GARDINER'S ISLAND 41 



turesque means of communication, and the Fireplace exists 

 in name only. 



Without going into detail, it is a difficult task to write 

 adequately of the bird-life of Gardiner's Island, but several 

 facts soon impress the student, — first, the abundance of 

 birds ; second, the presence of species rare or known only as 

 migrants on contiguous land areas and, third, the departure 

 of some species from the normal habit of their kind. Robins, 

 for example, build their nests not only in every tree and 

 bush about the place but in exposed positions, on the pro- 

 jections of piazza supports, on fence- rails, without attempt 

 at concealment, at the end of corded wood logs, and even on 

 stones beneath foot-bridges. How would they have pro- 

 gressed with housekeeping arrangements if sleek, some- 

 times purring tabbies were interested spectators of their 

 labors 1 



Other common dooryard birds are Catbirds, Orioles, 

 Chimney Swifts, Chipping Sparrows and Barn Swallows. 

 Flickers, Quail and English Pheasants all nest within a few 

 yards of the home dwelling, the former finding the fence- 

 posts admirable substitutes for hollow trees. House Spar- 

 rows, with their usual discretion in selecting desirable homes 

 swarm about the manor house, their harsh chatter being the 

 one discordant element in the life of the island. The abun- 

 dance of these birds probably accounts for the absence of 

 House Wrens and Bluebirds from a habitat which, in other 

 respects, would be exceptionally suitable for their occupa- 

 tion. Competition between the Sparrows and these birds 

 occurs in the selection of a nesting site and, the Sparrow 

 being permanently on the ground, ever has the nine points 

 of possession on his side. 



Scarce a stone's throw away, colonies of Purple 

 Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds add their characteris- 

 tic notes to the chorus of bird voices, the volume of which so 

 impresses the bird student from less favored regions. In 

 the openings of a near-by tree and bush-grown pond, if the 



