SUMMER BIRDS OF MT. MANSFIELD AND REGION ADJACENT 

 TO THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN. 



(Abstract) . 

 Mrs. Elizabeth B. Davenport, Brattleboro, Vt. 



Since the days of Pursch the Mansfield region has been one of 

 much interest to the botanist, but tlie first recorded study of the bird 

 life appeared in the Auk, Oct., 1901, giving the results of Mr. Arthur H. 

 Howell's observations made in 1899 and 1900. 



Mr. Bradford Torrey published in 1895 his delightful chapter, "Five 

 days on Mt. Mansfield," in The Footpath Way, which gave most in- 

 teresting notes on the bird life. 



The present paper is compiled from notes of 1902-04-05-06. My 

 time was spent in the first named year partly on the summit and 

 partly on the plateau at base of the Mt. that I might have freer 

 access to the notches and slopes. This plan was followed in succeeding 

 years, though less time was given to the territory above timber limit, 

 and more to adjacent country, observations being made in Stowe 

 Valley, Elmore Mt. to the east of Stowe Valley, Lake Mansfield region, 

 and the notches and peaks south of Mansfield. 



Mt. Mansfield appears as a long range of four peaks, in lat. 44° 28', 

 about that of Mt. IVashington. The altitude of Stowe Village is 584 

 feet. Timber limit on the mountain estimated about 3,000 feet and 

 the altitude of the Chin almost 5,000 feet. 



The bulk of the mountain lies nearly north and south, sweeping 

 up grandly from the valley on the western side, its base both there and 

 on the east defining far reaching curves, whose steep sides are covered 

 with forest on their lower slopes, and whose massive rugged cliffs lift 

 themselves by sharp ascents to the great crest of the mountain. 



Approaching from the Stowe side the ascent from the valley begins 

 at the foot of a spur thrown out toward the east, the road winding 

 along its sides, and crossing to the main ridge as the summit is neared. 

 Here for the first time the whole sweep of the mountain top bursts on 

 the view, the flowing outline crowned by the majesty of the Chin as 

 it towers over Smugglers' Notch. A mile and a half of wind swept 

 summit stretches away to this point, sometimes only a narrowing mass 

 of weather worn rock above the precipitous descents, sometimes 

 widening out and making boggy hollows which shelter a few stunted 

 trees among the gigantic rock masses which lie in imposing wreck. 



