; 
: Tur Wirson BuLttes¥in—No. 75. 
és 
=? 
marsh bird. Compare the loot of a’ Rail with the honest, open 
regard of a robin.......All tltis, as you will say, is quite sub- 
jective and unscientific: but,I leave it to you —isw't there 
something uncanny about a rail-bird? : 
‘ 
THE RESULTS OF THE MERSHON EXPEDETION 
TO THE CHARITY ISLANDS, LAKE HURON: 
BIRDS. 
BY N. A. WOOD. 
INTRODUCTION. 
As may be inferred from the title, this paper is one of a 
series that is to appear on the fauna and flora of the Charity 
Islands, as the result of investigations carried on by different 
members of the Mershon Expedition of the University of 
Michigan Museum. A brief account of this expedition * by 
Dr. Ruthven has already appeared. It will be sufficient 
to say here that the work was made possible through 
the generosity of Hon. W. Bb. Mershon, of Saginaw, 
Michigan, and that it was carried on under the direction of 
Dr. Ruthven during the summer of 1910 by six men, each 
of whom gave primary attention to a particular group. The 
writer was given charge of the vertebrate work, and, the mam- 
mals, reptiles and amphibians being few in number, was able 
to devote nearly the entire time to a study of the birds. He 
arrived at the Charity Islands on August 16 and remained 
there until October 11. During a part of the time he was 
assisted by Mr. Frederick Gaige, who was on the island from 
September 7-28, and considerable assistance both in the way 
of specimens and data was received from the light-house 
keeper, Captain Charles C. McDonald, and his assistant, Mr. 
Joseph Singleton. Captain McDonald’s assistance was par- 
ticularly valuable as he had resided upon the island for 
* Science, N. S., xxxiii, pp. 208-209. 
