BIRDS. 277 



spring and fall. After August 17 we saw large flocks flying over the 

 bay often alighting on the fish stakes that extend for a mile or more 

 out from shore. They generally kept well out from the shore and 

 did not often alight on the beach, although one was observed on the 

 beach at Hat Point, August 18, and another feeding near the fish 

 house on Sand Point on August 23. Near the end of Sand Point 

 the low sand bar about thirty rods from the beach was a favorite 

 resort of the gulls. Thes' lit and rested there even when the waves 

 were so high as to sweep entirely over them at intervals. Several 

 times a number of ring-billed gulls were seen with these flocks. 



4. Larus delawarensis. Ring-billed gull. — Michigan: This species 

 is given as a scarce migrant throughout the state, but our 

 observations seem to show that it is not an uncommon one along 

 the Great Lakes. Major Bois* says it breeds near the Neebish Is- 

 lands. Upper Peninsula. 



Only observed at Sand Point. It was first seen August 12. with 

 a flock of herring gulls, and after this nearly every day during our 

 stay. Early in the morning of August 22, flocks of two, three or 

 more were seen flying along the beach west of the fish house. These 

 were mostly out of range of the gun but wdth the field glass could be 

 easily identified, not only by the smaller size but also by the black 

 band at the end of the tail. The tail band is very conspicuous, es- 

 pecially in the juvenile and immature birds, and the flight also is 

 lighter than that of the herring gull. Individuals were seen to fly 

 and pick up food from the surface of the water. In the throat of one 

 examined, we found a large cicada, and there w^ere others in the 

 stomach. On August 12, we saw numbers of them in company with 

 herring gulls and the common tern on a sand bar near the end of the 

 Point, where they seemed to be resting and at times feeding. 



5. Sterna hirundo. Common tern. — Michigan: Common sum- 

 mer resident, breeding north of latitude 44°. 



Observed all along the shore of Saginaw Bay. The first one was 

 seen on July 15, on' Stony Island. The first record for Sand Point 

 was on August 12, when they were observed along the north beach. 

 After this date they were frequentl}^ seen in the latter place. The 

 birds observed flew over the water and seldom came very near the 

 shore. When they did, they flew quite high. The only exception 

 was one morning when a wounded bird fell into the water a few rods 

 from shore. In response to its calls over fifty of this species were in 

 a few minutes swooping down to the injured one, calling and seeming 

 to lose all timidity. A fisherman told us that they breed on some 

 islands near Thunder Bay, Alpena Countv, and also that they were 

 verv abundant near Sand Point in the spring and fall. 



*BiiUetin of the Mich. Ornith. Club, Vol. I. i>. 18. 



