VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 101 



a cock and two females were put out in the woods in Middlebury 

 and the same number in Rutland. I think that there were also 

 some put out in Franklin county. The Sharptailed Grouse was 

 also introduced about the same time." IS one of the above have 

 been heard from since they were put out. 



Several years ago Dr. W. S. Webb stocked a preserve in Shel- 

 burne with the common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus. These 

 have done well, and escaped individuals are seen, it may be, 

 several miles from home. Whether it will ever become a resi- 

 dent properly so called can scarcely be predicted. 



ORDER COLUMB^E. PIGEONS. DOVES. 

 FAMILY COLUMBID^. 



GENUS ECTOPISTES. 



E. migratorius (Linn.). Wild Pigeon. 



This species, formerly perhaps the most abundant of our native 

 birds, is now one of the rarer ones. There are a few seen every 

 season near Essex Junction about Fort Ethan Allen, and a num- 

 ber were shot there last season. They once nested on Stratton 

 mountain in great numbers, and a few are said to remain there. 

 Thompson says : " Pigeons are much less abundant in Vermont 

 than formerly, but they now, in some years, appear in large num- 

 bers." Earlier still Dr. Williams speaks of the trees over hun- 

 dreds of acres as being fairly loaded with nests. 



GENUS ZENAIDURA. 

 Z. macroura (Linn.). Mourning Dove. 



This bird does not appear to have ever been very common in 

 Vermont, and it is now very rare. 



ORDER RAPTORES. BIRDS OF PREY. 

 FAMILY CATHARTID^E. VULTURES. 

 GENUS CATHARTES. 



C. atrata (Earth). Black Vulture. 



Mr. Balch reports this unexpected species from Lunenburg. 

 Miss Ide also gives it as found in the neighborhood of St. Johns- 

 bury. 



C. aura (Linn.). Turkey Vulture. Turkey Buzzard. 

 Dr. Cutting says that he has known of the capture of one 

 specimen. Mr. Balch also reports it. Both this and the pre- 

 ceding species are exceedingly rare in the State. 



FAMILY FALCONID^. EAGLES. HAWKS. 

 GENUS e CIRCUS. 



C. hudsonius (Linn.). Marsh Hawk. 

 This hawk is most common in the spring and early summer. 



