6 Bxn:.LETiN No. 3 



Here in the June days water was oozing and dripping and flowing 

 everywhere among the moss covered roclts. Delicate fronds were 

 answering to the spring time call. White violets lay lil^e snow on the 

 rich green beds, and Clintonias grew tall, swaying their delicate blooms 

 under the spruces, where Black-poll Warblers and Bicknell Thrushes 

 emphasized the fact that we were come into a new land. 



The spur of the mountain, above alluded to, widens out at its 

 base below the forest, forming a plateau, two streams uniting at its 

 foot to form the West Branch. These streams are called North and 

 South Branches and drain the mountain sides, the North Branch 

 having its birth in a wonderful spring which bursts from the heart 

 of Stirling Mt. and comes down from Smugglers' Notch. 



The forest is mainly red spruce (Picea rubra), balsam fir (AMes 

 halsamea), hemlock {Tsuga Canadensis) , yellow birch (Betula lutea), 

 beech (Fagus Americana) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum). The 

 undergrowth is that common to Vermont forest, and where the virgin 

 forest has been disturbed is especially dense. 



During the drouth of 1903 forest fires raged on the slopes of 

 Mansfield, mainly south of the Nose. Doubtless many young birds 

 perished, and the food supply must have been somewhat affected in the 

 succeeding year. In 1904 there seemed fewer White-throats and 

 Juncos. In 1906 I thought the birds were there in their previous 

 numbers. 



In all my years of wandering afoot over Vermont I have failed 

 to find another place which yields so much of inspiring splendid 

 mountain scenery of varied character, so much of rare beauty and 

 interest in its flora, and such opportunity for study of bird life at 

 close range. 



BIRDS OP MANSFIELD REGION. 



1. Actitis macularia, Spotted Sandpiper. North Branch and down 

 the Valley. 



2. Bonasa umbellus togata, Canadian Ruffed Grouse. Flushed 

 many broods on the lower slopes of the mountain. Drumming heard 

 almost daily through June and July. 



3. Accipiter velox, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Occasional, usually 

 about the Summit. 



4. Buteo horealis, Red-tailed Hawk. Common. 



5. Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk. Breeding. 



6. Falco sparverius, Sparrow Hawk. About base of the moun- 

 tain. 



