To the bird observ.er ther. e is a deep inter.est and pleasant
anticipation in exploring a new section of country, especially
wher.e a pictur.esque wilderness 1.ends an added charm. The
exquisite beauty of the wild rice marshes, the deep solitude of
the thick cedar woods, the rugged magnificence of the wind-
fall tangl.es and the clear waters reflecting sky and bordering
for.est form a picture o.f wild natural beauty never to be for-
gotten, and such a country is the Les Cheneaux Islands and
adjacent mainland in T. 42. N. R. I. W., Macinac county,
Michigan.
Ther.e is but little cultivated land in the vicinity of these
islands. Some tamarack, balsam, pin.e, and birch tr.ees are to
be found, but spruce, hemlock and poplar ar.e mor.e common,
while the cedar is the predominating tree and forms extensive
swamps.
It is to be regretted that I could not devote my entir.e time
to bird observation, but .ev.ery opportunity was embraced, and
probably very few species escaped notice. Of thos.e obs.erved,
howewer, .eight spedes could not be identified vith certainty
and ar.e consequently not listed. It might also be mentioned
that whil.e no owls were met with one specimen of the Great
Horned was shot a fev days before my arrival.
Captain John Pollock of the Les Cheneaux Club stated
that during his fifteen years residence in the vicinity of these
islands he has never observed the Woodcock or Scarlet Tana-
ger; birds he was familiar with in southern Michigan; also a
small flock of Passenger Pigeons ar.e observed each year. Of
course, as none of these pigeons have been secured their iden-
tity is not beyond question. He showed me a nest of the Os-
prey, from which a gentl.eman from Chicago took thre.e young
and secured the parent birds; and also mentic.ned one of the
Northern Ravens in a pine which had been occupied for many
years up to 1900.
The following list repr.esent the birds observed between
October 15th and November 15th, 1903:
WOOD ON AUTUMN BIRDS OF LES CHENEAUX ISLANDS. 49
1. Colymbua auritua. Horned Grebe.
2. Podilymbua podicepa. Pied-billed Grebe.--These two species
could be seen on the bays at all times, the former considered good
eating by the residents.
3, Gavia irabet. Loom--Several observed.
4. Larus argentatua. Herring GulL--Many seen. Captain Pol-
lock showed me a nest on a small island within 300 yards of the
club house, where a brood had been successfully reared during
the subminer. The pair have nested there five or six years, but no
others breed in the vicinity, although the birds may be seen
summer in more or less numbers.
5. Larua delawarenais. Ring-billed Gu.ll.--Six were observed one
morning on piles in front of club house.
6. Larus philadelphia. Bonaparte GulL--One seen with the last
species.
7. Merganser americanus. American Mergnser.--Common,
breeds. Captain Pollock stated that mny pairs with young were
on the bay during the summer nd became very tame, one brood
coming to the lnding to be fed.
8. Merganaer aerrator. Red-breasted Merganser.--A male drop-
ped into my decoys, b.u dove at the flash and reappeared out
range. This was the only specimen I could positively identify.
9. Lophodytes cucullatua. Hooded Merganser.--Rather common
and considered good eating. Pollock says, ';a common breeder."
10. Anaa boachaa. Mallard.
11. Anaa obacura. Black Duck.
12. Aythya americana. Redhead.--The various indentations of
the bay were covered with wild rice and visited by flocks of the
three above species ranging from ten to fifty bir(ls.
13. Aythya affinis. Lesser Scaup Duck.--Common.
14. Clangula clangu,la americana. American Golden-eye.--A
few small flocks.
15. Charitonetta albeola. B'uffle-head.--Most abundant of all
the ducks. Flocks of 500 or more often seen.
1(;. Oidemia americana. American Scoter.--One bird secured
from a flock of five. No others seen.
17. Branta canadensis. Canada Goose.--Several small flocks.
18. Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs.
19. Charadrius dominicus. American Golden Plover.--Flocks of
five to twenty of this plover and yellow-legs seen daily and many
secured.
-0. Bonasa umbellus. Ruffed Grouse.--An abundant resident.
Its greatest enemies are the foxes and half-starved Indian dogs.
21. Buteo borealis. Red-tailed I-Iawk.--One seen.
22. Buteo lineatus. Red-sh.ou,idered Hawk.--One seen.
23. Halimetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle.--One, adult specimen,
came daily to the outer bay.
50
Tm WLsos BUL.E'rN--No. 31.
24. Falco sparverius. American Sparrow tlawk.--Several seen.
25. Dryobates villosus.. Hairy 5Voodpecker.--Common.
26. Dryobates pubescens medianus. Downy Woodpecker.--Com-
men. Most abundant of the woodpeckers.
27. Picoides arcticus. Arctic Three-toed Woodpeeker.--Most
abundant of the woodpeckers.
28. Ceophleeus pileatus abieticola. Northern Pileated Wood-
peeker.--Common. About 30 seen and one secured.
29. Colapres auratus luteus. Northern Flicker.--Several ob--
served.
30. Cyanocitta cristata. Blue Jay.--Common.
31. Perisoreus canadensis. Canada Jay.--A rather common and
conspicuous species found mainly along the Indian trails and
deer runs.
32. Corvus brachyrhynchos. American Crow.--Several seen.
33. Pinicola enucleator leucura. Northern Pine Grosbeak.-
Many large flocks noted and a very small percentage in the red
plumage.
34. I_oxia curvirostra minor. American Crossbill.--Many smaJl
flocks observed.
35. Acanthis finaria. Red-poll. One small flock.
36. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin.--3/4ery abundant.
37. Passerina nivalis. Snowflake.--Common. Always in large
flocks.
38.
119.
45.
41.
Spizella monticola. Tree Sparrow.--Common.
Junco hyemalis. Slate-colored Junco.--Common.
Melospiza cinema melodla. ong Sparrow.--Three seen.
Lanius borealis. Northern Shrike.The only specimen seen
was secured.
42. Lanius ludovicianus migrans, Migrant Shrike. Several ob-
served.
43. Sitta carolinensis. White-breasted Nuthatch.--Common.
44. Sitta canadensis. Red-breasted Nuthatch.--Not so abundant
as the preceding.
45. Parus atricapillus, Chickadee.--This energetic little bird
was distributed throughout the country visited.
46. Regulus calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.--One brought me
for identification.
46. Merula migratoria. American Robin.--Several individuals
were noted at various tim'es.
48. Sialia sialia, Bluebird.--Several small flocks seen. None
observed after November 1st.
Detroit, Mich.