3i6 Bird -Lore 



hatched in the above nest. The photograph of this bird is given below. (This 

 photograph was taken by Mr. Keller of the Marine Biological Laboratory 

 Staflf.) Still another attempt was made by these birds to colonize Sand Key, but 

 there their nests were systematically robbed. Sand Key is about two miles dis- 

 tant from Bird Key. It is very small, and is so constantly washed over by waves 

 at flood-tide that it is extremely improbable that it can ever form a suitable nest- 

 ing-place for these Terns. 



Dr. Mayer who is extremely interested in the bird life at Tortugas has prom- 

 ised to afford the Least Tern adequate protection if it again attempts to colonize 

 Loggerhead Key. Colonization of Loggerhead Key will give them their only 

 chance to survive. There is no room for them on Bird Key, and the other Keys 

 can probably never be adequately protected. — John B. Watson. 



REPORT OF A. C. BENT, ON CONDITION OF BIRD COLONIES ON 

 COBB'S ISLAND, VIRGINIA, IN 1907 



We landed on Cobb's Island Sunday afternoon, June 23, and left the follow- 

 ing Sunday, June 30, at noon. We made our headquarters at the Cobb's Island 

 Club House with Mr. George Isdell, who was then in charge of it; we consulted 

 Captain Andrews frequently, at the life-saving station, but could not sta\^ with 

 him, as he had no room for us. We explored Cobb's Island quite thoroughly, 

 and several of the surrounding islands and marshes, as they are called, including 

 Wreck, Moon and Pig Islands, Big Eastward, Little Eastward, Rapesan and 

 Presses ' marshes. ' 



Pig Island is a large, low and sandy island, practically devoid of vegetation, — 

 really nothing more than a large sand-bar raised sufficiently to be above the 

 reach of the highest tides. Cobb's, Wreck and Moon Islands consist mainly 

 of extensive salt-marshes, partially flooded at high tide, protected on the ocean 

 sides by high sandy or stony beaches, frequently covered with great piles of 

 oyster-shells, washed up from the .sea. The so-called 'marshes' are inside islands 

 consisting mainly of salt-marshes, flooded at high tide, but generally contain- 

 ing some dry lands. 



We did not visit Smith's Island, for lack of time and because we heard that 

 birds were not as plentiful there as on the islands we explored. 



Laughing Gulls were abundant everywhere, perhaps nearly as abundant 

 as they have ever been within recent years. We found two or three large breeding 

 colonies on Cobb's Island, and many smaller colonies or scattering pairs nesting 

 on the salt-marshes, where their nests were conspicious in the short marsh grass. 

 The largest colony of all was on Big Eastward, and there were other large breed- 

 ing colonies on Little Eastward, Rapesan and Wreck Islands. 



The birds do not seem to be molested, but, as egging is allowed up to July 4, 

 the eggs are persistently and thoroughly collected almost daily by the oyster- 

 men until that date, after which they are allowed to raise their l)irds. Out of 



