N"ov. 1887.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



179 



Notes on Some Birds of Grand 

 Manan. 



BY C. H. ANDROS. 



Black Poll Warbler (Dendroeca striata). 

 Both Hay and Sheep islands seem to be favored 

 breeding grounds of this species ; no less than 

 five nests being brought to light in an hour's 

 search over the former. We did not confine 

 our attention exclusively to the smaller breed- 

 ers or undoubtedly many more sets would have 

 rewarded a more thorough investigation. Sev- 

 eral cats that had an apparently unrestrained 

 life during the. warm season have diminished 

 the bird life to no little extent. On Nantucket, 

 Long, and the Duck islands, these felines are no 

 longer tolerated, having been expelled a few 

 years ago, at the suggestion of Mr. Ghenej' 

 who could not fail to see that their depredations, 

 especially among the Warblers, would if allow- 

 ed, impair tlie increase of their numbers in a 

 few seasons. Those species whose home most 

 frequently conies in "Tabby's" path are the 

 Yellow-rump, Black-poll, Black and Yellow 

 Warblers and Swainson's Thrush. 



The nidification of D. striata differs from that 

 of D. inacuJnsa, the nest being more bulky and 

 the greater varietj" of material entering into its 

 composition makes it easily distinguishable 

 from the simple mould of hair and grass fibre 

 of the Black and Yellow. The eggs too are a 

 trifle larger, resembling those of the Black and 

 White Warbler, to my mind. The song is 

 " weak and unmusical,'' in addition to which is 

 frequentl}' heard the squeaky note more often 

 noticed, perhaps, during migration, which a 

 particular friend of mine likens to a mouse in a 

 trap in distress. 



The tj'pical nests are generally built in the 

 Intersection of limb and trunk of a low hem- 

 lock, and we found the complement to be five 

 eggs. The Gulls nest very abundantly in the 

 neighborhood of their haunts often encroach- 

 ing on them, aud one nest was placed but a few 

 yards from where an Olive-back Thrush was 

 seated upon her full set. 



Redstart {Setophaga niticilla). Locally com- 

 mon, being for the most part confined to the 

 birch and cedar thickets, where the majority 

 breed. Out of several nests which we exam- 

 ined a single exception vvas placed otherwise 

 than in one of those mentioned trees. In the 

 densest thickets which we canvassed they were 

 not unfrequently found, while again, per contra, 

 their nesting was noted a few rods from an in- 

 habited dwelling in the interior. This latter 



instance is deemed exceptional, however, and 

 from our notes gathered, the Redstart of Manan 

 is evidently retiring in habits, not shj^, how- 

 ever, as on no occasion did they discourage our 

 approach, nor evince fear while we remained in 

 the vicinity of their domiciles. On one occasion 

 I sat on an old brush fence for fully thirty min- 

 utes watching the female at work, less than a 

 rod away and myself in open view. She seemed 

 to be aware that I was watching her move- 

 ments, but this did not deter her, for she con- 

 tinued to labor unceasingly though an instinc- 

 tive coyness was displayed in gathering the 

 matei-ial, which I noticed she did not procure 

 in the direction I was resting, and that her ap- 

 proach to the nest was invariably made from 

 the opposite side of the thicket to that on 

 which 1 sat. By far the most beautiful nest of 

 this species which I have ever seen was found 

 on Hay Island on June 11th. This bulky fabric 

 was composed almost entirely of white feathers 

 and down of the Herring Gull, intermixed with 

 a small quantity of moss and hair. Resembling 

 at a distance a huge snow ball, it was a con- 

 spicuous object about three feet up in the ever- 

 green, and examination proved it to contain 

 three, such large and strangely marked eggs, 

 that until the female appeared, I had made up 

 mj' mind that this vvas the find of the day. Her 

 appeaiance dispelled all doubt, however, and I 

 am reluctant to say, to my regret. 



Black Guillemot {Cepphus grijlle). This small 

 Guillemot breeds very abundantly in certain 

 places on the bold western coast, laying their 

 eggs in all sorts of out of the way jjlaces which 

 offer shelter above high water mark. Not be- 

 ing in particular quest of this species we spent 

 but a short time among them at a favored breed- 

 ing ground, the western coast of Wood's Is- 

 land, where we found them June 11th, nesting 

 in countless numbers. This island is high and 

 wooded, and lies to the southeast of Grand 

 Manan proper, and is about half way between 

 the latter and the Three Islands. On the east- 

 ern side the land slopes gradually down to the 

 pebbly beach, while the southern and western 

 shores are lined with massive perpendicular 

 cliff's which rise in sheer ascent three to four 

 hundred feet from the surf-beaten base. For 

 grand and rugged coast scenery this spot is un- 

 surpassed on Grand Manan. At the foot, 

 and from holes and cavities all the way up 

 these cliffs the Black Guillemots whirr away as 

 we pounded on the turf above. In a few mo- 

 ments the water was alive with them; they 

 venture out but a short distance, disporting 

 and preening themselves, all the while keeping 



