zf.O McKiNLAY, Field Notes from Pictou County, N. S. [January 



tered flocks. Their remarkable declension may be mainly attrib- 

 utable to over-much annoyance and disturbance by the increased 

 traffic of vessels, and perhaps more especially by the unrestrained 

 and incessant use of firearms by an increasing class of gunners, 

 whose aim is to destroy fowl of every description irrespective of 

 the season, merely to gratify an ungovernable propensity for 

 destruction, and without heed of the consideration that such prac- 

 tices must result in the annihilation of entire tribes. 



Among the ranks of the graminivorous and insectivorous species 

 of birds the numbers that annually visit this locality appear 

 much the same as they were half a century ago. These are rarely 

 found within the deeper forests, but spread over the more open 

 country bordering on the settlements, some species taking up 

 their abode in our gardens and byways. 



The numbers of the Ruffed Grouse have been seriously dimin- 

 ished, but I notice that in those districts where they are most 

 harrassed they have become exceedingly wary and cunning. I 

 have also observed that among these birds the size of the brood 

 has decreased, for instead of clutches of nine, ten, or a dozen, I 

 now rarely find one-half that number. 



The Eskimos assert that during the period of incubation the 

 Ptarmigan cease to give off any scent by which they can be 

 traced ; and my experience leads me to think that our Ruffed 

 Grouse possess the same peculiarity, else how coidd they so 

 universally escape alike from furred and feathered foes, as they 

 certainly do at this season. 



The several species of the 'noble order' of. birds are not so 

 numerously represented here as formerly, influenced, I think, to a 

 very great extent, by the destruction of our forests by fire and 

 other causes. 



Perhaps no bird is more regretfully recalled by our older 

 sportsmen than is the Wild Pigeon. The first inhabitants of this 

 Province found this elegant and savory member of the Columbidae 

 abundant everywhere. 



Their spring arrival usually occurred early in the month of May, 

 and the bulk seldom made their autumnal exit until the middle 

 of October. They constructed their simple nests in the branches 

 of lofty trees, especially hemlocks, beneath whose foliage they 

 found a grateful shade from the midday sun, and from which they 

 seldom issued except at early dawn or at evening. In olden 



