JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



29 



once swallow it. If the fish was large 

 and long, it would commence trying to 

 dispose of it with the appearance of 

 trying to haul its body on over the 

 fish, instead of swallowing it. 



Resting on its tarsus, with neck and 

 bill pointing upwards, it would com- 

 mence the bobbing motion before 

 mentioned, such efforts causing it to 

 have a slipping motion forward and 

 backward, reminding one of a child 

 trying to slide a sled on bare ground. 

 When tired with its exertions, it 

 would rest for a few moments, all the 

 time uttering its peculiar whistle. 



After a few moments rest, it again 

 repeated the struggle; the fish slowly 

 disappearing from sight. 



As its stomach became filled, its 

 struggles grew harder and harder, ac- 

 companied with strenuous twistings 

 of the neck, and musculiar contract- 

 ions of the esophagus, repeating such 

 manoeuvres until its stomach could 

 receive no more. 



It would then sit in a most dejecteu 

 attitude, the tail of the fish protruding 

 from its mouth, with esophagus dis- 

 tended in a very distressing manner. 

 Sometimes we would gorge it with a 

 number of small fish, then offer it a 

 large one which it would at once try to 

 swallow; the effort causing it to per- 

 form some most ludicrous movements. 

 After a few hours it would again be 

 heard, uttering its call for food. 



During the few days it was kept 

 alive, it proved a very interesting sub- 

 ject, but desiring a specimen of the 

 guillemot in natal down, I reluctantly 

 gave it room among my other stuffed 

 specimens. 



Many pleasant memories will always 

 dwell in my mind, when I recall the 

 time spent with Mr. Norton at Mus- 

 congus Bay, Me., July the fourth and 



fifth. 1901. 



May the time again come through 

 wise legislation of our State, when the 

 many silent breeding grounds along 



our coast shall again be populated 

 with their feathered hosts. 



HERBERT L. SPINNEY. 



SHOOTING MATCHES. 



It is the custom among unthinking 

 people,— and many others who would 

 hardly care to be classed as such, — to 

 divide all living things into three 

 groups: Those which are useful, those 

 which are harmful, and those which 

 are indifferent. This is rather a trite 

 statement; but it serves to preface 

 what I wish to say on a subject which 

 is very interesting to me, and which 

 seems worthy of discussion by all who 

 are interested in the habits of our 

 birds. 



In a certain small Maine village it 

 has been the annual custom, apparent- 

 ly for many years, to organize fall 

 "shooting-matches." The two most 

 noted hunters of the place are nomi- 

 nated as captains and they choose 

 sides until all the available fighting 

 force is ranged on one side or the 

 other. Then, on a predetermined day, 

 the match begins. The idea is as fol- 

 lows: The members of the rival camps 

 are given a number of days to scour 

 the woods and fields for such birds 

 and animals as are not protected by 

 law, and slaughter them in as large 

 quantities as possible: Each bird or 

 animal having been given a definite 

 value, as fifty for a fox, twenty-five 

 for a hawk, etc. 



At first sight we are likely to agree 

 with the participants, that only such 

 creatures as are annoying to the farm- 

 ers are killed, and that the hunters are 

 really conferring a great benefit on the 

 community. But a little deeper inves- 

 tigation will show a great many flaws 

 in the argument; and I, for one, have 

 serious doubts as to the economic 

 value of any such organized "killing- 



