JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 57 



Song Sparrows, for they show a plain blotch in the centre of a 

 streaked breast, but when they face you the yellowish-white line 

 which divides the crown is very conspicuous. On the island there 

 are numerous Spotted Sandpipers, probably a score of pairs, at the 

 least. These, too, were very nervous at our approach, and their 

 shrill "Ouip-ip," "Quip-ip" was easily distinguished from the 

 uproar made by the Terns overhead. Bank Swallows were nesting 

 in holes dug under the sod at the edge of the rocks and were skim- 

 ming out over the water, near the shore, seeking the insects which 

 there abound. As we started away from the island the Terns which 

 had been in the air during the whole hour that we had remained 

 near their nests, settled quickly back and we left them in calm con- 

 tentment, perhaps congratulating themselves that it is only once in 

 a great while that they are forced to entertain callers. 



Second Visit to the Bluff Island Terns. 



[Fi'uiii Portland Advertiser of August IS, 1906.] 

 It was on the 28th of June when I first visited Bluff Island and 

 inspected the large colony of Common Terns, whose breeding 

 season had then been in progress only a short time. At that date 

 the beach was covered with numerous nests and a great number of 

 eggs. A few young birds had been hatched, but, for the most part, 

 the eggs were in process of incubation. From that time to the pres- 

 ent the birds have been busy raising their young, laying new eggs 

 and screaming with all their might at the approach of each and 

 every intruder. August 9th, with a small party of bird students, I 

 again visited Bluff Island and had a good opportunity to observe the 

 condition of the Tern colony six weeks from the date I saw it first. 

 When we drew near the island and anchored our boat the Terns 

 suspected our purpose and made a vigorous protest against it. 

 They made it very plain to us that this was their busy day and that 

 they were not receiving visitors. The air over our heads was soon 

 alive with them, and their shrill cries made a constant din in our 

 ears. During the hour that we were there they did not alight, but, 



