342 MICHIGAN SURVEY, 1908. 



hours as they passed over the camp. Severe storms like those during 

 the first few days of September drove the birds into the seclusion of 

 Washington Harbor, where they were usually in pairs, and very shy. 



3. Larus argentatus smithsonianvs (51a). American Herring Gull. 



Range: North America generally, breeding from Maine, northern New 

 York, the Great Lakes and Minnesota northward; in winter, south to 

 Cuba and Lower California. 



Stations: Eock Harbor, I, 1; III, 2. 



Siskowit Lake and vicinity, V, YIII, '04. 

 Long and Menagerie Islands, V, 10. 

 Washington Harbor, X '04, Eiver, II '04. 



Breeding : Young seen August 1 and 6. 



Very abundant, tlieir numbers at places being counted in thousands. 

 This was the only gull seen on the trip. Gathering on the rocky islands 

 in such numbers as to make them look like one solid mass of white, 

 their cries were almost deafening. In the evenings they visited the 

 various places where the fishermen had thrown away the fish cleanings. 

 At these feasts the water would be fairly covered with the birds, which 

 would remain feeding long after dark. No matter on what part of the 

 island, within a mile or so of the water, these gulls were nearly always 

 in sight. 



Breeding notes: On August 1st, near Chippewa Harbor, a brood of 

 these young were seen swimming with their parents, the former being 

 unable to fly. On August 6th a visit was made to the breeding grounds 

 of these species at Siskowit, V, 10. Fig. i.5. Here a chain of small 

 islands runs nearly parallel to the shore and about three miles distant 

 from it. The largest of these is nearly two miles long, and from a few 

 rods to a fourth of a mile wide. It is composed of red sandstone, which 

 rises out of the lake at an angle of about 20°. The rocks are almost 

 bare of vegetation, but above the wave swept zone there is a narrow 

 belt of shrubs and small trees. 



As the island was approached, the rocks, could be seen covered with 

 the adult birds, which, however, soon took wing and circled about our 

 heads, making a great noise. As we landed, many of the young birds 

 jumped into the water and swam, hastily away to the gathering flock of 

 adults which was forming just out of range. Others ran and hid in 

 the small bushes, while some, particularly the youngest, merely squatted 

 down between the rocks. Fig. 58, their mottled, downy plumage fur- 

 nishing such excellent protective coloring that many were actually pass- 

 ed over in the first search. The great mass of young remained about a 

 quarter of a mile out in the lake, while overhead the parents flew and 

 screamed. The nests were built in crevices^ Fig. 59, and nooks in the 

 rocks from near the water's edge to the top of the ridge which in some 

 places was from ten to twenty feet high. Most of them were placed 

 on the southern exposure and were composed of grass, sticks and such 

 rubbish as was easily accessible. No fresh eggs were found, and the 

 young birds appeai'ed to be a month or more old. 



The young when frightened squatted flat on the bare rocks, or squeezed 

 themselves up in small nooks and crannies, trusting to their protective 

 coloration for safety. 



It is a common practice among the fishermen at Washington Harbor 



