52 



JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Knight reports.it as rarely wintering 

 in Penobscot Co., and Mr. Wallace 

 Homer as "Resident in mild winters" 

 in Piscataquis Co. (Knight, Birds of 

 Me., p. 91). The early arrivals are 

 partial to the maple groves and woods 

 and their tender songs are often de- 

 livered from the topmost twigs of 

 these trees, when the bright plumage 

 of the male is in striking harmony 

 with the gaudy tints of the maples 

 just opening their wealth of flowers. 



As a songster it is deservedly a fav- 

 orite, sending forth its tenderest 

 strains, when the woods are devoid of 

 warmth and summer's music. Later 

 it develops a passionate character, not 

 rare among its allied brethren, and de- 

 livers its rich strains while describing 

 extended circles ana undulations on 

 the wing. 



The nest with us is by choice found 

 in the dense head of a coniferous tree, 

 fir and spruce being the favorites. 



At the time of seed scattering, they 

 are often abundant in groves of poplar, 

 where they no doubt are of economic 

 importance. They are very partial to 

 small fruits, the mulberry being a 

 special favorite. "By providing one or 

 more of these trees, one would insure 

 the visits of these finches during the 

 summer. 



(To be continued,) 



EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL 

 OF CAPT. HERBERT L. SPINNEY, 

 1ST KEEPER SEGUIN ISLAND 

 LiGHT, MAINE. 



Editor's Note. — (Having Capt. Spin- 

 ney's Journal in my possession at the 

 present time, which he has kept from 

 day to day. dating from Sept., 1893 to 

 Sept., 1902, I have made these extracts 

 therefrom, to show the mortality of 

 the birds at this important light sta- 

 tion. Although the whole journal of 



over fifty pages, teems with notes of 

 much interest, yet are too extensive 

 for publication as a whole. 



As the most of us know, Seguin Is- 

 land is situated at the entrance of the 

 Kennebec river and is one of the most 

 dangerous points to make, for our 

 mariners, on the Atlantic seaboard. 

 The Seguin Island Light is one of the 

 most powerful ones in existence. 

 When we think of Capt. Spinney locat- 

 ed on this small island, having charge 

 of this important light, which must be 

 kept in trim at all times, as so many 

 lives are dependent upon this beacon 

 which flashes warning to the navi- 

 gators who pass in and out the harbor, 

 or pass along the coast to points above, 

 we are apt to wonder how such a man. 

 with all this in charge, finds. time or 

 opportunity to pursue his hobby of 

 studying bird life. Yet the perusal of 

 this journal convinces us that a great 

 number of our feathered friends, as 

 well as a great variety of them pass 

 under his observation, and that oppor- 

 tunity comes to him which few of us 

 can boast of. While the Capt. has 

 kept records of the birds as they arrive 

 and pass to the southward in the fall, 

 I have only mentioned his notes regard- 

 ing the birds that have settled on the 

 light and those which have ben killed 

 thereon, together with here and there 

 a note regarding a rare species or some 

 interesting note regarding the life his- 

 tory of some of the birds found there.) 



Sept. 19. 1893.— Seventy-five birds 

 killed by flying against the lighthouse 

 lantern. Ovenbirds, sparrows, black- 

 throated blue Md. yellowthroats.parula 

 and pine warblers, and water-thrush." 



April 30th.— "Saw red-eyed tow-hee." 



June 12th. — "Two leach petrel on 

 light. Also Wilson's thrush." 



June 27th. — "Two barn swallows, one 

 leach petrel and one redstart, on light.'' 

 31st. — 2 semi-palmated sand-pipers on 

 light," 



