126 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. III. 



me collected another on September 8th of this year near the same 

 place. These fine waders have been extremely rare for many years, 

 but seem to be gradually re-appearing in the Great Lakes region, 

 probably due to the beneficial effects of the Migratory Bird Treaty. 



North of this camping ground extensive swamps of white cedar or 

 arbor-vitae and some fine stands of white pine with some deciduous 

 woods, parallel the lake shore. In the pine areas the Pine Warblers 

 are fairly common in summer, and about open spots at the wood's edge. 

 White-throated Sparrows, here near the south limit of their breeding 

 range, sing their "Peabody" song. 



Through the generosity of the Stokdyk Brothers who run a large 

 fishing establishment a quarter of a mile south of the Bar Creek camp- 

 site, a few trips have been taken off shore in their sturdy fishing boats. 

 The stakes supporting their pound nets run out in a straight line for 

 about three miles, the deepest "pound" being in ninety feet of water. 

 Bird life is usually abundant here in the late fall. Herring and other 

 Gulls swarm about the nets when they are being lifted, and every net 

 stake is normally occupied by a gull or tern. Double-crested Cor- 

 morants sit in a row on certain of the windlasses, helping themselves 

 to the fish in the pound when they are hungry. These black fellows 

 seem to be increasing recently in southern Wisconsin, and the Stok- 

 dyks inform us that it is only recently that they have appeared about 

 the nets. As many as twentj^-five have been observed at a time. 



The Scoters and other ducks and birds of similar habits are at 

 home here. As the status of many of these off shore birds is very im- 

 perfectly known, considerable work could be done in this difficult 

 field and important discoveries await those who undertake it. The 

 Stokdyks have expressed a willingness to assist when possible in this 

 study. Thanks are also due for the many other courtesies they have 

 extended, such as the use of their buildings in particularly bad weather. 



The week-end collecting trips this summer and fall were usually 

 made in the Museum's Ford, which has a special body in which valu- 

 able equipment can be securely locked. The effectiveness of the 

 work has been greatly increased by this means, for a complete collect- 

 ing, camping and photographic outfit is cari'ied. Now when a par- 

 ticularly desirable bird has been shot, Gromme gets out oil colors and 

 paper and makes sketches and color studies of the soft parts before 

 they fade or change in any way, insuring accuracy in the finished 

 mount. This is in decided contrast to the trips of former years, when 

 the carrying capacity was limitti to an army pack, and shivery nights 

 and poorly prepared meals were the rule. 



