1-90S.] 



BIKDS. 



265 



of July. On July 13, while detained by wind on Loon Island, 50 

 miles north of Fort Resolution, I visited a breeding colony on a 

 small island a quarter of a mile to the westward. The island was 

 merely a rock about 50 yards in diameter and only 3 or 4 feet out 

 of water, and was bare except for small patches of grass growing 

 in the crevices. Upon it were nesting about 100 pairs of herring 

 and California gulls, the latter outnumbering the herring gulls two 

 to one. ^lost of the nests of the two species, which were indistin- 

 guishable after the eggs vxere hatched, contained young which varied 

 in size from chicks just hatched to birds the size of a teal. Many 

 of the larger young scrambled to the water and swam away, but 

 the greater number sought to conceal themselves in the crevices 

 or beneath tufts of grass. The entire company of old birds flew 

 about, kee2)ing up a deafening clamor, the herring gulls being much 

 more wary than their smaller relatives. An adult male was col- 

 lected. While ascending Slave Eiver from Fort Eesolution to Fort 

 Smith. Mackenzie. August 1 to 3, we noted an occasional bird. 



In 1903 we observed the herring gidl on the Athabaska near Peli- 

 can River, May 18: between there and Grand Rapid, May 19 and 

 20; near Little Buffalo River, May 25; and 50 miles below Fort 

 Mc^Iurray. ^lay 29. We saw a few on Athabaska Lake, June 2, 3, 

 and 4: at Fort Smith, Mackenzie. June 15; and on Slave River 50 

 miles Ijelow Fort Smith, June 10, and near Limestone Point, June 

 IT. The species was common on Great Slave Lake near Fort Reso- 

 lution during the latter part of June. Alfred E. Preble and Merritt 

 Cary noted it conunonly on Great Slave Lake between Fort Resolu- 

 tion and Hay River. June 27, and saw a few at Fort Providence, 

 June 2 and 3. They also observed it at Fort Simpson, July 10; 

 found it abundant near the mouth of Xahanni River, July 11 and 

 19, and noted it near Fort Wrigley, July 20. On their return trip 

 they saw it on the Mackenzie, above Fort Simpson, July 25; on 

 Great Slave Lake, between its outlet and Fort Rae, July 27 and 

 28; found it common at the delta of the Athabaska, August 4; and 

 noted one at Brule Rapid, on the Athabaska, August 19. After the 

 division of the party, I frequently observed the species near Fort 

 Resolution during the early part of July, and while crossing the 

 lake to Fort Rae. July 17 to 29. It was an abundant breeder on 

 most of the lakes along the route traversed between Great Slave 

 and Great Bear lakes in August, and greater or less numbers were 

 seen almost daily. While traveling along the south shore of Great 

 Bear Lake, August 28 to September 17, I observed the species nearly 

 every day, and took an immature bird east of Leith Point on August 

 28. Two young which had not been long on the wing and were 

 still attended by the mother were seen on Me Vicar Bay, September 



