Autumn Birds in Alcona County^ Michigan. 13 



Lincoln. Accepting the geographical areas assigned the sub- 

 species, we find that Michigan is south of the easterly breed- 

 ing range of hoyti, but instead of that form the representa- 

 tive northern transient is typical alpestris that breeds in east- 

 Labrador and the coastal region just south of it. As the east 

 Hudson Bay form is approximately alpestris-{-hoyti and the 

 rarity of alpestris at Toronto precludes the possibility of its 

 reaching Michigan along the natural course of the St. Law- 

 rence River and northern shores of Lake Ontario and Lake 

 Erie, we suggest a hypothetical overland route from the 

 northern half of Labrador to Lake Superior and the St. 

 Mary's River and thence south through Michigan and possi- 

 bly into southwestern Ontario by way of St. Clair County. 

 However, subsequent data may change all this and even now 

 we are ignorant of the spring migration and know hoyti only 

 as a straggler, which is doubtless incorrect. The status of the 

 two forms in the state may never be determined owing to the 

 steadily increasing opposition to the killing of birds by a class 

 who are grossly ignorant of everything pertaining to science. 



1. Colunihus auritus. — Horned Grebe. This was the only spe- 

 cies of grebe on Hubbard Lake and none were seen elsewhere. In 

 calm water it was difficult to approach, but when the waves were 

 running high the rapidly moving launch seemed to confuse it and 

 it would endeavor to escape by flying towards the shore instead 

 of diving. Under these conditions Mr. Love shot three females ; 

 the first from a flock of four on October 16, the second from a 

 flock of five on the 17th, and a single bird on the ISth. A pair 

 entered the West Branch on October 14, but escaped to open \va-. 

 ter at the report of a gun. 



2. PodUymliHS podiccps. — Pied-billed Grebe. We noticed one on 

 each village lake on October 8 and there continued to be on.3 on 

 each lake until we left for Hubbard lake on the 13th. Doubtless 

 the same individuals were seen each day. They were wary and 

 kept beyond gunshot range of the shore. There was a grebe on 

 East Twin lake on October 31 and another on Brownlee lake on 

 November 7, which we believed to be of this species. 



3. Larus argentatus. — Herring Gull. From one to eight were 

 daily seen on Hubbard lake. In calm weather they would for 

 hours perch upon the snags projecting above the water, but pre- 

 ferred to sail about in brisk winds and devoted much time to 



