344 MICHIGAN SURVEY, 1908. 



it rose to the surface and Iiad completely arranged its feathers, it held 

 its head upright, like the adult gulls, as if proud of its performance. 



General Notes : The Herring Gull's manner of feeding was interesting. 

 When small bits of fish were thrown on the water, the birds would fly 

 down and just pat the water with both feet, at the same time lowering 

 the head and picking up the morsel with the bill, not even stopping in 

 their flight. When the piece was too large to pick up, the bird alighted 

 near it, and either picked it to pieces or swallowed it whole. They were 

 often seen dropping into the water from a considerable height, appar- 

 ently catching small fish. The Herring Gull is sometimes taken on set 

 lines like the loon, only in this case the hook must be near the surface. 

 While on "Long Island" (V, 10) the dried' body of an adult bird was 

 found with a large fish hook attached to a short line in its throat. 



The majority of these birds go south with the freezing of the lake; 

 a few, however, remain throughout the winter around the fishermen's 

 huts. Wherever a cut is made in the ice at this time, many of these gulls 

 may be found. 



4. Merganser amcricanus (129). American ^Merganser. 



Eange: North America generally, breeding south in the United 

 States, to Pennsylvania and to the mountains of Colorado and Cali- 

 fornia. 



Stations: Lake Superior (Eock Harbor), I, 1. Ill, 2. Ill, 3. II, 4. 

 Siskowit Bay, V, 1. Siskowit Lake, V, 6. 

 Washington Harbor, X, '04. 



Breeding : July 13, young ; also July 27. 



The American Merganser is a rather common species on the island, 

 breeding in suitable localities. 



Breeding Notes : The fisherman reported several families of adults 

 and young at McCargoe Cove on July 11, and on the 13th a female with 

 several young was seen in the west end of Rock Harbor (III, 3). A 

 much larger flock of young was seen with the female at this same place 

 on July 27th. 



At Siskowit Lake (Y, 1), on August 1, a large flock of young not yet 

 able to fly were found, and on August 8 another flock barely able to 

 use their wings were met near the Siskowit Islands. As many as twenty- 

 two young were counted with one female. No young were found this 

 year <on Washington River, but several were seen out in the Harbor, 

 which might have been raised here. 



5. Lophodytes cucidlatus (131). Hooded Merganser. 



Range : North America generally, south to Mexico and Cuba, breeding 

 nearly throughout its range. 



Stations: Lake Superior (Rock Harbor), I, 1. 

 Sumner Lake, III, 5. 



Breeding: Young observed July 27. 



This species was quite rare, being observed only three times on Sum- 

 ner Lake (III, 5) July 26, 27, 29, and at the Caribou Islands on several 

 occasions. 



Breeding Notes : Prom the actions of the single females seen at Sum- 

 ner Lake they were thought to have young in the vicinity, but none were 

 found. On July 27 a female and six young were seen on the Caribou 

 Islands. The young were very small, not more than two weeks old, and 



