No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 69 



ings of the plumage are plainly indicated in slate gray. Many of 

 the tail feathers, although of full length, are still encased in their 

 pin-feather sheaths, except at the tips. 



Bonasa umbellus togata (Linnaeus). Canada Ruffed Grouse. 



Two Grouse taken by E. S. W. in Litchfield, about Nov. 28, 

 1906, and given in the flesh to L. B. B., belong to this subspecies, 

 as do others collected there by E. S. W. 



Order COLUMBiE. Pigeons and Doves. 

 Family COLUMBID^. Pigeons and Doves. 



Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus). Passenger Pigeon. 



Formerly very abundant during migrations and occasionally 

 breeding. Now virtually extinct. 



The latest definite record we have of the presence of this bird 

 in Connecticut is of one adult male and three young which Mr. 

 Outram Bangs tells us he saw within thirty yards near Willi- 

 mantic early in October, 1901. 



Mr. Hoyt informs us the last record for Stamford was that 

 of a female shot there in the fall of 1879; ^ young male taken 

 by Andrew Bassett near Lake Saltonstall in October, 1882, is 

 the last taken and preserved near New Haven (in coll. of L. B. 

 B.) ; and a young male shot Oct i, 1889, is the last record for 

 Portland (in coll. of J. H. S.). 



A flock of about two hundred doves, some of which were 

 certainly Passenger Pigeons, was seen by L. B. B. in North Guil- 

 ford on Sept. 4, 1883 ; a single bird was seen by him on Prospect 

 Street, New Haven, May 13, 1882, and others in Guilford on 

 Sept. II, 1883. A pair of very large wild pigeons, believed to 

 be of this species, was seen in East Haven by H. W. F. and 

 L. B. B., May 20, 1893. In Portland J. H. S. recorded this 

 species April 7, 16, May 13, and Sept. 26, 1887. 



As to the abundance of the species at one time, Mr. Henry 

 Townshend tells L. B. B. that his uncles have told him that in 

 the old days it was an easy thing on a " pigeon morning " in 

 September to shoot enough of these birds before breakfast to 

 load a hay-wagon, with the sides on, full to the brim. 



" Pigeon mornings " were the cool, frosty mornings of late 



