»|l(lll)ilh illliKltlliillllilll 11)1 )l!i(liJHllfi iiju iiii.iiiinn ,1 i(!):t i: till I lllll tildiluiii. 'i(ltili)((:i- I (IlilKl.li i mufi 111 II II, lilt;;' ( iiiiijfi f llj lll((|l(|Ul!)t)» (lUiid I niijiiUjUl 10 11 (IlKlillM "fi ■'" f) 111 UliKll II! m Mljliliii|i||i; iii i..f.ip. I illli II I i:i IMliiliuliliii If iliUdliiiM (ill 111(11 II iniKilii I 1 1 i\);iii(li!;iiili)i> 111111111111 0)11(1 (I i lllllllll III I' I" ', II III! . u M f-i (L) .^ -M ::: t/5 o • „ . O Oj o o .< -^ -^ ^ S 03 W ■;;? _. ^ 2' o ^ 3 a; ;:^ ^ ^ i2 n, '-^ A.' ^ .^ t^ '-S Ji ■sTi ^ >^ 03 (U ^ y^ ^ ^ ^ ^ P ^ ^ w «J2 '5 >. r o .2 '^ rt oj s -5 Vj ^ ° o 'So '^ •> ^ H2 o "^ 5 i^ Si:^:i2^o^Oo3 (U >H X cu p OJ > ^ .2/^ o ^ -r; •::: -^ ^ -< o3 Oh ^ W <^ cj 03 O f^ - ^. . t/) •- ^ .:: oJ <^ •^: be C 03 ^ .bf g ^ W ^ § -g -1 ^ -S ^ .^ 8 S iJ- g n W o Hi Q (fl ^-■~ s n ^ CO V 0 0 C 1-1 3 C/3 <—> < June July Apr. ON 0 r^ <^ CO >-^ ON « 10 -t ON t^ Ol tN M 01 Vh ft < May Apr. May ft b£ ft "ft nd rH 3 tfl M ^ '? ft i*j 0 OS '^ bJc a 3 c w cd ; t^ ) 0) c^ UO 00^ 00 GO ro in in '-r t^oo 0 " c^ March Jan. May Ih < March Jan. Apr. May Feb. Apr. May Apr. March Feb. 21 March i May 8 March 3 1 Apr. 13 May 9 Apr. 4 "0 CN Kr 0) 0) " a, - : - ■^ rO .- 10 ^ " 1-1 0^CO OS „ T+ 0^ t^ u-,CO rO O tJ- OnoO ^ < ^ <(, f^ < 'Ji < S (/} < fi; O <; n 03 ^ M •< J3 tfi & «< O vD OS CI .-. M " " t-H Oh < 1=5 t— ^F^ Oh < Oh " TO ItH 1— >(^ 03 fSi rt s On'oj OS 00 0 t-» l^ CI (N " CI M CI ^ >s U : 0 cd a 1- - ^ § <: r^ rOOO so ro „ " " 0 h-» " v> u >s 1-^ ^ V, Oh <^ rt Oh " " CO 0^^a^a^OCOo^OTl-0 J2 a S<1 >; ^ ^ < -5l (Js CO n ^ 20 ^ "^ t^co ^ o^s JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39 1000 rO On CTv^ 00 ^ 1> y - W „ S3 c -SIS S -S^^^S^^Jig ji S H^ ;Z ?; p; op:^ < o w p; tA! pq 1^ C"^ K C e^ >oWohM 40 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. What Can We Call the Incubation Period? By Ora W. Knight, Bangor, Me. While observing the incubation period of birds I have ahnost invariably noticed that the egg last laid hatches in a far shorter ])eriod of time than the egg first laid, and the intermediate laid eggs of the litter also hatch in a proportionately shorter period. For ex- ample : A certain Robin laid an egg each day until the full comple- ment of four eggs was deposited. The bird was on the nest the greater part of the day when the first egg was laid, and likewise on each following day, leaving the eggs alone only a few miimtes at a time until the eleventh day, when one parent or the other was on the nest almost continuously until the fourteenth day, when the first egg hatched. All four eggs were hatched by the evening of the fifteenth day. Now I should report the incubation period of the Rol)in as fourteen days, Init assuming that the last egg laid was the last to hatch on the evening of the fifteenth day, then the incubation period of this egg, which was laid the morning of the fourth day, was only a little over eleven days. Again, in the case of the Myrtle Warbler's eggs mentioned on page 74 of the December number of the Journal : The first egg hatched within 295 hours, plus or minus an hour and forty minutes of the time when it was laid. The last of the four eggs in the nest was hatched within eighteen hours afterward. Now in this case an egg was laid the morning of each consecutive day, and consequently the incubation period of the last egg laid was of lesser duration than the first laid egg. I could give many other instances along this same line, but would like to hear what the experience of others has been. To me it seems that the incubation period must be taken to include the time elapsing between beginning incubation and the hatching of the first egg laid. JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAI. SOCIETY, 41 Bluebirds in Maine. ICarly in the season all the observers around Portland noticed quite a scarcity of Bluebirds in the places where these birds were connnon last year. A few weeks later the general verdict was that Bluebirds had increased somewhat in numbers, so that, while not so numerous as last year, no great scarcity is reported. In order to ascertain whether the same conditions prevailed in other parts of the State, the editor asked for the result of the observations of a num- ber Qf reliable persons, representing widely scattered sections. The reports received show that in most places Bluebirds are as plentiful as they were last year, while in some localities they are reported .scarce. Mr. C. H. Clark, of Lubec, writes that he has just returned from a trip to the Grand L^akes, in the northern part of Washington County, and while there made inquiries about the Bluebirds, and was told by careful observers that in previous years this species has been quite plentiful, but not one has been seen this year. Mr. J. M. Swain, who commonly visits many parts of central Maine, writes under date of May 7th that he has seen quite a few Bluebirds, but not nearly so many as last year. Mr. O. W. Knight, of Bangor, writes as follows: "Bluebirds were very common about Augusta during April. I saw very many between Augusta and Ivakeview on April 8th. They were common at Houlton between April 27th and May 3d, and I noticed a number along the line of the Bangor & Aroostook between Houlton and Bangor. They are now as common as usual in the middle Penob- scot valle5^" Mr. Dana W. Sweet, of Phillips, replies that he has not noticed any scarcity of Bluebirds. Possibly they may not be quite as plen- tiful as usual. Mr. h. W. Robbins, of Randolph, says: "Not quite so abun- dant as last year, but not scarce." Miss Ada C. Troop, of Pittston, writes: "Bluebirds are as abundant as usual near my home." 42 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Miss Marion D. Soule, of Gardiner, writes: "Bluebirds are never abundant near my home, but are as common as usual." Mr. F. A. Smith, living two miles from Gardiner, writes as fol- lows: "Bluebirds are usually very abundant about my home, but this year I have noticed that they have been very scarce. Last spring there were as many as a dozen pairs nesting in my immediate vicinity, while this year I have seen not more tlian two or three pairs in all." Mr. Homer R. Dill, of Gardiner, writes as follows: "Bluel)irds are abundant one mile from center of city at my home." % Mr. Wm. Iv. Powers, of Gardiner, writes as follows: "Blue- birds are al)undant as usual this spring with me in my morning walks, three times per week, but they have not appeared near my house. Mrs. Powers has not seen one." Mr. James Carroll Mead, of North Bridgton, writes on May 2oth that Blueliirds are as common in his section as usual. Mr. A. T. Reynolds, of Gardiner, writes that he has seen fully as many Bluebirds this spring as usual. JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 43 of tl|P Maim (§nntl}ohu}xtiXl ^nrtrty A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds Vol. VIII Published June 1, 1906 No. 2 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 50 cents a year; 15 cents a copy OFFICERS OF THE MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY Pres., Prof. Leslie A. Lee, Brunswick Vice-Pres., Dr. H. H. Brock, Portland Sec.-Treas., J. Merton Swain, Skowhegan Councillors, Capt. H. L. Spinney, Seguin Ora W. Knight, Bangor W. H. Brownson, Portland, Editor Frank T. Noble, Augusta Associate Editor It is earnestly hoped that the crusade already begun against the automatic gun will be 'continued vigorou.sly in the future. The bet- ter class of sportsmen are unanimous in condemning the use of this murderous weapon. The officers of the society will soon have to decide the place of the next annual meeting. There is a general feeling among the mem- bers living in southern Maine that the best place is Portland. Port- land members desire the Journal to say that they will be glad to welcome the society next fall in case the decision sends the meeting here. Quite a number of subscribers to the Journal have not paid since 1904, and owe for the past two years. These will find a yellow slip enclosed in this number of the Journal. Special attention is called to this reminder of indebtedness, and it is earnestly requested that they notify the editor at once whether or not they desire the Journal to be sent to them hereafter. Every member of the Maine Ornithological vSociety should make a special effort during the next quarter to procure as many new names for membership as possible, or sub.scriptions to the Journal. 44 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Full particulars of how to apply for membership will be found on the second pa^i^e of the cover. Applications for membership should be made to Mr. Swain, and subscriptions should be sent to Mr. Brown- son. This society has fully a hundred members in different parts of the State, all of whom are observing birds, more or less. Many notes have been received of last winter's observations, and more should have come in for the present number about the spring migra- tion, but hardly one was received. The Journal would be much more interesting if every member would send in his or her experience during the coming summer. In place of six or eight correspondents we ought to have fifty. If that number of reports should be received, room w^ould be readily found for them in the Journal. The committee appointed at the last annual meeting to consider financing the publication of Knight's revised edition of the "Birds of Maine" has decided unanimously that it is impracticable to assume this burden. Mr. Knight acquiesces cheerfully in the decision and will now consider publishing, on his own account, a book of double the size first intended, within the next two years. This ought to furnish much additional and valuable information about the birds of this section. There can be no doubt that it will have a large sale, and that it will be thoroughly appreciated by bird students, not only in Maine, but in other States. The progress of bird study in Maine during the past two years has been great. Everywhere there has been an awakened interest in ornithology, and there are now ten times as many bird students as formerl}^ Every progressive school in Maine is giving more or less time to this In-anch of nature work. In Portland, the city has so much appreciated the aid that the Natural History Society is giv- ing the teachers and pupils, that a generous appropriation has been made for the support of the society. Recently the Natural History Society had a field day at Cape Elizabeth. The bird party numbered nineteen enthusiastic observers. The result of their observations in the forenoon was the finding of thirty-eight species of birds. JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 45 ltr^ N0tp0. 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. We note with much .satisfaction the increasing frequency with which the members of our .society report to this Journal their ornith- ological observations. This is an important part of our duties, one to another, and should be shared in by all , interested in bird life. The Journal's columns are always open to contributors of items of general interest relating to Maine birds, and we trust our members will, through this medium, disseminate such knowledge as thej^ personally possess. An Albino Chipping Sparrow. — On the 19th of June, 1903, at Westbrook, Maine, I noticed a strongly albinistic Chipping Spar- row {Spizella social is). The head, neck, back and breast, were white unmarked, wings and tail normal. I observed the bird at a distance of a few yards, and it could by its pattern, have easily been passed by as a dull male Goldfinch, by a careless or absent-minded observer. As I examined it, it became clear that it was a female, as a male of normal appearance mated with it, and both flew to an adjoining orchard. The following day I saw it twice, in the morn- ing and in the afternoon. During the next ten days I did not see it, though I passed the place four times nearly every day. From June 30th until August 9th, I was not in Westbrook, and heard nothing about the bird. On August i6th, I saw it again when it was moult- ing and in a very ragged condition, but its white areas were still innnaculate. On August 20th, I saw it for the last time, when its appearance was not much changed, though it was farther from its usual haunt than before noted. These observations were made on a jniblic street, in a space about two hundred yards long, though the l)ird always flew in the same general direction, (toward an orchard north of the street), whenever started. It was usually accompanied by its mate. I always chanced upon it, never seeking it, and while 46 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. I could have secured it for a specimen I refrained, hoping to see it return the following spring ; though I watched for it, I did not see it. Arthur H. Norton. Portland, Me. Some Data Upon the Introduction of the House Spar- row {Passei'- doincsticus) into Portland, Me. — Two instances of the attempted introduction of this Sparrow into Portland are on record, one in 1S54 by Col. William Rhodes, and one in 1858 by Dr. Thomas Amory Deblois. The first instance is cited as Rhodes' Forest and Stream, Vol. VIII, p. 165, (original record,) recited by Walter B. Barrows, Bulletin No. i. Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy, Department of Agriculture, p. 18. The second seems to rest upon Barrows, ibid., p. 18, and is still remembered in Port- land. Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown has recently favored me with some additional data, of much value in its bearing upon the matter. Another importation subsequent to Dr. Deblois, attempt was made by his grandfather, Hon. J. B. Brown, who had the birds shel- tered in a large vacant chamber in his house through the winter season and liberated them toward spring. According to the Portland Press, of November 19, 1886, during the early seventies the late Bishop Neely and Mr. Geo. T. Shepley lib- erated a few on State Street, to wage war upon "a very destructive worm." So far as known, none of these attempts at introduction proved successful. Mr. Brown has given a letter to the archives of the Portland Society of Natural History, of which the following is a copy: "City of Portland, City Clerk '.s Office, [ May 31st, 1884. j Mr. N. C. Brown, E)sq. The auditor informs me that he made the following payments in the year 1875 : For 50 English Sparrows, $50 " 120 Bird Houses, 36 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 47 This fixes the date of the importation of the Sparrows into this cit3^ Very truly yours, Geo. C. BurgeSvS, City Clerk r This importation, I am assured by Mr. Brown, was successful. Arthur H. Norton. Portland, Me. Washington County Notes. — ^January 21st. The day was exceedingly warm and pleasant, with wind southwest. I took a walk to my favorite haunt, about two miles out, and found birds in larger quantity and variety than on many a trip in mid-season. My first find was a number of Shore Larks mingled in with a flock of Snow- flakes. This was near the shore on the way out. I saw many of our most common birds on the walk across fields, but on arriving at my destination I found the usual winter stillness broken by a great cho- rus of songs and calls of a variety of birds, and at once recognized the Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Junco, Tree Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Hudsonian Chickadee and Golden-crowned Kinglet. The Purple Finches and Goldfinches numbered a dozen each. The Purple P'inch never sang more beautifulh' in the spring than it did to-day. And how the brown markings of the Hudsonian Chick- adee did shine in the bright sunlight! There were about fifteen of these uncommon visitors, and although in the close vicinity of their cousins, the Black-caps, they did not seem inclined to mingle with them, but kept by themselves. The Black-caps were too active to be counted, but there were at least twenty of these acrobats, and they fairly reveled in the brightness and warmth of the day. Six Juncos kept up a constant "tsip, tsip," and their sleek, plump bodies gave evidence of the absence of snow, which allowed them easy access to an abundance of food. The Golden-crowned Kinglets were con- stantly flitting about from tree to tree, mingling in friendly fashion with the other species and stopping now and then to exhibit their bright crowns for our admiration. Tree Sparrows appeared fre- 48 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOIvOGICAL SOCIKTY. qiiently during my walk. They are unusually abundant this winter. In the small space of an acre there were at least seventy- five of the several species, and their activity, aided by the screech of a thousand Herring Gulls, the harsh noise of several hundred Crows and the noisy scold of three hundred Old Squaws made it appear a bird day indeed. March 24th being a pleasant day, with a cool, west wind, I took a stroll along the sea wall in search of Horned Larks. I found a flock of ten and was much interested in watching their movements and habits, but my great surprise was to find feeding near them a White-throated Sparrow. I know that this is listed among the occasional winter residents, but this was my first experience in find- ing one at this season ; it was unquestionably too early for migrants, and this one must have remained in this vicinity all winter. It was very tame and allowed me to come within a few feet of it. I watched it for a half hour, and the next day I again visited the locality and found it in the same place. It was apparently alone, but appeared perfectly contented. May 19th. I have just received from my taxidermist a Snow Goose which was shot in this town April 30th. From the following measurements I should judge it to be Chen hyperborca nivalis of last year's hatching: I^ength, 31 inches; wdng, 17.4 inches; bill, 2.6 inches ; tarsus, 3.5 inches. In addition to the description found in all the books I have referred to is a wash of rufous on crown and sides of head. This is the only specimen of which I have any record. C. H. Clark. IvUbec, Me. Winter Notes prom Seguin. — There is to be seen, the right kind of weather, a good showing of the American Eider Duck. With this exception all birds are very scarce in my vicinity this winter. There have been a number of Snow}^ Owls at the island since November 15th. Seven have been taken on the island, four of which I shot myself, and I could have taken the one seen JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 49 Christmas, had I wanted it, as it sat on a rock within thirty feet of my door. I went for my camera to photograph it, but before I could get the camera in position, the children came along and made so much noise that the Owl flew away. Of the eleven seasons I have passed on Seguin the past one is the first that hundreds, and I might say thousands, of vShore Larks have not passed over the island, and Snowflakes as well. The past fall I have not seen fifty L,arks, and but one on the ground. I think a hundred would cover all the Snowflakes I have seen. Novemlier 15th I shot a Woodcock on the island, and on the 27th took a Robin at 4 A. M. off the plate glass of the lantern. As I have never noticed the Yellow-bellied vSapsucker migrat- ing in numbers during the night until last fall, I will give you the instance as I have it in my note-book. "September 30th, 8 P. M., no wind and very dark, although I can see the Cape Elizabeth lights, twenty-five miles distant, distinctly. There seems to Ije a large flight of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, as seven are on the glass of lan- tern, and a number of others can be seen gyrating around the light." Hundreds of Sparrows were on the island, and Rusty Blackbirds were passing over in flocks, and also numbers of Golden- winged Woodpeckers. A number of Peregrine Falcons are flying about the island. I was very much disappointed not to get to Portland to the meeting, but it was impossible for me to leave, had the weather permitted. Herbert h. Spinney. Seguin, Me. From a New Member. — You asked me to let you know how I progressed in ornithology. Considering the many rainy days, and the time at my disposal, perhaps I have done very well. The location of our camp here is ideal for birds — two miles in the woods, on the shore of a lake, at the foot of a mountain, the slope not too thickly covered with both hard and soft growth. Just above us is a large clearing with a southern exposure, a veritable bird 50 JOUKNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. paradise. Here a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, for the first time, has sung almost constantly for two weeks, and we hope has nested, as before he has stopped but one da}^ Since Jan. ist, I have positively named sixty-two varieties or different birds. Many times during the day the flocks of Warblers flit through the trees. As you know, they are hard to follow. Taking one at a time I have named but a few of the easiest: Myrtle, Black and White, Black-poll, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue (seen only 2), Blackburnian (2), Pine and Magnolia. 1 have been incredulous in regard to the report of a Scarlet Tanager hav- ing been seen here, but last Saturday I saw two, a mile apart, by tlie roadside, and Sunday morning one here at the camp, and a friend of mine saw two the same day on her lawn. She has been a bird student for some years and has never seen nor heard of one here before. Of course there is no mistaking the Tanager. I had my glass on him a long time, and have seen them in Brookline, Mass. I had the misfortune recently to step into the nest of my "own" little Hermit Thrush, breaking her first egg. She barely escaped herself. It nearly broke my heart. Needless to say, she abandoned the nest. I am looking forward to the Journal for June. Have not yet been able to gain a subscriber, but hope to later. Elizabeth H. Marks. E. Orland, Me., May 28, 1906. Winter Birds at Phillips. — Crows have wintered at Phillips. I saw a Robin December 13th, and I have been informed that some were seen in January in an orchard near Phillips Village. Decem- ber 15th, I saw a male and female Purple Finch feeding in hemlocks with a flock of Goldfinches. February ist, I saw three, two of them males. February 24th, I heard one in full song, and following it up found a flock of eight, two males and six females. Pine Sis- kins were with them; one of them sang. I also heard a Goldfinch sing near by. February ist, I saw a female American Three-toed JOURNAL OP MAINK OKNiTHOLOCi I C A L SOCIETY. 51 Woodpecker, and found a Brown Creeper in full son^. February 25th, while going to church, I saw a flock of six Larks and a flock of three Tree Sparrows. D. W. Sweet. Phillips, Me. Queries From Fort Kent.— Last spring, during the first week of May, I found a very small bird, which I haven't been able to identify. It happened that I didn't have my glass, so was unable to get a good description of it. All I could see was that the upper parts were gray and the under parts white. It was feeding in a willow tree, and the way it flitted from one branch to another reminded me of a Warbler. Its song was wonderful. It began wnth a faint, high-pitched "tzee," repeated five or six times, fol- lowed by a low, clear and intricate warble. The song was unusually loud for so small a bird. A few days later I heard the same song, but was unable to see the bird. Could it be the Ruby-Crowned Kinglet ? [Probably.— liu.] Last spring I noticed that the low song of the Hermit Thrush is repeated, after a short interval, in a high-pitched tone. Is that characteristic of the song of that bird ? I fail to find anything in my bird books concerning that point. [I think so. — Ed.] While at Eagle Lake last summer, I found a Vireo, which I called the Red-eyed, that uttered a few whistle-like notes after its usual "l)roken, rambling recitative," with a strong accent on the second note. I heard the same song several times in the vicinity of my cottage, also along the shore of the lake, a distance of about a mile. It may have been the same bird that I heard at different times. I would like to know if others have ever heard the same thing. Whip-poor-wills, which were unknown in this region, so say the guides, lumbermen and old trappers, are getting to be quite com- mon. The first one I ever found was at Square Lake Thorough- fare, about six miles from Eagle Lake Mills, June 9, 1904. Last summer I heard two, one near my cottage, the other on the opposite 52 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. side of the lake. I haven't heard any yet in the St. John River valley, though it has been reported that one was heard in St. John Plantation, ten miles above Fort Kent, during the summer of 1903. On January 13th, I saw a flock of about fifty PurpLe Finches, composed mostly of females. They have been seen nearly every day since that date. As we are having an exceedingly mild winter, I believe they will winter in this territory. On the same day I saw also a Northern Shrike. January i4tli I found a pair of White-winged Crossljills. While the female was feeding on cones in a spruce tree the male was perched on the top of the tree singing a very sweet song, suggestive of the canary's, only not so loud. A Bronzed Crackle, Juncos and Horned Lakes are also winter- ing in this region. February 23rd, I went to a lumber camp at Square Lake, where I saw a great many White-winged Crossbills, which sang most charming songs. The variety of bird-songs during the winter made it all the sweeter. I found a male which had white wings and tail, with a few dark feathers on the edge of the wings. I also found a pair of American Crossbills. In this region the White-winged Crossbill is by far the most common. Jos. C. MORIN. Fort Kent, Me., March 3, 1906, A Captive White-winged Scoter. ( Oidem ia degla iidi . ) Cut to accompany the story of White-winged Jerry, the Scoter, by Walter H. Rich, Portland. Page 69. The Scoter became so tame that he made no objections to posing with solemn dignity while his picture was taken. ©li? Joitntal nf ti}t Mmm (^ntttltologtral i^nrt^tg Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December Vol. Vin SEPTEHBER, 1906 No. 3 The Tern Colony of Bluff Island. By W. H. Brownson. [Fro/// Po/ila//d Advc/'tiscr of J/ily 7, 1906.] A motor-boat warranted not to break down ; a summer sea lying without a ripple under the scorching rays of the hottest of June suns ; the long sea-sickening swells of the ocean lulled to rest by several days of gentle westerly breezes ; a party of bird -lovers, and a jolly skipper, accompanied by his island family ; the destina- tion, Bluff Island, off Front's Neck, and in plain sight of Gld Orchard ; here to find the home of the Terns. These were the con- ditions, surroundings and intentions, as we set forth from the Cape shore one pleasant morning, June 28. We chug-chugged cheerily along the coast line of Cape Elizabeth, surroun.ded by playful pol- lock and plump porpoises, the former showing their shining sides in parabolic curves, and the latter rolling lazily their rounded black and glistening backs above the waves. A few Herring Gulls sped in varying directions, in search of good feeding ground, but we saw less than a score during the entire morning. These birds, so plentiful in Casco Bay, fall, winter and spring, are now sojourning to tne eastward, the nearest breeding colony being at Matinicus, where, on No Man's Land, they gather in great numbers. The birds which spend the summer here are doubtless the few barren ones, which have no call to go with their fellows at this season. Just once, on the return trip, a big Blue 54 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOI.OGICAI. SOCIKTY. Heron alighted 'on a bar of rock, which makes out from Richmond's Island, and watched warily our passing boat, poking his long neck above a boulder, but keeping his ungainly body well out of sight. This was practically all the bird life that was apparent until we got near Bluff Island. A trifle over a mile from Front's Neck, Bluff Island lies only a few hundred yards from Stratton's Island, the latter boasting a com- fortable farmhouse and green fields under careful cultivation. The outline of Bluff Lsland is not bold, but there are rocks on the north- erly side, above which shows a field of tangled grass, and a gradual descent to the sea on the south side. On this island there is a colony of Common Terns, which come here year after year, in con- stantly increasing numbers to live for the summer and to raise their young. The Common Tern is only a trifle larger than a Robin, but it has a long forked tail, similar to that of a Barn Swallow, and an immense spread of wing, compared to the size of its body. The Terns have a variety of names, such as Mackerel Gulls, Medricks, Sea Swallows and the like, and are readily distinguished from Gulls by their quicker motions and different style of flight ; also by their much smaller size. As we approached the island Terns began to come near us and soon they were all around us. There was a con- fusing chorus of shrill screams as we dropped anchor and we saw the rocks literally white with their perching forms. When we landed and clambered over the seaweed, having more or less difficulty to keep from slipping off the dripping rocks, the whole colony on that side of the island rose, screeching, into the air. "Te-arr-r," "Te-arr-r," was the yell from hundreds of red-lined throats. As dense as a seething flock of mosquitoes, the birds hov- ered over us on beating pinions, darting hither and thither and returning again, in graceful curves. Red beaks opened in vocifer- ous protest at our unwelcome presence and orange, webbed feet showed in striking contrast to the white plumage of the under parts. Graceful necks and black-topped heads were stretched out to enable their owners to look down at the fearsome intruders. The cause of their undue anxiety was soon apparent, for we found ourselves JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOCt I C AI. SOCIKTY. 55 shortly right in the midst of scores of nests, containing both eggs and young birds. Now came a new experience to some of us ; for here were nests and eggs in such abundance that we had to use the utmost vigilance to keep from treading them underfoot. The eggs were laid in twos, threes, fours and fives, right on the rocks of the shore and among the rubbish thrown up by the waves. So closely did they harmo- nize with the color of the sand and pebbles that it took a pretty sharp eye to see them. There were single eggs, dropped here and there without the semblance of a nest. Some of these had doubtless rolled away from their original position and the birds had made no effort to get them back. Where there were two or more eggs, there was usually some apology for a nest. If the bird had essayed to make a nest near the dried sea-moss she had used this material for keeping her eggs in place, often constructing a very neat little home. Higher up on the shore, where sticks and straws abounded, the nests were built with more evident care than is usual in such colo- nies. It must, in some cases, have required a good deal of labor to lay the straws in position and to hollow a nest capable of holding eggs a third larger than those laid by Robins. There were many nests with two eggs, but three was the prevailing number. We saw six or eight nests with four eggs each and three or four, at least, with five eggs apiece. I presume there is a question as to whether two birds may not lay in the same nest and so increase the produc- tion beyond the usual limit. This is a matter very hard to settle, however, though some writers take it for granted that such is the case, while others, with an equal amount of guess-work, state that a single bird lays as many as five eggs. The eggs are, on the average, a dirty yellow or brown, with numerous blotches, but some are lighter than others, while not a few show pale blue. Often a single nest will contain eggs varying in color and perhaps a trifle in size, but again this is not reliable proof of the presence of two birds. Until some investigator, with the patience of Job, and an eye that can distinguish without error one bird from another, actually observes the laying of the eggs, one 56 JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. after another, up to the point when four or five have been deposited, there will be no conclusive testimony on this point. It is sufhcient for the present purpose to remark that the nests show no signs of two occupants and there seems to be no reason why five eggs may not all be laid by a single Tern. It is worthy of note, too, that the nests containing four or five eggs each are better built and much more securely hollowed out than those which have a smaller number. The eggs were in all stages of incubation, apparently. Some of them were pipped, showing that they were about to hatch, while from others the bill of the young bird was protruding. Several eggs had just hatched and the chick lay an inert mass, no larger than the receptacle from which he had just emerged. On the westerly slope of the rock-strewn beach, where the warmth of the sun was perhaps greatest, quite a few young birds, clad in natal down were observed. These were almost the color of the eggs, yellowish brown, blotched with black. As we came near, the little red throats gaped open to receive the expected bit of fish from the returning mother. The sun beat down on the rocks wdth great fierceness and some of the young birds were nearly scorched to death. Others were already dead and lay on their backs, reminding us of the accidents which thin out the nestlings and prevent the too rapid multiplication of such colonies as this. Here and there a chick was old enough to be conscious of fear at our approach, and it was interesting to watch these stick their heads under the pebbles and try to hide away from us, perhaps concealing nothing but their eyes and necks. There was some difference of opinion, in the party, as to the number of birds in this colony. It was a matter of Imndreds, of course, for nobody put the figure lower than five hundred, while others thought that one thousand was a small estimate. Probably the latter estimate is not very far out of the way, though actual count might show fifteen hundred. I made a passing visit to the table-land above the rocks and here found many Savanna Spar- rows, evidently breeding, from the anxiety which they showed at my presence. These Sparrows are plentiful on nearly all the islands in this vicinity. They may very easily be mistaken for JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 57 Song Sparrows, for they show a plain blotch in the centre of a streaked breast, but when they face you the yellowish-white line which divides the crown is very conspicuous. On the island there are numerous Spotted Sandpipers, probably a score of pairs, at the least. These, too, were very nervous at our approach, and their shrill "Ouip-ip," "Quip-ip" was easily distinguished from the uproar made by the Terns overhead. Bank Swallows were nesting in holes dug under the sod at the edge of the rocks and were skim- ming out over the water, near the shore, seeking the insects which there abound. As we started away from the island the Terns which had been in the air during the whole hour that we had remained near their nests, settled quickly back and we left them in calm con- tentment, perhaps congratulating themselves that it is only once in a great while that they are forced to entertain callers. Second Visit to the Bluff Island Terns. [Fi'uiii Portland Advertiser of August IS, 1906.] It was on the 28th of June when I first visited Bluff Island and inspected the large colony of Common Terns, whose breeding season had then been in progress only a short time. At that date the beach was covered with numerous nests and a great number of eggs. A few young birds had been hatched, but, for the most part, the eggs were in process of incubation. From that time to the pres- ent the birds have been busy raising their young, laying new eggs and screaming with all their might at the approach of each and every intruder. August 9th, with a small party of bird students, I again visited Bluff Island and had a good opportunity to observe the condition of the Tern colony six weeks from the date I saw it first. When we drew near the island and anchored our boat the Terns suspected our purpose and made a vigorous protest against it. They made it very plain to us that this was their busy day and that they were not receiving visitors. The air over our heads was soon alive with them, and their shrill cries made a constant din in our ears. During the hour that we were there they did not alight, but, 58 JOURNAIv OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. like swallows, beat back and forth, constantly on the wing, sailing in easy, graceful curves, except when the}' would dash down in anger to defend their nests and young from what the}^ supposed was a hostile attack. In June we had estimated that there were over a thousand birds in the colony ; now the number was considerably increased and there was not the slightest doul)t that the first estimate was not far out of the way. B\^ close observation we were able to distinguish some of the .young birds from the old ones, principally by noting that the immature individuals had much shorter tails. On the shelving gravel of the shore there were eggs in abundance, even at this date, some apparently fresh and others ready to hatch. There were also many eggs which were doubtless spoiled. Young birds in all stages of early growth were numerous. Some were not over a couple of days old, but were able to run away and hide at our approach. Others were still wearing their 5^ellowish natal down, but were quite lively and able to take care of themselves. A few were sitting in the nests gasping for breath as the fierce rays of the August sun beat down upon them. More than once we tried to make life pleasanter for them by propping up a flat stone near their nests and providing for them some shaded protection from the heat. Here and there we observed several little birds piled closely together, one on top of the other, under the shadow of a big boulder, where they were keeping comparatively cool. It was amusing to see the half-grown birds hide from us in the crevices of the rocks and keep perfectly still, no matter how near to them we walked. They relied for protection, perhaps, on the con- cealment which their coloration gave them, for in the plumage which follows the natal down they are gray and closely match the pebbles of the beach. However, their protective coloration was^ not sufficient to conceal them, for we had no difficulty in seeing them under all circumstances, when we kept our eyes open. Some of the young birds were old enough to fly a little and these readily took wing when disturbed, but they could only make a gradual descent into the water. Here they swam without inconvenience JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 59 and later waded ashore. Several times a young bird fled on fool and got so near the water that the waves engulfed him and tumbled him end over end. He would always recover himself handily with* an air of remarking "I wonder how that happened," only to be bowled over again by the next breaker. Often one of the birds in the air would swoop down at us, as if no longer able to control its anger at our intrusion. In these cases we may have been near the nest or young belonging to this particular bird, though as to that I am unable to give anything beyond a conjecture. It seems reason- able to suppose, however, that the birds may keep special watch over their own offspring and make an effort to protect them. While the young birds are helpless the parents have to work all through the daylight hours to feed them. Small fish, not over three inches in length, are the only diet furnished to the nestlings. At each nest which contained a young bird we saw lying on the ground one or more freshly caught fish. Most of these were little sand-eels, and it was evident that the adult Terns knew where to find this kind of food in abundance. A couple of days later I was at Pine Point and there I saw where the birds secured their sand-eels in so gener- ous quantities. While the tide is out many pools are left and in these tiny fish abound. Over one of these pools hovered a couple of score of Terns, facing a fresh westerly breeze, and balancing themselves with rapid wing-strokes, but keeping their bodies almost motionless. For a space of fifteen seconds, or more, they would hold themselves in the same position, without moving forward a foot. The turn of a feather would give a different angle to their wings and then they would fly ahead rapidly at will. Frequently one of the birds would dive headfirst into the water and rarely did he fail to secure his fish. With the morsel in his bill, the bird would turn and take a straight course for Bluff Island, which lay in plain sight two or three miles away. vSo, I doubt not these busy workers made many journeys back and forth during the day, for the}^ fly so rapidly that two miles are covered in a very few minutes. 6o JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Why Wounded Ducks Disappear. By Frank T. Nobij;, Augusta, Me. * In various publications, both scientific and secular, many dis- cussions and queries have recently appeared regarding the remark- able manner in which water fowl, when shot at and wounded, fre- quently dive beneath the surface of the water and fail to rise again to view. The theories ofttimes set forth in explanation of this well-known characteristic of the Anatidse family are numerous, some of them hardly tenalile, however, under the application of common natural laws . The writer has observed the phenomenon frequently under both ordinary and unusual circumstances, and has many times been greatly amazed at the non-appearance after diving of an unquestion- ably hard-hit duck, and this too at the time when the surface of the water was so smooth as to eliminate the possibility of the bird break- ing water ever so lightly for the purpose of taking breath without detection. vSuch an experience, and it is a common one with all duck shooters, impels one to draw the conclusion that the bird is dead, but for some mysterious and unusual cause does not come to the surface. It is simply impossible to make the body of a freshly killed duck stay under water without artificial means, as all gunners of water fowl know, also, that the length of time any bird can remain alive underneath the surface is limited to a very few minutes. Now if the various accounts of these strange and unaccountable disappearances of wounded water fowl (and I do not in the least doubt their truthfulness) were carefully investigated, I am quite sure it would be found that they occur in comparatively shallow bodies of water, or where the bottom is within easy diving distance from the surface, and taking that as an important condition, perhaps the following from my own experience will help to explain and clear away much that has heretofore looked more or less mysterious. On a bright, sunny afternoon late in September, I was lying in a gunning float off Norris' Cove in a shallow part of that finest JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. 6 1 of all Maine's ducking grounds, Merrymeeling Bay. There was scarcely a breath of air stirring, certainly not enough to cause even a ripple upon the surface of the water, which was like a mirror. The tide was about half ebb, and in the bright sunlight the bottom of the bay, with its vegetable growth, was plainly visible. After a few moments of listless waiting and watching for something in the nature of web-foote^^l game to turn up, a bunch of three Pintails, or Gray Ducks, suddenly dropped out of the sky from somewhere, and we sculled them without difficulty, as they are a comparatively un- suspecting bird when first arriving from the North. "I stopped only two, however, owing to a "breakdown" after the first shot, one killed outright, the other, a V)ig drake, being hard hit and with one wing broken. Before the latter could be shot over, he made a dive with considerable difficulty and disappeared from view. We waited perhaps half a minute for him to appear again, but not doing so, we paddled to the spot where we found the water thereabouts to be scarcely three feet deep, and the bottom to be thickly covered with various kinds of lily pads and grasses. A few moments of careful search and the duck was di.scovered on the bot- tom, grasping with its bill the tough stem of a cowslip. The body of the bird floated upward posteriorly, somewhat higher than the position of the head, and the long tail feathers were a foot or more nearer the surface than the former. The bird's feet were out- stretched, but he was motionless until molested, then he kicked and fluttered vigorously, all the time retaining his hold upon the bottom, and it required considerable force to break him away from his queer anchorage. I regret my inability to wholly satisfy the general curiosity as to the final outcome of this strange habit. Whether wounded Ducks retain their hold in a death grip after life is extinct, or whether it relaxes with death and the body floats to the surface, I am unable to state with certainty, but I surmise from the experience of other ob- servers as well as myself that the former is the case, and that not until sometime after death do the muscles relax sufficiently to enable the action of the water to free the body from its hold on the bottom. Perhaps other observers, who have made a more careful study of this phenomenon, will enlighten us upon this important point. 62 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. >. C o o -i-l o ^ »— 1 3 -I-l c OJ +-) u C/5 IV a > W 03 be o O be o G "* 2 § o >. S -3 = S K- .;-. rt O O Q rO 2; -<, _ij a! o >) fNJ CsJ rvj i'S <5 O > _^ be < <-> :: z ^ ^ o < coO bo -M C' bo +J K *J O S <1 O 'J2 o CO ft be d, CJ 3 O be P ^ :^ I-* r- o .^ u «— t J W rj ^ 't^ -^ i^ 'i^ O p 1^ ftp^p:^M/ 1-1 >H ^ ■ 5 o s c ••;: --5 2 *^ n ^ ^ 1-1 ft ' _L 03 OJ l-' _r3 u 0^3 b 03 O'y'y o he«i? ■t-^T', CO coWf2,cOCJP^P:HWftCOpH«Wr^ JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Q O ^ r-l r-4 O • . • . • . . . • . 0.0 , . • jj og^3:j7i='-&: 3t!:o!3o: !:ip.u:^cu *bo:*tj: a o o 57 O-^ti -j:<; t/2 <0 A<0 <<0 f^Q r^ Ac r^ O -Tl /^ O c/} CT^ ^ ON t^l rH ^ ^1 rv] CTv VD lO t^ Nov. Apr. Oct. - : 0 0 u fO CO 0 fo c f^I CO ■^ fO •+ r^ g-: 3: &: S-5S « & o c^o: 37 : - '^ ^ "C ^ o Sf Ci^ -^ J, tr. > br. ^ QJ ^ a 3 : 0 3 — I iNJ I— ( CM ^1 i>I I— I — 1 .-H r<0 rH CM CO eg rO < g ;z; 11 S C -X 0: * a; cj 0 Sqo Q 64 JOURNAL OF MAINE; ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. O < t^ CO CO O O r^ cvl ro .-1 O - ^ <; c/2 . 'X a Ph ^ n V oj ,? t^ m ^ =^ Jn ^"^ -^ ?: ^ * ■> 0^ 2i ?: "^ 1^ ° = i- ■ - "^ ^ ^ "C C JOURNAI, OF MAINK ORNITHOI.OGICAL SOCIETY. 65 o oj o o o CO OK Pi M 66 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Migration Reports, 1905. The reports given below were made by: W. H. Brownson, Portland, Cumberland County; A. H. Norton, Portland, Cumber- land County; Summer Street Grammar School, Biddeford, York County. The names of those who assisted in making the school reports are as follows: Ralph E. Gore, Andrew Hill, Samuel L,. L,eavitt, May K. a., Pillsbury, Joseph Libby, Charles Clark, Ethel M. Browne, Adrial Hamilton, James F. Robbins, Nina Campbell, Grace Hamilton, Vassar Smith, Charles S. Strout, Principal. Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-Throated Loon, Dovekie, Kittiwake Gull, Black-backed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Common Tern, Leach's Petrel, American Merganser, Red-ljreasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Mallard Duck, Black Duck, Red-legged Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Pintail Duck, Wood Duck, Redhead Duck, American vScaup Duck, Lesser vScaup Duck, American Golden-eye Duck, Bufflehead Duck, Old-squaw Duck, American Eider Duck, American Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Surf vScoter, Ruddy Duck, Canada Goose, Brant,. American Bittern, Least Bittern, Blue Heron, PORTLAND. BIDDEKORD. Apr. 27 Sept. 10 Nov. 26 Jan. 7 Dec. 26 March 5 Aug. 9 May 25 March 24 Aug. 23 Dec. 26 Apr. 27 Oct. 22 22 Sept. r6 Feb. 21 Oct. 1 15 Apr. 11 Apr. 11 March 27 Oct. 29 29 Nov. 12 Oct. 22 29 Dec. 28 Sept. 24 May 25 Oct. 29 22 March 19 " 18 Apr. 27 July 23 Apr. Apr. aiay 12 March 29 JOURNAL OF mainf: ornithologicaIv society. 67 Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Sora, Yellow Rail, American Coot, American Woodcock, Wilson's vSnipe, Purple vSantlpiper, Pectoral vSandpiper, Red-backed Sanilpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semi-palmated vSandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary vSandpiper, Bartramian .Sandpiper, Spotted vSandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Marsh Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Pigeon Hawk, vSparrow Hawk, Fish Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Yellow-1)illed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker, Whip-poor-will, Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingljird, Kingbird, Phoebe, Olive-sided F'hcatcher, Wood Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Prairie Horned Lark, Bobolink, Cowbird, Red- winged Blackbird. Meadowlark, Baltimore Oriole, ■ Rusty Blackbird, Bronzed Grackle, Purple Finch, American Crossbill, White- winged Cros.sbill, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Vesper Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, May 2 May 30 Aug. 25 Oct. 1 9 Oct. 1 March 23 March 23 Apr. 1 Sept. 14 Dec. 26 Aug. 13 Nov. 5 May 25 July 29 Aug. 13 6 " 18 Mav 14 ' ' 6 Apr. 30 May 24 Aug. 16 July 29 Aug. 23 Apr. 6 March 19 Feb. 5 Res. Apr. 19 March 26 Sept. 17 Feb. 12 Apr. 27 Apr. 27 June 1 Marcli 19 Apr. 9 ' ' 9 Sept. 25 Sept. 24 June 12 May 27 Apr. 28 Apr. 22 ' ' 11 March 31 March 29 29 4 May 22 May 1 May 3 ' '' 28 21 ' ' 17 " 8 " 6 " 7 " 11 ' ' 10 " 8 " 9 " 9 " 7 Apr. 2 Apr. 2 Apr. 3 May 22 28 22 7 May 22 31 22 7 March 5 Nov. 26 May 8 " 8 May 12 Apr. 17 Apr. 14 March 26 11 March 20 May 24 Marcli 30 ' ' 11 May 12 March 29 29 Apr. 6 Apr. 6 March 19 Feb. 5 ^ ^ 19 March 5 Apr. 9 March 5 Nov. 5 x\pr. 15 9 '. 10 9 68 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Acadian vSharp-tailed vSparrovv, White-crowned vSparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chippint^ vSparrow, Field Sparrow, Junco, Song^ Sparrow, Swamp vSparrow, Fox Sparrow, Chewink, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, Barn .Swallow, Tree Swallow, Bank vSwallow, Cedar Waxwing, Northern vShrike, IvOggerhead vShrike, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Black and White Warljler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warl^ler, Myrtle Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Bav-breasted Warbler, Black-poll Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow Palm Warbler, Oven-bird, Waterthrush, Northern Yellow-throat, Wilson's Warl)ler, Canadian' Warbler, Redstart, American Pipit, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch , Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Olive-backed Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Robin , Bluebird, Sept. 10 Mav 8 May 9 Apr. 26 Apr. 26 " Z3 " 14 " 23 " 23 March 19 March 19 Jan. 15 ' ' 19 Apr. 27 Apr. 27 March 19 March 19 May 12 22 May 12 ' ' 30 " 20 27 - 18 ' ' 28 Apr. 22 ' ' 8 May 8 Apr. 25 Apr. 25 ' * 2 ' ' 2 May 24 27 Feb. 12 Apr. 6 May 11 May 11 June 1 May 14 Apr. 30 30 Apr. 30 May 6 11 May 6 " 7 7 Jan. 15 Apr. 16 May 6 May 6 " O 14 " O 14 " 22 " 14 " 14 4 " 7 ' ' 7 Apr. 18 Apr. 8 ' ' 21 ' ' 11 May 7 May 7 ' '" ?2 ' ' 22 " 6 " 6 " 21 20 " 14 ' ' 14 " 8 Oct. 22 May 11 ' ' 11 ' ' 11 ' ' 8 Apr. 9 Oct. 7 Mav 6 July 4 Apr. 21 May 12 ' ' 12 " 14 ' ' 14 Apr. 10 Apr. 10 March 19 March 19 " 19 " 18 Mav 13 Apr. 10 March 19 Apr. 7 March 19 " 18 Mav 13 " 25 25 " 7 Apr. 28 3 Marcl 1 24 May 25 " 1 " 22 1 13 13 26 19 13 22 22 Feb. Apr. 24 May 5 March 18 17 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. 69 White=winged Jerry, the Scoter. story of a Captive Wild "Coot" {(''idi'iiiia dfolaudi) at Falmouth Foreside, on the Shore of Casco Bay. Bv Waltkr H. Rich, Portland. One Sunday morning two wild-eyed youngsters came tearing into my house dangling between them a very dilapidated specimen of webfoot and dodging his apparently very vicious snaps at them. Poor old fellow! He was in serious case. A bargain was easily struck (I am a mark for all the ornithological derelicts in the neigh- borhood), and I began at once an examination with a view to repairs needed. The casualties were as follows: L^eft wing broken, a com. plete fracture of the humerus — serious; a flesh wound at the l^ase of the neck — not serious; support of outer third of starboard paddle broken and hanging by a thread of skin, and a splinter of bone — not serious (a snip of the shears mends it) ; rake across the quarter deck — a painful but not a dangerous wound. He seemed to realize that he had found friends and made not the slightest motion when I pulled the feathers out of his flesh wounds, and poking his black head down into the bend of my friend's arm he scarcely so much as winked w^hile I made splints of pieces of shingles w^ound with soft cloth, placed the two ends of the Ijone together and sewed through skin and feathers with soft silk. A quiet corner of the hen house furnished him snug quarters while our mariner was in sick bay, and the rest w^as left to the good nurse, nature. For a few days the main trouble was to make the patient eat, although we did not urge him much at first, but after four days I thought it necessary to push pieces of fish down his throat. The seventh morning of his stay he began to grow restive and tug at his splint. Thinking to replace it more correctly I removed the bandages to find, to my surprise, that the bone had knit firmly. The question of food supply was now of the most importance. Corn he would not touch, chopped "wrinkles" and mussels he refused, his dainty appetite could not longer endure fish, but experiments with sea foods showed a strong liking on his part for clams, and it now became a regular task for me to procure these and "shock out" 7© JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. and deliver, at least twice, and nearly always three times a day, his rations. Twenty-five good-sized clams he would eat with relish; after that he refused all but the softer parts. He now became very tame, following me about like a dog, had free run of the place except at night, when he was shut up in a shelter, and showed no fear of any person or creature about the premises. He fought fearleSvSly with hens or cats, and rode down a flight of steps hanging to the pointer's ear. He showed himself well able to defend his rights, especially at meal times, holding on to an offender with his bill and striking vigorous blows with his wings. Becoming lonesome he would waddle up from the little pond I had made him, climb the piazza steps and hammer away on the screen door with his bill, asking an invitation within. He spent a great deal of time at this and seemed well pleased to look into the house at the coming and going inside. He became the tamest of any of the fowl upon the place. I soon changed my first opinion, that he was a stupid, sullen fowl, incapable of any regard for his hosts, and spent much of my spare time in the grass by the edge of his pond. When growing tired of dabbling and splashing, he would come out and climb over me most sociably. We named him "Jere- miah," shortening it to "Jerry" for ordinary use, and he seemed to know his name. It may be the name offended his critical taste — it certainly was no title to go to sea with — at any rate he never failed to open his mouth and faintly hiss a protest whenever addressed by it, but on the whole he seemed contented with his lot. While free to do so, he seldom strayed away from home. His only venture occurred one morning when (returning late the night before I was unable to find him and he stayed out in the grass all night) he ran away down the street and compelled an electric car to stop while he defied it to run over him, only scuttling off when the motorman dismounted to catch him. He came straight home on the run, a distance of two hundred yards, and made for the safety of his puddle. I was much interested in his seamanship, his paddling methods, JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNlTHOLOCilCAT, SOCIETY. 71 and the like. I had seen coots and whistlers rise U]) in the water and shake their winj^s ont, always at long range, but here was a nearer view. He would make a sudden powerful backward stroke with his paddles, reverse his engines as quickly, and with the clieck come up on his sternpost to applaud himself vigorously with his wings. His paddle strokes were made sidewise instead of deep down like those of most fresh water fowl, but whether the shallow- ness of his pond had anything to do with this or not I am unable to say. When under water the strokes were made straight backward, and go! No fresh water duck that I have ever seen in action could compare with him for speed or quickness in the water, but ashore he was the clumsiest of waddlers. He seemed to much enjoy having me fight with him and shake my fingers in his face, especially below the water when he swam. He never refused a challenge and would bite as long as my fingers held out. He was a very silent bird; the only sound I heard him make was a low, weak, nearly inaudible hissing, with open mouth or softly snapping bill, when excited; never a whistle of any kind. During all this time he made no attempt at flight. His wings seemed in good order, with no apparent trouble in them. After six weeks of promising convalescence, during which I grew much attached to him, he suddenly refused to eat and sat all the time motionless upon his pond's edge. Nothing would tempt him. I thought perhaps the heat was too much for him, but he grew stead- ily worse, and only when he had died did I discover a shothole in his body under the breast feathers, where gangrene had done its work. I especially regretted his death because a chance was presented to study his plumage changes, just beginning. When he came to me he was in the perfection of his wedding clothes (May 27), and at his death (July 7) he had begun to show brown tips and edges on the interscapulars and specklings of rusty at the base of the bill and on the cheeks. But so pass our dreams! "Jerry" is now diving for mussels and shucking his own clams upon the river Styx. L,et us hope he has learned wisdom by past experience, for if Charon is like the boatmen of Casco Bay he probably invested in an automatic shot- gun at the same time when, to keep up with the nuirch of progress, he fitted his ferryboat with a gasolene motor. 72 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Notes on Some Birds of Pleasant Ridge. By O. W. Knight, Bangor, Me. While attending the meeting of the Jos'Selyn Botanical Society at Plea.sant Ridge Plantation, Rowe Pond Camps, July 2 to 7, 1906, a few birds were noticed whose presence it seems desirable to record. Herring Gull. — A few gulls were noticed about Rowe Pond from time to time which evidently came there to feed, though doubt- less they were nesting on some one of the larger ponds not far dis- tant. Rusty Blackbird. — This species evidently breeds rather gen- erally about the ponds and streams of this locality, only one pair of birds being found in a given place. I noticed a pair which most certainly had a nest with young birds at the head of Rowe Pond, and another pair were evidently nesting at the outlet of the same pond. A pair were nesting on the shore of Bean Pond, another pair at Brandy Pond, and several pairs were noticed scattered at intervals along the boggy shores of Jewett Brook, only a pair in a place. American Golden-eye. — An old bird and four young of this species were to be seen sporting in the waters of Rowe Pond. Many species of Warblers were breeding in the woods and about the shores of the ponds in this region. Among the species noted as rather common were Blackburnian Warbler, Myrtle Warb- ler, Yellow Palm Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Bay-breasted Warb- ler, Canadian Warbler, as well as our commoner species whose presence would be naturally expected. Among the Vireos present were noted the Solitary, Warbling and Red-eyed as common. I saw one individual and heard it sing, which was most certainly a Philadelphia Vireo, though it is with considerable hesitancy that the name of such a rare species is men- tioned in the absence of the bird in hand to verify the record. Winter Wrens were common everywhere and in full song. Canada Jays were seen on two occasions. American and White-winged Crossbills were seen in large flocks flying overhead or feeding on the seeds of various conifers. JOURNAI, OP MAINE ORNITHOI.OGICAI. SOCIETY. 73 Cats and Bird Protection. By A. H. Norton. The harmful effect of cats upon bird and small game protection has long been recognized. In the report of the Maine Fish and Game Commissioners for 1880 attention was called to the matter, and various cases of observed damage cited. Cats are particularly injurious to lycach's Petrels whenever kept on islands inliabited by these birds. The nearly depleted condition of one of the largest colonies on the Maine coast is attributable to cats. When the writer was at the State House about a year ago, the chairman of the present Commission of Fisheries and Game said, "Something ought to be done about the cats. Let's take it up." In view of this important sentiment, it is very gratifying to notice, according to the Audul)on vSociety department of Bird-Lore for July and August, 1906 (page 146), that the inspector of the first lighthouse district has taken a decided step in the matter in rela- tion to the large and important colony at Great Duck Island, issuing an order that the liglit keepers are expected to confine or remove their cats until after the close of the breeding season. It is to be hoped that a more general remedy may be found by the coming leofislature. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Maine Ornithological Societ}' will be held in Portland, at the rooms of the Portland Society of Natural History, on Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving day. Ample arrangements will be made for places where visiting mem- bers may procure acconnnodation during the two days of the meet- ings. It is earnestly hoped that there will be a large attendance, as special efforts will be made to have a program of more than usual interest. 74" JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Q^lijt Jnitntal of tin? Mtxhxt ©ntttltnlnytral §>nrirtg A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds Vol. VIII Published September 1. 1906 No. 3 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. Ruthven Deane, of Chicago, one of the original members of the Nuttall Club and the A. O. U., has been spending the sum- mer at Scarboro Beach. By his frequent visits to Maine he is get- ting to be really one of our most active Maine ornithologists. He contributes to this number of the Journal several interesting notes. The story by Walter H. Rich about his captive White-winged Scoter is very interesting, being the account of how a bird usually living far from the company of man readily responded to kindness, and returned it to the best of his very clumsy ability. Warden George H. Cushman is doing fine work towards enforc- ing the law protecting Gulls and Terns. He recently caused the arrest of a man who was illegally shooting Terns, and Judge Hill, of the Portland Municipal Court, promptly imposed a fine on the offender. The Song Sparrow photograph reproduced in the June number of the Journal has met with wide conmiendation and several re- quests have been received for copies of the original photograph or for a loan of the half-tone plate. The photographer, Mr. Chas. H. Tolnian, of Portland, is receiving many words of appreciation for his excellent work. JOURNAL OF MAINP: ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 75 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. We note with ninch satisfaction the increasing frequency with which the members of our society report to this Journal their ornithological observations. This is an important part of our duties, one to another, and should be shared in l)y all interested in bird life. The Journal's columns are always open to contril)utors of items of general interest relating to Maine birds, and we trust oiu" members will, through this medium, disseminate such knowledge as they personally possess. Notes from Scarboro Beach. Bonaparte's Gull {^Lants philadelpJiia). — The appearance of this species in considerable numbers, so early in the season, seems unusual. I first noticed fifteen or twenty individuals on July 25, 1906, fishing in company with the Wilson's Tern at the lower end of Scarboro Beach, near Front's Neck. Among the flock were three or four in the adult sunnuer plumage. Between July 25tli and August 23rd, I have seen a few specimens every few days. Dr. Chas. P. Cones informs me that he first observed them on the same feeding ground, a1)out the middle of July, and has observed them every few days since. Their appearance here at this season would indicate that they had lieen further to the south of their usual breed- ing range. Wilson's Tern {Sterna Iiinmdo). — -While approaching Bloody Pond, a strip of fresh water situated back of Scarboro Beach, to watch a flock of some fifty Terns, feeding, I startled three Crows from a little grove of small pitch pines. The Crows, had no sooner gotten underway when they were pursued by three of the Terns, who followed them closely for several hundred yards, darting at them from above and beneath. While it is a common occurrence for the Terns to give chase to their own species, when the pursued is carrying fish to. its young, I have never before ob.served them har- assing other species. [Dr. Townsend, in "Birds of Essex County," 76 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. refers to the Couinion Tern chasing the Sharp-shinned Hawk. He also remarks that when Jaegers pursue Terns, the Terns are accus- tomed to chase the Jaegers in retaliation. A well-known observer, who has had much experience with sea birds, tells me that Crows are wont to disturb Terns on their breeding islands and prey on their eggs and j^oung. The Terns will attack a Crow with the greatest vigor as soon as he makes his appearance near their homes. It is related how Terns attacked some tame pigeons while a high wind was prevailing. Against the wind the Terns had the advan- tage, being stronger, if not swifter, on the wing. When the race was with the wind the pigeons easily left their antagonists far in the rear. — Editor.] Olive-sided Flycatcher {Nntfa/Ionds borca/is). — During the first week in August, 1906, I enjo3''ed watching three families of this species. Two of these constituted the parents and three young, which were located within two hundred yards of each other. While the young were strong flyers, they were constantly fed by the parents. The third family consisted of onl}^ two young, and -were probably reared in the pine grove adjacent to the Atlantic House, for I could watch the young being fed from the piazza of the house. On August 20, 1904, I saw a pair of this species in this same grove. They were evidently adults. Loon (Gavia imbcr) . — During three summers spent at Scarboro Beach, I have never seen this species so abundant. Two or three pairs feeding outside the breakers, in the space of half a mile along the beach and rocks, is an every day occurrence, but during the last of July and early August they were not only abundant in pairs and small flocks of four to six, but I frequently saw them in flocks of a dozen, and on one occasion with my glass, counted seventeen feed- ing together. In the early morning their weird cry could be heard for a long distance. PiiALAROPE. — While walking on Scarl)oro Beach, near Front's Neck, on July 24th, 1906, my son. Charles Deane, observed what he JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 77 at first sup]K)sed to be a flock of about fifteen Saiulpipers. On a nearer approach the flock rose, flew out beyond the surf and alii;hted on the water, where they remained a short time before returning to the beach. The species was unquestionably P. lobatus, and their appearance from the north so early in the season in this locality is unusual. Myrtle Warbler {Dcndroica coronata). — While I searched carefully in the pine groves of vScarboro Beach during July and August, 1906, I failed to detect but one specimen, which was an adult. I observ^ed this one on July 25th, within a short distance of where I found a pair feeding their young on July 27th, 1903. RUTHVEN DEANE. Scarlioro Beach, Aug. 28, 1906. A Pair of Plucky Ph(e;bEvS. — Early in May a pair of Pluel)es built a nest under the eaves of a neighbor's ice house, at Highland L,ake. The board on which their home was built was at an angle of forty-five degrees. The nest was well constructed of the usual materials and built up on the outside to make it level at the top. Everything went well, the five eggs had hatched, and the little birds were two days old when a very bad storm came up, with unusually heavy winds, which proved very disastrous to the pair of Phoebes. Their nest was blown down and their babies drowned in the stead}^ downpour of cold rain. A week later, June loth, I made my usual visit to camp, reaching there late in the evening. On getting out the next morning my attention was attracted by the constant notes and apparent distressed activity of the pair of Phcebes. Being im- pressed with their actions, I decided to hunt for the cause. I soon discovered that the birds had good reason to complain, for I found they had built home, No. 2, on top of the stove funnel, which passed through the side of the camp directly under the eaves. Their dis- tress was occasioned by a rousing good fire in the stove, which heated the funnel on which the ne.st was located. This of course discouraged the birds, and the half-completed nest was deserted. This second experience was very regrettable, and my sym])athy 78 JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. went out to the unfortunate ones. It suddenly occurred to me that if I put up a board under my camp piazza the Ijirds might be in- duced to build again. vSo I secured one about six feet long and three inches wide and nailed it across to the floor timbers. This gave them several selections for a home in the several corners. Imagine my delight on reaching there two weeks later, June 24th, to find the birds had built home, No. 3, on this board. The nest contained five eggs. A week later five birds had hatched and the parents were very busy supplying the wants of their hungry family. This last nest was much smaller than any I have ever seen. July 8th the birds were well-grown. July 15th two birds were in the nest, two just outside. The fifth, I think, was in a young growth of oak and maple, quite near, as the parent birds were making con- stant visits there, although after diligent search, I failed to find it. At night all were out of the nest and fully a quarter of a mile from their old home. Louis E. IvEGGE. Portland, August 20, 1906. Swallows in Portland. — I recently came across a date in my diary, which perhaps you may like to jot down in your notes. June 16, 1872, Swallows built their nests under the eaves of what was then the store of Woodman, True & Co., now^ the store of Cook, Everett & Pennell, on Middle street. That year, or before, or after (I haven't found this), they also built under the eaves of the Port- land Savings Bank. My memory is that they staid several years at the Woodman, True & Co. store, but only one at the Savings Bank. John M. Gould. Portland, July 23, 1906. Insect Plating Habits of the House Sparrow {Passer doiiieslicus). — The morning of July 5, 1906, I noticed a flock of PvUglish Sparrows clambering over stalks of Aster cordifoUus, on the grounds of the Portland Society of Natural History. The leaves of the aster had been infested with insects, which had rolled the leaves in bunches, several leaves in a single bunch. The birds JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79 hopped from al)ove, down the steins, below the top of the tall grass, inspecting the lower parts of the leaves, and each cone of leaves, frequently seizing some insect. They seemed very eager in their work. As I had to take one of the steamers I could not follow up the matter. Two days later I examined the plants and the leaf cones, with the result of finding only one lady-bug. During the flying period of the brown-tail moth {Euproctis chrysorrluca) , which culminated in Portland about July 2otli, I was frequently struck by the observation of detached wings of the moths under most of the arc lamps around which they had gathered. The case seemed to me well explained as a female English Sparrow came hopping along a sidewalk, watching for some article of food. vSpying a large female brown-tail, on the ground under one of the lamps, the Sparrow seized its abdomen, and severed a large part with her powerful beak, ate it with such relish that she pro- ceeded to finish the abdomen with enclosed eggs at two more moutli- fuls. Then seizing the throat and head, with a twist of her jaws, the wings were cleft from the body and hurled in opposite directions. This meal finished she went hopping about for more food. Unfortu- nately, I had killed all of the moths under this lamp (over-looking the one eaten by the Sparrow), so there was no supply of this kind to tempt her further. It seems well here to record, that I was informed, that as the moths were washed from high walls in Westbrook, with a hose, numbers were eaten from the ground by the Sparrows, though they were not seen to take any as they clung to objects above the ground. It is usual around Portland, when hay is cut near streets inhabited by Sparrows, to see the birds gather in various sized flocks on the windrows and mown grounds, and several times I have observed them eating piece-meal, large grasshoppers. While indexing some of my Journals, I find that in 18S9, I saw on several occasions between June 17 and 22, vSparrows killing large caterpillars of the Mourning Cloak Butterfly {Envaiicssa au- tiopa). They were never seen to swallow these, but killed them after the manner of a Kingfisher, by beating. Arthur H. Norton. Portland, Me. 8o JOURNAI^ OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI. SJOCIETY. Observation on a Chipping Sparrow. — On a recent col- lecting trip in South Windham, Me., while waiting for a car, a companion sat by the roadside, smoking a cigar. As a section of ash fell, a leaf of it was caught l)y the gentle breeze and borne several yards in the air, looking mitch like a small moth. A Chip- ping Sparrow, which was feeding on the track near at hand, espied it fluttering away, and sharing our mistake, put a hot chase, and detected its error only when close to the object and nearly ready to seize it. Without snapping at it, the bird returned to its occupa- tion of searching upon the ground for food. Arthur H. Norton. Portland, Me. It Hooded Merganser. — A fine specimen of the Hooded Mer- ganser was shot at Millinocket, Me., about April 20 or 21st, 1906. It was a full plumaged male. Wm. Cooper. Milo, May 29, 1906. American Egret. — An adult American Egret in full breed- ing plumage (sex not determined), was received in the flesh, by the S. ly. Crosby Co., May 3, 1906, from A. J. Walling, of Millbridge. O. W. Knight. Bangor, May 29, 1906. Kiij.ED BY Cold. — I am extremely sorry to say that the re- cent cold weather has been disastrous to Tanagers, Warblers and others of our friends. Three Tanagers were l)rought in, which were found dead and likewise three Warblers. Wm. Cooper. Milo, May 29, 1906. Migration Note. — The flight of Scarlet Tanagers and Rose- breasted Grosbeaks through the lower Penobscot Valley this past spring was unusual. Both species are usually very rare and of irregular occurrence in this region, averaging not more than one or two individuals of each species seen each three years. This spring many Tanagers and Grosbeaks were seen and numbers reported by other observers. Ora W. Knight. Bangor, July 17, 1906. tH 0. M Z H & H W o oS a o Ox Hi g o 3 la o o w 0 z S ^ ■< -< 0 QJ s Ph < 03 K ^ 1) s ea D .J hi OS K < S »3 o ti< 'j h o ij ;z W H Z; M :g o z s ffl o D Z; a2 o H H W ►J W o O h> S f< (^It? Jnuntal Mmw O^niitltnlogtral ^nri^tg Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December Vol. VIII DECEHBER, 1906 No. 4 Bicknell's Thrush on Mt. Abraham. By Dana W. Sweet. Early in the morning, June 22, 1906, I started from Phillips with a friend, Ernest Vining, of Strong, for a trip up Mt. Abraham. The rocky peaks of this mountain are surrounded by a dense ever- green growth, mostly fir. The summit of the highest peak is 3,378 feet high, according to the measurement of Phil Stubbs, of Strong. The mountain is in the township of Mt. Abraham, north of Phillips. In the White Mountains, the Bicknell Thrush {Hylocichla alicm bicknelli) is said to be found lower down than 3,000 feet. There are a number of mountains in Maine whose Alpine summits, with their scrubby evergreen growth, would be a suitable habitat for this spe- cies, and I have for some time desired to explore some of the peaks in Franklin County in search of it. When we reached the top of the mountain, I heard what I be- lieved to be the call notes of the Bicknell Thrush. A thunder shower now came upon us, and we spent half an hour crouching under scrub spruces. When it cleared off, we passed on to another peak, which is an immense pile of rocks. As we were coming out of the woods, I heard what I knew at once to be the song of a Bicknell Thrush. It came from a dense thicket of firs, most of which were about six feet tall, and they grew so thickly that it was with the greatest difficulty that I worked my way through them. Twice I got very near the bird, but not quite near enough to see it. I was 82 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. now thoroughly drenched, for the foliage was dripping wet in con- sequence of the recent shower, so I decided to postpone the attempt until a more favorable time. Before attempting to describe the song of any species of bird, one should hear the song of several individuals of that species. The description which I shall now give of the Bicknell Thrush's song must be understood to refer onlj^ to the individual bird that I heard. In one respect the song was like the Veery's, being a blended alto and soprano, but only in this one respect, for the tone was dif- ferent, and the song was richer and more musical. The Veery's song has a ringing quality and is suggestive of a series of intertwin- ing circles. It may be represented in words thus: "Vree-u, ree-u, ree-u, ree-u." The Bicknell's song commenced with two short, low notes having a sibilant quality. Then followed a single prolonged note of blended alto and soprano. The song may be represented thus: "Tse, tse, vree-e-e-e-e-e." The call note is to me remotely suggestive of that of the Veery. The Veery's note is mellow or liquid, while the Bicknell's is sharp and somewhat rasping, and seems much louder. It has some of the tone quality of the song, just as there is a similarity between the song and the call note of the Catbird. I will now mention the different species of birds that I saw while on the mountain. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and some Pine Sis- kins were in a growth of tall spruces on the brow of the mountain ; American Crossbills were occasionally seen flying overhead ; Juncos were on the bare rocks of the summits ; White-throated Sparrows, Nashville Warblers, and Myrtle Warblers were fairly common ; the Blackburnian Warbler was also there ; I was especially pleased to come acro.ss a pair of Hudsonian Chickadees ; Olive-backed Thrushes were very common and were not afraid to be seen, but the Bicknell Thrushes were always out of sight in evergreen thickets, either in the stunted growth adjoining the rocky summits or in the larger, middle-sized growth in the sags between the peaks. In an article in the June number, I mentioned the Olive-backed JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 83 Thrush as being found in growths of young beech. A misprint changed the word "beech" to "birch." We made a second trip up the mountain Sept. 20th. When part way up, we came across some Pine Grosbeaks. We had an unobstructed view of two females, which were within about twenty feet of us. It took us about one hour and twenty minutes to reach the top, taking frequent short rests, and about seven hours to go across the mountain and return to the top of the first peak, with practically no time for rest except fifteen minutes for dinner. In the forenoon the call notes of the Bicknell Thrushes were heard in all directions, showing this species to be common here. In the afternoon they commenced their call notes at 4.45 o'clock. There were no Olive-backed Thrushes in evidence during this trip. They had probably left the mountain for the low land, on account of their migration time being near at hand. I saw the White-throated Sparrow and frequently heard the notes of the Golden-Crowned Kinglet. Twice I heard the song of the Hudsonian Chickadee, and on one of the rocky summits was an American Pipit. While on the highest summit I heard a sweet, mellow note, which sounded to me like that of the Lesser Yellowlegs. Glancing around I saw a pair of birds approaching, with the evident inten- tion to alight, but noticing us they flew up, and after circling about us several times flew away. Their flight, like their note, also sug- gested that of the Lesser Yellowlegs. They had narrow, pointed wings, and a rather long tail and neck. They were doubtless some species of water bird. Perhaps it may interest the readers of the Journal to briefly mention some features of the flora that w^e observed. The mountain cranberry ( Vacciniiivi Vitis-Idcea) was abundant. The berries are usually picked before they are ripe, when they are hard and very acid, and somewhat bitter when cooked, but now they were fully ripe, bright red all over, tender, and very nearly as good eating as blueberries. We carried a quantity home with us, which, when cooked, were very fine and without any bitter taste. The bog bilberry {Vaccinium uLiginosum) was quite common 84 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIKTY. and grew in small patches. The berries look and taste verj- much like the common blueberry. The creeping snowberry {Chiogencs scrpyf/ifoh'a) was quite com- mon, but we found only one patch that had fruit. The berries are white and are far superior in flavor to the boxberry. Another interesting plant which we found quite common is the crowberry {EmpetruDi nigrum). The slender stems are prostrate, much branched, and have evergreen leaves, like the spruce and hemlock. The berries are watery and have a dark, smoky color. Birds in and Around Portland in 1906. By W. H. BrownSON. During the year 1906, now nearly at its close, I have, as occa- sion offered, spent much of my spare time observing the birds in and around Portland. It may not be out of place for me to call the attention of readers of the Journal to some of the more interesting species which I have seen, and to give some idea of the manner and frequency of their occurrence in this section. On four or five different occasions, during January and Febru- ary, a flock of about a dozen Myrtle Warblers was seen, from time to time, at Cape Elizabeth, this being the third winter that they have occurred in that same general locality. Purple Finches were quite abundant during January, a flock of thirty or forty making their home in the woods of South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. In January, Captain Jones, of the steamer "Turcoman," brought to Portland a Snow Bunting, which came on board the steamer about 600 miles from Newfoundland and about the same distance from the Azores, no land being nearer than those points. The bird was very tired when it alighted on the ship, but when it arrived here it was in fine condition. Captain Jones has in his possession a Blackbird, which came on board his ship in mid-ocean, and all efforts to ascer- tain the exact species to which it belongs have so far proved unavail- ing. It is supposed to be a South American variety. JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 85 Several Robins spent the winter at Cape Elizabeth, not far from where the Myrtle Warblers were observed on several occasions. On the 22d of February, during a trip on a motor boat down the bay, a flock of Kittiwakes was seen not far from the inner islands. In the vicinity of Halfway Rock small flocks of Kider Ducks were seen ; also quite a number of Black Guillemots. February 25th, a flock of about fifty Cedar Waxwings was present near the shore at Cape Elizabeth. They stayed in this vicinity for a week or two, then were seen no more until late in the spring. March nth, Crows began to go north in large numbers and continued for several days thereafter. At Pine Point many Horned Earks were seen on March nth, and with them there were quite a few Prairie Horned Earks. Several Eapland Eongspurs were with the Earks and were observed feeding in a stubble field near the Pine Point station. Robins and Bluebirds were considerably later than usual in arriving from the south during the spring. Juncos, Fox Sparrows, Rusty Blackbirds, Flickers and Bluel)irds were here in large numbers April ist. A])out this same time all the common species of Hawks were noted in about the usual numbers. Red-winged Blackbirds and Bronzed Crackles came in con- siderable numbers April 8th, and Meadowlarks and Phoebes were observed the following day. April 13th, a Yellow-crowned Night Heron was shot within Portland city limits, and the specimen was turned over to a local taxidermist. This is a very unusual species for Maine, although it is not tlie first record. April 15th, came a flock of Tree Swallows. April 2 2d, tliere was a Mockingbird at South Portland, which attracted consideralile attention from many observers. Probably this was an escaped cage 1)ird, l)ut there is no evidence one way or the other. Cowbirds, which were plentiful the previous year, were seen only in small numbers during April. May 5th and 6tli, there was a great wave of Warblers all through this section of the state. More different species came north on those two early days than I have ever known before, at least a dozen dif- ferent varieties being observed. May 6th, came the Blue-headed Vireo, the Whip-poor-will and 86 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. the Towhee. For a long time a colony of Eaves Swallows has nested under a farm shed at Cape Elizabeth, and a number of the same colony arrived May 8th ; they stayed for a few days, during which time they inspected the old nests, but a week later they had disap- peared, and after that no more of the colony was seen. Why the locality was deserted by these Swallows there is no means of know- ing. Bobolinks made their appearance rather earlier than usual this spring, the first being seen May 5th. Chimney Swifts arrived May 13th. Scarlet Tanagers were much more common than for several years during the spring. Several Bay-breasted Warblers were seen May 20th and a little later, this being the second con- secutive season in which they have come this way. Black-billed Cuckoos were much more common this year than for several sea- sons in the past. Caterpillars were in greater abundance than usual, and this may account for the presence of the Cuckoos. During the summer I paid two visits to the Tern colony on Bluff Island, where perhaps five hundred pairs of Common Terns spent the breeding season. Bank Swallows were as common as usual on the islands of Casco Bay. August 4th, Bonaparte's Gull, Lesser Yel- lowlegs, and the Dowitcher were reported on the neighboring coast. Turnstones and Semi-palmated Sandpipers came along about the first of August, while Semi-palmated Plovers arrived a few days later. Several Golden Plovers were reported by gunners at Scarboro, only a single individual being seen at one time. August 29th, two Hud- sonian Curlews were seen on the Cape shore, and about the same time others were reported shot by gunners farther down the coast. August 30th, at Old Orchard, some distance out from the shore, Jaegers were seen pursuing the numerous Gulls of that locality ; probably these were Parasitic Jaegers. Elsewhere, I have noted the occurrence of Connecticut Warblers at Cape Elizabeth, Sep- tember 17th. During the fall migration Black-poll Warblers were unusually abundant. I^ate records were made of the Black-throated Green Warbler October 13th, the Redstart October 13th, and the Black- poll Warbler October 14th. Several Ipswich Sparrows were seen at JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 87 Pine Point October i4tli. Fox Sparrows were abundant October 20th, and for the rest of the month. Savanna Sparrows were also common on their southward journey about the same date. October 22nd, an American Goshawk was seen at Cape Elizabeth. Several other specimens have been brought to the local taxidermists and several more have been reported from other parts of the state. During October a large flock of White-winged Crossbills stayed in the Cape woods. It is interesting to note that there was a pre- dominance of White-winged Crossbills, careful inspection of the flock on two different days showing that only here and there were a few Red Crossbills. Red-breasted Nuthatches have been unusually plentiful during the fall. I do not remember that I have been out in the woods a single time since August without seeing several of these birds. It is not unusual to see at least a dozen during an hour's tramp. This abundance of Nuthatches is quite unusual in these parts, more so than for several years past. Bluebirds were seen November 3d, when a flock of six or eight were noted at South Portland. Several Olive-backed Thrushes were in the Cape Elizabeth woods November 4th. A couple of Redpolls were seen at Cape Elizabeth November 4th. They were feeding by the roadside and there were others in the pine trees near by, although I was unable to estimate the probable number. November nth, on a cloudy afternoon, something like five hundred Crows, in a compact flock, were seen flying southward. On this same date Pine Grosbeaks, in small numbers, were reported from Westbrook by Mr. Norton. Up to the middle of November several Acadian Owls have been seen and one or two specimens have been captured. The Snowy Owl is again here, several specimens having been shot and taken to the local taxidermists for mounting. November i8th a considerable flock of Pine Siskins was seen feeding on pine seeds at Pine Point. Horned Earks were also there in a good-sized flock and with them a few Prairie Horned Earks. Several Black-backed Gulls are spend- ing the wdnter at Pine Point, associated with a large flock of Her- ring Gulls. Crows are plentiful around Pine Point all through the winter. 88 JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI. SOCIETY. Contributions to the Life History of the Pine Warbler. Dcndroica vigorsii (And.). By J. Merton Swain. Geographicai, Distribution — Migration Range. -^The average date of arrival in spring to the state seems to be about April 19th. The earliest date I find is March 30th at L,e\viston. The dates in the interior part of the state for the past ten years, I find, range from April 5th to 30th. They disappear slowly in the fall, ranging from September 5th to Oct. 21st. Breeding Range. — Eastern United vStates, from Florida and the Gulf States northward to New Brunswick, Ontario and Mani- toba. Nesting most common in the Alleghenian Life Zone, but extends more or less common into the Canadian. Winter Range. — Rare in eastern Texas, south to Corpus Christi. Common among the pines from North Carolina and South- ern Illinois southward. It has not been reported in Cuba or the islands south of Florida. One specimen was seen at Matamoras, Tamaulipas, February, 1902. This is the first record of occurrence in Mexico, or any other point outside of the United States, except as a casual straggler in the Bermudas. In early April this species enters the southern part of our state and soon becomes rather common along the coast and in the inte- rior, wherever there are patches of pine trees, and through May and June I have found them quite common in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties. Have observed them more or less abundant in Andro- scoggin, Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and Kennebec counties, and on their arrival they may be seen in the pine trees, in pairs and small flocks, busily gleaning for insects. The latter part, of May they begin nest building. All the nests I have seen were placed well up near the top of a pine tree, horizontally and near the trunk of the tree. The nests are very difficult to locate, and one has to watch the birds carry nest material or food to the young. The JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. 8g nests are neatly and compactly built of strips of bark and weeds, a few roots and bits of dry oak leaves, lined with hairs and a few feathers. The nests I have examined were not as deep and cup- shaped as the nest of the Myrtle Warbler, but shaped more like the nest of the Magnolia Warbler. Of the several nests I have seen, four eggs were the comple- ment. They were placed from eighteen to twenty-five feet up. They were placed invariably in smallish pines, at the edge of the taller pines and deep woods, in an old clearing or opening on a side hill, where were interspersed a few small oak and some gray birch. Two nests I have examined were found in Livermore by Mr. Guy H. Briggs. One nest, with young, I found near Sheepscot Bridge, one in Jefferson, and two in Damariscotta. Have seen evidence of nesting near Camden, South Hope, Warren and Wiscasset. The eggs are dull whitish or grayish-white ground, well speckled and spotted wdth lilac-gray and burnt umber, and usually there is a wreath about the larger end. The egg averages about .68 x .52. This interesting, busy little Warbler gleans incessantly for insect food, catching them right and left, as he goes creeping in and out the boughs of the evergreen trees, much like that relative of his, the Black and White Warbler, occasionally uttering a clear little trill that is somewhat like the song of the Chipping Sparrow, yet easily distinguished from it. After the young are on the wing, they may be seen in little family groups, creeping eagerly for food, and from September 5th to the first half of October they slowly wend their way to a warmer clime. 90 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. List of Members of Maine Ornithological Society, December I, 1906. F'ollowiiig is a list of Honorary, Corresponding, Active and Associate Members of tlie Maine Ornithological Society, December r , 1 906 . Honorary Members. BkeWvSTER, Wm., Camln'idge, Mass. Bkown, Nathan Clikkord, Portland, Me. DuTCiiER, Wm., New York. Hardy, Manly, Brewer, Me. Merrill, Harry, Bangor, Me. Palmer, Dr. T. S., Washington, D. C. Stanton, Prof. J. Y., Lewiston, Me. Smith, I{verett, Portland, Me. Corresponding Members. Bent, Arthur C, Taunton, Mass., 1904 Childs, Hon. John Lewis, Floral Park, N. Y., 1903 Durfee, Owen, Fall River, Mass., 1904 Phillips, Sherman E., Rochester, N. H., 1903 Spaulding, Fred. B., Lancaster, N. H., 1906 Thayer, John E., Lancaster, Mass., 1906 Willard, Bert G., Millis, Mass., 1906 Active Members. Abbott, Mrs. Fred P., Saco, 1906 Anne, Miss Ethel, Gardiner, 1902 Atkins, Mrs. Chas. G., East Orland, 1906 Berry, Henry E., Damariscotta, 1905 Berry, Miss Flora B., Portland, 1906 Brownson, W. H., Portland, 1902 Brown, Miss Bertha L., Bangor, 1905 Bessey, Dr. M. W.. Waterville, 1899 Beede, Miss Abbie S., North Berwick, 1906 Bates, Samuel L., Portland, 1906 Blair, Mrs. Louis, Jackman, 1906 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. QI CusHMAN, Geo. E., Portland, 1903 Clark, D. Crommett, Waterville, • 1906 Cooper, \Vm., Milo, 1901 Clark, Clarence H., Lubec, 1904 Corey, Eben F., Boston, 1905 Carleton, Hon. L. T., Augusta, 1900 David, Fred M., Damariscotta, 1906 Dingley, MRvS. Fred, Gardiner, 1906 DuTCHER, Wm., New York, 1902 Davis, Mrs. Gilman, Portland, 1906 DuFFETT, Miss Charlotte, Portland, 1905 Daveis, Miss Mabel, Portland, 1904 Dill, Homer R., Gardiner, 1894 Elijs, Hiram, Portland, 1904 Eastman, Miss Sara C, Portland, 1905 Ellis, Mrs. Wm. G., Gardiner, 1906 EcKSTORM, Mrs. Fanny Hardy, Brewer, 1905 Fox, Daniel W., Portland, 1906 Fuller, Miss Carrie, Rockport, 1906 Foster, Mrs. Bertha, Burnham, 1905 FoKES, Harold B., Portland, 1906 FisKE, Miss Mary M., Bath, 1906 Fanning, Jed. F"., Portland, 1896 GoDDARD, Hon. A. M., Augusta, 1904 Hardy, Manly, Brewer, 1904 Hodgdon, Miss Myrtle H., Augusta, 1901 Hitchings, Prof. E. P\, Waterville, 1906 HulbERT, Prof. H. W., Bangor. 1905 Hammond, M. P\, Portland, 1906 Hooper, Mrs. F'red N., Woodfords, • 1902 Ingraham, Miss Annie B., Rockport, 1906 Jordan, Fritz H., Portland, 1902 Jordan, Miss Nellie B., Alfred, 1902 Knight, Prof. Oka W., Bangor, 1895 Kendall, Dr. W. C, Washington, D. C, 1902 92 JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI, SOCIETY. Lee, Prof. LesIvIE A., Brunswick, 1896 LiBBY, Miss Ella L., Portland, 1905 Legge, IvOuis E., Portland, 1905 Earrabee, Prof. Austin P., Salt Eake City, Utah. F. EiBBY, Geo. D., Gardiner, , 1896 Eane, Prof. Asa Eyman, Good Will Farm, 1896 MoRiN, Jos. C, Fort Kent, 1902 Marks, Mrs. A. E., East Orland, 1906 Morrill, Miss Ethel B., Pittsfield, 1893 Mead, James Carroll, North Bridgton. F. Norton, Arthur H., Portland, 1896 Norton, Mrs. A. H., Portland, 1899 Noble, Frank T., Augusta, 1901 Olney, Miss L. E., Bath, 1906 Parker, Miss Etta, Portland, 1906 Powers, Wm. E., Gardiner, " F. Page, Harry B., Farniingtou, 1906 Peabody, Lucy G., Machias, , 1906 Rogers, Geo. E., Gardiner, 1903 RuNDLETT, Mrs. I. B.. Portland, 1905 Richards, P'rank M., Farmington, 1896 Russell, Mlss Elizabeth W., Portland, 1906 Reynolds, Arthur T., Gardiner, 1906 Richardson, A. Fi, Castine, 1906 Ridley, Miss Mabel P., Castine, 1902 Smith, Frank A., Gardiner, 1906 SouLE, Miss Marion, Gardiner, 1906 Stevens, Miss C. M., Portland, 1906 Swain, J. Merton, Skowhegan, 1895 Sewall, Mrs. Emma D., Bath, 1904 Spinney, Capt. H. E., Seguin, ' 1896 Sweet, Dana W., Phillips, 1902 Sawyer, Clarence E., Brunswick, 1901 Snow, Miss Mary, Brooklyn, 1898 Tufts, Eeroy M., Farmington, 1905 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 93 Walker, W. G., Castine, 1906 Whipple, Wm. H., Portland, 1906 Weeks, Mrs. Gertrude, Portland, • 1906 Wentworth. Mrs. K. P., Portland, 1899 Williams, L. C, Athens, 1903 Associate Members. Hill, Dr. W. Scott, An^nsta. Ritchie, Sanford, Dover. Bates, Mrs. A. F. C, Waterville. Fogg, Wade A., Bangor. Merrill, Rev. B. B., vSkowhegan. 94 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Q o ^ rt ^ ti >> , -^ 13 rt ^ Q-l ^ o o o o O C/i TS . ii 5 -^ T: bf 2 ?i 'u bc 2 -^ o -^ .;:; rs brj (U u ►> u, ry: o 1/2 pq < 9 Ch ^ 3: X ^ o -J-. _ ._• <: H> rO r<0 CO VO \£) ^ ^ .-H ^ ■— 1 '-< IM r-H rg r^i ^ <--) n< P3 o CJ . ^ ^ - 0 o ^ o " " " ^ ZO dl ^ (Nl i>] Is' o cx ^• « £) o « M a C a z o ^ -< z b o IN] : < bo t/3 ^ > -r: M — , ^ S • . -m" . ,• . Sii"^'T3?^ ^ <^ O t/}OZO "-■^ ;/-- ^ U ^ g ^ S ^ g bc-g. j-.^ i«) = ^ S^ a: i:^-^ 8 ^ t5 ^. <^^ ^m' ^ < ^ ^ aj ^ r ) 'T} '^ "^ V o +^ t; Xt/l^OOO-rlr- S ^ fe , W i5 •" g^ a . - "b^ -o j^- I ^ II o IT. ^ ;/] (/} Ph'Ji; a^Q«o. be > ••;! be >. "2 5 .5 ^ 5 - H-,< :z; (2 <1 ,^ ft o * ^ C?^ (Vl I— ( (^1 (Nl (^1 ^ >-^ ft =! ft 37 O^ ft 'O O rO 1^ ti "^ ft '" ii -M ft o be • Q. ci, '^^^ ft,i' '5f C ^> < A^ *^ »A^ '— ' be o pi OAO X5 cJ j:3 D 4) aj .— I T^ t^ I^J 10 "0 VT) r^,^ 3^, ft ■Si be 'oe ^ be -^ ft - o \ o i)^ is o ... - "T^ 3 ,— I ^ -i^? iSaj^iCfta; ffi . !^ oj S -z: ►v^ "i -^ O^-'fl^^^ ■ be S3 o fe CS ft_c ft B be 'O^ ft^ n ^.S-c't^ o .0 .^ S ^' .^ beJH *^ k: O E .«OT3nJcCC-^f^ <43 2 bZ o c M "w _^ o be O ii a; o-g . 4, ft.^ 3 a3 g •S s5 «5 S C Pm ft I? p^ <1 c/2 96 JOURN.\Iv OP MAINE ORNlTHOIvOGIC.\L SOCIETY. < v£) to .-1 — 1 LO r^ eg vD 0 10 CO CM Sept. (J O 0 0 ^0 May Nov . Apr. Nov. (M CO t-l CM CVJ rH rv] CM v£)-+.— (i-(VDT-l(Mr< Oct. Aug. May 4J Ih' (J O- ■^ On t^ ~' O 00 O 00 1— I CO ro O "O cv] t— ( (M rH ro — I IM (%] •— I eg .— ( CO 0 t/} 0^ 10 <^1 -* — 1 1^ •0 »-H fO ^^ ^1 ^) ■— 1 --H •-' 1— 1 0 cd c g Nov. Apr. Sept. Apr. Nov . Oct. iJ > 'cjj p. 0 3 -si:?:; < —1 CTn rO CO rO ^1 .—1 1—1 t— 1 Cl ON '■^i —,(/: f^ <(!, {/) CO O O' "* o> >i b/) a ^ !_-. ^O (Nl .-^ rv) tJ- f^l rO O O O O' - - :?;0 CO' ' <' (X> 'n vo o CO O cc^ O AO < CO <;co O «i1 CO < t~~-'*0'— l-«d-0 I^t^ ON CO JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAI, SOCIETY. 97 O o be 3 May 1 Oct. 29 13 Sept 27 Aug Sept 20 " 24 " May June a. a; May Oct. Aug. Sept. Aug. Sept. (7^ '^1 .-H CO '-I ^ rj --1 IN) v£) -H (M ^ c s '-- ';:; Oct. Sept. Oct. bo 3 ^ 0 • 0 i' 0 < oQo t^ vO O "^ CO (v) CO (N) - J3- cs: g^: yu^sSTt!: :3 tl ^ ?^ ^ ^ tj ^stj- o tJ O < ' S 'X O X O -< :/2 O -< O ^ (V Qi -=^ O < O " ^ C < O f«^ o 10 0 CO (Nl rO 10 CO (^■1 dj OJ Aug. Sept. < a; 'X Oct. Resid Resid- 0 :-; (^1 .-1 i^ rtC a; i^ 01 j^ (U iSi O '7} O C/2 .-H ^1 <>] (M r-H rH ,-H 0 P. -X Ph 0 +J 0 0- J50- VO CO LO cT) July Oct. Noy. - O l^; O p:^ -< O pq 1^ W ^ Pi Pi ^ > O K pei P5 98 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. of ti\t Mmu (irmllinlngtral ^nrirtg A Quarterly Mageizine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds Vol. VIII Published December 1, 1906 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 In closing the eighth volume of the Journal, the editor desires to thank the members for the cheerfulness with which they have responded to his frequent requests for material for publication. It has not always been easy to fill so many pages with matter of general interest, but a call for help has never been refused. The migration reports are now printed in full up to date; the warbler papers have been continued with only occasional interruptions; a number of leading articles of more than ordinary value have been furnished, and the illustrations have been in every respect adequate, except that more of the same kind would be desirable. The list of members printed in this issue shows that we have a society of suffi- cient size to warrant the publication of a creditable Journal, and the financial backing ought to be sufficient to make possible further improvements in its size and typographical appearance. The list of subscribers is about as large as the roll of members, and it might be well for the society to consider an increase in the subscription price. In that way it is possible that the yearly revenue might become larger. We »till lack funds to do what we wish, and each member should make a special effort the coming winter to procure at least one new name for the active list. It is believed that the member- ship could be doubled if sufficient effort should be made in the direction suggested. For the coming year it is urged that members continue to send notes of general interest, by making record of everything in any degree out of the ordinary. JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 99 The Christmas bird census of last year was so successful, and the reports were of so much permanent value, that it will be repeated this year in much the same manner as before. Begin on the morning of December 23rd and continue until the evening of January ist. Keep as accurate account as possible of the number of ever}' species you see and send the reports to the editor, City building, Portland, during the first week of January. It is desirable that the report be sent, even if the list of birds seen is not large. In connection with the report add all items of interest noted during the ten days of the Christmas census. Reports are coming from several different parts of the state that the American Goshawk is much more plentiful than usual the present fall. A number of specimens have been sent to taxidermists, and the farmers are having some trouble to protect their poultry from this bold robber. White-winged Crossbills are abundant throughout southern Maine just now. Capt. Spinney reports a considerable flight of these birds in a note printed in this number of the Journal, and in the pitch-pine woods of Cape Elizabeth there has been a flock of at least two hundred of the same species during a period of two or three weeks. Only here and there has an individual of the American Crossbill been observed with the others. - Last fall and winter there was an unusual flight of Snowy Owls in many sections of this state and this fall already the taxidermists are reporting that they are receiving quite a number of Owls of this Arctic species. They are not yet here in the abundance of the winter of 1905-6, Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks have arrived in southern Maine in flocks of fair size. They were last abundant in the winter of 1903-4, but since then until the present season they have been reported only as occasional. Around Portland Pine Grosbeaks have been seen in half a dozen different localities and it is likely that there will be more of them as the season advances. In the last number of the Journal Mr. Ruthven Deane reported Loons as unusually plentiful at Scarboro Beach during the summer. In this number Messrs Mead, of North Bridgton, and Sweet, of Phillips, call attention to the abundance of the same bird in their sections, and the obser\^ations of these ornithologists, thus taken together, emphasize an item of general interest, making it sure that the Loon has, for one season, at least, resumed its former status in Maine waters. lOO JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. lira Nntpa. 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. We note with iiuich satisfaction the increasing frequency with which the members of our society report to this Journal their ornithological observations. This is an important part of our duties, one to another, and should be shared in by all interested in bird life. The Journal'.s columns are always open to contributors of items of general interest relating to Maine birds, and we trust our members will, through this medium, disseminate such knowledge as they personally possess. Fall Notes from Seguin. The fall in this locality has proved unusually barren of bird life. While I am unable to give any reason for it, a few facts have sug- gested the following opinion. In looking over my oflticial journal I find the prevailing winds for September were from northeast to southwest, fresh breezes, not much cloudy weather. Besides that, there was a well developed moon most of the month. I find October very much worse in winds, and same conditions. The conditions at the station, as I have before stated, most favorable to see the migration of small birds, are either very dark, moderate nights, or after a strong northwest wind during the night, when at daylight the birds can be seen by hundreds arriving from seaward to the island. These conditions have not occurred during the season thus far, but instead a fair wind has prevailed, with nights lighted enough by the moon so that it would not seem reasonable that the birds would either be blown out of the line of flight, or lose their course for want of landmarks. Fall records for inland may throw some light on the matter, but at present the above reasons are all that suggest a reason to me. With the sea birds it has been the same, especially with the Scoter Ducks. This is the first fall for twenty-three years I have not had Coots, as they are commonly called, what I wanted to eat both spring and fall. So few have been seen passing the island up to the JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. lOI present date that I have yet to get my annual feed. The assertion has been made to me by a number of sportsmen that, under the conditions of weather that have prevailed this fall, the Scoters fly direct from Cape Sable to Cape Cod. That fact I cannot believe until it is given from more authentic sources than I have yet received it. As far as I can learn, the same scarcity of the Scoter Ducks prevails all along the coast as in mj^ vicinity. The middle of September my attention was claimed by the scarcity of the Pigeon Hawk {Falco columbarius) , which usually at that time could be seen in numbers any day, and up to the present date I have not sighted a dozen of that species, when usually during the same period hundreds of them would be seen. This fact indicates to me that the birds for that period have probably taken another direction of flight. The Common Finches, Song- Sparrows and Juncos, which are always to be seen here in thou- sands during the last of September and through October, have not appeared until within the last few days, and are in limited numbers. The first of September there was an unusual number of American Goldfinches about the island, and they continued to pass over in large flocks every day, and even at the present time a few are to be seen occasionally. All other small birds have been so scarce that I have made few notes. I here give you a few. April 19th. II. 45 P. M., moderate wind, southeast to south, with few stars to be seen. While in the lantern looking after the light, something struck the dome of the lantern, which sounded as if some- one had fired a gun. I took a hand lantern and went out doors, and at the base of the light tower found a Woodcock that had just been killed. Its bill was broken across the nostrils by the concussion. Another bird was noticed flying around in rays of light, but I could not determine the species. September ist. A flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches arrived at the island to-day. They are very busy about the buildings looking for food. Flocks of Cedar Waxwings are also plentiful, feeding on the elderberry {Sambiicus canadoisis), which grows abundantly on the island. Pigeon Hawks were, as usual, preying upon the small birds I02 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. as they arrive. There were two or three of the Hawks that stopped a few days. September loth. 2.00 A. M., wind north, showery. Two Pine Warblers were on the glass of lantern. September nth. Golden- winged Woodpeckers arrived to-day in numbers. A Sparrow Hawk, a bird seldom seen on the island, was observed. A straggling Scoter Duck was also seen. October 9th. Gale south southeast. A large flight of Gannets have steadily passed the island to-day, going west, and quite a flight of Scoter Ducks, the only ones in numbers noticed since Sep- tember 13th. The first flight of Juncos and Sparrows (mostly Song and a scattering White-throat) are on the island to-day. Also noticed Golden-crowned Kinglet. A number of Red-breasted Nut- hatches were also noticed, one of them alighting on my shoulder as I passed along, and diligently looked me over to apparently learn what species I belonged to. These are the only instances up to the 3rd that I have considered worth noting thus far this fall. About ten days ago a few strag- gling White-winged Crossbills were noticed passing over the island. Saturday, the 3rd, the weather cleared, the wind abating somewhat and shifting from northeast to north. I^arge flocks of White- winged Crossbills passed over the island all day, with now and then a small flock of Snowflakes, and scattering Shore Larks. About fifty Amer- ican Eider Ducks were feeding at the south end of the island, the first I have noticed this season. This date is, I think, unusually early, as I look for the flight about November 20th. A few Long- tailed Ducks were also noticed, and a scattering Cormorant may be seen feeding around the island. October 4th. This morning at sunrise the White-winged Cross- bills commenced to arrive at the island from an east to southeast direction, and for an hour I stood and watched them. During that time two or three flocks, containing from ten to fifty individuals, were constantly in sight, one flock following the other and passing to Small Point, to the west. The Duck Hawk, which at this season is usually common on the island, has thus far been noticed in but JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 103 three instances. An American Goshawk was noticed to-day, the first I have seen on the island for two or more years. This species seldom visits this island. Herbert L,. Spinney. Seguin. Nov. 4, 1906. The Hawk Which Escapeu. — No doubt most of your readers read more or less about the Hawk that got away from the Milo tax- idermist, in the daily newspapers, for the same was spread about even to Boston dailies. Well, the facts are these : A rather large species of Hawk was sent on to me by express, alive, and of course boxed, so to kill it at once out of its misery, I loosed a stave off the box, and reached out to get a thick mitten I have for that purpose, not thinking that the Hawk, which appeared dead, or nearly so, would have taken the advantage so promptly, but he did, and with an electric rush darted through the opening, which was very narrow. Then he darted about the room, making things fly; as the room is lofty, he had some space for his antics. He then seemed to back a little and took a fierce bang clean through the clear glass windows, smashing a square 30 x 15 to smithereens, and he dropped down outside, apparently dead. I seized a thick stick, quite four feet long, rushed downstairs, and got up to his birdship just as he had risen about four feet from the ground. I aimed a blow, a two- handed one, at him, knocking him quite down to the ground with a thud. I could have bet a large sum that that Hawk was done for, but up he gets, scoops away along the ground like a swallow, and gets clean away as neatly and easily as though nothing had hap- pened to him. If that bird didn't deserve to live, tell me so. I watched as far as I could see him, which was a long way ; he never lit in sight, and took his troubles clean off, leaving me with my troubles to mend the window. I was not sure of the species, but it was a red-bellied Hawk, as I could see. William Cooper. Milo, Nov. 5, 1906. I04 JOURNAI^ OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Hawks Abundant. — My experience tells me that Hawks, as well as Snowy Owls, seem to come in bunches. Nine years ago I had seven or eight Goshawks ; since then I have not had one until this season and I have had six already. It is the same with the Red- tailed Hawk. Can anyone explain this? The other taxidermists might compare notes. William Cooper. Milo, Nov. 5, 1906. A Flock of Chewinks. — I have never found the Chewink to be a very common bird here in Maine. An individual now and then, or at most a pair, has been the extent of my observations of this species in northern Cumberland County during thirty odd years. Consequently imagine my surprise on the 31st of July of the past summer to find a large flock of Chewinks, seemingly scores of them, on the top of Pleasant Mountain (2,020 ft. altitude). In the flock were many young birds, but a goodly number were in adult plumage and many of the males were in song. The previous day had been showery and a heavy northwest wind had blown all night, leading me to believe that a wave of migrants had paused here to seek shelter from the elements. Before night they had disappeared. Jas. Carroll Mead. North Bridgton, Oct., 1906. Loons Again Plentiful. — I wonder if observers in other localities have noted any increase in the number of lyoons during the last year or .two. Here on Long Lake they had apparently diminished in numbers seriously until this present year, when I have been gladdened by the sight and sound of them something as of old. I have thought that perhaps the advent of the motor boat had frightened them away, until learning that it is not necessarily a menace. They have returned to their haunts. How has it been elsewhere ? Jas. Carroll Mead. North Bridgton, Oct., 1906. JOURNAL OF' MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 105 CowBiRD IN ViREo's Nest. — Recently while examining vari- ous specimens in the collection of Mr. Thomas J. Battey, of Provi- dence, R. I., the data accompanying a nest of the Red-eyed Vireo, taken at Camp Wyonegonic, Bridgton, Maine, interested me. Mr. Battey kindly consented to its use in the Journal, and allowed me to make the following copy : "This beautiful nest, trimmed with birch bark, was built by the Red-eyed Vireo in a hazel bush near the Camp at Bridgton, 1905. After one egg w^as laid, a Cowbird deposited one, and then the Vireo laid one more. The Cowbird hatched first and then one of the Vireos. The birds grew nicely until the Cowbird left the nest, when the Vireos neglected their own little fledgling, and it died, apparently starved. The other egg did not hatch. T. J. B [attey]." Arthur H. Norton. Portland, Oct. 15, 1906. Notes from Phillips. — A flock of Herring Gulls came to Sweet's Pond, New Vineyard, April 29th, and stayed over a week. I saw as many as sixteen at one time. May 5th, I saw on the same pond a flock of nine lyoons, where I had seen but two last year and none previously. May 21st, I discovered a pair of Philadelphia Vireos in the maples in front of my house. They remained there a w^eek or more. The song was similar to that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but much less varied, and could be heard only about one-quarter as far. The Warblers came about a week later than usual, and some of the migrant birds w^ere unusually late in taking their departure for the north. May 23rd, I saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The last one previously seen was May 14th, up to which date they had been common. I saw a Wilson's Warbler feeding among the apple blossoms in my garden May 29th. This bird remained until May 31st, when I saw it for the last time. It had not the least vestige of a crown cap. I saw two males May 30th, at the edge of an alder bog. I also saw a vSolitary Sandpiper the same day. A pair of Juncos built a nest in my barn eight feet from the ground. The nest was in a mortise of a crossbeam overhead, in the middle of a I06 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, driveway. I didn't discover it until I found the young birds on the ground beneath, just after they had vacated the nest. In the spring, during snowstorms, Juncos and Song Sparrows had come in here for shelter, and to pick up food from "the ground. I had fed them lib- erally with seeds, and probably pleasant memories had suggested this as a good place for a home. July 29th, I flushed an Ovenbird from its nest, which had three eggs. D. W. Sweet. Phillips, Oct. 15, 1906. A Connecticut Warbler. — During the latter part of Sep- tember I saw several Connecticut Warblers in the woods of Cape Elizabeth, and undoubtedly there was quite a flight of these birds at about that time. The first time one of these Warblers was noted I could not be fully sure what species it was. That was on the i6th of September. On the following day, vSept. 17, 1906, a cat brought to a cottage, about two hundred yards from the spot where I had seen the bird which puzzled me, a young male Connecticut Warbler. The specimen was taken to Mr. Arthur H. Norton and was fully verified by him, after comparison with the skins in his possession. This, I believe, is the seventh record of this Warbler in south- western Maine. The previous six records are as follows : Brown, Cape Elizabeth, Aug. 30, 1878, Abstract proceedings Portland Society Natural History, 1882; Goodale, Saco, Sept., 1885, Sept. 8, 1886, and Sept. 15, 1886 ; Goodale in Auk, Vol. IV, p. 77 ; Norton, Westbrook, Sept. 20, 1896, Bulletin University of Maine, No. Ill, p. 119; Norton, Westbrook, Sept. 5, 1901, Journal Maine Ornith- ological Society, Vol. VI, p. 47. W. H. Brownson. Portland, Nov. 10, 1906. Bird Trip to Franklin County. — List of birds seen on a two weeks' vacation trip in July to Franklin County. Hermit Thrush, Loon, Red-eye^ Vireo, Chipping, Song, White-throated, Vesper, Savanna Sparrows, Woodcock, Marsh Hawk, American JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNlTHOLOGICAIv .SOCIETY. 107 Bittern, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Phoebe, Crossbill (Amer- ican), Goldfinch, Junco, Indigo Bunting, Northern Water Thrush, White and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Purple Martin, Winter Wren, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker, American Merganser with eight young, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chickadee, Flicker, Robin, Myrtle, Canadian, Wilson's, Magnolia Warblers, Redstart, Northern Yel- lowthroat. A Fish Hawk alighted in a pine tree about twelve feet from the ground at Highland Lake in September and seemed to pay little heed to the half-dozen people that were sitting beneath the shade of the pine. After remaining there several minutes, one of the men secured a rifle and fired, but missed the bird, which simply flew to a higher branch twenty-five feet from the ground. A second shot was fired and the bird was killed, which proved to be the above species. The spread of the wings from tip to tip measured exactly five feet. Louis E. Legge. Portland, Oct. 19, 1906. Notes from Gardiner. — Barred Owls have been unusually abundant this fall. Mr. Homer R. Dill, the state taxidermist, has received as many during September, October and November, for mounting, as he has received for the last twelve years. In all his experience he does not recollect mounting more than four or five of this particular species in a whole year, and in some years not more than two have been received. But this fall thirty-five have been sent him up to date. Wood Ducks are more abundant than usual, and the gunners have made some good bags. A Snowy Owl was received by Mr. Dill in the month of Sep- tember. It was taken in Waterville. Two more were received in October, and another in November. In view of the fact that the usual flight of these birds and the time of greatest abundance is December and January, the occurrence of these early stragglers seems deserving of more than a passing note. It is sincerely hoped I08 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. that our observers along the coast will keep a sharp lookout for oiir friends from the north, and report anything unusual in their flight. The White-throated Sparrows have been abundant and un- usually fearless this fall. Two of Principal Powers' vSaturday Nature Club, Elizabeth Powers and John Heselton, each aged five years, were playing in the dooryard at No. 26 Lincoln street, Gardiner, Me., when one of them ran into the house, crying, "Come out quick and see the skunk." The skunk proved to be a mink, and he was soon captured alive, but died during the night. Later investigation developed the fact that Frank Libby, another of the club, had seen the same, or another, mink, earlier in the day in Mr. Libby's yard on Dresden street. William L. Powers. Gardiner, Nov. 19. Another Red Phalarope {Crymophilus fulicarius) Near Portland. — On October 17, 1906, I had the privilege of examining a Red Phalarope in the flesh. According to Mr. Blanchard Pills- bury, who had it, it had been shot October i6th, at Scarboro, Me., in "Atlantic House Pond." It was in wanter plumage. Other local records are H. H. Brock, Aiik, Vol. XII, p. 173, 1896 ; A. H. Norton, this Journal, Vol. VII, p. 47, 1905. Arthur H. Norton. Portland, Nov. 19. The Towhee in Gardiner. — Mr. Homer Dill reports seeing a Towhee in his dooryard, Wednesday morning, November 21st. This bird has been reported from Togus, six miles distant, but though it has been watched for in Gardiner for years, no specimen has ever been seen before. W. L. Powers. 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