American Game 269 



found. The scooters include the black and the velvet, 

 and come in late in the season. 



Virginia rail breed in limited numbers in and about 

 the lake marshes. Sora-rail are occasionally found 

 among the lily-pads in the pond-holes of the Missisquoi 

 marshes. They go southward early in September. 

 Wild pigeon breed in small numbers every year in the 

 northwestern part. Turtle dove, also called mourning 

 dove, are frequently seen in the western and southern 

 parts of Vermont. They are migratory, arriving in the 

 early summer, and departing for the south in September. 



The highest authority in the state thinks there is no' 

 one county best for ruffed grouse. Woodcock are 

 plentiful in Rutland county and as far north as Chitten- 

 den county ; south of the central part of the state is 

 the best territory for woodcock. Duck shooting at the 

 mouth of the Missisquoi is very good. A good shot 

 will occasionally bag twenty or thirty birds from a blind 

 in one morning's shooting. There is more or less duck 

 shooting all the way up the lake (Champlain) and in the 

 creeks tributary to it. English pheasant, introduced by 

 Dr. W. S. Webb, have spread through several counties. 



The commissioners of fisheries and game report for the 

 two years ending June 30, 1896, the following bounties 

 paid for destruction of noxious animals: Bear, $1,215 ; 

 panther, $20; lynx, $710; fox, $6,704.10. They also 

 report that deer are undoubtedly on the increase. Ruffed 

 grouse have increased in number, reports for 1895 indi- 

 cating that they are more plentiful than for many pre- 

 vious years. The Mongolian and English pheasant have 

 been introduced, the former thriving quite well. Black- 

 game and capercailzie are about being introduced. 



