156 
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
water that establishes the line beyond which the trees cannot advance, and 
owing to the abrupt, rocky character of the entire shore this line is close to 
the water and very sharply defined. It is but a step from the gloomy forest 
to the bare rock or shingle beach, and usually but a half dozen more down 
over the water-worn rock to the icy waters of the lake itself. The rivers, 
entering the lake, between rocky walls, and with scarcely an opening among 
the trees, vary but little the general uniformity of the forest line. About 
the only breaks in this monotony are “ burns,” small areas from which the 
timber has been cut, and now and then a hard-earned clearing which has 
most likely been abandoned to grow up in saplings and brush. Aside from 
the low ground about the mouth of the St. Louis River, only two small 
marshes, scarcely worthy of mention, were seen. One of these constitutes 
the marais from which Grand Marais takes its name, and the other, of some¬ 
what greater dimensions, lies just above Stewart River. Neither is directly 
-connected with the lake. 
Every field ornithologist is aware that birds, as a rule, do not like the 
deep, sombre forest, but frequent by preference the edges of woods or open 
spots where they can get air and sun-light as well as suitable food. This is 
well illustrated on the “ North Shore for the vicinity of towns, abandoned 
clearings, and old burnt sections were found to be by far the best collecting 
grounds. A long walk through the forest, resulted generally in hearing 
only a few Red-eyed Vireos singing high up among the trees, encountering 
perhaps a noisy, roving troop of Chickadees or a few warblers, stragglers 
from the outside, flitting about among the tree-tops. 
Near Duluth are marshes and a number of cultivated fields, and we find 
that such birds as the Yellow-winged and Savanna Sparrows, Grass Finch, 
Bobolink, etc., are to be found. But other than in these two localities 
there is little or no cultivated ground within the region examined. At 
Grand Marais, which was our headquarters, there are two or three large 
partial clearings and a low H shaped peninsula, which bears only bushes 
and stunted trees, conditions which make this a fair locality for the bird- 
collector. 
Considerable disappointment was felt at not finding several species of 
birds that were confidently looked for, and which, in all probability, do 
occur. Among these may be named the Mourning Warbler, Canada Jay, 
White-winged Crossbill, Banded Three-toed Woodpecker, Pileated Wood¬ 
pecker and two or three species of owls. The Canada Jay and Pileated wood¬ 
pecker were known to residents, and the former said to be common and 
noticeable in the fall and winter. Owls appeared to be scarce. We our¬ 
selves noted but few, though camping along the shore for over five weeks, 
and little could be learned of them from resident hunters. 
The work of the present season (1879) was included between the dates 
July 26th and September 2d. In July, 1877, the writer spent a few days col¬ 
lecting at Duluth, and as the notes taken at that time have never been pub¬ 
lished, they are incorporated in this list in order to render it as full as 
possible. All matter introduced from this source is inclosed in brackets, as 
the work was done independent of the survey. 
One hundred and twenty-five (125) skins representing fifty-five (55) 
species, were taken the present season. Seven (7) additional species are 
represented in the University Museum, and the writer’s collection by speci- 
