Vol. XIX 

 1 902 



J DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls atid Terns. c -i 



Mr. J. A. D. Savage, of Wachapreague Life Saving Station, pro- 

 tected a territory composed of beach and marsh about three miles 

 by two ; he estimates that at least 3000 Marsh Hens, 500 Laugh- 

 ing Gulls, 600 Flood Gulls {^Rynchops nigra), and 200 Terns were 

 raised during the season. He states that so far as he knows, no 

 birds were killed and but few eggs were taken, and he adds : " For 

 the encouragement of your society I would say that before the 

 efforts to protect the birds were put forth some of the species 

 were nearly extinct, but have now increased to considerable num- 

 bers." 



Mr. J. W. Richardson, of Parramores Beach Life Saving Sta- 

 tion, cares for seven square miles of beach and marsh, principally 

 the latter ; he estimates the following increase in birds : Laughing 

 Gulls {Lariis atricilla), about 600 ; Willet, 800 ; Little Strikers 

 (^Sterna antiUarum), 100 ; Big Strikers {Sterna hiriuido et forsteri) , 

 300; Mud Hens, 1000. 



He adds : " There are m_ore Black-headed Gulls this season than 

 usual. I have walked and sailed through our marshes many times 

 this summer, and have talked with boatmen and others, advocating 

 the cause of birds in my own way, and I found many responsive 

 hearers in sympathy with our work." He suggests that the Vir- 

 ginia law should be changed and made much more strict in order 

 to successfully protect game and other wild birds. 



Mr. John E. Johnson, of the Hog Island Life Saving Station, 

 was in charge of about eight miles of marsh and beach on which 

 bred : Common Tern, Gull-billed Tern {Gelochelidon niloticd), 

 Laughing Gull, Black Skimmer, Willet, Wilson's Plover {^Egialifis 

 wilsonia)., and American Oyster-catcher {Hcematopus palliatus). 



He estimates the young as follows : Common Tern, 2000 ; 

 Gull-billed Tem, 200; Laughing Gull, 2000; Black Skimmer, 

 1000 ; Willet, 100 ; Wilson's Plover, 50 ; American Oyster-catcher, 

 100. "I do not think that any birds were killed illegally, as the 

 residents know that the law is being strictly enforced. I have a 

 very good opportunity of knowing, as I am going through the 

 marshes two or three times a week during the breeding season." 



Mr. J. R. Andrews, of the Cobbs Island Life Saving Station, 

 protected about six miles of beach and marsh, and also two large 

 marsh islands of about 800 acres in area. The birds in his dis- 



