Dutchex, Rare Long Island Birds, 
[Tympanuchus cupido. Heath Hen. — There is no specimen of this 
species in the collection. Col. Pike remembers having killed individuals 
of this species a number of times on Long Island — the first time in 1836. 
“I was making a tour on foot round the Island, collecting, and one morn- 
ing while encamped at ‘Comae Hills’ we found our larder empty and 
visited the plains for game. We killed a number of these birds and made 
some skins of them. They were not plentiful, yet we procured all we 
wanted. Soon after a law was enacted for their preservation. I have not 
met with an individual for twenty-five years in the woods or plains which 
I have hunted over, and I am afraid they are nearly extinct.” The Pleath 
Hen has undoubtedly been extinct on Long Island for at least half a 
century, and it is important, therefore, to place on record all of its life 
history that can now be obtained from living witnesses. Our esteemed 
fellow-member Mr. George N. Lawrence is one of the few living scientists 
who have had the privilege of seeing this species on its native heath. It 
is with much pleasure, therefore, that I append herewith a letter from Mr. 
Lawrence relative to bygone days and that extinct bird. 
My Dear Mr. Dutcher : 
“Did you ever endeavor to trace the specimen of Pinnated 
Grouse which I informed you I saw at Hempstead about sixty years ago, 
mounted and under a glass shade? It was said to be the last example of 
its race on Long Island, formerly so numerous, and known to the natives 
as the Heath Hen. 
“I think it was in the summer of 1831 that I accepted the invitation of 
a friend to spend a few days with him at the residence of his grandmother 
at Mastic for the purpose of shooting Bay Snipe in the Great South Bay. 
At that time the only mode of conveyance was by stage coach. We started 
from Brooklyn in the morning (another friend going with us), and by 
noon we reached Hempstead where, at the roadside tavern, while waiting 
in the parlor for dinner, I was interested in the specimen above alluded 
to; it was a fine specimen and in good condition ; possibly it may be still 
in the possession of some member of the family.^ At night we stopped at 
Patchogue and did not reach our destination until the next morning. 
“The Grouse at one time were quite abundant in the scrub oaks of the 
middle part of the island. I remember hearing of the successful shooting 
of them by Mr. John Norton. One day he got in the midst of a covey, 
which was scattered around him in a piece of scrub oak. On shooting 
one, instead of securing it, he threw down some part of his wardrobe to 
mark the spot, first his hat, then his cravat, coat and vest; — how far he 
disrobed I am unable to tell, I suppose that depended upon the number of 
birds killed. I remember Mr. Norton very well, he was a small man and 
an enthusiastic sportsman. The family mansion where he resided was on 
comparatively high ground, just west of Far Rockaway, and bordering on 
the ocean. The old house was removed by the mai'ch of improvement, 
and the grounds in which it stood are now known by the euphonious 
name of Wave Crest. 
“As is known by ornithologists, the Long Island bird was considered to 
be identical with the Prairie Hen of the West, but quite recently it has 
been decided by Mr. William Brewster that they are distinct species. It 
is surprising that this was not discovered sooner, as their habitats were so 
very different, one frequenting a dense scrub oak region and the other an 
open prairie country. 
Yours truly, 
January 20th, 1892. Geo. N. Lawrence.”] 
1 A visit to Hempstead to see this specimen revealed the fact that it was destroyed 
by fire a few years since. — W. D. * > ^ 
35 X- July, 1893 p 272^. 
