Vol. XVIin DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls a7id Terns. \0'l 



IQOI I -^ O 



igoi J 



How impossible it is to fairly estimate the numbers of birds on 

 a breeding ground during daylight is evident from the fact that 

 very many of them must be away seeking food. On the return 

 trip from Matinicus to Rockland, late in the afternoon, all the 

 gulls seen on the starboard side of the boat, and which were 

 flying toward No-mans-land, were counted; they were found to 

 number over one hundred. If the island is used as a center of 

 distribution, and lines of birds radiate from it in all directions, as 

 is probably the case, some estimate of the number of absent birds 

 can be formed. Some of the counted birds were seen almost up 

 to the mouth of Rockland Harbor, thus showing how long a dis- 

 tance they travel in search for food. The estimate of the num- 

 bers of a colony, made an hour or two after daylight and before 

 sundown, is very apt to be a conservative one, for it cannot 

 include the birds that are away acting as scavengers of the sea. 

 Respectfully submitted for the Committee, 



William Butcher. 

 New York City, N. Y., November i, 1900. 



Protection Committee for 1901. 



WiTMER Stone, Chairman, Academy of Natural Sciences, Phil- 

 adelphia, Pa. 



William Butcher, 525 Manhattan Ave., New York, N. Y. 



Br. T. S. Palmer, Biological Survey, Bept. of Agriculture, 

 Washington, B. C. 



A. H. Thayer, Scarborough, N. Y. 



RuTHVEN Beane, 24 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. 



E. H. FORBUSH, 17 Russell St., Maiden, Mass. 



J. Merton Swain, 319 Commercial St., Portland, Me.' 

 Jas. Haynes Hill, New London, Conn. 



F. C. KiRKWooD, 1500 Bolton St., Baltimore, Md. 

 Prof. M. J. Elrod, Univ. of Montana, Missoula, Mont. 

 Prof. Geo. E. Beyer, Tulane University, New Orleans, La. 

 Frank Bond, 822 E. 19th St., Cheyenne Wyoming. 



Mrs. Louise McGown Stephenson, Helena, Ark. 



