8o 



REPORT ON THE CONDITIONS OF BIRD-LIFE AS 

 NOTED AT THE GULF BIOLOGIC STATION. 



The exceedingly limited nature of my observations made it 

 impossible to do more than estimate the value of the vicinity of 

 Cameron as a field for the ornithologist. The striking element of 

 bird-life even at the season of my visit was the abundance of the 

 Limicolae. As shown by the accompanying list, all but two of 

 the Limicolae known to breed in Louisiana were found at Cam- 

 eron during my brief stay. The species I failed to observe were 

 the Oyster-catcher (Haematopus palliatus Temm.) and the Turn- 

 stone (Arenaria interpres — Linn). In addition, the Sanderling 

 (Calidris arenaria — Linn) was found, and I saw at least two other 

 species that are merely transients in Louisiana, but I had not 

 at hand the means of determining their identification. That the 

 limicoline fauna of the neighborhood of Cameron must be 

 exceedingly rich during the height of the migrations, therefore, 

 seems certain. Other water-birds, as well, find the section in 

 question very attractive. Except during the migrations, when 

 many species of land birds would doubtless be found resting 

 among the thickets on the prairie, the land birds are limited 

 chiefly to species that love the open, the meadow-lark, kingbird, 

 nighthawk, mourning dove, bob-white, painted bunting, etc., etc. 

 A characteristic feature of the terrestrial bird-life of the place is 

 the fondness shown by nearly all the small species for the thickets 

 of the small tree Bumelia lanuginosa Pers. 



SPECIES OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT THE GULF BIOLOGIC STATION. 



1. Lams articilla (Linn). — Laughing Gull. 



2. Anhinga anhinga (Linn). — Water-turkey, or snake-bird." 



3. Tantalus locnlator (Linn).— Wood Ibis. One small flock 

 seen. 



4. Arda hcrodias ALiitiiQ. — Great Blue Heron 



5. Florida coernlea (Linn). — Little Blue Heron. 



6. Butorides viresceiis (Linn).— Little Green Heron. Very 

 common. 



7. Nyctinassa z'iolacca (Linn). — Yellow-crowned Night 

 Heron. 



10. /-eaZ/H.^.s-/'— Clapper? Rail. 



11. Hiinantopns mcxicanus (Mull). — Black-necked Stilt. One 

 seen July 2. 



12. Calidris arenaria (Linn). — Sanderling. About 5 were 

 seen on the beach June 30. 



