^. 
 
 
 ■A- 
 
 
 [From 'The Ai'k,' Vol. X, No i, January, 1S93.] 
 
 SUMMER BIRDS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 \ 
 
 BY JONATHAN DVVIGTIT, JK. 
 
THE AUK : 
 
 A (QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 
 
 ORNITHOLOGY. 
 VOL. X. January, 1893. no. i. 
 
 SUMMER BIRDS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 nv JONATHAN 1>\VIGHT, JR. 
 
 LviNO ill tlic soullieni part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its 
 low outlines just visii)le tVoin the maiulaiul, is Prince Edward 
 Island, called by some one the 'Garden of the Gulf.' Compared 
 with the rnii;o;e(l Labrador or Cape Breton coasts of the Gulf, 
 this patch of <!;reen oti the surroundin<;- blue waters might to a 
 fervid imagination suggest the appellation of garden, but when 
 the climate, with its long winters and brief summers, and the 
 limited productions of tl-.e island arc taken into account, not to 
 mention the semi-civilized aspect of much of the country, the 
 name of garden does not strike the beholder as particularly 
 descriptive. However, it is not my present purpose to do more 
 than indicate the salient features of the island's topography and 
 flora, that my fellow ornithologists may follow me the more 
 understandingly in my endeavor to introduce to them the avifauna 
 of a considerable area hitherto neglected by our fraternity. 
 Anticosti, Nevvfoundlaiul, Cape Breton, and particularly the 
 Magdalen Islands have all been visited, but Prince Edward 
 Island has been passed by, probably because it seemed to oiler 
 fewer attractions than tliese wililer, r(>ugher islands. 
 
 Notwithstanding the probability that I shouUl only meet w ith 
 
2 DwiGJiT, Summer Birds of Prince Edward Island. \\!m 
 
 birds whoso acquaintance I liad already made in otiier parts of 
 Canada, I nevertheless devoted a couple of weeks last summer 
 to exploring the island, and am now able to say what ispecies are 
 characteristic snmnier residents; and a few words ahont them 
 may not come amiss to those of us who may he familiar with 
 them only dming the migration seasons. 
 
 The length of my stay was from June 23 to July 9, and hy 
 means of the n:irrovv-gauge railroad. su])p!cmentcd by liorse 
 power, I visited l)olli extremities of the island, making Tignish 
 and Souris mv headipiarters. The remarkable feat of connecting 
 these places bv 167 miles of railroad has been accomplished 
 (the air line distance is less than 100 miles), the promoteis of 
 the road bemg desirous no doubt that each feature of the Itind- 
 scape should be viewed by the travelling public from at least 
 three ditVerent points of the compass. I also stopped at inter- 
 mediate points. The weather was favorable, mostly brigiit, the 
 raw winds from the northeast and the brief lainstorms peculiar 
 to the (inlf l)eing tlie only disigieeable t'catures. and these were 
 less pronounced as July advanced and tlie sun gained |)owei-. 
 What the climate must be in tlie winter time, when a belt of ice 
 extending as tVr as the eye can reach surrounds tlie island, and 
 binds it to the mainland by ever shifting Hoes, can only be 
 inferred from the chilling brt-ath of the northerly breezes that in 
 summer sweep over tlij frigid water of the Gulf. The ice is 
 said to disappear in April and sprin-r opens, but the summer is 
 brief and chielly confined to the months of Jul\' and August. 
 Brant regularly remain till the Sth of June. Willi such a back- 
 ward s})ring and such a cool and brief sunnner it is not sur[)ris- 
 ing that agriculture, beyoiul the production of hav, potatoes and 
 oats, does not llomish. Corn is rarely attempted, anil usually 
 sullers by early frost. 
 
 Prince Edwanl Island has the form of an irregular crescent, 
 the concavity to the northward. It embraces an area of 2133 
 square miles. Its extreme length from East Point to West Point 
 is about one hundred and twent}' miles, and its width woidd 
 probably average about twenty miles, for the coast line is very 
 much indented by bays. By means of them it is, roughly speak- 
 ing, cut into three sections. The westernmost is the nar- 
 rowest, the width increasing eastward to nearly forty miles, 
 the island tapering olf again to a point at its eastern extremity. 
 
^'%?^] 15"it;ilT, Sidiimer /i:'n/.< of Prince Eihvard Island. -i 
 
 Tlie {ioolo<riciil fonuation of tin; island is a ivii, ciiiinhiinj^ siiiul- 
 stoiie that <,'ivc's rise to low blul'.s ten to twenty feet lii<{h aloni,' 
 the coast, these reaching a height of sixty or seventy feet at some 
 points, notably near North Cape, at East Point, ami on the 
 north siiore near New London. Tlie IjUiU's (or 'clifts' as they are 
 called by the natives) are practically perpendicular, the waves 
 eating them away below, and usually tliere is a gravelly beach of 
 detritus at their base. They are often guttered by streams, and 
 sloping down, parallel to the water's edge, may be replaced bv 
 reaches of gravel or sand, or perhaps 'ow islands, behind whicii 
 arc found lagoons and salt marslies, but in a few miles, perhaps 
 in a few hundred yards, they may again iniexpectediy rise to con- 
 siderable heiglit. The wind-swept sand beaches are chiclly 
 along tlic north shore, interrupted at times bv the red blulfs; 
 and although there is always a perceptible reddish tinge to the 
 sand, it is surprising how white it may become in some local- 
 ities. The drifted sand-hills, fringed with more or less scantv 
 grass, suggested the possibility of finding the Fpswicli Sparrow, 
 and yet my ellbrts were unrewarded, tlie Savanna Sparrows met 
 with in such places being in no wise lighter-colored th:ni those 
 of adjacent fields. 
 
 A green belt of farming country encircles the island, the pas- 
 tures in many places extending to the very edge of the blull's. and 
 back of them the land is slightly rolling, nowhere reaching any 
 considerable altitude. The only marked inecpialities are due to 
 the erosion of small brooks, and the general ellect is that of a flat 
 country. In the central section, tlie best settled, tiie fainis 
 extend from shore to shore and have succeeded the forest that 
 once clothed the whole island. The timber has been nearly all 
 cut, and no large bodies remain except in the \vestci"n and eastern 
 sections, where bears, still surviving in limited numbers, indicate 
 the nature of the unsettled tracts. A few 'blueberry barrens' 
 were noticed. Most of the island appears to be well draineil and 
 comparatively dry. I met with no extensive swamps, nor are 
 the shores of the fresh water lagoons and lakes (particularly 
 abundant near East I'oint) especially swampy. The lagoons 
 have been made by the damming back of small streams behind 
 the sandbars formed by the wearing away of the blnfls. At Tig- 
 nish the woods were in patches interrupted by fields, this style of 
 country being characteristic of a large part of the island. It rep- 
 
A \')\\n;in\ Siiwiiirr /ti'ji/s 11/ Prince Ed\i.iud hiniid. I ."jj 
 
 resents liere asolsowlierc tlie sprcadiiiif of civili/atioii lliat destroys 
 utterly the lorcst o( its own generation ami takes no tliouylit i"or 
 the possil)le necessities of the fntnrc. Uefore the woodman's axe, 
 the evergreen forest has melted away in many parts of our conti- 
 nent never to return, its jjlace l)ein<; taken, as is well known, 
 hy ileciduous trees, they sulleriiij^ in tiieir turn, and this process 
 is now well advanced even on I'rince Edward Island. 
 
 The native tiees are chiefly conifene and more than nine 
 tenths of them spruce {Picca ni^ra and /'. alba) and (ii- (Aoics 
 bahamca). Among the more abundant deciduous trees are 
 maples (chietly Acer sacc/iarinittn), birches {Bctiila lenta^ 
 Ii. hitca, and />'. papyri fcra, all in considerable numbers), 
 beeciies {/ui^ns fcmiginca)., and some ol the willows and 
 poplars. Oi" the shrubs the heath family is well represented, 
 espeeiallv by tlie i^enera \'ar.ciiihim (blueberries), I^cdum (Lab- 
 railor tea), and Kalmia (A'. aiis^iis(/Jo/ia, sheep lamel). 
 Alders are generally distributed. As to the herbaceous plants, 
 they arc those of the i 'Mtli' rn woods and fields. It is said 
 that some plants of the adjacent mainland are not fomul 
 on the island. In otiier words, the twenty miles or so of the 
 Straits of Northumberland act as a hairier to the [possible 
 tinge of moie southern ibrms, and the same mav influence the 
 northward range of certain s|)ecics of birds more or less coimntjii 
 on tiie mainland. Onem.iy tliid fragrant banks of the tin\, nod- 
 ding Limnca, [)astures red with sorrel {Rtiwcx acciosc//a), 
 swamps blue with iris (/r/.v versicolor)., clearings green with 
 coarse ferns, beneath which gray mosses and clumi)s of the 
 scarlet bimchbeirv ( Corn/is cauadci/sis) may he foumi, and the 
 dark evergreen woods are carpeted with the greenest t)t" mosses. 
 Tiiere are many other tiees and bushes, notably larch (La/ix 
 a»ierica>/a) and arbor vita' ( T/iiiya occidcntalis) which are 
 rather common locally, but they are not especially conspicuous 
 features, and I merely wish to call attention to certain parts of 
 the flora to imlicate in a very general way its character. There 
 are many tracts of sectind-growth, usually almost wholly i)eech 
 or maple which, if small, are shunned by birds, and nowJiere can 
 one wander far without entering tracts of timber, from which per- 
 haps only the larger trees ha\e been culled. Wiuii lire rims 
 throutrh timber, dead anil blackened trunks are left that in a few 
 years become, by the rotting away of their branches, the nionoto- 
 
^"i' M I)\vu;iiT, Snmmer Ih'rds of Prince Edward hhtud. C 
 
 nous (lead stubs of tlio noitliciii landscape. Prince Eilwaid 
 Island is, however, remarkably free from such tracts, liavinj;; passeil 
 this period of primitive civilization. One way of clearinj^ land, 
 especiallv if it is covered with second-jjirowth spruce, is to cut 
 down everythin<^ and then let (Ire do its work when the brush is a 
 little dry, so it is no wonder forest fnesare easily started. After fire 
 has swept thron<j;h a clearin<^, laspbeny bushes ( /i". .s7/v]^''o.?//.v) 
 and the willosv-herh or 'fire weed' {Epi/o/>i/un angnstifoliitm^ 
 are certain to s])rinir up, although apparently there may have 
 been none for miles, coarse ferns sof)n multiply, and in time the 
 old stumps and fallen, lialf-ch;irred lo<^s are c<nered with mo.sses 
 .and lichens, while the jjjround, if not cultivateil, is soon hidden by 
 many sorts of plants and {grasses. In such spots the White- 
 throated Sparrow and the .Sjate-coloied Junco find their fa\orite 
 haunts, and here the Hermit 'riitiisb makes its nest near the 
 ed<^e of the woods, and sin.Ljs from some favorite tree. I'erhaps 
 an Olive-sided Flycatcher may be heard whistling from tiie top 
 of the tallest tlead tree to be found in or near the clearing, or a 
 Wood Pewee may wander out from a bit of open woods of mixed 
 growth near by. where also maybe heard a I'arula Warbler or a 
 Red-eyed Vireo. If maples, birches, and beeches predominate, 
 Ovenbirds will be found, and tlie largei- tiie growtli the more 
 probability there is of finding the Black-throated Blue Warbler. 
 The Winter Wren and the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher abide in the 
 dense evergreen woods along mossy brooks where few other birds 
 disturb the quiet, save perliaps wandering Warblers or Thrushes. 
 In clearings grown up with small spruces Magnolia Warblers 
 always abomid, and if these trees are of consiilerable size there 
 are sure to be Olive-backed Thrushes, Black-throated Green 
 and Myrtle Warblers. The Nashville W'arbler is usually found 
 in the detached, ragged bits of mixed woods, which the Mag- 
 nolia and Myrtle Warblers also frequent, together with Redstarts 
 and Thrushes. Such in brief are some of the characteristic birds 
 of the woods, and such their favorite haunts, though their tastes 
 of course may vary and some, such as the Hudsonian and Black- 
 capped Chickadees, the Woodpeckers, and the Golden-crowned 
 Kinglets, are almost sure to be found in unexpected places. 
 
 Then there are damp bushy tracts where the bushes may be 
 waist high and an occasional arbor vita; or larch rises above the 
 smaller giowth. Here one may seek Canadian and Wilson's 
 
k 
 an. 
 
 6 DwiGHT, Summer Birds of Prince Edward Island. [^"^ 
 
 W;irl)lers and Maryland Yullovvtliioats, wliilc swampy alders 
 siiy<(est the pr()l)al)ility of liiiding Traill's I'lycatclicrs and Swamp 
 Sparrows. If a lirook passes through the alders, Water-thrushes 
 may he heard, Imt it is no easy matter to jjel even a glimpse of 
 them. 
 
 'J'he birds of the fields are numerous, the Savanna Sparrow 
 probably fjutnumbering all tiie others put together. Vesper 
 Sparrows and Song Sparrows abound, wiiile the Robin and 
 Flicker are more frequently seen in the open than elsewhere. 
 Crows stalk about in every field, tliough their nests are in tlie 
 woods. Goldfinciies, Purple Finclies, Crossbills and Cedarbirds 
 are generally seen on the wing in the open country, and n}'ing 
 higher than the Swallows (13arn, IJank, anil White-bellied) which 
 most freciuently are noticed skimnnng along near tiie ground or 
 over the surface of a sheet of water. 
 
 Long familiarity with the notes and habits of the birds of the 
 Marithne Provinces enabled me to accomplish much more than 
 if I had been a stranger to them, ;md even though my stav was 
 brief, I feel confident that those species that escaj^ed my attention 
 were either exceedingly rare or did not occur in the localities I 
 visited. All males were in full song, and feniales startletl from 
 their nests lost no time in begimiing to scold- I was in the field 
 from morning till night, unci my gun with its auxiliiary was a 
 trusty friend. Of a previous visit to the island in 1876 little 
 need be said, for the egg fever was on me at that lime and the 
 finding of .1 Junco's nest was sufficient to satisfy my ambition for 
 several days. 
 
 VVhile in Charlotietown I examined a hundred or more birds 
 stufied by Prof. S. N. Earlc, but unfortunately they lacked data 
 and are tbeiefore of little use in the present comicction. J'^om 
 iiim, however, I obtained much interesting information. Some 
 notes upon the \s inter liirds of the island have been published by 
 ]\Ir. Bain (Auk, II, 18S5, pp. 262-267). 
 
 I present here a list that embraces only the species tliat have 
 come under my own observation, but it includes most of the 1 irds 
 that make their sinnmer iiome (>n Prince Edward Island, the fauna 
 of which is thoroughly Canadi 
 
 lan. 
 
 Cepphus grylle. IJLACKGi'n.i.KMor. — The 'Sea Pigeons' iisetl t'> l)reed 
 in great miiiibeis in the cliffs at vaiioiis points along tlic coast. I have no 
 doubt th<it diey still do so in smaller niiinbers, although the only positive 
 
^"s()f] nwiGin, Summei Birds of Prince Edivard IdaiiiL ^ 
 
 cvideiu'e I have is llie I'iict lliiit I saw a dozen or iiioic of the hiiils about a 
 clilVuear New Loiuh>ii on the north sliore of the island, and heafd the 
 vounj; 'sqiicnlinj;' in inaccefsxible crevices. This clifT, extending fxi 
 poiliaps half a mile, is prohahly tlie hij^hest on the island, and is almost 
 sheer to the water seventy or eighty feet below. No beach here intervenes 
 between its base and the waves which in times of storm beat so fiercclv 
 ajjainst it that it is justly dreaded hy mariners as one of the most langer- 
 ous spots on the north shore of the island. Its cnniiblin:; (ace, to tlie very 
 brink of which the ijreen fields above extend, affords led-ies and seams 
 where the 'Sea I'ij^eons' lind secure nesting places, and are said to be 
 "plenty." I devoted only one d.\v to exploring this locality and did not 
 see many birds. They were in small parties or pairs, lloating upon or 
 skimn.ing over the water, or quietly sitting upon some ledge, the white 
 wing-patch conspicuous aiiainst the red background of rock as \ iewed 
 from a boat. Their black bodies were comparatively inconspicuous owing 
 to shadows. At Tignish a boy told ine he had found a nest the previous 
 year in the low blulTs of the north shore, and I think they may breed in the 
 liigh cliffs southwest of North Cape, although I could not make thorough 
 search. I also saw a pair at Kast Point where again are high cliffs, sixty 
 feet or more In lieight. 
 
 Larus argentatus smithsonianus. American IlRRRiNCi Gull. — A few 
 were seen from time to time, but I could find noevidence that they bred on 
 the island. Birds of such powerful flight might well wander in the course 
 of a day many miles from their breeding grounds. 
 
 Sterna hirundo. Common Tekn. — It is probable that this species, 
 known as the 'Mackerel Gidl,' is the only Tern resident dm-ing the 
 summer nionlhs, and it is abundant at many points, particularly the sandy 
 reaches of tlie north shore. I visited a colony near Souris July 7, con- 
 sisting of perhaps seventy-five pairs. Several nests found contained three 
 eggs each, and were the usua' repressions in the plains of drifted sand, 
 protected possibly by a few blades of coarse beach-grass and in one case 
 by a few wisps of grass wound round the edge of the hollow. The birds 
 were reserved in their demeanor, but did not hesitate to expose themselves 
 (o the danger of firearms when their nests were examined. Their dainty 
 plumage and easy flight always seem out of keeping with their harsh 
 voices. It is pleasant to visit a colony of Terns and realize it has escaped 
 the pei>ecutioiis of the milliners, for perhaps no one genus of birds has 
 been more thoroughly exterminated in certain sections of our country 
 than has Steriiii, thanks to Dame Fashion's inexorable decrees. I was 
 told that this species made its appearance each spring with wonderful 
 regularity on the north shore — usually May 22 — and always between 
 May 21 and 24. 
 
 Phalacrocorax ? Two birds were seen at New London, July 2, 
 
 ,)crchc-l on a cliff whi'e with their chalkings, but they could not be ap- 
 proac'.r-d. I was told that 'Shags' were often seen on this rock, but were 
 not thought to breed there. Whether carlo or dilopfiits it is impossible 
 for me to say. 
 
8 DwiuiiT, Summer Birds of Prince Ed-ivard Island. f^an 
 
 Anas obscura. Black Duck. — This is tlie only Duck of whose 
 piLscMux' I have coiicl.isive evidence. I saw a brood on a fresh water lake 
 near Souris, and I found dried up on the sand one dav' the carcass of an 
 adult. In several other localities I heard of nests having been found. 
 
 Botaurus lentiginosus. Amkrican Bittern. — A tolerably common 
 bird in suitable localities, and known by the name of 'Mud-hen.' 
 
 Ardea herodias. Grkat Hi.i k. IIhro.s. — I learned of at least two 
 heronries of this bird, but did not visit them. One near Charlottetown 
 was described to me as containing several hundred birds. The ue.sts were 
 in hard-wood growth, and were warranted to contain young each year by 
 Jnly.^. The Herons were seenat many points on the island, notably along 
 St. Peter's Hay, where 1 saw upwaiils of twenty as the train skirled the 
 shore. They paid Utile or no attention to it, although ofttn less than a 
 gun-sbot distant. 
 
 Philohela minor. American Woodcock. — The sportsmen are ac- 
 (juainted with this bird but it is considered rare. 1 saw a stutfed specimen, 
 and well recollect the one I shot at I don't know how many times when 1 
 visited Hunter River in 1876. The country about there is better suited to 
 it than much of the ground visited this time. The partiality of the 
 Woodcock for clean alder swamps still obtains on Prince Edward Island. 
 
 Gallinago delicata. Wilson's Snipic. — This .species breeds, sparingly 
 
 I fancy, at suitable places on the island. I saw a young bird in first 
 plumage among Prof. Earle's birds and talked with se ?ral men who bad 
 found nests. The tussocks in boggy places along brooks seem to be the 
 usual site — in one case a nest was found in a bunch of iris. 
 
 Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandimpkr. — Generally distributed along 
 brooks ill the open country and fairly common. A nest was found in an 
 odd situation at Tignish. It was under a decayed logon a boggy slope, 
 and was carefully lined with bits of rotten wood. 
 
 ^gialitis meloda. Piping Plover. — Frequented the sandy or gnivelly 
 beaches in considerable nimibeis. 
 
 Bonasa umbellus togata. Canadia.n Rlkfkd (jrouse. — A few only 
 were met with, although said to be abundant. A novel method of hunting 
 them reached my ears. They come out upon the railroad in a certain 
 section to sun themselves, and it is said the sportsman riding to and fro 
 on a track-velocipeile shoots them so that sometimes he can pick them up 
 without slopping. I was informed by gunners that Dendnigtipiis aiiiu- 
 de/tsis does not inhabit the island. 
 
 Circus hudsonius. .Marsh Hawk. — Birds of this species were occa- 
 sionally seen, lecogni/able at long distances by the white bar on the tail. 
 
 II was almost the only Bird of Prey met with. 
 
 Aquila chrysaetos. Goldicn I'^acji-k. — I examined a live -pecimen in 
 young plumage, captured June 23, in a fox trap set for it, near New London. 
 The man who caught it thought there was a nesi near by in a piece of 
 woods, and expected to trap the oiil birds as well, one of which he had seen. 
 After visiting the !ocality I am inclined to doubt whether the bird was 
 bred on the island. Eagles are considered rare birds there by all the 
 
^i8oi^] UwiGHT, Summer Birds of Prince Edxvard /stand. Q 
 
 people with whom I talked, and prohalily sliaj from wilder regions, such, 
 for instance, as Cape Breton. 
 
 Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. — A hird that I took to be this 
 species was seen one day. I'rof Earle showed me a stuffed specimen. 
 
 Pandion haliaStos carolinensis. Amek.'can Ospuby. — Seen both at 
 Tignish and Souris in limited numbers. 
 
 Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Black-hilled Cuckoo.— One specimen 
 obtained at Tignish is the only evidence I have of its occurrence on the 
 is'and. 
 
 Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. — Tolerably common, making 
 its home in holes dug into the sand stratum that overlies the rock of the 
 bluffs along the shores. 
 
 Dryobates villosus. Hairy Woodpecker. — Occasionally observed. 
 There seemed to be a great dearth of Woodpeckers, the Flicker alone 
 excepted. Dead trees did not abound, still there were a great many of 
 them scattered here and there. 
 
 Dryobates pubescens. Dow^'v Woodpecker. — The only birds I 
 chanced to meet weie a family at Souris occupying a hole thirty feet from 
 the giound in a dead maple of large dimensions. The locality was a grove 
 of old maples. 
 
 Sphyrapicus varius. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. — This species was 
 also unexpectedly rare and seldom met with. 
 
 Ceophlceus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker. — Said to have been 
 formerl" common. Prof Earle showed me a stuffed specimen, but I found 
 no other evidence, save hearsay, of its occurrence. No 'mortise holes' 
 were discovered. 
 
 Colaptes auratus. Flicker. — The only abui-.dant Woodpecker, and 
 found every where in 'noderate numbers. June 25, a nest with fully fledged 
 young was examined in the top of a hollow fence post. No excavation 
 had been made by the hird, and the young were entirely exposed to the 
 weather. 
 
 Chordeiles virginianus. Nigiithawk. — A few were seen almost every 
 day, frequenting the open clearings or sailing high in the air at sunset. 
 
 Chaetura pelagica. Chimney Swikt. — Rather rare, and not often 
 seen. In a country where a majority of the houses have but one 
 chimney, and that chimney in use from one year's end to another's, it is 
 not remarkable that the Chimney Swift still nests in its primitive manner 
 in hyllow trees, but it is remarkable how soon it takes kindly to civiliza- 
 tion when this has advanced to the point of building houses with a spare- 
 room chimney. 
 
 Trochilus colubris. Ruuy-tiiroated Hummingbird — Not observed, 
 but undoubtedly occurs. Prof. Earle showed me stuffed specimens. 
 
 Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. — Rather common, and no doubt 
 greatly enjoys life where there are so many Crows to he harrassed. 
 
 Contopus boreahs. Olive-sided Flycatcher. — One specimen was 
 observed at Souris. Prof. Earle was familiar with it. 
 
 Contopus virens. Wood Pevvee. — Net common, though now and 
 
 then met with in certain localities, 
 9 
 
lO DwiGHT, Summer Birda of Prince Edivaid hlauil. \\m\. 
 
 Empidonax flaviventris. Ykllow-iusli.if.d Flvcatciikk. — P'oiiru) 
 only ;U Tifjnisli and in small numbers. The drvTiess of the other localities 
 visited would partly account foi' its absence. The scarcity of this and the 
 followiiifj species rather surprised me. 
 
 Empidonax pusillus traillii. Traill's Flycatcher. — A few at 
 Tignish in their favorite haunts, the alders, were the only ones met with. 
 It is likely t!iat both this species and the pieccding are in some other 
 localities more abuiulant than my observations uould indicate 
 
 Empidonax minimus. Licast Flycatciikr. — A cheerful series of 
 'clie-b^cs' greeted me one morning at Souris. It is really easier to distin- 
 guish this bird from traillii \i\ its notes than by the bird in hand, but the 
 bird in hand is, unfortunately perhaps, a scientific neces.sity. No others 
 were seen. 
 
 Cyanocitta cristata. IJluk Jay.— Not abu-vlant, and only occasionally 
 met with. No Perisoreus canadensis were c en heard of. 
 
 rCorvuscorax principalis Raven. — I was told that a jiair of Ravens had 
 formerly nested for several years on the face of the clilVat ICast Point, and 
 while I think my informant could have made no mistake as to the species, 
 1 hesitate about admitting a bird to the list on hearsay only.] 
 
 Corvus americanus. American Crow.— Nowhere, in the breeding 
 season, have I ever seen Crows so abuniiant and so tame. Tliey were 
 never out of sight or hearing, and they sit on the fences and 'caw' at vou 
 derisively as you ride by. Of course their numbers were augmenteil by 
 young birds, and early in July they were beginning to flock, as indicated 
 bv a gathering of nearly a hundred seen July 4. AtTignish there was a 
 roost in a large patch of woods, whither towards simdown aiul later 
 Cro.vs were seen coiiverging from all directions. In the woods a terrible 
 noise was kept up until it grew dark. The Crows do not molest the 
 farmer to any great extent, as he raises no corn, but I was told thev kill 
 voung chickens and pick out the eyes of new-born ' inbs. They daily 
 congregate for a feast in the fiehls where the refuse "i the many lobster- 
 canning establishments is used as a fertilizer. 
 
 Scolecophagus carolinus. Rusty nLAiKuiRi). — A flock of twenty or 
 more, largely young birds, near East Point July 7, were the only ones 
 seen. I had heard of their occurence elsewhere. 
 
 QuiscaluE quiscula seneus. Bro.vzrd Gracki.e. — A pair of these 
 birds in Prof. Earle's possession were the only ories he had ever seen, very 
 likely stragglers frotn the mainland. 
 
 Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. — Sparingly distributed, a 
 restless and roving species, and seen singly or in pairs. 
 
 Loxia curvirostra minor, .\merican Crossbill. — Perhaps more 
 abundant than the following species, but the flocks are so often made up 
 of birds of both species, and so much more frequently seen or heard flying 
 overhead rather than allowing a closer examination, that it is difficult to 
 estimate their numbers. At any rate both were occasionally seen in 
 flocks of old and young, sometimfes one species predominating (usuallv 
 the flock was almost entirely made up of one species), sometimes the 
 
Vol. X 
 . 189J 
 
 J DwiGHT, Summer Birds 0/ Prince Edxvard hland. \ I 
 
 other. Althoiij;li the call notes are quite (listin>,'iiishable, those of leucop- 
 /e;-rt heinsj; harsher, it is no easy matte;- to (ieteniiiiic purceiilaijes in chat- 
 tering flock.s of a dozen or more birds. Their favorite feeding haunts were 
 larch trees, and, unless disturbed, they were silent as they hung about the 
 branches in all conceivable attitudes, usually upside down. They also 
 feed on the seeds from the green cones of the fir which are tipped with 
 freshly exuded pilch at this season, if it be a cone year. The pitch often 
 inats on the bills and feathers of the birds. Dissection showed the 
 breeding season to be long past. 
 
 Loxia leucoptera. WiiiTK-wi.viiKi) CROssniLt. — Katlier numerous. 
 Tlie remarks made under the preceding species apply also to this. 
 Neither can be seen every day, for liolh are great wanderers. 
 
 Spinus tristis. Amkkican GoLnKiNXii. — A few seen almost daily. 
 
 Spinus pinus. Pink Siskin. — It surprised me to meet with this species 
 l)Ul once — a male at Souris. Dissection showed the bird to be breeding. 
 
 Poocaeles gramineus. Vksi'kk Si'Akuow. — .\n abundant bird, frequent- 
 ing the open fields in the more settled districts. 
 
 Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. Savanna Si'Arrow. — Tt is 
 probably the most abuiulaTit bird on tlie island, and is found evervwhere 
 except in woods. On sand beaches, marshes, or dry fields its weak song 
 was constantly to be heard, and in certain pastures it seemed as if every 
 third fence post were occupied by a singer. As an illustration that tlving 
 is a matter of practice on the part of young birds, I instance a young 
 Savanna Sparrow that I flushed one windy day in a pasture where the 
 grass was very short. The wind upset all his calculaiioiis and himself as 
 well, apparently getting under bis wings and turning him upside dow-u 
 every time he started on a fresh flight, lie would get along pretty well 
 for a rod or o and then a puff would send him bowling over the sod till 
 he reached a point of frigl.t and exhaustion that left him panting just 
 where he happened to roll. 
 
 Ammodramus caudacutus subvirgatus. Acadian Siiaki'-taii.ki) 
 KiNcu. — A few birds in a salt marsh at Tigiiish were the only ones I could 
 discover, although I searched in many other localities. As Mr. Win. 
 Stone found this form abundant at Tignish in 1876 (recorded as A. cauda- 
 cutus. (ov sul'X'irgtitus was not then separated, ISrewster, Hull. N. O. C, 
 Vol. II, Jan. 1877, p. iS), I w.is surprised not to find it more abundant. I 
 saw likely ground along East River, but did not have time to explore it, 
 and the birds very possibly m;iy be locally distributed here and at other 
 points also. 
 
 Zonotrichia albicollis. Wiiitk-tiikoatei) Spakkow. — This bird so 
 characteristic of the Canadian Fauna is less abundant than the ubiquitous 
 Junco, but on account of its loud and striking song is far better known to 
 the aver, ge inhabitant. It is a bird of the clearings, building its nest 
 upon the ground in a bunch of weeds, and singing nearly all of the time 
 it is not occupied scolding intruders. Its well-kiu)Wn song is easily 
 imitated, and it is amusing to see how angry and excited a male will 
 become if he thinks another has strayed into his own domain. The song 
 
12 DwiciiiT, Siiwmer Birds of Prince Eihvard Island. \\^ 
 
 is sometimes htaiil liroaliinfj the stillness of tlie niglit. anil onlv those who 
 have passed n ni}j;ht in the norlhetii woods can know how piofound this 
 stillness may he. The sonj; has given to the hiid many local names 
 wherever it occurs, one ot" the hest known being 'Kennedy Bird.' I heard 
 a new version which credits him with saying 'Good Lord, pity me, pitv 
 me, pity me." When the young get on tlv; wing, the song is less IVe- 
 quently lieard. The l)ir(l is kuo'vn to the lew French settlers of the island 
 as rossii;nol (nightingale). 
 
 Spizella socialis. Ci'ipriN(i Si-arugw. — Not a common species, and 
 only occasionally observed. 
 
 Junco hyemalij. Sr..\ ik-coi.oki-.i) Ji'nco. — Next to the Savanna Spar- 
 row this is probably the most abunilant bird on the island. It is found 
 everywhere, — in dooryards, open fields, fern-clothed clearings, even deep 
 woods. Its nest is on the ground, preferably under something — the 
 bottom rail of a fence or a hole in some grassy bank. Young were just 
 beginning to llv June 23, and a week later nests with fresh eggs indicated 
 a second laying. Its local name is 'Bluebird,' a strange misnomer, even 
 though Sidlia sid/is does not occur. 
 
 Melospiza fasciata. Song Sparkow. — V'ery abundant and general. v 
 distributed. Mr. Bain states that some winter on the island. 
 
 Melospiza georgiana. Swamp Sparrow. — Rather common in very 
 wet, bushv meadows, with alders here and there, or in open swamps of 
 limited are:*, such as occur along brooks in cleared country. 
 
 Pelrochelidon lunifrons. Clifk Swallow. — A cojiimon bird, locally 
 distributed, and nesting iti colonies nndei' the eaves of b:u ns and houses. 
 
 Chelidon erythrogaster. Barn Swallow. — Abundant and geneially 
 distributed. 
 
 Tachycineta bicolor. White-biclliei) Swallow. — Fairly abundant, 
 nesting in old Woodpecker holes in clei.rings, crevices about barns, and 
 the hollow ends of the lils composing the zigzag fences so common on 
 the island. The sudden disappearance of a Swallow as it aligbteil on a 
 fence was almost startling until I learned that in some deep hollow, de- 
 caved out of the heart of an unsplit rail, was a cosy nest of grass and 
 feathers. It was impossible to dislodge the birds that were sometimes out 
 of arm's reach, but several nests exainined the last week in June contained 
 voung. I have never found this species nesting in such a location before. 
 
 Clivicola riparia. Bank Swallow. — I perlia))s do this species an in- 
 justice when I say that it is outnumbered by the Savann:. ^parrow and 
 the Junco. I saw colonies of hundreds at several points along »he coast, 
 and as every hlulTis crowned by a layer of sand, and much of the coast 
 line is a continuous blulV, the Swallows have unrivalled opportunities 
 for nesting places. 
 
 Ampelis cedrorum. Ckdariiird. — Seen now and again, but not com- 
 mon. There is a remarkable similarity between a li;;p of this species, a 
 certain note of the Robin, and one of the Hermit Thrush. 
 
 Vireo olivaceus. Ricd-kyku Vireo. — A common and in a few localities 
 an abundant bird, here as elsewhere a tireless songster. It prefers decid- 
 uous trees, particularly lar^c maples. ' 
 
.^■893^] f>wioilT, Summer Binh of Prince Edward tsUtnd. I^ 
 
 Vireo solitarius.- Soljtarv Vireo.— At Souiis one diiv I was attracted 
 by the soiij; ol' this liini. arid soon saw tljc perfc/rmei-. This was the onlv 
 s|)ecimen observed on tlie island. I have often met with it on the main- 
 land, and f'ullv expected to find others, as its rich, clear sontf, disconnected 
 withal in delivery, cannot fail to attract attention. 
 
 Mniotilta varia. Black-and-wiiitk Warbler.— Occasionally seen or 
 its 'wiry' soni; heard, though not very common. 
 
 Helminthophila ruficapilla. Na.siivii.lk Warbi.er.— Rather abundant 
 at Tignish and not met with elsewliere. The activity of this bird is highly 
 commendable, unless you are in pursuit of one, when you are not so favor- 
 ably impressed. Hardly pausing to dash off its lively song, it is one 
 moment at the very lop of some tall tree and the next on tlit ground a 
 hundred yards away where its song breaks forth (piite as vigorously. The 
 bird is the embodiment of restles.sness. 
 
 Compsothlypis americana. Parui.a Warbler.— Infrecjuently observed 
 and generally in tlic upper branches of hard-wood forest. 
 
 Dendroica aestiva. Yr'it.i.ow WARHt.FK. — Rather common and quite as 
 likely to be found among lonely alder thickets as in the trees around 
 houses. 
 
 Dendroica caerulescens. Blaik-tiiroatkii Blue Warbler. — A few 
 were detected at Souris. I did not see such extensive hard-wood timber 
 anywhere else on the island, and as the species has a decided prefeience 
 for such localities, its absence elsewhere is perhaps not to be wondered at. 
 
 Dendroica coronata. Myrtle Warbler.— Common. Tiieir song 
 reminded me of early spring days in lower latitudes. Their favorite 
 iiaunts were clumps of spi uces and lirs in partly cleared land. 
 
 Dendroica maculosa. Magnolia Wariii,i:r.— This is the characteristic 
 Warbler of the region and is abundantly represented. It is most abim- 
 daut in low growths of spruces, where the variety of its song io often con- 
 fusing. 
 
 Dendroica virens. Hlack-tiiroated Green Warbler.— .\buudanl 
 at every place \isited where the forest was composed of trees of consider- 
 able size. 
 
 Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. Yellow Palm Warbler— An 
 incubating female taken at Tignish is the only evidence I have of this 
 bird's occurience. The locality was damp, cleared ground, growing up 
 with bushes atid small larches. 
 
 Seiurus aurocapillus. Ovenbird.— One was noted .it Tignish, and a 
 number at Souris in the hard-wood timber. It is doubtless fairly common 
 in suitable localities. 
 
 Seiurus noveboracensis. Water-thrush. — A few were met with at 
 Tignish only. It is a species that but for its loud song would easily 
 escape notice. Invariably found along brooks or in their near vicinitv. 
 
 Geothlypis Philadelphia. Mournini; Warbler.— Appiuently rare, 
 though a few were found at Souris in the bushy edges of drv tields 
 adjoining the woods. 
 
 Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellowthroat. — Found sparingly 
 
Id. Dv ■(!IIT, Siimmrr /iinh of Prince Edn-ani f.iliind. V\^n 
 
 ill llie we'-ti'iii poilion of the island. Ndiie Wfre lUilcd at Soiiiis, alllHiUijIi 
 I have no doubt they ocinir there-. 
 
 Sylvania pusilla. Wit.soN's Warh[.kr. — One speeiineii wa-* seemed 
 tit TIgnisli in an extensive aiboi-vitii.' and alder swamp. This is a retir- 
 ing species and is pr(>l)al)Iv not uneonminn it' particular search he made 
 for it. 
 
 Sylvania canadensis. Canadian Warih-kf*. — • Rather common about 
 Tignish, but not met with elsewheie, altlious^h I have no doubt it occurs 
 in snital)le localities. 
 
 Setophaga ruticilla. American Rkdstart. — Abundant. One of its 
 songs might lie easily confused with one of/?. iiuichIosu. The importance 
 of recognizing songs in a region where the denseness of the woods and 
 underbrush renders the sight or capture of the vocalist often well-nigh 
 impossible, is verv great, but to depend entirely upon one's ear in identi- 
 fving birds is a procedure greatly to be deprecated. 
 
 Troglodytes hietnalis. Wintkr Wrkn. — Tolerably common in damp 
 woods along brooks, or sometimes in more open localities. On July 6 I 
 met with a family of young birds able to tly. That so minute a bird 
 should produce such a volume of licpiid sound is ever to me a source of 
 wonderment. It is often impossible to see the little fellow wlien he is 
 pouring forth his song right over yoiu' head, hut those who have ever 
 entered a dense second-growth of spruces, with a wilderness of dead twigs 
 interlacing below, know one of the dilficulties that beset the path of the 
 collector in the northern wootls. 
 
 Sitta canadensis. Rkd-hkllucd Nuthatch. — I had about given up 
 seeing this species at all when 1 came uptin several at Souris, probahlv a 
 family. They feed usually in tlie upper boughs of spruces, and seldom 
 run up autl down the trunks of trees like their white-breasted brethren. 
 They have a nasal cry of one note, utteied with varying intensity, aiul 
 never rapidly repeated like tlie other species. Of course I should not 
 venture such general conclusions as these with regard to this species, nor 
 to others, if they were not based upon further observations made else- 
 where. 
 
 Parus atricapillus. Hlack-caim'ed Chickadke. — Occasionally small 
 roving families were encountered, so that it is probably a fairly common 
 species. 
 
 Parus hudsonicus. Hudsonian Chickadee. — Tolerably common, but 
 not attracting attention to itself so aggressively as does (ttricafiilliis. 
 However, when it does speak out, it alwa^s seems to me to make use of 
 the ungramiTiatical expression 'It's md-e,' with a good deal of emphasis on 
 the 'me-e.' 
 
 Regulus satrapa. Golden-crowned Kinglet. — Infrequently ob- 
 served. Young were on the wing the last of June. It tshould have 
 proved much more abundant than I found it to be. 
 
 Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. Olive-backkd Thrlsh. — Very abun- 
 dant, almost equalling in numbers the Ileiinit Thiusb. They are usnallv 
 excessively shy and difficult to obtain, although several may be singing 
 
"89.1 ] DwiGHT, Slimmer Bints of Prince Edward hlaud. \ c 
 
 within hearing at the same time. They frequent tliick growths of spruces, 
 ami from s-)mt; c.>mmanllin^' |.erih pour forth th.'ir rich sonj,'. If they 
 become aware of your approach even a gunshot or more away, thev dive 
 down into the dense underf,'rowth, and a few soft alarm notes are the last 
 you hear of them. Squeaking to them will bring them to you for one brief 
 look, which sati^Wies them, but not you, for they generally see you first 
 and at close range. Sometimes they sing in the thicke'- of spruces, but 
 are more apt to have a particular perch, perhaps on some towering, dead 
 tree. I heard no songs that I had any reason to suppose wert other than 
 true szvainsonii, for the possibility of finding bickiielli or ali.iie had to 
 be kept constantly in mind. I found no young, even up to the lust dav of 
 my stay, but that proves nothing with a bird so retiring. Thev sang 
 more persistently and in greater numbers in the early morning and late 
 everting hours. 
 
 Turdus aonalaschk^ pallasii. IIkrmit Thrush. — Slight! v more 
 abundant than the preceding species, and perhaps more generally dis- 
 tributed. The songs and notes of this species have been so frequently 
 confused with those of other Thrushes, particularly with those of the 
 Olive-backed Thrush, that an elVort on my part to call attention to the 
 differences that exist between them may not be without interest. The 
 deliberate character of its song is in marked contrast to that oCizmiiiso/iii 
 and its musical ability is more varied. The usual song dies out without 
 the rising inflection of s-vai/iso/iii. and there is a pause after the first syl- 
 lable, while in swaiiisoiiii there is no pause and the second syllable is 
 strongly accented, the whole song being quicklv delivered. The Hermit 
 Thrush has also a nasal note of complaint in two ellided syllables, a cluck 
 like a Blackbird, and a lisp not unlike a Cedarbird. The nasal note has 
 its counterpart \n swainsoiiii which utters a similar, but more liquid 
 note, and the cluck of pnllasii may be compared with a 'puk' or 'pink' (as 
 near as it can be represented) of atvaiiisonii. The lisp is peculiar to 
 pdlhisii, while there is a queer multiple note of soliloquy peculiar to 
 s7V(iiiiso>iii. 
 
 Merula migratoria. American Rodin. — v'ery abundant in the more 
 open country. An occasional one is said by Mr. Bain to remain through 
 the winter, subsisting on the berries of the mountain ash.