i)4 The Wilson bulletin.— No. Ik 



THE TERNS OF THE WEEPECKET ISLANDS. MASS- 

 ACHUSETTS. 



LVNnS JONES. 



The preservation and gradual increase of the various Tern 

 colonies along the Massachusetts coast is largely due to the 

 interest and attention of Mr. George H. Mackay, who has kept 

 us informed of the progress of the colonies at Penekese and 

 Muskeget. Attention was called to a small colony of terns at 

 the Weei)ecket Islands, in ISDli, by Mr. Reginald Heber 

 Howe, Jr., who reports the results of two visits to these islands 

 on June 27 and IW, 18i)(i, in the Auk for April, 1897, page 203. 

 The results of Mr. Howe's study may be briefly summarized. 



On the outer island about fifty birds were flying about, but 

 only three nests, each containing two eggs, were found. These 

 nests were placed upon the edge of the plateau, well hidden 

 in the grass and poison ivy. "The Roseate Terns (Sfcnia 

 dougalli) were apparently the only inhabitants of this island." 



About he same number of terns were counted above the 

 Middle island, and two nests were found on the beach and two 

 on the Q(\gt of the plateau concealed beneath the scrubby poi- 

 son ivy. The most of the lairds here were Roseates, but there 

 were a few Comnion Terns (Sterna Iiinuido). 



The ]>opulation of Great Weepecket was studied on June 

 ."id. ( )n the m)land 2-5 nests were found, two empty, three 

 with one egg, seven with two, twelve w'ith three, and one with 

 four, and one with a chick. On the beach eight nests were 

 found, three with one egg. two with two, and three with three. 

 Total, 34 nests. 



"The nests on the uplands were in almost every case placed 

 near or at the base of the scattered boulders, and on the beach 

 on the sea weed. The colony consisted of perhaps 200 terns, 

 tk.e majority Roseates ; but as the terns on the three islands 

 all gatliered over one when walking about the island, and 

 others are ofi^ fishing, a correct estimate is impossible." 



During nearly the whole of July and the first half of August 

 the writer enjoyed unusual opportrunities for studying the 

 terns of these islands, and a coip.parison of conditions now with 

 those of ISiX) may prove interesting. The boats of the U. S. 



