V ° 1 i909' YI ] Bowdish, Ornithological Notes from Audubon Wardens. 125 



General Notes. — Sandpeeps are here in large numbers, as in 

 preceding years; also plovers of different species. About 1500 

 Shags (Cormorants) fly in over the island in the morning and out 

 at night. Black Ducks make it a stopping place but none nest; 

 also Eider or Sea Ducks abound in very large numbers. — Osmond 

 Cwnmings, Cone Island, Maine, 1907. 



Do you think the mere handling of foliage concealing a nest of 

 young birds will leave a scent upon the leaves or ferns that will 

 attract prowling enemies to the nest and prove the death of the 

 young birds? Last year, deep in the woods, I found a wren's 

 nest near a brook. Brushing aside the ferns to see the nest I found 

 four young, helpless birds. Next day the nest was vacant, not 

 even the mother bird being seen. Did a mink find the nest of young 

 birds and gobble them up, attracted to the place by the scent of 

 my hand upon the foliage ? Again, this last June I found a ground- 

 bird's nest near my camp, containing four young birds, entirely 

 helpless. Next day these birds were gone! What happened to 

 them ? Did a prowling skunk smell the scent of my hand on the 

 foliage about the nest, investigate, and then find and devour the 

 baby birds? If so, bird lovers must be careful not to handle the 

 foliage about nests, lest by doing so they bring death to the nestlings. 

 I am puzzled to explain these instances in any other way, and I 

 find upon inquiry numbers of my fellow guides have had similar 

 experiences. — Edgar E. Harlow, Kineo, Moosehead Lake, 'Maine, 

 1907. 



There were 15 swallows' nests under the lantern deck of the 

 tower. Last year a Robin built its nest within 20 feet of our 10- 

 inch steam-whistle fog-signal and held the fort. — - Wm. F. Stanley, 

 Great Duck Island, Maine, 1907. 



A large number of duck eggs was spoiled by the cold, late spring, 

 and the second laying was smaller than the first. — ■ Alfred Eastgate, 

 Stump Lake Reservation, North Dakota, 1907. 



Increase of gulls and terns is hampered by the taking of eggs up 

 to the 20th of June. The slow increase of Willets and Wilson's 

 Plover is due to their being shot after July. The reason of the 

 slow increase of Oystercatchers is that they are early layers and 

 most of the first hatching die from the effects of the cold, wet spring 

 weather. — G. D. Hitchens, Smiths Island, Virginia, 1907. 



