Vol.XVin"! DvrcH-ETL, Protection of Gtdli a7id Terns. 8 1 



igol J 



reports having protected the following birds: Laughing Gulls 

 {La'rus atricilla), Clapper Rails or Marsh Hens {Rallns crepitans), 

 Willet {Symphemia semipahnata) , and Terns or Big and Little 

 Strikers {Sterna hirundo et antillanini). About a thousand of each 

 species arrived in the spring. He stated with evident pleasure 

 that he had not seen a bird killed or egg taken unlawfully during 

 the season. He also reports that there is a growing sentiment 

 among the resident boatmen that the birds must have protection, 

 and he adds : " Personally, I am a great lover of birds and the 

 seasons would lose their charm for me were they gone." 



Wachapreaguc, Cedar Island. 



Capt. Savage expressed himself as entirely in accord with our 

 objects and stated that no shooting had been done near his sta- 

 tion. The species that breed there are Laughing Gulls {Larus 

 atricilla), Clapper Rails {Rallus crepitans)., Black Skimmers or 

 Flood Gulls {Rynchops nigra), Terns or Strikers {Sterna hirundo)., 

 and Willet {Symp/iemia semipalmata) . He states that every one 

 concedes that all the species mentioned are much more plentiful 

 than they have been for some years, hence we must conclude that 

 the efforts that are being made for their protection have resulted 

 in much good. 



Metomkin Island. 



Capt. Taylor was at first afraid to act on account of his being a 

 United States ofificer, but after a long conversation he decided 

 that we were not asking anything that would conflict with his 

 duties, and that he is now willing to inform all parties of the law 

 and report all infringements. The only birds breeding near his 

 station are the Clapper Rail {Rallus crepitans), and Willet {Sym- 

 phemia semipalmata). 



Wollops Island. 



Capt. Whealton was thoroughly in sympathy with our movement 

 and stated that he had stopped all summer shooting from a club 



