JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



her on every side. According to Prof. 

 Hitchcock's map the formation is clay 

 slate. (Owing to the deep suow no ob- 

 servations could be made.) 



The conspicious and important bo- 

 tanical features, of the region, in order 

 of their abundance, were, Black Spruce, 

 Fir, Yellow and Gray Birch, Cedar, 

 Alder and Mountain Ash. 



All were bearing bountiful crops of 

 seed and afforded the birds both abun- 

 dance and variety of food. 



In the soft wood forests there are at 

 all times quantities of dead and decaying 

 trees, filled with the larvae of insects, af- 

 fording the Woodpeckers ample reward 

 for their attention, and the landscape 

 throughout the region of the obser- 

 vations was often rendered pitiable by 

 scenes of large tracts of dead and decay- 

 ing wood, mouldering only to afford an 

 asylum to the humbler forms of animal 

 and vegetable life, and to enrich the soil. 



During my sojourn in the region, local 

 thermometers fell to 30" below zero Fahr. 

 and this low temperature, prevailed quite 

 throughout the week. And though the 

 feet of the specimens shot froze stitf 

 almost immediately, the birds seemed to 

 suffer no inconvenience, flitting about in 

 search of food and, pausing from this to 

 satisfy their curiosity as liberally as in 

 fall or spring. 



The following birds were observed : 

 Bonasa umhellvs togata : Canadian 



Ruffled Grouse. 



During the very cold period of my 

 observations, no fresh tracks of Grouse 

 were seen. On the 15th a pair of these 

 birds was started from beneath the loose 

 snow, to perform a short flight. No more 

 were observed nor any other represen- 

 tative of the family. 

 Dryobates pubescens medianus : Downy 



Woodpecker. 



Several were seen ; they were appar- 

 antly as numerous as they are in Cum- 

 berland County at the same season. 



Ceophlcdiis pileatus: Pileated Wood- 

 pecker. 



Two specimens of this bird were seen, 

 one near Ashland, the other at P^ort Kent. 

 Both were at a distance of about a 

 couple of hundred yards, flying well 

 above the trees. 



In flight they were peculiarly striking 

 objects, the slender head and neck 

 strongly contrasted with the body. The 

 broad white marked wings moved with 

 a powerful though peculiar stroke. The 

 flight was accomplished without the 

 "rolling flight" characteristic of many 

 Woodpeckers. 



Cyanocitta cristata: Blue Jay. 



A small company of these birds was 

 seen near the stage route as it skirted 

 the shore of Eagle Lake. 



Corvus americanus : Am. Crow. 



On the thirteenth, one of these birds 

 was seen at Ashland, flying northwardly. 

 At a point on the stage route, a flock of 

 six or eight were seen, coming close to 

 a farm house for the purpose of feeding 

 on mountain ash berries in the yard. 

 The temperature was probably at 20° 

 below zero Fahr. at the time. The 

 birds appeared to be quite ravenous and 

 though disturbed by the near approach 

 of the stage, they flew in narrow circles 

 close by. until it had passed beyond their 

 limit of danger. 



Pinicola enucleator : Pine Grosbeak. 



This species seemed to be quite 

 numerous about Fort Kent and ail along 

 the stage route. They seemed partial to 

 cedar groves. 



None of the birds have been found 

 about Westbrook this year, to date. 



