Notes on some Birds and Eggs from the Magdalen Islands, 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence. — The following notes, made by Mr. M. A. 

 Frazar during a collecting trip to the Magdalen Islands in June and July, 

 1882, seem of sufficient importance to merit publication, although many of 

 them are not absolutely new. Some of the points which they cover, how- 

 ever, have been previously involved in more or less obscurity, while the 

 others will be none the worse for fresh data. The specimens described, 

 and most of those mentioned, are now in the writer's collection, and the 

 descriptions are on his authority. 



I. Dendroeca striata. Black-poll Warbler.— A set of three fresh 

 eggs, identified by the capture of the female parent, wasj^en^june 33. 

 The nest was built in a low, thick spruce which stood on the edge of a 

 swamp, near a brook. It was pljiced on a horizontal branch at a height 

 of about three feet, and was well concealed by the clusters of densely- 

 imbricated needles above. Externally it measures 5 inches wide by 2.50 

 inches deep; internally 1.80 by 1.50 inches. The walls in places are 1.50 

 inches in thickness. The main body of the structure is composed of 

 Usnea moss, weed-stalks, and dry grasses, closely matted and protected 

 outwardly by coarser stalks and a few dead spruce twigs. The lining is 

 of slender, black moss-stems (which curiously resemble horse-hair), 

 cows'-hair, and a few feathers. The whole affair is remarkably solid and 

 bulky for a Warbler's nest. 



Tlie eggs are white, with brown specks scattered over the general surface 

 of the shell and numerous spots and blotches of reddish-brown and laven- 

 der about the larger end. They measure respectively .75 X .56, .76 X .56, 

 and .75 X .57- • 



BuaN.O.O. 7iOot, 1882. p. ^^'^ Xi)'^ • 



Birds of Magdalen lalandB- 

 Dr. L.B. Bishop. 



52. Dendroica striata.— Blackpoll Warbler.— One of the most 

 abundant birds, breeding everywhere. This bird and D. coronata choose 

 the same localities for their nests — dense spruce thickets, but while D. 

 striata generally nests close to the trunk, D. coronata places its more 

 spacious home out on a horizontal branch. Fresh eggs were taken as 

 late as July 12. 



Auk, VI. Aprii. IfiSf. p. 149 



Notes on Some Birds of Grand 

 Manan. 



BY C. H. ANDROS. 



Black Poll Warbler (Dendraica striata). 

 Both Hay and Sheep Islands seem to be favoi-ed 

 breeding grounds of this species ; no less than 

 five nests being brought to light in an hour's 

 search over the former. We did not confine 

 our attention exclusively to the smaller breed- 

 ers or undoubtedly many more sets would have 

 rewarded a more thorough investigation. Sev- 

 eral cats that had an apparently unrestrained 

 life during the warm season have diminished 

 the bird life to no little extent. On Nantucket, 

 Long, and the Duck islands, these felines are no 

 longer tolerated, having been expelled a few 

 years ago, at the suggestion of Mr. Cheney 

 who could not fail to see that their depredations, 

 especially among the Warblers, would if allow- 

 ed, impair the increase of their numbers in a 

 few seasons. Those species whose home most 

 frequently comes in "Tabby's" path are the 

 Yellow-rump, Black-poll, Black and Yellow 

 Warblers and Swalnson's Thrush. 



The nidifioation of D. striata differs from that 

 of D. maculosa, the nest being more bulky and 

 the greater variety of material entering into its 

 composition makes it easily distinguishable 

 from the simple mould of hair and grass fibre 

 of the Black and Yellow. The eggs too are a 

 . trifle larger, resembling those of the Black and 

 White Warbler, to my mind. The song is 

 " weak and unmusical," in addition to which is 

 frequently heard the squeaky note more often 

 noticed, perhaps, during migration, which a 

 particular friend of mine likens to a mouse in a 

 trap in distress. 



The typical nests are generally built in the 

 intersection of limb and trunk of a low hem- 

 lock, and we found the complement to be Ave 

 eggs. The Gulls nest very abundantly in the 

 neighborhood of their haunts often encroach- 

 ing on them, and one nest was placed but a few 

 yards from where an Olive-back Thrush was 

 seated upon her full set. 



