Vo j" 8 ^ VI ] Mackay, Terns of Muskeget and Penikese Islands. 26$ 



Penikese Island. 



In presenting my account of the Colony of Terns domiciled on 

 Penikese Island, in Buzzards Bay, it gives me pleasure to acknowl- 

 edge the aid I have received, in various ways, from the Messrs. 

 Homer Brothers, owners of the island. Mr. Frederick A. Homer 

 has, at my request, kindly taken some notes for me during the 

 past season (1898) which add so materially to the interest and 

 value of this contribution that I feel I cannot do better than to 

 embody the greater part of his letter on this subject, as follows : 

 " On the afternoon of May 10, with fair weather and south wind, 

 the Terns of Penikese arrived, and in larger numbers than for 

 years. This latter statement is confirmed by the fishermen who 

 harbor at the island, and by the inhabitants of the neighboring 

 island of Cuttyhunk. On the 28th of May the first eggs were 

 seen, and from this date the eggs increased rapidly, and finally 

 proved the largest laying in my experience. On the 23d of June 

 hatching commenced, and on the 22d of July about one half the 

 young could fly, and by the 7th of August, all the young were on 

 the wing. The young were in great numbers, and I fully believe 

 it was the largest and most successful hatch for years. Natur- 

 ally there were a great many crippled young, caused by the sheep 

 treading upon them in their early infancy. I should estimate 

 the number of such crippled birds at about two hundred. 

 During the week ending August 21, great bodies of these Terns 

 would rise suddenly from the shores, fly out over the water about 

 a quarter of a mile, then wheel, return, and alight, then as sud- 

 denly rise again and repeat the manoeuvre. This they repeated 

 for a few days and then left the island in squads, till, on the 21st, 

 they had almost entirely disappeared. The weather during this 

 period was fair and the prevailing wind southwest. 



" What few Terns were left (about one hundred and fifty) 

 seemed to be caring for the weaker birds and cripples. These 

 finally decreased day by day till on the nth of September not a 

 Tern was in sight. I have observed more Roseate Terns than 

 ever before. I also noted that the nests generally were better 

 constructed, and were really more like a nest. 



" Gull Island seemed this year to be quite a favorite place for 



