cP^n^e^y^

[From 'TiiK Ai'K,' Vol. X. No i, January, 1S93.]

SUMMHR BIRDS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

BY JONATHAN D WIGHT, JR.

THE AUK:

A Q^UARTERLY JOURNAL OF

ORNITHOLOGY.
VOL. X. January, 1893. no.

SUiMMER HIRDS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

nv JONATHAN DWIGHT, JR.

Lying in the southern part of the Gtilf of St. Lawrence, its
low oiithnes just visible from the niaiiilaiul, is Prince Edward
Island, called by some one the 'Garden of the Gulf.' Compared
witli the ru<if<i;ed Labrador or Cape Hreton coasts of the Gulf,
this patch of green on the surroundinj;" blue waters might to a
fervid imaginatio'.i suggest the appellation of garden, but when
the climate, with its long winters and brief summers, and the
limited protiuctions of the ishuul are taken into account, not to
mention the semi-civilized aspect of much of the country, the
name of "^arden does not strike the beholder as particulariv
descriptive. However, it is not my [)resent purpose to do more
tl)an indicate the salient features oi' the island's topography and
llora, that my fellow ornithologists may follow n'.e the more
understandiuirlv in my endeavor to introduce to them the avifauna
of a considerable area hitherto neglected by our fraternity.
Anticosti, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, and particularly the
Magilalen Islands have all been visited, but Prince ICdwaid
Island has been passed by, probably because it seemed to oilei
fewer attractions than these wilder, rougher islands.

Notwithstanding the probability that 1 should only meet with

2 Dwir.HT, Summer Birds of Prince Edward hlatid. \]-\n

birds whose acquaintance I had aheady made in other parts of
Canada, I nevertheless devoted a couple of weeks last simimer
to exploring the island, and am now able to say what species are
characteristic summer residents; and a few words about them
mav not come amiss to those of us who may be familiar with
them only during the migration seasons.

The length of my stay was from June 23 to Jidv 9, and l)y
means of the narrow-gauge railroad, supplemented by horse
power, I visited both extremities of the island, making Tignish
and Souris my head(|uarters. The remarkable feat of connecting
these places by 167 miles of railroad has been accomplished
(the air line distance is less than 100 miles), the promoters of
the road being desirous no doubt that each feature of the land-
scape should be viewed by the travelling public fiom at least
three ditlerent points of the compass. I also stopped at inter-
mediate points. The weather was favorable, mostly bright, the
raw winds from the northeast and the brief rainstorms peculiar
to the Gr.lf l)eing the only disagreeable features, and tliese were
less pronoimced as July advanced and the sun gained jiower.
What the climate mu.>>t be in the winter time, wlien a bell of ice
extending as far as the eye can reach surrouiuls the island, and
binds it to the maiidand bv ever shifting iloes, can only be
inferred from the chiUing breath of the northeriv bree/es tliat in
summer sweep over the frigid water of the Gulf. The ice is
said to disappear in April and spring opens, but the summer is
i)rief and chiefly conlined to tiie months ol" July and August.
Brant regularly remain till the Sth of June. With sncli a back-
ward spring and such a cool and brief sunnner it is not surpris-
ing that agriculture, beyond the production of hay, potatoes and
oats, does not (lourish. Corn is rarely attempted, and us'ially
sutlers by early frost.

Prince Etlward Island has the form of an irregular crescent,
the concavity to the northward. It embraces an area of 2133
square miles. Its extreme length from East I'oint to West I'oint
is about one hundred and twenty miles, and its width would
probably average about twenty miles, for the coast line is verv
much indenteil by bays. By means of them it is, roughly speak-
ing, cut into three sections. The westernmost is the nar-
rowest, the width increasing eastward to nearly forty miles,
the island tapering oil' again to a point at its eastern extremity.

^iSqi^I Dwight, Summer Birdsi of Prince Ed-ward Island. "X

The geolojrical formation of the island is a ivd, cnimliling sand-
stone tliat <^ivi.'s rise to low biiills ten to twenty feet hi<:;li alon<^
the coast, these reachinj? a hei<;ht of sixty or seventy feet at some
points, notably near North Cape, at East Point, and on the
north shore near New London. The hlulVs (or 'clifts' as they are
called by the natives) are practically perpendicnlar, the waves
eating them away below, and usually theie is a gravelly beach of
detritus at their base. Tiiey are often guttered by streams, and
sloping down, parallel to the water's edge, may be replaced by
reaches of gravel or sand, or perhaps low islands, behind which
are tbund lagoons and salt marslies, but in a few miles, pcrliaps
in a few hundred yards, they may again unexpectedly rise to con-
siderable height. The wind-swept sand beaches are chielly
along the north shore, interrupted at times by the red blulfs;
and although there is always a perceptible reddish tinge to the
sand, it is surprising how white it may become in some local-
ities. The drifted sand-hills, fringed with more or less scanty
grass, suggested the possibility of linding the Ipswich Spairow,
and yet my elforts were unrewarded, the Savanna Sparrows met
with in such places being in no wise lighter-colored th;m those
of adjacent Helds.

A green belt of farming country encircles the island, the pas-
tures in manv places extending to the very edge of the blulVs.and
back f>f them tiie land is slightlv rolling, nowhere reaching any
considerable altitude. The only marked inequalities are due to
the erosion of sniall brooks, and the general elfect is that of a Hat
country. In the central section, the best settled, the farms
extend from shore to shore and have succeeded the forest that
once clothed the whole island. The timber has been nearly all
cut, and no large bodies remain except in the westci.i and eas<:erii
sections, wiiere bears, still surviving in limited numbers, indicate
the nature of the unsettleil tracts. A few 'blueberry barrens*
were noticed. Most of the island appears to be well drained and
comparatively dry. I met with no extensive swamps, nor aie
the shores of the fresh water lagoons and lakes (particularly
abundant near East Point) especially swampy. The lagoons
have been made by the damming back of small streams behind
the sandbars formed by the wearing away of the bluffs. At Tig-
nish tlie wootls were in patches interruptetl by fields, this style of
country being characteristic of a large part of the island. It rep-

A y)\\iv,\\r, Suuimff liinh oj Pri'iirr E<f-uiird Ifltiiitf. flnn

resents here as elsevvlieie the spreadiiijr of civilization that destroys
utterly the Ibrest of its own j^eneration ami takes no thonglit for
the possible necessities of the fnture. liefore the woodman's axe,
the evergreen forest has melted away in many parts of our conti-
nent never to return, its place l)ein<j taken, as is well known,
by deciduous trees, they sulVeriiijj^ in their turn, and this process
is now well advanced even on I'rince Edward Island.

The native trees are chiefly conifenc and more than nine
tenths of them spruce {P/cca 7iig)-a and /*. alda) and lir {Abies
balsamea). Amonji; the more abundant decidnous trees are
maples (chiefly Acer saccharinum)^ birches {Brtu/a lenta^
B. hitca^ and B. f^apyrifcra, all in consitlerable numbers),
beeclies {Fag-ns fcrr/iol/ica)^ and some of the willows and
poplars. Of the shrubs the heath family is well represented,
especially by the genera Vacciuium (blueberries), Ledum (Lab-
rador tea), and Kalmia {K. aiigusti/olia^ sheep laurel).
Alders are generally distributed. As to the herbaceous plants,
thev are those of the northern woods and fields. It is said
that some plants of the adjacent mainland are not found
on the island. In other words, tiie twenty miles or so of the
Straits of Xorthuml)erland act as a barrier to the possible
tinsre of more southern forms, and the same mav influence the
northward range of certain species of birds more or less common
on the mainland. One may find fragrant banks of the lin\ , \\o(\-
ding Limnca, pai'ures red with sorrel {B/imcx acetosella)^
swamps blue with iris {Iris versicolor) ^ clearings green with
coarse ferns, beneath wiiich gray mosses and clumps of the
scarlet l)uuchl)erry ( Corn/is canadensis) may be fouml, and tlie
dark evergreen woods are carpeti'd with the greenest of mosses.
There are m;iny other trees and bushes, notably larch ( Larix
americana) and arbor vitoL' {T/inya occidentalis) which are
rather common locally, but they are not especially conspicuous
features, and I merely wish to call attention to certain parts of
the flora to indicate in a very general way its character. There
are many tracts of second-growth, usually almost wholly beech
or maple which, if small, are shunned by birds, and nowhere can
one wander tar without entering tracts of timber, from which per-
haps only tiie larger trees have been culled. When lire runs
through timber, dead and blackened trunks are left that in a few
years become, by the rotting away of their branches, the njonoto-

Vol. X
iSo.5

1 DwiGUT, Summer Birds (7/ Prince Edivatd Island. ^

nous (lead stubs of the northern landscape. Prince Edward
Island is, ho^vover, reniarkably free from such tracts, having; passed
this period of primitive civilization. One way of clearinj^ land,
especiallv if it is covered with second-j^rowth spruce, is to cut
down evervthiuir and then let fire do its work when the brush is a
little dry, so it is no wonder forest fires are easily started. After fire
has swept throujjh a clearin<^, raspberry bushes ( A'. .s7;vVo5?/.9)
and the willow-herb or 'fire weed' {EpUobinm ang-itsti folium)
are certain to spring up, although apparently there may have
been none for miles, coarse ferns soon multiply, and in time tlie
old stumps and fallen, half-charred logs are covered with mosses
and lichens, while tlie ground, if not cultivated, is soon hidden by
many sorts of plants and grasses. In such spots the White-
throated Sparrow and the Slate-colored Junco find their favorite
haunts, and here the Hermit 'I'hrush makes its nest near the
edge of the woods, and sings from some favorite tree. Perhaps
an Olive-sided Flycatcher may be heard whistling from the top
of the tallest dead tree to be found in or near the clearing, or a
Wood Pewee may wander out from a bit of open woods of mixed
growth near by, where also maybe heard a Parula Warbler or a
Red-eyed Vireo. If maples, birches, and beeches predominate,
Ovenbirds will i)e fountl, and the larger tlie growth the more
probability there is of finding the Black-tiiroated Blue Warbler.
The Winter Wren and the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher abide in the
dense evergreen wootls along mossy brooks where few other birds
disturb the (|uiet, save perhaps wandering NVarblers or Thrushes.
In clearings grown up with small spruces Magnolia Warblers
always abound, and if these trees are of considerable six.e there
are sure to be Olive-backed Thrushes. Black-throated Green
and Mvrtle Warblers. The Nashville Warbler is usually found
in the detached, ragged bits of mixed woods, which the Mag-
nolia and Myrtle Warblers also frequent, together with Redstarts
and Thrushes, Such in brief are some of the characteristic birds
of the woods, and such their favorite haunts, though their tastes
of course may vary and some, such as the Hudsonian and Black-
capped Chickadees, the Woodpeckers, and the Golden-crowned
Kinglets, are almost sure to be found in unexpected jilaces.

Then there are damp bushy tracts where the bushes may be
waist high and an occasional arbor vitiu or larch rises above the
smaller growth. Here one may seek Canadian and Wilson's

6 DviiGHT, Summer Birds of Prince Edward Island, \^lm

Wiirblers and Maryland Y&llowthroats, while swampy alders
suggest the probability of finding Traill's Flycatchers and Swamp
Sparrows. If a brook passes through the alders, Water-thrushes
may be heard, but it is no easy matter to get even a glimpse of
them.

'I'he birds of the fields are numerous, the Savanna Sparrow
jirobahly outnumbering all the others put together. Vesper
Sparrows and Song Sparrows abound, while the Robin and
Flicker are more frequently seen in the opei'. than elsewhere.
Crows stalk al)out in every field, though their nests are in the
woods. Goldfinches, Purplf Finches, Crossbills and Cedarbirds
are generally seen on the wing in the open countrv. and 11} ing
higher tiian the Swallows (IJarn, n;ink,and White-bellied) which
most frequently are noticed skimming along near the ground or
over the surface of a sheet of water.

Long familiarity with the notes and habits of the birds of tlie
Maritime Provinces enabled me to accomplish much more than
if I had been a stranger to them, and even though my stav was
brief, I feel confident that those species that escaped my attention
were either exceedingly rare or did not occur in the localities I
visited. All males were in full song, and females startled from
their nests lost no time in beginning to scold. I was in the field
from morning till night, and my gun with its auxilliary was a
trusty friend. Of a previous visit to the island in 1876 little
need be said, for the egg fever was on me at that time and the
finding of a Junco's nest was sufficient to satisfv my ambition for
several days.

While iu Charlottetown I c *.;amined a hundred or more birds
stufl'ed bv Prof. S. N. Earle, but unforttmately they lacked data
and are therefore of little use in the present connection. P^rom
him, however, I obtained much interesting information. Some
notes upon the winter birds of the island have been published by
Mr. }3ain (Auk, II, 1SS5, pp. 262-267).

I present here a list that embraces only the species that have
come under my own observation, but it includes most of the birds
that make their summer home (>n Prince Edward Island, the fauna
of which is thoroughly Canadian.

Cepphus grylle. Black Guim.kmot. — The 'Sea Pigeons' used to breed
in great ninnViers in tiie cliffs at various points along the coast. J iiave nr
doubt that they still do so in suuiller numbers, although the only positive

^'"j!"^"] V>\\\gut:, Sinnmer Birds of Prince Edxvard Isluiid. J

evidence I luive is tlie fiicf tha^ I saw a dozen or more of the birds abont a
ililVncar New London on tlie norlii sliore of tiie island, and beard the
young 'squealing' in inaccessible crevices. This clift', extending fur
perliaps half a mile, is probably the highest on the ishind, and is almost
slieer to the water seventy or eighty feet below. No beacli here intervenes
between its base and the naves which in times of storm beat so fiercely
against it that it is justly dreaded by mariners as one of the most langer-
ous spots on the north shore of the island. Its crumbling face, to the very
lirink of which the green fields above extend, affords lodges and seams
where the 'Sea Pigeons' find secure nesting places, and arc said to be
"plenty." I devoted only one day to exploring this locality and did not
see many birds. They were in small parties or pairs, (loating upon or
skimming over the water, or quietly sitting upon some ledge, the white
wing-iiatch conspicuous against the red background of rock as viewed
from a t)oat. Their black bodies were comparatively inconspicuous owing
to sliadows. At Tignisb a boy told me he had found a nest the previous
year in the low bluffs of the north sliore, and I think they niay breed in the
high cliffs southwest of North Cape, although I could not make thorough
search. I also saw a pair at East Point where again are high cliffs, sixty
feet or more in height.

Larus argentatus smithsonianus. American Herring Gull. — A few
were seen from time to time, but I could find noevidence that they bred on
the island. Birds of such powerful flight might well wander in the course
of a day manv miles from their breeding grounds.

Sterna hirundo. Common Tekn. — It is probable that this species,
known as the 'Nfnckerel Gull,' is the only Tern resident during the
summer months, and it is abundant at many points, particularly the sandy
reaches of the north sbore. I visited a colony near Souris July 7, con-
sisting of perhaps seventy-five pairs. Several nests found contained three
eggs each, and were the usual depressions in the plains of drifted sand,
protected possibly by a few bl.ides of coarse beach-grass and in one case
by a few wisps of grass wound round the edge of the hollow. The birds
were reserved in their demeanor, but did not hesitate to expose themselves
to the danger of firearms when their nest< were examined. Their dainty
]ilumage and easy flight always seem out of keeping with their harsh
voices. It is pleasant to visit a colony of Terns and realize it has escaped
the persecutions of the milliners, for perhaps no one genus of birds has
been more thoroughly exterminated in certain sections of our country
than has Sterna, thanks to Dame Fashion's inexorable decrees. I was
told that this species made its appearance each spring with wonderful
regularity on the north shore — usually May 22 — and always between
May 2\ and 24.

Phalacrocorax .' Two birds were seen at New London, July 2,

perched on a cliff" white with their chalkings, but they could not be ap-
proached. I was told that 'Shags' were often seen on this rock, but were
not thought to breed thero. Whether carlo or dilophu$ it is impossible
for me to say.

S 'Dwiiiin, Sumtner Birds of Prince Edzvard Island. f^an'

Anas obscura. Black Duck. — This is the only Duck of whose
presence I have conchisive evidence. I saw ii brood on a f esh water lake
near Soiiris, and 1 found dried up on the sand one day the carcass of an
adult In several other localities I heard of nests having been found.

Botaurus lentiginosus. American Bittern. — A tolerably commo
bird in suitable localities, and known hy the name of 'Mud-lien.'

Ardea herodias. Gri^at Hli k IIkron. — I learned of at least two
heronries of this bird, but did not visit them. One near Charlottetown
was described to me as containing seveial hundred binis. The nests were
in hard-wood growth, and were warrantee! to contain young each year by
July 4. The Herons were seen at many points on tlie island, notably along
St. Peter's Bay. where 1 saw upwaiiis of twenty as the train skirted the
sliore. They paid little or no attention to it, although offt-n less than a
gun-shot distant.

Philohela minor. American Woodcock. — The sportsmen are ac-
quainted with this bird but it is considered rare. 1 saw a stuffed si)ecimen,
and well recollect the one I shot at I don't know how many times when I
visited Hunter River in 1876. Tiie country about there is better suited to
it than much of the ground visited this time. The partiality of the
Woodcock for clean alder swamps still obtains on Prince Edward Island.

Gallinago delicata. Wilson's Snipk. — This species breeds, sparingly
I fancy, at suitable jilaces on the island. I saw a young bird in fust
plumage among Prof. Earle's birds and talked with several men who had
found nests. The tussocks in boggy places along brooks seem to be the
usual site — in one case a nest was found in a bunch of iris.

Actitis macularia. Si-ot ri:i> Sandimi'KK. — (jeiierally distributed along
brooks in the open country and fairly common. A nest was tound in an
odd situation at Tignish. It was under a decayed log on a boggy slope,
and was carefully lined with bits of rotten wood.

^gialitis meloda. I'lriNc; Plover. — Frequented the sandy or gravelly
beaches in considerable numbers. •

Bonasa umbellus togata. Canadian Rl'FFKd Groi'se. — \ few only
were met with, although said to be abundant. A novel method of hunting
them reached my ears. They come out upon the railroad in a certain
section to sun themselves, and it is said the sportsman riding to and fro
on a track-velocipede slioots them so that sometimes he can pii'k then) up
with )ut sto|)ping. I Wiis informed by gunners that Dcndnigaf>iis mna-
det/sis does not inhabit the ishmd.

Circus hudsonius. .Marsh Hawk. — Birds of this species were occa-
sionallv seen, rei()gni/.al)le at long distances by the white bar on the tail.
It was almost the only Bird of Prey met with.

Aquila chrysactos. (»(JLDKn E.xciLK. — I examined a live specimen in
yoinig plumage, captured Jusie 2^, in a Ibx ti ap set for it, near New London.
The man who caught it thought there was a nest near by in a piece of
woods, and expected to traji Ih*^ old birds as well, one of which he had seen.
After visiting the locality I am inclined to doubt whether the bird was
bred on the island. Eagles are considered rare birds there by all the

^"soi^J DwiGHT, Summer Birds of Prince Edward Island. Q

people with whom I talked, and probably slray from wilder regions, such,
for instance, as Cape Breton.

Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. — A bird that I took to be this
species was seen one day. Prof Earie showed me a stuffed specimen.

Pandion halia^tos carolinensis. American Osprey. — Seen both at
Tignish and Souris in limited numbers.

Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Black-billed Cuckoo. — One specimen
obtained at Tignish is the only evidence I have of its occurrence on the
islatul.

Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. — Tolerably common, making
its home in holes dug into the sand stratum that overlies the rock of the
bluffs along the shores.

Dryobates villosus. Hairy Woodpecker. — Occasionally observed.
There seemed to be a great dearth of Woodpeckers, the P^lickei alone
excepted. Dead trees did not abound, still there were a great many of
them scattered here and there.

Dryobates pubescens. Downy Woodpecker. — The only birds I
chanced to meet were a family at Souris occupying a hole thirty feet from
the ground in a dead maple of large dimensions. The locality was a grove
of old maples.

Sphyrapicus varius. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. — This species was
also unexpectedly rare and seldom met with.

Ceophlcsus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker. — Said to have been
formerly common. Prof Earle showed me a stuffed specimen, but I found
no other evidence, save hearsay, of its occurrence. No "mortise holes'
were discovered.

Colaptes auratus. Flicker. — The only abundant Woodpecker, and
found everywhere in moderate numbers. June 25, a nest with fully fledged
young was examined in the top of a hollow fence post. No excavation
had been made by the bird, and the young were entirely exposed to the
weather.

Chordeiles virginianus. Nighthawk. — A few were seen almost every
day, frequenting the open clearings or sailing high in the air at sunset.

Chsetura pelagica. Chimney Swift. — Rather rare, and not often
seen. In a country where a majority of the hou>es have hut one
chimney, and that chimney in use from one year's end to another's, it is
not remarkable that the Chimney Swift still nests in its primitive manner
ill hyllow trees, hut it is remarkable how soon it takes kiiuily to civiliza-
lion when this has ativanced to the point of building houses with a spare-
room chimney.

Trochilus colubris. Ruhy-throatkd Hum.mingbird — Not observed,
hut uniioubtedly ociurs. I'rof. Earle showed me stuffed specimens.

Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. — Rather common, and no doubt
greatly enjoys life where there are so many Crows to be harrassed.

Contopus borealis. Olive-sided Flycatcher. — One specimen was
observed at Souris. Prof. Earle was familiar >vith it.

Contopus virens. Wood Pewee. — Not common, though now and
then met with in certain localities.

10 DviiGHT, Summer Birds of Prince Edivard Island. fja'n.

Empidonax flaviventris. Yellow-bkllikd Flycatchkk. — Found
only iit Tignisli atid in small miinhers. The divness of the otlier localities
visited would partly account for its absence. The scarcity of tiiis and the
followin«» species rather surprised me.

Empidonax pusillus traillii. Traill's Flycatcher. — A few at
Tiynish in their favorite haunts, the alders, were the only ones met witli.
It is likely that both this species and the preceding are in some other
localities more abundant than my observations would indicate.

Empidonax minimus. Lkast Flycatciii:i{.— A cheerful series of
'che-becs' greeted me one morning at Souris. It is reall\ i-asier to distin-
guish this bird from traillii hy its notes than by the bird in hand, but the
bird in hand is, unfortunately perhaps, a scientific necessity. No others
were seen.

Cyanocitta cristata. Uluic Jay. — Not abundant, and only occasionally
met with. No Perisoreits canadensis were even heard of.

rCorvuscorax principalis Ravex. — I was told that a pair of Ravens had
fonnerl\ nested for several years on the face of the clilVat East Point, and
while I think my informant could have made no mistake as to the species,
I hesitate about admitting a bird to the list on hearsay only.]

Corvus americanus. American Crow.— Nowhere, in the breeding
season, have I ever seen Crows so abundant and so tame. They were
never out of sight or hearing, and they sit on the fences and 'caw' at vou
derisively as you ride by. Of course their numbers were augmenteii bv
young birds, and early in July they were beginning to flock, as indicated
by a gathering of nearly a hundred seen July 4. AtTignish there was a
roost in a large patch of woods, whither towards sundown and later
Crows were seen converging from all directions. In the woods a terrible
noise was kept up until it grew dark. The Crows tio not molest the
farmer to any great extent, as he raises no corn, but I was told thev kill
young chickens and pick out the eyes of new-born lambs. They daily
congregate for a feast in the fields where the refuse of the many lobster-
canning establishment'- is used as a fertilizer.

Scolecophagus carolinus. Rusty Blackbird. — A flock of twenty or
more, largely young birds, near East Point July 7, were the only ones
seen I liad heard of their occurence elsewhere.

Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzed Crackle. — A pair of these
birds in Prof. Earle's possession were the only ones he had ever seen, very
likely stragglers from the mainlantl.

Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. — Sparingly distributed, a
restless and roving species, and seen singly or in pairs.

Loxia curvirostra minor, .\merican Crossbill. — Perhaps more
abundant than the following species, 1 i>t the flocks are so often made up
of birds of both species, and so much more frequently seen or heard flying
overhead rather than allowing a closer examination, that it is diflkult to
estimate tlieir numbers. At any rate both were occasionally seen in
flocks of old and young, sometimes one species predominating (usually
the flock was almost entirely made up of one species), sometiines the

^"soi J DwiGHT, Summer Birds of Prince Eihvard hland. I I

other. Although the call notes are quite distinguishable, those of leucof-
/e;'rt being harsher, it is no easj matte.- to detenniiie percentages in chat-
tering flocks of a dozen or more birds. Their favorite feeding haunts were
larch trees, and, unless disturbed, they were silent as they hung about the
branches in all conceivable attitudes, usually upside down. The}- also
feed on the seeds from the green cones of the fir which are tipped with
freshly exuded pitch at this season, if it be a cone year. The pitch often
mats on the bills and feathers of the birds. Dissection showed the
breeding season to be long ]iast.

Loxia leucoptera. WHiTK-wiNtiKO Crossbill. — Rather numerous.
The remarks made under tiie preceding species apply also to this.
Neither can be seen every day, for both are great wanderf^rs.

Spinus tristis. American GoLnKiNcn. — A few seen almost daily.

Spinus pinus. Fi.nk Siskin. — It surprised me to meet with this species
but once — a male at Souris. Dissection showed the bird to be breeding.

Poocaetes gramineus. Vksper Sparrow. — An abundant bird, frequent-
ing the open fields in the more settled districts.

Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. Savanna Sparrow. — It is
p: tbably the most abundant bird on the island, and is found everywhere
except in woods. On sand beaches, marshes, or dry fields its weak song
was constantly to be heard, and in certain pastures it seemed as if every
third fence post were occupied by a singer. As an illustration that flying
is a matter of practice on the part of young birds, I instance a young
Savanna Sparrow that I flushed one windy day in a pasture where the
grass was very short. 'J'he wind upset all his calculations and himself as
well, apparently getting under his wings and turning him upside down
every time he started on a fresh flight. lie would get along pretty well
for a rod or so and then a purt" would send him bowling over the sod till
he reached a point of fright and exhaustion that left iiim panting just
where he happened to roll.

Ammodramus caudacutus subvirgatus. Acadian Siiarp-tailkd
Finch. — A few liirds in a salt marsh at Tignish were the only ones I could
discover, although I searched in many other localities. As Mr. Win.
Stone found tliis form abundant at Tignish in 1876 (recordeii as A. caiida-
ciitits, iov sitbziirffiifits was not then separated, Brewster, Bull. N. O. C,
Vol. II, Jan. 1S77, p. 28), I was smpriseil not to And it more abundant. I
saw likely ground along East River, but did not have lime to explore it,
and the birds very possibly m.iy be locally distributed here and at other
points also.

Zonotrichia albicollis. Whitktiiroatei) Sparrow — This bird so
characteristic of the Canadian Fauna is less abuiuiant thai\ the ubiquitous
Junco, but on account of its loui and striking song is tar better known to
the average inhabitant. It is a bird of the clearings, building its nest
upon the ground in a bunch of weeds, and singing nearly alj of tlie time
if is not occupied siolding intruders. Its well-known song is easily
imitated, and it is amusing to see how angry and excited a male will
become if lie thinks another has strayed into his own domain. The tong

12 DWKJHT, S/i turner Birds of Prince Edward hlaud. f')"''

is sometimes heard breaking tlie stillness of the night, and only those wiio
iiave passed a nigiit in the northern woods can know liow profound tiiis
stilhiess mav he. The song has given to the bird manv hjcal names
wherever it occurs, one of the best known being 'Kennedy Bird.' 1 iieard
a new \ersion wiiich credit> him with saying 'Good Lord, pity me, pit-v
me. pity me.' Wiien the young get on the wing, the song is less fre-
quently heard. The bird is known to the few French settlers of the island
as rosaifftiol (nightingale).

Spizella sociali s. CHirriNt; Sparrow. — Not a common species, and
f)nlv occasioiiiilly observed.

Junco hyemalis. Slatk-coi.orku Jl.nco. — Next to the Savanna Spar-
row this is probably the most abundant bird on the island. It is found
everywhere, — in dooryards, open fields, fern-clothed clearings, even deep
wood:.. Its nest is on the ground, preferably under something — the
bottom rail of a fence or a hole in some grassy bank. Young were just
beginning to llv June 23, and a week later nests with fresh eggs indicateil
a second laying. Its local name is 'Bluebird,' a strange misnomer, even
though Sidlia sinlis tloes not occur.

Melospiza fasciata. So.ng Sparrow. — \ ory abundant aiui generally
distributed. Mr Bain states that some winter on the island.

Melospiza georgiana. Swamp Sparrow . — Rather conuiion in very
wet, bushy meadows, with alders here and there, or in open swamps of
limited area, such as occur along brooks in cleared country.

Petrochelidon lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. — A common bird, locally
distributed, and nesting in colonies nndei" the caves <jf barns and houses.

Chelidon erythrogaster. Barn Swallow. — Abundant and generally
distributed.

Tachycineta bicolor. WiiiTE-nrcLLiEi) Swallow. — Fairly abundant,
nesting in old Woodpecker holes in clearings, crevices about barns, and
the hollow ends of the raiis composing the zigzag fences so common on
the island. The sudden disappearance of a Swallow as it alighted on a
fence was almost startling until I learned that in some deep hollow, de-
cayed out of the heart of an unsplit rail, was a cosy nest of grass and
feathers. It was impossible to dislodge the birds that were sometimes out
of arm's reach, but several nests examined the last week in June contained
voung. I have never found this species nesting in such a location before.

Clivicola riparia. Bank Swallow. — I perhaps do this species an in-
justice when I say that it is outnumbered by the Savanna Sparrow and
the Junco. I saw colonies of hundreds at several points along the coast,
and as every blulT is crowned by a lavcr of sand, ;.nd much of the coast
line is a continuous blutV, the Swallows have unrivalled opportunities
for nesting places.

Ampelis cedrorum. CHnARruRD. — Seen now and again, but not com-
mon. There is a remarkable similarity between a lisp of this species, a
certain note of the Robin, and one of the Hermit Th'ush.

Vireo olivaceus. Rkd-eykd Vireo. — A common and in a few localities
an abundant bird, here as elsewhere a tireless songster. It prefers decid-
uous trees, particularly lar^e maples. *

iS^3^] I^vviGiiT, Summer Hirds of Prince Edward hli{nd. \X

Vireo solitarius.* Solitary Virko.— At Souris one dav I was attracted
by llie soiiLj of this bird, and soon saw tlio performer. This was tlie onlv
specimen observed on the island. I have often met with it on the main-
land, and fully expected to find others, as its rich, clear song, disconnected
withal in delivery, cannot fail to attract attention.

Mniotilta varia. Black-ano-white VVarhler.— Occasionally seen or
its 'wiry' son<r heard, though not very common.

Helminthophila ruficapilla. Nasuvillk Warbi.er. — Rather abundant
at Tignish and not met with elsewhere. The activity of this bird is highlv
commendable, unless you are in jiursuit of one, when you are not so favor-
ably impressed. Hardly pausing to dash off its lively song, it is one
moment at the very top of some tall tree and the next on the ground a
hundred yards aw.iy where its song breaks forth quite as vigoroi'islv- The
bird is the embodiment of restlessness.

Compsothlypis americana. Parula Warhler.— Infrequently observed
and generally in the upper branches of hard-wood forest.

Dendroica sestiva. Yef.low VVariu.fr. — Rather common and quite as
likely to be found among lonely alder thickets as in the trees around
houses. " " '' ■■■•■■■. :.■■" ■' -.."^i^-i---

Dendroica caerulescens. Black-throated Blue Warbler. — A few
were detected at Souris. I did not see such extensive hard-wood timber
anywhere else on the island, and as the species has a decided preference
for such localities, its absence elsewhere is perhaps not to be wondered at.

Dendroica coronata. Myrtle Warbler. — Common. Their song
reminded me of early spring days in lower latitudes. Their favorite
haunts were clumps of spruces and fir.s in parti v cleared land.

Dendroica maculosa. Maonolia Warijlek.— This is the characteristic
Warbler of the region and is abundantly represented. It is most abun-
dant in low growths of spruces, where the variety of its song is often con-
fusing.

Dendroica virens. Black-throated Green Warbler.— .Vbundant
at every place visited where the forest was composed of trees of consider-
able size. .

Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. Yellow Palm Warbler— Ati
incubating female taken at Tignish is tiie only evidence I have of this
bird's occurrence. The locality was damp, cleared ground, growing up
with bushes and small larches.

Seiurus aurocapillus. Ovenhird.— One was noted at Tignish. and a
number at Souris in the hard-wood timber. It is doubtless fairly common
ill suitable localities.

Seiurus noveboracensis. Water-thrush. — A few were met with at
Tignish only. It is a species that but for its loud song would easily
escape notice. Invariably found along brooks or in their near vicinitv.

Geothlypis Philadelphia. Mourning Warbler.— Appttrently rare,
though a few were found at Souris in the bushy edges of drv fields
adjoining the woods.

Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellowthroat. — Found sparingly

H

r)\yKiiiT, Sinittmr Bir fs of Prince Eihvaid fs/atu/.

TAuk
Lja...

ill the western portion of the island. None wfie noted at Souris. altlioii>;li
I have no doubt lliey otrnr tliere.

Sylvania pusilla. Wilson's WARnuiii. — One specimen was secured
at Tignish in an extensive arboi-vit;e and alder swanip. This is a retir-
ing species and is probably not uncommon if particular search be made
for it.

Sylvania canadensis. Canadian Warhler. — Rather common about
Tignish, but not met with elsewhere, although I have no doubt it occurs
in suitable localities,

Setophaga ruticilla. American Redstart. — Abundant. One of its
songs miglit be easily confused with one of D. maculosa. The impcrtance
of recognizing songs in a region where the denseness of the woods and
underbrush renders the sight or cajiture of the vocalist often well-nigii
impossible, is very great, but to depend entirely upon j)ne's ear in identi-
fying iiirds is a procedure greatly to be dejirecated.

Troglodytes hiemalis. Winter Wren. — Tolerably common in damj)
woods along brooks, or sometimes in more open localities. On July G I
met with a family of young birds able to tly. That so minute a bin.!
should produce sucli a volume of liquid sound is ever to me a somce of
wonderment. It is often impossible to see the little fellow wlien he is
pouring forth his song light over your head, but those who have ever
entered a dense secoiui-growth of spiuces, with a wilderness of dead twigs
interlacing below, know one of the ditliculties that beset the path of the
collector in the northern woods.

Sitta canadensis. Rkd-hellied Nuthatch. — I had about given up
seeing this species at all when \ came upon several at Souris, probaltlv a
family. They feed usually in the upjier boughs of spruces, and seldom
run up and down the trunks of trees like their white-bieasied brethren.
Thoy have a nasal cry of one note, uttered with varying intensity, and
never rapidly repeated like the other species. Of course I sliould not
venture such gen<M'aI conclusions as these with regard to this species, nor
to others, if they were not based upon further observations made else-
where.

Parus atricapillus. Hlack-capped Chickadee. — Occasionally small
roving families were encountered, so that it is probably a fairly common
species.

Parus hudsonicus. Hudsonian Chickadek. — Tolerably common, but
not attracting attention to itself so aggressively as does atricapillus.
However, when it does speak out, it alwa\s seems to me to make use of
the ungraininatical expression 'It's jn«5-e,' with a good deal of emphasis on
the *me-e.'

Regulus satrapa. Goi.den-crowned Kinglet. — Infrequently ob-
served. Young were on the wing the last of June. It should have
proved much more abundant than I found it to be.

Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. Olive-backku Thrl'sh. — Very abun-
dant, almost equalling in numbers the Hermit Thrush. They are usually
excessively shy and ditlicult to obtain, although several may be singing

Vol. X
'S93

j DvviGMT, Summer Birds 0/ Prince Edward Tsland. J c

within hearins,' at tlie same time. They frequent thick growths of spruces,
and from wnwi c )nini;uulin;,' jierrh pom- forth Iht-n- rich song. If they
become aware of your approach even a gunshot or more away, thev dive
(iown into the dense undergrowth, and a few soft alarm notes'are the last
you hear of them. Squeaking to them will bring them to you for one brief
look, which satisfies them, but not you, for they generally see you first
and at close range. Sometimes they sing in the thickets of spruces, but
are more apt to have a particular perch, perhaps on some towering, dead
tree. I heard no songs that I had any reason to suppose were other than
true sxvaiitsonii, for the possibility of finding hicknelU or alicitv had to
be kept constantly in mind. I found no young, even up to the last day of
my stay, hut that proves nothing with a bird so retiring. T!-,ev sang
more persistently and in greater nuinbers in the early morning and late
everting hours.

Turdus aonalaschkae pallasii. Hkrmit Thrush. — Slightlv more
abundant than the preceding species, and perhaps more generally dis-
tributed. The songs and notes of this species have been so frequently
confused with those of other Thrushes, particularly with those of the
Olive-backed Thrush, that an effort on my part to call attention to the
differences that exist between them may not be without interest. The
deliberate character of its song is in marked contrast to that oi sxvainsonii
and its musical ability is more varied. The usual song dies out without
the rising inflection of s-vuiiisotiii, and there is a pause after the first syl-
lable, while in snutiz/sot/ii there is no pause and the second svllable is
strongly accented, the whole song being quickly delivered. The Hermit
Thrush has also a nasal note of complaint in two ellided syllables, a cluck
like a Blackbird, and a lisp not unlike a Cedarbird. Tht' nasal note has
its counterpart in swaiusoiiii which utters a similar, but more liquid
note, and the cluck of po isii may be compared with a 'puk' or 'pink' (ab
near as it can be represented) of szvniusonii. The lisp is peculiar to
pallasii, while there is a queer multiple note of soliloquy peculiar to
s7vai>isonii.

Merula migratoria. Amkrican Robi.v. — Very abundant in the more
open country. An occasional one is said by Mr. Bain to remain through
the winter, subsisting on the berries of the mountain ash.