JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. lOI 



present date that I have yet to get my annual feed. The assertion 

 has been made to me by a number of sportsmen that, under the 

 conditions of weather that have prevailed this fall, the Scoters fly 

 direct from Cape Sable to Cape Cod. That fact I cannot believe 

 until it is given from more authentic sources than I have yet 

 received it. As far as I can learn, the same scarcity of the Scoter 

 Ducks prevails all along the coast as in mj^ vicinity. 



The middle of September my attention was claimed by the 

 scarcity of the Pigeon Hawk {Falco columbarius) , which usually at 

 that time could be seen in numbers any day, and up to the present 

 date I have not sighted a dozen of that species, when usually 

 during the same period hundreds of them would be seen. This 

 fact indicates to me that the birds for that period have probably 

 taken another direction of flight. The Common Finches, Song- 

 Sparrows and Juncos, which are always to be seen here in thou- 

 sands during the last of September and through October, have not 

 appeared until within the last few days, and are in limited numbers. 

 The first of September there was an unusual number of American 

 Goldfinches about the island, and they continued to pass over in 

 large flocks every day, and even at the present time a few are to be 

 seen occasionally. All other small birds have been so scarce that I 

 have made few notes. I here give you a few. 



April 19th. II. 45 P. M., moderate wind, southeast to south, with 

 few stars to be seen. While in the lantern looking after the light, 

 something struck the dome of the lantern, which sounded as if some- 

 one had fired a gun. I took a hand lantern and went out doors, and 

 at the base of the light tower found a Woodcock that had just been 

 killed. Its bill was broken across the nostrils by the concussion. 

 Another bird was noticed flying around in rays of light, but I could 

 not determine the species. 



September ist. A flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches arrived at 

 the island to-day. They are very busy about the buildings looking 

 for food. Flocks of Cedar Waxwings are also plentiful, feeding on the 

 elderberry {Sambiicus canadoisis), which grows abundantly on the 

 island. Pigeon Hawks were, as usual, preying upon the small birds 



