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Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December 

 Vol. Vin SEPTEHBER, 1906 No. 3 



The Tern Colony of Bluff Island. 



By W. H. Brownson. 



[Fro/// Po/ila//d Advc/'tiscr of J/ily 7, 1906.] 



A motor-boat warranted not to break down ; a summer sea 

 lying without a ripple under the scorching rays of the hottest of 

 June suns ; the long sea-sickening swells of the ocean lulled to rest 

 by several days of gentle westerly breezes ; a party of bird -lovers, 

 and a jolly skipper, accompanied by his island family ; the destina- 

 tion, Bluff Island, off Front's Neck, and in plain sight of Gld 

 Orchard ; here to find the home of the Terns. These were the con- 

 ditions, surroundings and intentions, as we set forth from the Cape 

 shore one pleasant morning, June 28. We chug-chugged cheerily 

 along the coast line of Cape Elizabeth, surroun.ded by playful pol- 

 lock and plump porpoises, the former showing their shining sides in 

 parabolic curves, and the latter rolling lazily their rounded black 

 and glistening backs above the waves. 



A few Herring Gulls sped in varying directions, in search of 

 good feeding ground, but we saw less than a score during the entire 

 morning. These birds, so plentiful in Casco Bay, fall, winter and 

 spring, are now sojourning to tne eastward, the nearest breeding 

 colony being at Matinicus, where, on No Man's Land, they gather 

 in great numbers. The birds which spend the summer here are 

 doubtless the few barren ones, which have no call to go with their 

 fellows at this season. Just once, on the return trip, a big Blue 



