1908J Bird Notes from S.W. Nova Scotia 239 



abound. 



The terns and guillemots were inhabiting a small, flat, 

 grass-covered, granite-bound island known as "Noddy" some 

 half mile away, to which a visit proved interesting. The 

 island which contains about three acres, was literally covered 

 with the terns, which arose in swarms as our boat drew near, 

 and hovered overhead, uttering shrill, piercing cries as they 

 darted down at us. Three varieties were here represented the 

 Arctic, common and roseate, the former being much the most 

 numerous, while the latter were rare. No eggs were yet de- 

 posited, but I was told that in a few weeks time the fishermen 

 w^ould come here and gather the eggs by the bushel. It seems 

 too bad that these birds should be thus persecuted and finally 

 driven from their nesting ground as they have from the other 

 adjoining islands where once they swarmed. Crows and ravens 

 also aid in this destructive work the birds have no friends, 

 despite their beautiful and graceful forms and interesting ways. 



On Seal Island, next visited, the gulls, guillemots and 

 petrels were found as numerous as upon the occasion of my 

 visit of a year ago, and all were nesting, here much protected 

 by Mr. Crowell the lighthouse keeper. But the great attraction 

 of this island to me and the object of my expedition hither, 

 was the Bicknell's thrush, its nest and eggs. During the four 

 days spent on the island three nests were collected and others 

 in process of building were noted. These nests were placed in 

 the dense moss and lichen covered spruces, at varying distances 

 from the ground, sometimes close to the trunk, again well out 

 on the limbs. In composition they are similar, consisting of 

 moss, lichens, wool, twigs and dried grasses, quite bulky but 

 withal compact and neat. The full complement of eggs seems 

 to be three, light blue in color, finely speckled with brown. 

 Several nests of the black-poll warbler in varying stages of 

 completion were discovered, but none contained eggs at that 

 date. ' 



MEETING OF BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



The fourth meeting of the Botanical Branch was held at 

 the residence of Mr. J. M. Macoun. Messrs. Whyte, W. T. 

 Macoun, Cameron, Fletcher, Attwood, Clarke and Jacombe 

 were present. The subject presented for discussion by Mr. 

 J. M. Macoun was "Botanical Nomenclature." After briefly 

 explaining the points of difference between the arrangement 

 of orders and genera by Bentham and Hooker and Engler and 

 Prantl, the former being that used in Gray's Manual and the 



