FROH THE NHS'S INVETBRATB PUNSTER by Evelyn Meader

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fixed lynx

Given in response to a Wayne Barrett slide show and story of a lynx sitting on the side of a road, hoar frost coating its fur, while the park naturalist went for a camera to take the picture.

GULLS DIE by Pierre—Yves Daoust

On Thursday, June 24, Mr. Les Homans noted large numbers of dead gull chicks on a small section of beach on the south shore of Malpeque Bay (at the end of the Locke Road, off Highway 2). He counted more than 200 carcasses on a section of beach approximately 1/2 km long. The chicks were of various sizes and some broken eggs were also present. The species involved, i.e. Herring and/or Black—backed, could not be determined. However, the size of some of the broken egg shells picked up by Mr. Homans corresponded to that of Black-backed Gull eggs. Very old carcasses of adult birds of both species were also on the shore. The previous day, June 23, a storm with very strong winds had occurred. It is therefore likely that the chicks had been washed off their nests at colonies on some of the islands in the Bay.

Five gull chicks were examined at the Atlantic Veterinary College Diagnostic Services Division. The diagnosis was mild pulmonary aspiration of foreign material (breathing of a foreign material into the lung) which is consistent with drowning.

Editor’s Note: Dr. P-Y Daoust wishes to be informed of any unusual wildlife mortalities that might be found so that they can be investigated.

A SOUTH—WESTERN BREEDING BIRD ATLAS by A.J. Erskine

Roberson, d. & Tenny, C. eds. 1993. Atlas of the Breeding

Birds on Monterey County, California. Monterey Peninsula

Audubon Society. Monterey Cal. 438 pages. (available from

MPAS, Box 985, Pacific Grove, Cal. 93950 U.S.A. at $19.95

U.S. soft covers or $44.45 U.S. hard covers, plus $2.75 U.S. The latest breeding bird atlas is the first from southwestern North America, where more species are permanent residents than elsewhere. Monterey County is half again the area of Prince Edward Island, three times as large as Rhode Island. It rises from sea—level to 1,787 m elevation, with habitats from the cool sea—cliffs and humid coastal forests to arid shrubland. In 1988—92, 45 observers or teams spent over 3,500 hours afield in documenting the breeding status (with tentative population estimates) for 178 breeding bird species. The results, through desk-top publishing, are now available within a year after completion of field-work, a very creditable achievement. The book also

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