Oct. 14, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



223 



Sali^res Regiment, subsequently to whom we find the 

 name of a descendant of Baroii CharlcB Le Moyne de 

 Longueuil. In 1775, the Seigneur an us M. de Beaujeu,* 

 brother of the famous dcBcaujeu, who m 1755 tookparthi 

 the memorable battle of the MonongaJiela. In 1759, he hn d 

 been intrusted with the commaud of an important post, 

 that of Michilimakinac in the west, for his sevvires 

 and deA-otion to the cause of His T\Iost Christian j\rajesty. 

 he \vas decorated. De Beaujcu, at the head of hifi c€iif<t- 

 taires. was a sturdy chieftain; nor did he hesitate during 

 tlie winter of 17';'5-6 to cross over and join t he succor, 

 which de Gaspe., Seigneur of St. Joan, Port Joly. Gouil- 

 lard. Seigneur of St. Thomas, and an old Highland officer, 

 Thomas tvoss, of Beaumont, made a noble effort to pour 

 into Quel)ec. The skhmish witli the ContiuentalH and 

 their Cana(iian allies took place at St. Pierre, Ffiviere du 

 Sud, and is known in Canadian annaLs as V affaire de 

 Michel Blais. It was a rout for the Loyalists. 



It is cm-ious to follow the warlike Seigneur de Beaujeu 

 upholding the standard of England in 1775-6— the same 

 etandard he had so successfuUy'opposed before the deser- 

 tion of the colony by P'raucer I)e Beaujeu's name still 

 survives on Bayfield's old charts— in that of the shifting 

 sand bank, in the St. La wi-ence opposite the Manor House. 

 It is proper to state that his winter expedition of 1775-6, 

 to relieve His Excellency, Guy Carleton, blockaded in 

 Quebec, ended in a disaster, nearly costing him and his 

 folloM^ers their lives. Capt. de Beaujeu expired at Crane 

 Island in 1803. 



In our early sporting days we recoUect heai-ing from 

 the oldest inhabitants of the islands, quaint anecdotes, 

 relating to their aged and warlike Seigneur de Beaujeu, 

 It would seem that on great holy days the Chevalier de 

 St. Louis took particular pride in wearing in his button- 

 hole the red ribbon of the order sent out to him by the 

 King of France. Louis XIY. Age and infirmities creep- 

 ing on, the old lion used to remain m his den the greater 

 part of the day, and when tlie tenants brought the rents 

 and seigniorial capon at Michaelmas, more than once, they 

 had to kindle the fire on the very spacious hearth, inclosed 

 by an antique "wide-throated chimney," which to this day 

 , is a subject of cmiosity to all visitors, so as to render the 

 hall tenantable. Recently there were lying on the shore 

 at Crane Island, near the church, an antiquated rusty 

 cannon, brought from Cap Brule on the north shore, oijpo- 

 site to Crane Island. In 1859 a similar cannon, measur- 

 ing in length 5ft. Sin. and 12in. in diameter, was pre- 

 sented by a resident of Crane Island, Capt. Lavoie, to the 

 Quebec Seminary; at that period some of the timber of 

 this old wi-eck was still visible. History furnishes full 

 details of the wi-eck at Cape Brule of the French man-of- 

 war Elephant, on Sept. 1, 1739, carrying to Quebec some 

 of the most noted men in the colony, Bishop Dosquet, In- 

 tendant liocquart and others; the cannon we saw at 

 present foi-ms part of the antiques and curios, gathered 

 together in the Museum of Herbert Molesworth Price, 

 Esquu-e, at Montmorency Pahs, near Quebec, the anti- 

 quary is very proud of this relic of the past. "With the 

 exception of the de Beaujeu seigniorial manor on the 

 lower end of Crane Island, rebuilt and enlarged by ]\Ic- 

 Pherson Le Moyne, Esquire, of Boston, the new seigneur, 

 who occupies it during the summer months, all the dwel- 

 lings stand on the northern side of the island, a thick 

 belt of forest ti-ees hides them from view, except when 

 the steamer takes the north channel — the old French route 

 — when they are faintly seen in the distance. The local- 

 ity ranked as a parish, under the name of St. Antoine de 

 rile and Gunes, as early as 1683, when it comprised but 

 three families, in all fifteen souls. In 1678 Pierre de Becart 

 Sieur de Granville, was the seigneur. 



Crane Island— six miles in length— during the "leafy 

 months" is noted for its salubrity and attractiveness. 

 A highway, as level as a bowling green, runs from 

 one end to the other, and umbrageous woods, de- 

 scending to the shores, intersect the portion of the 

 island which is not under culture. A dense grove 

 of graceful maple and oak trees, some thirty 'acres 

 long, fringes the crest of this plateau at the west point 

 facing the anchorage, well known to every river pilot, La 

 Pointe aux Pins. The McU-ine and Fishing Department 

 in 1866 erected a lighthouse on a pier which now connects 

 with the shore, also a immber of beacons on the land and 

 recently, gas buoys in the channel, near de Beaujeu's shoal. 

 In the rear of the lighthouse the ground rises in successive 

 terraces, studded with dwarf parasol pines of singular 

 beaut}^, and leads tlu-ough natural avenues to the wooded 

 and umbrageous plateau above, known as "Le Domaine 

 du Seigneur," a cool, delightful spot for a picnic or fete 

 champetre, of winch Quebecers seem fully disposed to 

 avail themselves with the permission of the owner. These 

 picturesque highlands have also their heather, a fuzzy, 

 graceful carpet of juniper bushes, weighted down each 

 fall with fruit, when September crimsons the adjoining 

 maple groves a visit to this elysium is a thing to be re- 

 membered. _ Few sites in om- gorgeous Canadian scenery 

 can surpass its river views, extending to CapeTom-mente, 

 Cape Mallard, and over tire innumerable islets basking 

 in sunshine at your feet. 



The old manor, with its green groves, orchard, ample 

 veranda, flagstaff and numerous outhouses, is in full 

 view from the steamer ascending the south channel. 

 Some distance in rear are two antiquated wind mills to 

 grind the island wheat; beyond this is a string of pretty, 

 white cottages extending to the west end of the island, 

 the parish church of course, as in all Canadian scenery, 

 looms up in the center. As a river view, nothing can 

 surpass in grandeur the panorama which the lovely St. 

 Lawrence here unfolds on a radiant summer morning, 

 when with the rising tide a fleet of swan- winged mer- 

 chantmen emerge from the Traverse far below, in the 

 direction of the church of St. Rooh des Auluets: at first 

 imperceptible white specks on the horizon, gradually 

 growing larger and larger, on the bosom of the glad 

 waters imtdthey, each in succession, crowd on your gaze, 

 topsails, topgallant sails and royals aH set, a moving 



*Louis Lienavd ViUemoTidG de Beaujeu wa.s the br other of the 

 ?r?o'i°x'^* Mpuougahela and his Avorthy emulator. EnRj-n from 

 1731 to 1738, lieutenauT m 1744, ho was appointed in 1751 captain 

 of the company ot .Soldiers ot the Marine, in pLico of M de 1% 

 Verendrye; and by his honoraWe conduct in .January, 1734 'ob- 

 tauied the Cross of St. Louis. The authorities granted him that 

 year a concession of land four leagues in depth by four frou*^ on 

 the border of Lake Champlain, and he applied himself to the w'ork 

 of clearing it. Sometime afterward he was appointed cnnmiander 

 of the post of Michilimakinac, axid he served in this position dur- 

 mffmany years. Later he took an active part ia tiie defence of 

 the country diuing the American war (of independence). SL de 

 Beaujeu died on June 5, 180.2, at his manor at Crane Island, at the 

 advanced age of eighty-live years and five months. ("Collections 

 of tho Stata Historical Society of Wisconsin," Vol. VII. pag* 138) 



tower of canvas advancing toward the island shore — at 

 times so close that you ca.n Itear the voices oi all on board. 



It was at one time contemplated to divide in lots the 

 west end of the isla-nd for sportsmen wishing to build 

 their slioot.ng lodges in proximity to the several fishing 

 and sliooting grounds in the neigViborlMfOil, such as He 

 St. ?\Iarguerite, Battures aux loups raarins (Seal Rocks), 

 Roches Plates and St. Joachini beaches. Such is Gover- 

 nor Montmagny's game preserve of 1646. 



Address atl commxinicatioits to the PorcsC and Stream Pub. C'u. 



BIRDS OF MICHIGAN. 



BY DE. MORRIS GIBBS. 



05. Myiodioetes niUratus — Hooded warbler. 

 Not a rare speciujen from May 15 to July 1, after which 

 it is rai'ely seen. Arrives from May 1 to 14 according to 

 the season. It may neem sti-ange to ma,ny readers of this 

 article that this species or au}' other should have so varied 

 a period of arrival, but it caiinotbe accounted for in many 

 localities. It is equally mysterious to me. That a. species 

 should arrive some seasons two weeks sooner than it 

 appears in other years is good cause f(3r speculation. In 

 mentioning the arrival 1 inteml to ciDuvey niy first sight 

 of the bu-d, and I am positive that the hooded ^rarbler did 

 not arrive until May 14 one season, 1877. Now, un- 

 doubtedly the bird had arrived in the State some time 

 before this date, but had not migrated through this 

 country. One year, 1881, I saw it on May 5 in Montcalm 

 county, well to the north. The average date of arrival 

 may be placed at May 6 to 8. 



Some seasons the birds are quite abundant, again com- 

 paratively rare. The species first came under my notice 

 in May 1875, and I think the few years preceding the 

 bh'ds were scarce, for I was quite diligent in the coUecting 

 and failed to note it sooner. In 1876 several nests came 

 under my observation. I may safely say that tliere are 

 few birds tha,t remain with us' during the breeding season 

 that arc as little known. Nevertheless in some seasons 

 the buds are comparatively common, and in many in- 

 stances if heavy beech and maple woods with scant 

 underbrush, their favorite haunts, are properly searchetl 

 these birds will be found breeding in secluded situations 

 where then existence was not suspected. They are very 

 shy and it is with much ditflcidty that their presence 

 is discovered. Their simple j^et pleasing notes can be 

 heard in dense thickets of small bushes, or from low 

 branches of trees thi-oughout the entke day, without one 

 even obtaining a single view of the handsome fellow, It 

 is one of our most retiring warblers and one nright collect 

 for years without secm-ing a skin, unless a very enthusi- 

 astic collector. Then- i^resence is only detected by the 

 pleasing songs of which they have two, with a fine call 

 note and short strain. So shy is the hooded warbler tha,t 

 the breakmg of a twig or cocking of a gun scares it from 

 its perch, when it flies six to ten rods and renews its song, 

 still keeping out of sight. I have been puzzled and fol- 

 lowed one of these bhds about for an hour before I could 

 get a shot. Their nests are only found by mere accident, 

 and I have never yet found one that 1 him ted for although 

 the bu-ds were present. 



The first nest was found May 37, 1876, and contained 

 two eggs, and one egg of a cowbird. I left the nest several 

 days with the expectation of getting more eggs. How- 

 ever, no more were laid, and this seemed to lie the com- 

 plement. Three egg-s, however, appear to be the usual 

 number laid. I also found nests May 31 and June 6 and 

 9. All these nests contained thi-ee eggs. Of these eggs 

 the dimensions vary from .72x.65 to ,74x.6oin. One egg 

 of the series was only .73x.58in. The color is white with 

 a roseate tinge, marked with more or less red at larger 

 end and a few scattered markings over entire stu'face in 

 some instances. Occasionally we find a black dot at 

 larger end. All of these nests were in beech or maple 

 bushes, not over four feet from the ground, one not being 

 over one foot from the groimd. They Avere composed of 

 beech and maple leaves of the last season, neatly formed 

 into a compact structure 4in. across at the top, four high 

 externally, the hollow being about 2im. in width and the 

 same in depth, the whole nicely lined with grapevine 

 bark and fine roots. The birds always left the nest 

 silently and did not seem to care if the eggs were taken, 

 indeed it was diflicult to secure the parent for identifica- 

 tion. These nests were secured at Kalamazoo, Mich., 

 about 43 10' lat. north. 



The hooded warbler is extremely j)lentiful from 43' 

 north to 45 , and one of the most common species in many 

 quarters. Always difficult to study from its pecuUarly 

 restless, timorous disposition, it is "rarely known among 

 amatem- collectors. It is embraced by Sager, 1839, in fu-st 

 list of "Birds of Michigan." Given as rare by Hughes, 

 Covert and Boies. Observed regularly as a migi-ant in 

 mauy southern parts of the State. " Not embraced by 

 several lists, showing it to be an irregular Ausitor as re- 

 gards localities. More hkely a bird of preferences in regard 

 to lines of migration. I failed to find the species in the 

 Upper Peninsida or in the British possessions near Lake 

 Superior. 1 know nothing of this bird in its fall migra- 

 tion. It is so quiet after the breedmg season that it is 

 rarely if ever seen excepting by acciclent, as it is so ex- 

 ceedingly shy. 



66. Myiodoctes pusilliLS (Wils.) Bp.~Black-capped yel- 

 low warbler. 



This bird was formerly called Wilson's black cap, but 

 times have changed, and now poor Wilson gets no credit. 

 What is the everlasting changing of names gomg to lead 

 to? If some one should undergo old Rip s sleep, if it only 

 lasted half as long, I do not think he would knoAv one 

 bird out of ten either by its common or scientific name. 

 This beautifid little bird is rare in all parts of the State 

 where I have collected. I shot a specimen near Kalama- 

 zoo May IG, 1875, which is the latest date of its stay here 

 that I have met with. It is certainly a migrant, and 

 13robably does not srmimer south of 45 or 46". I failed to 

 find it in the northern penuisula in June, The bird has 

 also been shot a number of times to my knowledge. 

 Covert is the only man who says "very common mi- 

 grant," in his Birds of Washtenaw County. Dr. Atkins, 

 that good man of over thu-ty years' experience in Ingham 

 cotmty, now gone to his reward, foimd it as early as 1860. 

 It may be classed as a rather rare migrant, I think, as it 

 is omitted by many lists. If Covert finds it a common 



transient, it probably migrates through a certain belt in, 

 his section, as it is certainly not well distiibuted. Of it» 

 nesting habits notijing ia known, although Covert isayu 

 "some I'emain (hiring the summer." 



67. Myiodioetes canadensis (Linn.) And.— Canadian fly- 

 catching warbler. 



Not a rare migrant in southern points of the State and 

 a common summer resident north of 43 north latitude. I 

 think it may be found as a summer resident in Kalamazoo 

 count}' ; it has not been proved, however. Usually arrives 

 about May 10. My earliest arrival is May 5, and one year 

 I did not see it till May 30. A straggling migrant. I am 

 satisfied that it breeds in Kent, Ottawa and Montcalm 

 counties, but I have been unable to find the nests. One 

 authority says it breeds south of 43 north latitude. 

 Found by Cabot in the Upper Peninsula as early as 1850, 

 and embraced by nearly all the lists. A beautiful species 

 and very pleasing in its habits and notes. It has a short 

 song in wliicJi it frequently indulges while in its nesting 

 grouncis, but which is rarely uttered diuing migrations. 

 One of the peculiarities of this species is its ciuiosity, a 

 trait which is so striking that one will notice it the first 

 time the birds are met with. Its inquisitiveness ia so 

 marked that it is actually as odd as the blackcap tit- 

 mouse in its movements while collectors are near. Noth- 

 ing is known of the breeding habits of this species in the 

 State. 



68. Setopliaga ruiaciUa (Linn.) Swains. —American red- 

 start. 



An abundant species some seasons and again rare. Not 

 near so common near my present home in Kalamazoo 

 county as formerly, from the fact that the woods have 

 been largely cut down during the last ten or fifteen years. 

 This bird likes the edges of heavy beech and maple, elm 

 and basswood forests, wherein to build along the edges, 

 whei*e young maples and thorn bushes have gi-own up. 

 I imagine that the centers of deep forests are rarely 

 selected by these birds, but now the woods are cut off too 

 freely, and some species which follow civilization — and 

 they are innumerable — will leave for other localities where 

 there are more forests. The redstart arrives from April 

 85 to May 9, and by May 15 usually many nests are in 

 coiu'se of construction. The proper time for collecting 

 the eggs is from May 35 to June 10. Frequently the eggs 

 may be taken as late as July 1, and I have been led to be- 

 heve that frequently two broods are reared in the season. 



This species breeds throughout sections that I have 

 visited, I having foimd it abundant as far noth as Sault 

 St. Marie. The 'nesting habits are well-known and need 

 not be described here. The male does not got his bright 

 coat of black and salmon until the second season, and the 

 brightest colors until the third year. I found a. iiest con- 

 taining eggs presided over by two birds in the di-ess of 

 the female, and wondered at "the peculiarity. I shot the 

 birds_ and dissected them and found one a male. The 

 pleasing notes of the redstart are among the memories 

 one retains after a spring in the woods and fields. 



With the conclusion or tlus biography we complete the 

 histories of the thirty-eight species of the family Sylvieo- 

 lidce in Michigan. A few remarks generally may not 

 come amiss as a concluding chapter. The members of 

 this family comprise one of our moat interesting groups 

 of bu-ds, and it may well be doubted if any other class 

 could take their places in our affections. Remove the 

 warblers from forest and field and the beauty of nature 

 M'ould be sadly impaired. Nothing can quite fill theu- 

 places in May and June; and the migTation of the war- 

 Idlers is one of the most pleasing features of bird life. 

 Their nesting habits, so varied, are the enthusiast's de- 

 light; the grace of form and gay plumage cause them to 

 be the chosen of the ornithologist and too often the dis- 

 agreeable assaults of the hat decorators. 



The warblers hold high rank in my estimation, and I 

 am quite couQdent that more time has been spent on my 

 collection of warblers' skins and eggs tlian on the mem- 

 bers of any other three families. In the matter of bene- 

 fit to the farmer it is reasonable to place these little fel- 

 lows above the thi-ushes in point of merit. As was written 

 in earlier numbers of this series, the thrushes have the 

 \yell-founded reputation of devouring largely the preda- 

 cious species of beetles, and moreover have the disagree- 

 able habit of devouring large quantities of fruit. The 

 Sylvicolidce, on the contrary, although often represented 

 in gardens and orcliards, rarely, if ever, feed on fruit, 

 and usuaLLy confine themselves to the minute form of in- 

 sect life foimd almost everywhere. They come near ^o 

 the swalloAvs in their nearly strictly insectivorous diet. 

 The swallows feeding mostly on dipterous insects, with a 

 few coleoptera and a good share of neurovtera, while the 

 warblers are more confined to larvee ancf, as with a few 

 species like Setopliaga, to flying species in the mature 

 state. Very few species arrive early in the spring, and 

 with the exception of the yellow rump, pine and^large- 

 billed water thrush, which" frequently reach us in early 

 April, we rarely see them here in any numbers imtil 

 about May 10. In the autumn, however, the case is dif- 

 ferent, many species remaining until Oct. 1, and one even 

 till after snow flies in some seasons, the bu-ds beino- able 

 to find plenty of food that, at a corresponding time m the 

 spring, would be hardly procm-able. 



The following ratio of the prevalence of the warblers 

 in sections that I have visited may not be uninteresting 

 to tho reader, especiaUy to those who live in other States 

 and desire comparison with their own species. Among 

 those which are extremely abundant in almost aU sections 

 that I have visited excepting the extreme northern por- 

 tions of the State may be placed the following : Abundant 

 migrants; a portion remauis in some portions of State 

 during summer — 31. varia, P. americana, I), cestiva, D. 

 coronata, D. pemisylvaniea, D. blaokburnice, D. virens, 

 D. pinus, D, discolor, S. aivricapillus, S. moiacilla, Q. 

 trichas, M. mitratus, S. ridieilla. Common migrants; a 

 portion remains dm-ing summer in some parts of the State 

 — S. chrysoptera, H. riiftcapilla, D, ccerulescens, M. cana- 

 densis. Only seen during migTation — H. peregrinu, P. 

 tigrina, D. mactdosa, D. castanea, D. striata, D. palnia- 

 rum, 6. agilis, M. piisillm, 8. noivius. Stragglers — S. 

 celata, H. vermivoroiis, P. citrea, H. lexicobronchialis, D. 

 Idrtlandi, 0. formosa. Not rare in extreme southern 

 portions of the State some seasons — D. cceridea, D, dom- 

 inica albilora, D. virens. Common in sections, but rarely 

 taken during migration — G. philadelpJiia. Common (in 

 some sections) durmg migration only — H. pinus. 



Below is given the measurements, average and other- 

 wise, of twenty -seven species of warblers captured in the 

 State and taken from 133 specimens. The remaining 

 eleven species I had no authentio measuremeuts of, ^r ia 



