ECOLOGY OF- ISLE ROY ALE. 93 



Menagerie Island was visited twice, oq August 6 and 10. Tbe birds 

 seen here were: Song Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Herring 

 Crull, Spotted Sandpiper, and Humming Bird. 



The Barn Swallow built in the boat-house and under the cliffs aloug 

 the shore. On August 16 the nests under the cliffs contained young 

 nearly ready to fly. These cup shaped homes were comjposed of moss 

 and mud, lined with feathers, and placed on small projections of the 

 rock. 



The light-house keeper, Mr. J. A. Malone, told us that the Tree Swal- 

 low built in the tower; but at this time the young were probably gone 

 as none were observed entering the light-house, although many were 

 flying around. 



Long Island was visited on August 6, but no observations were made 

 on any birds except the Gulls. These birds nested hei*e by the thou- 

 sands. The nests were among the rocks, some being just beyond the 

 reach of the waves of ordinary storms, and others back among the 

 bushes. They were from one to two inches thick, and composed of 

 grasses, sticks or moss, depending on which of these materials was 

 found near. Most of the nests were on the south side of the island, 

 and only a few were found on the north shore. At the approach of 

 the boat the young Gvills that could not fly swam out into the water 

 or hid in the bushes, while the old birds flew around overhead utter- 

 ing their weird notes of alarm. 



XI. Suminary. 



This brief review of the birds found in each of the habitats studied on 

 Isle Royale will give an idea of the birds that should be expected to occur 

 in similar habitats of the island which were not visited. Of course only 

 the common birds will be mentioned, because preference cannot be de- 

 termined by a few observations. The habitats of this rugged and hilly 

 island presented a variety of conditions. There Avere bays, lakes and 

 harbors, with rocky shores, wave-beaten and desolate. There were 

 swamps that were covered with sphagnum moss and low bushes witli 

 here and there a black spriice or tamarack tree, other swamps that were 

 covered with a dense forest of cedar and tamarack. There were clear- 

 ings and partial clearings, forests of birch, containing scattered bal- 

 sams and spruce, and still other forests of spruce and balsam con- 

 taining a few birch trees. The characteristic birds of each of these 

 habitats will be discussed in the order just given. 



1. Water Birds. The water birds found on the harbors and small 

 . lakes were the Herring Gull, Loon, American Merganser, and Hooded 

 Merganser. Of these birds the Herring Gull was the most abundant 

 species and could always be seen on Lake Superior and quite often 

 on the smaller lakes on the island. The American Merganser pro- 

 bably ranked second in abundance. The Loon was quite numerous, 

 and at first it seemed as if theA- were more abundant that the Merganser, 

 but in time it became evident that the Merganser was the more numer- 

 ous, though much less conspicuous, as they did not make any noise, while 

 the Loon is very noisy and can often be heard a mile away. The Mer- 

 ganser frequented the bays, harbors and larger inland lakes. The 

 Loon was seen very often on the larger bodies of water, but seemed to 



