3 1 76 1 050 1 3 54 1 7

TRIBUTIQN S OF THE

AL ON TAR I O OF ZOOLO GY

A. FAUNAL INVESTIGATI ON OF L ONG P OINT

AND VICINITY 3 NI ORFOLK C OUNTY " ONTARIO

By L . L . Snyd e r .

( R e p r in t e d from Tr an s a c ti on s of th e a a s t e o R oyal C an d i n In t i tu , V l . "V I I I , 7 P a r t 1 , pp . 1 1 t o

1 9 3 1

A N D V A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LO NG POI NT I CI NITY , * NORFOLK COUNTY , ONTARIO

D I . GENERAL I NTRO UCTION

By L . L . SNYDER

n on e Long Point , o the north shore of Lake Erie , is of the southern most points of Ontario and of the Dominion of Canada . Although it is within the historically old and settled part of the province , its fauna has e received comparatively little study . Consequ ntly , concerned as we are

f of r with a general survey o the fauna Ontario , the a ea appeared to i e present features wh ch made it d sirable to pursue investigations there . The following accounts are largely in the nature of reports on prevailing conditions and the higher forms of life found during field work in 1 927 1 928 m i and , but information fro publ shed literature and other sources h d as been inclu ed . Since the broad basin of Lake Erie is a comparatively shallow in t depression deep soils , only sligh irregularities in its shore have been necessary to provide the mechanism for the building of spits and bars e — by wave and wind action . A n arly straight shore line , extending

r - fiv e approximately fo ty e mil s from the westward , is terminated at a

- m . point in Walsingha township (south) , Norfolk county Silt charged e wat r , moving eastward , has tended to cut across the bay which is ’ of formed by the northward bending the lake s outline at this point .

Here the waves have deposited their load, forming an embankment

n d which by continued wave a win d action has become a spit , approx i t l of ma e m . y twenty iles in length The outline this sp it is , of course , changing in detail but it may be described as being continuous and straight on the lakeward side while the inner portion is extremely irregular

see . u ( Fig At its Widest section , meas red across the marshy islands , f e . o the distance is approximately thre miles The most the area , excepting the lakeward beach , is diagonally furrowed and ridged with

n see 4 lagoons and wet flats , and wooded sand du es ( map , and Figs . and ’ On de G alinée s map of 1 670 this spit is grossly indicated and named _ “ ” ma the Peninsula of Lake Erie (Coyne , On a p dated 1 763

*

r R o tar m oo o . C o ut o N o . 4 M s of Z nt ib i n , yal On io u eu l gy 1 1 7 1 1 8 TRANSAC TIONS on THE R OYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

1 66 is as 7 . (Charlevoix , ) it indicated Long Pt Later it was kn own as “ ” m North Foreland (S yth , The peninsula is now generally

known as Long Point . ’ ’ m as G alinée s f C On early aps such de and that o H . hewitt s of 1 794 1 925 m (Cruikshank , ) the point is Shown connected to the ainland . a t Later a break through occurred at the base (Smyth , l c. ci . ) and for a “ ” time thereafter the area was referred to as Long Island . At the present time the dividing channel has filled in and the inner bay has no f circulation o water from that source . Long Point bay has an open expanse to the eastward but at its ' m is R erson s as iddle it constricted by y island (also known Big island) , m a land area apparently for ed by wave action , and Turkey point on ’

m . Pot ohawk on R er the ainland A reef has formed between t point , y son s one m island and Turkey point , and at ti e marshy islands were present

l a . t . along this line (Smyth , c ci ) These barriers have effectively created u T he an inner and an o ter bay . inner bay is slowly filling in by the gradual accumulation ofvegetable materials and by soil which is carried m m f down by strea s fro the mainland . The pocketing o this area behind

m e Long Point has given rise to the prevailing arsh condition (s e Fig . 9) which in turn has become the habitat for a fauna which so largely

characterizes Long Point . I n the early seventeen -nineties the area received attention from Lieutenant -Governor Simcoe as a possible situation for settlement and

fortification . The first land grants made in Walsingham township were

1 96 . one m h for in J une , 7 The point itself was at ti e somew at developed “ ” agriculture . Hall ( 1 8 1 8) states that the finest farms in the province H of were to be found there . owever , hardly a trace these remain today , and m of it would appear , fro the nature the area , that these farms were “ ” small and not ofa type which could be considered of the finest at the

present time . ’ A mariner s light was formerly maintained at the base of the point near the old channel and later one was installed on the extremity of the m no point (S ith , A large modern light which is w situated on the f f 2 o h u . end o the point (see Fig . ) replaces both t ese in f nction This

e s m m light is responsible for h avy casualtie a ong igrating birds (Lewis , 1 927 , and Saunders , additional details in this regard will be

of mentioned in the following paper dealing with birds . The keeper this light is the only long -period resident on Long Point at the present m m h m m - ti e , although in season , sports en , fis er en , and ga e keepers em ployed by private clubs , reside there . An interesting and well illustrated account of the history of Long

Point , particularly as to its prominence in the story of Great Lakes

as navigation , h been published by Knister A FAUNAL INVESTIGA TION OF LONG POINT 1 1 9

The Long Point Company , a long established shooting club , has control of the greater percentage of area of the point . It protects the game out of season and enforces certain rules governing Shooting by its R m z members . Other clubs , such as the ice Bay Club , have si ilar organi a

m m . tions . A few per anent buildings are aintained for use in the fall

The Shooting of waterfowl has , since early times , been the outstanding m claim for distinction of Long Point . The adjacent ainland , however , m is notable , perhaps ore particularly of recent years , as a fine agri cultural centre . It is apparent that the climate of the region is somewhat moderated by the influence of the lake . Crops cultivated on the north shore of f Lake Erie are commonly O a sort which demand a moderate climate . The county of Norfolk has recently been found to be suited for the cultivation of tobacco and fruits such as strawberries and apples are ul of grown there extensively . Cons tation isothermal maps show that ° the area O f Long Point has an average annual temperature of 48 while ° the average temperature for the month of January is 25 and that for July is approximately The sandy ridges which run diagonally across Long Point are wooded . The relative abundance Of the constituent species of the forest has doubtless been greatly altered since Long Point ’ s early history by fire (See Fig . cutting and other causes , but at the present time the forest may be described as an assortment of deciduous and evergreen trees , the former p erhaps dominating the area as a whole ,

. 1 especially on the dry ridges A brief description (Boughner , 898) “ states that the forest at that time was dense with cedar and birch .

on These two trees are the most common the island , although red cedar is a close second . Oak is abundant and pine was originally , but was removed about thirty years ago . White cedar and paper birch are still c to be found , as is also red edar , but the latter is certainly rare as f m . o co pared with earlier times Oaks several species including red , m white , swa p white , and black , are to be found , as are also red maple , sugar maple , white ash , beech and willows . Other species found in

m - smaller nu bers are hop hornbeam , large toothed aspen , butternut , basswood , white elm , hackberry , sycamore , tulip tree , etc . I n some

of places fairly pure stands small tamarac are found in wet hollows , and along the beaches and on -sandy islands cottonwood is well estab li h e e s d se . ( Fig Sassafras attains tree proportions on the point . d Generally speaking , there is little un ergrowth beneath the forest

e . (s e Fig Two causes seem apparent . The point has been stocked with deer , which have multiplied to such numbers as to have almost completely removed the lower growth in the forest on which they ’ ffe browse . This e ct has not been extended so completely to R yerson s 1 20 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

island which is sufficiently isolated by marshes from the main forest o f to have been fairly free browsing deer . The other cause concerns the density of overhead foliage : light is so greatly reduced in some places

on as to effectually suppress plant growth the forest floor . Witch hazel

is perhaps the commonest shrub to be found in the forest and , in the i wet hollows between r dges , buttonbush is the principal shrub . On ’ 1 R yerson s island (see Fig . ) and in a few other more or less isolated of l situations , dense growths wi d grape and choke cherry are found . D is on warf j uniper found some Of the beach sand dunes . Other shrubs and vines which are numerous enough to be worthy ofmention are high

- bush cranberry , alternate leaved dogwood , climbing bittersweet , Virginia

r creeper , poison ivy , gooseberry , red raspberry and blackber y . Original forest conditions are largely destroyed on the adj acent mainland although fairly extensive plots are still to be found consisting

largely of hardwood trees . Around Port Rowan nut trees such as the f sweet chestnut and hickories are to be found . Early accounts O the " ‘ ” region m en tion waln u ts and this tree is now found on the mainland perhaps in greater numbers than formerly since planting h as been done

in many places . Reforestation and forestry experimental plots are now

located within Norfolk county , which county leads the province in this respect . Port Rowan is the largest town within the area considered in the

following papers . It is located at the base of inner Long Point bay A branch line of the Canadian National railway reaches it from the 2 county seat at Simcoe . A population of 67 was reported for Port 1 2 1 Rowan in the census of 9 .

P revious work

Only one section of the north Shore of Lake Erie has previously received particular attention in the way of faunal survey work . Point

Pelee , a peninsula situated near the western extremity of the lake , has been visited by a number O f naturalists and several publications record the results of investigations there , the more noteworthy of these being 1 0 1 0 a l 909 by Taverner and Swales ( 9 7 Saunders ( 9 9 and b) , Wood Dodge Taverner and Logier These references are of particular interest in connection with an investiga tion of Long Point and vicinity . A contribution to the ornithology of the general region which has an important relation to work on the birds of Long Point is that of Todd

n on ( 1 904) o the birds of Erie and Presque isle , the southern shore of

Lake Erie . m a Concerning Long Point and adj acent territory , it y be said that — A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION O F LONG POINT 1 2 1

although several early historic accounts mention the occurrence of a number of species of plants and animals (mostly game) which were

indigenous to the area , they can scarcely be construed as studies and

of their contents require no further reference here . Some these will

receive citation in the specific accounts in the reports which follow . A probable source of information which the writer h as not been

n f s able to Search is o e o the personal j ournals of William Pope , a naturali t ’ R ers of artist who lived at Port y e . One volume Pope s diary covering

about two years , however , is safely housed in the Public Reference ’ of Library at Toronto . A publication concerning Pope s paintings birds

and mammals by Locke ( 1 91 7) receives frequent reference in the texts .

SO far as the writer is aware , the earliest publications which deal

particularly with the life of Long Point are those of B oughner (l oc . cit. ) and Macoun Boughner has presented a short paper dealing

of - with the flora the point , while Macoun has edited Observation notes

on birds , which were made by the former during the month of June in 1 898

Several naturalists , principally interested in birds , have been attracted to Long Point during the past thirty years . Although there has been little mention of the area in publications as a result of these visits , these observers have made personal record of conditions to be

f has found there . M r . W . E . Saunders O London , Ontario , perhaps kept 1 most closely in touch with conditions on the point since 908 . He has recently published anaccount ( 1 930) of birds killed at the Long Point

: lighthouse . Others who have gained some appreciation of the area are f 1 0 . . . . o 7 Mr W E Clyde Todd Pittsburg who visited there in 9 , Mr James f o Savage of Bu falo , who visits the marshes periodically for duck Sh oting , f . o and Mr John Townson Toronto , who also has hunted there in the n fall for several years . Many other individuals have made o e or more trips to the area , and have become acquainted with conditions in certain sections . I t has remained for members of the staff of this M useum to a m ke a more intensive study of Long Point .

Life Zon e and For mal A rea

A consideration of the flora and fauna of Long Point and vicinity discloses a rather marked tendency towards southern conditions . This is not as obvious as in sections of the north shore O f Lake Erie to the westward , such as Point Pelee , but it is apparent that southern conditions are more marked than is expected in the centre of the transitional life z one . There are restricted portions of the point which appear to be

of no fairly typical the Austral zone , but the writer is t inclined to consider

of the area as a whole to be representative of that zone . The inclusion 1 22 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

M c D ou all 1 924 meteorological data (Klugh and g , ) with biological data , apparently strengthens the evidence which favours the area o f Long Point and vicinity being considered as within the Carolinian faunal area of the Austral life zone . I n a foregoing paragraph dealing with the forest of the region a

of number species of trees were listed , which have a southern distribution . f o l o . t u We have the statement Boughner ( c ci . ) that red cedar (J niperus

vir inia na w as . as g ) formerly abundant That species , and others , such

oak uercu s bicolor u ercu s vel u tina swamp white (Q ) , black oak (Q ) ,

C eltis occiden talis P l atanus occiden talis hackberry ( ) , sycamore ( ) , cotton

P o u l us deltoides Liriodendron tuli i era wood ( p ) , tulip tree ( p f ) , sweet Castanea dentata Sas a ras varii oliu m chestnut ( ) , and sassafras ( s f f ) of tree not proportions , are to be found extensively farther north in the longitude of southern Ontario . Many additional species found on the point are to be expected under Carolinian conditions but they normally range

a . through Alleghani n areas as well Among the shrubs , the buttonbush

e hal ntku nt l ( C p a s occide a is) is characteristically southern . A marsh plant known generally as lotus (N elu mbium l u teum) which is usually associated with southern conditions is to be found on Long Point in

Rice bay . I t also occurs on the mainland borders of Long Point bay but

. . w as according to M r C . M Bald in , it is nowhere common as it was formerly . Concerning the mammals which have been found resident in the

- r totis arva area , the little short tailed shrew ( C yp p ) , is the only species f typical o a Carolinian fauna .

- f . I n regard to the bird life o the region , the matter is complicated I t is apparent from the occurrence of such species as the orchard oriole ’ Icteru s s u rius P eu ccea cestivalis bachmanii ( p ) , Bachman s sparrow ( ) ,

Den roica cccru l e - Icteria cerulean warbler ( d a) , yellow breasted chat (

virens and T hr othorus l udovicianus l udovicianu s . ) , Carolina wren ( y ) , etc ,

m of e so e which may be regular summer resid n ts , that the area is suitable f to the existence O southern forms . Their scarcity on Long Point proper , to as noted by us , may be due in part local habitat conditions which have no relation to the basic factors controlling northern limitation Of range , but the fact that these and other southern species , were compa ratively Scarce suggests that they have reached the periphery of their f of o . range , their centre abundance being to the south I t is interest

r cardinalis cardinalis to note that species such as the cardinal ( Ca dinalis ) , field sparrow (Spizella pusilla pusilla) and mourning dove (Zenaidu ra macrou ra carolin ensis m ) , are more common on the ainland than on the O f point proper . The occurrence of a few northern types is especial f interest . The moderating effect o Lake Erie must tend to prohibit m extremely high temperatures in sum er , and consequently the area is A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 23

tolerable to such species as the white-throated sparrow (Zon otrichia ll Dendroica usca albico is) , Blackburnian warbler ( f ) , and the black D ndroica virens r throated green warbler ( e ) , thei centre of abundance e m being in more boreal regions . The greater proportion of th sum er is i resident avifauna , however , of spec es which range northward through

the Alleghanian faunal area . Under original conditions , before the forest was cleared from the vicinity ofLong Point and contiguous areas - h generally , it is doubtful whether the bird life would ave appeared

characteristically Carolinian . Two representatives amon g the re tile life of the region are worthy p — of mention as indicating southern tenden cies the soft-Shelled turtle

i e - e H eterodon con tortrix a . (A myda spin f r ) , and the hog nosed snak ( ) ’ u o owler h n Fowler s toad (B f f i) , is a sout er representative among the Esox americanus of amphibians , and the banded pickerel ( ) , is a species fish of southern distribution which has been recorded from Long Point

bay (Allin , e o In conclusion it might b said that , if the b undaries of life zones in

Ontario were to be indica ted by narrow lines , the present conditions of Long Point and vicinity would perhaps best be suggested by indicating n z the area as within the Carolinia life one , but if a less hard and fast e system is employed , Long Point should b considered as within the

boundary between typical Alleghanian and Carolinian conditions .

' O n on The writer is of the pinio that original c ditions , before the land was f r s cleared or cultivation , we e repre entative of what is usually interpreted i h m s w as transit onal ; sout ern ani al and plants ere present , as would be f . o he expected Since then , after the clearing t land , additional southern

m z m forms , ore particularly creatures of recogni ed obility , have doubtless

come to occupy the area .

A cknowlcdgements

’ A most helpful contribution to the Museum s work on Long Point h as C f been made by the Long Point ompany through their o ficers ,

. H h particularly the late M r . B . Jo nston , and their representative ,

M r . C . H . Ferris . When the work was first suggested to them they ’ f e r o fered the use of their ke pe s cabins as camps, and when the work was ut our o initiated they p at disp sal considerable equipment such as punts , etc . The success of our expeditions was in no small measure due to the assistance of this organization and the thanks of our institution and the ofour personnel field parties are here extended . Members ofthe Rice Bay C lub have also been interested and helpful in our work . M r . C . M . Baldwin , and Mr . T . W . J ull , have contributed 1 24 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

specimens to the collection and the former h as communicated information

the of o fmuch be nefit in camp and during preparation this report . In pursuing a work such as a faunal survey it has always been found that the courtesies and accommodations extended by local residents are

notable aids to the work . Such considerations were frequently given f . o . o u r party by Mr . J Biddle Port Rowan Also the local fishermen

whom we met , contributed much to an early acquaintance with prevailing R us . . . . o conditions and assisted in many ways M r Geo Barnes , Mr y

. . u s Ferris , and M r Wm Snooks , were particularly helpful to while in camp on Long Point . of Lastly , the writer this brief introduction wishes to thank the ’ of to ou r a other members the M useum s field party and visitors c mps ,

- h i for their cO operation in the work . He wishes also to acknowledge s

r indebtedness to Mr . J . H . Fleming and Mr . J . L . Baillie , J . , for references to historical accounts dealing in part with Long Point .

LITERATURE CITED

1 f f u 0 . E ox me n s . Allin , A . E . 93 Extension o range o s a rica (Gmelin)

- Can . Field Nat . , f 1 9 . n o . . 8 8 o Boughner , L J Notes the flora Long Point island , Lake

1 2 : 1 05 . of . . Erie , province Ontario , Canada Ottawa Nat , 1 m : Charlevoix (Father) . 766 . A voyage to North A erica undertaken

D . V ol . 1 . by the command of the present King of France . ublin ’ l n . a i e s ma Coyne , James H 1 902 . G é narrative and p ; with an English

- SO C . version , including all the map legends . Ont . Hist . , Papers

V 4 . . l and Records o . - 2 1 . Cruikshank , Brig Gen . E . A . 9 5 The correspondence of Lieutenant S m . . oc . Governor John Graves Si coe , Ont Hist , Toronto

D 1 l n f . fl 1 4 . f erin a ts o . o odge , C K 9 Annotated list o w g p and ferns

D . Point Pelee , Ont . , and neighbouring districts . ept Mines ,

M e 4 . . 2 . . . . m 5 Geol Surv . , Biol Series , No Ottawa

. 1 1 . Hall , Lieut Francis . 8 8 Travels in Canada and the United States 1 1 1 1 . 0 . 8 6 8 7 . 2 3 . in and p London , Eng f . Do ll . 1 24 . . . . M c a 9 o Klugh , A B and E . G ug The faunal areas Canada

1 -2 95 06 . . Handbook of Canada , pp . Toronto

1 . . Knister , Raymond . 93 1 . Long Point , Lake Erie Can Geographical

- 2 Journ . 8 . 1 2 D f Lewis , H . F . 9 7 . estruction o birds by lighthouses in the provinces

f - 4 : o 1 . . . 76 Ontario and Quebec Can . Field Nat , 1 . 1 . . Locke , Geo H . 9 7 Water colour drawings by William Pope

Public Library , Toronto . A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 25

2 f . 1 5 . o Logier , E . B . S . 9 Notes on the herpetology Point Pelee , Ont

- - 95 . Can . Field Nat . , ’

1 8 . . . . 89 Macoun , W . T Birds nests and breeding places Ottawa Nat ,

- 89 .

1 . . 09a . . Saunders , W . E 9 Winter birds at Point Pelee Ottawa Nat ,

- 50 .

R . 1 0 . e . . . 9 9b Saunders , W E are birds at Point Pele Ottawa Nat , 2 -1 3 : 1 6 1 67 . 1 0 . 93 . f Saunders , W E . The destruction o birds at Long Point light n 1 2 - 1 1 4 : 0 5 . . o 9 9 . 5 7 house , Ont , four nights in Auk 7

1 1 . V ol . 1 85 : . Smith , W . H . Canada past , present , and future ,

1 2 . p . 6 . Toronto ’

D 1 799 . Smyth , . W . A short topographical description of His Majesty s

f - o . 35 36 . province Upper Canada in North America , pp London ,

Eng .

- d . . . . . a 1 0 0 Taverner , P . A n B H Swales 9 7 1 9 8 . The birds of Point Pelee

- 4 2 - - - - 1 2 2 1 0 . . 5 8 99 1 1 0 : 79 6 7 9 Wilson Bull , , and 33 53 ; 9 and 4 1 91 . Taverner , P . A . Geological survey museum work on Point Pelee ,

- . 1 0 . Ont . Ottawa Nat , 5 1 4 . 90 . . . f Todd , W E Clyde The birds o Erie and Presque isle , Erie

- . C 6 . county , Pa Annals arnegie Museum , 59

1 0 . A f 1 9 . Wood , N . Bird migration at Point Pelee , Ont , in the fall

- 1 09 . . of 9 Wilson Bull , 78 .

T R C TIO O F T H E R OY C D I N TI T U TE O L " T V . V P R PL ANSA NS AL ANA AN I S I I I , A I . 1 ,

Sh o h r ’ wing c a acte ristic V egetation on R y erson s island a n d t o f th e ld l P h ot n . o b A . or es ba eag e y W . G don

F IG . 2 h th o n r th e t en d o f o o nt Lig use ea eas L ng P i . P h oto b W A . y . G ordo n

TIO O OY D I TI T TE O L R T L " P P . 1 R N C F T H E R C N N U V . V ] T A SA NS AL ANA A I S I I I , A I ,

rn h oto A ordon o t r . P G View f bu idges by W . .

don W A . G or I l r v l P h oto b . 4 d d r r ba . y F G Typ ica san une a ea , nea G a e ly y

AN D A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POI NT VI C I N ITY ,

NORFOLK COUNTY , ONTARIO

AN D I I . TH E MAM MALS OF LONG PO I NT VI CI N ITY

By L . L . SNYDER

A survey of the mammal life of Long Point and vicinity was made during the summer of1 927 when a party from the R oyal O ntario Museum of Zoology visited the region for the purpose of studying and making m collections of the higher for s of life resident there . The party arrived on m at Port Rowan , which is situated the ainland at the base of inner 25th b of m Long Point bay , on May , and y evening the sa e day was partially established in a camp on Second island of Long Point . Having

' remained there until June 20th camp was removed to a new locality m m known as Courtright ridge . From both these ca ps , trips were ade of to many sections the point , a punt being a necessary conveyance from the Second island camp while extensive trips could be made on foot from l 2 1 2 on 6 . the Courtright camp . Work during 9 7 was concluded July A party from the M useum was again encamped on Long Point from

1 to 1 1 92 t m m . May June , 8 , bu little attention was given to am al study m m The few observations ade during that onth , however , are included in the paper that follows . The maj or portion of the work in collecting mammal specimens was

. m done by Mr . H . P Stovell , a ember of the staff of the Museum . His thorough attention to the work and careful preparation of material m contribute largely toward the report . A few references fro historical

- accounts , certain observations from the note book of the writer and reports from residents of , and Visitors to , the region make up the remain on der of the sources which the following text is based . The usual method employed in collecting the smaller forms was

- by setting mouse traps , but some notable results were Obtained by turning

- over logs and drift wood and by capturing by hand , when possible ,

o such specimens as attempted t escape . The larger forms were secured or by traps with a gun . The inclusion of the area adj acent to Long Point (the vicinity has been considered j ustifiable since our work on the point necessitated m brief visits to the ainland , allowing limited observation , and because 1 27 1 28 TR AN SAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

o f of reports from reliable persons forms to be found there . Such reports

m on have been ostly substantiated by specimens taken the point itself ,

to o r have appeared otherwise be unquestionable . I t is n ot professed that the following list is complete as there are a number o f species which very probably occur but concerning which we f no . o is n Secured information An example this found amo g the bats .

w as Twice during the summer , a bat noted but no specimen was secured .

so as o r The Observations were fleeting to make specific , even group

is identity , uncertain , although it almost a certainty that these individ

e u ls probably represented a species not given in the following list .

on s Future work , especially the adj acent mainland , will probably di close

as as additional species such shrews and moles . I t h been considered

advisable to include species now extirpated , in the introduction rather

than in the list proper .

1 669 D ec two I n ollier de Casson and de Brehant de Galin , French L S m issionary priests , parted company with a alle with whom they had set out from - Montreal to attempt to discover the river (Ohio) which was f thought to empty into the gulf o California . From near the present site

of of the Village of Hanover , Ontario , the party twelve men proceeded

e o of to the Grand riv r . Three men were to g overland to the shores Lake Erie to a point between Long Point and Rondeau to secure the

canoe left there by Joliet which had been placed at their disposal . The

G alinée e other party , consisting Of Casson and and sev n men , descended

of the Grand river to Lake Erie . They wintered near the present town ’ Port Dover and in G alinée s remarkable account of their travels and 1 02 experiences (Coyne , 9 ) several notes concerning the wild life of the D “ region are recorded . The region around Port over was a great hunting ground for stags does bears “ ‘ ” — ’ red deer raccoons ( Chats Sauvages see Coyne s i translat on) , and beavers ' “ 30 1 6 0 G alin ée On March , 7 , awaited "some of his party] on a ridge i in oi Of sand , wh ch j o s the peninsula of Lake Erie "Long P nt] to the

mainland , and separates the great from the little Lake Erie "Long Point “ ” Here his men killed a stag . Travelling westward from Long “ Point the party encountered , at Rondeau , a herd of more than two “ i ” “ ” ch es . . hundred b s "does] . and a wolf was also shot Elsewhere in “ the account relating to the general region G alin ée mentions the chev ” ” l - reuil (trans ated roe buck or red deer) . I t is evident that the serfs

(stags) refer to the wapiti which is now extirpated in Ontario . With the “ ” exception of the term bisch es (does) the identity of the animals m entioned is Obvious . I t is probable that the term refers to females ” eslan of the wapiti . (Elsewhere in . the text , moose s ) are mentioned

of but not associated with the Lake Erie region) . Specimens wapiti A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 29

ossessIon . . antlers taken on Long Point are now in the p of Mr M M . m Landdn Smith , who resides at Si coe , Norfolk county ( , I t is estimated from casual hearsay accounts that wild wapiti disappeared from the region between one hundred and thirty and one hundred and forty years ago . I t is understood from conversations with local residents of Port Rowan that an attempt was made a number of years ago to re n introduce the species o Long Point , but the stock , which apparently

f o consisted o tw animals , escaped to the mainland where they were * presumably destroyed . Most of the animals recorded by G alinée are no longer to be found f in the more southern parts o Ontario generally . The red deer is the on only one known to occur Long Point , and it , either after it was m totally extirpated or at a ti e when it was nearly so , has been re introduced . We heard of a recent occurrence of a wild cat on the point from a

h a n 1 2 - local fisherman . This incident d take place in the winter of 9 6 7 , e but although the animal was hunt d it was never taken . I t is quite L nx rn u s f possible that a wandering y f was the basis o this report . ’ A more recent record for the wolf than that ofG alinée s is contained R in one of the diaries (now in the Public eference Library , Toronto) of

R er f William Pope who lived at Port y se . The actual taking o this f 2 1 42 o 0 . Specimen is recorded under the date October , 8 However , the n species is no longer represe ted in the local fauna . c of i 1 9 1 I n a colle tion paintings executed by Will am Pope (Locke , 7) R erse while he was resident near Port y , Norfolk county , Ontario , there are illustrations ofthree species of mammals not listed in the paper which

of C in ereous h rew Sorex ersonatn " Sor follows . One these is of the s ( p s ex

in ren c e s) , the subj ect probably being obtained locally within the vicinity of Long Point . This mammal is very probably found in the area at the present time but we have not secured a confirmatory record . Also Pope figured the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and the varying hare (Lepu s americanus) both of which were probably residents of the region during the middle of the nineteenth century and were obtainable locally

now by the artist . Although the lynx is extirpated , the hare may still be of e " found in the heavily woodedswamps the r gion Of this , however , we have not been able to make certain . Thanks are due to various individuals for records acknowledged in the text and to other individuals who have contributed in one way or m another to the mammal work . Also acknowledge ent is here made to the

* Verification of the above has been found in the report of the Ontario G a me and " Fi sheri es Departmen t for 1 909 ( 1 91 0) which states that a n u mber o f elk was tro u e the Lo Po t C om a 1 90 9 one of w es a e an w s in d c d by ng in p ny in , hich c p d d a killed in No em er of t at r v b h yea . 1 30 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

f C . r f D . o Bureau o Biological Survey , Washington , , the determination or

o f confirmation the identity of specimens referred to them . These are

s : C r totis arva Tamia s striatu s l steri Sciu rus hud a follows yp p , y , sonicu s

l o uax P erom scus man icu latu s bairdii P erorn scu s l eu co q , y and y pu s nove

boracen sis . In recording in the text the measurements of the specimens it may be stated that the dimensions are in millimeters taken from the animals L . for in the flesh The symbol . , is the length , this measurement being f f o o T . from the tip snout to the end the tail vertebrae ; , is for the

of m f F f o H . is r length tail , fro body juncture to the end vertebrae , and . , o f to o e . the hind foot , from the heel the end the longest to and C law

ANNOTATED LIST

d - — C on ylu ra cristata. (Linnaeus) . STAR NOSED MOLE . Not found

on on was Long Point , but its occurrence the mainland established in

2 . R . 1 9 7 . July , , when Mr V Lindsay examined a specimen which had

been captured by a boy at a camp at Fisher glen . I t probably inhabits f m other Sections o the vicinity of Long Point , ore particularly in swampy

places .

- — R w . T C ryptotis parva (Say) . LITTLE SHORT TAILED SH E he taking ofthis animal was perhaps the outstanding event of collecting on

1 2 for Long Point . The record Of it (Snyder , 9 8) constitutes the first Canada and its occurrence presents another ofthose interesting problems concerning the redistribution of animals following the retreat of the last

- a continental ice sheet . Accidental transport by some means such s drifting vegetation appears to be the only plausible explanation although it is admitted that this theory is already heavily taxed to explain a host

. to Of similar problems It would seem reasonable , however , regard Long Point as an area to which the species had spread from along the

or . north shore of Lake Erie , either from the east west Accidental invasion at either end of the lake would be considerably more within the range of possibility since it would entail only the crossing of a river

rather than the miles of open lake off Long Point .

0 1 927 f . . . . On May 3 , , a pair o these shrews was captured by M r E B S Logier from beneath a squared beam lying in an open area near the ’ r beach on R ye son s island . They had constructed several tunnel runways to the outside from beneath the beam and at the inner end of on e of these a depression contained a nest . The nest was constructed

f was o dead grass and was lined with withered leaves . I t somewhat m depressed but otherwise rounded in shape , easuring approximately four m inches in diameter . Five other speci ens were secured , two adults from beneath driftwood on the beach and three young cast up from the stomach

1 32 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTIT U TE

Should conserve the raccoon population as well as that of certai n other

carnivores . el a n o eb o a e i o eb or e i M u st v r c ns s n v ac ns s (Emmons) . N EW YORK

- of on r WEASEL . The numbers weasels Long Point va y from year to

as of year , probably a result trapping and also from a fluctuation of food D 1 927 1 928 f supply . uring and they were su ficiently scarce to escape detection by u s but local fishermen who also trap the area in winter

state that some winters produce considerable numbers . I t is of interest to note that these weasels are taken in the marsh and about the marshy t no . islands , and are confined to the wooded sections They also occur

on the adj acent mainland , and at Turkey point they are regularly trapped

for fur . i i h K — M u te a. o o Sc reber . . w s l v s n v s n ( ) M IN Like the easel , this animal is regularly trapped on the point but the numbers vary from

. f year to year I t , however , is more sought after because o the value

of its pelt . A method used by some of the trappers in capturing mink m is to train a s all dog to track them , hunt them down and kill them i without inj ury to the skin . This practice s not only remunerative but f also has some element o sport in it . M e h i i m e h i i i p t s p t s n gra (Peale and Beauvois) . SKUNK . I nformation received by us indicates that skunks regularly inhabit the

point and also the mainland . Mr . R . V . Lindsay noted the species at 1 927 1 930 Fisher glen in July , , and Saunders ( ) has also remarked on the f 1 2 o 9 9 . presence skunks near the lighthouse during September , We

of of 1 927 were aware of the presence skunks during the summer , both

by scent and by noting their tracks on the beach . We found this

of animal , like the raccoon , to be a habitual robber turtle nests in season . — l e D r R ED Fox V u p s fu lva ( esm a est) . Local trappers informed 2 u s on . that at times there were quite a few foxes Long Point On June 9 ,

1 927 saw one , we where of these animals had trailed over the sand and examination of one place made it fairly certain that the fox too eats the - f freshly laid eggs o turtles . M D II K —A O O C U C . arm ota monax rufescen s Howell . W common inhabitant of the region . On Long Point these animals find ideal conditions Since the fox is probably their only enemy and burrow-making f is easy since the ridges are well drained and o sandy soil . The species

one does not necessarily restrict itself to dry situations , however , since - m individual was found inhabiting a small , low lying island in the arsh .

m of 1 2 1 927 While we were working in our camp on the orning July , , a young groundhog came through the grass to our door . Wishing to

of cu off m Observe him for a time , two us t his retreat in the direction fro which he had com e b y the simple expedient of standing in his way .

He " challe nged us with chattering teeth and once boldly dashed at my A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION O F LONG POINT 1 33

feet as if to attack . I t was apparent that he was aware that safety lay only beyond us and not in other directions and he stubbornly stuck

as to that point Of View . A stick gently pushed at his face w not attacked as one might expect but was pushed away from him with his front paws f with very much the action o human hands . Needless to say he lost no time in escaping when we ceased to bar his chosen outlet of escape . T m i t iatu l steri a . a s s r s y (Richardson) EASTERN CHIPMUNK . A very common mammal of the dry deciduous woods of the point and mainland . Conditions are apparently ideal for the species on the point there being few enemies and the soil and vegetation Seemingly being eminently suited as a habitat . We have seen no area so thickly populated with chipmunks as the wooded ridges of Long Point during the summer 2 30 1 0 7 . 9 8 . of 1 9 A similar status , on May , , was noted by Mr W . E .

Saunders in his personal notes submitted for inclusion here . However , 2 . 7 1 9 in July the dense population appears to vanish On July , 7 , a

on e . Special hunt for chipmunks yielded only However , it rained on that particular day but subsequent observations suggest that a kind of aestivation during the hot days of summer takes place . Chipmunks were noted on several occasions demonstrating their

. 8 . . . on e arboreal capabilities On July , Mr J L Baillie noted about thirty feet up in a tree , while finding them at lesser distances was not unusual . Another seen on the Same day entered a cavity in a tree twenty feet from the ground . The absence of undergrowth food possibly has contributed toward the development of their skill in climbing . Only

O f two of the large Series specimens were taken in clearings , the rest having been taken in wooded situations . Three females collected were

- - bob tailed . The average measurements of twenty three unmutilated

H . . : L . . F adults , T ,

h m l —" R D . Sciu ru s u dso cu s oq uax Bangs . E SQUIRREL The red squirrel was not ' common on Long Point and only a few specimens were secured . Although there is considerable individual variation in the

ix l s specimens col ected they all exhibit much red on the upper parts .

on 4 1 927 One young , taken July , , is uniformly red above , there being no pronounced dorsal stripe , and the colour is not broken by peppered

' effect due to black bands on the hair . Red squirrels occur sparingly in T mixed and deciduous woods alike . he average measurements of four

L . 2 : T . F . 30 H . adults , ; , , i r K Sc u u s carol in en sIS l eu cotis (Gapper) . GRAY OR BLAC

- SQUIRR EL . The species does not occur on the point but it is to be found on the mainland . Mr . C . H . Ferris states that the black phase is the more plentiful at Port Rowan but the gray is becoming more common

. . . 2 of recent years M r R V . Lindsay did not see black individuals in 1 9 7 at Fisher glen although the gray variety was noted .

9 “ 1 34 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

n o n G lau com ys vola s v la s (Linnaeus) . EASTERN FLYING

— of w s N o a u s . . SQUI RREL . evidence the flying squirrel noted by M r h as C . H . Ferris states that he seen a few individuals around Port Rowan

h as but not within the last few years . Pope figured the flying squirrel 1 9 1 7 (Locke , ) from an animal probably taken locally and the picture

u o terus vola v h as been listed under the name Sci r p ns ola ns . The ranges o f the two species occurring in southern Ontario are known in sufficient detail to make it certain that volans is the species to be expected in the

Lon g Point region .

P e om m a u atu airdii Ho r yscu s nic l s b ( y and Kennicott) . BAIRD — - D o f 1 92 WHITE FOOTED M OUSE . uring the summer 7 this mouse was a of common inhabitant open situations bordering the marsh and lake . The remarks on habitat which are included on the labels ofall specimens

m not preserved ake it apparent that this species does invade the woods , out consequently , as will be pointed in connection with the following

- . ov boracensis n . l n e o species , P , the two white footed mice Long Point D do not come into serious competition . riftwood and herbaceous plants are the protective covers for this mouse . The average measurements of

T H . F . : L 1 49 . eight adults . , ; , , The largest specimen 1 T 6 H F . . L 4 . . . , 1 5 ; , 7 ; , 8

m e o e o e - Pero yscu s l u copu s n v b rac nsis (Fischer) . WHITE FOOTED

—A m of on 1 2 M OUSE . com on inhabitant the woods Long Point in 9 7 . I t is interesting to note that of the twenty-nine specimens preserved b P . m . airdi only nine were taken within the habitat of i, seven of these being immature or young . I t would seem that adults which are engaged in rearing young are usually confined to wooded territory or covered situations such as about buildings . These situations constitute their normal nesting habitat . On the other hand , young individuals which have not reached the reproductive age are inclined to wander and may be found in open situations with the other resident species . A great deal

n f v o o P . l n o depends immediate habitat conditions since adults . e boracensis were also taken underneath drift cover on the beach of ’ R yerson s island but here the woods are so adjacent to the beach as to discount the beach as a distinct habitat . Apparently the beach Of ’

R rs n s P m . b . ye o island was not inhabited by . airdii I t is also thought

v bo ens s P l . n o e rac i that occasionally adult . will resort to Open , even

1 2 - . 0 1 9 7 aquatic situations On June , , a white footed mouse was seen on of m m top a uskrat house in the arsh , fifty yards from any dry land . J udging from its bright colour it was thought to be an adult of this species . One specimen ofthis mouse which was collected had sustained a badly broken tail . This member had healed instead of sloughing off

f - as one would have expected . The average measurements o twenty nine A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 35

L : . mature specimens , The largest specimen

° 2 1 1 . F . . L . , 85 T . , 89 ; H ,

M icrotu s pennsylvanicu s pennsylvanicu s (ord) . MEADOW — MOUSE A common mammal in wet , grassy situations . Specimens

m - - -flats of f were taken fro the grass and sedge the marsh , in growths o horse -tail and jewel -weed and on the beaches and marsh borders from

of m beneath protecting debris such as windrows dead arsh vegetation .

”

Of the fifteen specimens preserved only five are fully adult . The

: L f . T 4 H o 5 . F . m . average measure ents these , , ; , The 1 2 20 1 T . 6 H . . 2 L . F . largest specimen : , ; , ; ,

i e h i zi e h i a - O ndatra. z b t ca b t c (Linnaeus) . M USKRAT . This pro lific fur -bearer flourishes in the extensive marshes of the point and

of adjacent mainland . Although the yield furs varies from year to year according to water conditions and food supply , the trapping Of muskrats is a regular source of revenue for the Long Point Company and local 1 880 “ trappers . I t has been stated (Giles , ) that from to rats were taken annually in favourable years . Two thousand were ’ of 1 9 trapped on the Long Point Company s property in the spring 08 , D M L l f . . . . . ac i h (personal notes o Mr . W E Saunders) and Mr A u c informs the writer that sixteen hundred rats were trapped on three thousand 1 acres of marsh at Turkey point during the spring Of 1 93 . During the summer of 1 927 muskrats were fairly numerous in the Long Point marsh and their houses were conspicuous objects here and there among the

- reed beds . D 8 1 927 - On ecember , , a terrific seventy mile gale swept the Great

Lakes region . The waters of Lake Erie washed over the south beach of

Long Point and the entire marsh was devastated . Buildings were

low islands of wrecked , boats and docks lost and were scoured their

f - vegetation . Muskrats su fered heavy losses , eye witnesses observing

r many being swept into the open bay , adrift on their houses o other 1 2 floating vegetable masses . I n the spring of 9 8 no houses were to be of seen , the remnant population rats having taken up their abode in the windrows ofdead reeds which had been swept onto the higher land areas ’ R r such as Second island and ye son s island . 27 1 927 m On May , , the writer exa ined a muskrat house and found it to contain seven naked and blind young . When the nest was again

on 3 1 m examined May , it was found that the young had been re oved although the previous inspection had not seriously disturbed the nest . 1 2 T o . . . 9 9 w other nests examined by M r H P Stovell on June , 7 , con tain ed six and five naked young respectively . Another nest examined

L R n 1 2 1 2 . . . e a o 9 9 . by Mr W J y July , , contained five young This litter was fairly well furred and able to swim . A successful muskrat farm is now maintained on the mainland at 1 36 TRAN SAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

D the base o f Long Point bay near Port Rowan . ams and pumps keep

constant water level s in a vast area o fn atural habitat . h h is . . . as Accordi n g to notes , M r W E Saunders seen an albino

muskrat taken o n Long Point . Albinism in the species is apparently

rare in proportion to their numbers . The average measurements o f two adult specimens collected : 2 2 H . F . T . 7 L . , , ; , R A - T . R attu s n orvegicu s (Erxlebe n) . HOUSE These animal s were

n n found living virtually in a wild state o Lo g Point . Their runways were found beneath outbuildi n gs and their burrows in the ground were

r n noted about o u camps o Second island and Courtright ridge . The rat

is said to be found about buildings elsewhere on the point . I t is interest ing to know that this animal can survive in these isolated situations

where there are no human inhabitants for long periods each year . The species is supposed to have been transported accidentally to the point

in shipments of freight from the mainland . — M u s m u scu l u s m u scu l u s Linnaeus . HOUSE MOUSE Cur iously enough we did not find this species about either of ou r camps at i f . s to o Long Point However , it known occur about some the buildings on the peninsula and it is found commonly about habitations on the

mainland . r e — Lep u s eu opaeu s urop aeu s Pallas . EUROPEAN HARE Accord

h s . a ing to M r . C . H Ferris this species been found about Port Rowan 24 1 2 1 2 1 9 . see on 9 7 9 since about We did not it the point , either in or 8 ,

but it is stated by Mr . Ferris that a few have now reached there . fi ri m ii — l il o d n u e rn s . Sy v agu s a s a (Allen) COTTONTAIL . Although the cottontail is to be found in suitable situations along the mainland the scarcity of undergrowth on Long Point precludes its general distribu

tion over that area . A few are established where thickets are found , ’

n R erson s . on 9 1 2 such as o y island I t was at this place May , 9 8 , that a family of five helpless young was found in a grass -covered form

on the ground beneath a cottonwood tree . The species is a compa f ratively recent addition to the fauna o the area . — ir i - D O doc oileu s V g n ian u s. WHITE TAILED DEER eer were present in the general region during the time of the earliest exploration

lin e 1 2 . G a é 90 through the area (Coyne , ) mentions them in his account of travel and encampment along the north shore of Lake Erie . I t is probable that the animal was extirpated on the adjacent mainland before

it reached its lowest numbers on the point , and there are persons who consider that wild deer were never completely extirpated from the r . f n peninsula However , the first int oduction o deer o the point was made about the year 1 870 at a time when native wild deer were either extirpated or nearly so . According to an old resident of Port Rowan A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG PONT 1 3 7

who recalled the circumstances to Mr . C . H . Ferris , this introduction i was made by the Head Gamekeeper of the Long Point Company . I t s n ot known from where the animals used to stock the peninsula were

was Obtained , but it is supposed that northern stock Secured since the larger size of northern individuals and their availability would favour 1 886 them for game purposes . A second introduction was made in , the animals being imported from M innesota where the large northern

1 908 on form occurs . Since that time , about , two males were released the point from the stock in Rondeau park . These latter animals were probably not O fa superior size . D At the present time deer are numerous on Long Point . uring ou r stay in the summer of 1 927 we saw them regularly at various parts O f the peninsula . They were noted on a few occasions in the woods , but here there was a great scarcity of food , largely due to the overstocked condition of the area . Examination of the floor of the forest reveals — signs that browsing is largely responsible for the open , park like condi

as 1 766 tions . Early references such that of Charlevoix ( ) state that “ ” the point produces naturally many vines . Such a description could now apply only to a few of the more isolated knolls and islands but at

- the present time even these are being invaded for food . Native deer under original conditions probably had little effect on the vegetation of Long Point because the population shifted naturally to and from the mainland , but at the present time the cultivated and inhabited mainland at the base ofthe point is a formidable barrier and the deer are virtually confined to the point . The original introduction of deer was for sporting purposes and they were hunted regularly in the fall for some years . At the present time there is little hunting of these animals and they have increased to

m . maximum nu bers , thus threatening their food supply Another notable feature of the present deer population is the small size of the

r animals . I t was estimated that no deer seen during ou visit to the

- of of point would weigh more than two thirds the normal weight wild ,

- for . northern white tailed deer , Sex sex They are still wild in nature and have apparently not suffered any dulling of nervous activity by their confinement toa restricted area . I n attempting to analyze the reasons for the dwarfed Size of deer on Long Point it is apparent that three factors have been working to r . t produce this result Fi s , hunting is a well known agency for eliminating f the larger animals which leaves those o smaller stature to reproduce . f The more restricted the area , the more rapid would be the e fects .

Although deer are now only casually hunted , more intensive hunting in f the past has had its e fect . Second , at the present time the animals are

- very probably stunted by food shortage due to over population . Third , 1 3 8 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE RO YAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE we have a situation o n Long Point where the predator o n deer is no n h n o u t o f existent . Wit out the weedi g the less vigorous and alert by

e dwa rfi n C natural nemies , g haracteristics spread rapidly through the pop ulation in a restricted area . All individuals fortunate e n ough to

in term a e find subsistence have the opportunity to mate and to t , there

i n bei n g n o elimination of the unfit . I t s ot here suggested that the introduction of a large predator would improve the situation on Long

too f r Point . Here we are dealing with large an animal o so restricted

a an are , but in extensive areas there seems no doubt that over a long period oftime the predator tends to improve the stamina and vigour ofa

on . species which it preys The larger , the more fleet and physically fit

on f would the average escape to reproduce , and the e fects Of over I population would be eliminated . t is the business of living under perilous wild conditions which tone an animal for successful existence ,

on or while , the other hand , the existence of artificial otherwise u n natural conditions , imperils a species .

Under the. prevailing conditions at Long Point larger deer could perhaps be most successfully maintained by keeping the population to an optimum Of numbers compatible with food supply . A regulation which called for shooting of the smaller adults and the occasional intro duction of large , wild specimens from elsewhere , would improve the stock

r f o aid in the maintenance o a superior size .

LITERATURE C I TED

1 : Charlevoix (Father) . 766 . A voyage to North America undertaken 2 f f . l D o o V o . . by the command the present King France , ublin l ’ 1 02 . G inée s . 9 a Coyne , James H narrative and map ; with an English

- l . . version , inc uding all the map legends . Ont Hist . Soc , Papers 4 and Records , Vol . .

1 . . . 880 Giles , J . Bevans Long Point The happy hunting ground m R od Forest and Strea and and Gun ,

1 . . . 1 3 . Landon , Monroe 9 Elk remains in Norfolk county Can Field

Nat . ,

1 1 . . . 9 7 Locke , Geo . H Water colour drawings by William Pope

Public Library , Toronto . 1 f D 1 0 . o "Ont . Game and Fisheries ep t ] 9 Third annual report the 1 1 . D 0 . 3 . Game and Fisheries epartment 9 9 , p Toronto

1 9 . . . 30 Saunders , W E The destruction of birds at Long Point light

- 1 2 47 : 507 5 1 1 . n 9 9 . house , Ontario , O four nights in Auk ,

f r 1 2 . o Snyder , L . L . 9 8 Cryptotis parva , a new shrew the Canadian

- 0 . . . m . 8 list Journ Mam ,

1 4 0 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN IN STITUTE

’ u ah le help with the Museum s faunal surveys h as been appreciated by

h 1 924 an d h is as t e writer since work in the field at Long Point , elsewhere , h as contributed greatly toward such success as we have attained . H is very complete field notes have been a valuable adj unct to those of the

o f writer in the preparation the following paper .

of o f The thanks the Museum , and the writer personally , are especially due to Mr . Edmonds w h o generously devoted h is entire time ’ and attention to the Museum s enterprise on Long Point during both

H is o expeditions . interest and valued contributions t the survey have only been rewarded by the satisfaction he must feel in having done 2 . 1 9 . . . . useful and interesting work I n 8 M r Edmonds , Mr H P Stovell

is and the writer made up the party . The writer indeed grateful to f h 2 Mr . Stovell or is assistance with the bird work in 1 9 8 . After concluding the summer work in 1 927 and the spring work in 1 928 , it has happened that a considerable number Of specimens from ’ Long Point have come into the M useum s possession through Mr . Wi b . . . . . b Saunders , and from sportsmen , Mr T W Jull , Mr T y , and others , who hunt there in the autumn . A few specimens in the collection of f Mr . J . H . Fleming and in the collection o this Museum have been discovered which were taken in the Long Point region at various times

ou r . prior to visits I n addition to the data furnished by specimens , and m ’ a the Museu party s notes , m ny references from the valuable index to the literature on Ontario birds which is being compiled by M r . J . L .

Baillie have been discovered to pertain to the area . Also the collection

f R r o bird paintings by Wm . Pope who lived at Port ye se on the mainland h a s given us additional information , since they were executed there 1 840 1 68 between the years and 8 , and doubtless were painted from locally taken specimens . The original paintings are now possessed by

is the Toronto reference library (Locke , However , it realized

ou r o r that work in the region , u subsequent fortune in getting additional f specimens and data , and the inclusion o published records , does not bring the list to a state of completeness . I t will be noticed by anyone familiar with the distribution of birds in southern Ontario that a few species which should occur at Long Point are omitted . There may be

as some which occur regularly , perhaps even commonly , but a result of circumstances we have secured no information relative to them . I t is suggested that Turkey Point on the mainland perhaps affords the best

on situation for continued work in the region , although the possibilities

Long Point are not exhausted .

FerrI of . . . s I am particularly indebted to Mr C H , Port Rowan , for information relative to waterfowl which make Long Point a resort during their movements to and from their nesting grounds , and to Mr . A FA U N A L INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 4 1

of Lorne Brown , the present keeper the Long Point lighthouse , who

h as directly and indirectly contributed much material and information .

I n conclusion , I wish to acknowledge the assistance and advice of

Mr . J . H . Fleming , obtained at various times during the prosecution of this work . M IGRATION

D o r 1 92 uring u visit to Long Point in May , 8 , we arrived in time to see something of the assemblage of waterfowl which make the marshes and the waters ofLong Point bay a resting resort during their movement on to their nesting grounds . Although most of the flight had passed , there was still a number of migrant species present , chiefly those which nest in the Canadian west . I t would appear that these birds must

- follow a westerly or somewhat north westerly course to the prairies .

is A more northerly route , at least in spring , questionable since north Georgian bay and the Lake Superior regions cannot be shown to be on m a main course of migration of prairie nesting waterfowl . Our ca p on Second island was on the east side of the main marsh and during our stay we secured no evidence that ducks were passmg over u s in a northerly

r o easterly direction . Western ducks seem to detour from a Lake Huron route to feed in the Long Point marshes ; they come in from and leave toward the west according to sportsmen . Our best opportunity to View migration was with the shore and

- a passerine birds . Long Point lies more or less in an east west line p rallelin g the north shore ofLong Point bay . Being situated on an island which lay in the path between the main forested body of the point and ’ R erson s y island , the latter in turn being on a direct line towards Turkey on m f on Point the north ainland , many o the small birds which landed

m or Long Point fro across Lake Erie to the south , which reached the m point by following around the Shore fro the west , naturally drifted past us towards the north shore . A feature which facilitated Observa tions oftransients on such an island was the presence of a narrow straight of line shrubs interspersed with a few trees , which extended north and

on e south throughout its full length . This vegetation occupied the m pro inent sand ridge which constituted the major portion of the island . With the beach and bay on the east Side and the gradual submergence into marsh on the west the small birds were confined to a path past our door . Since the island was approximately only four hundred yards long to f it was possible take a census o the area in a very short time . Most of the small birds seemed to work their way northward along the island while feeding . I f disturbed , however , they were as apt to turn toward the direction from which they had come as to continue northward ; in 1 42 TRANSAC TIONS OF T H E ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE other words it wa s no t possible to drive the birds o ff the north end ofthe island ; their day migration could not be hastened .

- Blackbirds (bobolinks , red wings , grackles) were among the more

of conspicuous day migrants observed , but movements flickers , red

oldfi nch es or headed woodpeckers , kingbirds , g and others were more less D markedly noticeable during the day . uring the first two weeks of 1 928 our May , , flickers passed camp in considerable numbers and some ’ R r s were seen to take flight from Second island north to ye son island . The same was true of the red -headed woodpecker which was most conspicuous during the end of the first week and the beginning of the f second week o May . They also were noted leaving the island and on e or flying north , and on two occasions individuals were seen coming l to the island from the South . Our frequent C hecking of the bird popu a tion ofthe island indicated that many other species arrived and departed f during the day . For the most part these flights were a drifting o

or of individuals small straggling groups . Night , course , always brought the greatest change of bird life . A feature which was brought to our attention in regard to the day f movement o birds was the importance ofwinds as a check on migration . m Although the weather ight be otherwise fair , a strong wind would retard the gradual shifting of migrants from one place to another .

m - On a few occasions , so e conspicuous bird , such as the red headed woodpecker , was seen to leave the island against a strong wind , and

of after making poor headway over the Open stretch water , return to land . Ge nerally speaking there were two waves as regards the number 2 o f m f 1 9 8 . species and individuals during the onth o May , The first reached a peak at the end of the first week and the second about the

of end the third week . The first m ight be described as the sparrow and

- m . iscellaneous wave , and the second as the shore bird and warbler wave Our records show minor drops in the curve which were due to daily

' r o weather conditions o t our daily procedure . Irregularity in the case of the latter was unavoidable since we were primarily paying attention to collecting and preserving specimens . Some of the outstanding records concerning the individual numbers of of m 1 928 certain the s aller birds noted during May , , may be mentioned although it is realized that one period of observation cannot be used to n h characterize Long Poi t as a migratory route . The least flycatc er was extremely common during the third week ofMay although it was known from our work during the previous year to have been virtually absent in summer . The willow shrubs along the Shore ofSecond island harboured 22 great numbers of them during the period between May 1 7 and . White - crowned sparrows were common in mid - May and on the 1 5th the A FAUNAL I NVE STIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 43 species was indicated on our chart as very common a numerical designation rarely used by us in expressing the daily abundance of a m species . Two other species noted in unusual nu bers for their kind , ’ within the experience of the writer , were the Lincoln s sparrow and the

- orange crowned warbler . Twenty of the former were positively identified between May 1 7 and 22 and eight of the latter were noted between

2 of May 20 and 7 . Perhaps the most outstanding observation unusual f numbers o an expected species was in connection with the brown creeper . I t was seen regularly during the first two weeks of May but on May 3 “ ” m it was a common bird , being seen in great nu bers as it passed up

C of Second island , and ould be found scattered throughout the woods ’ R yerson s island . A note of interest in regard to the spring movements of certain marsh - breeding birds which we had found established in restricted 1 2 a 9 7 m . sections of the marsh during y be noted The black tern ,

- - Florida gallinule , long billed marsh wren , and even the red winged m blackbird were found not to return i mediately , at least in numbers , to the precise section of the marsh in which they were known to have nested the previous year . Representatives of some of the species were

first noted to be scattered here and there , frequently at some distance m from the area of sum er concentration , but as the nesting season

o approached they appeared gradually t converge upon it . By the end

f 1 928 r on o May , , it was appa ent that their interest again centred the same small section of the marsh in which they had nested during the previous year . Long Point is unquestionably an important station on the itinerary

- Of many migrating shore birds in spring . Representatives of various transient species first appear in April and the flight of these transients

- continues until past mid J une , there being of course some irregularity of numbers from day to day and also a perceptible diminution after the

. of first days of June Each the species , found by us to be fairly common , requires a rather protracted period to pass . The dates of arrival and departure vary with the species but there is however , a concentration of numbers both of species and of individuals between May 1 2 and

1 2 - - June 3 . I n 9 7 the last northward moving shore bird (the direction assumed from the subsequent gap on our frequency C hart) was recorded

1 8 of on June , and in little more than two weeks (July 6) representatives transient species reappeared on their way southward (the direction also

- - assumed) . By mid July shore birds were again present in some numbers

is but the flight , as usual , was more gradual than in spring . The migration of shore -birds was more easily Observed during 1 927

t h e r D 1 2 - than in following yea . uring the spring of 9 7 the shore bird

of flight passed up the beach Second island , the extensive marshes not 1 44 TRAN SA C TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I N STITUTE

offeri ng suitable feeding -grounds since the flats were covered with

’ standing and flattened vegetation from the previous year s growth . This narrowing of their line of flight greatly facilitated regular observa

D o f tions of their movements . uring the early part the subsequent

D 8 1 927 on winter (on ecember , ) a severe storm Lake Erie and in the ff Great Lakes region generally greatly a ected conditions in the marsh . Heavy seas from the open lake overw ash ed the south beach of the point

- fla s of and raced through the marsh , scouring the mud t clean their

1 2 of vegetation . I n the following spring ( 9 8) great areas bare flats

w as were exposed , bringing about a scattering of migrant waders . I t found that blinds and decoys were necessary to Obtain and observe shore

of birds . Food was apparently plentiful and many the more strictly

- fl beach birds resorted to the mud ats to feed . The Long Point area is on the spring and autumn migratory route f of great numbers o small birds . This is apparent from the records acquired through specimens which had been killed at the Lon g Point

m of lighthouse , fro reports from the keeper , from the observations f f o . Mr . W . E . Saunders and from our study the region Hosts o warblers ,

fl ca tch ers a or or sparrows , thrushes , vireos and y p ss over along , perhaps

stop on and leave from the point each year . Our records show a total

of of seventy species which have been killed by the light . Most these have been night -flyin g birds but a few species which fly by day have also

been destroyed there , perhaps during daytime fogs . The light which h as taken such a heavy toll of birds is considered the most destructive D one in the ominion . Perhaps to some degree this may be attributed

of of to the type light , a revolving white light , but from a study the of 1 92 b statistics other lights (Lewis , 7 ) it would appear that the geo

graphic location , and perhaps to some extent the immediate physio

for graphic location , accounts its destructiveness . Although the light ,

so as of - far is known , takes the heaviest toll bird life in the autumn ,

i f ab n d there s also a heavy mortality o spring migrants . The relative u

- fl in i ance Of the various species Of night y g , spring migrants s fairly

accurately revealed by the figures of destruction . This statement is based on a comparison of these figures with the records of abundance 2 Obtained by the M useum parties in 1 9 7 and 1 928 . The following figures from available records show the destructions within recent years :

1 4 of 1 25 3 during one night (about May ) in the spring 9 , 78 individuals

of 30 of o species were picked up at the base the lighthouse (Lewis , l c .

cit 1 7 1 928 ) ; on the night of May , , about three hundred small birds struck

the lighthouse (communication from M r . Lorne Brown , present keeper

on 1 1 926 1 69 28 Of the light) ; May 9 , , birds of species killed there were

identified by M r . W . E . Saunders (personal notes Of W . E . on

m 7 9 1 929 823 of 37 Septe ber and , , individuals species were killed , A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 45

24 29 1 92 6 54 on the 7th (Saunders , between September and , 9 ,

l oc . it 1 237 individuals of49 species were destroyed ( Saunders , c ) ; and

22n d 1 930 269 of 2 1 between April 1 7th and , , individuals species were A . S a killed by the light (communication from M r . Lorne Brown) far s on can be ascertained the heaviest destructions occur cloudy nights , and

according to the former light keeper , Mr . S . B Cook , who had been f stationed there or thirty years , there is a small but regular destruction going on throughout the migratory seasons .

There is some reason for believing that many birds appear on Long Point in the autumn as a result of being pocketed by the peninsula of during a westerly movement along the north shore Lake Erie . Town 1 928 O f -fl in son ( ) has noted a westerly movement day y g birds in October ,

2 of on . . 1 9 7 , near the base the point the bay side Also , Mr James Savage h as related to the writer that he observed a remarkable flight of flickers moving westward over the marsh at the base Of Long Point on

1 93 . O . September 30 , 0 bservations made by M r Angus Buchanan on the robin have indicated a like movement in that species . Saunders

- o t. (l c . ci ) states that Sharp shinned and other hawks were seen moving to the end of the point and then returning . He also states that swallows were flying westward along the point but attributed their direction to a

- fl westerly Wind which was blowing . I t is possible that many day yin g birds skirt Lake Erie or at least pass westward along its shore in the

to r . fall cross the lake , pe haps at Point Pelee On the other hand , it would seem that the night -flyin g species which strike Long Point light are birds attempting to make a direct crossing of Lake Erie at this point .

The most outstanding feature of the autumn migration at Long Point is the great aggregation of migrating water -fowl which assembles there . Since the earliest times the area has been noted as an ideal place

- 1 1 f . 84 o fi r for duck shooting As long ago as , before the time modern e

it 1 844 750 duck arms , is recorded (Godley , ) that four men shot s in r 2 . on 1 876 twelve days during the month of October Later , October , , 646 five men bagged ducks there in a single day (Hallock , An editorial in Forest and Stream ( 1 883) states that a member of the Long Point Company averaged 5 1 ducks per day for eleven days and another 6 1 ducks per day for nine days . Even with the general reduction in the c numbers Of ducks throughout North Ameri a , Long Point still retains a reputation as one O fthe best situations for duck - Shooting in the whole

Dominion . The writer regrets to state that he has been unable to obtain access to th e important work on ducks by Phillips ( 1 922) in which there is doubtless considerable information relative to the Long

Point region . 1 4 6 TRAN SAC TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

D h as d ucks from the north and nort east , such the black duck , gol en

n o f eye , etc . , co stitute a large percentage the autumn flight , but there

f - is a heavy influx o prairie nesting species . Many of these water fowl

as appear to come from the west previously remarked . Sportsmen have m observed their flights coming in to the arshes from the west , following

alo ng the north shore Of Lake Erie .

The lack of Opportunity to investigate the movements of birds in h much detail , for extended periods over several years , as made it im possible to present more than the major features of Long Point as a

is migratory station . I t in regard to migration that subsequent workers will be able to add information which will bring our knowledge of this area to a state adequate for comparison with the other Lake Erie stations

s so such a Point Pelee and Presque isle which have been well investigated .

ANNOTATED LIST

230 or The following list includes species of birds which are , have

or of on been , resident , transient , accidental occurrence Long Point

- f r or In Its vicinity . Twenty two additional species o which we have but

r of vague o questionable information , but which seem to be probable occurrence , and species known to occur in close proximity to the

not as area considered , but definitely within the area , are appended a 1 hypothetical list . There are 69 species represented in the collection ’ of 783 specimens from the area now in the Museum s collection . Most f 1 927 o the specimens were collected during June and July , , and May , 2 1 9 8 , but a number have been preserved from birds picked up at the m ’ m . lighthouse , fro sports en s bags , and from a few miscellaneous sources ’ A catalogue of all specimens from this area now in the Museum s pos session is included in the text . Specimens in the catalogue are adult

of unless otherwise stated . The sex each has been indicated according f to findings by dissection . I n the case Of a large number o specimens which were destroyed at the lighthouse in the fall , internal disintegration made it impossible to determine the sex . Although in many cases the s x m e appears to be obvious from the type Of plu age , it has been con “ ” i r d m P s de e best to mark the as , sex

The arrangement of the list is in accordance with the 1 91 0 edition ’ - Of the American Ornithologists Union Check List , and the nomenclature used conforms with the A . O . U . list with such changes as have been published in the supplements that have appeared in the Auk .

The inclusion ofspecies other than those authenticated by specimens h as been done as carefully as possible . Some such records are based on ou r own Observations made under favourable conditions and others m are from the literature . I n the latter case , the accuracy of the state ent

1 4 8 TRAN SA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

1 0 . n 3 5 . 3 1 m m . 7 7 68 . length , ; wi g , mm ; tail , mm ; culmen , mm ; depth

. 6 e 7 . toe 1 f 0 8 . o bill at bas , mm ; tarsus , mm ; outer and claw , mm

l h is I t wou d seem t at this specimen well within the proposed race ,

n o f sh f . ela sso o G . i Bi op Another peculiarity this specimen is

a n o f h in the Sh rp a gle the gonys , a condition w ich can only in part be

h a n i to s . s f attributed rink ge in dryi g There , however , no doubt o the f specific identity o the specimen . m m I . No e er 1 1 930 2 . 9, v b ,

l l R - - i e . ED G a a t ata . M r. v s THROATED LOON Lorne Brown , the

h as n present keeper Of the Long Point light , reported that o e w as killed

on 1 7 1 930 . by the light April , Also a Specimen in the col

w as lection taken at Vittoria , Norfolk county , a locality outside the “ ” f Vicinity o Long Point but adjacent to it . Wm . Pope h as figured

of 1 91 7 w as a young specimen this species (Locke , ) which in all probability

R r . e se is 1 67 . taken near Port y The picture dated November , 8 The species probably appears fairly regularly as a rare transient on Long

Point bay . ’ l i i B R N N — IC H . U ria om v a. l omv a . U S M URRE This species h as occurred in the region during its irregular visits to the lower Great Lakes

. of region The writer has Seen a specimen , in a collection mounted birds f . . O as owned by Mr Wm Smith Port Rowan , which w taken locally about 1 896 . — i i i . A Stercorar u s paras t cu s PARASITI C JAEGER . rare fall and winter visitant . A specimen taken at Port Rowan at some time prior

1 . f 90 6 is o . . . . to now No in the collection Mr J H Fleming Another , a mounted , immature specimen , has been seen by the writer in the

f . . collection o M r Wm Smith of Port Rowan . This specimen was

’ collected locally about 1 900 . A third specimen n ow in the Museum s

O f 2 collection , was killed at the Long Point light on the night September ,

1 930 . 7‘ m S e tem 1 9 I . er 2 3 . 0 p b , 0

L ’ — h . aru s yperb oreu s GLAU C OUS GULL . Probably an occasional visitant to the region in fall and winter but the only record for the species is that Of Townson which refers to on e seen by him on 2 1 2 3 9 7 . October ,

L r C - C - aru s m a inu s . GREAT BLA K BA KED GULL . Apparently an uncommon winter visitant to the area . A mounted adult in the collection

f . i o M r . Wm Smith of Port Rowan s the only specimen from the region seen by the writer . Local hunters , however , have told me they have

- seen this large , dark backed gull in late fall . L r r e t — a u a n atus. . s g HERRING GULL Small roaming flocks , and individuals exhibiting a great variety of stages of plumage immaturity h m are to be found throughout t e sum er about outer Long Point bay . A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 49

Adult birds apparently are not to be found there in summer ; they leave in the spring and return in the fall . The summering birds seem to depend on the waste from fisheries for food . The greatest number seen

on e -five at one time , approximately hundred and twenty birds , was 2 1 9 1 9 7 . congregated about the pound nets near Gravelly bay on July , on So far as we have been able to discover , herring gulls do not nest

Lake Erie . f of Colour sketches o the bills six immature specimens , all collected

on 1 9 1 927 from the same flock July , , Show a gradation from the dark bill - f . o to nearly a yellow , orange spotted condition Comparison the f specimens does not show a corresponding gradation o plumage . ’ fl s 4 m 1 1 2 m u 1 9 . u 9 7 I 9 9 7 . 2 I . 1 2 o J ly , 9 3 J ly ,

- - re i . Laru s del awa n s s. RING BILLED GULL Fairly common in

mm . spring , immatures remaining until well into the su er The latest

of on 23 1 2 record we secured was that an individual noted June , 9 7 .

Although we have no definite information , this gull probably reappears

- in some numbers in the fall after mid October .

. . 4 1 S . on 927 A pecimen of gull collected by M r J L Baillie June , , - f from a flock of ring bills is o particular interest . It is for the most part in badly worn immature plumage . A brief description of this

- under ail specimen is as follows head , neck and underparts white , the t

C overts with a few pale brown spots distally ; back , including scapulars , pale blue grey ; upper tail coverts white ; alulae and distal primaries faded fuscous black ; proximal primaries , secondaries and tertials with fuscous brown forming a terminal wing band ; greater and median wing

C r coverts largely dirty white , the lesser ove ts faded pale brown ; tail ,

of white , the terminal fourth faded fuscous and the remainder the terminal half Slightly mottled with that colour . I t will be seen from the following statement of dimensions that this specimen is small for Law s dela 1 1 . . n : 456 . 3 338 warc sis length , mm ; tail , mm ; wing , mm ; culmen ,

f 1 . 4 m 3 . o 5 5 m . 9 mm ; depth bill at base , mm ; tarsus , ; middle toe with f 44 . o claw , mm A comparison the skin with available material indicates

for m that , except the improbability of the occurrence , the specimen ight

of be referred to Larn s can ns of Europe . The range size and colour of

ofLarns elawarensis immatures d , however , probably includes individuals similar to this specimen although material available for comparison has not demonstrated this point . m 7‘ 3 1 2 m 1 M 1 9 . . u e 4 . I . a 8 I 927 o y , 9 J n ,

’ L h i - arus p ladelph ia . BONAPARTE S GULL . Noted regularly dur

our ing both of visits to Long Point , either as scattered individuals or

A - . S m five n e 6 in flocks any as eighty were Seen on o day (July , while forty and fifty were frequently noted . Mr . W . E . Saunders has

u n i noted them at T rkey Point o vis ts there in spring . The species

s u 2 1 2 seemed to invade the region in greatest number abo t May 3 , 9 8 . 1 5 0 TRANSAC TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I N STITUTE

There is a rather wide range Of variation in the plumage o f the

A as 1 2 . S immature birds Seen and collected late July , an immature

s specimen wa taken with a nearly white head , while an immature bird

h . o f with more t an fifty per cent the head showing new , dark feathers , f was collected as early as May 7 . The extent o the dusky pattern on the wing coverts Of immatures is also greatly variable but even those having this area almost completely erased by feather renewal and fading have the characteristic tail band and primary pattern of immaturity .

- The three adults collected are all completely dark headed birds . Although

of n on - is of few these breeding adults were noted , it interest that some do summer in the Lake Erie region . Transient birds from their northern breeding grounds probably appear in the Long Point region after mid

October . ' 9 1 92 u e 1 . Ma 8 8 . 9 27 9 y , cf J n , 7‘ " m 2 m n 1 1 2 2 1 9 I . u e 9 I . 0 May 6 , 7 . 0 J 5 , 7 . ’ ” 2 u 1 2 d M ay 9 , 1 927 . 0 J ly 6 , 9 7 . ' n fl s 3 1 1 2 u 1 2 1 9 7 . M a 9 8 . 2 o y , o J ly ,

1 2 u 1 2 1 27 u 9 . e 4 9 7 . 9 J n , 9 J ly , " 1 1 2 une 4 1 927 . u 4 9 7 . 9 J , 0 J ly , " un e 1 27 u 1 1 7 7 9 . 9 92 . d J , 9 J ly ,

’ - i . Sterna. caspia. mperator . C O U E S CASPIAN TERN Transient 1 928 individuals were fairly common in early May , , but by the second f week their numbers were reduced . From on e to four o these birds were m f 1 2 seen every few days throughout the su mer o 9 7 . A female specimen

on 23 1 927 collected June , , had been banded as a young bird at Gravelly 2 1 1 25 ’ . . on 9 island (Lake Michigan) , by Wm I Lyon , July , (Nat l f o . as Parks Can This bird which w approximately two years Old , and another bird taken in July , are virtually adult in plumage although both possess a slight sprinkling of white -margined feathers in the black crown and also a few black-tipped white feathers along the upper margin of the gape and malar region . There are no known nesting colonies of this tern in the Lake Erie region a n d the birds noted by us in summer

- were unquestionably non breeding individuals .

m 23 1 92 m u I u e 7 . I . . 9 J n , 9 J ly

e h —A St rna iru ndo . COMMON TERN . common species during spring and summer . Local residents of the region know it by the name “ ” fi 2 . 1 9 on 1 not gannet I t was rst noted in 8 May , but it was seen in

m 4 . nu bers until May According to Mr . W . E . Saunders , common terns nest on the south beach of Long Point about two miles west from the f lighthouse . Mr . W . A . Gordon o Port Dover has informed the writer that the eggs ofthese birds are distributed so thickly on the south beach at this point as to make it difficult to walk through the colony without A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 5 1

f n . o stepping o them Young the year , presumably from this colony , 1 1 2 on 7 9 7 . were first collected by us July ,

- I n a series of seven , presumably non breeding birds in their second 1 9 23 year , which was taken between June and , a gradation of plumage

of C C hange is demonstrated . The dark cubital border the wing hanges almost to obscurity from the earliest taken specimen to the latest .

Moult , wear and fading are factors in the loss Of this pattern . The crowns exhibit a gradual darkening , the white foreheads being encroached upon posteriorly by the growth of new feathers . The two outer primaries

f on 1 9 ld in each wing o a bird taken June are o , while the next bird in

23 on e the series (taken June ) has but worn outer primary , the other

com having been dropped . I n the remainder , primary replacement is

l n on - e e . p t One of these breeding birds is unique to the whole series ,

1 4 m . 1 83 . m adults and immature alike , in having a tail mm in length , f longer than any other in the collection . The underparts o these immature birds are , for the most part , clear white . Such features as the long tail and clear white underparts on these near - adult common terns make uncertain the u se of these characters as field marks for ’ of Forster s tern . Birds in this particular phase plumage were not uncommon in flocks of typically adult common terns , at Long Point ,

n e f especially in late summer . The age of o o these birds is fairly exactly

. on 1 9 1 927 known I t was collected June , , and carried a band which

was on 1 1 2 was placed on it when it a nestling July 7 9 6 , at Lone Tree ’ island , Huron county , M ichigan , by Walter E . Hastings (Nat l Parks of

Can . , M 1 0 1 2 m a I . u 1 1 9 8 . 2 9 y , Q J ly 8 , 9 7 . ‘ ' M a 1 1 9 4 28 . u 1 1 2 8 9 7 . cf y , cf J ly , 7' M 7 1 2 ” a 2 9 . u 2 1 1 0 y , 7 0 J ly , 927 . ' 8 2 1 92 m Ma 7 7 . u 21 1 9 y , I . ( 7 J ly , 927 . 1 9 1 7‘ u e 927 . 22 1 2 uv . u 9 7 9 J n , J 0 J ly , . ” 7 I n 23 1 u e 927 . u 2 1 0 3 927 . J , o J ly , ' 7 I s u 1 1 2 m fl 7 9 7 . 2 u 3 2 I . 2 1 9 0 7 . J ly , o J ly , ' 8 u 1 Q J ly 1 7 , 927 .

C h l idon ias ri m en i — a. su n a s s. C nigr BLA K TERN . Loca1 residents “ ” bla k as c . 1 92 on refer to this species gannets First noted in 8 May 3 , 1 but it was not common until May 3 . Although wandering black terns of ma were met with in all sections the rsh and about the bay , the areas in which they were particularly attached for nesting were surprisingly

. 1 92 restricted Three colony sites were found by us in 7 , one on the

’ marsh Side of Second island and two on the marsh side of R yerson s island . The closest attention was given to the Second island colony of which consisted from fifteen to twenty pairs . Their chosen area m on e comprised approxi ately acre. Nests were placed in open situations 1 52 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

low near and among growing reeds on , floating masses Of dead vegetation which was subject to the rise and fall of the ever changing water level

was o n o fthe marsh . One nest found placed the upturned bottom o fa

- - water logged fi sh box . The nests were for the most part composed o f dead reeds like the mass on which the birds nested and could scarcely be

as visualized a distinct addition to the mass , but rather they appeared

to be a rough form made from the materials at hand .

set The first of eggs , containing two , which may have been a com

l e was o n 30 . p et clutch , found May The usual number of eggs in a nest was three , although a few contained but two , while one nest found contained four eggs . All sets appeared to be complete by the end o fthe 1 2 of 9 7 . first week June in The usual variations in the size , colour and pattern ofthe eggs Of this species were noted . One of the most annoying experiences of our work on Long Point was our inability to secure downy young of this species although we made special efforts at the time the eggs were hatching (between June 1 7 n 2 and All nests under Observation were empty o June 8 . There is probably a considerable variation in the dates of nesting from year

. 1 . . . 2 1 to year M r W E Clyde Todd records in his notes of July , 90 7 , while visiting the Long Point marshes , that on that date he examined f several o their nests which held three eggs apiece . They were heavily incubated at this late date . He suspected young , but did not see them . The reed -beds were carefully searched by us in an attempt to locate the birds in the downy plumage , but they were completely successful in evading us . Our first proof that the young had actually been reared -fl d ed e on 1 1 . in the colony was when two , fully g , were collected July At this stage the birds were prone to take wing and could be seen swim k - m ming li e ducks into the Sheltering reed beds . Speci ens with sparse down attached to the feathers of the heads are the nearest we came to collecting downy young of the year . 2 m 6 1 9 7 . A speci en taken on July , , is of interest The white plumage of the underparts , especially about the neck and throat , is apparently being replaced with new white feathers . The mantle and tail are very much abraded and discoloured , but the primaries , except the outer left

m . one , are new , the outer right is issing This bird is apparently a young of the previous year which is passing from the first winter plumage to the adult winter plumage , not having attained any of the black feathers on the head or ventral surface characteristic of most birds in their second summer .

In the series Of seventeen adults collected , a gradation in the initial stages of the change from summer to winter plumage is shown . The first specimens which possessed a few white feathers in the loral region 2 and about the gape were taken on June 8 . I n a specimen taken on A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 53

23 July the forehead is white , the crown grey and the lores , malar region

and throat almost entirely white . A few new white feathers are also to be found on the breast . The moult progresses in a remarkably

uniform way as shown by the series of specimens . When arranged according to date , the plumage change about the head and neck is almost precisely graded .

f on e In connection with the courtship o this species , or two observa 2 1 2 . 5 9 8 tions are worthy of note On May , , while concealed in a shooting -fla of blind on the mud t, I had an opportunity to watch a mated pair black terns for some time . Twice I saw the male feed the female with m small fish which he brought from the bay . She accepted the in the helpless manner of a young bird and waited patiently on the flat during f the interval between the two feedings . After the second o fering the

on f r n male sat her back o a time but did ot attempt to copulate . Further observations on the species at this season indicated that it was a habit for the males to feed the females j ust prior to the height of nuptial activities . Many terns (presumably males) were seen conveying small fishes from the bay to the particular section of the marsh near where the colony had nested the previous year . Our Observations throughout f the previous summer , however , indicated that the food o this tern is largely insects during the nesting season n M 1 3 1 2 1 1 2 9 . a 9 8 . u 2 o y , 9 J ly , 7 n " Ma 23 1 2 9 8 . uv . u o y , J o J ly ' M 2 1 2 1 1 2 a 6 . ci y , 9 7 9 J uly 4 , 9 7 . 3 Ma 2 1 2 3 6 9 7 . u 9 y , Q J ly ' 7 un e 28 1 92 uv u 1 8 1 92 0 J , 7 . J . 9 J ly , 7 . ’ S 3 un e 28 1 92 u Q J , 7 . 9 J ly m 5 I . u 1 2 6 9 7 . 2 u 9 J ly , Q J ly ' 8 “ 2 u 1 1 1 92 1 2 7 . 9 uv u 22 7 . Q J ly , J . 0 J ly , ” uv . u 1 1 1 9 7 23 1 2 2 . u . J 0 J ly , 9 J ly , 9 7 u 1 1 1 2 9 J ly , 9 7 .

Ph a a o o ax rit s ri D - l cr c r au u au tus. OUBLE C RESTED CORMORANT . — T hiS species was described to us by local sportsmen as being occasion in 1 0 ally seen the late fall , but it was not until the fall of 93 that we ’ were able to substantiate their claims . A female now in the Museum s collection was secured and presented by Mr . T . W . Jull of Toronto . There is an undated picture of this species in immature plumage in the 1 91 of Pope collection (Locke , 7) paintings . The subject was probably R a bird taken near Port yerse .

to er 20 1 930 9 Oc b ,

Me m e — u a a u . , R . A m rg s ric n s MERGANSE spring and fall igrant , not apparently uncommon . None was seen during o ur stay on the point 1 928 in May , , the species apparently leaving for its nesting grounds at 1 5 4 TRANSAC TIONS O F THE RO YAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- an earlier date than the red breasted merganser . I t is apparently not

7 or 8 . . saw on a summer resident , although M r . W E Saunders two June ,

its 2 . . 1 9 5 , in the vicinity Of Long Point Mr Hanson Ferris states that appearance in spring and departure in the fall are regulated somewhat by

’ - the season s thaw and freeze u p o n Long Point bay .

No em er 1 2 1 930 9 v b ,

- — r R D . A M e gu s s errator . E BREASTED M ERGANSER spring and fall

migrant . Large flocks of these birds , some estimated to be composed

wo Of t hundred and fifty individuals , were occasionally noted in the

1 2 on 1 8 bay in May , 9 8 . They were last noted May , when a large open raft o f these ducks passed ou r camp some two hundred yards off Shore . A s they moved along , the males were displaying to the females in great

s s six earnest , a many a males appearing to solicit attention from an individual female . They would swim in circles around her , stretching their necks forward and backward , occasionally picking at her and frequently causing a great splashing of water in their wake . Their courtship was without vocal utterance so far as we could detect from shore . m er 9 1 9 9 Im . a out No e 2 9 b v b ,

h . Lop odytes cu cul l atus. HOODED MERGANSER Fairly num

‘ erous as a spring and fall migran t. I n spring it appears late in March remaining until near the end of April . According to Mr . Ferris it does

of not appear in any numbers in the fall until after the middle October , remaining until well into November .

a out No em er 9 1 929 9 b v b ,

l h h — Anas p atyr yn c os. MALLARD . A n early spring migrant to be expected after the middle of March . I t remains until late in April although most of the birds have passed on toward their nesting grounds 1 2 . 30 9 . before that date We saw six birds on April , 8 Individual males

on he m O f 1 27 were seen two occasions during t su mer 9 , but the species 1 is apparently a rare summer resident . Giles ( 880) mentions this species as breeding in the marshes of Long Point . Although considerable numbers of mallards are secured in the late fall , the species is not as “ M Il r i h 1 abundant as the black duck . c w a t states ( 886) that it as ” sembles in vast flocks "at Long Point] in the fall to feed on the wild rice .

Scu o At least two specimens banded at Lake g g , Ontario , have been taken at Long Point by sportsmen (Lincoln ,

A i — nas rubr pes . BLAC K DUC K One of the most abundant ducks frequenting the region as a migrant ; a common summer resident also . It arrives about the middle of March and transient individuals remain until well into April .

1 5 6 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CAN ADIAN I N STITUTE

after the flight o fblue -winged teal h as passed and remains until well into

- as a s . November . About numerous the blue winged teal at Long Point ‘ a o t No ember 9 1 929 6 b u v ,

- — e edu l a discors . L Qu rq u BLUE WINGED TEA Not abundant , but

appears regularly in April and early May and in September . I t is said

1 0 . (Giles , 88 ) that this Species formerly bred in the Long Point marshes

so . We secured no evidence that it does at the present time , but Mr Ferris

states that it occasionally does . One hundred and ten were counted by

s on 30 1 928 u near Port Rowan April , , and a pair , the latest occurrence

to ou r was 1 7 of . according records , seen on May the same year — Sp atu la clyp eata . SHOVELLER . Rather rare ; a few appear at

w as u s on 30 Long Point each spring and fall . A male seen by April ,

. 2 f 1 9 8 is o . , near Port Rowan , and a mounted male in the collection Mr f Wm . Smith at Port Rowan . A painting o a female specimen which

was . probably secured in the region is in the Wm Pope collection (Locke ,

' - D . A afi l a. acuta. tzitzih oa . AMERIC AN PINTAIL regular and m - fairly common igrant in the spring after mid March , mostly in April ,

6 1 928 . remaining until early in May , our latest record being May , m In the fall numbers of them occur in the marsh , co ing in after the first

of September , becoming most common in October and disappearing

about the end of November . M r . J . H . Fleming has given the writer an f D o . account a curious duck shot by M r . C . K Rogers near Port over 1 1 (perhaps within the area here considered) in the fall of 1 9 . The duck ’ was forwarded to Spanner s taxidermy establishment at Toronto on 1 1 1 91 1 . November , , and a consideration of its peculiarities has led Mr

Fleming to believe it to be a hybrid between the pintail and mallard .

a o t No em er 9 1 9 9 c? b u v b , 2 — Aix sponsa . WOOD DUC K This beautiful summer resident duck finds Long Point particularly suitable as a breeding ground Since the wooded ridges afford the necessary hollow stubs for nesting and quiet

no lagoons are near at hand . Although wood ducks are t numerous in summer we saw them regularly and several broods were brought ou t

near ou r camps . Males were still consorting with females on May 1 6 2 in 1 9 8 . Although the males probably remained about the marshes

none was seen during our summer stay in 1 927 . The earliest appearance 2 f was o on 1 1 927 . o nestlings n ted June , The local population Of this duck is augmented by birds from elsewhere in southern Ontario in the fall . 7 " s M 1 1 2 2 1 927 2 o ay 5 , 9 9 9 J u ly , " une 2 1 1 927 Nest n u 1 1 1 927 9 J , li g 0 J ly , ‘ ’ Nest n u e 2 1 1 92 5 Nest n s u 1 1 1 92 li g 6 J n , 7 li g Q J ly , 7 7' 1 91 a out t. 5 0 b O c , 7 A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 57

— 1 928 M aril a. am ericana . REDHEAD . According to Townson ( )

the redhead is not as common at Long Point as it was thirty years ago . H owever , numbers visit the point for a short time in late March and early April , and again , perhaps in greater numbers , during October and

of early in November , the middle the autumn being the time of greatest numbers .

- — of M aril a. val isn eria . CANVAS BAC K . The dates spring and fall occurrence of this species are apparently about the same as those for - m the redhead , except that the canvas back is more inclined to re ain 1 2 later in the fall . Townson ( 9 8) states that this duck was very scarce at Long Point thirty years ago while now thousands of them Visit there each fall . Only a small percentage of these ducks are subj ected to ’ hunters fire Since they feed extensively in the open waters ofthe shallow

I . nner bay 7 ' a o t No em er 9 1 929 0 b u v b .

M m i — A arila ar la . SC AUP DU C K . common species arriving in early March and remaining until toward the end of April , returning in

D . October and staying until ecember Like the next , this species is not as abundant as formerly but it is still well represented in the annual fall bags of sportsmen .

- Ma a affi n is. D T ril LESSER SC AUP UC K . his duck arrives toward the end of March and usually stays somewhat later in that season than 2 1 2 8 . the preceding . We saw them as late as May 30 during 1 9 7 and 9 These late birds are usually paired before they leave and it is possible that an occasional pair remains in the Long Point marshes to nest , but as to this we have no certain evidence . In the fall they return in Sept ember and remain until well into November . The lesser scaup is a common migrant but its numbers at Long Point are not as great as they were some years ago .

’ " 3 s Ma 2 1 928 Ma 2 1 9 8 o y , 9 y , 2

M - — a a. collaris. R A C D C . ril ING NE KED U K regular spring migrant , in April , but not so numerous in spring as in the fall when it is plentiful during October and well into November . The species is known at

Long Point , as elsewhere , as the marsh bluebill . Wm . Pope (Locke , 1 9 1 7) had illustrated this species and this particular piece is dated

A r l 1 7 1 4 l 8 3 . p , ‘ a out M a 9 1 929 6 b y ,

‘ — G au o etta a m i - A n l ci n cl ngula a er cana . GOLDEN EY E . open water duck appearing in March (and remaining until early May , our 1 1 2 9 8 . m latest date being May , I t appears in nu bers in November , D remaining well into ecember . 1 5 8 TRANSA C TIONS O F THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- — et al eol . A C h ariton ta b a B UFFLE HEAD . plentiful early spring migrant remaini ng until May and returning after the middle of October (Townson ( 1 928) noted the first in the fall of 1 927 o n October 24) when it is present in numbers in the open water until well into November . ” M a 2 1 2 0 y , 9 8

- — n l a h em l i . O LD C l a gu y a s SQUAW . This species arrives from the

of is north in the fall , usually about the first November , and present in the bay until ice drives it to open water . I n spring it appears again with the opening Of the bay and is present in numbers until May . The latest record obtained by u s was a fresh specimen picked up from th e beach where it had drifted , probably after being freed from the nets

ff- 2 1 1 . O . w as 5 shore by fishermen This on May , 9 8 Knowing the lifting days of the fishermen and considering the condition of the bird we estimated that it was caught only a few days previously . Many of these birds are accidentally caught in the gill nets set in the bay . One specimen which we secured was taken from a net set in 25 feet ofwater but these birds are caught in depths many times greater than this example according to fishermen . n a out M a 1 1 1 928 a out Ma 1 3 1 928 o b y , 9 b y , m i i — So ater a sp ectab il s . KING EIDER . Little can be ascertained as to the numbers O f king eiders which visit this section of Lake Erie in the late fall , but that they do occur is substantiated by two specimens taken locally and seen by the writer in the collection of mounted birds owned by Mr . Wm . Smith Of Port Rowan . — m i - A O ide a degl an di. WHITE WINGED SC OTER . fairly numerous

- bay duck in the late fall and from early spring until mid May . Like the

O ld squaw this scoter is regularly taken in gill nets set in the bay . 7 ‘ a o t Ma 9 1 928 a o t Ma 23 1 928 0 b u y , 9 b u y , a out Ma 1 2 1 928 9 b y , — i e i is O d m a p erspicil l ata . SURF SC OTER . This scoter not com m on and certainly not well known to local sportsmen although it prob ably Occurs regularly in the open lake during late fall and in the spring . 29 An adult male specimen secured by us at rather a late date , May , ’ was probably caught in fi sh erm en s gill nets a few days previously . " a o t Ma 2 1 9 0 b u y 7, 27 E i — r sm atu ra j am aicen sis. RUDDY D UC K A n April and October

no migrant , t as common as it was several years ago , but occurring

b u ffle- regularly in some numbers . These little ducks , like the head , are locally known to sportsmen as Two males in changing plumage taken locally were noted in the collection of Mr . Wm . Smith of

Port Rowan , but the majority of specimens taken by hunters are said to be in the grey , immature plumage . A ruddy duck struck the Long Point

2 . on 1 22 1 30 . light April or , 9 , according to Mr Lorne Brown , the keeper " Im a out N o em er 9 1 929 . 0 b v b , A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 59

e E — C h en h yperb oreu s h yp erb or u s . SNOW GOOS This goose

occasionally appears about the marshes of Long Point in the fall . A mounted specimen taken locally was seen by the writer in the collection

of M r . Wm . Smith at Port Rowan and local sportsmen have informed

the writer that small flocks sometimes settle in the marshes to feed . h e — 1 2 h a C en caerul scens . BLUE GOOSE Townson ( 9 8) s recorded 2 2 on 0 1 9 7 . seeing a blue goose at Long Point October , An adult female f 2 1 1 4 . o 9 shot by Mr . J . R Wells Toronto on November , , at Port Rowan has been recorded by Fleming and Lloyd So far as can be ascertained this goose is rare and of irregular occurrence in the region . i — Branta canadensis canadens s . CANADA GOOSE A northward

- migrant in late March and early April , returning after mid October . The Canada goose does not appear in very large numbers at Long Point 1 28 . . 9 but it is of regular occurrence , according to Mr Ferris Townson ( ) 1 2 records seeing one there on October 1 6 9 7 .

’ h - Branta canadensis h u tc in si. HUTC HINS S GOOSE . The only record of this subspecies for the region has been made by Fleming ’ The specimen which is in Mr . Fleming s collection was taken at Port

Rowan on October 6 1 896 .

m N — C ygnu s col u b l an us. WHISTLING SWA Occasionally seen in wa on late March and early April on their y northward , and their return one during October . Early records indicate a similar status hundred 1 838 mm years ago (Need , , and Small , An i ature female taken at Turkey Point is in the Museum ’ s mounted collection and a mounted female taken locally was seen by the writer in the collection of Wm .

Smith Of Port R owan m 29 1 1 I . to er 9 . 9 Oc b , 7 — i M Il r i h 1 C ygnu s b u cc nator . TRUMPETER SWAN . c w a t ( 886 and 1 894) states that he had seen two which were killed at Long Point in ” Lake Erie . I t is not likely that more recent records from this area ’ of M c Ilwraith S have been or will be obtained , but since the probability record being correct is great , the writer has been inclined to accept it .

There are specimens in collections which were collected , about the time l McI wraith of . implied by , in the general region southern Ontario

1 91 7 of m A picture in the Pope collection (Locke , ) is the tru peter swan and Mr . J . H . Fleming states that there is no doubt about the identity . 1 4 The illustration is dated April 6 , 8 7, and in all probability it is based on a locally taken specimen .

otau u e ti -A B r s l n ginosus . BITTERN . common inhabitant of the marshes of both the point and the adj acent mainland . Several pairs nested near our camp on Second island and we had Opportunity casually to observe the species from the season of mating until late in the summer . Nuptials occur in early May . At this time bitterns were 1 6 0 TRAN SAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN IN STITUTE

particularly conspicuous because by day they frequently took to wing , a n d o n quiet evenings the voices of these birds could be heard from the borders of the marsh near u s and from far beyond where the distant

- D reed beds were rapidly being obscured by the fading light . uring the

one day pairs would fly about in tangled circles , bird pursuing another

. was in close tandem This no doubt a mating performance .

The bittern is a remarkable example of the close blending of an

its its its its animal with environment ; colour , voice and behaviour

to one as - appeal being in perfect harmony with wet , rush grown surround

on 1 4 1 2 ings . The writer had opportunity May , 9 8 , to observe what ’ appeared to be the limit in the bittern s employment of the well known

- standing reed ruse . The bird was first sighted at a distance of about fifty yards as it was cautiously stalking through rather l ow marsh vegetation . As if suddenly becoming aware of being Observed it thrust its o f neck upward , assuming the characteristic bittern attitude eyes D front but bill Skyward . irecting my course so that I would pass several feet from the bird and partially circle it , the bird was confronted f with two di ficulties . First , the vegetation was too short to lend the

u m . C pright bird concealment fro my close approach Second , my ircling course made it difficult for it to keep the streaked front ofthe neck toward me . As I proceeded the bird lowered its body by imperceptible degrees and in attempting to keep its front toward me it listed to one side . The bird depended on its attitude and concealing colour until I was f within four or five feet o it , finally flushing with the expected awkward “ ” of flapping its wings and uttering its guttural quawk . The unusual

of part the observation , however , was that because the bird had been l forced to twist its body and lower itself as I approached , it was final y it ’ lying on s side partially submerged in water . The bird s attention had been so strongly directed at me that it had soaked the feathers of on e side , including its wing , in water , a performance it would no doubt have carefully avoided except in such an emergency .

In the Long Point region the eggs of the bittern hatch during the m first two weeks of June . The young are in the nest or in the im ediate vicinity Of the nest for several weeks and newly hatched young are apparently well guarded by th e parent bird . One instance noted in this connection was of a parent bird which clung to the nest until we ’ f a were within arm s length o it . Our attention w s originally directed — to the bird when some distance away by the prolonged rattling growl produced by the parent whenwe were approaching .

The latest occurrence of the bittern in the fall at Long Point is 1 4 2 - 1 . . October , 9 8 This observation was made by M r James Savage and it concerned a partial albino bittern seen under good conditions for A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 6 1

close observation . The bird possessed white secondaries on the left wing and white primaries and secondaries on the right wing . 1 2 1 2 un e 8 9 . Nest n un e 7 9 7 . 7 li g , Q J , 9 J , 1 1 2 u 5 1 9 7 . un e 1 2 . 6 J 8 , 9 7 9 J ly , — il i . Ixobrych u s ex s. LEAST BITTERN Not as common or as generally distributed as the bittern . The earliest date on which the

1 7 1 928 . least bittern was seen by us was May , One struck the Long 2 on 1 9 1 9 6 . Point lighthouse May , These dates suggest that they

- - usually arrive about mid May . A few nests were found in mid June , ff f 1 927 o . O , near the border of the marsh Second island Some these

- were situated in growths of cattail rushes and others were in reed beds . All of the nests found were made of dry reeds or rushes such as were found near at hand and were Secured to growing plants approximately 1 7 1 92 on e foot above the water . A nest collected on June , 7 , contained four fresh eggs .

has Mr . James Savage kindly given the writer an observation for ’ record here which concerns the Cory s least bittern phase . On September 1 6 1 2 ’ , 9 8 , a Cory s bittern was seen in the Long Point marshes near the base of the point . The skill of the observer and the conditions under which the Observation was made leave no doubt as to the accuracy

Of the 7. ’ " un e 2 s u e 1 1 927 0 J o , J n 7, .

r e h i h — A d n erod as erodias . GREAT BLUE HERON From one to twelve O fthese birds were seen almost daily throughout the summer of 1 927 n 1 2 ’ f and the spri g of 9 8 . They came to the shallow borders o the bay and marsh to feed during each evening . Fish which had been discarded from nets out in the bay and which had drifted ashore seemed to form f an important item o their diet . Such a habit cannot be interpreted

- as carrion eating , however , since the fish secured in this way are often fairly fresh and well preserved .

This heron does not nest on Long Point and so far as we were able to ascertain the nearest nesting colony is situated in North Walsingham f Township approximately ten miles north o Port Rowan . The birds which feed on Long Point and about the mainland shores of the bay are probably from this colony . Mr . Saunders has noted them at Turkey

Point , Port Rowan and Long Point , during spring and early summer trips made there since 1 908 .

1 4 1 927 h e On July , , w ile the writer was partially conceal d by a bank on on Second island , a great blue heron was seen to alight the open bay ff m about two hundred yards o shore . I t would seem fro the results of casual soundings with a punt pole that this bird could not have been resting on the bottom but that it was floating on the water . I ts appea r 1 6 2 TRAN SAC TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

o n was - ance and behaviour after alighting the water gull like , the wings were carefully folded and the set ofits head and neck suggested that the ff f n no t . O bird was floati g , standing I t took without di ficulty and settled a second time before being frightened away by my presence on shore .

i e e —M l l h 1 66 rod tta . c wrait 8 C asm e u s gr EGRET . ( ) states that “ ” this species h as been taken at Long Point and M r . W . E . Saunders f h as a record in his notes of a statement by G . F . Norval to the e fect that Mr . Norval collected two at Long Point in the fall about the year

was m O f 1 888 . Mr . Norval a taxider ist and an observer considerable ability who resided at Port Rowan . A more recent Observation which

of see conforms with a known northward incursion this species ( Auk ,

N Y . f f . 1 930 to . o October , ) was related me by M r James Savage Bu falo , The guardian of the Provincial park at the base of Long Point saw “ 4 f on 3 1 930 . o two large white herons July or , A description the birds and an estimate of their size was related to M r . Savage who con cluded at the time that it could concern none other than the egret .

' l — wa re Fl orida caeru ea . LITTLE BLUE HERON This species s “ corded for the Long Point region as the snowy egret ( A rdea candi dissirna " Egretta candidissima) by M cIlwraith ( 1 886) but the error was corrected in the second edition of this work published in 1 894 .

of The following sight record , however , establishes the occurrence the

f on species more recently . While hunting near the base o Long Point

1 5 1 9 0 . September , 3 , Mr James Savage saw seven immature little blue 1 930 herons . Coincident with this record there are several reports for of the species occurring in northerly Sections of the eastern United 1 93 States and Canada (see Auk , October , 0 , and January ,

B i e i e utor d s v rescens viresc ns . GREEN HERON . A rare species on the point proper ; it probably does not occur there in summer since of we searched many the wet flats , where shrubby growths appeared to be suited to it , without success . A spring specimen was secured however , and it is possible that a few green herons may inhabit some of the stream

e . courses along th mainland Mr . W . E . Saunders has not listed the

of species during any his several trips to Port Rowan , Turkey Point and

sa other places in the vicinity . Mr . W . E . Clyde Todd w one near Port 1 1 ’ on 3 07 m . m Rowan July , 9 , and there is a speci en in Mr Willia Smith s

R . collection at Port owan taken locally . The late Mr . C . W Nash had l f D . . . o informed M r J L Bail ie of a nest this heron found at Port over , is 1 79 . which immediately outside the area here considered , in 8 Bent (1 927a) gives the latest date of departure for this species in the fall at fi Port Dover (which is somewhat outside the area considered in this report) 24 1 91 . as September , 6 2 9 May 4 , 1 9 8 .

1 64 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE RO YAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

These birds presented an unusual problem . Although we lived and

o ne of of worked within hundred yards the centre this colony , heard them

o f daily throughout the early part the summer , and found three o f their

of nests which contained full complements eggs , we scarcely glimpsed

ofo u r a single bird during the three weeks stay at this camp . However ,

’ we did establish the fact that these birds dive from their nests on one s

approach and swim under water out of danger .

Several times we were mystified by hearing their call , like a

m of u ocking laugh , apparently coming from a bird within a few feet s ,

although we could not see it . This failure to see the bird was the more mystifying since it occurred on a number of occasions while we waited

its motionless near nest , sometimes standing among the reeds and again f lying quietly on the bottom o a punt . The surrounding water was so

as of sparsely vegetated to give a Visual radius at least fifty feet . Our ’ explanation of these occurrences was that the gallinule s approach was accomplished under water and that it protruded its bill and eyes behind

- some frail reed stalks to observe us and to utter its call , which advertised our presence to the marsh generally .

. . ou r Credit is due to Mr A R . Van , a visitor to camp and an excellent wild life photographer , who finally succeeded in procuring photographs D f of a Florida gallinule . ressed in a complete suit o reeds and with

- drooping hat to match , he waited patiently for twenty three hours during two days before the bird could be photographed . During our search for nests three new but unoccupied nests were found near occupied ones . They were constructed in the same manner

of as were the used nests , being anchored to reeds and capable shifting vertically with the ever changing water level of the marsh . The tops of the reeds to which all of the nests were attached were bent inward

- giving to the whole structure a basket or bird C age appearance . I t was suspected that the unused nests were used as platform look -outs but we were not able to make observations that would substantiate this . It is possible that they were a manifestation O f a more or less superfluous nest building instinct in the species , perhaps in the male , such as is observed in the case of marsh wrens . The largest set of eggs found by us contained thirteen when the 1 0 1 927 clutch was completed . These we collected on June , , and they were all found to be fresh or only slightly incubated . 7‘ n 1 1 9 1 1 29 . u e 0 . 0 May 5 , 9 9 J , 27 1 1 9 M ay 5 , 929 . —A Fulica. am ericana . C O 0 T . rare summer resident but very common in the spring and fall . The coot returns in the spring in early

m . April , remaining in considerable nu bers until the early part of May Bent ( l 927a) gives the earliest date of arrival at Port Rowan as March A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT

m 4 . . 1 6 , 1 88 Mr Todd entions in his notes having seen the coot on 1 2 2 . on July 1 , 1 907 We received a report from local fishermen June , 2 of 1 9 7 , that a coot had been seen by them in the open water the marsh for that day . These instances appear to be the only definite records summer but Mr . C . H . Ferris of Port Rowan states that he has known them to summer in the region . In the fall coots return to the Long Point

- marshes in large numbers and remain until the freeze up . Townson 2 on 2 1 2 8 9 7 . ( 1 9 8) noted hundreds on the inner bay October , 7' 0 May 4 ,

m i K — R ubic ola. nor . WOODC OC The species finds conditions on

' ’ R yerson s island Suitable for nesting and a few pairs occup ied that area 1 2 during the summer Of 9 7 . A nest containing four fresh eggs was on 2 1 927 m discovered June , , and another nest with an inco plete clutch was noted on the same day . We did not discover other areas on the

for point where suitable conditions this species prevailed , nor did we secure records from the mainland but it seems entirely probable that woodcock may be found there particularly at Turkey Point . They are doubtless less common on Long Point as summer residents and as 1 0 migrants than they were in early days . Giles ( 88 ) implies that they were a common game bird in the region fifty years ago . 2 1 un e 9 . 9 J , 27

’

G a o e ata . . D 1 92 allin g d lic WILSON S SNIPE uring May , 8 , the characteristic nuptial flight Of this species was regularly Observed over f Second island and Snow island . In the summer o the previous year ’ Wilson s snipe was not seen until July when two specimens were collected . A few pairs doubtless nest in the vast stretches of low grassy islands m of the arsh each year , but it is no longer a common species in summer .

Early records state that snipe were formerly abundant on Long 1 Point in the shooting season . Smith Small ( 866) and Giles

1 8 0 on of a ( 8 ) all remark the excellence snipe shooting in the rea , but at the present time it is not an abundant species although it still appears in some numbers in the fall according to local sportsmen . Bent ( 1 927b)

2 of gives November as the latest date departure from Long Point .

7 . ul 1 1 1 2 m 2 1 2 7 . . u 1 . 9 J y , 9 I 0 J ly , 9 7

Lim m — D . nodro u s griseu s griseu s . OWITC HER Observed on only

one on ‘ M a 1 8 two 24 one on 2 three occasions ; seen y , on May and May 5 , 2 1 9 8 . The species is doubtless a rather rare migrant in spring and probably the same is true for the fall . m m m The three speci ens collected are fairly unifor in plu age , all exhibiting fairly fresh nuptial dress . The feathers of the dorsal region retain a considerable margin of rich buff and there is only an occasional 1 6 6 TRAN SA C TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

on feather from the winter plumage remaining , except the wings ; ven trally the birds are rather uniformly pinkish cinnamon , except on the

i . belly which s white , closely and finely spotted with blackish A table ofmeasurements ofthe three specimens is given below .

" n m e in mm m n mm s. L t N ex Wt. i . u e o S g ng h C l in .

2 28 , 5 , 30 , 0 (T

3 21 28 , 5 , 0 , Q

2 3 22 8 . 5 , 0 , Q

riseus The specimens have all been referred to g , the markings and colour Of the ventral surface agreeing with the recognized characters of that form and the measurements conforming fairly closely with averages

. f of eastern birds I t is recognized , however , that the wing length o the of male and the culmen length one of the females is large , being within

n the range of size for scol opace s .

7 ' Ma 1 1 928 M a 1 92 9 y 8 , 0 y 24, 8

9 May 24 , 1 928

h im - I Micropal am a. antopu s . STILT SANDPIPER . n the notes

hes mmer f 1 0 made by M r . Todd in t u o 9 7 the following entry under date

f 1 6 m of o July was ade was a flock Least Sandpipers , and as I watched them through the glass I made ou t a couple ofStilt Sandpipers m in the deep water , feeding by plunging their bills down into the sli e and withdrawing them again in a very peculiar fashion . By making a

to one long crawl I was lucky enough get both birds at shot . Although in worn summer plumage there is nothing in their physical condition to suggest their being pensioners We secured no other records of this species for the area .

- C alidris can utu s. KNOT . Noted as a regular but not an ab u nd ant spring migrant . The earliest date of arrival obtained by us was 2 2 4 1 9 8 . May , , when ten were seen According to our records the latest 4 1 27 9 . departure date in spring was June , , two birds having been noted The knot was primarily an inhabitant of the beaches although we occasionally saw it on the mud flats . Eight of the ten specimens col l m ected m . are al ost completely changed to nuptial plu age Two , how on 29 3 1 927 ever , taken May and June , , respectively , show considerable m of the winter plu age , both ventrally and dorsally .

The only information relative to the species in the fall for the Long Point region is that of Hobson ( 1 906) who states that he shot one at R 1 m 1 9 05 . Port owan on Septe ber , 9 I t is probable that the knot appears A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 6 7

in about the same numbers on its southward migrations as it does in the

spring . z ’ 2 s 2 1 2 o May 4 , 9 8 ’ 2 ( T s May 27 , 1 927 9 9 May 27, 1 27 ‘ 2 1 6 May 9 , 927

Pi i — sob a, m aculata . PEC TORAL SANDPIPER . As might be ex

ected of p , no spring records this species were secured by us , Since it is doubtless rare in this region in spring . There is , however , a dated 1 91 picture of this sandpiper in the Pope collection (Locke , 7) indicated as i 24 4 l l k n 1 8 3 . oc l ta April , This was probably based on a a y e spring ’ s specimen . Three specimens in the Museum collection secured at Di i Port Rowan in October by Mr . G . F . pp e give u S the only definite r of record of the species for the egion of Long Point . I t is probably regular occurrence there on its southward migrations . ' t er 1 2 1 898 to er 1 5 1 898 9 Oc ob , ci Oc b , to er 1 4 1 898 9 Oc b ,

l - —" f Pisobia fu scicol is. WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER . Four o these 1 8 1 927 birds were seen on June , , this observation being the only record

f . . O . for our party for the species . I n the notes Mr W E Saunders he 1 3 1 908 . records two seen at the Long Point lighthouse on May , It is unquestionably a scarce spring migrant in the region and probably a m f similar status as to numbers prevails in the fall . The record ade o

on 1 8 1 927 for this species June , , was the latest date any northward

- moving shore bird obtained by us at Long Point . ’ 2 s n 1 Q J u e 1 8 , 927

Pi i i ’ — sob a b aird . BAIRD S SANDPIPER . Our only record is of one f . . . o r seen by M r W E Saunders in the vicinity Long Point on June 7 o 8 , 2 1 9 5 .

Pi o i min ill — s b a ut a. LEAST SANDPIPER . The earliest arrival date 4 1 928 Secured by us was May , , the individual having been collected . Least sandpipers did not appear in numbers until mid - May at which m ti e , and for some time thereafter , they were Observed regularly . They were associated at times with flocks Of red -backed and seimipalm ated

. 2 1 2 sandpipers Our latest record in spring was made on June , 9 7 , a single individual having been noted . The species reappeared on its

on 6 southward migration July , it having been the first Of the migrating

- so o r Shore birds to reappear in the region far as u records indicate .

All of the specimens obtained in July are strikingly dark dorsally , m the light argins of the feathers having been largely lost by wear . This of condition the plumage , together with remarks made on the appearance 1 68 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

o fthe gonads when the birds were dissected , suggests that these individ

- - uals were non breeding sub adults .

2 (3 May ' 2 Q 8 M ay ” 1 1 9 0 May 5 , 28

2 s Ma 1 6 1 928 a y ,

Ma 2 1 92 9 y 6 , 8 2 9 May 27 , 1 9 7 ' 4 s 1 2 (T J uly 6 , 9 7

- — P el idn a. al in a. sakh al in a . R ED C SA N DFIPE R p BA KED . The l n formation which we secured relative to the migration of this species largely concerns its movements in spring . The earliest arrival noted by f 2 2 o 1 1 9 8 . us was that an individual secured on May , By May 1 7

i as six it w a common species , flocks of from to twenty individuals being f seen daily . I t was o common occurrence until the end of the first week in June , after which individual records only were noted . Our latest 2 1 5 1 9 7 . spring record was made on June , Red -backed sandpipers were birds of the beach and also of the mud

flats . They usually flocked together , but were occasionally associated with other species such as least sandpipers . The species had not re

m of our on 2 1 2 appeared fro the north at the time departure July 6 , 9 7 . ’ According to Mr . W . E . Clyde Todd s notes he collected two specimens

n 1 6 1 907 of o July , , but one these was a wounded bird and the other was “ ” suspected O f being a pensioner . Hobson (1 906) states that flocks of - 1 9 1 905 . red backs were seen on September , , at Port Rowan Bent ( 1 927b) gives November 2 as a late date of departure in the fall from this region . 7 ' 1 2 1 9 7' 2 92 0 May , 28 0 May 3 , 1 8 7‘ ’ M 1 1 92 s 2 1 92 0 ay 4 , 8 2 Q May 7, 7 2 ’ 1 1 9 8 ” 30 1 9 s May 6 , 2 0 May , 928 7 " 3 Ma 1 7 1 928 Ma 30 1 928 o s y , 9 y , ’ M a 1 1 9 8 2 s u e 3 1 9 y 7, 2 Q J n , 927 1 ' 7 " 2 s Ma 1 9 1 90 5 3 S une 1 92 a y , 0 J 6 , 7 7" 7 s Ma 1 9 1 928 u e 1 1 1 927 o y , 9 J n , 2 9 May 20 , 1 9 8

i —A Ereun etes p u s llus . SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPE R . common shore -bird on Long Point from mid -May to the beginning of the second

on -flats week of June , being found along the beaches and the mud ; often found in mixed flocks with the least sandpiper . The largest Single flock

- m of shore birds noted was co posed of this species only , so far as could be ascertained . Our earliest spring record for the species was made on 1 2 1 928 6 1 9 7 . May 8 , , and the latest on June , The species reappeared 1 2 1 9 . m on its southern migration on July 7 , 7 It was seen in small nu bers 2 after that date but it was not as yet common when we left on July 6 . A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT

A fall date is given by Saunders ( 1 930) when he records a bird killed 2 2 24 9 1 9 9 . at Long Point lighthouse between September and , ’ I ’ Ma 1 4 1 928 3 s Ma 27 1 928 o y , Q y , 71 M 1 1 ' M 29 1 928 a ay 6 , 928 ci ay , ’ 2 M 1 1 92 une 3 1 927 Q s ay 6 , 8 cf J , Ma 20 1 928 u e 3 1 927 9 y , 9 J n , ' 22 92 ne 5 1 927 ci M ay , 1 8 9 J u , ’ " ’ 2 s a 23 1 3 une 1 o M y , 928 Q s J 6 , 927 ’ 2 s 3 1 92 n 1 27 Q May 2 , 8 9 J u e 7, 9 M 2 1 92 P a o t 8 1 92 a 4 . 8 u e 7 9 y b u J n , 7' 3 s Ma 5 1 928 u e 1 6 1 927 o y 2 , 9 J n , Ma 2 1 92 1 7 1 9 9 y 5 , 8 9 J u ly , 27 " 1 2 n 1 1 927 0 May 27 . 9 7 o J u ly 8 , 2 ’ Q s May 27, 1 927

Ere n e e - u t s m auri . WESTERN SANDPIPER . The taking of an of 1 1 1 27 adult female this species in worn nuptial plumage on July , 9 , by

. m f o . Mr John Ed onds was special interest I t constituted , so far as is known , the fourth specimen ever to have been taken in the province 1 2 9 8b . (Snyder , ) When this bird was observed in life it was casually associating with least sandpipers and its larger size attracted our attention

- to it . The bill appeared Somewhat decurved like that ofthe red backed sandpiper , a character which is apparently more conspicuous in life than m in the preserved speci en . c The o currence of this species in the region is very curious , parti l l cu ar f . m y because of the date o its appearance A spring igrant would , perhaps , be less surprising , but it seems that this individual was either m oving southward or was merely a roving individual . There are no of inland records which trace a northern continental crossing the species ,

r o r e either in spring o fall , and according to u pr sent knowledge its breeding grounds are confined to the coastal regions of northwestern

Alaska . 1 1 1 92 O J uly , 7

C o eth — r c ia alb a . SANDERLING . Seen on only three occasions as m a spring igrant during our two periods of stay on Long Point . The on 25 1 28 first record was of a specimen observed May , 9 , and the other

of n 30 4 1 927 two records were individuals collected o May and June , , respectively . I t seems probable that greater numbers visit the area in spring than our records indicate ; they may occur principally on the outer , lakeward beach , an extensive area which we were not able to m v reconnoitre regularly . The first record of southward o ing sanderlings n 1 1 2 o 9 . was made July 7 , 7 , one of a pair having been collected Four 2 1 others were seen on July . Greater numbers probably appeared after m 1 928 we left ca p near the end Of July . Townson ( ) saw three on 2 1 2 3 9 . October , 7 “ M a 30 1 92 1 7 1 92 9 y , 7 0 J u ly , 7 7 ' u e 4 1 9 0 J n , 27 1 70 TRANSA C TI O NS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- A o . f Lim osa fed a . MARBLED GODWIT specimen o this species

of . . in the collection Mr Wm Smith of Port Rowan , taken locally a

f is so as is number o years ago , the only record from the area far known to the writer . h i — A Lim . wm ast ca . . osa H UDSONIAN GODWIT specimen , appa

r n l was of . e t y taken in the fall , seen by the writer in the collection M r

of . was is Wm . Smith Port Rowan This bird which taken locally the 1 926 only specimen seen by the writer from this locality , but Saunders ( )

s on e was or 1 92 1 . h a recorded which taken there in October November ,

as . The latter specimen , apparently a mounted bird , w examined by Mr

i ne of f r . s o o Saunders There other record the species Long Point , that of Cottle ( 1 859) who states that the specimen was possessed by him . 1 . 1 Wm Pope has figured this species and dated the picture , October , 44 1 8 (Locke ,

n e - - T otanu s m el a ol ucus. GREATER YELLOW LEGS . Found to be of 1 92 a fairly plentiful species during the first half May , 8 , but we did not secure an early arrival date . According to local sportsmen these birds had returned at least two weeks before ou r arrival at Port Rowan f 30 . o 2 on April The latest spring record was one collected on May 5 . The earliest southward migrants as recorded by us were of four seen 2 1 1 927 f on July , , associated with a rather large flock o the smaller 1 928 species . Townson ( ) mentions a heavy migration of greater

- yellow legs during October , I t is perhaps during this month that f the bulk o this species passes south through this region . Bent (1 927b) gives November 20 as a late date of departure for the species at Long

Point . These birds were largely frequenters of the mud flats and shallow m bays in the arsh , but they were occasionally seen on the sandy beaches .

The writer has noted , while concealed in a reed blind , that the greater yellow -legs can frequently be decoyed down by an imitation of either “ ” - teeoo-tee - e its rapid slightly descending , three syllable whistle , oo t eoo “ ” of toowhittle toowh ittle toowhittle i or its rolling musical , , , which s repeated eight to twelve times . " 2 2 ’ 1 9 0 M ay 3, 1 9 8 Q s May 1 0 , 28 7 ' ' 4 1 2 M 1 1 1 4 0 s May , 9 8 9 ay , 928 ‘ M 1 92 Ma 25 1 9 8 9 ay 4 , 8 ci y , 2

- — T otanus fl avipes. YELLOW LEGS . We secured practically no information relative to the movement and numbers of yellow -legs in spring . Local sportsmen assured us that the species does appear in the region in early spring prior to the da te of ou r arrival there in 1 928 4 1 927 - (April On June , , one thought to have been the yellow legs 1 2 was seen but it may have been the larger species . Bent ( 9 7b) gives July 1 7 as an early date for the return of this species in the region on

1 72 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

it was not sexually vigorous as disclosed by dissection . The next latest

of date , which probably more nearly marks a normal ending northward 1 is one on . . . on migration , seen Long Point by M r W E Saunders June ,

1 928 of o n 7 1 924 . Townson ( ) noted the migration this species October

is ou r 1 4 . and , This only information on the species in the fall A discussion of the sexual difference as regards the plumage of this 1 928 species based on the series of specimens collected in May , , at

has was d Long Point , been published (Snyder , I t demonstrate that the nuptial plumage offemales probably never includes a completely

as dark ventral surface such is possessed by most adult males in May , and that in this series of skins the female which exhibited the greatest amount of blackish feathers ventrally possessed more white than any w male , there being a perceptible break in the series bet een the sexes

when all of. the specimens were arranged according to the degree of

r out blackness o whiteness ventrally . I t was further pointed that there

is ff of of also a di erence colour in the dark feathers the two sexes , the dark feathers ofmales being intensely black and those offemales brown

ish black .

The very slight differences of . measurements as shown by the average ofall males and all females in the series of twenty-one specimens 2 x 1 9 8 se . taken in May , , have apparently no significance as regards Some measurements are as follows

Weigh t Length m mm in g . in .

" Average of 7 cf s

’ Average of 1 4 Q s 203

’ Ma 7 1 928 2 8 Ma 2 1 1 928 9 y , Q y , 71 Ma 1 3 1 9 8 M 23 1 92 0 y , 2 9 ay , 8 1 3 1 2 M 2 2 9 May , 9 8 9 ay 4, 1 9 8

a 1 4 1 92 1 2 9 M y , 8 9 May 25 , 9 8 ’ " 2 S Ma 1 5 1 928 2 s Ma 2 6 1 928 Q y , cf y , M 1 1 2 1 9 ay 6 , 9 8 9 M ay 26 , 928 2 7 " 2 1 2 o s May 0 , 928 9 May 7, 1 928 7 ' Ma 0 1 928 M a 28 1 928 9 y 2 , 0 y , 7 ‘ M a 1 1 928 un e 1 1 92 0 y 2 , 9 J 6 , 7

P m i — l i Iis om . e in uv a do nica d inica GOLDEN PLOVER . W were formed by local sportsmen that this plover occurs in the fall , and Townson A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 73

f who has known these birds since the days o their abundance , 2 7 1 4 1 9 7 . records it as a migrant , on the nights of October and ,

h i - on O xyec us voc feru s. KILLDEER . More common the main

O n m . land than Long Point , but it was present there in small nu bers D - 1 928 uring mid May , , a pair had apparently selected the Open ground

on D around ou r cottage Second island for nesting . uring the early morning when the first faint light was perceptible they started their

courtship music , the nature of which was new to the writer . Their “’ ” - -a- -a - -a- long continued , rapid kee wee , kee wee , kee wee , almost without

interruption , was at least monotonous , if not quite annoying to us in

- our half conscious sleep . “ 7 I a 1 0 1 928 M 2 1 2 0 M y , O ay 1 , 9 8

i - h i em al m t s . C aradr u s s p a u SEMIPALMATED PLOVER . First

of 1 928 on 7 of noted in the spring , May , four having been seen , one

n - which was collected . I t was ot common until mid May but continued

m of to be present in nu bers until near the end the month , the latest date 1 2 30 . on which it was recorded by us being May , 9 7 . Mr . W . E Saunders , 1 2 Saw two 7 or . however , in the region on June 8 ; 9 5 The first appear on 22 1 927 ance their return in the fall was noted on July , , an adult

having been collected . They probably appear in numbers in this region

during early fall . This plover frequents both the sandy beaches and

-flats the mud at least during its spring migrations .

1 9 1 928 w Saw On May , , hile watching from a blind , the writer a

performance which appeared to be a mating solicitation . A semi m ff out pal ated plover , with its breast pu ed , one wing extended and

raised , and with its head lowered , repeatedly advanced toward another

' f h r low bird o its kind with a rapid run , uttering as he advanced rat e

pitched chuckling notes . The ordinary call of this species is less plaintive “ of and piping than that the piping plover . I t is a rather weak , “ ” musical C hO O éep 7 ' M 7 1 2 71 22 1 2 0 ay , 9 8 0 M ay , 9 8 "’ 7 I 3 s M 1 4 1 92 2 1 2 o ay , 8 o May 7 , 9 7 “ 1 5 1 2 " 1 2 0 May , 9 8 0 May 29, 9 8 ’ 7 " 2 s Ma 1 5 1 928 2 s Ma 30 1 927 Q y , O y , " 2 s Ma 1 1 9 8 22 92 cf y 6 , 2 9 J uly , 1 7

C h m el — aradrius odu s. PIPING PLOVER . The piping plover was 2 1 1 9 8 . present at the time of our earliest arrival on Long Point , May , At that time they had not settled down to nest and apparently transient individuals were still wandering about parts of the shore which were not inhabited by the species in summer . We noticed that these moving birds were active at night . They were frequently heard after dark from ou r camp on Second island in 1 928 as they passed up and down the bay shore . This shore was not used as a nesting situation , in fact , 1 74 TRAN SA C TION S O F THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

of n ot after the conclusion migration , they were noted away from the

- n s main lake Shore beach duri g the previous summer . The species wa

- fl rarely n oted o n the mud ats in spring . This summer resident plover w as o n e o fthe most interesting species

s as which we regularly Observed at Long Point . I t wa recorded a probable breeding bird Of Long Point by Macoun Verification 1 . 90 Of this was made by Mr . W . E Clyde Todd in 7 when he Secured a

h as downy young there on July 1 6 and M r . W . E . Saunders several Sets of his 1 905 eggs in collection which were taken there in May , , and May , 4 1 2 1 908 . its se O f on 1 9 8 Our party secured first t four fresh eggs May , , 1 2 on was 4 9 7 . and the earliest date which we Observed downy young July , The only fall date for the species which h as been found is that ofa young f D . o specimen collected at Port Rowan by Mr . W . Hobson Woodstock , ’ on 1 1 . . 9 905 . September , (from W E Saunders notes)

is To the writer , the piping plover one of the most outstanding

of . as examples protectively coloured animals When quiet , they frequently are for long periods when they are not aware of the presence of t of humans , they blend perfectly with the colour , one and pattern their pebble and dry sand habitat . The young are also remarkably concealed by the colour of their downy plumage and by their habit of crouching quietly when danger is imminent . An interesting feature in connection with the concealment of the young may be related without any attempt whatsoever of correlating the circumstances which are doubtless accidental . Cottonwood trees which grow on Long Point are almost entirely confined to the sand D banks immediately back Of the beaches . uring the period immediately after these trees had shed their down -transported seeds in the summer of 1 928 , the young piping plover hatched from the eggs . The cotton from these trees , which is in colour very like the down of young piping plovers , scattered over the beaches , and the wind rolled it into loose balls about the size of young plover . On the particular day that we were searching for and pursuing young plover the nature and velocity of the wind along the beach produced about the same speed and interrupted movement in the cotton balls as was Observed in the case of the young birds " h This as been related merely as a striking coincidence .

The notes of the piping plover strike one as being soft , plaintive and “ ” ee oo extremely musical . The simple , piped p p is very like the notes f o . the more or less Obsolete instrument , the ocarina The second

- syllable Of this call is usually a musical half tone lower than the first .

The other common call which , to the writer , sounds like a gentle interroga “ ”

is . tion , a smoothly slurred weep , weep , weep etc By association ,

of these are Sounds Open , extensive beaches and boundless blue water glimmering with the heat and light ofthe summer sun . A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 75

The broken -wing ruse which is so well known among many birds is ’ highly developed in this species . This plover s execution Of it suggests or not only a broken wing but at times also a broken leg legs ; in fact , it its appears to be completely crippled as it turns half over on back , kicking its feet limply and extending its wings in a helpless manner . After counting the number of piping plover which inhabited from two to three miles of the main south beach of Long Point , we estimated that the local adult population in summer would be one hundred pairs or more . Of the eighteen adult specimens in ou r collection from Long Point all but one have a continuous band of dark feathers across the upper breast and in this case the band is only Slightly interrupted .

7 " 7‘ 4 S Ma 1 928 M a 28 1 927 O y 7 , 0 y , ’ “ 5 8 M a 1 928 Ma 29 1 927 9 y 7 , 0 y ,

Ma 1 0 1 928 Ma 30 1 927 (T y , 9 y , ’ Ma 1 2 1 928 2 s u 4 1 927 9 y , 5 J ly , “ M a 2 1 92 1 92 0 y 7 , 7 9 J uly 4 , 7

Ma 27 1 927 u 8 1 927 9 y , 9 J ly , ” M 2 1 2 0 ay 7 , 9 8

A i i re m rin ll — renar a. nterp s o e a . RUDDY TURNSTONE . Our earliest

on 1 4 1 2 arrival date for this species was obtained May , 9 8 , but it was

n f - not common until May 23 . I t is o e o the most numerous Shore birds

th e of at Long Point during latter part May , from six to fifteen being

of the usual number in close flock association . I t is largely a bird the

“ on 1 7 sand and gravel beaches . Our latest spring record was made June

1 2 n of 9 7 o e . D , when four were seen , of which was collected issection the collected specimen revealed that the gonads were small and apparently not b ut in a functioning condition , it would appear that these late

on migrants , which were apparently not to nest that year , passed north ward since no others were seen after that date . The greater number ,

f . however , had gone northward by the end o the first two days Of June Turnstones are very interesting birds to watch while they are feeding and remind one very much of common domestic pigeons as they walk the f o . beach in Search food They are sometimes slightly quarrelsome , Old males tending to dominate the feeding ground by occasionally giving chase to other individuals which are apparently infringing on their

’

- - of . ma of right way This quarrelsomeness , slight though it y be , is “ m particular interest , since it see s so contrary to the usual social , meek

- r - and delicate shore bi d nature . The business of food hunting of the A turnstones is prosecuted with vigour and energy at times . S the flock

is moves along , there a constant interchange of individuals in the rank , those in the front tarrying to pick up a morsel while those farther back hurry to the lead . Their bills are deftly used to. flick obj ects aside in 1 76 TRAN SAC TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

th e dis Search for food and frequently these Objects are stones , which

n h a closes that their ame s been aptly C hosen . Nearly all flocking Shore -birds have developed wonderful co

oi o f ordination the individuals in flight within the flock . This unity movement in the air is very striking with the ruddy turnstone because of

i s t . rather large size and contrasting colour pattern The flock lifts ,

as wheels , forges onwards , drops , banks and settles if it were a close

knit thing in itself rather than a group of independent individuals , bound

or of perhaps only by instinctive reflexes , , capable instantaneous and

voluntary reaction to the movements of a leader . Although we have no information concerning the turnstone in the

its fall at Long Point and vicinity , our knowledge concerning occurrence in adjacent areas suggests that it is to be expected during the latter part of August and the first part of September in some numbers as a south

ward moving migrant .

‘ ' M a 1 4 1 928 Ma 25 1 928 cf y , cf y , Ma 1 1 92 ' M 2 1 928 9 y 6 , 8 cf ay 6 , " M 20 1 2 " 29 1 2 d ay , 9 8 0 M ay , 9 7 ’ 2 8 Ma 0 1 92 1 92 9 y 2 , 8 9 M ay 29 , 7 ' ” 7 Ma 23 1 9 M a 30 1 92 0 y , 28 0 y , 7 " w 2 s Ma 24 1 8 ne 1 1 92 d y , 92 S a s J u , 7 ’ “ s Ma 4 1 9 n e 1 1 92 2 9 y 2 , 28 0 J u 7 , 7

C o i i - — l nu s v rgin ian us virgin ian u s. BOB WHITE After the forest had become cleared and cultivated areas became widespread in southern Ontario the bob -white spread over the countryside and remained a more or f less plentiful species until the end o the nineteenth century . There were periods of scarcity which brought about legislation affording

or was partial complete protection for the species , but there a gradual depletion of numbers throughout the whole period from the time of settlement to approximately 1 900 when the species became too rare to

' attract fu r h er -fif i t interest . During the early years in the eighteen t es when bob -whites were really abundant and market shooting w as pro

secuted on as on e of a big scale , Norfolk county ranked the best districts

for the business (Harris , The earliest record of the species for Long Point is that of Need ( 1 838) who remarks on the occurrence of the species in cleared lands 1 2 83 . in July , An earlier record which can only be attributed to the f o t. County Norfolk is that of Harris (l oc . ci ) who states that (about 1 8 1 0)

- his mother heard a bob white for the first time in the region . The new bird song was well known to a senior member of the family who had

- was formerly resided in New Jersey where the bob white common . B ob - whites do n ot now occur on Long Point at the present time but it is said that a few may be found near Turkey Point . The progenitors O f

these living birds are quite probably largely introduced stock . A A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 77

f . o mounted specimen in the collection of M r . Wm Smith Port Rowan was taken at Turkey Point about thirty years ago and may represent

original birds of the district . — B onasa u mb el l u s togata . CANADA RUFFED GROUSE . Ruffed grouse are either completely extirpated or nearly so on Long Point but they still persist in the wet woods ofTurkey Point and elsewhere on the

mainland . Local hunters believe there may still be a few left on the point but the sparsity of undergrowth is a serious detriment to their

welfare there . We did not secure a single record for the point during

either of our visits but Mr . W . E . Saunders has noted one there as w ’ 1 1 24 . . . . sa recently as June , 9 Mr R V Lindsay a few at Fisher s glen

l h r 1 27 . . u c e during July , 9 , and M r H F found a nest with fourteen eggs

on 3 1 93 1 . there May , I n the early days they were a common game bird of the region and we find such statements as that of Giles “ the woods is largely

supplied with partridges , etc . This species cannot exist plentifully in intensively cultivated areas but it seems regrettable that the peninsula o fLong Point has been made so barren by browsing deer as to eliminate

it as a ruffed grouse reserve .

N o specimens from the locality have been examined , but a few of specimens from the general region southern Ontario indicate that ,

according to our present knowledge , birds from here may be considered as

to ata u mbellu s . g , but certainly showing tendencies toward

l il e ri — M eleagris gal opavo s v st s. WILD TURKEY . Our earliest record for the turkey is that of Need (1 838) who states that they were 1 832 m occasionally noted in July , , in the woods and , that they someti es

fed on maize which was raised by farmers on the point . He also remarks on the ease with which turkeys may be trapped . His description of the

of method Of trapping turkeys is worthy repetition , it being quoted as “ follows : A small shanty or hut is built near their accustomed feeding

place , with an opening in the side large enough to admit the birds ,

stooping ; in and about this place grain is carefully scattered , which the

birds pick up without suspicion , stooping their heads and feeding until a they find themselves in the tr p , then they raise their heads and make

f to great e forts to escape at the p and sides , and in every way , excepting ” that by which they entered . Turkeys were still a prominent game bird in the district in 1 880

(Giles , but it had become extirpated throughout southern Ontario

M c Ilwraith 1 894 . generally ( , ) by the early nineties Turkey Point on the north shore O f Long Point bay was doubtless given its name after this wild bird which at one time frequented its swamps and woods . 1 78 TRA N SA C TION S OF T H E R OYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

m i r r - te ato iu s. Ectop is s g PA SSENGER PIGEON . The earliest account o f the passenger pigeon for this region is given by Howison “ ( 1 82 1 ) w h o states that Immense flocks . frequent this (Long Point) a n d other parts o fUpper Canada during spring and autumn ; and myriads

fi re- or o f them are killed by arms , caught in nets by the inhabitants ; fo r they fly so closely and in such numbers that twenty or thirty may sometimes be brought down at a Single shot . In the diary o f

of h as Wm . Pope (only a part which been available) there is an entry “ o f 1 5 1 842 : : under date September , , stating Shot a pigeon there were

. on e three , but I only got one shot Other entries state that had been

on of 1 1 1 shot each the following days , September 8 , October and 4 f October 1 . All o these concern the vicinity of Port Rowan and Lon g

. 1 91 7 f . o Point Wm Pope (Locke , ) also painted two pictures this species , one of two adults and the other of a young bird ; the latter is dated

30 1 860 . on i June , Although available information this species s

of is meagre , the dates are interest and it established that the species was a plentiful migrant at Long Point and vicinity in the early part ’ of of the nineteenth century . Pope s picture a young bird painted in late June suggests that the passenger pigeon may have nested in the region .

D — Zenaidura m acroura carolinensis . MOURNING OVE Appar ently n ot a nesting inhabitant of the point but well distributed on the

one of adjacent mainland . Our party made only record seeing the species on the point proper and in this case it was a single bird on the

of wing . Our records observations at Port Rowan include the species and Messrs . W . E . Clyde Todd , W . E . Saunders and R . V . Lindsay have noted it elsewhere on the mainland at various times where it is

m is comm n i not uncommon . A spring igration date indicated by a u ca

on e as tion from M r . Lorne Brown who states that w killed at the light

1 7 1 8 1 930 . on April or , 7, 0 M ay 4 , 1 928

i — C ircu s h udson cu s. MARSH HAWK The writer has already made 1 2 record of the occurrence o f this species at Long Point ( 9 8a) . From o six ne to marsh hawks were seen daily as they hunted over the marshes , and one might have been inclined to over - estimate their numbers if the openness of their habitat and the resultant visibility had n ot been

on . considered . They nest the drier , grassy islands of the marsh One 4 1 927 nest which was found on June , , contained five eggs in a rather advanced state of incubation . Adult males and females were the usual phases noted in spring and early summer , until the season when the f young o the year were on the wing , but some birds in the brown plumage

r of immaturity were observed . A young male in the more o less brown

1 80 TRAN SA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

it down from the wing . I t might be suggested that the development o fsuch a habit is most useful to the species in that it is a notable time

an d saver . The time energy required to hunt and capture food for

r o r m four o five ( ore) young which are nearly adult in size , undoubtedly

on or places a heavy demand the parent ( parents , the female only being noted in the above observations) which must also secure food for its own existence . In a year of food scarcity the early development ofprecocity in the young would be particularly important . One can readily ap preciate the value of the co -operation of the young as related above at i such a time , since the parent can uninterruptedly continue ts foraging for food m s I . M a o y Juv . a J uly un e 23 1 92 9 J , 7

e - — Accipit r vel ox. SHARP SHINNED HAWK Although the species occurs in the region at least as a migrant , it i s apparent that it does not occur in any such numbers as at Point Pelee , farther west (Taverner and a 1 907 Sw les , and We secured a specimen from Port Rowan ’ 4 1 928 was on R erson s o n 6 taken May , , and another seen y island May of that year . These are the only records made by us during the two

n . of periods of encampment o the point I n the notes Mr . W . E . Saunders

on e on 3 1 1 908 he records having seen in the region May , , and in his published account of lighthouse destructions (1 930) he mentions sharp shins moving along the point towards the end and seeing them coursing 1 1 1 930 . about all day on September ,

“ Im M a 1 28 . 4 9 0 y ,

’ i e e i —T Accip t r coop r . COOPER S HAWK . W O records of occurrence 25 . . one was are made in the notes of M r W E . Saunders ; seen on August ,

1 9 1 8 “ one 7 or 8 1 925 , at Port Rowan , and on June , , in the Vicinity , probably at Turkey Point . — A ri il l s i a il l s. for stur at cap u atr c p u GOSHAWK . The only record

of . . this species is a specimen , taken locally , in the collection Mr Wm

Smith of Port Rowan . However , descriptions of hawks which visit the to area in the fall , as related the writer by local sportsmen , suggest that this species may occur frequently at that season .

B e e i - —A uteo b or alis b or al s . R ED TAILED HAWK . n interesting ’ of R erson s on 9 specimen this Species was collected on y island May , 2 1 9 8 . i I t s in worn first winter plumage , being approximately one year ol d . The plumage is badly worn and bleached and at this date there is only slight feather replacement among the scapulars and interscapul ars . ff The tail is very much faded , the background being a dirty bu y gray while the ten narrow broken cross bars are faded brown . A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 8 1

Our investigation on Long Point failed to establish this species as resident there in summer and it is apparently rare in the vicinity on the

mainland . a Im . 9 M y

A h ib uteo a o u a i- oh n i - rc l g p s s nct j an s. ROUGH LEGGED HAWK .

Our only specimen is a skin reduced from a mount . I t was taken a few ’ years ago in the Long Point marsh . In Mr . W . E . Saunders personal notes he mentions having been shown two of these birds with “ whitish f ” heads streaked with dusky and not the usual bu f colour . The species

probably occurs in the region regularly in late fall .

Im . ate to er 1 924 l Oc b ,

H al iwetu s l eu coce h al u s al ascan u s. R p NO THERN BALD EAGLE . —Early references show that this territory has been occupied by the bald eagle since the time of settlement . Charles Durand ( 1 897) men “ 1 827 1 83 tions that eagles were noted there as early as , and Need ( 8) f 2 2 o e n 1 1 83 . speaks the agle being Seen harassing the osprey there o July , I t has been recorded as a breeding species on Long Point by Halkett

" Long Point is one of the few remaining nesting areas of the bald ’ eagle in southern Ontario . A nest ofthe bald eagle on R yerson s island has been a landmark in the district for years . During our visits to Long Point in 1 927 and 1 928 the nest was occupied and young were reared h during the former year . T e nest was situated approximately thirty fi ve or forty feet up in a cottonwood , this particular nest having been there for several years .

of m 1 927 Certain our observations , ade in the summer of , suggest that another pair nests in the vicinity eastward from the lakeward end ’ cc of Squire s ridge . We did not su eed in locating such a nest but the behaviour of birds seen regularly in that Section certainly indicated that m we were not far from a nest . Eagles were noted al ost daily but this was because of the close proximity of our camps to a nesting site . The greatest number seen on a single day was five ; the circumstances were such that it was considered that no individual had been recorded twice .

m of Mr . Angus Buchanan has infor ed the writer that a pair eagles h e has nested on the mainland about two miles in from t lake , midway

R erse . between Port y and Fisher glen , for the past twenty years Two nests are present and these birds appear to occupy them on alternate years . ’ From our casual observation about the nest on R yerson s island and along the beach , this species feeds exclusively on dead fishes , many m of which are washed ashore after having been discarded by fisher en . Hunters in the region state that these eagles sometimes take wounded , m ducks in the fall . The general attitude of sports en in the region is

1 2 1 82 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE RO YAL CANADIAN IN STITUT E

con favourable to eagles . They are unmolested and regarded with siderable interest and the property regulations o f the Long Point Com pany affords them virtual protection . r — f Fal co ru sticol u s gy fal co . GYRFALC ON . A specimen o this

f . . as form in the collection o M r J . H Fleming w taken at Long Point in h 1 909 the autumn of1 893 . This specimen as been recorded by Macoun ( ) the same specimen having previously been recorded by him as G r.

F . r l o r. a c is obsol eta s (Macoun , The name here used , gy f , in 1 1 9 0 . accordance with the A . O . U . check list of — e . M I r h 1 6 Falc o p regrin u s anatu m . DUC K HAWK c lw ait ( 86 ) records the species as occurring at Long Point where it preys chiefly ” - o n that class of birds embraced under the general name of mud hen . An immature specimen taken locally was seen by the writer in the

f . . collection o birds possessed by M r Wm . Smith of Port Rowan Two illustrations of this hawk are among the Pope paintings (Locke , 2 1 4 is 5 8 6 . both of immature individuals . One picture dated October , K — f C erch n eis sparveria sparveria . SPARROW HAW The rarity o this hawk in summer is worthy ofspecial note as one would expect that it would occur in fair numbers in this region since there are considerable

" u areas ofwoodland adjacent to the cultivated land . One was seen by s

of 1 9 1 927 was near the end the point on J uly , , and another noted flying across the flats on the lakeward end of Courtright ridge on July 23 of

. . not see the same year Mr R . V . Lindsay did it at Fisher glen during 2 1 . July of 9 7 The species was not recorded in the notes of Mr . W . E . Saunders which were made on his Several spring and fall Visits to the 1 region since 908 . P R — h l . n andion a iaetUs carolinensis . OSP EY A early record of this species h as been made by Need ( 1 838) who states under date of 1 2 1 832 July , , that ospreys were observed being robbed of their food by eagles . Apparently this hawk was established as a summer resident at that date . At the present time it is not known to breed in the area h . as with which this paper is concerned I t been seen , however , at a 8 1 25 t 7 9 . rather late da e for a spring migrant , June or , , by M r W . E .

on Saunders , Long Point bay . T to a b a i W — 2 y l prat ncola . AMERI C AN BARN O L Howe ( 1 90 ) has recorded a specimen in the collection of the Museum of Comparative

m 1 4 2 n . N o . 8 o Zoology , Ca bridge , Mass ( ) which was taken the point 1 9 . of 89 . in early November , M r Shelley Cook , former keeper the

us owl w s Long Point lighthouse , told that a barn a shot on the end of the point in the fall a few years ago . I t has not been possible to trace this

was specimen although it saved , but it seems safe to consider it a record distinct from the one mentioned above , since the year , from “ given was memory , considerably later than 1 899 . I n the notes of Mr . W . E . A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 83

- Saunders , he states that members of the life saving crew formerly stationed at the end ofthe point related that several were seen and Shot 1 92 1 2 1 there in 0 or 9 .

- — Asio wil son ian u s. LONG EARED O WL A few fresh feathers which could n ot have been long removed from one of these owls were 2 1 2 5 9 7 . picked up on Courtright ridge on June , We did not secure further evidence of its occurrence until a specimen was collected on 2 May 2 of the following year . I t is probably a rather rare resident f o the district . M a 22 1 28 9 y , 9

mm e - —A A io fl a us. O W L s SHORT EARED . t least two pairs of these 2 owls were established on Snow island during the summer of 1 9 7 . Con siderable time was spent in attempting to establish a breeding record

for of this species Long Point and we were eventually successful when , 1 5 1 27 fli h l 9 . s on June , , M r John Edmonds secured a virtually g t es young bird . The bird is in an interesting j uvenile plumage which is character ized by the sooty facial mask and th e rich reddish buff - coloured woolly

f of feathers o the belly and flanks . This is one the few records which establish the species as a breeding bird of Ontario .

We did n ot see this owl in the spring of the following year which may be accounted for by the altered condition Of the flats due to floods the preceding fall . It may , however , have been present but unobserved due to the quiescence demanded by nesting duties . There are extensive areas apparently suited to this owl but we did not meet it elsewhere than on Snow island .

' u e 1 5 1 927 f u J J n , o J ly

i di - — C ryptoglaux acad ca aca ca . SAW WHET O WL In the notes

. . m Of Mr . W E Saunders he states that a for er lighthouse keeper related to him how numbers of these owls were captured on Long Point by stretching a fishing net across pathways in the woods . Taverner and 1 91 1 Swales ( ) have previously related this interesting account . This ’ appears to be the only information relative to the saw -whet s migrations n or movements o Long Point . We were successful in establishing the species as a breeding bird in the region . Mr . John Edmonds collected of th e a j uvenile specimen , not long out nest , near the south end of 6 1 2 on 9 7 . Courtright ridge July , This obscure little species could easily be overlooked and the discovery of this specimen was Of especial interest and value to ou r collection . 1 1 . 9 7 Wm Pope (Locke , ) has figured the species , probably from a f o 1 5 . local specimen , under date July , 8 9

? r Juv . a J u ly 1 84 TRAN SA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

C R C O — O tu s asio asio. S EE H W L Probably a regular resident of

on the region , but rather rare the point proper . We heard it only once

ou r o n o f 6 1 92 during visits there , the occasion being the night J uly , 7 , 1 while we were in camp on Courtright ridge . Macoun ( 898) records it n 2 1 8 8 o 9 . . for Long Point June , M r Lindsay noted one at Fisher glen 1 2 9 7 . during July , ir in i n u s i in i — B ub o V g a v rg an u s. GREAT HORNED O WL A resi dent O fLong Point and probably of the wooded swamps of the adjacent

was mainland . The species seen occasionally throughout the summer 1 2 f 1 27 9 8 . N o or o 9 and on one occasion , in May , nests young birds were seen . 3 1 1 927 On May , , two adult great horned owls were flushed from

- fl s - the expansive treeless grass ats on Snow island . It wa mid afternoon wa and the day s sunny , the birds probably being at rest rather than hunting at the time . The circumstances are peculiar , since the species usually rests during the day in trees in heavily timbered areas .

v — N yctea. n yctea . SNOWY O W E The Long Point marshes are usually invaded by snowy owls during the pronounced southern flights of the species . Hunters told u s that these owls may be observed on muskrat houses in the marshes and that they sometimes feed upon crippled ducks . Baillie ( 1 928) has recorded our observations on three individuals 1 92 which inhabited the marsh in May and June of 7 . They were remnant birds from the widespread flight of the species which took place

2 - 2 7 during the fall and winter of 1 9 6 . The occurrence of these birds at so late a date is ofinterest since it indicates that the species can subsist m in southern arshes and flats , remaining there until the nesting season is upon them and although both sexes are doubtless present , they do not become established there . Sporadic migrations seem to have little or n o effect in animal distribution . The latest date on which the species 1 3 was noted was June , the record being of an adult male (presumably) which appeared to be in normal physical condition . No snowy owls were seen after that date . The interesting question arises as to what becomes of such birds f as these . By way of discussion it is suggested that in the case o the snowy owl we are dealing with a species in which the instinct for periodic migrations is not highly developed . I t does move beyond the southern

of border its summer range each fall , which indicates a tendency to

m m . igrate , but it is not a igratory bird in a complete sense The more or less irregular appearance of the species at low latitudes must present m e a proble to the species which , it would appear , cannot b coped with

m . by a slight inherent tendency to igrate Nowadays , great numbers of m the are Shot when they invade more southern , settled communities , A FAUNAL INVE STIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 85

but as to the eventual fate O f the survivors we can only conjecture . With the approach of the nesting season and the resultant physiological C hanges within the individual which would act as a stimulus to mating h m impulses , eac bird ust become a wanderer without the inherent m directional instinct for regular and extended migrations . It would See that their arrival on distant breeding grounds would be more or less a matter of accident .

7 ‘ a out No em er 4 1 925 a out De em er 1 3 1 930 b v b , 0 b c b ,

- e C C K oo . C occyz u s am ericanu s am ricanu s . YELLOW BILLED U I t was difficult to form a very exact estimate of the comparative numbers of this species and the next . I t was discovered that the calls of the two species could not always be distinguished . Certain of the calls , however , - i appeared to be specific . Our records indicate that the yellow b lled

- cuckoo is not as numerous as the black billed cuckoo . We saw it occasionally in suitable situations which were rather limited on the point . L m . . a on M r R . V indsay found it est blished the ainland at Fisher glen f 1 927 m o . . . in the su mer , and Mr W E Saunders has also noted it during visits to the region in late spring and early summer .

We found the species nesting on the point . One nest discovered by

Mr . John Edmonds was situated three feet from the ground in a button

e halanthu s occidentalis bush ( C p ) thicket . The nest contained three young in the curious stage of plumage in which the feathers are well developed but still sheathed . The young were quite active when disturbed . They scrambled about the bush , using the wings and bill for climbing . One young which was brought to ou r camp demonstrated

- a remarkable reptile like behaviour . When it was placed on the table one its w and reached to pick it up , it erected some hat horny plumage and emitted a buzzing hiss like the sound ofbees escaping from a tunnel in dry grass . This performanc e was certainly unbirdlike in all respects .

of - An egg this cuckoo was found in the nest of the black billed species . 7 ' 0 une 21 1 927 Nest n u 6 1 927 J , li g 9 J ly , u e 21 1 92 9 J n , 7

er h r h h l - — C o u t o t a m us. C ccyz s y p BLA K BILLED CUC KOO . Our

s ecIes l s 1 9 1 928 earliest arrival date for this p M ay , . Fall migration

f - n dates are a forded by two birds which struck Long Point light , o e on 7 24 29 1 92 9 September and another between September and , (Saunders ,

m m on e to I t was more com on than the preceding , fro five , having been seen daily in summer when we were encamped in a suitable

. on area I t is also to be found the adj acent mainland . The species

on - nests in the buttonbush thickets the point as did also the yellow billed . 24 1 2 A nest constructed in one of these thickets was found on June , 9 7 ,

- by Mr . John Edmonds . I t was placed two and one half feet above the 1 86 TRAN SA C TIONS OF T H E RO YAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

water and contained four fresh eggs o fthis species and one o fthe yellow

billed cuckoo . ' une 4 1 92 7 une 2 4 1 9 7 cf J , 9 J , 2 — C eryl e al cyon . BELTED KINGFISHE R Generally distributed in

the region as a whole but not common o n the point . Young leave the nesting tunnel early in July and apparently follow the parent female to

suitable fishing areas . The sand banks on the south beach of the point

afford the most suitable situations in which to nest .

7‘ Ma 2 1 2 uv 1 1 1 9 9 8 . u 92 0 y , J 9 J ly , 7 — Dr ob ates l o u i l . y vi l s s v l os u s HAIRY WOODPEC KER . Noted reg ularly in small numbers on the point and also to be found in suitable

on . situations the mainland The species breeds in the region , young which had recently left the nest having been collected . The earliest 2 1 2 n 9 9 7 . date o which young were observed was June , 9 ‘ J un e Juv . 9 J uly ’I ' o n e 23 1 2 s u J u , 9 7 4 Q J ly 71 7' uv . O u e 29 1 927 u 1 1 1 927 J J n , 0 J ly , 7' 0 J uly — Dr e e m i . D yob at s p ub scens ed anu s OWNY WOODPEC KER . More common than the hairy woodpecker by two or three to one according

1 2 on e to our records for the summer of 9 7 . From to ten were Seen daily while we were stationed in a woodland camp . It is equally as common

on the adj acent mainland , and available records concerning this species and the last indicate a larger proportion of downy woodpeckers there

than on the point . This would perhaps be expected since the smaller on species seems less disturbed by settlement . The earliest date which 4 1 927 we observed young which had recently left the nest was July , . ’ 5 s 9 J une 3 j uv . 3 J uly 2 1 7' 1 1 92 9 5 , 927 0 6 , 7 "' 3 s 9 J uly j uv . o 7 ' v . Ju o Juv . Q " 1 2 s v . Ju 9 4 927 j uv . cf 4 z ’ 1 j uv o s 8 , 927

e - C . Pic oid s am ericanus am ericanus . THREE TOED WOODPE KER — A most unexpected record O f this woodpecker was obtained when a 25 1 928 male specimen in the flesh was received at the Museum on May , ,

l K l on 1 9 . . n ch te from Mr . G W e who secured it at Turkey Point May , 2 1 9 8 . The record , particularly at this date , is very unusual and account

r ffi ing fo it is di cult . It does not seem possible that the species could

is occur in the region as a relic member of the fauna . I t more probably an unusual and accidental winter visitant , the individual failing , through some cause , to return to the north . ' 1 9 1 28 ci M ay , 9

1 88 TRA N SA C TION S OF TIIE ROYAL CANADIAN IN STITUTE

o n 7 1 927 f of j uvenile males collected July , , have a strong su fusion red in the feathers of their crowns . 7 ' ' u ne 1 2 1 927 6 1 92 0 J , ( f J uly , 7 ' ’ " n 26 1 92 2 s 2 uv . s u e uv . j Q J , 7 j o J uly

9 J uly Juv . 9 J u ly

- - — A ro om u vociferu s . W IIIP nt st s POOR WILL . Heard on a few

1 928 not or 1 92 occasions during May , , but seen heard in the summer of 7 . The point is not very well suited to the whip -poor-will at the present

of time because the cleared condition of the forest floor , but a few pairs may be established there . In the early days it was probably more 1 common . Macoun ( 898 ) records the species from the point but does n ot state the numbers observed . The species is established in suitable

on i situations the mainland , but according to available information it s n ot very common . — h o eil e i in ian ir in i s. C rd s V rg u s v g an u NIGHTHAWK . Rather rare on the point but more common on the mainland . Th e species appeared ’ R erson s 1 927 to be established as a nesting bird on y island in , but we i n o to . s did t get definite information prove the point However , it a summer resident of the region generally .

ae - C h tura pel agica . CHIMNEY SWIFT . Our earliest record of the

on 1 5 1 928 species was made May , , but it no doubt arrives earlier than this record would indicate. A few were seen at irregular intervals throughout both periods of our visits to the point . I t is more common on the mainland than on the peninsula . We discovered a pair nesting ’ k 1 927 in the brick chimney of the keeper s cabin at Brea water in J uly , ,

- — Arch il och u s col ub ris. RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD . First 9 1 928 noted on May , , which date is probably close to the usual spring arrival date for the species according to our knowledge of its appearance

- in contiguous areas . Humming birds were Observed regularly through

on out the spring periods spent Long Point , but they were noted irreg r m ularly in summer . Records f om the ainland indicate that it is regularly distributed there in summer .

ne 2 1 92 9 J u , 7

- — T yrannu s tyrannus . KING BIRD . Our earliest arrival date for

6 1 928 - this species is May , , king birds being present in numbers from

for that date on . A migration date the fall was Obtained from the 7 1 929 1 930 casualties at the lighthouse on September , (Saunders , ) when of two were killed . I t is a fairly common summer resident Long Point and vicinity . Several nests were found during the summer at various parts of the point , in apple (escaped) , sycamore , and willow trees , from eight to fifteen feet from the ground . 7' M a 26 1 927 0 y , A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 89

i C — Myiarch u s cr nitu s. CRESTED FLYC AT HER . First recorded in 1 928 4 n ot on May . Their numbers during the migration season did exceed those ofsummer at which time it was Observed regularly and not

uncommonly . We secured evidence that it is a breeding bird on the peninsula and it undoubtedly nests on the adjacent mainland also since

it occurs throughout that area in summer . ' 7 I M a 1 5 1 9 8 u e 2 1 927 ( 7 y , 2 0 J n , ' 2 1 92 u ne 24 1 927 9 May 7 , 7 cf J ,

h (E - Sayornis p mb e. PH BE . This early migrant was present on

r 30 1 928 ou earliest arrival in the region , April , , and it occurred casually

as a migrant until the middle of May of that year . One was killed by 7 1 929 the Long Point light on September , (Saunders , I t is a

fairly common nesting bird on the mainland , but on the point it is rare

not f in summer ; the latter area , probably does o fer many suitable

situations in which to nest . We found one nest in a small , dilapidated building at Breakwater in

M a 2 1 28 9 y , 9

i - — N i . C uttall orn s b oreal s OLIVE SIDED FLY ATC HER . Apparently

on 30 1 927 a rare migrant in the region . Two were seen May , , one of which was collected . M 0 1 9 9 ay 3 , 27 — h e I Myioc an s virens . WOOD PEWEE . N ot seen by us until May 1 9 1 928 W on in , although we visited ooded areas several occasions prior to that date ; an earlier record (about May 1 4) was Obtained from the

casualties at the Long Point light . They had arrived in numbers by May 27 Casualties at the Long Point light in 1 929 give fall 7 29 migration dates between September and September (Saunders ,

Wood pewees are on e of the most common summer resident and 1 91 4 nesting birds on Long Point . Taverner ( ) has noted a similar status

on the peninsula of Point Pelee . " ‘ Ma 2 1 927 u 4 1 927 d y 7, 0 J ly ,

- — Em o ax fl a i entri . pid n v v s YELLOW B ELLIED FLYC ATC HER . The 1 4 1 9 earliest arrival date is about May (lighthouse casualties) 25, and 1 1 924 the latest spring record was made on June , , by Mr . W . E . Saunders .

Six of Although we identified only these birds in spring , the information secured as a result of casualties at the lighthouse and observations of

Mr . Saunders indicate that this flycatcher occurs not uncommonly in

spring . The only information concerning its southward flight is from 25 26 1 929 a specimen killed at the light on September or , (Saunders ,

This specimen , which is now in the collection , exhibits ff yellowish bu tips to the greater and median wing coverts , a character 1 90 TRANSA C TIONS O F THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTIT U TE usually attributed to the j uvenile plumage but which may also be possessed by adults in their winter plumage .

’ 7‘ M a 27 1 927 ne 2 1 92 cf y , 0 J u , 7

M a 30 1 92 P S or 2 1 92 9 y , 7 ep t. 25 6 , 9

Em on ax ire e —" . C L A T H R T fl h rs p i d v sc ns A ADIAN F Y C C E . wo ycatc e

e 1 4 1 925 n kill d by the Long Point light about May , , were exami ed by

M r . W . E . Saunders o n June 7 . Needless to say the specimens could not be preserved , but Mr . Saunders determined these birds a s Acadian

fl catch ers 1 2 y and they were recorded as such by Lewis ( 9 7b) .

Em id n f l m — o ax tra l l i a n oru . A p ALDER FLYC ATC HER . t least two alder flycatch ers were picked up after a destruction which occurred at 1 4 1 2 9 5 . the Long Point light about May , The maj ority probably come northward after that date , but we did not See the species during either one f of the periods o ou r stay on the point . Some migratory dates for

on 7 the fall are indicated by specimens which struck the light September , 1 929 (Saunders , A specimen in the collection of M r . W . E . 2 2 1 29 was of 5 6 9 . Saunders secured from the casualty September or ,

One O f those puzzling individual specimens so well known to orni l ’ tho ogists is represented in the M useum s Long Point collection . The

of : 1 1 7 measurements the specimen , a male , are as follows Weight , gms ;

1 4 1 66 59 1 1 . length , mm ; wing , mm ; tail , mm ; culmen , mm This

h E t ll ln oru as . rai i a rn individual been named , although it is recognized — m n u s . that the size is small within the range Of males of E . i im

‘ 7‘ t m m er 1 9 S e em er 1 929 I . Se te 7 29 d p b 7, 0 p b ,

Em do a m i i - pi n x n m us . LEAST FLY C ATC HER . First noted on 3 1 28 9 . May , , when four individuals were seen This appears to be a m fairly early arrival date . It was seen regularly fro that date on throughout May of that year being at its height in numbers between 1 2 May 7 and 2 during which time it was a common bird . Our latest 1 4 2 1 9 7 . spring migration date is June , For some unknown reason the species is virtually absent from the point as a summer resident . One was

on 1 6 1 92 23 noted July , 7 , and again on July , but these were considered e early returning migrants or wander rs , since the species had not been seen for over a month although we had been encamped during most of that period in an area apparently suited to them . We have no record of its occurrence in summer on the adjacent mainland , but it may be present in spite of the fact that we did n ot see it about Port Rowan in 2 ’ 1 9 7 . at Mr . R . V . Lindsay did not Observe it Fisher s glen in July , 1 927 , and no summer occurrences on the mainland have been noted

' by Mr . W . E . Saunders . Casualties at the Long Point light present a

fl catch ers late fall migration date , four least y having been destroyed

1 2 of 9 9 . there on September 7 , A note possible interest concerns the A FA U N A L INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 9 1

bird collected on July 1 6 . I t was uttering the characteristic chebec

and proved to be a female .

2 1 2 u 1 6 1 927 9 M ay 6 , 9 7 Q J ly , — e i i K M r. O ctocoris al p str s prat col a . PRAI RIE HORNED LAR

W . E . Saunders h as recorded the prairie horned lark in his personal notes 1 7 30 made at Turkey Point (May , at the base Of Long Point (May ,

1 908 3 1 six ) and at Port Rowan (May , from three to having been

f . noted on each o these days Mr . W . E . Clyde Todd also noted the species once at the base of Long Point and twice on the mainland near 1 907 . Port Rowan in July , We have no records concerning the species

in other seasons within the area .

- o i t ta. i tata . A Y A C yan c t a crista cr s BLUE J . rare summer resi

f n 22 O o . dent Long Point but more numerous the mainland On May , ’ 1 928 on R erson s , we saw four blue jays y island , a restricted area which

was not occupied by this species during the previous summer . These birds were probably wanderers or migrants and the example is an excellent one to show the advantages of making Observations on moving birds in an isolated and restricted area where a knowledge of summer resident

species has previously been Obtained . M 1 2 1 2 9 ay , 9 8 — C orv us corax principalis . NORTHERN RAV E N A very early record for the species has been made by Durand ( 1 897) who remarks 2 n on its occurrence at Long Point about the year 1 8 7 . A specimen take

locally about thirty years ago is now in the collection ofMr . Wm . Smith of Port Rowan . An illustration of the raven is among the Pope paintings 1 91 7 1 859 . (Locke , ) and is dated November , — h h h rh R A n C orvu s b rac yr yn ch os b rac y n ch os. C ow . commo species throughout the region . We usually found it nesting in the ever i 1 2 greens n the woods on the point in 9 7 . One nest was situated fifteen feet from the ground in a lone red cedar tree which stood in an exposed

on to . situation p of the sand dune , bordering the south beach Judging m by the situation , the parent birds depended on the Open beach for uch of their foraging for food . Four well grown young occupied the nest 27 at the time , June 4 1 92 On July , 7 , the writer discovered the tracks of crows leading

m e fro on excavated turtle nest to another . The evidence was that the crows followed up the depredations of carnivorous mammals , a fox in a of the present case , and s lvaged the remains turtle eggs left by these animals . An amusing incident illustrating something of the character of crows r 1 2 was 1 0 9 8 . observed by the w iter on May , While well concealed in a reed blind on the sand bar of Second island I watched a pair of crows 1 92 T R ANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

come over and settle within fifteen feet of the blind . Apparently any suspicion o f the blind itself had long since been allayed beca use of its

A s long standing in this situation . the birds walked about they exhibited that careful and at the same time careless dignity possessed by crows , fi ’ feeding at times on the carcass ofa dead sh at the water s edge . At first

I remained motionless , fearing that a sound from the blind would send f o ff . o them in haste However , the sound slight movements in the dry reeds inside my shelter did not particularly attract their attention . I then attempted to experiment with their nerves to ascertain whether certain movements might be interpreted as due to the presence of danger .

f f of was I stuck a sti f , dry stalk o rush through the top the blind which

on on e open , and rattled it fiercely . The crows cocked their heads side and eyed this unusual occurrence Skeptically , but did not appear alarmed . f The same thing was repeated but their reaction was that o little interest . - m I whistled various bird calls from the blind . They were ildly interested

no m . was but t alarmed even at y poor imitations Presently , while I thinking of what to do next , a small band of yellowlegs came over . I had been hoping for these and instantly rose to my feet with head and shoulders out of the blind and fired at the nearest yellowlegs . The m surprise to the two crows ust have been great . When I turned , they

m . were dashing away across the arsh in a direct , silent and speedy manner After getting perhaps a hundred yards distant (out Of gun range ") their voices broke out in loud staccato cries , seeming to proclaim to the world the closeness of their escape and also to explain by what courage and generalship they had avoided danger . 7 | uv . u e 2 1 1 927 J 0 J n , — ’ Stu u u R erson s rn s v lgaris . STARLING . Established on y island s 1 2 a a nesting species in 9 7 . Also known to be generally distributed along the adjacent mainland . The species probably invaded the general

for m 1 92 1 l 927a region the first ti e in (Lewis , ) , but was not recorded m 1 2 fro there until 9 3 . From July 1 to the end of our stay in 1 927 we noted flocks Of starlings making daily trips eastward along the point in the early morning and back again in the evening . They appeared in specific flocks or associated

- with grackles and red winged blackbirds . From nine to sixty were noted on several of the occasions on which we attempted to determine the starling numbers in these blackbird flocks . M 30 1 927 v . a Ju y ,

- Dolich onyx oryzivorus. BOBOLINK . Bobolinks are common m birds in su mer on the adj acent mainland , but they apparently do not

find suitable nesting grounds on the point . Their spring migration was

on 4 1 928 under way on Long Point May , , and did not cease until 2 M ay 5 . A usual date of arrival in spring is probably about the first A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LO NG POINT 1 93

1 898 of May . Macoun ( ) records the species as having been seen on 1 1 3 898 . Long Point on June , Bobolinks may have been resident on the point at that date , or the observation may have concerned wandering of 1 927 birds . The earliest southward movement in the summer was 1 1 in noted on July , two having been seen , after which they became c reasingly conspicuous . Flocks visited the wet , grassy flats of Long so Point to feed . These birds were too wild to be easily collected that we had little success in attempting to get males in changing plumage , but the one we did Secure showed some replacement Of nuptial dress

in tersca ulars in the ventral tracts and in the crown , p , and the greater

“ n ot wing coverts . The two females secured did Show obvious replace ment . Late fall dates are available through records of casualties at the

- 7 lighthouse . Thirty two bobolinks were destroyed there on September , 9 24 29 1 929 five on September and one between September and ,

(Saunders , ’ " 2 s 2 1 1 927 u 23 1 927 Q J u ly , 0 J ly , e —A m M ol oth ru s at r . COWBIRD . common igrant in spring and a fairly common summer resident of the point and adjacent mainland . 1 7 1 8 1 930 The earliest available spring record is April or , , a bird having _ been killed by the Long Point light at that time , but it doubtless appears

r in the region two or three weeks earlier . Judging from ou knowledge of its appearance in contiguous areas , it perhaps usually arrives the first week of April . 7 ' 29 1 27 un e 8 1 927 uv . u e 9 0 J , J 9 J n ,

m - m h i . D Agelaiu s ph niceus p n ceu s R E WINGED BLAC KBIRD . — The species doubtless arrives in early March in this region . I t was 1 928 present in numbers on April . I t certainly appears to be more common and generally distributed in spring than in summer , perhaps due to the presence of transient individuals as well as those which will

to remain nest , and also because nesting concentrates these birds into certain chosen sections of the extensive marshes , large and small , of the

of to point and mainland . Nests with full complements eggs are be

- m of found by mid May , but the aj ority redwings appear to nest some what later than that , and it seems apparent that two broods are reared f 1 2 in this region . Two interesting nests o this species were found in 9 7 . One was somewhat out of the ordinary Since it was situated in the crown

of on of a hummock grass a rather dry section Of Snow island , somewhat

' rem oved from the marsh , and apparently it stood alone rather than with u others . The other , which was at least unus al for Long Point , was situated five feet up in a dog -wood shrub in a wet section offairly dense ’ on R erson s R e - woods y island . d winged blackbirds usually place their nests in rush or reed beds in the marshes Of this region . 1 94 TRAN SAC TI O N S O F T H E ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

1 1 927 This species congregated in flocks by J uly , , and was Observed making daily visits toward the end of Long Point . These flocks could

o u r of be Seen flying eastward over camp in the early hours morning ,

of flock after flock coming from the direction the main marsh , west and

o f north Of Courtright ridge , and going out sight to the east . I n the ’ six evening between and eight O clock they returned . The whole flight , taking place in a spasmodic fashion , would require an hour or so to pass . We could not ascertain from whence these birds came or where they were going , but it would appear that birds from the main marsh and from the marshes on the mainland collected and scattered over the smaller marshes toward the end of the point to feed during the day . At night they probably sought some part of the main marsh in which to roost . Our u se of reed or rush blinds proved a method unequalled from the standpoint of watching birds at close quarters . Incidental observa tions were made in this way which gave on e a true picture ofthe natural

- behaviour of many species . Even the common red winged blackbird became a new study under such conditions . The writer observed this Species for a considerable time at a distance of no more than three feet and saw with what dexterity they used their bills in searching for food . “ f or Bits o debris were rooted over pushed to one side , these objects " being turned and moved with ease during the birds minute search for acceptable morsels . One bird attempted to bath in a small pool near the blind but found the water beyond the ideal depth for the performance .

Reaching up , it grasped a small willow sprout in its bill and drew it over .

I n an instant the bird was perched upon the recumbent sprout , and its finding its elevation to be satisfactory , proceeded to dip and wet

fl uffi n plumage . The alternate dipping , spattering , g and preening were — ’ all carried On within arms length of the writer s face . ” n M 26 1 927 Im u n e 1 4 1 927 0 ay , . o J , M 2 1 2 1 1 927 a 7 9 7 uv . u e 9 y , J 9 J n 5 , z ’ 7 I 2 s M a 28 1 928 un e 24 1 927 o y , O J ,

M a 28 1 928 u 3 927 9 y , 9 J ly , 1 1 1 27 4 2 M a 3 9 . 9 uv . uv u 7 J 9 y , J J ly , 1

un e 2 1 927 9 J , — . A m Sturnella m agna m agna M EADOWLARK . rare su mer resi

n on . dent o Long Point , but fairly common the adjacent mainland

of We found at least two pairs , with broods young , which were certainly established on the point . These were found in an extensive burnt and

f . w as on cleared area near the Blu fs The species observed , however , the point near the base in a comparatively dry area bordering the 1 1 2 n 9 9 7 . . marsh , o July , I t may have been established there 1 7 1 927 On July , a meadowlark was observed in a large flock of red

r winged blackbirds flying over ou camp on Courtright ridge .

u 1 1 2 9 J ly , 9 7

1 96 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE RO YAL CANADIAN I NST ITUTE

m n r — rvirostra o . Loxi a cu i CROSSBILL . A specimen of this species

w as o n 1 0 1 93 1 picked up on the roadway near Turkey Point May , , by

M r . R . V . Lindsay . The bird had been badly damaged by motor cars but diagnostic parts are preserved in the Museum ’ s collection and it

ou r of for constitutes only record the species the region .

M a 1 0 1 93 1 y ,

—" P e dom e ti u . ass r s c s HOUSE SPARROW . This species does not find suitable territory on the point except at the extreme end where the f habitation Of the lightkeeper and other buildings a ford it a habitat .

2 5 1 928 on On May and , , we Observed this species Second island , and

once again on May 1 8 . These few individuals were wanderers since they were not seen there again n or had they been observed there during 2 1 9 7 . of the summer of House sparrows are , course , plentiful about towns and farmhouses o n the mainland .

u 1 9 1 27 9 J ly , 9

l in s i i i — Astraga u trist s tr st s . GOLDFIN C H . First noted by us on

9 1 928 of May , ; a week later it had become quite common and regular occurrence . I t is not an uncommon nesting bird on the point and on the adj acent mainland , where it is equally , if not more numerous . “ une 2 1 927 u e 25 1 927 9 J , cf J n , — P ete am i eu am i eu . ooec s gr n s gr n s VESPER SPARROW . Three

1 7 r 1 8 1 93 o 0 . vesper sparrows struck the lighthouse on April , We were present early enough to Obtain a late sprl n g m l gration date for this 1 928 3 species in , the date being May , one bird having been collected . So far as we could ascertain this sparrow does not now inhabit the point f is o . in summer , but it a common bird the adj acent mainland Macoun

(1 898) however; notes the species as having occurred on the point on 2 1 1 8 8 . . . . June , 9 Mr R V Lindsay found two nests with four and three

wo 1 927 eggs respectively during the first t weeks of July , , at Fisher glen .

Ma 3 1 928 9 y ,

h e i . P assercul u s san dwic n s s s avanna SAVANNAH SPARROW . This species which normally arrives in southern Ontario in early April

to as 1 928 was still be found a migrant on Long Point in May , , the last 2 having been noted on May 1 . Savannah sparrows are regularly destroyed by the Long Point light in the spring and in the fall . Forty four were noted by Mr . Lorne Brown , the present keeper , which had 1 7 1 9 1 930 - been killed between April and , , and eighty three were 2 2 1 2 4 9 9 9 . destroyed between September and , The poi nt apparently f does not o fer suitable habitat for this species except at the base , but it is a common summer resident Of the adj acent mainland .

An adult male specimen killed at the Long Point light on September 2 2 25 6 1 9 9 . or , , is Of interest It is a large , dark bird which shows white A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 1 97

a on the lores and along the Superciliary stripes rather th n yellow , and there is remarkably little buff in the plumage for the season . The ms e measurements of this specimen are as follows : weight , g ; l ngth ,

1 . 1 . 6 m 5 . 55 . 7 mm ; wing , mm ; tail , mm ; cul en , mm

1 2 S 2 r 2 1 929 9 M ay 3 , 9 8 2 ept. 5 o 6 , " 1 1 2 m S 2 or 2 1 929 M 7 9 I . e t. 9 ay , 8 0 p 5 6, " S 2 r 2 1 29 2 m S 2 or 2 1 29 0 ept. 5 o 6 , 9 I . ept. 5 6 , 9

S e 2 r 2 29 9 pt. 5 o 6 , 1 9

‘ Am m R R ow m odram us savan n aru australis . GRASSHOPPER SpA

- for s 1 4 1 925 The earliest arrival date this species i May , , a bird having struck the Long Point light on that date . We secured a specimen on 1 1 2 7 9 8 . 1 930 May , A fall date is given by Saunders ( ) who records a 2 m 24 29 1 9 9 . speci en which struck the light between September and ,

During the summer O f 1 927 we made o n observation which seemed

s 1 4 wa one . to suggest that this species established the point On June ,

Mr . Baillie and the writer Observed a sparrow in an Open glade in the ’ of R erson s l woods y island which , although it could not be co lected , h f . C appeared to bot of us as being o this species M r . W . E . lyde Todd 1 one 90 . noted in the region during July , 7 I t is known to be established in summer at Fisher glen where it was observed by M r . W . E . Saunders

2 1 1 927 n f o o . . . on July , , and also a number occasions by Mr R V Lindsay f during July o the same year .

' M a 1 7 1 2 cf y , 9 8

’ P rh P asse erb ul us h en sl owi h en sl owi. H EN SLO W S S ARROW . Although the form occurring at Long Point is probably referable to

occidentalis . , material for comparison has not been available The name l h . hens ow P . i has therefore been used provisionally and is in accord

1 . with the stated distribution of forms in the 91 0 edition of the A O . U .

C heck List .

of t e An extensive colony his species was establish d in the wet , grassy flats between Courtright ridge and Squire ’ s ridge during the

of 1 927 . of summer Examination specimens collected , and an observa

“

. on 1 4 tion made by M r Baillie July , when a bird was seen carrying some material in its beak , leaves no doubt that these birds were nesting there , but we were unsuccessful in finding a nest in the limited time for such work . The opportun ity of Observing this sparrow in a C haracteristic summer habitat was full of interest . I ts simple song , and

bu tterfl like brief , deceptive , y flight , when heard and seen for the first

m or on c . ti e , at least rare o casions , constitute a memorable experience

' " u e 24 1 927 u 1 4 1 927 ci J n , 0 J ly , ’ " u e 27 1 927 2 s ul 23 1 927 9 J n , o J y , “ 1 2 0 J u ly 7 , 9 7 1 98 TRANSAC TI O NS OF THE RO YAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- Z on otrich ia l eu coph rys l eu coph rys . WHITE C ROWNED SPARROW . — The date o f the earliest arrival of this sparrow so far a s ascertained

o r 1 9 1 930 is April 1 8 , , a specimen having struck Long Point light at 2 1 9 8 was o n 3 . that time . Our earliest record in made May Only a few birds were noted on that date but by the middle o f the month they

on 1 5 on ou r became more numerous ; in fact , May , they were recorded “ ”

s i . charts a very common , a status accorded few spec es The spring

2 1 us migration continued until May , three birds having been noted by f on that date . I n the fall we have but a single record , that o Saunders ( 1 930) who lists seventeen specimens killed at the light between Sept 2 2 2 4 9 1 9 . ember and , 9

‘ 25 or 26 1 929 1 2 Im e t. M 3 9 . S cf ay , 8 9 p , ' 1 92 m S e t 25 or 26 1 929 a 1 0 8 I . . ci M y , p , z ' S 2 1 929 2 o s ept. 25 or 6 ,

- — A Z onotrich ia albicol l is. WHITE THROATED SPARROW . single

- white throat was picked up at the lighthouse by Mr . Lorne Brown after

f on 1 7 or 1 8 1 930 . a destruction o birds there April , Three others were found which had been killed on April 1 8 or 1 9 . I t doubtless appears in

1 9 ou r increasing numbers , reaching its height about May according to 2 observations in 1 9 8 . This date is about one week earlier than that

- on which th e white crowned sparrow reached its maximum numbers . ,

1 8 saw Their migration is practically over by May , but we individual birds on May 22 and May 27 1 928 . A fresh specimen was washed up

o 3 1 1 927 . on the beach n May , - m on 1 An unusual record of a singing white throat was ade July 6 ,

2 on 1 9 7 . The bird was heard and seen in the woods Courtright ridge but we were not fortunate enough to secure it . This occurrence in mid summer is of particular interest since the individual was considerably astray from a known breeding area and was apparen tly in normal

- physical condition . White throats migrate southward in numbers during September and sixteen were destroyed at the lighthouse on 24 25 1 929 September or , (Saunders ,

2 2 1 92 Im S e t 2 r 2 1 92 Ma 8 . . 5 o 6 9 9 y , 0 p , 1 2 m e 2 2 1 m a out M a 3 1 9 7 I . S t. 5 or 6 929 I . 9 b y , 9 p , 7' S 2 1 92 Se t 2 or 2 1 e 2 or 6 9 . 5 6 929 0 pt. 5 , p , — Spiz ella m onticola m onticola . TREE SPARROW . Tree sparrows had largely passed northward at the time of our earliest arrival in the

30 1 928 . m region , April , Although we noted them as fairly com on on

2 n . e h s May , o others were seen after that date The arliest record a been obtained from lighthouse casualties , four having been destroyed m 1 7 or 1 8 1 930 . there on April , We have no infor ation relative to the occurrence Of the species in the region in fall or winter .

’ 2 s Ma 2 1 928 (T y , A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT — Spiz ell a passerina passerina . CHIPPING SPARROW . The spring movement of this species was largely concluded by the end of April in

1 928 3 m . , but we noted one bird on May which was evidently a igrant I t is one of the most common breeding birds of the wooded parts of

Long Point and also of the adj acent mainland .

" ' Ma 3 1 928 2 uv . 3 u 0 y , j Q J ly 7 ' u e 4 1 927 0 J n ,

‘ — S i PA R O . p zella pu silla p usilla . FIELD S R w We were not success

n m ful in discovering this species established o Long Point in su mer ,

but it is to be found sparingly on the adjacent mainland . A migrant

individual was observed on May 1 and two were noted on May 1 0 in 1 928 .

7 ' Ma 0 1 9 28 0 y 1 ,

- — J h m i m . A unc o ye al s h ye alis. SLATE C OLORED JUNC O common 1 2 9 8 . migrant , still present in numbers when we arrived in the region in 4 I t was common until May , after which its numbers dropped rather

m on 9 . abruptly , the last nor al migrant having been noted May An 2 inj ured bird was secured as late as May 27 in 1 9 7 . Their northward

movement in April has been shown by casualties at the lighthouse ,

1 7 or 1 8 1 1 fourteen having been killed on April , seven on April 8 or 9 2 2 1 1 on 0 30 . and eight April or , 9 Unfortunately we have no information

concerning the j unco in fall or winter .

2 1 2 Ma 27 1 927 9 May , 9 8 9 y ,

’ P - A eucaea mstivalis b ach man i. BAC HMAN S SPARROW . female ’ R r n on 6 1 28 collected on ye so s island May , 9 , is apparently the second

on f specimen taken in Canada (Snyder , This record was e o the surprises ofbird collecting on the point and such records hold considerable f m . o m interest I f individuals typically southern for s , through so e cause

or overfl another , y their mark in migrating northward , they probably

fail to establish themselves as resident species in most cases . But if

conditions are suitable , and individuals of both sexes find themselves

e m a in new territory at the br eding season , they y establish themselves

r temporarily or fo an extended period . Such might be the case with ’ Bachman s sparrow in the Long Point region . The changing physical conditions through advancing civilization are undoubtedly making possible acquisition of new territory on the northern periphery of the

range of several species . Ma 6 1 928 Q y , M — e m e m . lospiza lodia elodia . SONG SPARROW It was difficult to detect migratory movements in this species since it arrives much

ou r . earlier than records start I t probably arrives in March . Two April records are given among lighthouse casualties—one bird killed on

1 or 1 9 2 2 1 8 on 0 1 0 . April and two killed April or , 93 This latter record 200 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

indicates that the species is still on the move through the region at a

0 ou r se o n date near that of our arrival , April 3 and ob rvations

o f Second island , where estimates population could be fairly accurately

not made , indicated that the song sparrow population did drop to summer

numbers until the second week of May . This lessening of individuals observed was apparently not associated with n idification duties which

or requires the more less inactivity Of one half Of the resident population ,

to was since a further reduction , attributed this cause , noted about

n May 2 1 . Further evidence was secured o this latter point by finding

se of of 1 928 an incomplete t three eggs the species , the first noted in ,

on May 1 8 . This nest was of interest as regards its loca tion since it was placed in a loose roll ofdry nightshade vines which had been left exposed

on the bare mud flats near Second island , presumably by the wind and 2 on D 8 1 9 7 . waves which scoured the marsh ecember , The song sparrow is a common nesting species in suitable situations on the point and

adjacent mainland . Our collection of skins exhibits a marked uniformity and the birds are by comparison identical with those found in southern Ontario generally . 2 1 92 9 May , 8 7' M 1 28 0 ay 7 , 9 n Ma 8 1 28 o y , 9 ’ 2 s Ma 1 2 1 928 Q y , " M 1 1 928 0 ay 9 , M 2 1 927 9 ay 6 , M 27 1 927 9 ay , 29 1 927 9 May , 2 M 3 1 927 0 ay 0 , z ’ 2 n 1 2 1 927 o s J u e ,

’ - Melospiz a l in col n i l in col n i. LIN C OLN S SPARROW . 0 u r records Of this species in 1 928 are perhaps worthy ofcomplete enumeration since ’ Lincoln s sparrow is rarely seen during migration in southern Ontario .

on 1 7 1 8 on 1 9 A single bird was noted May , six on May , three May , 22 2 2 1 . four on May 0 , two on May and four on May These observa R ’ tions were all made on Second and yerson s islands . The dates probably set the usual time of spring occurrence of the species in this region , although an earlier date is shown by lighthouse casualties , two 1 4 2 2 1 9 5 1 9 7b . having been destroyed about May , (Lewis , ) Fall migra 9 1 929 tion dates are shown by the destruction of two on September , ,

24 29 of and ten between September and the same year (Saunders , " ' M 1 7 1 928 M a 22 1 928 0 ay , (f y , 2 1 1 928 a o e 26 1 929 Ma ut S t. 9 y , 9 b p ,

- A - Melospiza georgiana . SW M P SPARROW . This Species probably arrives in early April , but our earliest record is of three birds killed at the A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POIN T

1 7 1 8 1 930 . lighthouse on April or , We noted it fairly commonly in 1 2 1 8th May , 9 8 , until the , in situations that suggested that these birds of were still moving through the region . Substantiation this is given

by the destruction of three birds , undoubtedly migrants , at the lighthouse

on 1 1 26 . May 9 , 9 The species is not a plentiful summer resident ,

but Mr . W . E . Saunders has noted it at Turkey Point in the breeding

season and we found a few here and there on Long Point where it breeds .

A fall date of migration is given by lighthouse casualties , three having 24 29 1 929 been killed between September and , (Saunders ,

7 ‘ l ’ un e 1 2 1 927 2 s u e 24 1 927 0 J , d J n ,

' — FO " Passerella iliaca il iaca . Fox SPARROW . sparrows probably pass through the Long Point region in the greatest numbers in early

on 1 7 or 1 8 1 8 April . Twenty struck the lighthouse April , eight on April

or 1 on 20 or 2 1 1 930 . 9 , and four April , We found stragglers passing

m on 30 1 928 through at the ti e of our arrival there April , , the last record

being of an individual collected on May 4 . We have not been able to secure accurate information relative to the occurrence of the species

in the regionin the fall .

Ma 2 1 928 M a 4 1 928 9 y , y ,

P i e h r h h al m u s er h ro h l m — ip lo ryt op t yt pt a us . TOWHEE . This on 1 928 early migrant was still the move in May , , and we recorded a — — - two few regularly until past mid May , the last birds were seen on the

twentieth . I t is an extremely rare summer resident of the point , only

1 927 n ot two having been Seen in , but it is uncommon on the adjacent

mainland . Mr . R . V . Lindsay found a nest with four eggs at Fisher glen

1 927 . in July , ' u e 1 2 1 927 u 8 1 927 cf J n , 9 J ly ,

—" i " i . C ardinalis cardinal s c ardinal s CARDINAL . This species has

n o on t found suitable conditions the point proper , probably because of f the absence o thickets and vines for cover , but at least on e pair was ’ on R erson s established y island where undergrowth is plentiful . Condi

on tions the adj acent mainland are apparently more suitable , since it has

increased during the past few years . Mr . Angus Buchanan wh o has i made yearly trips to Fisher glen has nformed the writer that in April , 2 1 92 . , he saw one cardinal Annual visits were made at the same

of -fi season and the number cardinals seen increased , twenty ve having 1 2 9 9 . . . . been noted in April , Mr R V Lindsay also Observed a number of 1 927 them at Fisher glen in July , , and found a nest there and M r .

. . W E Saunders has seen the species at Turkey Point and at Port Rowan .

7 I u e 7 1 927 O J n , 202 TRANSA C TIONS O F THE RO YAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- - m el es l u dovician u s. H edy ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK . First n as o n 1 2 1 928 was oted a migrant May , , after which it seen regularly , 22 n . o f but rather u commonly , until May Representatives this species have been destroyed by the light between these spring dates . A bird ' R erson s 30 1 927 r seen on y island , May , , may have been a migrant o

as n established as a summer resident bird . I t w ot noted on the point

2 no again in the summer of 1 9 7 . I t is apparently t numerous as a summer h . . . a resident species on the mainland , but Mr W E Saunders s noted it at Port Rowan . Four were destroyed at the lighthouse during their

y 4 29 1 929 souther migration between September 2 and , (Saunders ,

n M 1 7 1 92 a o 2 1 2 a 8 b ut Se t . 6 9 9 o y , Q p , ' Ma 1 1 28 d y 8 , 9 — P e i e . ass r na. cyan a INDIGO BUNTING . First noted as a migrant 1 2 2 9 8 . is no t m on on May 0 , The species an unco mon breeding bird i f s . O the point , but it more common on the mainland The sparseness undergrowth is probably a controlling factor in their numbers on Long

wo Point . One nest found on Courtright ridge was situated t feet from

fireweed the ground , attached to thistle and stalks , the only available

- cover in the vicinity . This nest contained three newly hatched young 1 2 2 1 9 7 . . . . and one egg on July , Mr R V Lindsay found the species

1 927 . nesting in dwarf j uniper at Fisher glen in July , Indigo buntings are moving southward in late September as attested by lighthouse 1 930 casualties (Saunders , ) five having been picked up after destructions m 24 2 1 92 between Septe ber and 9 , 9

‘ 7 ' Ma 20 1 928 u 22 1 927 d y , 0 J ly , 7' 2 1 2 S e . 2 r 2 1 2 0 May 7 , 9 7 pt 5 o 6 , 9 9 ’ 2 1 1 92 3 Im s S e 2 o 2 1 29 u e 7 . ? t. 5 r 6 9 9 J n , p ,

m el — P er h r . iranga yt o as SC ARLET TANAGER . The earliest arrival 4 1 2 1 9 5 . date in the available records is about May , Fifteen specimens T of this species were destroyed by the light at that time . W O 1 1 2 7 . . on 9 5 . . were seen at Turkey Point May , , by Mr W E Saunders

m on 27 They occur regularly as igrants the point until May , one having 2 been noted on that date in 1 9 7 . Transien t individuals are probably f present in the region until the first o June . The species is to be found in certain areas of the adjacent mainland in summer , but not on the point . A similar distribution exists in the Point Pelee region according to Taverner Mr . R . V . Lindsay noted several at Fisher glen

1 927 . in July , A scarlet tanager was destroyed at the lighthouse on 7 1 929 September , , and fourteen others were killed between September 24 2 f and 9 o that year .

7' M a 22 1 2 S e t 2 o 2 1 2 0 y , 9 8 9 p . 5 r 6 , 9 9

m S e 1 Im Se 2 2 1 2 I . t . 7 29 . t or 9 9 p , 9 9 p . 5 6 , 9 7‘ S e 2 1 92 m S 2 2 2 t. or 6 9 I . e t 5 r 6 1 9 9 0 p 5 2 , p . o ,

204 TRANSA C TIONS OF THE RO YAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

places on the mainland . M r . R . V . Lindsay found them nesting in 1 2 hundreds at Fisher glen in 9 7 . Flocks congregate during the first week

f as e . o July , the number and compactness increasing the season advanc s 2 1 2 1 9 7 . . r e On July , , M r Baillie and M r Edmonds obse v d an enormous

f . flight o these birds near Second island The flock , estimated at twenty

was to thousand birds , trying proceed northward against a strong gale

was . which blowing across the bay They flew in a long , dense flock and

m ou although they ade poor headway against the storm , they fought it t

on . the wing , the flight having been in sight for fully half an hour

‘ u e 4 1 927 6 J n , — - S l i err . Sw w te g dopteryx s ipen n is ROUGH WINGED A LLo . Our

m f . . only records for this species were obtained fro the notes o Mr . W E 1 7 1 925 Saunders , who saw two birds at Turkey Point on May , and nine on 4 i is on 1 1 92 . s Long Point June , I t quite probable that the species established in the region as a regular summer resident .

B om — bycil la cedroru m . CEDAR WA"WING . Although this species probably occurs throughout the year in the Long Point region , we did

see 1 928 . not it in May , , until the fifteenth I t was observed moving 2 of 1 9 7 . about in flocks throughout the first two weeks June , I t became more settled after that date . A few were noted daily for the remainder o f the summer . " u e 8 1 927 u e 1 2 1 927 0 J n , 9 J n , u e 8 1 927 9 J n ,

- L m A . N aniu s l u dovician u s igrans . M IGR NT SHRIKE ot seen by us on Long Point and apparently scarce on the mainland . Mr . W . E .

Saunders noted on e at Turkey Point on May 1 7 1 925 .

- — V i R D . reosyl va olivacea . E EYED VIREO Our earliest record was

1 4 1 25 -two on made on May , 9 , thirty birds having been destroyed that 2 l 7b . date at the Long Point light (Lewis , g ) We noted it as a migrant on 1 9 1 928 22 May , , and again on May , the latter date probably being

s on e near the close of their northward spring movement . This vireo i of the common summer residents of the point and adjacent mainland . We found it nesting in the lower branches of sugar maples and also in

- witch hazel Shrubs . The species migrates through and from the region

e on e during Septemb r , hundred and nine having been picked up about

of -six on the Long Point light after the destruction September 7 , twenty 9 - t e 29 1 92 9 September and forty one be we n September 24 and , (Saunders ,

’ u 2 1 27 2 ? Se t 2 r 26 1 92 e 9 S . 5 o 9 9 J n , p , ‘ ' u 4 1 27 Im Se t 25 or 26 1 929 9 . . cf J ly , ci p , Se 2 2 1 29 m Se 2 2 1 929 9 pt. 5 or 6 , 9 I . Q pt. 5 or 6 , A FAUNAL INV ESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 205 — V . ireosylva. ph iladel ph ica . PHILADELPHIA VIREO Fourteen individuals of this species were destroyed by the Long Point light on 1 4 1 925 May , (Lewis , this being our earliest date for the species R ’ 22 1 928 . erson s in spring A specimen collected on y island on May , ,

D . . 2 1 1 . and one collected on May 7 , 93 , at Turkey Point by Mr A

M acL l h s o . u ic , give uS our only spring record ther than the above This m vireo migrates southward in Septe ber , one having been found at the 7 foot Of the lighthouse after the destruction on September , one on 9 24 2 1 929 September , and two between September and 9 , (Saunders ,

This vireo is apparently a rather plentiful transient in the region . ' M 22 1 928 Se t 25 or 26 1 929 ci ay , p . , P Ma 2 1 93 1 y 7 , — 1 928 Vireos l i a. i a . . O n y va g lv g lv WARBLING VIREO May 5 , , the

writer , while employed within a camp building on Second island , heard the warbling song of a bird outside and my first impression was that

of . it was the song a purple finch When I reached the outside , however ,

the bird had disappeared , but the sound was still vivid in my mind and

n . . . I realized that I had bee listening to a warbling vireo . Mr W E Clyde Todd noted quite a number of warbling vireos about Port Rowan 1 2 9 7 . 1 907 . n ot on in July , We did see it the point during the summer of

- — i . r . . s M . Lan vireo fl avifron YELLOW THROATED V IR Eo . W E

- on 1 5 Clyde Todd saw a yellow throated vireo near Port Rowan July , f on 1 907 . Our only observation o this species was that of a bird seen ’

R erson on 0 1 927 . of y s island May 3 , Our knowledge the general distribution of this species in southern Ontario suggests that it Should be

found as a more or less rare summer resident in the region .

- — L n V R o . a ivireo s olitarius s olitariu s . BLUE HEADED I E Our earliest record of this rather uncommon migrant in spring was of an

on 1 0 1 928 27 . indiv—idual noted May , , the latest , May of the Same year Lewis (1 927b) has recorded an individual bird which struck the light n 1 4 1 2 f o 9 5 . o May , A fall date migration is given by Saunders 24 29 a specimen having struck the lighthouse between September and ,

1 929 . Apparently the species is not a plentiful migrant . M 22 1 928 9 ay ,

M n i il —T ot ta varia . BLAC K AND WHITE WARBLER . he earliest 6 1 928 spring arrival date according to our records is May , , four having

' 1 8 . n n mmon been noted I t was a regular and ot u co migrant until May , 1 928 on 1 1 2 . 9 9 6 , Long Point A later date , May , , is available since seven birds were destroyed at the lighthouse on that date . Mr . R . V . 2 . . w 4 1 6 1 9 7 . Sa Lindsay saw four between July and , , M r W E Saunders 2 1 . or 5 . one at Turkey Point on June 7 8 , 9 , and Mr W . E Clyde Todd th e 1 noted a few in woods about Port Rowan in July , 907 , indicating that i f this warbler s not a rare summer resident o Sections of the mainland . 206 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

n h a s M r . A gus Buchanan informed the writer that the species bred at

1 926 . n o t on Fisher glen in We did observe it Long Point in summer .

is I n September the species again migrating through the region . The following lighthouse casualties were recorded by Saunders five

n 7 two on 9 24 o September , September , and two between September 2 29 1 9 9 . and , M 9 1 2 9 ay , 9 8

m - — V er ivora. ch r so era . M C y pt GOLDEN WINGED WARBLER . Ilw raith ( 1 886) h a s recorded having heard o f this species being noticed

f n at Port Rowan . We have three records o more recent date ; o e bird 2 a . . 1 1 5 w s . on 7 9 seen by M r W E Saunders at Turkey Point May , , another was picked up at the lighthouse on Long Point after having been

7 1 929 on e killed there on September , , and was collected at Turkey Point 26 1 1 L l on 93 . D . . M a h h May , , by M r A c u ic w o also saw several others

is there on that day . This warbler has not been seen in summer but it possible that it occurs as a rare resident during this season . n M ?‘ 1 929 a e t. 7 o y o S p ,

r r — V e m ivo a rufi capil l a. rufi capill a . NASHVILLE WARBLER . Our

6 1 92 one earliest arrival date is May , 8 , when two birds were noted ; of 20 them was collected . The species was particularly common by May f o that year . I t was seen more infrequently and in decreasing numbers

of until the end that month ; the last seen , a single individual , was

on . observed May 30 . M r . W E . Saunders has noted two in the region as 2 7 or 8 1 9 5 . late as June , This latter record suggests that the species may be found in summer in some sections of the mainland . Nashville

s en ou te on e warbler are r southward during September , having fallen 1 29 24 victim to the light on September 7 , 9 , and nine between September 29 1 29 and , 9 (Saunders , " 2 S e t 25 2 1 929 M 6 1 9 . or 6 c? ay , 8 0 p , 2 1 2 m S e t 2 o 26 1 929 Ma 0 9 8 I . . 5 r 9 y , p , Im 1 29 . S 9 ept. 7 , 9 — - T V ermi . vora. celata. celata . ORANGE C ROWNED WARBLER he earliest spring record on Long Point of this migrant which is rare in 1 4 1 925 on southern Ontario , is May , , a bird having struck the light that 2 2 . 1 9 0 date Our first record in 8 was made on May , four birds having

on 22 on e been seen . Three individuals were noted May and , the latest

2 of spring record , on May 7 . The identification of eight specimens this species in the field without a specific Search for them indicates that

N O o numbers pass through this region in spring . fall rec rds have been secu red M 20 1 928 P M a 22 1 928 9 ay , y .

i — no V erm vora. peregrina . TENNESSEE WARB LER . Apparently t

- o an uncommon spring migrant . Our records include twenty tw which

208 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

season so far as ou r comparisons with available museum material have

shown . M 20 1 928 S e 2 r 2 1 2 a t. 5 o 0 9 9 9 y , 9 p , ” 22 1 2 m " 2 2 1 2 Ma 9 S . r 9 8 I . e t 5 o 9 0 y , 0 p 6 ,

22 1 2 m 2 r 2 1 2 Ma 9 S e t. 8 I . 5 o 6 9 9 9 y , 9 p , ' 3 m P s e 7 r 9 1 929 4 m e 2 1 2 I . S t. S o I . t. 5 or 2 9 p , p 6 , 9 — De d oi a. ae i n r c st va aestiva . YELLOW WARBLER . Our earliest

of O f 1 28 w as on 4 record the spring migration this species in 9 made May ,

although it probably arrives regularly a few days prior to that date . I t is a common migrant during early May and a common summer resi

dent , nesting in suitable situations on the point and also on the adjacent R ’ . ers n s mainland On y o island , where there were particularly favour of able conditions , this warbler used the raspberry canes and thickets

choke cherries in which to nest .

Yellow warblers migrate southward during the early part of Sept

on ember , seven having struck the lighthouse on September 7 and two 2 9 1 9 9 . September , " " 3 s Ma 1 2 1 92 u 4 1 927 cf y , 8 0 J ly , Z ’ 7' 2 S M a 27 1 2 8 1 927 O y , 9 7 0 J u ly ,

n 2 S 9 1 29 8 1 9 7 e t . 7 or 9 9 J u e , p ,

1 4 1 2 m S or 9 1 929 7 I e t. 7 u e 9 . (7 J n , p ,

‘ De i l C - ndro ca caeru escens caeru lescens . BLA K THROATED BLUE

- 1 2 . . r 1 0 9 8 WARBLER First Observed by ou party on May , The latest

1 1 924 . spring observation was made by M r . W . E . Saunders on June , This warbler was not particularly plentiful during the spring migration

period . I n the fall the species occurs in numbers during September and

it h as been found among the victims of the powerful Long Point light . 1 7 Saunders ( 930) has recorded three that were destroyed on September ,

- 1 2 on fi 24 29 9 9 . four September 9 and thirty ve between September and ,

‘ M 1 2 Se 25 or 26 1 929 a 9 9 8 t. cf y , 9 p , 7' ’ S 1 s S 2 2 1 929 e . 9 2 2 P e . 5 or 6 0 pt 7 or , 9 9 pt , ‘ m 25 or 26 1 929 S e o 9 1 2 2 Im . S e t . I . t . 7 r 9 p , 9 cf p , “ S e 2 or 2 1 29 t . 5 6 9 o p ,

D — e o . . ndr ica. coronata MYRTLE WARBLER This warbler , an early

of migrant , was probably present as a transient at the time our earliest 30 1 928 arrival in the Long Point region , April , , but it was a few days

before we visited a tract where it was most apt to be found . I t was 3 23 noted regularly , however , from May to ; it is a fairly common 27 1 2 . 9 7 species in the region in spring Our latest spring date is May ,

one of one bird having been seen on that date . Curiously enough , only ’ these birds has been destroyed by the mariners light on the end of the

so point , in spring or fall , far as our records indicate , although heavy casualties of their allies have occurred during periods in which this species A FAUNAL INVE STIGATION OF LONG POINT 209

of is known to be transient in the region . This record is a female picked 2 1 9 1 9 6 . up after a destruction which occurred on May , " “ M a 3 1 2 M a 6 1 928 0 y , 9 8 0 y , 71 Ma 5 1 28 0 y , 9 — Dendroica. m agnol ia . MAGNOLIA WARBLER . Our earliest spring 2 for 9 1 9 8 . record this species is May , I t was not common , however , 1 7 27 f in that year , until the period between May and Quite a number o casualties of this species have occurred at the lighthouse during May 2 of 1 92 1 9 6 . n 5 and Our latest spri g occurrence was noted on May 30 ,

2 . . 1 9 7 . Mr . W E Saunders noted it as a migrant in the region on

1 1 924 . June ,

Mr . W . E . Saunders has informed the writer that during July (about the year 1 926) he heard and saw a male of this species at Fisher glen . This is an unusual occurrence and it seems unlikely that this warbler is more than a rare , perhaps irregular , summer resident of the

-two on region . Thirty struck the lighthouse September 7 , six on

9 - 24 29 1 929 September and thirty six between September and , (Saunders ,

“ ' M 1 9 1 928 ? s Se 25 2 1 a 6 t. or 6 9 0 y ; p , 30 7 ‘ M 27 1 927 0 ay ,

' —A Dendroica. ceru lea . CERULEAN WARBLER . singing male was 27 collected on June , I t repeatedly changed its singing station in “ ” the tops of deciduous trees , and uttered its ascending , somewhat buzzy trill at regular intervals . The song was remarkably like on e version of the paru1a warbler ’ s song which was also heard by us in the same vicinity a little later in the Season . The only other record of this species for the Long Point region is m fro the notes of Mr . W . E . Saunders who remarks that on e was shot

1 908 . . . . in the region in by Mr G F Norval , a local taxidermist “ u e 27 1 927 d J n ,

- — Dendroica; pensylvanica . CHESTNUT SIDED WARBLER . Lewis 1 4 1 2 on e 1 925 . ( 9 7) has recorded striking the light on May , I t was first 1 5 of 1 928 recorded by us on May , in the spring , and last noted on 2 1 2 1 . . . 1 30 9 7 . 9 4 May , Mr W E Saunders noted it as late as June , on m 1 2 . 8 Long Point I t reached its greatest nu bers between May and 7 , 2 1 9 8 n . , at which time it was a commo migrant Although the species u m . . might be expected in su mer , no occ rrences have been noted Wm

Pope has figured the nest of this warbler (Locke , probably one R h found locally near Port yerse . T is species is among those subj ect to destruction by theLong Point lighthouse during both spring and fall seasons . I t is on its southern migration during September , casualties f 7 2 at the light giving a range o dates from September to September 9 , 1 929 (Saunders , ' ’ s 2 2 1 29 1 2 2 Im . Se r 1 8 ? t. 5 o 6 9 ci May 5 , 9 p , 2 1 0 TRANSA C TIONS O F THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

De dro a as n e - — n ta a . B A Y ic c BREASTED WARBLER . A fairly co m

m on spring and fall migrant . The earliest spring record is given by Lewis ( 1 927) twenty -seven birds having been destroyed at the light

o n . 20 2 2 that date We noted a few regularly from May to 7 , 1 9 8 , our 30 1 927 latest record being May , , although M r . W . E . Saunders noted n 1 2 on o 1 9 4 . nine the point June , I n the fall the species reappears in

on September , seven having been destroyed at the light September 7 , on 9 -on e 24 2 seven September and thirty between September and 9 , 2 1 9 9 (Saunders ,

7‘ ’ Ma 20 1 928 2 ? s S e 2 r 2 1 0 y , pt . 5 o 6 929 , S e 2 2 1 t. 5 or 92 9 p 6 , 9

- — De oi a. t iata . C ndr c s r BLA K POLL WARBLER . The earliest record of the arrival ofthis species in spring h as been recorded by Lewis ( 1 927b) eighteen representatives having been picked up at the lighthouse follow 2 1 4 1 9 5 . ing the destruction on May , Available information in dicates

is that this species not an uncommon spring migrant . Our records Show it to occur through an extended period ; we collected a specimen as late

2 1 927 o 1 2 as June , , and another was positively identified n June of the

same year . I n the fall , presuming that statistics from lighthouse of casualties indicate to a certain extent the numbers a given migrant ,

the species is more common than in the spring . M r . W . E . Saunders (1 930) has recorded the exceptionally heavy destruction of this species

1 2 - of 9 9 . on 7 ix on in the fall Thirty one were killed September , s September 9 and one hundred and ninety -nine between September 24 2 and 9 . " u e 2 1 927 m I . S e 25 or 26 1 29 t . 9 9 J n , 0 p , ’ ’ S 25 r 2 1 29 3 m s 2 2 Se t. o 6 9 I . Se t. 5 or 26 1 929 Q p , Q p , ’ Se 25 r 26 1 929 2 ? S S 2 P t. o e 5 2 1 29 t. or 6 9 p , p , _ , 4 m ? ’ 2 2 1 S . I . s e t 5 2 p or 6 , 9 9 — C . Dendroica. fu sca . BLA KB URNIAN WARBLER N ot noted as a 2 - 1 2 spring migrant in 1 9 8 until after mid May . Lewis ( 9 7b) records ten

on 1 4 1 2 . which were destroyed by the light May , 9 5 I t was a fairly 1 2 1 22 common migrant in 9 8 between May 8 and . Two were noted as

1 2 . 30 9 7 . . late as May in , and Mr W E Saunders saw five , which may

1 1 924 . have been migrants , on June , In the fall the species is a common 1 930 migrant in the region . Saunders ( ) has recorded casualties at the

: - 7 on 9 light as follows Eighty seven on September , twelve September , 24 2 1 2 m 9 9 9 . and four between Septe ber and ,

This warbler is a rare summer resident of the point . A singing male

on 29 1 927 7 was collected June , , and a female was observed on July , 8 near the Situation where the male had been collected . On July in a m wooded area , widely separated fro the location where previous records

2 1 2 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

o f o n c brood . Other plots pine Long Point suggest that several Se tions may be suited to the species .

‘ u 4 1 927 23 1 2 v u v . u 9 7 Ju . cf J ly , J 9 J ly , u 4 1 927 Juv . 9 J ly ,

i l m ar m m m A — Dendr o ca. pa u p al aru . PALM W R ELER . This

as u s 6 1 28 warbler w not listed by until May in 9 , although it may have

o w s been overlooked previous t that date . I t a a fairly common migrant during the remainder o f the month reaching the point of greatest 1 2 on 9 . on 9 8 number May Our station Second island during May , ,

on e was a particularly good in which to observe this species , since it frequented the long line of low willows which fringed the beach of Long 2 was of 1 . . 30 9 8 Point bay Our last record two individuals seen on May ,

is n ot on Judging from casualties at the lighthouse , this species the southward migration through the Long Point region until late September , since none of these birds was picked up until the period between 2 2 24 1 . September and 9 , 9 9

‘ 7 ' 1 928 S 2 r 2 1 929 Ma 6 e t. 5 o 6 d y , 0 p , 1 2 25 r 2 1 929 Ma 9 Se t. o 9 y 6 , 8 9 p 6 , ‘ ’ 1 92 2 ? S Se 25 r 2 1 29 Ma 9 8 t. o 6 9 cf y , p , ' 2 Im s S 25 or 2 1 929 . e t 6 Q p . ,

A B L — Dendroica discolor . PRAIRIE W R ER r Tn the notes of Mr . f . . o W . E . Saunders , he records having been told by Mr A Preston Port

1 9 1 4 . Dover that the latter had Seen a prairie warbler there on May 7 , Although this Observation is extralimital to the region with which we are

u to concerned it is incl ded with the following , indicate the possibility 3 1 1 30 o f . 9 the occurrence Of the species i n the general region On May , , h . . saw on M r . W E Saunders t e prairie warbler the mainland back of

Turkey Point . — r ll - 1 2 six Seiuru s au ocapi us. OVEN BIRD . Lewis ( 9 7b) records 1 4 1 2 on 9 5 . teen of these birds as having struck the Long Point light May , The earliest record made by our party was of an individual seen on

1 5 1 928 . th e May , I t was noted fairly commonly during period between 2 May 1 8 and 7 during that year . Our latest record was of a few seen d on the latter ate . We did not discover the species on the p oint during the summer of 1 927 . The species is known to be a summer resident of 1 1 4 suitable woods On the adj acent mainland . Taverner ( 9 ) has also remarked on its absence in the peninsular area Of Point Pelee and its o presence n the adj acent mainland in that area . A nest was found at 2 1 7 . . . 9 . . . Fisher glen in July , , by Mr R V Lindsay and Mr W E Clyde d 1 9 1 . To d found it breeding near Port Rowan in July , 7 A tremendous - 1 929 destruction of oven birds occurred at the lighthouse in September , A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT

9 (Saunders , thirty on September 7 , nine on September , and one

hundred and seven between September 24 and 29 .

M 1 5 1 928 Se 25 2 1 29 a t. or 6 9 9 y , 9 p , ’ 2 s Se t 25 2 1 29 (T p . or 6 , 9

Seiu u - r s noveb oracensis noveb oracensis . WATER THRUSH .

- on 6 1 930 Our earliest record for the water thrush was made May , , 1 27b three individuals being seen , one of which was collected . Lewis ( 9 ) 1 4 1 925 records two which had struck the light on May , , and reports

m on 1 9 1 926 fro the lighthouse keeper mention two destroyed May , , of f which is the latest date the spring migration o the species . From our n N observation it is ot a plentiful migrant in spring . 0 summer records

are known to the writer , but it would seem that it should be found in d favourable dark swampy woo s on the adj acent mainland . Saunders

1 930 t m - ( ) records i as a September igrant , thirty six striking the light

7 on 9 24 on September , five September , and five between September 29 1 2 and , 9 9 .

of the of m An examination five Skins this species fro Long Point , not m one in spring and four in the fall , does disclose speci ens which

n ov bo ce sis m are not referable to e ra n , although it ight here be admitted that the writer has not been able to get a very clear conception of these

m m . two for s from available aterial , or from the literature

' ’ 2 ” 2 s S e 25 or 26 1 929 Ma 1 9 8 t. ci y 6 , Q p , S or 29 P S e 25 r 26 1 92 e t. 9 1 9 t. o 9 p 7 , p , 9

- — m M r . Seiurus otacilla. LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH . . W . E

- 1 7 Saunders observed a Louisiana water thrush at Turkey Point on May ,

1 92 a h e 5 . We h ve no other evidence suggesting that t species is estab li h s ed in the region .

—A m O porornis agilis. CONNEC TI C UT WARBLER . speci en of Connecticut warbler was listed by Lewis (1 927b) among the bird casual 4 2 1 1 5 . ties at the Long Point lighthouse on May , 9 This constitutes the

earliest record in spring for this species . Mr . W . E . Saunders noted one

on on 1 1 924 4 1 927 . the point June , , and we collected a specimen on June ,

This warbler can only be considered as a scarce , late spring migrant

in the region , although in the fall it appears in numbers as attested by 1 930 specimens picked up at the lighthouse. Mr . W . E . Saunders ( ) f 7 m 9 has recorded the fatality O eight on September , six on Septe ber ,

- 2 fi e m 24 29 1 9 9 . and thirty v between Septe ber and , ” S 25 or 26 1 929 u e 4 1 927 e t. 9 J n , 0 p , ’ ’ S 25 or 26 1 929 s e . 7 r 9 1 929 3 8 e t. ( T S pt o , Q p , P e t 25 r 26 1 929 S t r 1 29 S . o 9 ep . 7 o 9 , 9 p , ' ” m S 2 or 26 1 929 m S 2 . e t 5 2 I Se t 7 or 9 1 9 9 I . . Q p . , 0 p , ’ s S 1 2 m S 25 or 26 1 929 3 ? e r 9 29 I e t. pt. 7 o , 9 . p , 2 1 4 TRA NSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- n is h a e h ia . O p oror p il d lp MOURNING WARBLER . Not uncommon as - on 1 4 1 925 a spring migrant ; twenty three struck the lighthouse May ,

1 927b on 1 26 (Lewis , ) , one picked up by the lighthouse keeper May 1 9 , 9 , 4 1 2 one on . and collected by us June , 9 7 I n the fall the species passes through the region in considerable numbers during September . The records of casualties at the light as recorded by Saunders ( 1 930) are as

: on 7 on m 9 follows Twenty September , five Septe ber , and twelve 24 2 1 2 between September and 9 , 9 9 . 7“ Ma 20 1 928 Im S e r 9 1 929 0 y , . pt. 7 o , e t 7 r 9 1 2 9 S p . o , 9 9

h t h - G eot lypis ric as trich as . MARYLAND YELLOW THROAT . A common spring and fall migrant and also a plentiful summer inhabitant of suitable situations both on the point and on the adjacent mainland . The earliest arrival date for the species according to available records 2 3 1 . is May , two having been noted by us on that date in 9 8 I t was at 22 its greatest numbers from May 1 7 to during that spring . ’ A nest found in a small wet hollow in the open wood of R yerson s

of o . island was concealed in a tufted clump c arse , marsh grass It con 2 h e ained one 8 1 9 7 . t t fresh egg on June , Although nest and egg were not disturbed they were found to be abandoned a few days later . A very heavy destruction of this warbler took place during the fall of 1 929 (Saunders , One hundred and eleven were killed on

7 - on 9 one September , twenty nine September and hundred and fourteen 24 2 l between September and 9 . This is the heaviest to l of any species within any one month so far as our records indicate . ' 2 7' 9 1 929 M a 9 1 9 8 Se t. 7 or ( 7 y , 0 p , ‘ 1 9 1 2 Im S e t 7 r 9 1 929 9 May , 9 8 . cf p . o , 2 "’ 2 2 m 1 2 o s May 7 , 1 9 7 I . Q S ept. 7 or 9 , 9 9 m ’ 9 1 29 2 92 2 . S r M 7 7 I ? s e t. 7 o 9 9 ay , 1 p ,

Juv . 9 J uly

I e - — u 1 4 ct ria. virens virens . YELLOW BREASTED CHAT . O June , 1 927 l , a chat was co lected from a dense tangle of berry canes , climbing vines and other plants at the end o f a small clearing in the woods of ’ R er o y s n s island . The surroundings were very suited to the species and the lateness of the date indicates that the bird was established as a

mm we - su er resident . Although have secured no other records for the m region covered in the present paper , the infor ation as to the distribution of this species on the north shore of Lake Erie suggests that it may be found as a rare Summer resident of suitable situations on the mainland adjacent to Long Point . 9 J une

— l i h 1 6 Wilsonia citrina. H OODED WARBLER . Mc l wra t ( 88 ) states

. F n that Mr G . . Norval reported findi g this warbler occasionally at

2 1 6 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

’ on R erson s on 8 1 927 We found it nesting y island June , , and later in the summer incidental observation in wooded areas such as Courtright ’ and Squire s ridges revealed Several occupied nests . September is the

period of southern migration of the redstart . The earliest date is

marked by an individual specimen forwarded to the Museum by M r .

on 2 Lorne Brown , which had been killed at the lighthouse September ,

1 930 - as 1 930 . Saunders ( ) records twenty three individuals having been 7 picked up following a destruction by the light on September , three on 24 2 2 9 9 1 . September , and forty between September and , 9 9 I mmature males (first breeding plumage) collected during the 2 1 9 7 . summer of , appeared to be breeding birds The testes were greatly

enlarged and the birds were in full song .

' 1 1 2 Im n 2 1 2 9 May 9 , 9 8 . Cf J u e 9 , 9 7 7' 2 1 2 m S 1 Im . M 2 9 I . e t 2 93 0 ay , 8 9 p . , 0 ' ’ 7 1 27 2 s S 2 2 1 2 Im . u e 9 e t. 5 or 6 9 9 (5 J n , (T p , ’ n 2 1 2 2 S 2 2 u e 1 9 7 e t. 5 or 1 29 d J , p 6 , 9 ’ ? S 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 m . S u 3 9 7 I e t. 5 or 2 Im . e 6 9 9 (f J n , p ,

— Anth u s rub escens . PIPIT . O n the morning of our arrival at

on 30 1 928 Port Rowan April , , we paid a brief visit to the area bordering f the western edge o inner Long Point bay and the base of the peninsula . Along the new road which had been constructed through the marsh of

this Section , twenty pipits were Observed . The species was again noted f on Second island on May 1 7 o that year . These were the only records obtained although it is probably a fairly common and regular transient

in spring and perhaps the same is true for the fall , but we have no records

for that season . The probabilities are based on occurrences in the

general region . Ma 1 7 1 928 9 y ,

- " e e e . Dum t lla carolin nsis . CATBIRD Our earliest spring record is 2 6 1 9 8 . of five individuals observed on May , I t was a fairly common

transient from that date until the third week of May . I t has not been possible to set an exact date when the last transient of this species was noted since circumstances Of observations confuse individuals which i m ay h ave been established for the summer with those wh ich may have

o m 1 been n the ove , but May 8 was the latest date on which considerably ’ greater numbers were recorded for R yerson s island than would represent

its summer population . Four casualties O fthis species at theLong Point

o 1 1 2 n 9 6 . lighthouse have been reported , all May , 9 This gives the

latest date for the spring migration . V ery few catbirds remain on Long Point to nest Since the barren conditions in reghrd to undergrowth restrict suitable habitat for the 4 1 2 R . 1 9 7 on species We found a nest with three young on June , , yer A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT

’ son s island . The species is a more plentiful summer resident on the adj acent m a1 n land . 7, u e 8 1 927 0 J n ,

T m m - oxosto a rufu . BROWN THRASHER . This species was found only as a scarce migrant on Long Point , five being the greatest number

on e 1 2 noted on any day during the first half of May , 9 8 . The last on e 2 was recorded on May 0 . Available records do n ot list the brown thrasher as a summer resident in the region . Although it is probable

m a of that a few y inhabit suitable sections the mainland , it is rather surprising that it is not found to be a fairly numerous species generally . M 1 2 9 ay 3 , 9 8 h l i T h ot o u u dov cian us l u dovician u s. ry r s CAROLINA WREN . 1 2 1 927 our On June , , party made a preliminary trip to the wooded ridge south of our Second island camp to ascertain the nature of that territory for further collecting . I mmediately after landing a Carolina wren was

- heard in a vine draped tree near the shore . The specimen was dis m covered and shot , but , uch to the disappointment of the four men wh o gathered round the spot , the badly inj ured bird escaped into the tangle of vines at the base of the tree and disappeared . During a brief instant ’ the bird was within two feet of the writer s face . All efforts to uncover

C the specimen failed , and through some curious ircumstance we did not again discover this species on the point until the day O f our departure 2 m on July 6 To ake the two Observations more remarkable , the

- second was heard in the same vine draped tree as the first , this cover

our being within fifty feet of Courtright ridge camp , where we had remained for a period of over a month .

‘ - T roglodytes aedon aedon . HOUSE WREN . First noted by us on 7 1 2 May , 9 8 , although this date would appear to be late for the usual arrival of the species in spring . I t was noted as a migrant until the

of third week ofMay . The latest record is a bird killed at the lighthouse 2 N o 1 1 . O t of on May 9 , 9 6 information relative the fall migration this species is available . I t is a common summer resident of Long Point and vicinity , nesting in clearings in the woods and about habitations .

une 8 1 927 une 30 1 927 c? J , 9 J , 7‘ 1 7 v . u e 29 1 927 uv . u 2 1 92 Ju 0 J n , J 9 J ly , n 29 1 927 Juv . 9 J u e , m — N ann us h iem al is h ie alis . WINTER WREN . This early mi grant was present at the time of our earliest arrival in the region (April 30 1 928 , ) but it was still moving in limited numbers during the first few 6 f o r . days o u stay Three were noted on May , this being the latest

s ec1 es 1 of spring record . No evidence that the p s a summer resident the region has been secured . 9 M ay 2 1 928 2 1 8 TRA NSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- — l i . C istoth oru s stel ar s. SHORT BILLED MARSH WREN O n June 1 2 1 927 - , , short billed marsh Wrens were discovered in the somewhat wet , ’ grassy , flat land between Squire s and Courtright ridges . Four individ

o f u als were noted on this occasion . A Search this area later in the summer disclosed that an extensive territory was occupied by this species and a few were noted regularly ; as many as ten individuals

on n . . . were seen a si gle day Mr W . E Clyde Todd had discovered a ’ marsh wren s nest containing four white eggs which were collected . He considered these to be of the short -billed species although he did

on 1 6 n ot see the bird . We collected a j uvenile bird July , which leaves no doubt that the species breeds in the region .

' 24 1 27 u P u 1 6 1 927 u e 9 v . cf J n , J J ly , 7 ' z ’ u 1 4 1 927 5 s u 23 1 927 0 J ly , o J ly , " u 1 6 1 927 0 J ly ,

- T el m atodytes palu stris pal u stris . LONG BILLED MARSH WREN .

f 1 2 n 1 2 n ot First observed in the spring o 9 8 , o May , but noted com of m on ly until May 25 and thereafter . I t was a common inhabitant 2 certain favoured sections of the marsh during the summer Of 1 9 7 .

Many nests were found during the summer of that year . The earliest date on which a set of five eggs was found was June 4 . It may have on been a completed clutch . The species is also found in the marshes the mainland such as those of Turkey Point .

‘ 7 " M a 3 1 1 927 4 S u 1 1 1 927 6 y , O J ly , 7 ' ‘ un e 4 1 927 u 1 8 1 927 0 J , d J ly , ” ‘ u e 1 4 1 927 u 23 1 927 0 J n , cf J ly , 7' u 7 1 927 0 J ly , — C erth ia fam iliaris am ericana . BROWN CREEPER . The brown creeper was present as a migrant at the time ofou r arrival in the region 1 2 on 30 9 8 . 3 April , On May it was present in great numbers , this being the peak of their spring movement so far as our observations were

. 1 2 concerned They were transient in the region until May , this date marking our latest spring record . N o creepers were seen on the point

of 1 927 during the summer , and we have no summer records for the

m a n lan d . 1 7 1 M a 2 1 928 0 y ,

- S tta. a o e a o e . i c r lin nsis c r lin nsis WHITE BREASTED NUTHATC H . A few migratin g white-breasted nuthatches were observed during the 1 928 early part of May in , five being the greatest number noted on one 1 day . May 0 appeared to mark the close O f their movement although one n 2 was Seen o May 0 ; it may have been a transient bird . Quite a

on an h number of these nuthatches remain Long Point to breed , d t ey m m l aitf l . are sum er residents of the adj acent agn also We noted a few f rather irregularly when encamped in a wooded section o the point ,

220 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

h l fu sce cen s fu s e en - of Hyl ocic a. s c sc s. VEERY . The arrival date

1 28 was 6 . was this thrush in 9 May , four individuals having been seen I t 1 8 l a fairly common bird by May , gradua ly diminishing in numbers , 2 h the last having been seen On the 7t . One had previously been seen 1 2 i n on that date in 9 7 . I t s rather interesting that the veery was ot found on Long Point in summer since it is not an uncommon summer

n resident of the adj acent mainland . The absence O f this species o the peninsula of Point Pelee and its presence in the surrounding country at the base h as been noted by Taverner Habitat conditions

partially account for the absence of the veery on Long Point . Six specimens which struck Long Point light on September 7 and on e destroyed there on September 9 have been recorded by Saunders

a M m e t 7 or 9 1 929 a I . S . 0 y Q p ,

H i h - — yloc c la. al iciae aliciae. GRAY C HEEK ED THRUSH . Noted rarely

: by us in May of 1 927 and 1 928 . The records are as follows One on

4 o 1 2 on 1 1 928 on 27 May , one n May , and one M ay 8 , ; and one May , 4 1 2 one 9 7 . and on June , Lighthouse casualties during the period

r indicated by the above dates , together with ou Observations , Show that m this species is present in fair numbers in spring , and that its ovement

through the region is protracted . I n the fall heavy casualties occur

1 9 0 m . (Saunders , 3 ) especially in late Septe ber One hundred and fifty were picked up after destructions at the light between September 24 2 2 9 1 9 . and , 9 ’ 2 1 2 2 S Se t 25 or 26 1 929 Ma 7 9 7 . 9 y , Q p , ’ 4 2 Se 25 or 26 1 929 u 1 9 2 m s t . e 7 I . 9 J n , ( T p , 7" 4 S e 25 or 2 1 29 o s pt. 6 , 9

- R H H ylocich la. u stulata. swain soni. OLIVE BAC KED TH U S . 4 1 928 The earliest date of arrival obtained by us was May , , two birds 1 27 . a m on 6 8 having been seen The species w s Com on May , and , being noted in less numbers regularly between those dates . Our latest

- 2 1 27 one . date was May 8 , 9 , bird having been noted Olive backed 1 0 thrushes are common migrants again In the fall . Saunders ( 93 ) has recorded eighteen as having been destroyed at the lighthouse on Sept

7 9 on e ember , ten on September , and hundred and forty between 2 2 24 9 1 9 9 . September and ,

‘ e r 9 1 929 Ma 5 1 928 P S t. 7 o ci y , p , " S 2 or 26 1 929 a 27 1 927 e t . 5 o M y , p ,

—" Hylocich la guttate pal l asi. HERMIT THRUSH . Six hermit 1 7 1 8 two on 20 thrushes struck the lighthouse on April or , and April

2 1 o r 1 9 . u or , 30 This thrush was present at the time Of arrival in the

2 f r 0 1 9 8 . o Long Point region on April 3 , I t was fairly common the

on 6 . first few days , the last being seen May Our only record for the A FAUNAL INV ESTIGATION OF LONG POINT

fall is that of Saunders an individual being listed among the m 24 29 casualties at the light which occurred between Septe ber and , 1 2 9 9 '

9 May 3 , 1 928

P ne mi — l a sticus r ri mi r r . R g ato u s g ato iu s OBIN . Six robins were

1 7 1 1 . killed at the Long Point light on April or 8 , 930 Although the species is an early migrant there was some evidence of a northward 1 2 movement during the first few days Of May in 9 8 . A few birds were noted daily on Second island where only one pair was known to be 2 established during the previous summer . Lewis ( 1 9 7b) has recorded 4 2 on 1 1 9 5 . a robin which struck the lighthouse May , The bird was

undoubtedly a migrant . Robins were not plentiful on Long Point in

summer . A pair was established here and there , particularly about the

various camps which have been built there . The species is not to be

met with regularly or in numbers in the woods away from camps . They

of . are , course , common on the mainland

Mr . Angus Buchanan has related to the writer that he had made a 2 motor trip along the north shore Of Long Point bay during the fall of1 9 8 . He stated that in travelling from five miles east of Port Dover to Turkey

Point flocks of robins were almost constantly in evidence . These birds

were feeding and travelling westward along the shore , giving a rather f C lear impression o the birds skirting the bay rather than flying across it . ‘ uv. u e 1 2 1 927 J cf J n , — Sialia. sialis sialis . BLUEBIRD Noted fairly regularly but not m r 1 928 com only as a mig ant during May , , the last transient bird having

been noted on May 1 9 . I t is a rather scarce summer resident of the point but more common on the mainland . We secured no information relative to the status of the species as a migrant in the fail .

u e 25 1 927 9 J n ,

HYPOTHETIC AL LIST

’ L — C olymb u s h olb oell i. H O LB cEL s GREBE . Loca l sportsmen appeared to know this species and described it to us as a fairly regular but rather an uncommon bird found in early spring and late fall . Among 1 9 1 7 the paintings by Wm . Pope (Locke , ) which are housed in the Toronto reference library there is one of an adult of this species in winter

20 1 859 . plumage , which is dated October , The representation was

o r probably from a bird taken locally , but u evidence as to the occurrence of this greb e is such as to make its inclusion more satisfactory with hypothetical cases .

- M . . ifi I C . r . o he G avia pac ca . PAC FI LOON L J B ughner reported t - him n black throated loon as being observed at Long Point by in Ju e ,

1 5 222 TRA NSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE

’ 1 898 Urina tor a rcticu s was B u h ner s , and the name , , included under o g bird notes edited by W . T . Macoun I f the bird observed was

f - o l as . the b ack throated type , it should be considered the Pacific loon — el e er h rorh n ch s. A f P canu s yt y u WHITE PELI C AN . member o the life -saving crew stationed near the end of Long Point informed

on 7 1 925 M r . W . E . Saunders June , , that a white pelican had been seen

1 923 . is there in April , Although the information probably correct , the record is perhaps best placed under the hypothetical list . — ra . B ranta. b ern icl a gl au cogast BRANT . Apparently no speci mens of this species are extant in collections but the brant is included in the hypothetical list on the authority of local sportsmen who have stated that they have seen and shot it in the Long Point marshes in the

as fall . The brant can only be suspected being a rare and irregular migrant of the district . — Mycteria am ericana . WOOD I BI S Fleming ( 1 9 1 3) h as recorded f of the taking o a specimen this species near Simcoe , Norfolk county , 2 1 . on in November , 89 The excellent drawing of the dead bird which this record was based is now on file in the Museum . The species is included in the hypothetical list of birds of Long Point because the specimen recorded was taken but a short distance outside of the area “ ” o f considered as the Vicinity Long Point , and to record the present location of the original basis for the record . i — 1 G ru s am er cana . WHOOPING CRANE Macoun ( 898) reports

f . this species in a list o birds submitted to him by L . J Boughner as “ ”

o n 1 898 . having been seen Long Island , Lake Erie in The crane was

on 29 supposed to have been seen June , but the record is merely the f casual inclusion o the name without comments . Since the species was

n e of such rare occurrence in Ontario , strong evidence would appear ces sary to give credit to the report , although the list as a whole appears to be well founded . P — R ED . 2 h alaropes ful icarius. PHALAROPE Townson ( 1 9 8) writes that two phalaropes passed the decoys and settled on the water ” 2 2 about two hundred yards to windward on October 4 1 9 7 . Two days e later he saw anoth r phalarope pass the decoys , but it refused to mingle with the imitation ducks , as they sometimes do . Mr . Townson has informed the writer that he was n ot certain ofthe species but suspected ’ from the size ofthese birds that they were Wilson s phalarope (Stegan opu s tricol or) . The dates and circumstances of this observation and the

of m large Size the birds seen suggest that they were ore probably P .

'

l u . u ica m s Wm . 1 91 7 f Pope (Locke , ) figures this species and dates the 1 5 1 6 . work , October , 8 8 m i — a t a a . 1 908 B r r i long cau da UPLAND PLOVER . Nash ( ) states

h a ma that he s found it breeding in Norfolk county . The species y occur

TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

1 9 1 7 was among the Pope pictures (Locke , ) probably based on a speci

in R men found the neighbourhood of Port yerse .

- — C en tu r s carol inu s. R ED C u BELLIED WOODPE KER . The only

h as i indication that this species occurs , or occurred in the region , s the

inclusion of it among the bird illustrations made by Wm . Pope (Locke ,

1 91 7 was R r ) while he resident at Port ye se . — H e e i h on a e erti a . sp r p v sp n EVEN ING GROSBEAK . A painting o f f o . 1 1 7 this bird in the collection illustrations by Wm Pope (Locke , 9 ) was probably taken from a specimen Secured in the neighbourhood of Port

R erse is too y , but the evidence uncertain to be presented other than

under hypothetical cases . The picture here referred to is o fa male and

is d 1 860 . ated February ,

P i l e o l r K — in co a nu cleat r eu c u a . PINE GROSBEA Three illustra s 1 9 1 7 tions Of thi grosbeak are among the Pope pictures (Locke , ) now f in the public reference library o Toronto . Pope probably based h is R illustration s on birds collected near Port yerse . One painting of a 1 42 2 1 is 8 86 . female dated November , , and another March , 5

- — L xi e er . A o a l u co t a . p WHITE WINGED CROSSBILL male specimen ,

is probably taken locally , among the bird illustrations executed by Wm .

his R erse Pope during residence at Port y , Ontario (Locke , The

1 875 . picture is dated November , — Plectroph enax nivalis nivalis . SNOW BUNTING . A picture of

9 1 860 is this species , dated February , , among the Pope paintings m (Locke , The picture was probably made from a speci en taken R r locally near Port ye se . — m m s pA R " C h n e e r mm s r a u . S R D o d st s g a acu g a c LARK ow . ale 1 3 1 9 . ( ) has recorded the finding Of a nest containing four eggs , by J F . of 24 1 Calvert , about half a mile south Walsingham village on May , 930 . This locality is sufficiently close to the area here considered to render

possible the occurrence of the species within the area . — i . 1 B ombyc lla. garrula . BOHEMIAN WA"WING Cross ( 890) has D recorded the taking of three specimens of this waxwing at Port over ,

2 1 890 of Norfolk county , on February 0 , , one which was forwarded to D m him . The occurrence of the species at Port over is so ewhat outside the area considered in this paper , but it indicates the possibility of occurrence in the region during any one of the sporadic invasions of the species into southern Ontario . — L e . anius b or alis . NORTHERN SHRIKE Probably occurs more or

our of d less regularly in winter , but only evidence occurrence is base on 1 91 2 1 . 3 an illustration by Wm Pope (Locke , 7) made October , 865 , probably from a bird taken in the region . A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT 225

LITERATURE CITED

1 2 . f l L . . 8 o ow . 9 Baillie , J , Jr Some late records the snowy for southern 4 - 5 9 1 0 . Ontario , Auk , 9 0

2 . . 1 9 . . 7a Bent , A C Life histories of North American marsh birds 4 1 . U . S. . . . 3 Nat Mus Bull ,

2 f Am rl a . . . 1 9 b . o e c n Bent , A C 7 Life histories North Shore birds 2 S M . . 1 4 . U . . . u s Nat Bull , i 1 9 . B gelow , Henry B . 07 On hybrids between the mallard (Anas

- b h a . . osc s) and certain other ducks Auk , 388 2 - 1 D of 370 . 1 9 . Bishop , Louis B . escription a new loon , Auk ,

1 . . . Cottle , T . 859 . A list of birds found in Upper Canada Can Nat

and Geol . ,

l s m l us . . . A m e i ar . . 1 890 . Cross , Wm p g in Ontario Trans Can Inst ,

f - D 1 1 . o . 3 . . ale , E . M . S . 9 Nesting the lark sparrow Can Field Nat ,

D R of D of 1 897 . urand , Chas . eminiscences Charles urand Toronto ,

4 . . 5 Barrister . Toronto , p 2 1 9 . . . 0 m . H . Fle ing , J , and Hoyes Lloyd Ontario bird notes Auk ,

6 . of . H . 1 90 Fleming , J . Birds Toronto , Ontario Auk ,

1 91 3 . Fleming , J . H . . Ontario bird notes Auk ,

1 2 . F . 9 9 of orbush , Edward Howe Birds Massachusetts and other 2 D . V . 2 . . l . 8 New England states ept of Agri . , Boston . o I I I , p

. 1 1 6 . on . . 9 Fuertes , L A Notes hybrid ducks from Long Point , Ontario

Auk ,

1 80 . . . . 8 Giles , J . Bevans Long Point The happy hunting ground

Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun ,

44 . 1 . . 8 m Godley , John Robert Letters from A erica , London , Eng ,

1 24 . . 6 vol , p . ’

1 . 898 . Halkett , Andrew . An Ottawa naturalist s journey westward

Ottawa Nat . ,

1 . : 1 . s . 876 m 7 50 "Hallock , Cha ] Forest and strea ,

1 . . W . . 05 m . Harris , Edward 9 The quail Briggs , pub Toronto

D . 1 0 . on . 9 6 . . . . . Hobson ; W A knot Lake Erie Ont Nat Sc Bull , 2 42 . No . , p . 1 2 H R . 90 . owe , eginald Heber , Jr Occurrence of the barn owl in

Canada . Auk , 21 . 1 f . n 8 . o o . Howison , John Sketches Upper Canada L don , Eng ,

p . 1 60 .

. 1 927a . Lewis , H . F A distributional and economic study of the

i . . European starling in Ontar o Univ Toronto Stud . , Biol .

9 . e . 30 . S ries , No , p 226 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUT E

2 D f l 9 7b . o Lewis , H . F . estruction birds by lighthouses in the

- 41 : -58 . 5 . . 5 provinces of Ontario and Quebec Can Field Nat , ;

- 75 77 . 22 1 . . . 9 Lincoln , Frederick C Trapping ducks for banding purposes

- 334 . Auk ,

1 9 1 7 . . Locke , George H . Water colour drawings by William Pope

Public Library , Toronto . f 1 66 . M i h . 8 o c Ilwra t , T List birds observed near Hamilton , Canada

- 1 . . 9 West . Essex I nst Communications ,

l . M 1 886 . . st Il raith . c w , T The birds of Ontario Hamilton , edition

2 . M . . 1 4 f . n d i h . 9 o c Ilwra t , T 8 The birds Ontario Toronto edition

. . 1 898 . . . Macoun , W T "Editor] Bird notes for June Ottawa Nat ,

1 -1 f 900 9 3 . o . 0 Macoun , John Catalogue Canadian birds (Parts I and

Ottawa .

1 . . . . 90 . 9 Macoun , J , ad J M Macoun , Catalogue of Canadian birds

Ottawa .

. D . . 1 908 . of Nash , C . W Vertebrates Ontario ept of Education ,

Toronto . 2 1 . f National Parks of Canada . 9 8 O ficial Canadian record of bird

- banding returns . Can . Field Nat . ,

2 - . 1 . . . . 838 . 9 33 Need , Thomas Six years in the bush London , Eng , pp

1 22 . . 9 . Phillips , John C A natural history of the ducks Boston and

New York . 2 . . 1 9 . . 6 C an . Saunders , W E Hudsonian godwit in Ontario Field

4 : 0 1 1 . Nat . , 3

. 1 930 . Saunders , W . E The destruction of birds at Long Point light 2 - n 4 1 . 1 o 9 9 1 . house , Ontario , nights in Auk , 5 ’

1 . m . . 8 6 S all , H B 6 The Canadian handbook and tourists guide . 1 1 . 6 . Montreal , p

1 . : . 1 8 . 5 Smith , Wm H Canada Past , present and future . Toronto , 2 1 . 1 . vol . , p 6

'

. . 2 D u l 8a . r s u u 9 Ci c h dsom s. Snyder , L L ouble ovaries in Auk ,

- 99 . 2 ' . . 1 E u 9 8b . re n et s u Snyder , L L The western sandpiper , e ma rz, in

Ontario . Auk , 2 ’ . . 1 9 9 . m Snyder , L L Second Canadian record of Bach an s sparrow .

4 : 1 1 . Auk , 6 9

. 1 . ff . 93 Snyder , L L 0 Sexual di erentiation in the plumage of the black

- bellied plover . Auk , 80 .

- A . . 1 1 . Taverner , P , and B . H . Swales . 90 7 908 The birds of Point

- - . . 54 99 . Pelee Wilson Bull , and

A N D A FAUNAL I NVESTIGATION OF LONG POI NT VI CI N ITY ,

NORFOLK COUNTY , ONTARIO

A N D IV . THE AM PH I B IANS REPTILES OF LONG POI NT

By E . B . S . LOGIER

In 1 927 the writer spent eighteen days between May 25 and June 1 3 at Long Point as a member of the Museum party . The other members of the party remained at the point that year until the end of July and

1 928 for . Visited it again in May , , remaining there a month In May , 2 L R 4 com 1 . 1 h 9 9 . . e a on e t , M r W J yspent day , the , at Long Point in D 1 2 r. . . . 9 9 pany with J A Campbell I n July , , the writer in company L R 1 2 h 1 3 h . e a t with Mr y , spent two more days , the t and , at this interest ing place . It was during these visits that the specimens and data upon which the present paper is based were gathered and the writer wishes here to acknowledge the kind co-operation of his fellow members of the

of Museum party and the above mentioned gentlemen . All the visits to Long Point were made possible through the kindness of the late

Mr . H . B . Johnson . The herpetological fauna of Long Point exhibits some interesting peculiarities as compared With that ofother localities in southern Ontario . One is impressed by the apparent absence of A mbystoma and P l ethodon m o of R n lamitans R ana among the sala anders , f all Hylidae , a a c and s loati a f y c , and by the scarcity ofB ufo american us. Long Point o fers a variety of physiographic conditions which appear to comply with the requirements ofthese species as indicated by their habitat preferences in localities where they are common . There can be little doubt that the great abundance of garter snakes is a potent factor in suppressing m a phibians . On the other hand , that certain species as the leopard frog and Fowler ’s toad should escape destruction while other equally or more powerful species like the green frog and the American toad m should be preyed upon to , or nearly to the point of exter ination , seems unlikely . ’ f s m A mb stoma e ersoni num Jef erson sala ander ( y j fi a ) , the spotted m A mb stoma maculotum - m P leth sala ander ( y ) , the red backed sala ander (

' odon cinemas m B u o er nus ) , the A erican toad ( f am zca ) , the spring peeper

H la cruci er - H la vers olor R ana ( y f ) , the tree toad ( y ic ) , the wood frog (

’ sylvatzca) and the green frog (R ana clamitans) are all common and successful species in southern Ontario and their ranges include the north 230 TRANSAC TIONS O F T H E RO YAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

shore o fLake Erie . Yet for some reason they are apparently unsuccess ful at Long Point where the leopard frog and Fowler ’ s toad are the dominant amphibians and the only ones which appear to be at all plentiful .

o f - Among the reptiles , the apparent absence the blue tailed skink (Eu meces fasciol a s) and the red -bellied snake (Storeria occipito-macu lata ) was on notable , though the woods Ryerson island and Courtright ridge

ofl er appeared to ideal conditions for these species . The most notable features in the reptile fauna were the abundance f o T hamn o his s . sirtalis its the common garter snake ( p ) , and pronounced fox El a he vul n melanistic tendency . The snake ( p pi a) and the brown

'

to . H eterodon snake (S ron a dekayi) were common . The blowing adder ( contortrix was ) which Seems to be nowhere abundant in Ontario , common

for six m 1 927 . the species , speci ens having been taken in eighteen days in

' The water snake (N amx sipedon) was common though not abundant for its Species . e L R 1 4 When e ay and Dr. Campbell visited Long Point on May , 1 929 , they collected on Ryerson island and at the Oak ridges and found garter snakes and fox snakes congregated in large numbers at the Oak

one ridges , where they collected over hundred and forty snakes , including six 1 3 of blowing adders , in about two and a half hours . On July the same year few snakes were seen at the ridges , only two fox snakes and about a dozen garter snakes having been taken in three or four hours .

The Oak ridges rise to a height of seven or eight feet above the surrounding marsh affording dry ground even when the water is high .

They are unshaded except for a few scattered oaks along the crests , and since they lie in an east and west direction the southern slope would receive the maximum amount of sunshine in the autumn and early spring . The above Observations would suggest that large numbers of snakes

of of avail themselves the protection these ridges for winter quarters , scattering out over the marsh again when the weather becomes warm and settled .

The turtles are well represented at Long Point . Six species were found . Their relative abundance , in descending order , appeared to be ’ : Em s blandin ii ma Gra t as follows Blanding s turtle ( y g ) , the p turtle ( p em s eo ra hica heledra ser en tina y g g p ) , the snapping turtle (C p ) , the painted

C hr se s m n t Clemm s uttata m m . ar i a a turtle ( y y g ) , the spotted turtle ( y g ) ,

' - and the soft shelled turtle (A myda spimfem) .

on The list the following pages includes eighteen species , six amphi bians and twelve reptiles . I t cannot be positively stated that certain species not included do not occur at Long Point , but if they do , they m m ust be very unco mon .

232 TRA NSA C TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE among the grasses in water one foot deep in a sand bar pool on Ryerson island .

f - The males were greatly in excess o the females . Out of forty four our - specimens in collections thirty four are males , four are females and six o are young specimens f uncertain sex . 1 3 1 929 On July , , large numbers Of recently transformed specimens on were found a flat , sandy area edging on the marsh near the outer m beach , but sheltered fro it by the high , wooded ridge which separates m the arsh from the beach . — R a. te ei was not an ca sb ana. Shaw . BULL FROG The bull frog abundant at Long Point . Its call was heard occasionally in the evenings 1 2 1 2 1 29 9 7 . 9 in June , , but no specimens were seen that year On July , , a few specimens were heard calling near the Long Point Company ’ s cottages and two were collected , they were floating among the reeds in water of three or four feet in depth . — e S h r r G R ana. pipi ns c ebe . LEOPARD FRO Leopard frogs were found to be plentiful toward the western end of Ryerson island . They m were seen in the beach pools and in the shallow , arshy water between

f . the wooded ridges . A few were also seen at other parts o the point Considering the apparently ideal leopard frog habitat conditions which

on h exist in many places the point , one would have expected to ave found of them more plentiful than they were . The suppression their numbers may be due in part to the great abundance ofgarter snakes . 30 1 927 On May , , some leopard frogs were croaking at night in the

of was sand bar pools on Second island . On June 8 a clump spawn seen ’ on e of R erson s in the pools on y island , but was apparently infertile and a w s commencing to spoil .

R EPTILES

H — e e . Six t rodon contortrix (Linné) . BLOWING ADDER adult ‘ 2 m specimens of this species were taken on Ryerson island in 1 9 7 , ost of

on of them the sandy beach where they came to bask . They were all dark coloration with the blotching nearly obscured . Two more speci 2 L R . 1 . a mens were taken by Mr . H . P Stovell in 9 8 and six by Mr e y and

Dr. 1 2 Campbell in 9 9 . E h e F — lap vulpina ( Baird and Girard) . O " SNAKE This species was found to be Common . Seventeen specimens were taken between 27 1 2 1 92 f M ay and June , 7 . About as many , but o the exact number _ L R Dr . e a . there is no record , were taken by Mr y and Campbell on May 1 4 1 29 2 2 of 9 1 1 1 9 . , , and three were taken on July and 3 , 9 Most the specimens taken were basking in the sun at the time of capture . I n the maj ority of cases in the writer ’ s experience these snakes would A FAUNAL INVESTIGATION OF LONG POINT n o t exhibit any excitement or make any attempt to escape when ap

one p roach ed . On occasion the writer was collecting at some logs on for Ryerson island , and after working there about ten minutes discovered

n a fox snake lying quietly o the grass not more than eight feet away . I t was apparently not in the least disturbed by all the movement of turning the logs and stripping the bark . On another occasion a speci men betrayed itself by Vibrating its tail in the grass when we passed at a distance of eight or ten feet . A young specimen about two feet in length taken on Ryerson island 2 1 927 on June , , later disgorged a bundle of undigested earthworms . This same specimen escaped from its bag in our cabin on the night of its ’ capture and finally found its way into the writer s bed . This method on the part of these snakes of seeking warmth at night was known to the fishermen on the point . — m e . Lam o el ti t. t ia ul u e pr p s r ng (Lac p de) MILK SNAKE . A

f . was single specimen o 366 mm in length taken by Mr . Stovell at Court

on 26 1 927 . right ridge June , After capture it disgorged three young

r totis ared of . shrews , C yp p , two which revived later E — N atrix s . sipedon (Linné) . WATER SNAK The water snake could hardly be considered as plen tiful . Only thirteen specimens were 1 2 25 1 3 9 7 . found between May and June , One specimen was found on 2 1 2 1 9 . July , 9 ek i — Storeria d ay (Holbrook) . LITTLE BROWN SNAKE This species was common and was taken from under cover on the ground , mostly on 1 2 Ryerson island . Thirteen specimens were taken in 9 7 and fourteen 2 1 2 1 9 9 . on July , — h i i l i é . T h amnop s s . s rta s (Linn ) GARTER SNAKE . This was by of far the most abundant reptile at Long Point , and is especial interest

of because the pronounced melanistic tendency which it exhibits . The

m - truly melanistic individuals , which would co prise perhaps thirty five per

of of cent . the garter snake population the point , are Of a deep , satiny

s ec1 mens black with white throats . I n some p the white had a pale greenish hue and in some it was soiled with brown .

for As the time shedding approaches , the skin loses its intense black m ness and becomes dull , the belly becomes ilky and the back may or m e become grayish brownish , so etim s Showing a rather faint striping . In preserved material this condition is even more apparent and even brilliant specimens may become dull . Many of the striped specimens found were very dusky , and since the yellow pigment washes out in preservative it Often becomes a difficult matter to distinguish these from those that were originally black . I n the museum collection there are one hundred and seventy-three m m - speci ens fro Long Point . Of these thirty seven are definitely black , 234 TRAN S A C TION S OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I N STITUTE

- or twenty seven are dull faintly striped but show a deep , black under

h as so skin where the outer skin been removed , there seems to be little

of doubt that the latter were melanos approaching the time shedding ,

of - making a total practically thirty seven per cent . melanos in the

- ix . s n o collection At least another twenty specimens , though t actually

of black , Show a great excess black pigment which in some cases almost

obscures the striping . for 1 929 While at Long Point two days in July , , we decided to

saw o f collect every garter snake we regardless colour or size . A number

of - six out of - or escaped , but we secured a total eighty which forty four

. of per cent . were black The high percentage melanos in this collection is perhaps due in part to the fact that their colour does not

so o conceal them in the field , they are more easily seen and less likely t

escape .

Females apparently are more abundant than males , and especially

- so in the case Of the black specimens . The thirty seven definitely black specimens in the museum collection were examined for sex and there

- fin i e were nine males and twenty eight females . An equal number of de t ly striped specimens were examined and there were sixteen males and

- twenty one females . In the black specimens , then , we find per

of . . cent . females and in the striped specimens per cent Of females

- In the total of seventy four specimens examined we find per cent .

offemales . 1 27 1 929 I n the years 9 and a total of fifteen pregnant females , nine

s striped and ix black , were isolated in separate containers until after

of their litters were born , when the numbers black and striped young in 1 2 ff . N O S . 7 the di erent litters were counted (Copeia , and The results for these observations are as follows : The nine striped females

- f - r produced two hundred and forty eight young o which eighty eight , o

. six per cent . were black The black females produced one hundred

- and thirty young of which sixty eight , or per cent . were black . The total ofall young born was three hundred and seventy-eight ofwhich

fif - x t Si . . one hundred and y , or per cent were black The yellow striped specimens found at Long Point did not exhibit the brilliant lemon yellow so common in the striping of this species from of Lake Ontario northward , but a deep yellow straw , orange or brownish

hue , and frequently rather dull . A few showed red skin anteriorly

between the scales of the lateral stripes . I t was noted that many of the garter snakes taken at Long Point were unusually pugnacious and would flatten themselves and strike repeatedly when first handled . C h e e — lydra s rpen tin e (Linné) . SNAPPING TURTLE This turtle was common at Long Point and was Often caught by the fishermen when seining in the marsh for carp .

236 TRANSAC TIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN I NSTITUTE

- s in ifera s . R T LE A myda. p (Le ueur) SOFT SHELLED T U . One speci 2 2 men o f this turtle was taken in 1 9 7 and three in 1 9 8 . According to

no the fishermen , these turtles were not uncommon , but were t Often seen except when they came ashore in J une to lay their eggs . They were occasionally taken in the fishing nets .