■3 2 CvRRiKK, Summer Birds of Leech Lake, Mi?iii. Ijan 



When there was but one egg in the nest this was left uncovered, but in 

 larger sets the eggs were at least partially covered, and in some cases 

 entirely so. The nests were all placed at the edge of deep and open water 

 so that the bird could dive directly from them. 



In 1903 the birds were very quiet both times we were there, and kept 

 out of sight, or at a great distance. I think this was because they had 

 been disturbed, as nests containing eggs May 24 were either deserted or 

 contained fewer eggs when we visited them again on the 31st. The Indi- 

 ans have a village on Squaw Point, a few miles across the bay, and they 

 were seen paddling around these rice beds, and it may be that they take 

 the eggs. In 1902 I did not notice that any nests had been disturbed. 



In 1902 they were very noisy both days I was in the vicinity, and 

 although wary and keeping at a distance, were constantly in sight in the 

 open waters between the rice beds and cane islands. They are much 

 given to short flights, resembling a loon while on the wing. In taking 

 wing they patter along the water like a coot. The cry is loon-like also, 

 and very striking. It begins with a shrill wail, drawn out, and ending 

 with more rapid notes, and can be heard a great distance over the water. 

 When at a distance they sit high upon the water like a duck, but with the 

 neck held stiffly at a right angle to the body, and the bill at a right angle 

 to the neck. When nearer they swim with the back awash or only the 

 head above the surface. 



We did not see any other grebe around Leech Lake, and it was only in 

 this one place that this species was found. 



2. Gavia imber. Loon. — Common, and seen every day on or about 

 Leech Lake, or flying overhead to or from the smaller lakes back in the 

 forest. Cry frequentlj' heard. No nests seen either year. 



3. Larus argentatus. Herring Gull. — Seen on Walker Bay on the 

 following dates in 1903: May 21, 24, 29, and 31. Not over two seen at 

 one time. 



4. Larus franklinii. Franklin's Gull. — May 27, 1902, several were 

 flying over Walker Bay, and on the same date in 1903 we saw one at the 

 eastern end of the same water. 



5. Sterna forsteri. Forster's Tern. — A white tern seen on Walker 

 Bav, Mav 30, 1903, was probably this species. It was not obtained. 



6. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. — A colony of 

 perhaps 200 pairs was seen on the marsh extending along Minnesota 

 Point from Kabakona Bay out into the lake. They seemed to be in about 

 the same numbers in 1903 as in 1902. In the former year I found no nests 

 although I saw them carrying material, but this year we found them 

 breeding on the 6th of June. The nests almost invariably held three 

 eggs, most of them fresh, but some had been incubated for several days. 

 The nests were on little islands of moss, or occasionally on rafts of float- 

 ing grass. Some of them were quite deeply cupped and dry, others were 

 made of reeds and flags, on the beds of grass, and looked rather neat ; but 

 in some instances the eggs were half buried by their own weight in the 



