THE BIRDS OF SPRINGFIEI^D AND VICINITY. 17 



many bred in the lower part of Agawam and in Suffield. In 

 August, 1898, an unusually large number appeared here. 



274. Aegialitis semipalmata Bonap. Semipalmated 

 Plover. Recorded by Dr. J. A. Allen as a not rare autumn 

 visitor. I have taken but one specimen, and I think it now 

 occurs here only as a accidental yh itor. 



277. Aegialitis meloda (Ord.). Piping Plover. 

 Accidental visitor. One record only. (See Birds of Amherst, 

 page 47.) 



283 Arenaria interpres (I/inn.). Turnstone. Rare 

 autumn visitor. 



289. Colinus virginianus (lyinn.). Bob-white. 

 Common resident, but t;ometimes, during winters when the 

 ground is covered by deep snow for a long period, it is nearly 

 exterminated. On the 17th of September, 1898, I found a 

 brood just hatched. 



300. Bonasa umbellus (I<inn.). Ruffed Grouse. 

 A common retideiit, well protected by law, and a growing 

 sentiment in favor of its enforcement. This bird has other 

 enemies besides man ; a species of wood tick often destroys 

 whole broods, some winters the goshawk comes down from the 

 north and persistently follows this grouse, which is its favorite 

 food, and the house cat is responsible for the destruction 

 of great numbers of the very young. 



315. :Bctopistes migratorius (I/inn.). Passenger 

 Pigeon. In 1876, hundreds of thousands of pigeons appeared 

 here, apparently as numerous as in previous years. From then 

 until 1879 or 1880, a few small flocks only were observed each 

 season. In the spring of 1884, I saw in Southwick the last 

 pigeon that I have known to have visited this vicinity. 



