Vol. XVI 



Mackay, Terns of Muskeget and Penikese Islands. 2DI 



waters, shows that these birds are at the highest point of abun- 

 dance in their history. This satisfactory condition does not 

 include the Roseate Terns ; as far as these waters are concerned, 

 their numbers, I regret to state, are still below the splendid 

 aggregate of 1896. I think that some of them found a home at 

 Penikese Island this season, while others may return next year. 

 After completing this investigation I was unable to use my eyes 

 but little for three weeks, the result of the radiated heat and 

 glare from the beaches. 



I passed July 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1898, on Muskeget and adjacent 

 islands, the results of which examination are here submitted: 



Totals, 412 S34 



Laughing Gulls. 

 1 nest with 1 egg; 1 nest with 3 eggs. 



Three quarters of the Terns estimated to be domiciled here 

 are Wilson Terns {Sterna hirundd), the other quarter being 

 Roseate Terns (S. dougalli) . There are but four or five pairs 

 of Laughing Gulls breeding here. 



I observed on this island the present season the greatest 

 concentration of Terns' eggs I have ever seen. The location 

 was a slightly elevated, isolated knoll of sand on the beach, 

 covered with beach grass (Ammophila arundinaced) . To ascer- 

 tain its size I paced it, and found it to be about 24X18 feet. I 

 then subdivided it and called up Mr. Sandsbury to aid me in the 

 count. In this restricted area were eighty Terns' eggs, as fol- 

 lows : eleven nests with one egg each ; twenty-six nests with two 

 eggs each ; four nests with three eggs each. There were four 

 nests containing one egg and one chick each, and one nest with 

 one egg and two chicks, and two chicks away from their nest. 



