22 Fragments of Natural History. 



the shore of the lake near this city. They made only a momen- 

 tary stop, for on firing at one of their number as they were set- 

 tling down upon a bunch of thistles, the remainder suddenly 

 darted away over the lake and disappeared. 



The characters of the specimen taken agree with the descrip- 

 tion of the willow wren. They are said to be far more common 

 in Europe than in the United States. 



The Florida Gallinule, ( Gallinula chloropus,) is not described 

 by ornithologists as a western bird. Mr. Audubon says, " none 

 are to be seen in the western country." Bonaparte informs his 

 readers that " in the middle and northern United States it appears 

 to be quite accidental ; for, although a few well authenticated 

 instances are known of its having been seen and shot even as far 

 north as Albany, in the State of New York, it has escaped the 

 researches of Wilson, as well as my own." 



Mr. Nuttall gives us to understand, that " in the middle and 

 northern states it appears to be quite accidental." ' 



Notwithstanding this weight of authority to the contrary, I am 

 disposed to consider this bird as one of our annual visitors, and 

 not as a mere accidental straggler in these parts. 



I have the best authority for asserting that several pair reared 

 their young in a marsh not more than a mile from this city, du- 

 ring the last summer, and I know of at least half a dozen speci- 

 mens that were shot there during the last spring. Broods of the 

 young have also been repeatedly seen during the summer, 



A mature male and female were recently sent me from Fairport, 

 in Geauga county, by the Hon. Ralph Granger, and I am assured 

 by a gentleman that one has been taken alive in the vicinity of 

 Buffalo, in the State of New York. Another was taken at War- 

 ren, in Trumbull county, two years since, and became so far do- 

 mesticated as to run about the barn yard in company with the 

 fowls during the summer, but at the approach of autumn sud- 

 denly disappeared. 



The late Dr. Ward informed me that he had occasionally met 

 with them in the vicinity of Roscoe, Coshocton county, and Dr. 

 Sager assures me that they visit Michigan. I have repeatedly 

 heard of them in other sections of the western states. 



In their habits they are so retiring and secluded that they may 

 escape the attention of even the most active and sagacious ob- 

 server. 



