Vo |g* VI ] Mackay, Terns of Muskeget and Penikese Islands. 259 



THE TERNS OF MUSKEGET AND PENIKESE ISLANDS, 

 MASSACHUSETTS. 



BY GEORGE H. MACKAY. 1 



The change in conditions taking place from time to time in 

 the Muskeget group of islands, where these birds breed, as also 

 in the birds themselves, serves to retain one's interest and render 

 continued observations desirable, that accurate information may 

 be gathered. 



Since last year nearly one third of Gravelly Island has been 

 washed away. Adams Island has also been much reduced in 

 area. At the South Point of Muskeget Island proper, the ocean 

 has again broken through at the same place where it did four and 

 five years ago, making South Point Island again an island. 



It was with much concern, after visiting Muskeget waters last 

 season (1897), that I looked forward to the season of 1898, and 

 what it might have in store, for it seemed as if additional effort 

 should be made, not only to keep all the Terns possible, but to 

 induce those which had departed to again return. The town of 

 Nantucket having voted one hundred dollars to provide an 

 especial police officer (under an act of the Massachusetts Legis- 

 lature of 1895) to care for these Terns, I was instrumental in 

 having Mr. John Sandsbury appointed to the position. He re- 

 mained on Muskeget from May 1 to August 15, 189S. His first 

 visit there was from the 9th to the 17th of April, and during this 

 period he did not see any Least Terns (Sterna aiitillaruni), 

 although this is the time they are generally about. On May 3, 

 1S98, the wind was northeast, cold and raw; May 4, wind north- 

 east, until noon, calm in the p. m.; May 5, wind southwest, 

 moderate and cloudy. May 6, wind north to northeast, cloudy in 

 the a. m., but changed to southwest in the p. m. At seven 

 o'clock a. M. the first arrival of Terns this season was noted, — 

 a few birds, so high up in the air as to render the variety inde- 

 terminable. May 7, wind northeast. Mr. Sandsbury saw about 



1 Read before the Xuttall Ornithological Club, Nov. 7, 1S98. 



