years since he caught some young Spruce Grouse about the rim of Dead. One died in a short time but the other grew apace and became very tame. They were kept in a box but occasionally were turned loose in the yard when they fed among the hens & were easily caught on the hand. The eat bread, curds, and all kinds of insects. It was a favorite amusement with the members of the family to take one of these birds about a room when flies were Upton, Maine Icterus canadensis

Canachites canadensis. chirping to the sides when the flowers would fold at noon with eagerness & leave many Parrots froth than the Rufus grouse was not noticed. During Marching weather in February I have heard the Hume grouse make a noise very like the throng crack of a gun. But this is an old sound found in her own flight from them.

Canachites canadensis canace. 1888, Lake Umbagog. September 11. The Sluice to C Pond. A mile above I took to the meadow, S.dragging the boat. "Don" came to point in long grass. Five Spruce Grouse rose all together with a grand rush and roar of wings. I killed with 1st missed with 2d barrel. Another bird rose and I dropped it. One bird wing broken. Got on log and chuckled. In green woods (spruce and fir) I shot three more, one on log over point, two in trees. One of latter uttered a warbling whistle. All young well grown. One mangled by wad. 1890, Lake Umbagog. September 23. Pearley White's son brought in two Spruce Grouse which he killed on the Mollidgewank road to-day. 1896, Lake Umbagog. May 19 Watrous went to Mollidgewank with Mr.Sweat this morning to search for Spruce Partridge's nests. They found abundance of signs - dusting hollows, etc. - but saw no birds. 12

L.Umbagog. Canace canadensis. 1890. Sept.28. Pearley White's son shot two to-day on the path to Mollidgwauk and I bought them of him. They were together, he said, and he could find no others near them. One was an adult ♀ the other a young male which had acquired nearly full plumage except on the head and neck. The ♀ had moulted recently and still had some pin feathers although the plumage was apparently perfect. The crop of the ♀ contained 51 berries of Viburnum nudum, some fragments of small mushrooms, and a few needles of the black spruce. The crop of the male had 13 V. nudum berries, fragments of mushrooms, and a number of needles of the larch. The flesh of both birds was dark, tender, and wholly free from any smell of spruce. Aldana Brooks tells me that he found a nest last spring about June Ist. It was near the shore of Richardson Lake on low ground covered with black ash, birches, alders and a few larches. It was built on the top of a low mound and contained nine (9) eggs. The ♀ was sitting and Brooks nearly stepped on her before she started. She fluttered off a few yards & then stopped & watched him. The nest was not near a log, rock or tree trunk as is usually the case with the nest of the common Partridge.

L.Umbagog. 1890. Canace canadensis. Oct. Spruce Grouse are said to be more numreous even than they were last year. Mr. Sherman sees them almost every day. He and several of the other hunters refuse to shoot them. On one occasion this autumn he very nearly caught an old cock in his hand. The bird was sitting on a low branch and allowed him to extend his fingers to within six inches of its foot when it flew to a higher branch. I saw a pair of young birds which were shot on the Mollidgwauk burnt lands but most of those reported were seen in the favorite old haunt the swamp on the Tyler road.

Canachites canadensis. Lake Umbagog. 1903 June 14 Alva Coolidge tells me that he has seen at least four different hen Spruce Partridges this spring along the trail that leads from Upton to B.Pond. He has searched long and carefully for their nests but without success. It was on this trail that he and five John Thayer found the nest and eggs that the latter gave me two years ago.

Bonasa umbellus togata. 2 16

Bonasa umbellus togata. L. Umbagog, Maine. Bonasa umbella. - Heard fural drumming. May 30-June 10, 1871. Bonasa umbello. - Lgt. 10, 11, 24 1873. Aug 4 5 broods - 6 2 broods - 7 1 ad - 15 3 broods 24 3 broods 26 ad - 29 2 broods - Sept. 7 - 10 11 May 20 & Sept 7- 17 - 19 / Oct 15 1872 - 16- 17- 18- 20- 21 Bonasa umbella. Oct. 4, 19, 12, 13, 14, 17, 26 1834. Bonasa umbello - Oct 10 - 12 - 15 - 16 17 - 18 - 19 - 21-23-24 Bonasa umbella. Oct, 12 - 13 - 15 - 16 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 1836. Bonasa umbella 20 - 22 - 23 - 26 Sept. 1837. Sept. Bonasa 24 - 5 - 9- 14- 25- 27- 29 - Oct 6 - 8 - 11 1838 Lake Umbagog, Maine. Bonasa umbelle togata 1888 Sept 25 Came suddenly on five in the woods. One walked slowly along shaking his head & ruffs with a spiteful air as if angry. Another flew up into a maple and watched me with outstretched motionless head & neck. The bird on the ground uttered a noise very like the chitter of the red squirrel. Finally all flew. Afterward came upon two of the same flock. One sat crouched on a log another crept on an adjoining log, both perfectly motionless. Shot one & the other did not move a muscle although they were less than 5 yds. apart & not

Bonasa umbellus togata. L. Umbagog, Maine. Bonasa umbella - Left. 10, 11, 24 1873. May 4 broods 6 broods 7 alone 15 group 24 26 alone 29 2 broods 34 brood. 16 1/2 1874 1880 May 20 left Sept 7 1/2-17 3/4-19 / Oct 15-16 2-17 2-18 2-20 1-21 1 Bonasa umbella. Oct. 10, 19, 12, 13, 14, 17, 26 1884. Bonasa umbella - Oct 10 1/2 - 12 1/2 - 15 1/2 - 16 1/2 - 17 1/2 - 19 1/2 - 21 1/2-23 1/2-24 1/2 Bonasa umbella. Oct, 12 1/2 - 13 1/2 - 15 1/2 - 16 1/2 - 19 1/2 - 20 1/2 - 21 1/2 - 22 1/2 - 23 1/2 1886. Bonasa umbella 20 1/2 - 22 1/2 - 23 1/2 - 26 1/2 Sept. 1887. Sept. Bonasa 24 1/2-5 1/2-9 1/2-14 1/2-25 1/2-27 1/2-29 1/2 Oct 5 3/4 - 6 1/2 - 11 1/2 1888 on Ten Islands from the pond. Bonasa umbellus. This was found in the open field, not in any of the forest, but near it. Taking the forest bird and one here. It may be that when a female is disturbed she calls her young to fly together again.

Bonasa umbella. Maine (Lake Umbagog). 1873. Sept. 10. Came upon a flock of six on the banks of Cambridge River. They were so tame that I easily killed them all, shooting 6 or in succession with my rifle. 1874. Aug. 4. Started five broods of young all about half-grown. They were all very tame. Most of them took to the trees when started and several made curious demonstrations, apparently of anger at my intrusion, ruffling their feathers, jerking their tails, and making a whistling and grunting noise. One of the old birds lay very closely before my setters point, squatting on the bare turf in a little opening not two yards ahead of him. " 6. Saw two large broods of young on the Tyler Path. " 24. Saw three broods on the road to the Sluice all unusually shy. One brood of about a dozen rose from a bed of brakes in an open clearing, going up one after another. Sept. 19. On the road to Bethel our team passed under one sitting on the branch of a poplar over the road, and so near that I could almost reach her with my hand. 1876. June 22. A brood of young, apparently just hatched, following the mother through the woods. 1880. June 22. All the hunters here believe that the male Ruffed Grouse frequently takes charge of a brood of young. Alva Coolidge to-day came across such a family and he is certain that the parent in charge was a male. He also thinks that those birds regularly pair. That this is the case with the Spruce Grouse is unanimously asserted here. The woodsmen always find the paired birds together in the spring. Sept. 17. Coming down Cambridge River this evening we started two Grouse from a Virburnum entago on the bank. They feed much on the berries of this bush this season. 1882. Oct. 8-22 Abundant. They feed on birch buds, poplar leaves, leaves of Oxalis, berries of Viburnum opulus and mountain ash, and grasshoppers. 1874. Sept. 14. My setter pointed a brood of six among some weeds in an open fields nearly an hundred yards from the edge of the woods.

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, New England. Nest /9 (2837), May 18, 1896, coll.Wm.Brewster. Female seen on nest. Eggs fresh. Sargent farm (near Lakeside). Found by W.May 15. I took 3 pho.May 17, 2 sitting bird, 8 ft.off. Nest edge alder thicket, bet.2 large roots of old stump small arb. vit.& viburnum lento overhanging & hiding it. Started bird, whirred and dragged body, trailing wings as if with young. Nest /9 (2842), May 21, 1896, coll.Wm.Brewster. Female seen on nest at distance of 3 feet. Inc.5 or 6 days. Sargent farm (near Lakeside). Nest found May 16, bird on. Ex.next day when it held 9 eggs. Under remains of old brush fence on edge of open field, several yds.outside border of forest. (Cf.Journal May 17 for further details). Nest /II (2843), May 21, 1896, coll.Wm.Brewster. Female (very dark bird) seen on nest at 3 ft. Eggs, I per.fresh, 10 inc. Sweat farm (near Lakeside). Nest, head of Sweat Cove, within 30 ft. of road, on edge of cover bordering pasture, at foot of yellow birch, in dead branches on mound, hidden above by dense young firs, etc., but could be seen several rods away. Male drumming 100 yds. off. Seven eggs (2844), May 21, 1896, coll.Wm.Brewster. Female seen on nest at distance of 8 ft. Eggs slightly inc. Brown farm (near Lakeside) May 14, 4 eggs; 16, 6; 17, 7. Female light reddish for togata. Nest on knoll wooded with 2d gr.poplars, firs, etc., 130 yds. fr. road, 10 fr. field, under trunk small fallen poplar, in dead sticks. (cf.sys.notes); merely a few birch leaves & feath- ers in hollow.

Bonasa umbellus togata. MAINE, (L. Umbagog.) Bonasa umbella togata 1885 Oct. 9 Very scarce, only a few killed, and then without exception adults. The little must have killed all the young. On Oct. 16 I heard three drumming in the swamps bordering Cambridge River; the first about noon in an alder swamp where the warm sunshine flooded his retreat, The second at sunset among dark thicket growing spruces on a hillside where immense mossy logs were piled on one another in great confusion, The third in open hardwood timber after it had became nearly dark and where an Owl (Bubo vir)

Bonasa umbellus togata.

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog. 1886, October 19. While listening heard a loud rustling and saw a mouse bustling about in the dry leaves. Shot at it and was searching in the leaves where it had been sitting, when another and louder rustling attracted my attention. The sound approached steadily and presently a very large fine grouse appeared, stalking grace- fully through the bushes, nodding his head at each step. After watching him a few moments I shot him. 1889, September 25. Lake Umbagog. Near Bottle Brook I took it (a bird calling) for a Wood Duck. Jim said it was a Partridge. He was doubtless right for on paddling to the spot I discovered a Grouse sitting on a log and shot it. At the report of the gun several others rose and alighted in the trees and bushes. 1889. September 29. Lake Umbagog. Pine Point. Jim shot two Grouse near the camp and I a third which came within 15 yds. of our fire, but which I followed nearly him quarter of a mile back into the woods. Finally killed over a steady point. He was squatting on a bed of green moss under large hemlocks. I saw his glistening eye first, then made out his head and finally the whole bird. 21

Bonasa umbellus, togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1888. In the Notch (returning home) saw two Grouse, one a fine Oct.12. old "drummer" walked deliberately across the road his tail raised and spread like a fan, his ruffs twitching, shaking his head as if he were trying to dislocate his neck. When the horses were within ten feet of him he stopped and stood erect and still looking like a bunch of withered leaves. After we passed he began picking at some berries.

Bonasa u. ogale Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1889 Maine Oct. 21 B. Umbagog -- Found a flock of m.f. together on the bare shore & shot them all sitting. There were four ♀♀, one young ♂ and one very large fine old drummer. The latter repeatedly strutted with tail raised perfectly erect and spread like a fan at the same time shaking his ruffs and nodding his head. He acted precisely as if he were threatening me. The others merely walked along very slowly continually pausing & standing erect to look at me with simple curiosity apparently. All (including the drummers) uttered the usual red-squirrel-like chatter or chitter except one which having flown a few rods and alighted on a log called coo-coo-coo-coo very softly at intervals of a few seconds. I have heard this call but once before - Sept. 25-1889 on the Megalloway when I took it at first for a muskrats peculiar murmur which it rather closely resembles. The bird making it to say was a ♀. For two weeks or more Grouse have been feeding largely on buds. They also eat the berries of the black alder and various leaves. One had two large white root tubers in its crop. Another had the crop entirely filled with the leaves of a fern (Dicksonia, I believe). I have never found the needles of any of the conifers in the crops of them maine Grouse. " 25 Long after sunset, nearly dark in fact, a Grouse flew across Rapid River & alighted in a thicket of yew on an island within a few yards of me. For several minutes I could hear her rustling among the dry leaves. I finally went in & trampled the bed over but failed to flush her. Afterwards my guide tried and started her within 5 yards of where we saw her alight. I was convinced that she had settled herself for the night flying to her bed as one would do. Roosting on an island & flying to bed.

Bonasa u togala Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1889 Maine Oct. 26 L. Umbagof. Some young men camping on the Megadiscor told us that a Grouse drummed near their tent at frequent intervals This morning long before daylight, they thought about 2 to 3 a.m. I started a bird to-day which acted precisely like our Maine Grouse, rising fully as though & making long flights. It rose first from the edge of a Spring. Yesterday my guide found two at a Spring & saw one drink. Drumming at night in autumn. Midruns Drinking at springs.

(1) Bonasa u. togala 1889. Maine. I. Umbagog. These Grouse were more numerous this autumn than I have known them to be for fifteen years. Their abundance is prob- ablely explained by the fact that there was less than two feet of snow and no hard crust last winter, and remarkably dry weather during the early spring. Few were seen about the openings or wood-roads during the first half of September, but after the leaves fell great numbers of them appeared a- round the edges of the openings, the shores of the lake and rivers and the wood-paths as well as on some of the travelled roads that pass through the woods. On the carry road between the lakes, over one hundred were killed in three weeks. The hunters say that the Grouse come to the roads to bask in the sun and to get gravel, into the openings for the sake of the sun and to pick clover and so forth. They also are very fond of buckwheat and often feed out into a buckwheat stubble for a distance of fifty yards from the edge of the woods. Oat stubbles do not similarly attract them. But few are seen during rainy or very cloudy weather when they remain in the shelter of the dense woods. The best time to find them in the openings and roads is after a cold frosty night about nine or ten o'clock in the forenoon when the sun is warm. The stiller and warmer the day, the tamer the birds. During cold, windy days they are sometimes so wild that it is difficult to get within shot of them. They are in small flocks, rarely single, during September; but most of these flocks become broken and scattered during the first week of October, although a few keep together until the close of the month. Few wild birds are more absurdly tame, or rather stupid, than these Grouse during warm, still weather. Upon seeing the hunter, the bird invariably stretches up its neck and stands perfectly still, staring at him in stupid astonishment. It will ordinarily permit him to approach within about ten yards without moving, and sometimes to within almost as many feet. When he gets near enough to alarm it, the bird it bobs its head slightly up and down, at the same time uttering 25

(2) Bonasa u. togata 1889. Maine. T. Umbagog. a noise closely resembling the snicker of the red squirrel. This indicates that it has at length become alarmed. It may then fly, but usually it starts off at a slow walk, continuing the snickering noise, shaking its head violently at each step and erecting its crest. Unless followed, it seems to recover from its alarm after going a few yards and then pauses and stands ereet again. If it flies it merely flutters up into the near- est bush or to the branch of a spruce or hemlock twenty or thirty feet above the ground. Sometimes it will drop back to the ground again after merely rising over a windfall or belt of bushes. In a tree the Grouse is very hard to discern unless its flight has been previously marked to the spot. It stands rather erect, its feathers drawn in closely to its body, its neck stretched up to the full length, its crest raised. Un- til satisfied that it has been discovered and when about to fly it remains absolutely motionless. Its colors harmonize so well with the surrounding bark and branches and its long, slender form is so unlike that of the plump bird which one expects to see that an untrained eye may easily pass over it without discovering it. On the ground, on dry leaves, or when sitting as it frequently does on an old log, it is even harder to make out; and were it not for its fatal habit of uttering the snickering noise and walking stupidly along in front of the hunter when closely pressed, it would be pretty sure to escape detection from all except the most experienced hun- ters. As it is, fully three fourths of the birds seen can be easily bagged by the merest Tyro, and old hands average nine out of ten, all shot sitting. On two occasions this autumn, I killed every bird in a flock of six without moving more than a few feet picking up the first bird until the last one was down. Sometimes, however, a bird of which one feels perfectly sure escapes by running after flying a few yards and dropping just out of sight behind some windfall of thicket of bushes, for when a Grouse makes up its mind to run, it goes with so much speed that it is out of the question to try to overtake it. A bird that has been thoroughly alarmed often runs a quarter of a mile or more before stopping. It is seldom that a Maine Grouse takes a long swift flight like that of our Mas- sachusetts bird, but I have occasionally seen an individual fly quite as strongly and as far. There was a perceptible 26

(3) Bonasa u. togata 1889. Maine. L. Umbagog. difference in this respect between the birds found about the farming country at the lower end of the lake and those which inhabited the unbroken forest at the upper end of the lake, the latter being much the tamer. Many hunters believe there is a migration of these Grouse from the north late in the autumn, but I am inclined to think that, as a rule, the birds come no further than from the mountain side and the tops of the highest ridges. During the winter they are said to leave the swamps and lowland altogether and to resort to the high ground where the woods are composed of desiduous trees. Their food at this season is almost exclu- sively buds, chiefly those of the poplar and birch. Although in autumn they are generally distributed throughout all the wood region bordering the lake and its neighboring rivers, one is most apt to find them in woods composed of a mixture of ev- ergreens and hard wood. They haunt especially the neighbor- hood of old camps and wet places such as the borders of small brooks and springy spots in the woods, especially where moun- tain maples grow. Late in the afternoon, particularly about sun-set, they frequently come out of the woods along the ed- ges of meadows, attracted there by black alder bushes on the berries of which they freely feed. They are seldom seen in heavy, unmixed spruce timber, and almost never in larch or ar- bor vitae swamps such as are frequented by the Spruce Grouse. 27

Bonasa umbellus togata. 1889, September 30. Lake Umbagog. One in a logging camp. I got two on the way to the pond (B Pond), one of which log was sitting in a corner of an old camp the roof of which had fallen in. October 21. Lake Umbagog. Glaspy Cove. Hearing a Grouse chitter we landed and I at once saw a magnificent drummer strutting among the driftwood, his tail erect and spread like a fan. Shot him when others began to chitter and stalk along among the bushes. In less than five minutes I had killed six, all sitting, in six shots. They were all we could find. Four were females, one a young male. I distinctly heard one of them utter a low coo-coo-coo-coo several times. October 25. Lake Umbagog. Pine Point. Started back for camp at dusk. Just as we were leaving the landing a Grouse came skimming across the river and plumped down into a cluster of yew. As I approached I could hear her rustling among the leaves. I went in but failed to find her. Af- terwards Jim tried it and started her nearly under foot. Probably she had settled there for the night.

L.Umbagog. Bonasa n. togata. 1890. Sept. Oct.- During this autumn Ruffed Grouse have been very scarce except in two limiter areas. They have been unusually shy, in fact nearly or quite as much so as they are in Massachusetts. These facts are partly explained by the further fact that they are nearly all of them old birds. Of fifteen dead birds which I examined personally only one was of this years hatching and about this pro- portion was maintained among those killed by Mr. Sherman (about 40) and Mr. Dwinell (42). The Partridge hunters of the region were bitterly disappointed for an unusually large number of breeding birds were left over from last year and broods of young were seen frequently during the summer. Foxes and Hawks were generally charged with their distruction but Mr Sherman tells me that the first young bird he shot in early September had a ahlf a dozen or more wood ticks fastened on its head and I believe that these in- sects were really at the bottom of the matter. Near Erroll and about East B. Hill Partridges were in fully the usual numbers and several large flocks or broods of young were met with.

Bonasa umbellus togata. 1890, Lake Umbagog. September 26. In this place (Ferrin's) . . . there were also several Grouse here two of them old males which drummed at frequent inter- vals. Two which we started were as wild as our Mass. birds. October 18. Night visitor. Lake Umbagog. Pine Point. Nearly an hour after dark - and it was very dark to- night - as the men were eating supper in front of their tent a Partridge suddenly rose from within the circle of light of their lantern not 15 yds. away. It flew a long distance back into the woods and we did not try to follow it. 1895, Lake Umbagog. September 20. Pine Point. Early in the afternoon I was sitting in the woods writing this journal when a Partridge stepped up on a rock within twelve feet (measured) of me and began"quitting"and staring at me with curiosity and suspicion. After watching her for several moments I tried to retreat and get my camera, but she took alarm and run- ning a few yards flew off into some dense undergrowth. The men heard a drummer on the knoll a little later, but he was not on the old log and was probably not the bird that drummed there last year.

Bonasa umbellus togata. L. Umbagog, Maine. Bonasa Tog 1889 Sept. 5 2 - 13 1. 26 4. 28 3. 29 3. 30 4. 15. 1 2. 5 1. - 8 2. - 12 1. 13 4. 15 11. 17 3. 18 10. 24. 22 2. 26 1. 67 Bonasa togata Sept. 23 1. 26 (3 *) Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1890. * = drumming Oct. 10 1st & 16 1st & 20 4. 21 (Sept). 22 (Sept) - 29 1. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Bonasa togata Left. 26 27 28 also Hen. Oct 2. Rain At. 3 5 4. 6 4. 8. P.M. " 8 4. 30 to 9 A.M. " 9 4. Rain At. " 11 4. Rain At. Daybreak to 8 A.M. Clear, still, sharp, frosty air. " 13 4. " daybreak to 8 a.m. clear, frosty " 15 4. Near Baldridge (J. Burner) Partridge have been extraordinarily scarce this year about L. Umbagog; or in one locality viz. Millinocket Stream within period large flocks were seen in August & early September, when I started for home (Oct. 16) The guides about Milton reported that the birds were increasing coming out of the woods "as they term it. This always happens soon after the leaves fall, as nearly as I could gather, but few young have been seen this season. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Bonasa togata Oct. 5 - A Partridge drums very warm, still day on a large mossy log behind our camp. I watched him this morning through a powerful marine glass (about 6 diameters) from a distance of about 30 yds. He stood for several minutes perfectly motionless in a listening attitude, neck drawn in, tail about 1/3 spread & slightly raised, wings drooping - altogether a dull, dejected looking bird. Suddenly he stretched up his neck to its full length and looked keenly around, turning his head in every direction. Bobbing it up and down. Then he circlèd from 5 or six times covering a space about a foot square, stepping slowly and gracefully, puffing, raised Tail about 1/2 spread - carried rather high and moved up & down slightly finally he sat down facing across of the log on which, as I could see clearly, his tarsæ and tail were 31

Bonasa u. togata. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. 1893 Bonasa togata Oct. 5 — closely pressed for thin (no.1) entire length; His head, neck and body were all in a nearly quite vertical line the neck rather shortened, the crest slightly raised, the wing slightly spread ready for the first stroke. As he sat thus turning his sight hole squarely towards me I was reminded forcibly of the bird which I mounted years ago. Indeed I could not possibly have done better with this living model before me. I watched the bird drum twice and easily followed the wing strokes which had a sweep of about 12 inches beginning about 6 inches behind the back and ending about the same distance in front of the breast. There is positively no doubt whatever that the primaries for their entire length stretch only the empty air It is possible that the basal portion of the wing may come against the body but I take nothing to indicate this and am still inclined: 1/2 Oct. 6 Although the entire day was rather calm and very warm our Partridge did not drum once during the forenoon. He began at 4.30 P.M. and kept it up until long after sunset, I watched him for about an hour, and saw him drum 5 times, the light was fairly good as I had previously cut away all the intervening brush thus was nothing between my glass & the bird. He stood and drummed on exactly the same spot as yesterday but feinted a little more towards me; this enabled me to see between his right wing and the body. Although my previous impression that the primaries were quite clear of the body and well in front of it was fully confirmed it was for the first time looked at If the carpal joint struck the side of the breast The plumage of which seemed to be undulated and more or less disarranged at each forward blow of the wing. Perhaps after all, the drumming produced partly by the thumping of the wing joint on the breast and partly by the impact of the primaries on the air. The bird regularly raised its ruffs even at the end of each drumming period but at no other time. The crest was constantly raised. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. 1893 Bonasa togata Oct. 5 — to think that the entire (no.3) wing twinges clear of the body after the bird finished drumming he spread his tail nearly to its full extent and circled once or twice as already described, then he assumed the brooping attitude. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Bonasa togata Oct. 13 Our Partridge drummed at intervals for more than two hours this morning, squawking at about half I watched him several times under the for the best conditions that I have ever enjoyed. The light was clear and strong and coming from behind me straight and coming directly on the bird. We faced about directly on the bird. We faced about directly on the bird. He faced about directly on the bird. He faced about directly on the bird. He faced about directly on the bird. He faced about directly on the bird. He faced about directly on the bird. He faced about on quarter of the circle away from me and I followed the wing during its entire stroke and at the lower half rather looked between it & the body. Neither over the secondaries, nor the primaries. If the carpal joint, nose, in short, any to the carpal joint, nose, in short, any to the carpal joint, nose, in short, any to the carpal joint, nose, in short, any to the carpal joint, nose, in short, any part of the wing or its feathers struck part of the body or, indeed, at any time (even when the wing was closed) came near within two or three inches to it. I think than two or three inches to it. I think the possibility positively clearly denied, the wing during its of motion that the wing through the air certainly struck through the air that the agitation of the plumage 32

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Bonasa togata Oct. 13 of the breast which I was 2/ obscured on the 6 to 4 again to-day is produced partly by the duville from the wing feathers and partly by the ventral muscular action of the pectoral muscles, thus my old theory as to the drumming of the Partridge is again confirmed in every detail. I had the curiosity, however, to ask each of my three men to watch this bird through the glass & give me their impression. All returned fully convinced that the bird struck only the air, few had never seen a Partridge drum before, Charlie & other had seen several such, so the prime thought that the wings strike the log while but was perfectly wrong in that they strike the breast. Of course neither had had anything to make a favorable opportunity before with conviction especially pleased J.D. Boy 11. Albion, Oxford Co Maine. Bonasa togata s. vir (Migrates s. in autumn) Oct. 23rd 1895. Dear Mr Brewster— Thank you very much for that little story of the Covey or coveys flight of the winter of 1892. It has been a surprise to me for years that any of our wood birds should migrate; our forests must have more than enough food for them, and they are native birds, I don’t see what their motive can be. Our grouse were nearly silent for a few days, say from 12th to 25th of October. Then came the covings, in one day I could see they were few and far between, in three days it had become very hard to see one or two to five miles. Of course they must have jumped out 33

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Bonasa togata Oct. 13 of the Breast while I Feb 2 / Orchard on the 6 to r again a clay is produced partly by the vowel from its wing stroke and partly by the violent molecular action of the pectoral muscles, thus my old theory as to the drumming of the Partridge is again confirmed in every detail. I had the curiosity however, to ask each of my three men to watch this bird through the glass & give me their impressions. All returned fully convinced that the bird struck only the air, John had never seen a Partridge drum before, Charles F. Miller had heard several cock, so the former thought that the wings strike the log while this was perfectly position that they threw the breast. Of course neither had had any thing like such a favorable opportunity before this conversation especially pleased Left like a shot for the truth. I have tried the roads & paths from Tyler down to Shepard River, then up alongside with the river in some of the most quiet beauty paths to mine bridge, then home by Shepard, and in the whole round fired one shot, picked up one bird. Verily this world is growing old. Dana Tebbetts Charles W. Chapman.

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Me. Sept. & Oct. 1893. Bonasa togata Oct. 13 of the breast while I No 2) observed on the 6th & again to-day is produced partly by the wind from the wing feathers and partly by the violent muscular action of the pectoral muscles. Thus my old theory as to the drumming of the Partridge is again confirmed in every detail. I had the curiosity, however, to ask each of my three men to watch this bird through the glass & give me their impressions. All returned fully convinced that the bird struck only the air; Jim had never seen a partridge drum before, Charlie Miller had never heard one do so. The former thought that the wings struck the log while that was perfectly positioned that they struck the breast. Of course neither had had any thing like such a favorable opportunity before. Miller's conversion especially pleased and reassured me for he has been grown up and taken his brother's drumming is a remarkably accurate imitation.

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1894 Bonasa u, togala August 28¹/₃ Bakins' " " 29② Pine Point September 1②. 3¹/₄ 4⁶ 7⑤ " " /1 camp down yard 12 2 ad 9 shot (Sunday Eve) " 15-② 17② Pine Pt. " 18! (9 to 10) Pine Point. " 20 (32) 21¹/₈ a.m. " Bloody high wind/Warm. " 22¹/₂ 9:10 ③ Clear still " 26¹/₂ 9:10 " 28¹/₂ 1:39 P.M. 1 N.a.M. " " 2 Kill. Pt. % Negat. Run October 3¹/₄ about 9.30 a.m. Cloudy windy Gale rain " 4! About the same feeling to the train " 11¹/₂ 11:50 a.m. Clear warm Stumbling limited 50 seconds - 50 sec. 1 flap 2.5 sec } Born Drumming " 15" " 15" - 15 by E.R.S. Left still 4 ¼/ min. 6 min Sept 22 Drum lasted just 11 3/4 seconds N.B. Oct. 3 First to last flap. Lake Umbagog, Maine. Bonasa togala 1895. August 30¹- September 4 & Pine Pt. 8⑦ (early Charlie) 9③ Pine Pt. " 12²/₃ Pine Pt. 19⑤ Pine Pt. 20¹/₂ " " 2 1(½) Sunny bright 3-shot in 15 min. 22² 23³ Pine Pt. 1 " 25 1/4 Can & Riv. 28 Pine Pt. Lake Umbagog, Maine. (# 2837 / 9 Coll. W.S.) (2) Bonasa u. togata 1896 May 15 - Nest 40 rods S. E. Sargents horn Found by Watsons 2 P.M. Bird on. Sat very close N. Flush twigs freshly (with a flick) not 6 inches over the bed without disturbing her. We stood within 10 ft for minutes, then after we visited nest again at 4 P.M. Bird on. Nest on edge of alder thicket near wet marsh - bush grown posture. In brush of tall alders. Bird got high & was very conspicuous. She called frequently but no other nesting. May 16. Watsons visited nest 3 times this forenoon, Birds on each time. May 17. Visited nest & took 2 photos, as I was adjusting camera for a third at about 5 ft. Bird started & ran 20 yds. turning over on her side & flapping her wings, whining as if with young; nest held 9 eggs, all this at 7:30 a.m. Half an hour later bird in alder 10 yds from nest. 18. Walked. Bird on. She left nest at once within an area of ft. off & returned as before, apparently the Partridge does not get too closely after being over driven off or realizing that the nest is discovered. Eggs taken May 18 - fresh Nest on edge of thicket of tall alder next ground foot of small alders two large birches and roots with small arbor vitae on one side & Viburnum cutters on other, well concealed from above three sides by underbrush than shrubs. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1896 Bonasa u. togata (4) May 16 Nest on hillside between Balsam & Brown cherry. ✓ Found By Watsons 1 P.M. ♀ on. Visited " nest 2" " " " " " " 3" " " " " " " 6" " " " about 5 eggs " " " 7" " " " all incubated. Drumming Tuesday 5-6 P.M. about 30 yards from nest. May 17, visited 6.30 a.m. No bird seen. " 18 " 7 A.M. Bird hatching. " 19 " 6.30 a.m. " " 5 eggs. " 20 " " " " " " " 21 " " " " " " 6 " 34

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. #5 1896 Bonasa u. togata 2843 May 18 Nest found by Watson at head of Great Grr S. of r within 30 ft. of road on very edge of corn but side under some dense crowded young Arbor vitae which concealed it perfectly from above although it could be seen from every side as the cover was open underneath. Nest on low mound. 4 gray birds - sat very close. Took photos at 5 ft & best up camera within 3 ft, but just as I got the plate ready the bird left flying a few yards & then running across Open to brush from. Nest first examined May 21 11 A.M. when At 3 P.M. of this day when Watson it had 10 eggs. took the set there was 11! I drummed on limb about 100 yards away. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1896 Bonasa u. togala nest 2842 (3) Nest W. side Pearly White farm in very exposed situation quite outside the outer border of the wild cherry, bush apple & other undergrowth that fringed the forest in the full blast of the mountain burn & sheltered only by a few dead sticks - the remains of an old brush fence. Indeed it was rather in the field that on the edge of the woods although only a yard or two from the latter. May 16 - Found by Watson - Bird sitting - nest disturbed " 17 - I visited nest & took several photos. Bird very tame but frantically started flying a few yards & then running & whining. 9 eggs. " 20. Visited nest & took more photos. Bird finally flew & ran as before. 9 eggs. " 21 Set taken, incubated. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1896 Bonasa u. togata - Nesting May Refuge Four nests found with 10, 9, 9, 7 & 6 eggs all then sets completed apparently as they were watched several days after birds Stopped Carrying With one exception all were within a few yards of some field or other Opening & two were on the very edge of the cover in these were on the Open while the third within a few feet of the Open while the third was actually outside the cover quite in the Open but under some Brush. Four birds sat very closely allowing an offspring to within them first wriggling flexibly out to within than feet wriggling flexibly out to within then first something flexibly out to within them first wriggling flexibly out to within than feet wriggling flexibly out to within then first wriggling flexibly out to within them first wriggling flexibly out wriggling no other motion not even showing making no other motion not even showing making no other motion not even showing making no other motion not even showing the usual flight indicating intention to conceal the wood hilling birds, they would let them with one of as within 5 ft. for 15 to 30 minutes, after which they were likely to go at any minute, after which they were likely to go at any minute, after which they were likely to go at any minute, but never an offspring was so long on inspection. The birds regularly flew from the nest alighting a few yards off & running. The other then started off a bird started from nest would not return to her eggs in much less than an hour. Lake Umbagog. P. = Plain Point 1896 Bonasa u. togata P. = Plain Point May 12 2nd Grafton Notch " 13 * 2 on nest 15 * on 16 % nest " 14 * 4 egg. " 17 % 22 on 18 on Sargent (Watson) - 19 on map " nests " next. Low " 20 % 3, 4, 9, on nest 2 1/4 3 p.m. near Rockside " 22 P. 23 (1/4) 25 P. 29 P. 30 P June 3 3/4 4 3/4 5 1/2 7 1/4 " 10 % words (Rockside) 12 3 Cambridge 14 % words) May 14. Nest 4 eggs Brown Sargent " " 15 " & Sitting not disturbed Sargent " 35

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1896 ① Bonasa u. togata - Nest 2844 E. side Brown clearing, on dry knoll covered with 2nd growth poplar & briars with scattered balsams & spruces 30 yards from road & 10 yds from edge of open pasture under main stem of small fallen poplar. ♀ very light & reddish for togata - a wild bird starting at 8 to 12 ft. & unusually crouching or rather rapidly crawling off with body flattened to the ground, head & tail carried very low, wings trailing & quivered, looking more unlike a great tortoise but moving much faster; whining precisely like a cold or hungry puppy. ♂ drummed 200 yds. off below road in deep hollow almost out of clearing from nest. May 14. 9A.M. Nest found by Watson, ♀ sitting on 4 eggs. She left them about ½ covered with leaves. " 16-4P.M. ♂ absent - 6 eggs uncovered " 17-3 " " " " 7 " left uncovered " 20-7A.M. " sitting " " " 21-7 " " " " Eggs taken. Bonasa u.togata. 1899. Oxford Co., Me. Sept.27 one, Bethel. Bethel, Me. 1904. Bonasa u. togata March 5 - Found a trail in the woods on green hill. It was evidently made along the thins on the 3rd of this month - " 6 trail evidently made last Thurs 3rd & I stayed in Dr. J's woods on Shuck in Glen Woods upper part of Glen. 8 / trail seen in Glen Woods green hill. " 12, stated by Dr. S. 14 three trails on snow at widely separated locations in the woods. or made as doubt by different birds. " 16 fresh track in 17 fresh track at 18 fresh track near Wood Road Bethel Dr. J's woods. 19 green hill. on the Glen. 21-fresh trail 22-fresh

Bonasa umbellus togata. Bonasa u. togata 1894. Maine, Aug. 25 S. Umbagot. One drumming near Baldside in the forest. Sept. 3 Our Pine Point bird drummed a few times about noon but not on his old log. " 4 Our bird drummed a few times this; a. m. " 7 " " " " " " " 18 " " " 9 to 10 a. m. on his old log. " 21 " " " " " " " " " 22 " " " 10.30 - 11 " " " " " The following observations were made for us by C. & E. R. S. " Turned around flapping slowly for 50 seconds Drummed for about 15 " Kept still 4 3/4 minutes (not quite 5 minutes) Turned around for 50 seconds Gave one flop then Turned around again for 25 seconds Drummed 15 " Kept Still (Squawking) 6 minutes Turned around once or twice. Kept Still (Squawking) 3 minutes Turned around 25 seconds Drummed 15 " Was left "

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1894. The little spaniel (Hadji) found and flushed two full- Sept.5 grown Partridges behind the camp. One of them "treed" in a balsam perching on a horizontal branch about fifteen feet above the ground where it stood for a long time perfectly motionless with neck outstretched in about this attitude . After the dog left the place the Partridge began moving its head and guiting and presently it flew off through the trees. Accord- ing to our men there are at least seven Partridges on the Point, one pair of old birds and five young about as large as Pigeons. I have not yet seen these young.

Bonasa umbellus togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1894. Our Partridge was back on his old log this morning and Sept.21. for about an hour (9 to 10 o'clock) he drummed at short inter- vals. We all went up to see him and both C. and E.R.S. be- came at once convinced that the bird's wings did not strike his body but merely the air. He behaved precisely as he did last year and when drumming sat down on the same spot and faced the same way. 1896. It is a remarkable fact that the Partridge nesting at the May 21. head of the Sweat Cove (near Wm.Sweat's) laid an egg to-day between 12 noon and 3 P.M. When I photographed it at the former hour there were as my plate shows and as I made certain by several careful counts, but 10 eggs, but at 3 P.M. Watrous found 11 in the nest. Moreover when we blew them we found that one egg was perfectly fresh while the other ten were all incubated some four or five days.

L Bonasa u. togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1894. Sept. 26. Before starting this morning I exposed five plates on our old drummer, from a blind which we have made just twenty five feet from the spot where the bird sits. He was evidently wholly un aware of my presence until just after I had made the last exposure when he suddenly took alarm and ran off along the log, "quitting!" I had a fine view of him through my peep hole but noticed nothing new. The fact that his tarsi, for their entire length, were pressed down on the log was evident. Also it was clear that his wings did not strike his body. Oct. 3. To my surprise our Partridge began drumming at about half past nine this morning. I heard him twice and then I went to the knoll where I found him in his usual place. He behaved rather oddly, stalking about a good deal, sitting down as if to drum, then after one or two flaps closing his wings and preening his feathers or turning around again. A large yellow leaf from a striped maple came whirling down and settled on the log near him. He walked to the spot, looked at it, a moment, picked it up in his bill and then cast it from him to the ground with an impatient jerk of the head. Soon afterward he left while I was absent for a moment. 40

Bonasa u.togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. Nest. 1896. We crossed the pastures to the west end of the Peasley May 17. White farm where Watrous showed me a Partridge's nest which he had found yesterday. It was in a very exposed place, quite outside even the outer line of wild cherry and other under- brush that formed the border of the woods in the side of a mound under a few dead sticks (the remains of an old brush fence) in the full glare of the sun and actually in the field itself rather than in the edge of the woods. I took three photographs and started the bird while trying for a fourth at a distance of about 4 feet. She did not return although we waited an hour.

Bonasa umbellus. togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. Tame. 1897. Perhaps our most interesting camp visitor thus far was a Sept. 10. hen Partridge which appeared yesterday early in the forenoon. When I first saw it, it was standing erect and motionless not six feet from the front of my tent! It presently started off down the hillside and walking slowly disappeared among the undergrowth and fallen logs towards the Lake shore. Gilbert has heard a drummer twice beyond the knoll.

Bonasa umbellus. togata. Lake Umbagog, Maine. Making a snickering noise. X 1897. At 9 A.M. I started up Cambridge River with Jim. x x x x Sept.29. On the way up I kept my gun ready most of the time and bagged two birds, a Partridge which I shot on the ground among some alders and a Sheldrake which I killed as it rose from the wa- ter. x x x x There were two Partridges together but the other bird escaped me. It flew up into a balsam and alighted behind a big cluster of twigs and foliage which concealed it almost perfectly and through which I feared the shot would not pene- trate. At length it started to fly again when I fired at but missed it. These Partridges attracted my attention by making the snickering noise which is so very like that of the Red Squirrel that most of the guides confess their inability to distinguish with certainty between the two animals. 43

Bonasa umbellus togata. Bethel, Maine. Hen Partridge with young. 1903 June 4 In the woods below the Doctor's house we came upon a fe- nale Partridge with young about as big as newly hatched chickens, seeing her in nearly the same place both yesterday and this after- noon. On the first occasion the chicks ran a few paces and then separated and squatted as usual, but contrary to their usual cus- had tom they kept up an incessant peeping after they^ concealed them- selves. The mother crawled close about us whining like a puppy as long as we stood close to her young, but when we walked on a few paces (not over ten yards) she ran at once to the spot where the chicks were hidden and began calling them with the peculiar harsh crut, crut, crar-r-r-r cry. We thought they joined her but the ferns were so thick that we could see only the old bird. We did not see the chicks at all this afternoon nor did they peep. The her bird started out from a thicket on one side of the path and circled around us whining. She was a gray bird and looked like a typical togata.

Bonasa u. togata. 1897. Lake Umbagog. May 17: thin above 3 great sk Sargents Kidwell: 17% Rallidae (Mottled) 19½ Cor. 24% crowing. June 1: Scenic 4% Rail 7% Anas crecca Pond Rock Atria. 1903. June 3 ♂/♀ with brood (♂ 2½ ♀ 3½) 4½ brown ♀ with brood (fem very young) young chickens words) 8½, 9½ words (Fem 6 or 8 wk old) " 9½ Norway. not certainly togata ; head only Bethel Norway 1906. June 13: Bethel.

Bonasa umbellus togata. 1900. September 13² Glaspý Corr.-Mrs. W.Stevens. 16' Pine Point-J. Berman. 2½@ Canal Riv. December 16² flushed track of another bird. 18 track in Bethel. 1901 January 6 fresh 7' 18 fresh Bethel. February 19 fresh track in snow. Bethel. 1902 January 4² bird seen tracks of 5 or 6 other birds. 3 tracks of 10 or 12 different birds seen. 6 tracks of 2 birds. 7¹ bird seen. Bethel. ( On February 21, 1901, I found in the Glen woods in Bethel the feathers of a Partridge that had evidently been killed by some bird of prey, perhaps a Goshawk, whose closely adjacent track was traced on the snow among the feathers.) September 6' 10' Bethel. 1903. December 14 tracks of 2 birds in Glen woods. 15 feathers of bird killed by Hawk or Owl in Glen woods. 16² fresh Mr. Reed. Bethel. 1904. February 13 fresh track 22 ds. 25' 26 fresh track 23 ds. 24 bird started from hole in snow. 27 tracks in snow. Bethel. March 5 fresh track 6 ds. 8¹ tracked 12' 14³ track, 16¹ track, 17¹ ds., 18¹ ds., 21¹ ds., 22¹ ds. i.e. September 17③ 18¹(17: June) 24¹ Mar 26③ 27⁴ Bethel. October 1' 2² 25¹ 31④ rain and snow. Bethel. November 6² 8② 9③ 12②① Bethel. 1907 January 19' 21 track in 30' Bethel.

Bonasa u. togata. P = Pin Point 1896 Lake Umbagog. September 13 P (Ketch) P (Kidwell) 16 ♂ (W. Seaport) 22 2 (Nap's Ruin) 27 ½ (B... Point) Grafton note. October 5ᵗ Last year Partridges were numerous throughout the Boda region and an unusual number brood there in the Spring of 1896 but they have been exceedingly scarce this autumn and nearly all that have come under my observation have been old birds. It is evident that for some mysterious reason most of them failed to rear their broods. The local hunters attribute this to the Foxes which have certainly been exceptionally numerous this year & which may have caused the diminution of young but I doubt it. The breeding season was warm & dry & apparently in every way favorable for the birds . 1897 September P 6 (Gilbert) P 7½ (Gilbert) P 9 (Camp) / 16 (Purdie) Camp Road 22³ 26² Comb. Rd - Comb. Rd 29② Partridges are even scarcer this season than they were last September. They were also scarce last Spring. The Spring & Summer were exceptionally wet . 1898. August P 23 ② 26 ② September P 14 (Rim) 20 ⅓ 22 ⅓ P 27 8m10 Grafton 29 ⑤

Bonasa umbellus togata. 48

Ectopistes migratorius. 3 49

Ectopistes migratoria. L. Umbagog, Maine. 8 shot May 30-June 10, 1871. Frequently in flocks of 20 or more pistis migratoria.- May 30. Saw them daily afterwards, sometimes in pairs, 2 shot large birds Ectopistes migratoria.- Aug. 29; Sept. 1 1873. notes Aug 1 - 4³ - 10² - 11 new - 18 (30) - 19 (13) - 20 (25) - 21 3 shot - 24 x 2 - 11 shot - /1874 June 5 13/1876 / Oct. 8² Ectopistes migratoria. 1871. Maine (Lake Umbagog). May 30- June 10. Common and seen nearly every day, sometimes in pairs often in flocks of twenty or more. 1873. Aug. 29. Saw several small flocks along the wooded banks of Cambridge River above the dam. Sept. 1. Abundant and now collecting into large flocks. 1874. Aug. 1. Shot an adult male in fine plumage. " 4. Started three along the brook on Upton Hill. " 10. Saw a pair flying over, high. " 11. Saw several along Peaslee's Brook. " 18. Saw a flock of about thirty flying over the woods near Leonard's Pond. " 19. In the blueberry pasture opposite Peaslee's, found a flock of about a dozen. " 20. Killed two from a flock of about twenty-five in the pasture opposite Peaslee's. They come there for the blueberries and raspberries and are very tame. Their flight at times is swifter than that of any other bird that I know, and their habit of scaling and twisting then passing through the woods makes them very difficult to shoot. 1882. Oct. 8-22 One seen October 8; it is very rare here. 50

L.Umbagog. 1890. Ectopistes migratoria Mr. Ferrin of Errol tells me that he saw a single Wild Pigeon the past summer in Errol the only one that he has heard of for the past five or six years. Twenty years ago they used to be abundant and forty years ago they had to be kept out of the buckwheat fields by boys who watched the grain from daylight until dark. In those old times he has seen flocks a mile or two in length. Ectopistes migratorius. 1890, Lake Umbagog. September 21. Lakeside. No one has seen any Wild Pigeons this year. 51

Zenaidura macroura. 4 52

Zenaidura macroura - Maine (Richardson Lake) Zenaidura carolinensis 1887 Capture 7 of 9 at Mist Ann. Nov. 5 On the evening of Nov. 7th I received a Carolina Dove in the flesh from Mrs. Brown Sargent of Upton. It was mailed at Upton dated Nov. 7th Nov. 7th . With it came a note from Mrs. Sargent to the following effect: "I send you a bird Brown sent me yesterday. xxx He is at his camp hunting with Mr. S. & J. Morse" The camp referred to is on the West Arm of Richardson Lake. The bird was in very thin flesh, almost emaciated in fact.