®I|^ Journal 



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Mmnt (intitl|nlngtral i^nri^tg 



Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December 

 Vol. Vn JUNE, 1905 No 2 



Notes on tKe Birds of tKe Lower DeaJ River. 



Read at the Annual Meeting at Bangor, Nov. 25, 1904. 



By J. Merton Swain. 



Having spent ten days at Dead River Dam, on the lower Dead 

 River, I had opportunity to study a few birds that do not usually 

 come under one's observ^ation in the more thickly settled parts of 

 our State. Nothing new or startling will here be recorded, but I 

 will mention the liirds that came under my notice while in this region. 



On October 21st, with a party of three other sportsmen, we took 

 the train at Kingfield at 6.15 P. M. for Carribasset station, and 

 from there took the stage for Dead River post office. 



The next morning we took a canoe down the river for Long 

 Falls. As we were putting the canoe into the water, we heard the 

 old familiar call of the Greater Yellow-legs {Totainis »ic/a)ioIciu-Ns) 

 (Gmel.), and far over the low meadow land we saw eight of them 

 gyrating as though they were lost. I at once began to whistle them 

 in, and they answered back and came on up to us within easy range. 

 We very frequently put up a single or a pair of Black Duck {Anas 

 obscura) (Gmel.) from out the numerous mouths of the brooks and 

 lagoons. Song Sparrows were very plenty along the shores, and an 

 occasional White-throated Sparrow and a few White-crowned Spar- 

 rows were seen along the way. Muskrats were very commonly seen 

 swimming along the smooth surface of the water or skulking along 

 the steep banks of the shores. A few Crows were seen in the heavy 

 woods that lined the river banks the most of the way. As we 



