Vol. XXI 

 1904 



J Ditcher, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. 1 40 



"Whenever outside islands or ledges were passed in Casco and 

 Sheepscat Bays, flocks of from seventy-five to four hundred Herring 

 Gulls were seen resting upon them, though none are known to breed 

 west of No-Mans-Land off Penobscot Bay. 



"At Metinic, in a swamp well protected by undergrowth and 

 very difficult of penetration, fresh signs of Black Ducks were found, 

 and near the house of Mr. Snow, owner and warden, several nests 

 of Savanna Sparrows and Spotted Sandpipers were seen. He then 

 took me to Metinic Green Island, the home of thousands of terns, 

 the only Laughing Gulls now known to breed in Maine, and of a 

 good number of Sea Pigeons and a few Leach's Petrels. This is 

 one of the largest Tern colonies in Maine, vying with Machias 

 Seal Island for second rank to Matinicus Rock. A very large pro- 

 portion of these are the Arctic Tern but the Common Tern is in 

 good numbers. None of the young were yet large enough to fly 

 but were in well fledged condition, while many nests with eggs 

 were still to be found, and one had to walk with care to avoid 

 stepping on nest or young. 



"The adults were very tame, and this applies also to the Sea 

 Pigeons and even the Laughing Gulls. Quite a number of the 

 Pigeon's nests were found but none had hatched. 



Eight Laughing Gulls were counted at one time, and three nests 

 were found containing eggs. The colony was in an excellent con- 

 dition at the time of my visit. Mr. Snow had a notice posted 

 at each landing, and Metinic was well supplied with them. With 

 the protection now afforded it is to be expected that the Laughing 

 Gull, now nearly exterminated in Maine, may again become well 

 established. 



" I then proceeded to Deer Isle as a base of operations in Pen- 

 obscot and Jerico Bays. Mr. Fred Rackliff, who is well acquainted 

 with the sea birds and their ways, and is a boatman of excellent 

 skill and judgment, most generously supplied a small boat and 

 outfit and accompanied me on this trip, making it possible to 

 cover much more satisfactorily than could have been done with a 

 sail boat, these bays of small and rough ledges. 



"We visited in Jerico Bay, Southern Mark Island, on July 4. 

 Two Eider Ducks were seen to leave the shore. One nest was 

 found containing two eggs ; by placing one of these in a pool of 



