Notes from Field and Study 



"5 



of 1756, while a captive among the 

 Indians, and was surprised to learn that 

 Sandusky Bay, or lake, as it was then 

 called, was a great resort for Geese, 

 Swans, Ducks, and Gulls, even in those 

 early times. In an account of his travels 

 published by Smith after his escape from 

 captivity, he speaks of the abundance of 

 aquatic birds at "Sunyendeand," an 

 Indian town near the "little lake" — 

 Sandusky Bay. 



He says, "Sunyendeand is a remarkable 

 place for fish, in the spring, and for fowl, 

 both in the fall and spring. At this sea- 

 son, the Indian hunters all turned out 

 to fowling, and in this could scarce miss 

 of success." He says that the wild- 

 fowl here feed upon a kind of wild rice 

 that grows spontaneously in the shallow 

 water, or wet places along the sides or in 

 the corners of the lakes; and that the 

 Geese, Ducks, Swans, etc., being grain-fed, 

 were remarkably fat, especially the 

 Green-necked Ducks. 



Smith also speaks of the migration of 

 Wild Geese. He says that "the Indians 

 imagined the Geese as holding a great 

 council concerning the weather, in order 

 to conclude upon a day, that they might 

 all, at or near one time, leave the northern 

 lakes, and wing their way to the southern 

 bays. The Indians believed that at the 

 appointed time messengers were sent off 

 to let the different flocks know the result 

 of this council that they might all be 

 ready to move at the appointed time." 

 Smith observes that, as there is a great 

 commotion among the Geese at this time, 

 it would appear by their actions that such 

 a Council had been held. "Certain it is," 

 says he, "that they are led by instinct to 

 act in concert, and to move off regularly 

 after their leaders." — Milo H. Miller, 

 Pittsburgh, Pa. 



An Unsuspicious Family of Great 

 Horned Owls 



On September 17, 191 2, a family of 

 Great Horned Owls was found near Iron- 

 side, Malheur Co., Oregon, which was 

 tame enough to allow splendid oppor- 



tunities for photography had I been able 

 to avail myself of them. Under the cir- 

 cumstances, however, only three expo- 

 sures were made. 



I had driven several miles up Willow 

 Creek to get data on a large beaver-dam, 

 and, while skirting the edges of the pond, 



I flushed a Great Horned Owl from a 

 thicket of alders. He flew but a short 

 distance to a nearby alder and lit upon an 

 upper limb. It was about one o'clock 

 P.M. and the sunlight was rather strong. 

 He sat blinking in the sunshine and seemed 

 to pay but little attention to me beneath. 

 I had my camera with me, and approached 



