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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



A PROTECTED GULL COLOiNY, 



By C. A. Reed, 



Situated about seven miles south of Mt. Desert off the coast of Maine 

 is a small island, triangular in shape, and about one and one half miles 

 long by three quarters of a mile in width. As long ago as can be re- 

 membered this island has been tenanted with Herring Gulls, as are most 

 of the other islands of the Maine coast, and on this one, as well as the 

 others, the birds were continually persecuted. Fishermen made regular 

 trips during the nesting season and gathered bushels of eggs for food, 

 while the Indians and hunters slaughtered the birds out of pure wanton- 

 ness. 



.":« *■ ""' ' ■■:.■' /* ■■>■■ -"."'rl.'. 



Many beautiful little islands, with rock-bound shores, dot the 

 Maine coast, many adorned with tight-houses to keep the mariner on 

 his course. 



The Gulls and Terns have been all driven off of a great many 

 islands where they formerly nested and were in a fair way of meeting 

 the same fate on Duck Island, but owing to the earnest work of a few 

 bird protectionists, the three lighthouse keepers on the island were 

 appointed wardens and now zealously guard the colony against the 

 depredations of mankind. 



We had fully intended making our trip to the island during the first 

 week in July, but owing to the pressure of business it was the morning 



