. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. 102 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XXXIV. trees, bushes, or ferns, no doubt many nes'.s, prob- ably about one-third of the total number present, escaped my eye. A much larger proportion of the young birds, perhaps four-fifths, must have been passed unseen by me. Not long after hatching, these young Gulls are able to leave the nest, and at the approach of danger, to hide in the abundant cover. The skill with which they do this, and the very large proportion which in consequence are {)assed unnoticed are well shown by my experience in July,
. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. 102 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XXXIV. trees, bushes, or ferns, no doubt many nes'.s, prob- ably about one-third of the total number present, escaped my eye. A much larger proportion of the young birds, perhaps four-fifths, must have been passed unseen by me. Not long after hatching, these young Gulls are able to leave the nest, and at the approach of danger, to hide in the abundant cover. The skill with which they do this, and the very large proportion which in consequence are {)assed unnoticed are well shown by my experience in July, 1914, when banding young Gulls on Big of which was already banded. In other words, less than 7' , of the first lot of young birds could be found in the second search, while more than 95' , of the second lot escaped observation at the time of the first search. In addition to counting exactly the young birds, nests, and eggs seen, I made careful estimates of the number of grown-up Gulls belonging to each island. This was very difficult because, when I visited an island. Gulls from other islands would fly over, in greater or less numbers, to join the. A QI'IIO'I' DOZI-; TWO ; tlKOKGK COFFIN-CA HFilERS RRSTING OX THEIR XKST1X(; .\ I ). I'lioti) hv ll<)\\;in Cleaves: rei)r()(lucey |iermissioii—Cut l)y of l)f(miiiion r;\rl<s liiii iicli. Gull Island. A careful search of the island at that time revealed but 19 young Gulls, of which I banded 16, all that were large enough for the pur- pose. I then went to another island, and was there long encugh to allow resumption of normal life and a general moving about on the part of the young Gulls on Big Gull Island. Then I returned to Big Gull Island and searched it a second time, finding 21 young Gulls large enough for banding, but one actual residents of the island in protest. Neverthe- less, I made repeated, careful estimates, with all the known conditions in view, and with the exer- cise of the strongest conser
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