SEA SWALLOWS 
™T the extreme southeastern end of 
| Massachusetts, where the main land, 
A as if partially dissolved by the 
pahheees) ocean, crumbles off into numerous 
islands, are several favorite resorts of the sea 
swallow or tern, a rather small and _particular- 
ly beautiful and graceful species of water fowl, 
closely allied with the gulls, and among the 
most aérial of sea birds. Probably the spot 
where they congregate in largest numbers is 
Muskegat, a low and desolate island about five 
miles northwest of Nantucket. A few years 
ago they became almost exterminated from this 
resort by the depredations of numerous parties 
that sailed thither in quest of the delicate plum- 
age or of the eggs of these birds. But, through 
the public-spirited efforts of Mr. Mackay, an 
ornithologist living at Nantucket, these harm- 
less and attractive creatures are now sheltered 
beneath the wing of the law, and have so far 
recovered from the effects of past havoc, that 

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