1§§ Ferry, Summer Birds of Saskatchewan. [aptU 



covered sand apart from the main colony of gulls. We saw no signs of 

 the gulls having molested the terns. 



"The following duck's nests were found upon this island: Pintail, two 

 nests; one each of Blue-winged Teal, Baldpate, Canvas-back, and two of 

 the Lesser Scaup Duck. Five of these nests were destroyed by the gulls. 

 There was also a Canada Goose nest at the edge of the gull colony. Two 

 gulls had built their nests upon its very edge.- The goose nest contained 

 six eggs on the point of hatching. 



"When I lay quietly for a few moments during a shower, the gulls would 

 settle all around me on their eggs to protect them from the rain. Some 

 sat within twenty feet of me, apparently unconcerned, eyeing me curiously 

 Suddenly they all would spring into the air almost simultaneously and 

 renew their scieecliing and swooping at me, and so far as I could see, 

 without cause. I had not moved a muscle. I noticed these flights into 

 the air usually occurred during a lull in the storm, when the rain was not 

 falling so heavily. The young are pretty little creatures with thick, soft 

 downy bodies, and legs far back. They run about as soon as dry from the 

 egg shell, and hide in the grass or toddle over the beach in a ludicrous 

 fashion. Their bills and feet are a beautiful delicate pink; eyes black, and 

 their downy coat appears of two different shades, a grayish and a brownish 

 color. Why this difference in color we could not determine, as young 

 of both colors were found in the same nest. At other times all three young 

 in a nest would be of the same color. The little fellows were fearless 

 swimmers and would boldly strike out in the rough sea of the lake. They 

 were more or less speckled with small, brownish black round spots." 

 (Barnes.) 



6. Lams franklini. Franklin's Gull. — This species was observed 

 flying overhead at Prince Albert and was abundant during our stay at 

 Quill Lake. They were often observed flying low over the prairies catch- 

 ing insects. An examination of three stomachs resulted as follows: 



No. 1. Mass of digested matter among wliich was found remains of 

 numerous midges (very little gravel). 



No. 2. Mass of more or less well digested Acrididse; also twelve Acridi- 

 dae but little digested, as were also one spider, one small mole cricket, one 

 dragon-fly and immature Acrids and one nearly perfect water beetle. 



No. 3. A moderate quantity of well-digested food wliich seemed made 

 up of particles of Acrididfe, and of which eighteen are still recognizable. 



No. 4. Very little well digested food; four large dragon- flies and six 

 Acrididfe. (Above determinations by Walcott.) 



Though the birds were so common, we could not locate their nesting 

 site. However, Mr. Barnes's notes read as follows: "On the island con- 

 taining the Ring-billed Gull colony visited June 16, I found a gull's nest 

 among the Ring-billed Gulls' nests, but smaller. This nest contained three 

 fresh eggs about two-thirds the size of the Ring-billed Gull's eggs. They 

 are not like Ring-billed Gull eggs. Franklin's Gull was the only other gull 

 about Quill Lake. I am convinced that these eggs belong to this species." 



