54 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOI.OGICAI. SOCIKTY. 



Heron alighted 'on a bar of rock, which makes out from Richmond's 

 Island, and watched warily our passing boat, poking his long neck 

 above a boulder, but keeping his ungainly body well out of sight. 

 This was practically all the bird life that was apparent until we got 

 near Bluff Island. 



A trifle over a mile from Front's Neck, Bluff Island lies only a 

 few hundred yards from Stratton's Island, the latter boasting a com- 

 fortable farmhouse and green fields under careful cultivation. The 

 outline of Bluff Lsland is not bold, but there are rocks on the north- 

 erly side, above which shows a field of tangled grass, and a gradual 

 descent to the sea on the south side. On this island there is a 

 colony of Common Terns, which come here year after year, in con- 

 stantly increasing numbers to live for the summer and to raise their 

 young. The Common Tern is only a trifle larger than a Robin, but 

 it has a long forked tail, similar to that of a Barn Swallow, and an 

 immense spread of wing, compared to the size of its body. The 

 Terns have a variety of names, such as Mackerel Gulls, Medricks, 

 Sea Swallows and the like, and are readily distinguished from Gulls 

 by their quicker motions and different style of flight ; also by their 

 much smaller size. As we approached the island Terns began to 

 come near us and soon they were all around us. There was a con- 

 fusing chorus of shrill screams as we dropped anchor and we saw the 

 rocks literally white with their perching forms. 



When we landed and clambered over the seaweed, having more 

 or less difficulty to keep from slipping off the dripping rocks, the 

 whole colony on that side of the island rose, screeching, into the air. 

 "Te-arr-r," "Te-arr-r," was the yell from hundreds of red-lined 

 throats. As dense as a seething flock of mosquitoes, the birds hov- 

 ered over us on beating pinions, darting hither and thither and 

 returning again, in graceful curves. Red beaks opened in vocifer- 

 ous protest at our unwelcome presence and orange, webbed feet 

 showed in striking contrast to the white plumage of the under parts. 

 Graceful necks and black-topped heads were stretched out to enable 

 their owners to look down at the fearsome intruders. The cause of 

 their undue anxiety was soon apparent, for we found ourselves 



