A Visit to tlie Lake Erie Terns 



129 



Chick Island, the explorers informed us, had no nests upon it, but was 

 entirely occupied by Herring Gulls, which were perching on it as close as 

 they could stand. One gentleman carried a great handful of Gulls' feathers 

 which he had picked up on the rocks. 



On our return journey the launch passed near the other island. From 

 Big Chicken a flock of birds, like that from the island we had visited, rose 

 and scattered, filling the air with their shrieks. The most amusing and novel 

 spectacle was Chick Island, which was almost covered by Herring Gulls. 

 We did not approach near enough to alarm them, but watched through our 

 glasses the sedate and pompous birds, standing almost erect upon the rocks. 

 The Gull is much heavier and less graceful than the Tern, and the contrast 

 is even stronger between the birds resting than on the wing. They are 

 also much larger and darker in color. There they stood, ranged in rows one 

 behind the other, soberly clad in drab and brown, apparently assembled for 

 educational or religious exercises. Possibly they use the islet as a roosting 

 place at night and had come early to secure choice accommodations. Or 

 perhaps they are not absolutely tireless on the wing and spend part of their 

 time resting and digesting their food. I have often seen them in the even- 

 ing flying over the lake when it was so dark that their forms were barely 

 distinguishable from the water. It was about half-past four that afternoon 

 when we passed the island. We watched the almost motionless birds till 

 they were no longed visible against the gray background of the rocks, and 

 we did not solve the riddle. 



Copyright, by I.. S. Horton 

 WOOD I'EWEE ON NEST 

 Photographed from nature, by L. S. Horton, at Hyde Park, N. Y., July, 190?. The nest was in an 

 apple tree, seven feet from the ground 



