258 NOTES ON BlllDS — PALMER. 



in each. During tlie few hours we spent there I noticed a petrel con- 

 tinually flying backwards and forwards across the island in the same 

 manner as a swallow. The bird was evidently seeking its nest, but was 

 disturbed by our presence, and after several attempts on my part to 

 get within range it flew out to sea. 



19. Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl.). Wilson's Petrel. 



Met with only at Cape Sable and Cape Cod, when homeward bound. 

 In proportion to the preceding species tliey were about as one to a hun- 

 dred. Several specimens were obtained by decoying both species to 

 the vessel by small pieces of fat, but all attempts to take one on a hook 

 were futile. The yellow spots on the web of the (eet readily distin- 

 guished this species whenever they approached tlie water to take the 

 fat, both species having the habit of dropping the legs and expanding 

 the toes when taking food. 



20. Sula bassana (Liun.). Gannet. 



The gannet is the best known and the most striking of all the birds 

 seen on the cruise. To the fishermen thej^ are especially interesting, 

 as their j)resence informs them of the approach of the schools of her- 

 ring and mackerel, and hence they are eagerly watched. Their eggs 

 are always welcome, and every nest that by any means can be reached 

 b3f man is repeatedly robbed of its contents. On our visit to the little 

 Bird Eock we found the surface of the larger rock covered with newly 

 made nests, but not an egg was to be seen, the nests having doubtless 

 been repeatedly robbed, as the surface of the rock could be reached 

 with comparatively little difticulty. 



The top and sides of the pillar, or smaller rock, were literally covered 

 with the breeding birds, but it was only by the greatest difficulty in 

 climbing and the use of a net that a few eggs and young birds were 

 collected. But three breeding places of the species were found by us, 

 and so far as I can obtain information no others exist on our coast ex- 

 cept on eastern Labrador. 



Mr. Lucas has so thoroughly written up this species in "The Auk" for 

 April, 1888, to which the reader is referred, that I have very little to 

 add. That the abundance of the species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 has greatly diminished within the past few ye«rs is self-evident. A 

 very superficial examination will convince any one that not only is the 

 bird persecuted by man, who robs it of its eggs whenever he can reach 

 its nests, but that even nature is its enemy, and will eventually force it 

 from its present breeding grounds and compel it to move elsewhere or 

 succumb.to the fate that has overtaken so many now extinct species 

 that have duly run their race. 



Time, frost, and moisture will at some time in the future level the 

 present nesting sites of the gannet beneath the waters of the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, and the i)erpetuation of the species will depend on the 

 adaptability of the bird to other and perhaps new conditions. 



