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FORTHE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

i Sound a
A.M.N.H.
1907

t

March, 1905

®I|0 Joitntal

nf thr

15 cents a copy
50 cents a year

ilatup (iruttltnlogtral i>0ri?tg

Editor, W. H. RROWNSON. Portland Associate Editor. FRANK T. NOBLE. Augusta

Published by the Society at 97 1-2 Exchange Street. Portland. Maine

■<^^^^-

Entered as second class mail matter at the postoffice. Fairfield. Me.
J. Merton Swain. Business Manager.

♦.standard Books on Birds..

FLOWERS, INSECTS. FISHES

and all Branches of Nature . . .

We can furnish on orders received by mail any nature book that you may want
at a price that will be satisfactory to you. We have all the

STAINDARD BIRD BOOKS

published, and can supply them promptly. Write us for information about any-
thing you have in mind of this description, and we will reply at once. When you
are in Portland call and see what we have on our shelves.

Ornithologists will always be welcome

at our store, and we shall be pleased to give all jxirticulars about anything in the
l)ook line that may be desired. Our store is in Monument Square, where all the
electric car lines center, and easily reached by all visitors to the city.

LORING, SHORT & HARMON,

POIVTIvAND, MAINJ&.

Guide to Taxidermy

Full of valuable information.
COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS
HOWTO PREPARE AND MOUNT

Birds

Animals
"iJ and Fish

Mso contains a com-
plete list pi all North
American Birds, with
prices of their eggs,
kms and mounted
specimens ; also au ex-
haustive line of Orni-
thologists', Oologists'
and Taxidermists' sup-
plies, valuable infor
mation for the amateur,
recipes, etc. Bound in
cloth, 35c, postpaid
104 Union St., CHAS. K. REED. Worcester, Mass.

American
Bird Magazine.

Published every month.
$1.00 a year. Single Copies, 10c.

Beautifully illustrated in half-tones
and Birds in colors.

The finest series of photographs of
LIVE WILD BIRDS and nests and eggs
ever shown in any magazine.

SPECIAL— To all who mention
"Maine's Journal" we will send Vols.
I, II, III, IV and subscription for 1905
for $4.00.

CHAS. K= REED,

104 UIXIOIN ST., WORCESTER, iVlASS.

BIRD-LORE

^ ^ ^i Bi-Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of

'■*^ M Publislieil for the Natioiuil Committee of tlie Audubon Societies, as tlie official organ of the Societit

3 *,^ Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

tj ^^ , Audubon Department edited by MAIiKI, OSGOOD WRIOHT and WILMAM DUTCH KR

S* S BIRD-LOKE'S Motto: A Ihrd in the Hush is IVorth Tiw in tin- Ilati.i

^:l^ c IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BIRDS YOU WILL BE INTERI

-£i I IN ** BIRD-LORE.** Its pages are filled with descriptions of experient
3 ^ M. birds in tieki and forest Irom the pens of writers who have won world-wi
. ♦- -^ as literary naturahsts. Among the contributors to Bird-Lore are

in" ^ c/T John BrRROuoHS Ernkst Thompson Seton J. A. Allen

O •- ^ Dr. Henry van Dyke Olive Thorne Miller William I^rewsi

S^ C y^ Bradford Torrey PYorence Merriam Bailey Roberi' Ridgwa^

^^ ^*i h and numerous other writers known l)oth for their powers of observation a
itT ^C 3 tription.

^ 'S ^ In addition to general descriptive articles, Bird-Lore has departmen

Teachers and Students," wherein are given useful hints in bird-study, an
Voung Observers," designed to develop the love of birds inherent in all c
O 'S These, with reviews of current ornithological literature, editorials, teachers'
C ^ O ^^^^ reports of the work of the Audubon Societies, make a magazine which
*G JQ *^ lover can do without.

.B S Not less delightful and entertaining than the te.xt are Bird-Lores

^ 3 S tions, which include actual photographs of the birds in their haunts, showii
•J^ ^ ^ at rest and in motion, brooding their eggs, or feeding their young, as
drawings. A feature of the coming year will be a series of plates by Bruce
antl Louis Agassiz Fuertes accurately illustrating

THE WARBLERS IN COLOR

with figures of the male, female, and young (when their plumages differ) <
North American member of this fascmatmg family.

The text accompanying these beautiful pictures will be by Professor
Cooke, from data in the possession of the Biological Survey at Washington, ;
give the times of arrival and dejiarture of the Warblers from liundreds of I
throughout their ranges.

SUBSCRIPTION BLANK

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THE MACMTLLAN COMPAXV, Publisher a for the Audubon Society

Crescent and Mulberry Sts., Harrisburg, Fa., or 66 Fifth Ave., New

Please find enclosed One Dollar, for 7vhich mail me BIRD-LORE for
bef^inning

Address _

Dale

Annual Subscription, $1.00; Single Numbers, 20 cents.

From BIRD-LORE'S Series of North American Warblers.

1. Wilson's Warbler. Male. 3. Canadian Wareler. Adult Male.

2. Wilson's Warbler. Female. 4. Canadian Warbler. Adult Female.

5. Canadian Warbler. Young Female.

one-half natural size.

{Ei}t Journal ^a/.^,,/}

xif the s^

Mmnt (iniitliologiral ^ori^ty

Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December
Vol. VII MARCH, 1905 No. 1

Journal of the NihtK Annual Meeting of the Maine Ornithological Society.

The ninth annual meeting of the Maine Ornithological Society
convened at Bangor, November 25-26, 1904, with headquartens at
the Penobscot Exchange. Friday afternoon, at 1.30, the members
repaired to the residence of Ex-President Ora W. Knight, and
spent the time until 3.30 in looking over his extensive collections.
Mr. Knight has, among other rarities, the first recorded specimen of
Holboell's Redpoll from the State, the first specimen taken and
known to be in existence in Maine of the Short-billed Marsh Wren,
the specimen of Cardinal which gives us the record for Maine, it
being the individual taken from a flock of three in Gardiner,
December 19, 1895, and the only specimen from the State which
does not seem to be an escaped cage bird. Mr. Knight also has a
very complete collection of eggs in sets of North American birds,
including a very full list of the Anatidae, with nests of down, and
skins of the Warbler and Sparrow families, with nests and eggs.
Among these the rarest find was the first recorded set of Yellow
Palm Warbler taken in the United States. Mr. Knight has devoted
much time to the study of Maine birds, and the nests and eggs
were gathered to aid in this work. A very complete collection of
Eepidoptera, including Hybrids reared by Mr. Knight, and many
minerals and botanical specimens, were also seen there.

At 4.00 o'clock the members asseml)led at the rooms of Harry
Merrill to inspect his well preserved and neatly arranged collection

2 JOURNAIv OF MAINS ORNITHOI^OGICAL SOCIETY.

of birds, nests, and eggs. Among the most interesting things in
Mr. Merrill's collection from the State was the first nest and eggs
of the Golden-crowned Kinglet ever taken. This is the set de-
scribed in all the older works dealing with the oology of this part
of the country. Another interesting specimen in Mr. Merrill's col-
lection was the Kiimlien's Gull, taken at the time when this species
was just on the point of being described. Mr. Merrill's bird was
one of those used in differentiating the characteristics of this
species.

On returning to the hotel from Mr. Merrill's, a short business
meeting was held in the parlor of the Penobscot Exchange, with
President Spinney in the chair. After the reading of the secretary's
report of the last annual meeting, the following committees were
appointed by the chair.

On Nominations: — Messrs. Knight, Norton, vSpinney.

On Resolutions : — ^Messrs. Swain, Ellis, Powers.

On Auditing Accounts: — Prof. E. A. Lee; Miss Mabel
Ridley.

On motion of Mr. Knight, voted that a committee be appointed
to prepare the manuscript for publication relating to the birds of
Maine, containing brief descriptions of the individual species, nest-
ing habits, and distribution in and out of the State, said manuscript
not to exceed three hundred and fifty printed pages. After some
discussion this was laid upon the table.

On motion of Mr. Ellis the following persons were elected to
active membership: Mr. B. N. Allen, Castine ; Miss Marina
Everett, Camden; Prof. Hurlbert, Bangor; Miss Eora C. Eastman,
Portland; Mr. Louis E. Legge, Portland.

After the reading of the minutes the meeting adjourned.

The evening meeting was called to order in the Ware Parlors
by the Secretary, Wm. L. Powers. This was an open meeting, and
many citizens of Bangor were present to enjoy the entertainment.
The first speaker was Capt. H. L. Spinney, who chose for his sub-
ject "Birds from a Lighthouse." The next speaker was Arthur H.
Norton, of Westbrook, who detailed his last summer's examination

JOURNAL OF MAINR ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIKTY. 3

of the "Protected Colonies of Birds on the Islands along the Maine
Coast." Mr. Norton was followed by Ora W. Knight, of Bangor,
who spoke on "Birds of the Penobscot Valley."

All the lectures were illustrated by stereopticon views of birds,
nests, and eggs from negatives made by the speakers. Professor
Drew, of the University of Maine, not only loaned his excellent
electric lantern, but also insured the success of the views by person-
ally conducting the exhibition.

The meeting was a grand success and netted the society a
goodly sum.

At 9.30 the next morning the members met at the residence of
Manly Hardy, in Brewer, and inspected his extensive collection.
Mr. Hardy's collection of North American birds is one of the most
extensive collections in the United States. He has, in round num-
bers, three thousand, three hundred mounted birds, and all but one
hundred of them were mounted by himself. He lacks specimens of
the lyabrador Duck and the Great Auk, both of which have been
extinct for many years, but with these and one or two other excep-
tions he has all the species and sub-species, both male and female,
found in North America.

Among the rarities are an adult and a full-grown young of the
California Vulture, a species now almost extinct, while Guadalupe
Caracara, Guadalupe Petrel, and other varieties nearing extinction,
were also represented. A majority of the known specimens of the
rare Scaled Petrel have also passed through Mr. Hardy's hands in
distribution to other collectors. Among the Maine novelties is the
specimen of Willow Ptarmigan taken at Kenduskeag, and a Hybrid
Hawk, which the authorities have not agreed in placing closer than
to say that it is the offspring of two of the following. Cooper's,
Sharp-shinned, Broad-winged. Mr. Hardy's collection is especially
strong in albinistic and other varying types, and contains so much of
interest that it is impossible to say what is most interesting. The
visit to Mr. Hardy was especially delightful to your secretary, for he
had the pleasure of renewing the acquaintance of Mr. Hardy's son,
the artist, whom he met eight years previous while on a trip to

4 JOURNAI. OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Mt. Katahdin. Mrs. Fanny Hardy Eckstorni, the author of "The
Bird Book," "The Woodpeckers," and "The Penobscot Man,"
helped her father and brother entertain, and her charming personal-
ity added not a little to the long-to-be-remenibered visit.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

The public meeting of the society was called to order in the
audience room of the Bangor High School, with President Spinney
in the chair.

The first article on the program was an illustrated lecture on
the "Coloration of Birds," by Wni. L,. Powers, of Gardiner.

The next was a paper, "From the Standpoint of an Amateur,"
by Miss Mabel Ridley, of the Castine Normal School. She treated
of her work as a teacher, and showed a wide grasp of her subject
and a thorough knowledge of the pedagogical principles underlying
all nature teaching. She was listened to with deep interest and
attention, and impressed her audience that she was not an amateur.

The next paper was written by Sanford Ritchie, of Dover, and
recorded the finding of the nest and eggs of the Hudsonian Chicka-
dee, of Dover, Maine, the first record for our State.

The meeting closed with a talk by Manly Hardy on the
habits and life history of many raptorial birds, and, as he described
species unfamiliar to his hearers, his remarks were especially valu-
able and interesting. It is a matter of regret that no member of the
society is a shorthand writer, for these extemporaneous remarks by
such men as Mr. Hardy and Professor Stanton are too valuable to
be lost from the records of the society. Mr. Hardy has traveled all
over Maine and lower Canada as a fur buyer, and many years of his
life have been passed in the forest. It is safe toisay that no man,
whether Indian or white man, ev^er possessed so intimate an ac-
quaintance with the birds and animals of our State as Mr. Hardy.

As no means for lighting the audience room had been provided,
the meeting adjourned to the parlor of the Penobscot Exchange.

Mr. Knight, of the committee on nominations, reported as
follows : "Your committee has attended to its duty and begs leave

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5

to report as follows : For President, Prof. L. A. Lee, of Brunswick ;
Vice-President, Dr. H. H. Brock, of Portland ; Secretary and
Treasurer, John Merton Swain, of Skowhegan ; Editor, Frank T.
Noble, of Augusta; Councillors, Capt. H. L. Spinney, of Seguin ;
Ora W. Knight, of Bangor."

On motion of Mr. Powers, voted to accept the report.

On motion of Mr. Norton, voted to instruct Mr. Knight to cast
the ballot of the society for these officers. He did so, and the per-
sons named in the report were declared by the chair elected.

Mr. Ellis, of the committee on resolutions, reported as follows :

Be it Resolved, That the thanks of the society are due and
are hereb}- tendered to Mrs. Ora W. Knight for her hospitality to
members in attendance on this meeting ; to the Maine Central and
Bangor & Aroostook Railroads for reduced rates ; to the School
Board of Bangor for the tender of the audience room of the High
vSchool for our afternoon meeting ; to Professor Drew, of the Uni-
versity of Maine, for the use of his lantern and his services in run-
ning it ; to Mr. Knight, Manly Hardy and Harry Merrill for the
opportunities to examine their extensive collections.

And be it further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread

on the records of the society, and a copy sent to the persons named

therein.

Hiram Ellis,

J. Merton Swain,
Wm. L. Powers.
On motion of Mr. Swain the report was adopted and the reso-
lutions accepted.

Professor Lee, of the auditing committee, reported that they
had examined the accounts of the treasurer and editor, and found

them correct.

Prof. L. A. Lee,

Miss M. P. Ridley.

On motion of Mr. l^llis, voted to accept the report.

The matter of the emblem for the society was then brought up

by Mr. Powers, who exhibited specimens of the design submitted by

6 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI^ SOCIETY.

Mr. Rich. This design was on the whole deemed satisfactory, with
some minor changes suggested for the posing of the central figure
and the addition of the date of founding.

The discussion on this question brought forth the fact that the
exact date was unknown to the members present, and on motion of
Mr. Norton it was voted to accept the date of the starting of the
correspondence society of the United Ornithologists of Maine by
Stephen J. Adams, of Cornish.

Professor Lee was recognized by the chair and arose to explain
that he could no longer loan the lantern slides of birds, nests and
eggs which he had made from negatives submitted by the members.

Mr. Norton then read a letter from Dana Sweet, relative to his
work on the migrations of Maine birds, and suggested that the
societ}' appoint him a special committee to attend to this important
matter.

On motion of Professor Lee, the society voted that "Mr. Sweet
he officially aiithori/.ed to continue the work on bird migration."

On motion of the same gentleman, voted that the committee on
Audubon societies for the ensuing year be composed of Messrs.
Norton, Lane, Powers, Tufts.

Voted on motion of Mr. Norton that the society recommend
that the open season for Eider Ducks be from September ist to
March ist. And on motion of the same gentlemen, voted that the
council be empowered to endorse some measure for the better pro-
tection of game birds, and instructed to bring same before the
proper authorities.

The matter of the revised list of the Birds of Maine was then
taken from the table, and, on motion of Professor Lee, Mr. Ora W.
Knight was elected chairman of this committee, with power to
appoint other members. He appointed Arthur H. Norton, of
Westbrook.

On motion of Professor Lee, Messrs. Frank T. Noble, W. H.
Brownson and Wm. L. Powers were elected to serve as a financial
committee to arrange for the publication of the work called for in
the preceding motion.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 7

The committee on society emblem was then reappointed for
the ensiling year, and the committee on the pul)lication of the life
history of the Warblers of Maine was instructed to carry on their
work and empowered to fill vacancies.

Mr. Knight suggested that the next annual meeting l^e held in
Portland, and an informal vote was passed to this end.

On motion of Professor Lee, voted to adjourn sine die.

Wm. L. PoweRvS, Secretary.

Presidehb s Address.

Read at the Annual Meehng, Bangor, December, 1904.

By Capt. H. L. Spinney.

Member.s of the Maine Ornithological Socif:ty :

This, the ninth annual meeting of our society, demands the
attention of its members. We are here to review the work of the
past year, to consider the condition and standing of the society and
to adopt such changes as ma}' seem best for its continuance and
prosperity. It gives me much pleasure to greet you to-day, and to
feel that as a member I perhaps have not added my mite in vain
toward helping make this society an honor to the name it bears.
Through our efforts this society is now recognized the length and
breadth of our land, and such recognition can only be maintained
by the faithfulness and loyalty of every member. "United we stand,
divided we fall."

While the past year has been one of improvement to the society,
there are yet questions of vital importance that need careful consid-
eration. Our Journal is the record of our merits, the vitality of
our society, and as such needs most earnest attention. Improvement
has marked its columns during the past year, and while the editor,
as in the past, has not been handicapped for material to fill its pages,
the funds to secure its printing has been a serious matter.

8 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Our mailing list now shows an income which, if promptly col-
lected, would assure well filled pages and prompt distribution to
subscribers. That much effort has been made to collect the arrears,
and with what success, will be shown by the treasurer in his report.
Some measure should be adopted, so that in the future no arrears
ma}^ appear on the mailing list.

The contributions to the life history of species of the Warblers of
our State that have lately appeared in the columns of our Journal
with others that are to follow, and the notes on the Finches found in
Maine, should elicit the commendation of every ornithologist, and
fully recompense every name upon its subscription list.

The supply of application blanks for membership and copies of
our constitution have been exhausted for some time. New ones
should l)e prepared in such form as shall be recommended. An
effort should also be made to supply the executive committee with
society stationery. A design for an emblem to be used on the
publications and stationery of the society has been submitted for
approval and a change in the design advised. This should also
receive attention.

A very important question to be settled is how shall we publish
the new list of the birds of Maine. At a former meeting, held at
Portland, authority was given Mr. Ora W. Knight to prepare such
a list, the same to be published under conditions specified by the
society. The list is now ready for publication, and such action
should be taken as will at once enable the author to reap the reward
of his well-earned merits.

An effort should be made at the next legislature to secure pro-
tection for the few Eider Ducks that now breed on our coast. The
only Ducks of that species now breeding in the United States are
limited to a small area in Jericho Bay, and unless the few pairs that
are known to breed there are protected we cannot long claim them
as breeding on our coast.

After such laws are secured the question of warden service in
many localities is a consideration. While many of the school-
teachers of the State are doing much toward bird protection in the

JOURNAL OF MAINK OKN ITHOLOGICAI. SOCIETY. 9

city and large village schools, many of the schools in our rural dis-
tricts, where most of the birds breed, have hardly heard of such a
work. This fact, I think, is more noticeable in the districts along
our coast than in the country. Many of the people on the coast
would resent the killing of our orchard and woodland birds, while
those of the shore and coast they consider legitimate game. If in
some direct way we could secure the sympathy of such districts, we
should not need a warden for every bird.

Thanking the members of the society for the honor they have
conferred upon me during the past two years, and pledging the
loyalty I have always felt, I surrender my position to another care.

Are tKe Choicer Varieties of Ducks Increasing in Maine Waters,
and if so, WKy ?

By Frank T. Nobi.k, Augusta, Me.

For many years the writer has taken more than an ordinary
interest in the water fowl of New England, both as an ornithologist
and a sportsman, particularly those Anatidae whose delicacy of flesh
and fine flavor cause them to rank high in the list of desirable game
birds.

Various traditions and unauthentic stories, handed down from
generation to generation, would have us understand that big bags
of these choice birds were, years ago, of common occurrence ;
indeed, that in those days they were almost as numerous as the
sands upon the seashore. As for myself I am decidedly skeptical
that such conditions ever existed hereabouts, and certainly during
recent years such species as the Mallard {anas boschas) , Widgeon
{a. Americana), Gadwall (a. streperus) , Pintail {dafila acuta) and
Redhead {aythya Americana) have been taken by the average
gunner only at rare intervals.

Probably the most attractive feeding ground for the river
Ducks in our State is Merrymeeting Bay, a shallow body of water

lO JOURNAI^ OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY.

formed by the junction of four rivers, the Kennebec, Androscoggin,
Cathance and Abbakadassett. This great fresh water bay, with its
rank growth of grass and rushes, its numerous creeks and inlying
pond holes, forms an ideal resting and feeding place for the various
kinds of water fowl. It is in these waters that I have noticed
recently a decided increase in the numbers of certain Ducks formerly
considered rare, and this fact has prompted the question at the head
of this article, with the hope that others may be able to add to our
knowledge concerning their abundance or otherwise in other locali-
ties.

vSome twenty years ago, so I am told, a few gunners living near
the bay shore procured some wild rice {zizania aquafiai), from the
West, sowing it about the bay as an experiment. This, or rice
brought by the birds themselves, has gradually resown itself and
spread, until in the fall of 1904 there was a crop of rice never before
equalled, affording a sumptuous repast for all the Ducks who cared
to come and partake of it. Query. Has this harvest of a favorite
food recently discovered caused certain species to deviate from their
usual course of migration and tarry here to rest and feed ? In partial
answer, allow me briefly to refer to the varieties and numbers of
the infrequently met species that came to my notice in and about
the bay during the past fall.

Early in September the Ducks principally in evidence were the
Dusky, which had been gathering since August. With them were
a few scattered bunches of Blue-wing and Green-wing Teal and an
occasional Pintail. As the season advanced these flocks were aug-
mented by new^ arrivals, and the rarer varieties would occasionally
be seen. By September 15th, those graceful birds, the Pintails,
increased, and bunches of five to eight were not unusual. They
usually keep by themselves and are unsuspicious of danger as a
rule.

Blue-winged Teal. — The Blue-winged Teal were now flocking
in what seemed incredible numbers for this locality. Flocks of fifty,
one hundred and even two hundred birds were frequently seen in
the air, quartering hither and thither in their swift, nervous flight.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOCtICAI. .SOCIETY. II

which is characteristic of these birds. Suddenly they would with
one accord pitch headlong into the grass as if to feed and rest, only
the next moment to rise with a great whirr and fly to some other
part of the bay. On Septembe'r i6th, just at dusk, a flock came
suddenly out of the sky and flew past my float that must have num-
bered at least three hundred birds. . I had never seen such a bunch
of Teal in Maine waters, though I once witnessed a similar sight
in the Grand L,ake region in New Brunswick.

From September 15th to the 25th, Blue-winged Teal were every-
where in evidence in flocks of five to twenty-five. A few of those
charming little Bantam Ducks, the Green-wing Teal, would be found
from day to day, but only a few, — no large flocks — and their path
of migration was evidently not across Merrymeeting Bay.

Black Ducks. — Pintails were still more common about the
25th, and the Black Duck, that grand old stand-by, was seemingly
everywhere — scarcely a moment l)Ut what pairs or flocks of ten to
fifty could be seen in the air in some quarter.

It must be liorne in mind that tlie vision, aided ])y good glasses,
covered a feeding and flying territory of some five miles north and
south by nearly two miles east and west, a large expanse of country.

Thp: Mallard. — From October ist to loth, the diving fowl or
sea Ducks began to appear in greater numbers, and with the advent
of cold nights a few of those grand birds, the Mallards, were seen,
usually alone, but sometimes trying to be social with the Black
Ducks. A little later, and good-sized flocks appeared upon the
scene, and the numbers observed was one of the greatest surprises
experienced by the writer. At first flocks of five or ten would unex-
pectedl}^ be found hidden awa}^ in the thick grass or wild rice.
These would gradually unite, I presume, and with fresh arrivals
from some unknown quarter form flocks of as many as twenty-five
or thirty birds. In some instances it would seem as if the beautiful
green-headed Drakes constituted almost the entire flock, and a
pretty picture they made when on the wing in the bright sunlight.
With their delicately marked under parts, dazzling green heads and

12 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY.

neck, with white collars, they appeared as if in full dress, the
aristocrats of the Anatidoe, as they surely are.

These choice birds, from this time to November ist, were seen
every da}^ in numerous bunches, and even persistent gunning could
not drive them from the bay, merely causing them to seek the more
open water. Surely if this is what we may expect in the future, the
Mallard can now be classed among our common Ducks.

Redhead. — About October 15th came the advance guard of
those justly celebrated Ducks, the Redhead close cousin to that vara
avis the CanvasVjack, a record of whose capture in Maine waters I
hope to establish before long. The Redhead is far from scarce
hereabouts now. He is a late arrival and remains after most of the
other Ducks have moved southward. My first experience with them
in any numbers was in the fall of 1903. On November 5th of that
year, late in the afternoon, I skulled a fiock of nearly forty birds in
in the oi)en water, and was within eighty yards before they became
suspicious. As the sunlight fell upon the animated group, showing
off their rich bronze heads, the sight was one never to be forgotten.

From October 20th to November ist, 1904, they were seen
frequently, usually in sizable flocks. They appear clannish and
inhabit the more open water during the day, and consequently are
not easily taken. That they are partial to wild rice, upon which
they feed at night, is proven by examination of their crops and the
delicious flavor this food imparts to their flesh.

Gadwall. — The heretofore rare Gadwall or Gray Duck {anas
strepera) , put in an appearance rather late. It was October 27th
when I observed and took the first one, a female, which was with a
pair of Mallards. On the 28th and 29th they came in fairly good-
sized flocks, fifteen or more being repeatedly seen together, but the
weather was boisterous now, and we could rarely get within gun-
shot of them.

Widgeon. — The American Widgeon {anas Americana)^ was
also seen about the same time — ^beautiful birds, swift flyers like the
Teal. They cannot be mistaken once recognized, their innnaculate
under parts making them very conspicuous when on the wing.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 13

They seem to gather in rather larger flocks than the Gadwall,
twenty-five or thirty together not being uncommon. Both these
latter species were quite numerous for a short time, and I am
inclined to class them as common migrants in these waters from late
in October to about November 5th. I fully expect to see the
European Widgeon {anas pcnclope) taken here at no distant day.

The Gadwall and Widgeon are very closely related, and from
an epicurean standpoint, in my humble opinion, no web-footed fowl
can surpass them in excellency as a table bird, when properly
served, and their appearance in Maine waters ought to be hailed
with the greatest satisfaction.

Two Thousand Ducks. — I wish the readers of the Journal
could have been with me on the Kennebec river October 27th last,
that they might have enjoyed an object lesson upon the subject of
water fowl in Maine. On that day there was "l^edded" in the river
between Brown's Point and the lower end of Swan Island not less
than two thousand Ducks and probably more, the aggregate being
made up of easily defined flocks of Black Ducks, Redheads, Ameri-
can Scaup, I^esser Scaup, Mallards, Widgeon, Gadwalls and Ruddy
Ducks, and probably other varieties. These birds had been har-
assed for weeks, gradually becoming shy of gunning floats, and
had taken refuge in the deep open water. Here they rested during
the day, secure from molestation, for, long before a float could
approach within gunshot, those nearest would take wing, and then,
after a moment's hesitation, the entire flock would rise with a roar
like a mighty cataract or a swiftly moving railroad train, and, flying
up the river a quarter of a mile, would settle upon the water again.

In closing, permit me to make mention of the only Duck that is
now met wdth more rarely than formerly, and they stand alone as
the one species evidently decreasing. I refer to that beautiful
Bridal Duck, the Wood Duck {aix sponsa), they of the unsurpassed
plumage, clothed as they are in a veritable Joseph's coat of many
colors. I fear these birds are nearing extinction, as during the past
two years I have failed to observe a single specimen in the bay or
elsewhere. Verily " 'Tis pity, and pity 'tis 'tis true." But we

14 JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOI^OGICAL SOCIETY.

have an evident increase of the several exceedingly desirable species
referred to above, to compensate in a measure for the loss of this
one, and possibly with a rigid enforcement of that wise statute, pro-
hibiting spring shooting, the few surviving ones may be spared to
multipl}^ and replenish the earth, a consummation devoutly to be
wished.

Notes on tKe Warblers Found in Maine.

(Continued from Vol. VI, p. 72.)
ConlribuMons to the Life History of tKe Mourning Warbler.

Geothlypis Philadelphia (Wils.).
By J. Mkrton Swain.

Geographical Distribution — Migration Range. — Acci-
dental in So. Carolina, rare in I^ouisiana, but common in Texas.
Texas seems to be the point where this species enters and leaves the
United vStates. From thence the lines of migration entend north to
Manitoba and northeast along the west side of the Alleghenies to
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Magdalen Islands.

Brep:ding Range. — Not common in northern Minnesota and
the Red River Valley; rarely in As.sinboin. Is found breeding,
but not common, in Michigan, Central Ontario, northern New York,
Vermont and New Hampshire, and in the Catskill Mountains and
Berkshire Hills, Mass. Is locally common in northern Maine and
ea.st to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Has been known to breed in the mountains of Pennsylvania and
West Virginia.

Winter Range. — It is not an uncommon winter resident in
Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and a few winter in P^cuador. It
usually frequents the higher altitudes in winter in the tropics. It is
one of the latest migrants to reach the United States, as it lingers
late in South America.

The Mourning Warbler seems to be one of the least known of
this interesting family that breed in our vState. The records of its

JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 15

occurrence seem to be few. It seems to be transient in the southern
counties of our State, and a rare summer resident in the counties of
the Canadian farms. Boardman gives it in his Hst of "Birds of the
St. Croix Valley" as "very rare." Is reported "conunon" at Fort
Fairfield (Aroostook Co.) (Batcheller Bull. Nutt. Orn. CI., Vol. 7.
p. no), and is reported as occurring at Upton by Mr. Wm. Brewster.
I find no mention of it in the late Clarence H. Morrell's notes at
Pittsfield.

It seems to somewhat resemble its near relative, Geothlypis
trichas brachidadyla (Swains.), in its choice of feeding grounds and
its choice of location for its summer home. It is one of the late
arrivals in the State, in fact, one of the latest of this family to arrive,
reaching the interior at about the time the Blackpolls arrive. Soon
after arrival it may be observed, but a pair in a place, feeding about
the dense underbrush on the margin of some low-land woods or sec-
ond growth swamp, or on some side hill, covered with brush, near a
deep- wooded ravine, and soon after its arrival it begins its nest
building. The Migration Report for 1902 shows it was first observed
near Waterville on May 24th, and at Avon (Franklin Co.) on May
24th (Journal Me. Orn. Soc, Vol. VI., No. 3, p. 80). I find
no records of its nest being found in the State.

Mr. Fred B. Spaulding, of Lancaster, N. H., has found it
breeding near his home. He writes me as follows: "It was not
until June 8, 1901, that I found a nest of the Mourning Warbler.
On that date, in company with my old friend, Judge Clark, of Say-
brook,' Ct., we were searching a hillside, near a small trickling
stream, when I discovered a nest, new to us both, containing five
fresh eggs. The nest was supported by some leaning raspberry
bushes, sixteen inches from the ground. No bird was on the nest
when I discovered it, l)ut on our retiring a short distance she re-
turned. At our approach she slipped from the nest and ran off
through the vines and bushes like a mouse, repeating this act as
often as we gave her the opportunity. After trying in vain to get a
good look at the bird through a glass, and being unable to identify
it, I collected the bird and found it to be a female Mourning War-

l6 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

bier. The nest was very large and compact. On the bottom were
quite a few dead leaves, interwoven with coarse straws ; inside of
these a lot of finer stems, and lined with dark rootlets and a very few
hairs. Neither the nest nor the eggs were at all similar to the
Maryland Yellowthroats, which I fancied they would resemble.
Since that I have found no nests, but I find the birds in similar
localities each year, on hillsides overgrown with raspberry bushes,
facing woods at a short distance."

I first identified this interesting species in Farmington, about
fifteen years ago. I saw it and heard it singing on a hillside, near a
small stream, the latter part of May, and have usually seen one or
more pairs each spring since. It has a rich, gurgling song, and
when once it becomes fixed in one's ear it is not to be forgotten, and
not likely to be confounded with the song of any of its relatives.
For a description of its song I can do no better than to quote from
Chapman's Handbook: "Its common song consists of a simple,
clear, warbling whistle, resembling the syllables true, true, true,
tru, too, the voice rising on the first three syllables and falling on
the last two."

During the nesting season he has a way of perching at fre-
quent intervals on some branch, usually a dead one, and singing for
fifteen or twenty minutes, then very suddenly he takes a rapid
descent to the thicket near by, where doubtless his mate is sitting on
the nest. On June 12th, 1894, at Farmington, I observed a male
singing on a perch near a raspberry thicket, on a sidehill sloping up
from a small stream, but though I spent several mornings trying to
locate the nest I was not able to do so. I saw a pair evidently nest-
building near Winslow (Kennebec Co.) the last days of May, 1901,
but lack of time prevented me from locating the nest, though I had
it marked to a certain hillside not far from the Kennebec river.
The next year I saw a pair near the same ravine, and also a pair
evidently engaged in rearing their young between Athens and Hart-
land, in vSomerset Co. The same year, in June, I heard the song of
this Warbler on a hillside in Farmington, and located a nest which I
presumed was of this species, but, try as I might, the female would

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 1 7

slip from the nest and glide, mouse-like, from my view and remain
hidden, so that with the limited time I had to remain I was not able
to identify the owner. This nest was placed in a dense growth of
raspberry bushes, weeds and ferns, in an old cutting, which was
well grown up to clumps of underbrush of maple, beech, Ijirch, hem-
lock and spruce. It was situated about six inches from the ground,
in a clump of vines, and made up of very similar material as the
nest above described l)y Mr. vSpaulding, and contained four incu-
bated eggs. They somewhat resembled the eggs of the Yellow-
throat.

On June 10, 1903, while driving from Athens to Hartland, in
Somerset Co., I saw a male Mourning Warbler perched on a limb
of a tree, the same tree in which I had seen him in the trip two weeks
before. I drove my horse to a house near by and left him and
returned to look for a nest. I again saw the male and heard his
pleasing song. The locality was a typical place for this Warbler
to be nesting. After much search through the underbrush and old
raspberry vines, I located the nest, wnth four eggs in it. The female
was on the nest as I approached, and skulked off near the ground,
only giving me opportunity to catch a glance at her. I marked
the place carefully, and retired some distance from the place and
waited for her to return to the nest. After a considerable time I
stealthily approached the nest and placed my hat over it and
female, thus positively establishing her identity. The nest was
quite a bulky affair and placed at the base of a clump of coarse weed
stalks about six inches from the ground. The outer nest was of dry
leaves and vine stalks. The nest proper was made up with a thick
outer wall of dead, coarse, flat-bladed grass, with finer grasses and
a few weed stalks, and all through this outer wall was interwoven a
few small, dead, white maple leaves. The inner wall was composed
of fine grasses, and the inner lining contained a few horse hairs. It
was a very neat, compact nest, well built to protect the eggs from
the dampness from the moist ground, where it was placed. It meas-
ured, outside diameter, five inches ; inside diameter, two inches ;
outside depth, three and one-half Indies; inside deptli, two inches.

1 8 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETV.

The eggs, four in number, were fresh. The general color was
white, with a rosy blush, dotted with reddish-brown spots, most
thickh^ sprinkled about the larger end, and does not much resemble
the average set of Yellowthroat's eggs, and measured .71 x .54,
.70 X .54, .71 X .54, .71 X .53.

The last days of June, 1904, I saw a pair of Mourning Warblers
feeding young on a side hill near a ravine in Winslow, not far from
the Kennebec river.

Mr. Dana Sweet, of Avon (Franklin Co.), sends me the follow-
ing from his note-book : "May 24, 1902. Saw a Mourning Warbler
about three miles west of my home, on low land near the Sandy
river. May 24, 1903. Went to the above locality and saw^ a Mourn-
ing Warbler singing on a limb of a tree. June 17th. Heard its
song near the same locality. June 2 and 4, 1904. I heard one or
two Mourning Warblers near Tim brook, in Eustis." This War-
bler doubtless breeds rarely in Mr. Sweet's locality.

This Warbler seems to stay about near the locality after the
young leave the nest, and early in August or the first of vSepteniljer
it begins its southern movement.

(To he Continued.)

We have received a copy of Taylor's Standard Egg Catalogue,
revised edition, by Henry R. Taylor, Alameda, California.

This is a neat, handy little hand-book and will be appreciated
by collectors and exchangers. It has 92 pages. The first part of
1 1 pages contains the following of interest : Oological, Troublesome
Synonomy, European Methods on Egg Valuation, Concerning
Varieties, Don't be too Sure, Contraptions (by F. M. Dille),
F. M.'s Field Plan, Some good Ideas; one page on Nest Valua-
tion, and the balance of the book a list of North American Birds,
with valuation of each egg, of those that can be estimated.

J. M. S.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 19

®I|^ Jnuntal

nf till?

Ulcitur (iruttluilngtral ^nrtrty

A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

Vol. VII Published March 1, 1905 No. 1

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 50 cents a year; 15 cents a copy

OFFICERS OF THE MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Pres , Prof. Leslie A. Lee, Brunswick W. H. Brownson, Portland,
Vice-Pres.. Dr. H. H. Brock, Portland Editor

Sec.-Treas., J. Merton Swain, Skowhegan Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Councillors, Capt. H. L. Spinney, Seguin Associate Editor

Ora W. Knight, Bangor

Mr. Rutliven Deaiie, of Chicago, is becoming almost a Maine
ornithologist, since he spends his summers in Scarboro and naturally
takes a lively interest in the bird life which he finds there in con-
siderable variety. Mr. Deane is one of the leading members of the
American Ornithologists' Union, and it is therefore quite an acquisi-
tion to this State to have the advantage of his observations.
Among the matters of special import, of which he has written from
time to time to the editor, are the finding of a pair of Myrtle War-
blers nesting in Scarboro in the summer of 1903, and the noting of a
small flock of Old Squaws along that coast during the summer
months. He has contril^uted to the January number of the Auk a
valuable account of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Scarboro during
the summer of 1904. He says : "While driving at Scarboro Beach,
Maine, on Aug. 3, 1904, my attention was directed to a large bird
flying over the woods several hundred j^ards back from the road. I
at first took it to be an eagle, but at second glance the characteristic
sailing of the bird, with ti])S of wings raised, left no doubt as to its
identity. The Buzzard crossed the road behind us, circling over
the salt marshes of the lyibby river, and finally recrossed the road
directly over our carriage and sufficiently near for us to distinctly
see the crimson head and neck." In the Auk Mr. Deane states that

20 JOURNAI, OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY.

this is the tenth record for Maine, relying on records furnished to
him by Mr. O. W. Knight and on a revised list sent him by Mr.
G. A. Boardman, with an interlineation "two since." Mr. Deane
writes the editor under recent date, stating that Mr. Knight has
called his attention to the fact that "two since" really referred to
Buzzards taken across the line in New Brunswick. Mr. Deane
therefore says that the Buzzard he saw in Scarboro should be the
eighth record for Maine and not the tenth.

At the amuial meeting in Bangor, last December, Mr. Frank T.
Noble was elected editor, and Mr. W. H. Brownson, associate editor.
Neither one was present at the meeting. When this action was
communicated to Mr. Noble, he declined to assume the care of the
editorship, but made known his willingness to continue as associate
editor. It was then urged that Mr. Brownson be induced to change
places with Mr. Noble and act as editor. This arrangement was
finally made, with the advice and consent of the Council, though
the present editor hesitated to assume duties so exacting, in addition
to the work he already has on hand. It was solely out of a sense of
duty that he did so, in order to be of what service he could to the
society. The magazine is now printed at Portland, and an effort
will be made in the future to still further improve its appearance
and general make-up. The ornithologists of Maine are capable of
publishing a Journal that will take high rank among similar
publications in the country. Papers of standard excellence will be
contributed from time to time, in order to give a standing to the
Journal that will be abreast of the times. An effort will be made
to increase the size of the Journal, but this can only be done by
adding to the paid subscription list. Every member of the society
should make an effort at once to procure at least one new member
or subscriber. There is not the slightest doubt that such a result
can l)e accomplished by the exercise of a little work and persever-
ance. The society, therefore, has the future of the Journal in its
own hands. If the members sit quietly and take no active interest
in the magazine, its publication might just as well l)e discontinued

JOURNAL OF :\IAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIKTV. 2 1

without further delay. If they really desire a Journal of this kind,
now is the time to give a practical indication of their will. vShall
we have a goodly list of new members and subscribers at once ?

The present number of the Journal is somewhat larger than
the June number is likely to be, on account of the long and very
interesting report of the annual meeting furnished by Mr. Powers.
The article on Ducks by Mr. Noble is timely and well written,
being the most valuable contribution relating to this family of water
birds that has recently appeared in Maine. Mr. Swain's contribu-
tion on the Mourning Warbler will be read with pleasure by every
member of the society, not less by those who have searched in vain
for this species than Vjy those who have been fortunate enough to
find it, either as a summer resident or rare migrant. Mr. Clark
gives us some idea of the fine additions he has been making of late
to a collection that is beginning to be pretty well known all over the
State.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk has been visiting the city limits of
Portland tliis winter. He was seen a numl)er of days prior to tlie
5th of February, by several trustworthy observers. On that date he
was fully identified, as he sat on a low bough of a maple tree on the
Brow^n estate, on the Western Promenade. Two weeks later he was
still there, and was apparently settled down for the winter. So far as
known there is no record of this Hawk wintering in Maine, but it is
not uncommon in Massachusetts during cold weather. As a matter
of fact, southern New England has for the past two or three years
experienced more severe extremes of weather than Maine, which
may in a measure account for the frequency of summer birds
remaining as far north as this in winter.

The note of Mr. Powers relative to the Dovekie has l)een read
with interest by the editor, from the fact that about the same date a
bird of this species was caught on the Cape shore after a great
storm and brought to his residence. It was kept alive over night,

22 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

and was well and vigorous in the morning, when it was taken to
Pond Cove and liberated. It struck out for deep water where the
waves were rolling high and was soon engulfed by the boiling surf.
It did not mind this in the least, and invariably came out of the big
waves into the comparatively smooth water beyond, very much as if
it enjoyed the commotion. The last seen of it, the bird was riding
calmly on the billows, rising and falling with rythmic motion, fully
at home in its proper element. The same storm also blew a Dove-
kie six or seven miles inland to Westbrook, where it was shown to
Mr. Arthur H. Norton and fully identified. This l)ird died soon
after it was picked up.

The size of the June Journal will depend largely on the fresh
interest which may be awakened by the present issue in a new
and enlarged form. If sufficient effort is made, the membership of
the Maine Ornithological Society can be doubled. Kach member
should secure at least one friend for membership. One dollar pays
the year's dues and entitles the member to the Journal without
extra cost for a year. Every man, woman or child who is inter-
ested in the study and protection of birds should identify himself
with the Maine society. Let us all take hold and build up our
organization, thereby enabling the publication of a large and credit-
able Journal.

We desire to call special attention to the advertisement of
lyoring. Short & Harmon, published in this issue and paid for at
liberal rates. This firm is able to supply at a reasonable price any
book on birds or flowers that is published. Persons living in
remote parts of the State may order what they need, with full con-
fidence that they will get the full value of their, money promptly.

The design which appears on the cover of this number was
made without charge by Mr. Walter H. Rich, of Portland, and is
nearly the same that was submitted to the society for an emblem.
As soon as the official emblem is adopted it will be put in place of
the one herewith printed. The half-tone engraving was made by
the Portland Advertiser for the society free of charge.

JOURNAL OI'^ MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 23

Additions to an Eastern Maine Collechoh.

By Clarknck H. Clark, Lubec, Mc.

Ca/har/s/a At rata (Black Vulture). — I have in my collec-
tion one of this species captured in this town Aug. 25, 1904. It
is an adult male, and the dimensions agree with Chapman's descrip-
tion. Although Knight in his Birds of Maine reports for Washing-
ton County, "not uncommon some seasons," I do not know of a
record or report of this occurrence as far east for a period of twenty
years.

Stiirnella Magna (Meadowlark) . — The occurrence of this
bird in Washington County is of rare instance. Boardman reported
"accidental," which is no doubt correct. Oct. loth, 1904, an adult
male was shot in this town. It was solitary and feeding on a heath
known as The Lowlands. This is the only record for this county
for a long time. The bird is now in my collection.

Olor Cygnus (Whooping Swan). — Sept. loth, 1903, one of
these Arctic residents was captured near Poke-a-moon-shine lake, in
Washington County, and sold to a taxerdermist in New Brunswick.
After carefully securing all facts and data concerning the bird and
its capture, and being unable to find another record of its capture in
the States, I considered that such a rare specimen should be in some
Maine collection, and finding no one else "rising to the occasion,"
I purchased it for my own collection, where it is at present. Its
length is 3 feet 11 3-4 inches; wing, 17 3-4 inches; extent of wings,
5 feet 9 inches. It is well fitted for its northern clime, having a
compact covering of down and fine feathers one and three-quarters
inches thick. It is easily distinguished by the yellow covering of
the lores, and extending over the larger portion of the upper mandi-
ble, while its near relative columbianus has the yellow only on the
lores, and buccinator having no yellow. Most authorities give the
cygnus as a resident of northern Europe and Asia, with occasional
occurrence in Greenland. I have a report of their appearance near
Dawson City, Alaska, in 1902, but do not have any proof of the fact.

Rcgulus Salrapa (Golden-crowned Kinglet). — This is one

24 JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIP^TY.

of our coniinon migrants that rarely breeds in this county, and the
finding of a nest of this bird always awakens the interest of bird
students. On the 24th of June, 1903, while strolling along the
bank of a small stream, about two miles from this village, I observed
what appeared to be a ball of moss in a fir tree of about eighteen
feet in height, and on approaching it I noticed a small bird fly from
its vicinity. I immediately examined it and found it to be a nest
containing nine eggs. I secreted myself and after nearly an hour's
waiting was rewarded by seeing a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets
go to it.

I took possession of this rare find and now have it in my col-
lection. It is composed of fine moss and neatly lined with what
appears to be the feathers of the Ruffed Grouse. The diameter at
the top is 3 3-4 inches outside, and i 3-4 inches inside. The depth
is 3 inches outside, and i 1-2 inches inside. The bottom is flat,
with diameter 1-2 inch smaller than the top. Its form is symmetri-
cal, and the outside is so smooth and firm that it has the appearance
of being pressed in a mould. It is the most beautiful thing in the
shape of a nest I have ever seen. It was suspended by small
branches close to the trunk about twelve feet up.

Birds of Maine.

After careful deliberation it was deemed advisable to suggest
the preparation of a work on the birds of this State which shoidd be
in effect a Manual of the Birds of Maine, giving their geographical
distribution, range in Maine, descriptions of the birds themselves
and their habits, nests and eggs. This matter was brought before
the society by me at the recent meeting, and such action as I desired
was taken. This work will be not exceeding three hundred and
fifty pages of printed matter, and will be as exhaustive and complete
as it is possible within this limit of space, scientifically accurate, and
at the same time as interesting as possible. With this book in hand,
it is hoped that a person of average ability will be able to identify

JOURNAL OK MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIKTY. 25

any bird he may find in Maine, and ascertain where its home is,
how it builds its nest, and what its eggs are Hke, what it eats, etc.

The preparation of this work will require some time, and the
financing of its publication is also a matter of some difficulty. We
can only say that the book will be published as soon as possible,
and at a cost which will be within the reach of all.

Mr. A. H. Norton, of Portland, will act jointly with the
undersigned in the preparation of this work, and also a third party
who has not yet ])een selected.

Very respectfully,

O. W. Knight.

Erroneous Maine Records.

As many records have l^een made in the past, and still continue
to be republished, in which certain extralimital species are accredited
to Maine and New England upon the strength of Mr. Geo. A.
Boardman's lists, I wish to state that writers should be cautious
about quoting such records without verification. The very title of
Mr. Boardman's original list, "Catalogue of the Birds found in the
vicinity of Calais, Maine, and about the Island of the Bay of
Fundy' ' should indicate that it was not limited to a consideration of
Maine species. Two or three years after this, when Mr. Verrill
published a list of species additional to those given by Mr. Board-
man, the same title practically was used. Between Nov. 23, 1899,
and Feb. 5, 1900, Mr. Boardman published a revised-to-date list of
"St. Croix Birds," and it is well to strongly impress upon future
ornithological writers the fact that this last list also was not and
never purported to be confined to the enumeration of Maine speci-
mens. As a matter of fact, Mr. Boardman, in 1 896-1 897, personally
assured me that many of his rarest specimens were taken within
British dominions. Many of the ablest ornithologists of the country
have seemed bound to uiisquotc Mr. Boardman, and now it seems
time to call a halt.

26 JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

All of Mr. Boardinan's rare and accidental takes up to the date
of publication of "A List of the Birds of Maine," in 1S97, were care-
fully looked up by Mr. Boardman, and I hold his written statement
to the effect that his records as given there are correct and complete,
and that all records of specimens not actually taken in Maine have
been correctly and properly eliminated and the reason therefor set
forth. All authors are therefore cautioned not to quote any records
from Washington county and the adjoining portions of British terri-
tory and waters which have been made previous to 1.S97 without
first ascertaining whether or not they are made on the authority of
Mr. Boardman, and if so and of specimens which are rightly entitled
to record as birds of Maine they wall be found by reference to "A
lyist of the Birds of Maine."

O. W. Knight.

TKe Spirit of tKe Woods.

The spirit of the woods shuts down

Upon the heart of man,
Spellbinding with its solitudes

That deeper mysteries span.
Spellbinding by its whispering trees,

Their wavering interludes
Ajoining with the singing stars

In mystic solitudes.

Ajoining with the singing stars

That shine above its breast.
While deep within its underworld

A spirit sits possessed,
Possessed by daydream glories,

And loving the solitudes,
And knowing no other spirit

But the spirit of the woods.

-C. R. W.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 27

Notes and observations upon bird life within our State are earnestly desired from all our readers
for publication in this column, and should be sent to the Associate Editor, Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Maine.

The Hooded Warl)ler, taken for the first time in Maine by Mr.
Samuel T. Dana, of Portland, and reported by Mr. Brownson in the
October Journal and the January Auk, has been placed in the
Bowdoin Colle.t^e collection.

A REDHEADED WOODPECKER IN ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

The Redheaded Woodpecker {inclancrpcs cryfluoccplhilus) is
such a rare bird in Maine that its occurrence here seems worthy of
note. To W. R. Ivane, of Mechanic Falls, we are indebted for
particulars concerning one observed by him July lytli last, and on
subsequent days for nearly two weeks, during which the bird was
frequently seen near his residence, on Kim Street.

The bird apparently had no mate, and after finisliing his visit
disappeared as mysteriously as he came.

THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK AS A DESTROYER OF POTATO BUGS.

Mr. E. K. Johnson, of Hast Hebron, writes interestingly to the
Journal concerning the avidity with which the Rose-breasted
Grosbeak {zanielodia eudovicia?ia) devoured the larvae of the Colo-
rado potato beetle on his premises last summer.

Two pairs of these beautiful birds made themselves decidedly
busy day after day gleaning these noxious slugs from his own and
a neighbor's potato vines, doing immeasurable good.

Surely on such evidence we must vote them not only orna-
mental but extremely useful, and the utmost protection must be
afforded these charming choristers.

MYRTLE WARBLER (DENDROICA CORONATA) NOW A WINTER RESIDENT OF MAINE

Myrtle Warblers spent the winter at Cape Elizabeth in 1903-4,
that being the first record of these birds actually staying so far north
all winter. This winter I have been keeping close watch of the

28 JOURNAIv OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

same locality to see if they remain again during the entire season of
cold. The middle of December I saw several Warblers in the air in
that section, but was not able to get near enough to them to fully
identify them. On Christmas day, with several companions, I made
another search and succeeded in finding at least six Myrtle War-
blers, the identification being beyond a doubt. For the next two'
weeks the Warblers were not seen, though I paid several visits to
the place. On the 15th of January I again found the Warblers, two
of them this time being seen and fully identified. I have no doubt
that they are again wintering there, making two seasons in succes-
sion. This w^ould almost make them a winter resident of southern
Maine. Mr. Ruthven Deane, of Chicago, two years ago at Scarboro
found the Myrtle Warbler nesting. It is therefore probable soon to
be rated a permanent resident of this part of the State.

Red-legged Black Ducks, Whistlers and Buffle-heads are again
wintering around the iinier harbor and around Martin Point Itridge.
Robins are seen frequently in Portland and at Cape I^lizabeth. I
saw a Hermit Thrush at Cape Elizabeth Dec. 25, 1904, and one has
been reliably reported in January around the Western Promenade
in Portland. A vSong Sparrow has been seen this winter several
times at Pond Cove, Cape Elizal)eth.

Portland, Maine. W. H. Brownson.

A CHICKADEE ON A GUN BARREL.

An amusing incident illustrating the tameness of the Chickadee
is reported by Dr. Harold G. Giddings, of Gardiner, who in com-
pany with a friend was taking a snowshoe tramp through the
woods on January 23rd, taking a gun along.

In crossing a frozen stream a flock of Chickadees were encoun-
tered flying from one side to the other very close to the trampers,
and in a spirit of fun it was suggested that if the gun was held out
one might alight upon it.

The experiment was no sooner tried than one of the birds actu-
ally lit upon the end of the barrel, gazing inquiringly upon the two
intruders for several seconds before resuming its flight.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 29

IS IT A HYBRID?

The Associate Editor desires to note the personal capture of a
Duck drake, at first supposed to be a very large specimen of the
Dusky Duck {anas obscura), but which upon examination would
appear to be a hybrid. The bird was taken, with its mate, in April,
and is in magnificent plumage, very dark, the light borders to the
breast leathers being much restricted.

My attention was first attracted to a raised place along the cul-
men, just in front of the no.strils, which, as it was flecked with blood,
I supposed was caused by a shot lodging within the bill, but closer
examination showed the protuberance was a natural growth. This
is about .75 long, rounding off at the front, about .13 high in the
middle, and .25 in the widest part. The hind head is streaked on
either side with a beautiful green, while the chin close to the under
mandible is marked by a sharply defined circular l)rown spot nearly
as large as a silver half dollar.

This Duck measured a strong twentj'-five inches in length,
and was proportionally large, weighing some time after being taken
three pounds and three ounces. It is now in our private collection,
where all are welcome to examine it.

A DOVEKIE INLAND AND ITS SAD FATE.

Prof. W. D. Powers, of Gardiner, reports a peculiar incident —
perhaps we should have said accident — wdierein a Dovekie {alle
alle), a strictly maritime bird and the smallest of sea fowl, came
to an untimely end in that city. This little sea pigeon evidently
wandered or was driven by- a storm inland from the sea.

At Gardiner the ice harvesters had cleared a place on the Ken-
nebec for ice cutting, and it showed clear black ice in sharp con-
trast to the rest of the snow-covered river. The bird without doubt
supposed he spied some open water wherein he could rest and feed
and dove for it, as he had been accustomed to do. There could be
but one result when his tiny frame came in contact with the hard
ice. The breath was driven from his wee, chunky Ijody and he was
found dead by some passers-by.

30 JOURNAI^ OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

There must have been a flight of these interesting little birds,
for this occurrence elsewhere has been reported. One was blown
ashore at Cape Elizabeth so exhausted that he allowed his capturers
to take possession of him without resistance, and they enjoyed their
odd visitor over night, allowing him to enter the surf the next day
and swim to sea. . Ed.

WINTER BIRD NOTES FROM CENTRAL MAINE.

Winter birds have been ver}^ scarce in the interior of the State
this winter. A few small flocks of Redpolls have been seen, also a
few Siskins, but no Grosbeaks or Crossbills have been reported to
date (Jan. 30). A few Crows have been seen occasionally.

Robins Wintering in vSomerset Co. — Late in December,
while in Starks, I saw a Robin feeding on some vines. It flew down
by a mill and circled back to its feeding grounds. lyater a teacher
there told me she had seen five Robins about town all winter. The
day I saw them it was snowing and was l^elow zero weather. Jan-
uary 5th, a teacher in Skowhegan sent word that she saw a Robin
the 4th in town. Several people have seen two Robins about town.
Last week they were seen. The thermometer has registered 46
degrees below zero. Pretty cold for Robins to stay so far north!

Purple P'inch. — Tuesday, Jan. 17, saw a Purple Finch {car-
podacus puvpiireus) feeding at Solon. It flew to a pine tree beside
the road. I watched it some time at close quarters. The ther-
mometer registered 15 degrees below.

Snowy Owl. — Saw a Snowy Owl along electric line between
Skowhegan and Madison Jan. 17th. The next day I saw a fine
white specimen at rooms of Dan. A. Wendall, a taxidermist in No.
New Portland. Mr. Bernard Gibbs, of Madison, shot the bird near
Madison. A vSnowy Owl was shot last Week in New Vineyard, and
one was seen near Kingfield the same week.

January igtli, very cold, snowing and drifting in forenoon, saw
a Croshawk perched on a limb between vStarks and Madison.

January 28tli, while on electrics between Fairfield and Benton
Falls, I saw three Snovvflakes, the first ones I've seen since early

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

31

in December. In November and early in December they were seen

in large flocks, but since extreme cold weather came I have not

seen or heard of any until to-day.

J. M. vSwAIN.
Skowhegan, Maine, Jan. 30, 1905.

ROBINS WINTERING IN MAINE.

As we were driving near Starks to-day, February 2d, we saw

five Robins {inerula viigi'atoria) in an orchard. They flew to a

small patch of evergreen near by. They seemed as lively and

cheerful as though they were new arrivals in springtime.

J. M. Swain.
Skowhegan, Feb. 2, 1905.

If there has heretofore been any doubt about Robins wintering
in Maine, this year it can be dispelled, as the above brief report
is from one of our keenest and most reliable observers of bird life.
The flock of five herein mentioned is in" all probability the same
flock mentioned by one other observer in the same locality, and
these Starks Robins will form an interesting bit of local bird history
to hand down to the rising generation of ornithologists. Eu.

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32

JOURNAL OF MAINB ORNITHOLOOICAL .SOCIETY

the BmJogist R H O D O R A .

With the JANUARY, 1904, NUM-
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Address

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78 Orange St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

THE BRYOLOGIST, now begin-
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the Mosses, Hepatics and Lichens by
correspondence. Dues $1.10 a year,
and this carries with it a subscrip-
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MRS. ANNIE MORRILL SMITH,

78 Orange Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

. A monthly Journal of Botany de-
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Location of Nest of Norths! u ....,^.. ^.. v_cv...pobello Island, just across

the Maine Border. Securing an egg by the aid of a tin cup

tied on the end of a long pole reaching across

an impassable chasm.

®I|^ Journal

nf %

Mmnt (intitl|nlngtral i^nri^tg

Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December
Vol. Vn JUNE, 1905 No 2

Notes on tKe Birds of tKe Lower DeaJ River.

Read at the Annual Meeting at Bangor, Nov. 25, 1904.

By J. Merton Swain.

Having spent ten days at Dead River Dam, on the lower Dead
River, I had opportunity to study a few birds that do not usually
come under one's observ^ation in the more thickly settled parts of
our State. Nothing new or startling will here be recorded, but I
will mention the liirds that came under my notice while in this region.

On October 21st, with a party of three other sportsmen, we took
the train at Kingfield at 6.15 P. M. for Carribasset station, and
from there took the stage for Dead River post office.

The next morning we took a canoe down the river for Long
Falls. As we were putting the canoe into the water, we heard the
old familiar call of the Greater Yellow-legs {Totainis »ic/a)ioIciu-Ns)
(Gmel.), and far over the low meadow land we saw eight of them
gyrating as though they were lost. I at once began to whistle them
in, and they answered back and came on up to us within easy range.
We very frequently put up a single or a pair of Black Duck {Anas
obscura) (Gmel.) from out the numerous mouths of the brooks and
lagoons. Song Sparrows were very plenty along the shores, and an
occasional White-throated Sparrow and a few White-crowned Spar-
rows were seen along the way. Muskrats were very commonly seen
swimming along the smooth surface of the water or skulking along
the steep banks of the shores. A few Crows were seen in the heavy
woods that lined the river banks the most of the way. As we

34 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI, .SOCIETY.

reached the head of lyong Falls, and as we were about to land our
canoe, we saw on the bank, near the camp, four deer lying on the
ground, left by sportsmen, and it was then that we w^ere first intro-
duced to the Canada Jay (^Perisorciis canadensis) (L,inn.), for several
were hanging around the dead deer. As we approached they
skulked off into the dense growth of spruce and firs.

After getting dinner at the camp, we carried our canoe and
packs by the lyong Falls. We saw a fresh moose track in the tote
road, but did not see his lordship. After putting our canoe into
the river at the foot of the falls, we proceeded down to the dam.
A few Bluebirds were seen on the telephone wires at the Jewett
farm, and an occasional Winter Wren was seen or heard along the
banks as we wended our way down the smooth surface of the river.

Fresh works of the beaver were very frequently seen, and now
and then some would glide noiselessly around a turn in the river.
We came on to a beaver, who, when he saw us, flapped his tail
vigorously on the water and down beneath the surface he very
quickly disappeared, spattering the water high in the air as he
flapped his tail, thus making a noise that would startle one. It
sounding as loud as though someone threw a large stone from the
bank into the water. While the beaver does not belong to class
aves, yet to me it was one of the most interesting animals that I
came in contact with while in that region. Our guide took us to
several completed dams, and I was surprised at the number of
beavers that were living along the river, and also at the cunning
ingenuity of such animals. These dams were very nicely made and
very effective. One dam, the guide told us, probably flowed eighty
acres of land, l^ut none of the lagoons that were flowed back, so far
as we could learn, did any damage to the timber land. There were
large houses there, too, with logs and limbs thickly strewn in front
of their hut, presumably for a platform for the inmates to climb up
on out of the water, where they could stay and sun themselves.
We saw quantities of poplar trees that they had gnawed off and that
had fallen over into the river. They cut them up into sections
and float them to where they want them. Then they sink them

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY. 35

to the bottom of the river. Just how, no one seems to know,
l)ut they do it by some ingenious contrivance and make them
lie on the bottom of the river, and I am told that if disturbed they
will quickly rise up from the liottom. They gnaw off the poplar
bark for food for winter use. We measured trees felled by beavers
that were sixteen inches through. Their houses were much larger
than I had supposed them to l)e. Four of us stood upon one of
them and it was as solid as a cradle knoll. We spent considerable
time in examining their works, and the dams they had built.

It was never our privilege to get into a locality where the
Ruffed Grouse were so al)undant. All that we examined were
clearly of the Gray type {7\\i^afa). There was about an acre of
cleared land at the dam where the camps were, and it was very
common to see Grouse come out to the edge of the plowed ground
and stand and look at us as unconcerned as a flock of domestic
hens might do. They were usually in flocks, not having been dis-
turbed by man, and as we came on to a flock they did not fly, but
would hop up on to a bush, or a log or stone and look us over in
amazement.

Back away from the river in the dense clumps of spruce were to
be found the Canada Grouse {Dendragapus canadensis) (Linn.),
sometimes occurring in flocks, but usually a single bird or two or
three would hop up on a limb and look unconcerned at us, with
no thought of flight or apparently without knowledge of fear. One
could throw sticks at them as they sat upon a limb, and unless a
stick struck very near they would not stir a step. We found the
Spruce Partridge very much more abundant than I had expected to
find them, and there was every evidence that they breed there.

The American Sheldrake {Merganser avicricanus) (Cass.) was
seen on the river and near the mouth of the numerous lagoons dur-
ing our stay there.

Two Great Blue Herons {Ardea Iierodias) (Linn.) were seen
feeding in one of the lagoons near the camps. We saw several
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers while there, and the Downy and North-
ern Hairy Woodpeckers were very plenty. Both representatives of

36 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

the Three-toed species were there, but in not very plentiful num-
bers, in fact not near so plenty as we found them at I^ake Onawa
(Piscataquis County) on a former hunting trip. The Pileated Wood-
pecker was very common there, often seen on the telephone poles
and feeding on the dead tops in the Tamarac swamps.

Of the Finches, quantities of Red Crossbills {Loxia ciirvirostra
uiiuor) (Brehm) were seen. Small flocks of Goldfinches were seen
daily, feeding on the birch cones. Pine Siskins were there in abun-
dance. Both varieties of the Nuthatch were observed, but Canaden-
sis was very common.

Golden Crowned Kinglets {Rconhis sa/rapa) were everywhere
abundant (little birch lairds, as our guide called them). Several
Hermit Thrushes were seen in the woods about us and along the
banks of the river, and two Swainson's Thrushes {Tiirdns nstulatus
swainsonii) (Cub.) were seen one bright day near the Grand Falls,
just below the dam. This was rather late for the Olive-back to be
staying there (Oct. 23).

A quite large colony of Robins were still staying about the
clearing around the camps, and were still there when we came away.
Several mornings the ground was white with frost, and one morning
the ground was covered with about an inch of snow, yet these hardy
Robins did not appear to have any idea of going south, though I
had not seen any Robins down river for several days before we went
into camp.

On Sept. 2ist the guide came in late. It was snowing hard, but
proved only a squall of short duration, but was very cold After
lighting a fire and the lamps, he noticed a small bird had flown in
through a crack in the camp wall and was fluttering about a win-
dow. He caught it and it proved to be a Tree Swallow. He took
it to the door and let it go, but Bicolor looked out into the cold, dark
world and had no idea of going out into the cheerless elements, and
fluttered back into the camp and remained all night. In the morn-
ing he let it go and it flew off up the river. It seemed to be a young-
of-the-year bird, and for some cause did not get away with his asso-
ciates when they had started on their long journey southward.

JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY. 37

Canada Jays were very abundant everywhere. Quite a colony
were hanging about the camp, and everywhere in the woods. As one
goes trailing after deer, these interesting birds, one or two of them, are
pretty sure to drop down near you, look you over, scold you a bit
and silently scale along a rod or more in search for food. They are
not usually favorites with campers or woodsmen, yet anything for
bird life during the long, cold winter is agreeable. Chickadees were
flitting about everywhere. One solitary Snowflake {Plcctroplicnax
nivalis) (Linn) was seen on Oct. 25th in a large tract of burnt land,
along the Spencer Stream. It was perched on a dead twig as we
came up to it early in the morning, and allowed us to nearly pick it
up before it flew a few feet away. Juncos were common every-
where. The Blue Jay was not very plenty, not near as abundant as
was Canadensis.

One afternoon, as one of the party and myself were following the
trail campwards (we were very wet and it was raining hard), we
very unexpectedly came on to a doe that stood under a thick clump
of firs, looking at us. As we caught sight of her, she jumped into
the thick woods at a])out two leaps. As she started, l)oth rifles
came up and the two shots rang out on the heavy air and the doe
kept on her way unharmed. As we looked at each other in amaze-
ment (and amusement, too), a Canada Jay dropped into the bushes
beside us and scolded vigorously, then broke out into a low laugh,
evidently at our surprise at not stopping the doe at so easy a range,
or else he was much amused at the poor shots we had proved our-
selves to be.

While at the late date that we were in the Lower Dead River
region it was too late for the migrant species, yet the species that
we saw were very interesting. Moose were not uncommon there,
while deer were very plenty, and with plenty of venison in camp, we
spent a very pleasant ten days in that region. With keen appetites
we came into camp for a hearty supper, and retired early and slept
sound, breathing deep drafts of the air, heavy laden with the spruce
and fir, amid the. sound of the rush of the water through the sluice-
ways in the dam, the roar of the water over Grand Falls, a few rods

38 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

below, and the hooting of a pair of Great Horned Owls that hung
about the vicinity of our camp, making our surroundings as wild
and weird as possible.

NortKcrn Raven s Nest.

By CivARENCE H. Clark, Lubec, Me.

Having had several inquiries at various times in reference to
our Northern Raven, I have been quite careful in observing it, and
have noticed that the number in this vicinity has been gradually de-
creasing and a former nesting-place, four miles from this village, was
deserted several years ago. Last year I did not succeed in getting
one positive record, but while out on a tramp Friday, April 14th, I
saw a pair scaling about the place where I was and distinctly heard
their call. This being their breeding season, I felt quite sure of
their having a nest in that vicinity and soon I succeeded in finding
it, as a short time after seeing them scaling above us one of our
party was somewhat startled by one of the ravens flying out of a
deep gulch directly beneath him, and there was the nest in an ex-
ceedingly picturesque place. The gulch was about 14 feet wide,
125 feet high and 200 feet deep. The nest was on a shelf just large
enough to hold it and was 40 to 50 feet from the water beneath. It
contained five eggs and was built in the regular manner, with the
exception of the inner nest being much nicer than usual, consisting
chiefly of fine moss, feathers and rabbit's fur. We lowered one of
our party into the gulch by the means of a rope, and with a small
dipper fastened to a pole, he secured one of the eggs for me (ravens
are too scarce to take whole sets). I took several pictures of the
nest and surroundings and mail one of the best. The pictures were
taken with an ordinary 4x5, and then enlarged.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGIC AI^ SOCIETY. 39

Notes on tKe Warklcrs Found in Maine.

(Continued from p. 18.)
Contributions ^o tKe Life History of the Black and White Warbler.

Mniotilta van' a (I^inii.).

Ry Everett E. Johnson.
Geogk.vphical Distribution. — This species winters in South-
ern Florida and vSouthern Texas, south through Mexico and Cen-
tral America to Northern South America. In migration it is more

NEST AND EGOS OF BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER.

or less common in Eastern North America, west to the Rocky
Mountains. It breeds from the southern boundary of the Carolinian
life zone, ifrom North Carolina to Kansas, north to New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, to the upper Mackenzie Valley,
west regularly to central South Dakota, central Kansas and central
Texas and rarely in Colorado and California.

The Black and White Warbler is an early migrant, arriving in
the vicinity of Lewiston about the first week in May. April 30th is

40

JOURNAL OF MAINP: ORNITHOLOGICAI^ vSOCIKTY.

my earliest spring record and Sept. 25th my latest fall record. In
this vicinity it is a common migrant and a few pairs remain to breed.
It is interesting to watch one of these creeper-like Warblers as he
lights on the lower part of the trnnk of a tree and works up in a
jerking manner in a spiral direction along the trnnk and larger
limbs till, getting pretty well up, it flies to a neighboring tree and

BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER ON NEST.

repeats the movements. It reminds one very much of the Brown
Creeper. Not only does this bird attract the eye, but its soft musi-
cal song is equally attractive and pleasing to the ear.

I discovered my first nest of this species in Lewiston June 17,
i8g8. While descending a steep bank in a small strip of woods
beside a brook, a female flushed from near by under my feet, and
after a few minutes' search I found the nest in the edge of some
brush at the foot of a small hemlock tree. The nest was loosely con-

JOURNAlv OF MAINE) ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 41

striicted of pine needles, leaves and shreds of bark, lined with fine
roots and horsehair, and contained three yonng and one egg with the
side crushed. The eggs of this species average .65X.55 inches. This
pair seem to be attached to this place, as I have found them breeding
there several seasons since. May 17th, 1901, I saw a pair building
near this place— the same pair probably. The nest was of the usual
material, situated on the bank under the edge of a bluel)erry bush.
May 26th there was one egg of the cowbird in it, which I removed.
May 30th, four eggs had been laid, and I exposed two plates on the
female sitting on the nest, but, as they were a failure, June ist more
were exposed on the bird and also on the nest and eggs, with better
results. This bird was very tame, allowing me to set the camera
up and focus at a distance of two and a half feet, while she was
sitting on the nest. June 12th the young had hatched and June
1 6th I took a picture of them. I also exposed plates on both male
and female feeding the young, but the light was too poor to make a
success. The male was not nearly as tame as the female. June
22nd the young had left the nest and were seen with the parent birds
in that vicinity.

Migrahoh Reports, 1903.

Reports for the year 1903 were made by the following members,
at their respective stations :

W. H. Brownson, Portland, Cumberland Co. _
Everett E. Johnson, East Hebron, Oxford Co.
Mabel P. Ridley, Castine, Hancock Co.
Dana W. Sweet, Avon, Franklin Co.

There was an unusually early spring this year, followed by a
drouth of remarkable severity during April and May. Birds
arriving during March and April came much earlier than usual.

D. W. Sweet.

42

JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNlTHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY.

1003.
PORTI^AND. IC. HKBRON. CASTINE.

Loon,

Red-throated Loon,

Canada tioose,

Yellow Rail,

American Coot,

American Woodcock,

Pectoral Sandpiper,

Least Sandpiper,

Red-backed Sandpiper,

vSanderling,

Greater Yellow-legs,

Yellow-legs,

Solitary Sandpiper,

Spotted Sandpiper,

Black-bellied Plover,

Semipalmated Plover,

Marsh Hawk,

Sharped-shinned Hawk,

Cooper's Hawk,

American Goshawk,

Red-tailed Hawk,

Red-shonldered Hawk,

Broad-winged Hawk,

Pigeon Hawk,

Sparrow Hawk,

Fish Hawk,

Black-billed Cuckoo,

Belted Kingfisher,

Hairj'^ Woodpecker,

Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker,

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker,

Red-headed Woodpecker,

Flicker,

Whip-poor-will,

Nighthawk,

Chimney Swift,

Ruby-throated Humming Bird,

Kingbird,

Crested Flycatcher,

Phoebe,

Olive-sided Flycatcher,

Wood Pewee,

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher,

Alder Flycatcher,

Least Flycatcher,

Horned Lark,

April 30
Oct. 25

March 20 April 30

25

Aug. 23
" 9

Oct. 24

Sept. 27
Aug. 30

" 23

" 30

May 7
Oct. 24

May 10

Aug. 9

March 29

April 12

April 8
Nov. 30

March 22 March 20

April 25 May 2

" 17 May 30
Sept. 22
Oct. 2

April 22
Sept. 18
March 30 March 14 April 11

May 11
May 20 April 11

9 May 14 May 2
" 17
" 1() " 14 " 21

March 29 March 2() March 22
May 16

" 25 May 30 May 29

" 21

April 14

May 9

Aug. 21
May 3
" 4

" 17

" 19
" 13

April 23

" 25
Resident

vSept. 2!) April 10

" 9
Nov. 13

11

" 12

"

10

May

7

"

21

"

7

June

5

May

12

"

12

]\Iarch 25

May

22

"

19

'.

25

"

6

JOURNAIv OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI^ SOCIETY.

43

PORTLAND.

K. HKBRON

. CA.STINE.

AVON.

Prairie Horned Lark,

Oct. 22

Canada Jay,

Nov. 12

Bobolink,

May 15

May 10

May 18

May 14

Cowbird,

March 21

March 21

Red-winged Blackbird,

March 18

10

" 23

Meadow Lark,

April 10

Baltimore Oriole,

May 27

May 18

" 21

May 14

Rusty Blackbird,

Oct. 2

Bronzed Grackle,

April 11

March 20

April 14

" 24

Pine Grosbeak,

Nov. 1

Oct. 27

Oct. 30

Oct. 25

Purple Finch,

April 23

March 27

April 1

March 22

American Crossbill,

June G

May 30

White-winged Crossbill,

Nov. 1

Redpoll,

Dec. «

Nov. 30

Nov. 20

Nov. 12

Pine Siskin,

Nov. 1

Snow Bunting,

Oct. 24

Dec. 12

Vesper Sparrow,

April lit

April 22

April 28

April 11

Ipswich Sparrow,

Oct. 24

Savanna Sparrow,

April 26

" 14

" 12

Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow,

Oct. 4

White-crowned Sparrow,

May 22

May 25

May 2

White-throated Sporrow,

2

" 3

0

May 2

Tree Sparrow,

April 2

March 1(5

Chipping Sparrow,

April 22

April 0

" 20

April 2(5

Field Sparrow,

" 22

24

May 3

Slate-colored Junco,

March 12

March 14

March 13

March 18

Song Sparrow,

" 14

" 15

" 20

" 10

Swamp Sparrow,

Sept. 1(5

Fox Sparrow,

March 15

" 27

April 2

Towhee,

May 20

Rose -breasted Grosbeak,

" 10

May 22

May 21

May 12

Indigo Bunting,

" 20

July 1

May 20

Scarlet Tanager,

" 17

Purple Martin,

May 17

" 12

Cliff Swallow,

" 11

" 17

May 18

" 12

Barn Swallow,

0

April 24

" 11

April 30

Tree Swallow,

April 10

" 21

April 18

" 11

Bank Swallow,

May 12

Cedar Waxwing,

May 22

May 30

May 20

" 20

Northern Shrike,

Dec. 25

Loggerhead Shrike,

April 10

April 30

Red-eyed Vireo,

May 22

May 24

" 21

May 18

Yellow-throated Vireo,

" 21

Blue-headed Vireo,

0

" 10

Black and White Warbler,

" 7

" 3

0

" 3

Nashville Warbler,

" 0

• " 21

8

Northern Parula Warbler,

" 14

7

" 8

Yellow Warbler,

" 15

" 15

" 11

44

JOURNAI^ OF MAINE ORNITHOIvOGICAIv vSOCIETY.

PORTLAND.

E. HEBRON

. CASTINE.

AVON.

Black-throated Blue Warbler,

May 14

May

12

Myrtle Warbler,

April 21

May 3

April 30

Apri

129

Magnolia Warbler,

May 10

May 19

May

10

Chestnut-sided Warbler,

" 18

" 18

"

12

Black-poll Warljler,

" 16

" 20

Blackburnian Warbler,

" 25

"

14

Black-throated Green Warbler,

" 7

" 10

9

"

3

Pine Warbler,

April 5

April 30

Yellow Palm Warbler,

" 21

May 2

April 29

Ovenbird,

May 13

" 10

"

10

Water Thrush,

" I'J

"

10

Mourning Warbler,

"

22

Northern Yellow-throat,

" 8

" 18

May 18

"

11

Wilson's Warbler,

" 21

Canadian Warbler,

" 21

" 21

"

15

American Redstart,

" 15

" 22

" 16

"

9

American Pipit,

Oct. 25

" 2

Catbird,

May 17

" 15

" 29

"

22

Brown Thrasher,

" 1.3

' ' 7

"

27

Winter Wren,

Oct. 11

Oct. 10

Apri

1 10

Ruby-crowned Kinglet,

April 29

"

26

Veery,

May 17

April 26

May

19

Olive-backed Thrush,

" 17

"

22

Hermit Thrush.

April 5

" 12

Apri

il 12

American Robin,

March 11

March 11

March 13

Resident

Bluebird,

" 10

" 12

" 13

March 11

Mr. O. W. Knight, of Bangor, promises an article on the
Myrtle Warbler for the next issue of the Journal. For this purpose
he requests reports of observations regarding the nesting and
incubation period of this Warbler, also notes regarding the time of
feathering required for the young and the time they remain in the
nest. Ivet all our members take notice.

Abundance of Warblers. — During the spring migration
just over, the flights of Warblers were noticeably large and some of
the species, usually rare, were abitndant. The Blackbtirnian
Warbler was seen in the vicinity of Portland in considerable
numbers on several days in sticcession. Canadian Warblers were
plentiful, likewi.se the Black-poll, Black-throated Blue and Wilson's
Warblers. On the morning of May 14th I saw the Bay-breasted
Warbler, in company with a flock of his family, which had arrived
that day, W. H. Brownson.

I

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 45

®1|0 Jimntal

nf tltr

Muxm (§rmtl|0l0ijtral i^nrirtg

A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

Vol. VII Published June 1, 1905 No. 2

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 50 cents a year; 15 cents a copy

OFFICERS OF THE MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Pres , Prof. Leslie A. Lee, Brunswick W. H. Brownson, Portland,
Vice-Pres.. Dr. H. H. Brock, Portland Editor

Sec.-Treas., J. Merton Swain, Skowhegan Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Councillors, Capt. H. L. Spinney, Seguin Associate Editor

Ora W. Knight, Bangor

The members of the Maine Ornithological Society do not
approve the action of the IvCgislature in removing the protection of
the law from the Blue Heron and the Kingfisher, and they do not
believe there was any necessity for such action. It is doubtless true
that these birds destroy some fish, but not so many that it was right
to expose them to indiscriminate slaughter. It is to be hoped that
the next Legislature will restore them to the list of protected birds,
perhaps allowing the fish wardens to kill those actually found doing
harm to the hatcheries. Meanwhile let each member who lives near
a Heron colony do all in his power by moral suasion to save the
birds from needless destruction.

The need of new members of the Maine Ornithological Society is
painfully apparent. The urgent demands for work on the part of the
present active members in procuring additions have not been met,
except in one or two notable instances. Each member should send
in at least one new name during the coming month. Each member
whose dues have not been paid should attend to that matter promptly,
as there is no money in the treasury now, and cash is needed to
pay for the printing of this number. The income should be large
enough to warrant printing a journal of double the size of this issue.

46 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Notes and observations upon bird life within our State are earnestly desired from all our readers
for publication in this column, and should be sent to the Associate Editor, Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Maine.

KiNGFLSHER AND ENGLISH Sparrow. — Mr. B. B. Wciitworth,
an observer of bird life, reports witnessing a Kingfisher destroy-
ing and eating the young of the English Sparrow {Passer doinesthus) .
The incident related occurred beneath his ofhce window in the City
Building at Augusta, overlooking the river bank.

The Kingfisher would visit the vSparrow's nest, and, taking one
of the newly hatched young, woidd carry it to a limb of a willow
tree and there devour it calmly, although surrounded by a number
of vigorously protesting Sparrows.

This is the first instance of the kind that has been brought to
our notice, and if Ccryle alcyon could be depended upon to continue
this good work, we would advocate colonizing a quantity of them in
this vicinity, where the Sparrows are a great nuisance. Ed.

Yellow-Throated Vireo at Westbrook. — The Yellow-
throated Vireo has been so little observed in Maine as to warrant
the generalization of being the "Rarest of our Vireos except the
Philadelphia."

It is a denizen of the tree tops, a leisurely gleaner in the upper-
most foliage. To the unpracticed, or careless, its song would hardly
be distinguished from that of the Red-eyed, though in tone there is
a striking difference. Though quite widely distributed in Maine,
its appearance seems noteworthy wherever it appears.

On May 12, 1902, I secured a male in Westbrook, and at the
same place, on May 17, Mrs. Norton identified another bird of the
same species.

No particular .search was made the following spring. In the
fall, however, Sept. g, 1903, one was found dead by the side of a
building in Westbrook and brought to me.

On May 22, 1904, attracted by its song, Mrs. Norton and my-
self positively identified one of these birds in a shaded section of a

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGTCAI. SOCIETY. 47

street of Westbrook, and had some reason to believe that it had lieen
there for a week.

From this time I noted it almost daily until July i, after
which it became silent or removed. Its range seemed to be very
much limited, i. e., confined to a particular part of the street, and not
heard away from that. During this period, at two other points, both
well separated, two others were heard on several occasions.

After all, shall we not find this Vireo less rare than has been
believed? A. H.Norton.

Red Phaearopes Ashore. — On Sept. 26, 1904, I found and
secured a Red Phalarope at Westbrook, Me., six miles inland.
The bird, in nearly full fall plumage, was alone, and swimming in
the Presumpscot River.

Upon Oct. 7, 1905, in company with Mr. W. H. Brownson, I
took another upon Old Orchard Beach. This bird had not as nearly
completed its fall moult. When first seen it was upon the beach,
evidently feeding upon the drifted seaweed. As soon as alarmed it
flew to the sea and lighted there for a few minutes, but returned to
the beach, where it was secured. Both were very much emaciated.

A. H. Norton.

Notes on the Boboeink and Ceiee Swaeeow. — The first
Bobolinks arrived in Bangor on May i7tli. Only one flock was
observed, and this contained some two hundred individuals, all male
birds. These were grouped in a clump of willow bushes some three
miles out of the city, near what is knowai as the Bicycle Path. liach
individual bird was taking his part in a very animated discUvSsion of
some very important question, as judged from the Bobolink point of
view, and not only was every individual voicing his sentiments but
also indulging in wild gestures with wings, tail and head into the
faces of every near neighbor of his kind. All kinds of harsh,
untuneful and out-of-time cries and notes were mingled with
occasional brief utterances of a few notes of the typical Bobolink
song. Although considerable likely territory was covered during
the afternoon, no other Bobolinks were seen, and it is (juite likely

48 JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY.

that this flock was the forerunner of the Bobolink tribe. Do the
males always arrive before the females ? It has been my experience
in past years that this \?> probably the case.

Soon after leaving^ the Bobolink caucus numerous Cliff
Swallows were noticed. They, too, had just arrived from their
southern abodes, and, judging by appearances, they were exceedingly
fatigued. They were perched by hundreds in low shrubs and
bushes between the Bicycle Path and a flooded meadow just beyond.
Some small willow bushes were each occupied by fifty or more
Swallows, whose drooping, half-spread wings and open beaks, through
which they drew spasmodic gasps of air, were a most eloquent
testimonial of the fact that they had just arrived from a long journey
and were exceedingly fatigued. O. W. Knight.

We have received from the publishers, at the request of the
author, a copy of Ralph Hoffmann's "A Guide to the Birds of New
England and Eastern New York," with a letter asking for a review
of the same. Our space is limited this time, but a long notice need
not be written to make apparent to our readers the value of this
book. For the use of a beginner we regard this volume far and
away the best that the book market now affords. It is intended
principally as a help to identificatioil, and for this purpose it has high
merit. It tells clearly and with scientific accuracy the field marks
by which each bird may be recognized, just the little points of
peculiarity that we all employ in telling at a glance what bird we
have under our glasses. It does not take the place of Chapman's
Handbook, but it admirably supplements it. A student who has
the Handbook would do well to get Hoffmann's Guide. Every
owner of Hoffmann's Guide may have perfect confidence that he
will not be misled by it, and he may follow the suggestions given in
it with pleasure and profit.

A Guide to the Birds of New England and Eastern New York,
by Ralph Hoffmann. i2mo, pp. 357. Houghton, Mifflin & Co.,
Boston. Price, $1.50 net.

®l|p Jmtrnal

of tljr

Mmix^ Wnixtlpiaijmi Bamt^

Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December

Vol. VII SEPTEMBER, 1905 No. 3

Matinicus Sea Birds al" tKe Close of the Nesting Season.

By W. H. Brownson.

August 22nd Mr. Arthur H. Norton, of Portland, and I sailed
from Rockland on the steamer W. G. Butnian for Matinicus, for a
hurried observation of the sea birds which there abound, at the very
close of the nesting season, when most of the young birds are able
to fly and care for themselves. This is the most remarkable bird
locality on the coast of Maine, for at no other point can so many
birds of so many different species, both native and migrating, be
seen at the same time. And it should be remembered that this is
a busy fishing harbor, though it is located some eighteen or twenty
miles out to sea from the mainland.

When we were some eight or ten miles from land we began
to encounter little flocks of Sea Geese or Jersey Geese. Northern
Phalaropes they are properly called and they were now migrating
from northern summer homes to spend the winter out at sea, living
on the insects and bits of vegetable life to be gathered from floating
patches of seaweed. They were swimming gracefully, and as the
steamer drew too near would rise without effort and fly to one side,
wheeling and twisting near the surface of the water before selecting
another place to light. They are handsome at this season of the
year, though wearing their winter plumage, which is not so bril-
liantly marked as during the breeding time. Queer little wanderers
they are, which never come ashore from now until spring, unless

50 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOCxICAL SOCIETY.

driven to land by some strong wind or long continued storm. Mere
atoms of life, they ride free on the waves and shake the salt drops
from their backs when the gale showers them with spray.

At Matinicus we made arrangements to stay several days and
visit the neighboring islands. The same afternoon we went over to
No Man's Land to see the great colony of Herring Gulls. The
account of this trip will be found at the close of this article,
reprinted in part from the account furnished by me to the Portland
Advertiser.

On No Man's Land, while we were in the midst of the Gulls,
we saw a remarkable sight for this locality, no less than thirty-seven
Double-crested Cormorants, just now on their journey to more south-
ern waters, from northern breeding grounds. They sat in a grotesque
row on a projecting cliff, and allowed Mr. Norton to creep around
the side of a ledge and photograph them, though at some distance.
During our stay in the locality we often saw them flying singly or in
pairs around the inner harbor.

Black Guillemots, or Sea Pigeons, had been breeding here in
considerable numbers, doubtless on several of the i.slands. We saw
them on Two Bush island, Woodenball island and elsewhere. They
were the most numerous on Woodenball island, where we saw one
morning more than twenty-five adult birds. Their nests were in the
crevices of the rocks and doubtless more young birds were concealed
there than we saw of the old ones. We observed only one young Sea
Pigeon and he was in the harbor within a few feet of the wharf, and
right under the bow of the steamer as she was making ready to
leave for Rockland.

We spent one night on Woodenball island, sleeping part of the
time in the camp of a fisherman and the rest of the hours after
twilight and just after dawn searching for Leach's Petrels, in their
nests and watching them come in from sea to feed their young. It
was nine o'clock at night and completely dark when the Petrels
began to arrive. They flew around our heads like bats, being just
distinguishable by starlight as they chattered and whinnied in the
vicinity of their homes, tunneled under boulders and under stone

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5 1

walls. We found the nests so deep that we could not reach to the
bottom of them. The young birds were mostly beyond our grasp,
but once in a while one could be touched with the hand, after the
outer earth had been scooped away. The odor which they emit
from their mouths when in any way disturbed was plainly evident
around the nests and in this way, after ])ractice, one can tell pretty
accurately whether the nest is occupied. It is a smell something
like musk and quite pungent. On this island there were a good
many of the birds, but by no means the extensive colony which we
had expected to find.

While we were landing on Woodenball we saw two Northern
Ravens, which flew directly over our heads almost within gunshot.
They are regular visitors to the island, so the fishermen say. We
found a place where they had been rooting up the turf in a search
for beetles, a common practice of the bird, it is understood. On No
Man's Land we saw two nests of the Northern Raven, and it is very
likely that here is where the two that we saw were raised.

Just as we were leaving Woodenball island, in the morning
after our night with the Petrels, we saw on the southern cliffs a
company of Great Black-backed Gulls, recent arrivals in that
section, and counted something over thirty of the big fellows, who
looked as large as sheep as they were outlined against the sky.
They spend the cold months on the outer shores, being regular
winter residents in sparing numbers, this being the largest flock
that had been seen within the recollection of good observers around
these islands.

Matinicus Rock is five miles farther out at sea than Matinicus
island. Here is where the famous lighthouse is located, and here
is where some 6000 Arctic Terns breed in season. The young birds
were gone when we were there, and there were not over 500 terns
around the rock. They scatter all up and down the coast, in search
of fruitful fishing grounds. This season, during the long rainstorm
in the time when the eggs were just hatching, many young birds
perished and many incubated eggs were spoiled. We looked in vain
for the Puffins, or Sea Parrots, six or more of which were here in the

52 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY.

breeding season. They had lieen seen within a day or two. but had
now left in quest of l)etter feeding grounds. We ate dinner with one
of the keepers of the lights and saw many eggs just as they had been
left by the birds after the rain had rendered them useless. As we
rowed ])ack to Matinicus in Captain Young's dory we saw quite a
number of Ruddy Turnstones on the sea weed which covered the
outer rocks where the waves frequently broke in foam.

THE GULLS OF NO MAN'S LAND.

W. H. Brownson in the Portland Advertiser.

After we had taken dinner we started off to find Captain Mark
Young, the well-known warden in the employ of the National
Audubon society, who takes excellent care of all the immense num-
ber of sea birds in this cluster of islands. Now Captain Young's
aid was really necessary if we expected to see the most interesting
things which here abound. He owns a dory, he is a seaman of
long experience, he knows all the best landing places on the rocky
islands, he is moreover the sole proprietor of No Man's Land, which
boasts of the densest colony of Herring Gulls on the Maine coast.
There may be more birds on Great Duck island, off Mount Desert,
but they are not so thickly gathered in a limited area. Dropping
his work, without a moment's delay. Captain Young announced
himself ready for the row over to the Gull colony, and thus we set
out in his dory for what proved to be the greatest sight in the bird
line that had ever fallen to my lot. On Two Bush island, which lay
directly in our path, a big flock of Gulls arose from a jutting ledge
and I exclaimed at the unusual number, but my companions smiled
quietly and remarked that we had not yet begun to see Gulls. Thus
we approached No Man's Land and I soon felt well repaid for my
visit, even if not another bird should be seen while we remained.

Young Gulls and old Gulls were everywhere. This island is
some twelve acres in extent and it did not seem that there was a
square yard of it which (Hd not hold one or more birds. One side of
the island is sparsely covered with turf and the other is given up to
a growth of stunted black spruce trees. Gulls; white and dark,

JOURNAL OF MAINK OKNITHOLOGICAL SOCIKTY. 53

roosted on every rock, coveriiiij^ also all the grassland. Up in the
trees big white birds had alighted on the bare branches, one above
the other, forming a series of terraces of living and glistening forms.
As we drew near we saw several of the Great Black-backed Onlls
sitting with the others, merely visitors it seemed, for these big
fellows had bred farther north and were now coming south to spend
the winter on the outer shores along the coast. Captain Young
steered for Rumguzzle cove, the elegant name applied to a wonder-
ful natural inlet, a depression of the high rocky formation of the
island, nearly cutting it in two. Here it is related how a drunken
crew from the West Indies was wrecked and drowned, while a big
cask of rum went ashore on the rocks and landed high and dry in
this cove, where it was afterwards rescued by the neighboring fish-
ermen. The place served our purpose now, but it was no easy task
to get out of the boat on the ledges without getting wet. It could
not have been done without the aid of so skillful a boatman as
Captain Young.

Now the wonder of the scene opened before us. We were right
in the midst of the Gulls, which shrieked and barked over our heads,
eyed us with suspicion from the cliffs on either hand, and fled in our
pathway up to the highest point of the island. The young Gulls
were there in thousands, being easily recognized by their brown
plumage, while the adult birds were a glossy white. Captain Young
put the difference before us in his pithy way, when he remarked,
"You see the dark ones, — well, sir, every one of them was an egg
this spring." Now we began to thread our way among the gulls
up the steep cleft in the rocks and our real experience began.
Young Gulls, hardly able to fly, fled before us and tumbled down
among the rocks with much weak flapping of wings. Picking
them.selves up they perched at a safe distance and regarded us with
no look of favor. Over our heads swarmed more than a thousand
adult Gulls, every white beak sending forth a discordant cry. On
our left there was another thousand and on our right as many more,
perched on the ledges, on the grass, and in the tops of the s])ruce
trees. Down at our feet, in the water, was a bunch of birds that

.54 JOUKNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

must have numbered over a thousand, and as many more in sight in
the water on the other side of the island. Besides these the farther
ends of the rocks were still covered with Gulls out of observation and
as yet resting easily, though as we progressed over the island they
constantly rose over us in a threatening cloud.

"How many Gulls are there on the island?" I asked Captain
Young and he replied confidently, "Well, sir, we estimate them at
10,000." This was surprising and I looked around me with a
critical eye. But I could not contradict him, for that seemed to l)e
a fair computation. I counted a section of the swimming flocks
and judged that there were two or three thousand in the water,
while the birds were as thick over our heads as a swarm of mos-
quitoes. There may be no more than six thousand birds, and there
may be as many as twelve thousand ; no one can say, for it is
impossible to count them. Captain Young's estimate of ten thousand
therefore, will have to stand undisputed, at least until more accurate
information can be obtained. We saw not a single nest, but plenty
of places where they had been built. Captain Young says the birds
tear their nests to pieces as soon as they are done with them, Init
they are nothing Ijut a collection of sticks and soft material placed
on the ledges and grass ground and doubtless the young ]:)irds,
during their growth, scatter what is of no further use to them. On
the islands farther east Gulls often build their nests in trees, but we
saw none of that kind here.

There is no breeding place for Herring Gulls nearer to Portland,
and doubtless many of the Gulls seen around Portland harbor, spring
and fall belong at No Man's I^and and to Captain Young, who fondly
claims ownership of them all, no matter where they are found. And
the way he protects them is good to behold. Mind you, he owns the
island on which they breed, and he is the warden selected by Mr.
Dutcher, of the Audubon society, to see that they are not molested.
Armed with this authority and being proprietor of their nesting
ground, he has an immense advantage over the lawless hunter of
eggs or pearly plumage. His big sign on the most conspicuous part
of the island warns off any intruder, in language that cannot be mis-
understood. Woe to the gunner who disregards that warning, for
the strong hand of the law is likely to lay hold of him.

JOUKNAr. OP MAINR ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 55

oIIti^ 3nitntal

nf tl|r

MiXxxxv ©ruttliiUngtral S^nrtdy

A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

Vol. VII Published September 1, 1905 No. 3

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 50 cents a year: 1 5 cents a copy

OFFICERS OF THE MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Pres., Prof. Leslie A. Lee, Brunswick W. H. Brownson, Portland,

Vice-Pres. Dr. H. H. Brock, Portland Editor

Sec.-Treas., J. Merton Swain, Skowhegan Frank T. Noble, Augusta,

Councillors, Capt. H. L. Spinney, Seguin Associate Editor
Ora W. Knight, Bangor

Many members are still neglecting to send in their dues. It
should be remembered that it is not possible to print the Journal
and leave the printer unpaid. His patience is great, but it will not
always last.

The migration report for 1904 is given in this issue. It shows
more activity than formerly in this interesting branch of bird obser-
vation. This time eight members sent in reports. Doubtless there
will be as many more in the 1905 report, and during the coming
year the number might well be doubled. The member who takes
systematic notes of the arrival and departure of the birds will soon
have a series of records which will prove valuable, both to him and
others, for frequent reference. Thus he can shortly learn just when
to look for certain species, and he can be practically sure that their
coming and going in his locality will not vary materially from year
to year.

We have very little accurate data on the (juestion of whether
birds are increasing or decreasing in the State of Maine. It is cer-
tain that the sea birds, on account of their efficient protection, are
multiplying rapidly. The land birds, for the most part, present a

56 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY.

more difficult prol)leni. Edward Howe Forbush, the state ornithol-
ogist of Massachusetts, prepared for the fifty-second annual report
of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture a "Special Report
on the Decrease of Certain Birds and its Causes, with Suggestions
for Bird Protection." This has now been printed as a separate pam-
phlet. Mr. Forbush olitained replies from over two hundred cor-
respondents in different parts of the state, representing all sections.
Ninety-four reported birds as decreasing ; sixty-two reported them
as holding their own or increasing ; twenty reported that game
birds are decreasing and song birds increasing or holding their own.
Mr. Forbush concludes that with the smaller species the natural
balance of bird life is now fairly constant in Massachusetts and
the neighboring states, and that the decrease will be found mainly
among those species which are hunted.

We herewith present the Septeml)er number of the Maine Jour-
nal, and once more call attention to the need for more members and
subscribers. These can be obtained only by the personal efforts
of our present members, each one of whom ought to be interested
enough in the work to . secure at least one new name during the
coming month. It is desired to print a larger Journal, and to
have it contain more matter that is of interest to the state at large.
In order to do this it is necessary for most of our working members
to furnish at least one article, or, at all events, a note once a year.
This ought not to be a great tax on the time of even a busy man or
woman. And this brings to mind the fact that our female members
are not doing their share to make the Journal interesting. There
are some very able-working ornithologists in Maine, whose observa-
tions would be of great interest, and not a few of these are women.
By all means, then, let us hear from the ladies within the next six
weeks.

Mr. Ora W. Knight promised us an article on the Myrtle War-
bler for this issue, but on account of the pressure of his other duties
he has been unable to prepare it. Mr. J. Merton Swain then under-
took to supply the need, but he, too, has been prevented from fur-

JOITRNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIKTY. 57

nishing it. Prof. Lee, our president, had partly written sonic bird
notes, but did not find time to complete them. Prof. W. L. Powers
was asked to send something, but the letter reached him just as he
was starting for Seguin to spend a week with our ex-president,
Capt. Spinney, and after that it is easily understood that he found
laliors enough to keep him l)usy from morning to night. For the
December Journal there will be additional solicitations, and it is to
be hoped that the editor will not be obliged then to furnish practi-
cally all the matter.

ltr^ Nntf0.

Notes and observations upon bird life within our State are earnestly desired from all our readers
for publication in this column, and should be sent to the Associate Editor, Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Maine.

A Third Cumberland County Specimen of the Caspian
Tern. — While recently examining the collection of Mr. J. A. Cool-
broth, ni}' attention was called to a Caspian Tern in full nuptial
]ilumage. It was secured by Mr. Coolbroth several years ago near
Richmond's Island, Cape Elizabeth, Me.

This is the third Cumlicrland Count}' specimen known to be
extant, one an immature bird from the same locality, being in the
collections of the Portland Society of Natural History, Proc. Port.
Soc, Vol. II, p. 104, and one in full nuptial plumage taken in
Casco Bay, being in the museum of Bowdoin College, Journal Me.
Ornith. Soc, Vol. IV, p. 3. A. H. Norton.

Wilson\s TiiRTiSii — Cowp.ird. — The associate editor observed
this spring an unusual abandonment of a nest by a Wilson's Thrush
{Titrdus fiisccsccns) , owing to a Cowbird having deposited an egg
therein.

On June jst, an exceedingly fine, though somewhat exposed,

, nest of this Thrush was found upon a side hill on the outskirts of

Augusta. The female was on the nest, and upon being flushed two

eggs were seen, but in no way disturbed, neither did we loiter in

the vicinity.

58 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

On June 2d the nest was again visited, and it was seen that a
Cow bird had deposited an egg therein. The Thrushes were no-
where to be seen, nor did they ever visit the locality again.

Comments by other observers upon this abandonment of nests
for like causes would be of interest.

Notes from FrxVnklin County. — The article in the March
Journal where mention is made of a Chickadee perching on a gun
barrel reminded me of an incident that occurred last March. I was
sawing wood when one of these interesting little birds flew from the
woodpile and perched on my arm, near the shoulder. It looked
inquiringly into my face without fear, and when through with the
in.spection flew to a near-by tree.

The J unco has never to my knowledge been accused of being
an imitator of song birds, but last year the efforts of one to do so
came under my observation. In passing a group of apple trees
where several song .sparrows were singing, I noticed one bird voice
that seemed harsh and rather out of tune, yet apparently a song
sparrow's note. On close examination, I discovered that the musi-
cal effort came from a Junco, who was evidently trying to imitate
his distant relatives. There were the opening notes, the gurgles,
the song sparrow trills that make up the song, all quite respectably
rendered for an imitation. I would like to know if others have
observed this trait.

On June 26, '05, I took, with a friend, a very early start for a
trip through the woods, and it may be of interest to the Journal's
readers to know that a few of our birds are decidedly early singers.
We started at one o'clock in the morning. It was cloudy and very
dark, but we carried no light. At about one o'clock a Chebec sang
his sharp, scolding note for us. At about two o'clock an Ovenbird
sang for us as we passed through a dense piece of woods. A few
moments later a Catbird commenced to sing. As we stopped to
listen an Olive-sided Flycatcher sang several times. Up to this time
it was perfectly dark. As it commenced to grow light at three, a
Song Sparrow piped up his song, and at 3.10 several Alder Fly-
catchers commenced to sing. At 3.15, all the robins began their
usual morning notes, and the other birds joined in the chorus.

On June 30th my friend and I climbed Mt. Bigelow, and our
observation upon the Warblers l^reeding there may be of interest.
Along near a bog of hackmatack, in a scraggly spruce, we found a
Tennessee warbler singing loudly, and he evidently had a nest

JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIKTY. 59

nearby. On the brow of the mountain we passed through a growth
of spruce where the ground was green with liverworts. Here Black-
poll Warblers were conunon and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was
heard. The top of the mountain was a huge ledge with a growth of
spruce and birch. The most common bird here was the Black-poll
again. Nashvilles were also common in the deciduous growths.
We also heard several Olive-backed Thrushes and White-throated
Sparrows.

The Prairie Horned Lark is a summer resident on the "Ridge"
in the town of Hustis and also on the "Mile Square" in Avon, both
sections being elevated areas of farming land.

Avon, Me. Dana W. Sweet.

A Prisoner, and Why? — In August, 1904, in company with
a party of ornithologists, I made a tour of the lakes and wilds of
Washington County, a trip rich in bird incidents, one of which
suggested the above heading.

While rambling about the woods near Cathance Lake I observed
a connnotion in a growth of low saplings about twenty yards from
the path where I stood ; the cause appeared to be a bunch of small
birds in close scrimmage ; with the aid of my glasses I could see
that it was a nest overflowing with young birds, one of which
appeared to be jumping up and pouncing down upon the others.

As I approached nearer to the nest three of the l)irds flew off
with the ease of an adult, leaving the fourth, which I could see was
fastened in some manner to the nest ; I pulled the branch down
close to me and recognized the nest to be a Chebec's, with the
young bird securely fastened by a horse hair, tied around its leg so
tightly as to cut to the cords and bone all the way around, the other
end being woven into the nest.

After liberating the prisoner by the use of my pocket scissors,
I turned my attention to the other three which had remained nearby
and observed that they were fat, 'fluffy and lazy and appeared larger
than the tired parents, who were more than busy trying to bring
enough food to keep up their present state of health.

Why was this bird a prisoner ? through the accidental looping
of that hair about its leg or from the reported habit of some birds
using such means to kec]) unruly members of their family in the
nest ?

Lubec, Me. Clarence H. Clark.

6o JOURNAL OF MAINE OK N iTlIOLOCxIC AL .SOCIETY.

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Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December
Vol. VII DECEMBER, 1905 No. 4

The Ducks of MerrxmeeHng Bay in the Season of 1905.

By Frank T. Noble.

The duck shooting at Merrymeeting Bay the past season (1905),
has not been up to the expectations of many who participated in
the grand shooting afforded on this sheet of water and the adjacent
streams the previous year (1904). The large and heretofore un-
usual flights of Mallards, Widgeons, Redheads and Gadwalls which
visited and hung about the bay so persistently last year were almost
entirely absent, while the coming of the Bluebills (Greater and Lesser
Scaup) , usually so plentiful in October, was waited for day after day
in vain, and only a few insignificant bunches put in an appearance at
all. Blue-winged and Green- winged Teal were not nearly as al)un-
dant as last year, although a few good-sized flocks of the former were
present early in the season. The Ruddy Ducks, or the Broadbills,
as the gunners call them, usually so common in October, deferred
their coming until the morning after the big storm of October 12.
Then they came in large numbers and hundreds were shot, but this
seemed to be the beginning and end of the flight, for only scatter-
ing ones were seen afterwards.

Many theories are expressed as to why these various species of
Ducks were so abundant last year and so scarce this season. We
can but surmise. We are utterly unable to fathom the Ducks'
reasoning for migrating over one particular course one season and
over a different one the next, or as to why they come early one year

66 JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOI<OGlCAL SOCIETY.

and late the year following, or, again, why they abandon a course
altogether. Take, for example, the American Golden-eye {Clangula
americana) . In former years and until quite recently it has been one
of the most numerous of the diving fowl in the open water of the bay,
and hundreds of them were shot every year. I doubt if a dozen
birds were taken this year, or twice that number seen here. They
are expert divers and well able to take care of themselves. They are
not exterminated. I doubt if their numbers are diminished at all,
but they certainly have changed their route of migration, for the
present at least, yet they are liable to be with us in increased num-
bers any year.

The only species not showing a marked decrease this year was
that grand old stand-by, the Dusky, or Black Duck. From the last
of August until late in November the number of these elegant birds
present in the bay was probably even greater than last year, and
from feeding so long on the wild rice, which was never so abundant
here, they became exceedingly fat and of fine flavor, and late in the
season could be numbered by the thousands.

They early became educated to the ways of the modern gunner,
however, with his repeating shotgun, or, still worse, "Automatic"
(wdiich fires six shots in three seconds), and after feeding on the
rice during the night, the only time they are safe, they wisely take
themselves out of the bay at the first signs of daybreak, flying sea-
ward, only to return again long after dark.

This flock increases daily until in October there are so many of
them that the noise made in rising from the water in the still morn-
ing air is something awe-inspiring and never to be forgotten. It is
like the roar of some mighty cataract, or the awful rumbling of an
earthquake, and almost fills one with fear as the uncanny sound
continues second after second, until the whole flock rises from the
water and takes wing.

This wise habit of daily migrating is doubtless the salvation of
Anas obsciira and makes his tribe safe from extinction.

There are times when, with one accord, they decline to go sea-
ward until driven. These occasions are very rare, however, usually

JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOI.OGICAL SOCIETY. 67

when a heavy southerly gale is blowing, with rain. At such times
they seem to reason that out at sea is not a desirable place and they
cling to the open waters of the bay, even with its many dangers,
until forced to go.

Few gunners or naturalists who visit the bay become acquainted
with the main flock of Black Ducks, excepting as they hear the
sound of their rushing wings as they rise from the grass and fly sea-
ward before it is sufficiently light to see even the outline of the
flock, and the wish is often expressed that they might have just
one look during daylight at what to them is a vast, yet unknown
quantity. It was the writer's good fortune on the first day of No-
vember to behold this famous concourse of water fowl at his leis-
ure, to note their formation on the water, their actions, and to view
plainly the motions of the thousands of pairs of wings as they made
the shores of the bay echo with that terrific roar when rising, to
watch them circling in mid-air and their gradual return to the water
again.

On this particular morning we left the shore in our float just
before bay break. It was raining and the wind was blowing a gale
from the south — not a very comfortable-feeling morning when lying
in the bottom of a wet float, but that is one of the trifles well-sea-
soned duck hunters don't mind. The Great Sands appeared to be
fairly alive with ducks feeding in the wild rice. We could hear
them in every direction. A little further out and the air was sud-
denly filled with a rumble, and then a roar like an earthquake, and
we knew the birds had started. Our surprise was greater, however,
when we heard them settle again out on the open water, for such a
course was very unusual.

We worked our way slowly down the channel, facing the
cold, cutting raindrops, and waited for daylight, which soon came
and brought to us a sight never to be forgotten. Before us was
this horde of water fowl which previously had been known to us
only by sound when shielded by darkness. It was a beautiful
sight. Extending from the "Chops" way up past Brick Island for
more than a mile in the Cathance channel was an unbroken line of

68 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNlTHOIvOGlCAL SOCIETY.

Black Ducks, "Lobsters," the natives call them. They were there
by the thousands, and appeared to be almost wholly the large red-
legged variety. They were splashing and pruning their feathers,
rearing themselves on end and flapping their wings and talking as
only ducks in convention can talk. These very large flocks do not,
as many suppose, form in one large, circular mass, but rather in an
irregular line and in no place are more than twenty or twenty-five
birds deep, often less.

It is about impossible to scull such a flock as stray birds are
always straggling quite a distance from the main body. Such are
invariably very many and rise before the float is within shooting
distance. Rise but one bird in such a flock and the whole bunch
is sure to go.

As it became evident the birds did not intend to go to sea, we
decided to scull them, not that we expected to get within range,
but with the desire for a closer view. We made for about the
centre of the long black line and soon were within one hundred and
fifty yards and with our glasses had a grand view. We could see
a few Mallard drakes scattered here and there, but no other inter-
lopers ; everything was Black Ducks. On we sculled and were
rapidly reducing the distance when the nearest straggler jumped,
then those nearest followed and then the entire flock from end to .
end rose into the air with a roar that fairly shook the bay.

In the air they separated into detached flocks of from twenty to
one hundred, and after circling about for five minutes again settled
in another section of the bay, but in the open water as before —
never in the grass. A second time we sculled them, but with pre-
cisely the same result as before. We had refrained from firing our
guns all this time, the observations being all too interesting. Fol-
lowing our second attempt the birds alighted near the "Chops,"
again, where doubtless they would have remained some time had not
another float put in an appearance whose occupants evidently
possessed more enthusiasm than good judgment, for essaying a
scull at the end of the flock the ducks of course rose several gun
shots away. The grand sight was too much and they blazed

JOUKNAI. OK INIAINK ORNITHOI^OGICAI. SOCIETY. 69

away gun after gun with their repeaters, with the result of siniph-
frightening the flock which circled once and then making a bee
line to the south rose high over Butler's Head and passed out to
sea in the teeth of the gale.

I cannot close this article without an allusion to that great evil,
the repeating shotgun — as witnessed daily in this famous ducking
ground. It is certainly a serious matter and one which must
shortly be reckoned with if our shooting is to be preserved. In
making this broad statement I voice not only my own views, but
the candid opinion of many of the older native gunners of the bay
shore, whose observations of the results have extended over many
years, and who, themselves, have been forced to adopt the use of
these terrifying magazine guns in order to "hold their own," as
as they express it, with others, who bring them to the bay. Such
have repeatedly assured me of the great harm these furious fusil-
lades have done to the birds and are even now^ doing to the limited
number that are left, and even asked if something could not be
done to prohibit their use. They say they would welcome the day
when every one would be obliged to go back to the old double bar-
rel breech loader. The birds would then have a show at least, and
all the gunners would be on an equal footing as far as firearms go.

The evils are two-fold. A repeater or magazine gun in the
hands of a good shot will enable him to exterminate a flock of six
or eight if the birds can be sculled within thirty-five yards, while in
the hands of an amateur or poor shot the entire six shots will be
banged away at the birds utterly regardless of whether they are in
within reasonable distance or not. This is, perhaps, the greater
evil of the two. It is so "handy" to have six shots at one's elbow,
that it seldom happens, and I will not except the expert or the able
native gunner who knows better, but what if he fires at all at a ris-
ing flock he will empty his gun at them even if he knows the birds
are out of range.

This terrible and senseless cannonading — I can call it nothing
else — frightens such birds as escape, into a perfect frenzy and it is
little wonder that thousands of them are driven in distraction from

yo JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNlTHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY.

the bay only to revisit it for their favorite food under cover of dark-
ness.

The advent of the " Automatic" gun is a step further in the
process of extermination. This nefarious machine needs no pump-
ing, but shoots its entire contents with lightning rapidity with but
the pressure of a finger, and without removing the gun from the
shoulder.

As for myself, I have never used anything but an ordinary
double gun, and twelve gauge at that, and believe anything more
destructive or noisy works to the ultimate disadvantage of the
gunner as well as the birds.

Three illustrations and I will close.

I have myself seen a double float scull a bunch of birds, and
when, through unskillful maneuvering the birds rose wild, seen twelve
shots from two repeaters fired into their retreating ranks in less time
than it takes to relate it, with the result only of a senseless frighten-
ing of the birds.

I have also witnessed a good shot carefully vScull a bunch of six
Black Ducks, getting two with the first shot on the water, and then
as they rose, pick off in rapid succession one by one, the other
remaining four with his deadly repeater, exterminating the flock.

Again, when waiting on the shore of the bay in October, I
observed a bunch of twelve Black Ducks fly over the woods and
make for a small pond hole where I knew three gunners were lying
in wait with repeaters. In a few seconds yz/ZirY;/ s/iofs were fired with
such a rapidity that they could scarcely be counted and one lone
duck came out over the tree tops the sole survivor of the hapless
flock.

These illustrations of the workings of the magazine gun must
convince any fair minded sportsman of the desirability of prohibit-
ing their use, and by all means let us work to that end before it is
too late.

There is little use in locking the stable door after the horse is
stolen.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNlTHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY. 7 1

Notes on the Warblers Found in Maine.

(Continued from p. 41.)
Contribuhons to tUe Life History of the Myrtle Warbler.

Dendroica coronata (Linn.).
By Ora WilIvIS Knight.

GeoCxRAphicae Distribution — Migration Range. — Kast-
ern North America, occasionally straggling westward, even to the
Pacific coast.

Breeding Range. — In summer essentially confined to the
Canadian fauna, and, though breeding southward in the mountains
in straggling numbers, its chief breeding grounds are from the north-
ern United States northeastward.

Winter Range. — Stragglers winter from Cape Elizabeth,
Maine, southward along the coast, but the species chiefly winters
from southern New England and the Ohio valley southward to the
West Indies and through Mexico to Panama.

At the approach of warm weather the Myrtle Warblers enter
the State from their southern winter homes. Though a few indi-
viduals have been recorded as wintering near Portland at Cape Eliz-
abeth (Cf. Brownson, Journal Me. Orn. Soc, March, 1905, pp.
27-28), this may be attributed to peculiar local conditions. The
first individuals usually arrive in southern Maine about April 15th
to April 22nd, and the usual time of appearance of the species at
Bangor is about April 22nd to April 30th. The first individuals
reach extreme northern Maine about May ist. Common throughout
the State during the migration, the individuals gradually diminish
in numbers until by the tenth of May practically none are to be
found in southern Maine, and, leaving a fair proportion of their
numbers to nest in northern, eastern and western Maine within
Canadian faunal limits, the tide of migration passes beyond our
boundary.

The scattered flocks pass on, leaving here and there a pair of
mated birds, in many instances individuals being found frequenting
the very same localities from year to year under conditions which

7*2 JOIIRNAI. OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY.

would almost warrant the assumption that the very same individual
birds had returned to their summer homes. I have observed pairs
of these birds which had seemingly appeared over night in their
well-known homes of the previous year. They would hang around
for a few days, and by May 15th to 20th begin nest building. Other
individual males who arrived with the moving throngs evidently
were seeking mates, for they made advances to the female contin-
gent, hopping from twig to twig with outspread wings, chipping
and fluttering, now repulsed by the fair one, and now accepted by
another one to whom advances were made, to finally spend a few
days in a favorable spot and begin nest Iniilding at a later date than
others of their kind, who were apparently old married folks. In
spring and fall the call note is a "chip" or a "check," uttered some-
times on the wing, but more often while busily engaged in seeking
for insects from twig to twig. But about the time nest building
begins the male perches near the top of some small evergreen tree
and utters a pleasing song, consisting of a succession of some twelve
to fifteen clear and musically warbled notes. The song is very dis-
tinct and characteristic of the species, though at least occasionally
another different but still characteristic song, a soft, low warble, is
heard.

During migration the species may be found in the trees of the
city streets, in gardens, on the roofs of houses, and along highways
and through the woods, hopping from place to place. As soon as
nest building begins, the favorite locality selected is a thicket of
evergreen trees near the highway, some open pasture containing a
few clumps of scattered evergreens, small thickets of evergreens
along the banks of some stream or river or about the shore of a pond
or lake, or a row of trees about some country dwelling or in an
orchard. In the vast majority of cases an evergreen tree is selected
as a nesting site, though occasionally some hardwood tree, such as
maple, apple or birch, may be taken. A majority of nests seem to
be placed in cedar trees, with fir and spruce following as close sec-
ond choices. The nest may be placed against the trunk, supported
on some small branch extending therefrom, or in a fork made by

JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI^ SOCIKTY. 73

three or more branches or on top of a limb at some distance from
the trunk and even near the extremity of the limb. The height of
the nest may be as low as four feet from the ground or as high as
twenty-five feet, eight to ten feet up being a fair average.

The foundation of the nest consists of spruce, fir or hemlock
twigs from which the spills have fallen. A number of these twigs
are arranged and compactly criss-crossed and rounded. Next comes
a superstructure, often composed of fine plant fibres and grass stems,
and then comes a lining of horsehair and feathers. In some nests
the lining is simply hair, but in most examples feathers play an im-
portant part. A majority of the nests I have seen were lined with
the feathers from the breasts of various small birds which had been
picked up here and there. These feathers were many of them
placed so that their bases were imbedded in the bottom of the nest
structure and the tips of the feathers arose above the border of the
nest and curved until the tips of the entire circlet met above the
center of the nest, hiding its contents from view. The dimensions
of a typical nest are ; Diameter, outside, 4.5 inches, inside, 2.25
inches; depth, outside, 1.75 inches, inside, i inch.

The number of eggs laid is usually four, often five and some-
times only three. The extreme dates in my possession when fresh
eggs were found near Bangor are between May 30th and June 6th ;
a nest found June 14th contained young about a week old. The
time taken to build a nest is about ten days. The female does most
of the work, but the male, occasionally, at least, brings some mate-
rial and often is present and sings while the female is working. The
eggs are usually laid one each day until the set is complete, though
occasionally a day may be skipped without laying. Incubation
ordinarily begins upon deposition of the first egg, or, at any rate,
the female is usually found sitting upon a nest containing only one
or two eggs, and which later has four or five eggs as the full com-
plement. The eggs are dull white or creamy white in ground color,
wreathed with a circle of spots about the larger end, these spots
being of various shades of brown, red-brown, lilac, umber and grey.
A few scattered spots may also be found on other portions of the

74 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY.

egg, but the spots are usually most frequent and of greater size at
the larger end. Occasionally a freak egg may be found, in which
the wreathing is about the smaller end, but such cases are rare. A
typical set of four eggs taken at Stockton Springs, Maine, June 6th,
measure as follows: .68 x .52, .67X.51, .70X.52, .68 x .51 inches.
The largest egg of which record can be found measures .72 x .55.
As runt eggs have been known to occur, there is no limit within rea-
son to the smallness of freak eggs of this or any other species of
small birds' eggs. The average dimensions are very close to those
of the set of four eggs given above.

The female does most of the work of incubation, but on very
rare and exceptional occasions I have found the male bird incubat-
ing and even engaged in song while on the nest. The time in one
case which elapsed between the laying of the first egg and the hatch-
ing of the first young bird was two hundred and ninety-five hours,
plus or minus an error of an hour and forty minutes. It was not
known by me nearer than within some forty minutes of the exact
time when the first egg was laid. The first egg to hatch was pipped
for some hours before the young bird finally emerged from the shell.
The time when the young bird was finally triumphant is not known
within two hours and forty minutes, as this period of time elapsed
between visits when it was found not hatched and hatched. The
period of incubation is thus shown to be doubtless between twelve
and thirteen days.

The natal down rapidly dries and fluffs out on the young birds
and is sepia-brown in color. At the end of six to seven days pin
feathers begin to appear, and by the twelfth to fourteenth day the
young are well advanced in their juvenal plumage and able to scram-
ble out of the nest. Two to three days after leaving the nest they
are able to assay short flights. I am inclined to believe that where
the nest is visited frequently for the purposes of observation the
young reach the stage where they scramble out and awaj^ much
sooner than were thej^ left undisturbed, but in this latter case one
could not make the necessary observations.

The juvenal plumage above and below has a generally streaked

JOURNAI^ OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 75

appearance. Above, the centers of the feathers are blackish, edged
with drab and yellowish brown ; below, much the same general
appearance, but far lighter in coloration and with a pale yellow color
on the abdomen ; wings blackish, with two indistinct, whitish bars ;
wing feathers edged with drab ; tail blackish, with feathers edged
with drab ; bill and feet dusky buff.

In August, by a complete moult, the first winter plumage is
acquired. This is rather duller colored than the corresponding
plumage of adult birds, the black markings and feathers of a duller
tint and the edgings of the feathers less grey.

The first nuptial plumage is acquired by a partial moult in early
spring and is not quite as brilliant as that of full adult birds. A
moult beginning in late July or early August gives the adult winter
plumage, which in early spring by partial moult gives the full adult
nuptial plumage. Descriptions of the full adult plumages of both
sexes can be found in any current manual on birds, so it is needless
to give them here.

The food of the adult birds in spring and summer consists almost
entirely of small grubs and larv?e of beetles and lepidopterous insects,
eggs of various species of insects, beetles, mosquitoes, and, in fact,
almost any insects, their eggs or larvae which are likely to be found
during a careful search of the trees frequented by the birds. Many
of the adult insects are taken on the wing, the warblers taking short
springs and flights into the air for this purpose. The young for the
first few days are fed on the softer sorts of insects secured by the
parents, and later their fare is like that of the parents in every way.
Towards fall considerable vegetable food creeps into their diet,
doubtless owing to the scarcity of insects. Berries of the Virginia
creeper, dogwood of various species, viburnum berries, seeds of the
alder, and doubtless other similar vegetable matter is consumed. I
have detailed only such as I have actually seen individuals eating
or found in their stomachs.

The last of August the first migrants from the north begin to
appear, and by mid-September the migrating hosts are abundant.
They dally with us longer than in the springtime, and it is well

76 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIKTV.

along toward November before the bulk have withdrawn from the
State. I have seen a few near Bangor as late as November 15th,
but this is rather exceptional.

During the fall months they enter city gardens and orchards,
climb over the roofs and along the gutters of houses, peering into
every nook and cranny. They hover on beating wings about such
crannies of the clapboards and finish where they may have spied
some delicious, big fat spider, chrysalis or other delectable morsel,
and such finds are speedily devoured. Now peering, now hovering,
and now springing into the air after some winged insect, they stop
about a building for a few hours or days, slowly but surely retreat-
ing southward, until at last one day in late October or early Novem-
ber they are with us still and the next dawn they are not to be
found, nor do we see them until another spring has come.

Members of the Maine Ornithological Society should know that
on account of the non-payment of dues the financial condition of the
Society is not by any means satisfactory. If each member would
send in his or her dollar, there would be a comfortable balance in
the treasury, instead of an embarrassing deficit. The dues are one
dollar a year, and the cash should be forwarded to the treasurer,
Mr. J. Merton Swain, Skowhegan, Maine. Will not every member
make a prompt effort to remit the sum due, and thus put the Society
on the desired footing ? Many subscribers to the Journal are also
in arrears, and it is desired that they forward their subscriptions at
once to the editor, W. H. Brownson, Portland, Maine. The sub-
scription is but 50 cents a year.

JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 77

®Iti^ Journal

nf tltp

Mdhx^ (irmtltnbgtral ^nrirtg

A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

Vol. VII Published December 1, 1905 No. 4

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 50 cents a year; 15 cents a copy

OFFICERS OF THE MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Pres., Prof. Leslie A. Lee, Brunswick W. H. Brownson, Portland,

Vice-Pres. Dr. H. H. Brock, Portland Editor

Sec.-Treas., J. Merton Swain, Skowhegan Frank T. Noble, Augusta,

Councillors, Gapt. H. L. Spinney, Seguin Associate Editor
Ora W. Knight, Bangor

The closing number of volume VII of the Maine Journal is
issued promptly at the time it is due, and the day of publication
coincides with the first day of the annual meeting of the Maine
Ornithological Society, held in Portland this year in the rooms of the
Portland Society of Natural History. The members will find that
the editors have done all that was possible with the facilities
afforded them. It has been difficult to induce our trained observers
of birds to give the Journal the result of their investigations.
During the coming year, if the Journal is to be continued, it will be
necessary for each member to contribute something to these columns,
even if it is nothing more than a brief note telling when the first
Bluebird came in the spring or when the last Warbler was seen in
the fall. If we all take hold in earnest we can make the Maine
Journal one of the most interesting publications in its class in the
country. If the whole burden of providing matter is left to the
editors then the Journal will not fairly represent the vSociety. This
is a subject which the editor hopes to discuss with the members at
the present annual meeting.

Some means of better financial support must l)e provided if the
Maine Journal is to be continued. If every member paid his dues
promptly and if every subscriber sent in his cash at the first of the
year there would be no need of this appeal. At present the printer
is unpaid for the last two numbers and the deficit must l)e ]irovided
by the Society.

JOURNAI. OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGIC AI. SOCIETY.

Itrh Nntea.

Notes and observations upon bird life within our State are earnestly desired from all our readers
for publication in this column, and should be sent to the Associate Editor, Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Maine.

A Specimen op the Ring-necked Duck prom Merry-
meeting Bay. — There is little to report in the way of rare or
uncommon varieties of water fowl the past season on the ducking
grounds in the vicinity of Merrymeeting Bay, the only variety being
a male Ring-necked Duck {Aythya collaris) , which the associate edi-
tor shot on October 1 1 . The bird was consorting with a small flock
of Lesser vScaup Ducks or small Blueljills and so closely resembled a
drake of this species that its identity was not realized until some
time after its capture. As this bird is one of our rarest Ducks gun-
ners shooting Bluebills should examine all drakes with great care
for the white ring around the bill and the grayish (not white) specu-
lum, sure characteristics of the Ring-necked or Ring-billed Duck.

Frank T. Nobi,e.

To Preserve the Breeding Eider Ducks. — Bird lovers
throughout the state will be glad to know that at the meeting of the
Governor and Council, November 9, that honorable body passed an
order, authorizing the land-agent to issue a written permit to the
National Association of Audubon Societies to have exclusive use of
one of the islands of Maine, with the expressed purpose of the
Association's protecting the wild birds breeding or resorting there.

To have witnessed the interest, which Mr. Ring, the land-agent,
took in issuing this document, without a moment's delay, would
have cheered anyone interested in the matter.

This action was in view of the fact that with such protection as
the Association was able to afford, upon one mass of rock the past
summer twenty-four young Eider Ducks were raised, or certainly not
less than four broods. By having control of the island, and keeping
all trespassers off, it is to be hoped that the number may increase.
This is the largest duck found within the United States, and for
beauty and value it ranks in the first class. Maine is the only state

JOURNAI, OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79

in the Union in which it breeds, and while twenty-five years ago it
occupied no less than fifteen of our islands and ledges to breed upon,
it has been gradually reduced to the very verge of disappearance as
a breeding bird. (In winter it is abundant coming in hordes from
the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Labrador.)

Every ornithologist and bird student in Maine should take a
personal pride in the fact that Maine still possesses this valuable and
beautiful duck, and a keen interest in this effort of the National
Association of Audubon vSocieties to preserve and increase its
numbers. Arthur H. Norton.

The Lapland Longspur at Scarborough. — Apparently the
last specimen of this bird to be identified as occurring in Maine was
upon October 31, 1901, when five were taken at Pine Point (Journal
Me. Orn. Soc, VI, p. 44).

In commenting upon the bird the belief was expressed that the
species would be found to be more frequent as a migrant than has
been supposed. Since that year little search has been made for it so
far as known. It was therefore very gratifying to be able to
determine the presence of the bird again at Pine Point (in Scar-
borough) on November 5, 1905, when Mr. Wm. H. Brownson, Mr.
J. F. Fanning and the writer found no less than four.

Large numbers of Snow Buntings and a few Horned Larks
were present, and though the Longspurs mingled with these, they
seemed to prefer their own society and were at first found separate
from them. The first pair found was feeding with a Dunlin upon a
windrow of seaweed at the edge of high water mark, at high tide.
Later the habit (before recorded) of crouching by the side of a
tussuck, or other dark object upon the white sand, was again
noticed. In flight the birds are to be distinguished from the Larks
by smaller size, and by not having the undulating motion of the
latter, while the lack of any white in the wings, a decidedly darker
and rather shorter appearance will serve to distinguish them from
Snow Buntings. But with fall specimens of Calcarius and Passcrina
upon the ground, especially the young, the closest attention of the
observer will be necessary. With Otocoris there is little reason for
confusion at a reasonably long distance.

The migration of the great bulk of the Longspur has been
shown to be to the westward of the Alleghany range, and only the
stragglers occur in New Kngland. (C. F. Howe, Auk XVIII,
page 396.) Arthur H. Noiiton.

8o JOURNAIv OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Portland Bird Notes. — Northern Shrikes are more plenti-
ful this fall around Portland than for a number of years. On the
19th of November I saw a flock of six or seven at Cumberland.

I have not been able this fall to see a single Virginia Rail,
though I have frequented the places where they are usually found.
Inquiry of several well-known gunners brings the information that
not a single bird of this species has been shot by them in this vicin-
ity this fall, but one man says that he has heard Rails of this species.
On the other hand, the little Yellow Rail, usually so rare, has been
here in unusual numbers. Several have been shot at the Dike
marsh and one or two at Pine Point.

Short-eared Owls have been in this vicinity abundantly this fall.
Several have been shot and at least two have been captured alive.
A Great Horned Owl was shot and stunned in the town of Windham,
being picked up alive and brought to Portland, where he was on
public view in a store window for several days.

A young Broad-winged Hawk was captured alive at Freeport
early in September. It was kept for some days in the rooms of the
Portland Society of Natural History, where it became so unea.sy
that it beat itself painfully and continually against its temporary
cage. Its wings were not strong enough to enable the bird to fly,
so there was nothing left to do but to end its life and prepare it for
the museum.

The Grassbirds (Pectoral Sandpipers) usually abundant on the
Scarboro marshes were noticeably scarce during the autumn. The
gunners got not more than occasionally one or two at a time.

Snow Buntings were seen at Pine Point on the 8th of October,
only two individuals.

While the fall migration was in progress a great number of
birds were killed within the city limits, probabl}^ by striking over-
head wires. Sapsuckers were picked up most frequently, five or
six being taken to the local taxidermists for mounting. Half a
dozen other species lost their lives in the same manner, among them
being Song vSparrows, Myrtle Warblers, Yellow Palm Warl)lers,
Juncos, Flickers and others.

Snowy Owls are plentiful in this vicinity this fall, a number
having been shot at Richmond's island. Many specimens for
mounting have been received by the taxidermists.

W. H. Bkownson.

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