CORRESPONDENCE 231 



November 6, 18GS. 



Winter has begun in good earnest. We have had two snow- 

 storms but not much of depth. The winter birds have begun to 

 make their appearance and some varieties that have not been 

 seen for many years are here. The Goshawk is about again this 

 year. I have just received a very fine specimen — this is the third 

 takcu within a short time near here. I have received two speci- 

 mens of the White-winged Crossbill within a few days — a very 

 rare bird here. I have not known one here before for fifteen 

 years. That season they were very abundant. Two specimens of 

 the Pine Grosbeak were shot on Talcott mountain this week, but 

 fell into the hands of a naturalist in Hartford so I did not get hold 

 of them. 



I notice what you say about the Rough-legged Falcon and 

 Black Hawk. I have corresponded with several ornithologists 

 upon the subject who have had the best opportunities to know. 

 Win. Cooper of Quebec, who is a thorough naturalist, says that he 

 has been investigating the subject for years and is very positive 

 that they are identical. He says if they are distinct why has not 

 some oologist been able to identify the eggs of the Black Hawk? 

 I may be wrong in considering the black the adult — it may be 

 the young. I think they are the same bird. The size, form, 

 habits and everything pertaining to them are the same. The 

 markings from light to dark or dark to light run into each other 

 and are as noticeable as the changes of the Goshawk. The fact 

 that the Rough-legged is abundant in some sections and no Black 

 hawk and vice versa, is no proof against their being identical. We 

 see the same thing in many varieties of birds. The young of the 

 Red-throated Diver is very abundant in Long Island Sound, yet 

 the adult bird is never seen there. The young of the Crested 

 Grebe is found here ; the adult never. 



February 4, 1869. 

 I shot a splendid male Golden-eyed Duck last Friday but lost 

 him under the ice. The Scantio river empties into Connecticut 

 river a short way above here and being a quick stream and dirty, 

 cuts quite a strip open in the Connecticut long before the ice 

 breaks up. Friday being a beautiful warm day I took my gun 

 and went to this " ope." I found it open some three miles on the 



