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May, 1916 A VISIT TO HAT AND EGG ISLANDS i19 for her own and, acting on this impression, had deposited an egg therein. Quite a large number of instances of this kind came under our observation. We observed several interesting attempts on the part of gulls to conceal their nests and eggs while they were absent. This was accomplished by cover- ing them with a fe?v feathers and grasses. In addition to the hiding aspect, there might also be in this scheme an idea of protection from changes of tem- perature. As is well known, this device is resorted to by nesting geese and several of the ducks. The homing instinet of the gull was evidenced by a rather remarkable and appealing instance. A dead gull was found on a nest. An examination of the bird revealed that she had received a gunshot wound in the large pectoral muscles of the breast, the blood from which had stained her white breast F;g. 38. YOUNO G?3?ns. THE DISRU1;'TIVE NATURE OF THEIR MARKINGS CARRIES OUT TIlE SCHEME OF LIGHTS AND SHADOWS SHOWN IN THEIR IMMEDIATE SURBOUNDINGS. feathers and the eggs that she had flown thirty miles to reach. I would that the thoughtless marksman that fired the fatal bullet could sense the stab that every beat of her pinions gave as she performed this journey, her last act of maternal devotion. WHITE PELIGAN.-? large number of pelican nests were found on the east and south sides of the Island. All these were at some distance from the shore, and among the low greasewoods. The nests bore the appearance of being simply a mass of pebbles and sand that had been scooped together in a mound about twenty-four inches in diameter and four inches high. There was a shallow depression in the top of the mound which was lined with short twigs. In this the eggs were deposited. Several pelican eggs were found scattered here and there on the ground. As all of these that were examined were fresh