138 



THE OOLOGIST. 



abundant migrant in the spring and 

 fall. It decoys well, and when filing 

 with other birds it generally leads the 

 flocks, for which reason it is often called 

 Pilot, 



Charadrius dominions, American 

 Golden Plover. This Plover is cer- 

 tainly found in our salt marshes, dur- 

 ing its migration, still I have no record 

 of its occurrence. 



JEgialilis vocifera, Killdeer. Resident 

 except during very severe weather. 

 Found at times in the marshes, but 

 generally in wet pasture fields and 

 meadows. 



Arenaris interpres, Turnstone. Mi- 

 gratory; common in the marshes and 

 along the sea shore, where large num- 

 bers are killed over the decoys while 

 after better game. Commonly called 

 "Calico-backs." 



Bonasa umbellus, Ruffed ' Grouse, 

 Pheasant. This, the Partridge of the 

 northern and eastern states, and com- 

 monly called Pheasant with us, is a 

 resident in the state. It is generally 

 found in rough hilly country, among 

 pines aud laurel {Kalmia latifolia). At 

 times, but n ^t often, they have been 

 found a long distance from their usual 

 haunts. In "American Partridge aud 

 Pheasant Shooting," Frank Schley says: 

 "1 have come across single Pheasants 

 in the open fields, among envies of 

 Partridges, at least four miles distant 

 from any woods or thickets." 



They are very swift of flight, and 

 when flushed fly off in a straight line, 

 generally for about one hundred yards, 

 then taking a short turn to either the 

 right or the left they alight. 



A peculiar habit of the Ruffed Grouse 

 is its drumming. This is mostly done 

 about the mating seasou, although I 

 have heard it in November. In trying 

 to locate the bird b}^ this sound, it is 

 found to be very difficult to do so. 



Often in winter when the berries 

 which form their principal food have 

 disappeared, they eat the buds and 



leaves of the laurel, wich is said to- 

 poison their flesh and render it unlit 

 for the table, indeed it is said that 

 death has resulted from eating them 

 under these conditions. 



Tympanuchus americanus, Prairie 

 Hen, Pinnated Grouse. The Prairie 

 Hen once ranged all through the east- 

 ern part of the United States, but was 

 extirpated many j T ears ago. 



Some years since about a dozen birds- 

 were brought from the west to this 

 state, and liberated in Kent county. 

 One or two were seen shortly after, but 

 what finally became of them I do not 

 know. 



Meleagris gallopavo, Wild Turkey. 

 This the largest and most noble of our 

 game birds, is still found iu abundance 

 in some parts of the state; being migra- 

 tory in a degree according to the sup- 

 ply of food. When on these journeys 

 if they come to a river, they will either 

 mount to the tops of the trees, or a 

 bank, before taking their flight across. 



I am told they have frequently been 

 seen flying across the Potomac River 

 near Weverton, and on several occas- 

 ions have been seen to drop into the 

 swift water, being unable to reach the 

 Virginia shore. During the fall of 1893, 

 a flock of ten or twelve Turkeys ranged 

 the side of the mountain between Wev- 

 erton and Kuoxville, Frederick county. 



The Turkey has many enemies, one 

 of the worst being the Great Horned 

 Owl (Bubo virginianus). 



Mr.D.G. Elliott gives the following as 

 the manner in which this Owl is evaded. 

 He says: "As soon as the warning 

 cluck of some watchful Turkey has 

 placed the whole number on their 

 guard, they immediately stand upright 

 upon the limb and observe every move- 

 ment of their foe, who soon selecting 

 one of them for his prey, swoops upon 

 it with the velocity' of an arrow, aud it 

 would seem that the fate of that one 

 was inevitable; but as rapid as was the 

 Owl's movement, still quicker is that of 



