322 Bird - Lore 



The trip from Rockland to Matinicus on the little steam packet ' \V. G. 

 Butman,' carrying in addition to her crew, passengers, freight and the United 

 States mail, was made through a dense fog, which obscured all objects fifty or 

 seventy-five yards away. It was a matter of especial satisfaction to me to witness 

 the fact that, after running by the compass for a specified time, the Captain 

 stopped the engine, and listened for the Gulls on No-Man's-Land. This welcome 

 sound being distinctly heard, h^ noted carefully the direction and moved the 

 craft cautiously onward, until 'Two-Bush' eastern head was spied, directly in 

 his path. Another course was laid and the craft worked safely into the harbor. 



It is also a fact that I have been assured of, that the pollock trawlers 

 are guided to the schools of fish on this coast by the Gulls. 



Many of the lobster and other shore fishermen now value the presence of 

 the Gulls as above indicated, in guiding them to schools of fish, and in sailing 

 in fogs. 



The uncomplimentary things said about the birds were confined to our 

 extreme eastern border. 



Elsewhere, I witnessed an increased interest and growing admiration. An 

 elderly gentleman at Jonesport said, " I am glad to see the Gulls in the harbor. 

 When they come in the fall, in large numbers, right up to the wharves, it 

 seems good to see them." 



Laughing Gull. — The colony of Laughing Gulls located at Western Egg 

 Rock, Muscongus Bay, was inspected on August i6 and found to be in good 

 condition. The birds allowed a close approach before taking wing, but, after 

 having been alarmed, hung far above us. After a short time, I made a count 

 of thirty birds overhead, and now believe that our estimate of fifty that arose 

 from the island was very nearly correct. Unlike my former visit, many remained 

 flying over the island throughout the period of my presence. 



Immediate attention was given to the nesting-ground with the result of find- 

 ing a number of nests, all of which had hatched, and their vicinity was trampled 

 and whitened by the excrement of the young. Roads ran from the nests in 

 several directions into the dense mass of vegetation. 



At least two young birds were seen ^n the wing, and, after a diligent search, 

 another, a half-fledged one, was found. It tried to make its escape by skulking, 

 but became entangled in the weeds and was taken in hand. It was a beautiful 

 and spirited young creature, and some difficulty was experienced in obtaining 

 a picture of it. It was returned to its road and the shelter of the weeds, and made 

 haste to run and hide. A little search was made a few minutes later, but it could 

 not be found. I was convinced that they are expert at evading observation, 

 the freshness of the roads through the weeds was unmistakable witness of this 

 fact. Two nests contained each an addled agg, but no other eggs were found. 

 The colony certainly looks flourishing, and the outlook for the species the most 

 hopeful for many years. 



It must be said that this single colony is all that remains of several larger 



