Reports of Field Agents 491 



a public hearing, the Commissioners issued regulations on September 3, 1914, 

 closing the area for four years. This is especially noteworthy as marking a 

 new action in this state, and beginning a movement which undoubtedly will 

 increase in popularity. 



SPECIAL INSPECTIONS 



Following instructions, inspections were made by the writer at Bald Rock 

 and at Bald Porcupine Island, near Bar Harbor. On August 24 visits were 

 made to numerous small islands and ledges in upper Penobscot Bay, on August 

 26 in Muscongus Bay and at Monhegan. The general results are here given, 

 arranged according to species of birds inspected. The colonies in Penobscot 

 Bay, though small, are important in the aggregate, and are so situated that one 

 or two wardens could have oversight of them all. Besides the Gulls, Terns, and 

 Fish Hawks reported, colonies of Night Herons and of Great Blue Herons 

 exist in the same vicinity, not included in this report. 



Leach's Petrel. — Petrels were found at Eastern Egg Rock, Muscongus 

 Bay, but none was detected on Western Rock, where Petrels were formerly 

 common. At Eastern Rock a few burrows had been opened by curious persons. 

 The indications were those of a good-sized colony. 



Great Black-backed Gull. — ^Though no Black-backed Gulls are known 

 to breed in Maine at present, they have responded to the protection afforded 

 all birds, and many spend the summer at the outermost islands. Flocks of 

 considerable size were seen on the upper parts of Brimstone and Otter Islands. 



Herring Gulls. — So far as Penobscot Bay proper is concerned, formerly 

 the Gulls bred only at Brimstone and Otter Islands, southeast of Fox Island; 

 but all left these islands prior to 1904, and, it was believed, went to No-Man's- 

 Land. The inspection, this year, showed none breeding at Brimstone or Otter 

 Islands, although both Herring and Black-backed Gulls used both of the 

 Islands as resting-places. They have, however, begun nesting farther up the 

 bay, northeast of Fox Island, and in the Islesboro region, where neither has 

 been known to breed before. The following colonies were found: Mouse 

 Island, one pair; Spoon Ledge, 150 birds; Compass Island, 50 birds; Sloop 

 Island, 200 birds; Bald Island, 500 birds. Excepting Mouse Island, all these 

 islands are near each other and northeast of Fox Island. Young Gulls had 

 been raised at all of the places named, and were just beginning (Aug. 26) to 

 take short flights over the water. The breeding-season seems to have been 

 rather later than usual, and some young were still in the downy stages. None 

 of these birds was found breeding west of this bay, although everywhere along 

 the coast many adult Gulls pass the summer, and spend their abundant 

 leisure on rocky shores and ledges. At the summer-resorts and fishing-ports 

 they are entirely fearless. 



Laughing Gulls. — A small colony of Laughing Gulls persists in Muscon- 

 gus Bay. They have been driven from Western to Eastern Egg Rock, where 



