The Florida Gallinule Breeding inVermont. — Early in June, the present 
year, I left New York City for a short collectingtrip in Vermont, in quest 
of, among other things, the Florida Gallinule ( Gallinula galeata ), in the 
hope pf securing the birds, their nest and eggs, and the proper access- 
ories, for a group piece for the American Museum of Natural History. 
On visiting the locality where in former years I had found the species 
breeding, my disappointment was very great to find the birds had de- 
parted. This locality is Lake Bomaseen, situated about sixteen miles 
from Rutland, Vermont. My first nest of these birds I found at this 
place, May 28, 1881. It was built in the cat-tail flags, upon a small, boggy 
island, quite a distance from the main land. It was slightly elevated 
above the water, and composed entirely of dry flags, and contained nine 
fresh eggs. The next season, 1882, I made two trips to the breeding 
ground, and found one nest, May 28, containing five eggs. This I left, 
and returned June 5, and found, not far from the first nest, a second one. 
These were situated on boggy ground connected with the main land. 
Both nests looked near enough alike to have been made by the same bird. 
The same kind of material was used as in the nest found in 1881. The 
first nest contained seven eggs, and the second one eleven. One of the 
birds was taken. 
The next year, 1883, but one nest was found, near the place where two 
were found the year before. It contained nine eggs, and both of the birds 
could have been easily taken. 
This year, after hunting for two days without result, a gentleman near 
where I was staying told me he thought a Mr. Johnson, of Hydeville, 
Vt., had taken the nest this season. When I returned to New York, I 
found, through Mr. Allen, that such was the case, Mr. Allen having re- 
ceived a letter from him reporting his discovery. 
1 do not think that more than one pair of birds breed at this lake. It is 
very probable that others may breed at Fort Cassan and Lambus Point, 
Lake Champlain. — Jenness Richardson, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., New 
York City. 
Under date of Hydeville, Vt., June 6, 1889, Mr. A. J. Johnson wrote me 
as follows: “I wish to establish the fact of the breeding of the Florida 
Gallinule ( Gallinula galeata ) in the State of Vermont, having found a 
nest containing ten eggs in Lake Bomaseen, Castleton, Vt. It was built 
in a clump of rushes, and the nest also was made of the same. I saw the 
bird, but did not shoot it. Two years ago I shot one near the same place 
and found the nest. There must be several more breeding near this place, 
for I heard quite a number. I cannot find any record of this species breed- 
ing in Vermont in any book I have.” 
While the occurrence of the Florida Gallinule in Vermont is on record, 
the above seem to be the first reports of its breeding in that State. — J. A. 
Allen, Am. Mas. Nat. Hist., New York City. 
Auk, VI. July, 1889. p. *7 3- 2 IV. 
The Florida Gallinule is also supposed to be of rare occurrence in Ver- 
mont, but for the past twenty years it has been common about Lake Cham- 
plain, breeding here also, as it is a regular- autumn experience to come 
upon them with their young. J Illy, 1390 , f) # 3 //. 
