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Grouse or Prairie Hen, once very common all over this part of the 
country, is now no longer found east of the Ohio river, with the ex¬ 
ception of a few which, I believe, are still in existence on the islands 
of Martha’s Vineyard and Naushon. That very curious extinct 
bird, the Great Auk, referred to by early New England writers as 
the “ Pen gw in ” or ‘‘Wobble” is supposed to have been found along 
the coast from Cape Cod north, and its bones have been discovered 
among the Indian shell heaps of the Ipswich sand-hills. . 
The Wild Turkey, which is now no longer known here, was 
very plentiful in former days—as appears from the following pas¬ 
sage in Morton’s New English Canaan published in 1632 : “ Tur¬ 
kics there are, which divers times in great Hocks have sallied by 
our doores. Of these there hath bin killed that have weighed 
forty-eight pound a peece. I had a salvage which hath taken out 
his boy in a morning and they have brought home their loades 
about noone. I have asked them what number thev found 
m/ 
in the woods, who have answered Neent Metawna, which is a 
thousand that day, the plenty of them is such in these parts. 
They are easily killed at rooste because the one being killed the 
other sit fast neverthelesse, and this is no bad commodity.” 
From these general remarks, I now come to the birds of our 
own particular locality. Owing to its insular position on the 
coast, and the comparative absence of trees, Newport is not very 
attractive to many of the land birds, especially those which frc- 
quent deep forests, but nevertheless, a large proportion of the 
birds which are found in other parts of New England are met with 
at least occasionally. Beginning with the birds of the winter 
months, one of the most familiar species which is to be seen fre¬ 
quently in the streets in this immediate neighborhood is the Black- 
capped Titmouse, or Chickadee, a sprightly, impertinent little 
bird, very active in its movements, and seeming to enjoy even the 
severest weather. These birds breed here, and may occasionally 
be seen at all times of the year, but are much commoner at this 
season. Often found in company with the Chickadee is another 
diminutive species, the Golden-crested Wren, a bird of a rather 
dull plumage, except for a bright yellow patch upon the crown. 
It is somewhat like the Chickadee in its movements while 
searching for food upon the branches, and utters a feeble, lisping 
note. This is one of the smallest of American birds except the 
