lOO JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



lira Nntpa. 



Notes and observations upon bird life within our State are earnestly desired from all our readers 

 for publication in this column, and should be sent to the Associate Editor, Frank T. Noble, Augusta, 

 Maine. 



We note with iiuich satisfaction the increasing frequency with 

 which the members of our society report to this Journal their 

 ornithological observations. This is an important part of our duties, 

 one to another, and should be shared in by all interested in bird 

 life. The Journal'.s columns are always open to contributors of 

 items of general interest relating to Maine birds, and we trust our 

 members will, through this medium, disseminate such knowledge as 

 they personally possess. 



Fall Notes from Seguin. 



The fall in this locality has proved unusually barren of bird life. 

 While I am unable to give any reason for it, a few facts have sug- 

 gested the following opinion. 



In looking over my oflticial journal I find the prevailing winds for 

 September were from northeast to southwest, fresh breezes, not much 

 cloudy weather. Besides that, there was a well developed moon most 

 of the month. I find October very much worse in winds, and same 

 conditions. The conditions at the station, as I have before stated, 

 most favorable to see the migration of small birds, are either very dark, 

 moderate nights, or after a strong northwest wind during the night, 

 when at daylight the birds can be seen by hundreds arriving from 

 seaward to the island. These conditions have not occurred during the 

 season thus far, but instead a fair wind has prevailed, with nights 

 lighted enough by the moon so that it would not seem reasonable 

 that the birds would either be blown out of the line of flight, or lose 

 their course for want of landmarks. Fall records for inland may 

 throw some light on the matter, but at present the above reasons are 

 all that suggest a reason to me. 



With the sea birds it has been the same, especially with the 

 Scoter Ducks. This is the first fall for twenty-three years I have not 

 had Coots, as they are commonly called, what I wanted to eat both 

 spring and fall. So few have been seen passing the island up to the 



