JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



reported a set of Robin's eggs showing 

 distinct spots. 



Notes on the Ducks were given by 

 Messrs. Spinney, Norton and Hitchings. 

 All varieties of Ducks were reported 

 as decreasing in numbers. Especially 

 interesting notes were given on the Har- 

 lequin Duck, by Mr. Norton and Capt. 

 Spinney. 



In the evening the remaining papers 

 were read as follows : 



Brief Observations on Some Winter 

 Birds of Aroostook Co., Maine. A. H. 

 Norton, Westbrook. 



The Gulls and Terns of Sagadahoc 

 Co., Capt. H. L. Spinney, Seguin Id. 



A Wood Duck in Captivity. J. C. 

 Mead, No. Bridgton. 



Prof. Lee invited the Society to meet 

 next year at Brunswick. Mr. Norton 

 suggested Portland if Brunswick was 

 not chosen. Adjourned sine die. 



L. W. ROBBINS, 



Sec. and Treas. 

 Since the meeting the executive com- 

 mittee have elected to active member- 

 ship Dr. Merton W. Bessey of Water- 

 ville. 



Brief Observations on Some Winter 

 Birds of Aroostool( County, Me. 



ARTHUR H. NORTON. 



Read before the Maine Ornithological Society 

 at Waterville, December Slst, 1898. 



The observations recorded in this 

 paper are based on a brief trip from 

 Ashland, Maine, along the stage route 

 to Fort Kent, on the northern boundary 

 of the state ; according to Prof. Hitch- 

 cock's Geological map, 1861, this last is 

 in North Long. 47° 15'. As this is the 



point where most of the observations 

 were made, some detail is given to its 

 location and physical features beyond. 

 The time of observations extended only 

 from Dec. 13 to Dec. 19, 1898, with but 

 limited time available for field work. 

 Yet in view of the prevailing interest in 

 county faunae, the small amount of ob- 

 servations recorded from this county, 

 and the bearing of the present obser- 

 vations on certain general principles of 

 distribution in our state, they are here 

 given with certain generalizations on 

 the phenomena involved. 



Ashland is situated on the Aroostook 

 River, 48 miles in a southerly course 

 from Ft. Kent. From each bank of the 

 stream the land rises by slow degrees, 

 forming at this point a very broad, even 

 valley cleared and devoted to agriculture. 



As the stage moved along near the 

 river bank, a nest of some Warbler, in 

 the shrubbery of the shore, afforded a 

 distraction of the mind from the monot- 

 onous winter scene. We reached and 

 passed Portage Lake, its snow clad basin 

 flashing in the sunlight. 



After passing this lake the hills appear, 

 extending, too often across the route, to 

 and beyond the St. John River. Though 

 often very steep and with sharp ridges, 

 they are not high, and probably have no 

 great influence in governing the local 

 distribution of the birds in summer, and 

 certainly have little or none in winter. 



Fort Kent nestles in the valley formed 

 by the St. John and Fish Rivers, quite 

 at the junction of the two, nnd as on the 

 northwest the St. John emerges from its 

 hill studded vallej, to flow and receive 

 the waters of the Fish, and this replen- 

 ished, winds away among the eastern 

 hills, the little village, looks from her 

 vaie, to find the towering hills, guarding 



