466 Bird - Lore 



from the Penobscot region, came reports and inquiries as to methods of provid- 

 ing for the Ducks. 



Probably due to the exceptionally warm, dry weather of May, the Terns laid 

 in very large numbers a week or more earlier than usual. Though later the 

 season was wet and lacking in sunshine, it is known that a fair number of young 

 reached maturity. Herring Gulls have done well, and this summer a few nested 

 within 15 miles of the city of Portland, a range extension of about 60 miles. 

 Laughing Gulls have been seen at several points some distance from their 

 breeding-place, indicating a slight increase of these birds. An inspection of the 

 colonies of Herring Gulls in the region of Jericho Bay was made August 13. 

 At this date none of the young Gulls had left the rookeries, and the abundance 

 of both old and young Gulls showed the result of a season free from molestation 

 by man. The birds have increased considerably in the region since the last 

 general inspection of 19 14. With the advance in the prices of wool and mutton, 

 the once profitless custom of keeping sheep on the outer islands seems to 

 promise a fair return. With this promise has arisen, in the region of this 

 inspection, a claim that the sheep will not feed upon the vegetation that the 

 Gulls have fouled by their presence, and that Gulls therefore menace the sheep- 

 raisers' interests. 



It was found that much of the soil of these islands is very sterile, composed 

 largely of poorly decomposed wood, many of the deposits being over 2)4. feet 

 deep, entirely destitute of mineral soil. By visiting several different islands 

 where the Gulls were abundant, and others where none or very few were 

 nesting, it was possible to make a comparison of the conditions prevailing 

 at the two different locations. On the islands where there were few Gulls, 

 the vegetation was poor, closely grazed, and struggling hard for existence; 

 moreover, the sheep there were eating the coarser forms of vegetation, left 

 untouched on the islands where the Gulls were numerous. On those islands 

 where the Gulls were numerous, the vegetation was invariably luxuriant. 

 On each of the latter were areas nearly free from Gulls, yet the sheep showed no 

 preference for those locations, but were found to feed in the midst of the 

 colonies as much, or even more, than in the parts where the Gulls were nearly 

 absent. On these islands the coarse flags, sedges, rushes, and grasses were not 

 touched by the sheep. 



One cause for the alarm-cry, that the Gulls are ruining the^ pasture, may 

 be found in the fact that many of these outer islands produce an abundance 

 of a native chickweed (Cerastium arvense), which is partial to sterile, or "sour," 

 soil. Its habit is low and matting, forming large areas, but its color and low 

 growth, cause it to attract no attention in the grazed pasture. With the "sweet- 

 ening" of the soil, this native chickweed has begun to disappear, and in its 

 place has come an introduced relative, Stellaria media, a lover of rich soil, which 

 here reaches a length of nearly 2 feet, and is of a yellow-green color, in strik- 

 ing contrast to the color of the grasses. This is an annual plant, and should the 



