1915] The Ottawa Naturalist. 169 



The land is quite rocky and the soil in the immediate vicinity 

 of the lake poor. Farther back, however, the farms are excel- 

 lent. The trees are the usual ones found in the north country, 

 white birch, cedar, balsam, pine, maple, red and white oak pre- 

 dominating. 



As alreadv mentioned my observations have all been made 

 during the month of August, so that the records kept include 

 both summer residents and early fall migrants. In fact, if it 

 were not for the small birds, particularly warblers, which arrive 

 in great hosts about the middle of the month, August would be 

 a rather unprofitable and uninteresting time for the bird student 

 in this district. 



From the camp at Pleasant Point, walks are taken up 

 country in different directions for the study of land birds, while 

 canoe trips are made to various points of interest along the lake 

 shore or up the marsh. Probably the most interesting excur- 

 sion of all is the one up the north arm of the lake in the direction 

 of Fenelon Falls. About half way to the Falls a number of 

 stumps are located along the west shore, some of them a few 

 inches or a few feet above the water, others just below the surface 

 far enough to make navigation dangerous in any but very calm 

 weather. It was here the Caspian Tern was first observed in 

 the summer of 1912. Identification was easy as the birds 

 allowed a very close approach before taking flight, and even 

 then they circled back and forth over the canoe, strongly voicing 

 their displeasure at being molested. On August 22nd, 1914, a 

 census was made of the birds found here, which showed Herring 

 Gull 40, Ring-billed Gull 60, Caspian Tern 15. The difference in 

 the color of the feet, even more readily than the difference in size, 

 distinguishes the two gulls as they stand around on the stumps, 

 but any differences which might be apparent then are immedi- 

 ately lost as the birds rise and fly screaming through the air. 



The following list of species observed does not, of course, 

 pretend to be a complete one, but will show to some extent the 

 variety of birds to be found in this district. 



Pied-billed Grebe, Podilynnhns podiceps\ — Common. Breeds 

 in large numbers in the marsh. 



Loon, Gavia iniber — ^Tolerably common. Often seen disport- 

 ing themselves in the lake in front of the camp. 



Herring Gull, Larus argentatus — Common. 



Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis — Common. Above cen- 

 sus would seem to indicate that they are more numerou 

 than the Herring Gull. 



fScientific names supplied by Associate Editor — P. A. T. 



