2^4 Deane, The Passenger Pigeon in Confinement. i 1 



Audubon's account of this species as delightfully accurate. Of 

 published information relating to this species in Maine, that of 

 " W. B." appears to be the most comprehensive, namely : " The 

 Harlequin Duck is regularly common in winter on the coast of 

 Maine, where, however, its distribution seems to be very local." 

 (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, VIII, p. 163.) To which I would add: 

 Common only to the eastern half of the coast, where it is 

 steadily but slowly decreasing. 



Finally, I believe that there are three things favorable to this 

 bird's holding its range: (1) The lateness and severity of the 

 season when it is here. (2) The roughness and inaccessability of 

 the places to which it is now restricted. (3) The abundance and 

 vigilance of the Gulls. 



SOME NOTES ON THE PASSENGER PIGEON (ECTO- 

 PISTES MIGRATORIUS) IN CONFINEMENT. 



BY RUTHVEN DEANE. 



In the 'American Field' of December 5, 1895, I noticed a 

 short note, stating that Mr. David Whittaker of Milwaukee, Wis., 

 had in a spacious enclosure, a flock of fifty genuine Wild Pigeons. 

 Being much interested of late in this bird, I at once wrote to Mr. 

 Whittaker, asking for such information in detail regarding his 

 birds as he could give me, but owing to absence from the city, he 

 did not reply. Still being anxious to learn something further 

 regarding this interesting subject, I recently wrote to a correspon- 

 dent in Milwaukee, asking him to investigate the matter. In due 

 time I received his reply, stating that he had seen the Pigeons, 

 but that the flock consisted of fifteen instead of fifty birds, and 

 inviting me to join him, and spend a few hours of rare pleasure. 



On March r, 1896, I visited Milwaukee, and made a careful 

 inspection of this beautiful flock. I am greatly indebted to Mr. 

 Whittaker, through whose courtesy, we saw and heard so much of 



