Vol .'s4t!" | Mackay, Terns of Muskegei Island. jo 



Of the nests on Muskeget Island proper 244 contained each 1 

 egg \ 395' each 2 eggs; 62, 3 eggs; 15, 4 eggs; no nest with 5 

 eggs was observed. 



South Point of Muskeget Island. — This is a narrow strip of sand 

 forming the extreme western extension of Muskeget proper. The 

 beach-grass (Ammophila arundinaced) grows here luxuriantly, 

 excepting near the shores, and towards the extreme end, which 

 latter is bare of grass, with the exception of a few tufts. The 

 Terns do not place their nests to any great extent among the tall 

 grass, although some do where there are small open spaces. The 

 majority of them apparently prefer the thinner grass and the 

 windrows of eel grass {Zostera marina), as also the bare sand 

 nearer the shores. We found here 19 nests, each containing 1 

 egg; 3 1 ? eacn 2 eggs ; l 4> 3 e gg s ; i- 4 eggs ; no nest with 5 eggs 

 was observed. I noticed but few chicks or broken egg-shells 

 here. 



South Point Island. — This breeding ground is more elevated 

 than any of the neighboring sands, and presents the best of condi- 

 tions for the wants of these birds. The beach-grass grows scantily 

 over its surface, and good sites for nests, with an outlook, are 

 available everywhere. When I visited it on July 7 I found a great 

 many of the eggs hatched. Its occupants are the same as last 

 season, Roseates and Wilson's. This island being separated by 

 only a narrow strait of water from South Point, Muskeget Island, 

 the birds are practically the same at both places. Of the nests 

 found, 30 contained each 1 egg; 179 each 2 eggs; 46 each 

 3 eggs ; 2, 4 eggs ; no nest with 5 eggs was discovered. 



Gravelly Island. — -Of all the breeding grounds in these waters, 

 none attract and hold me pleasure bound equal to this little spot 

 of about two acres, on which is concentrated the greatest amount 

 of bird life, for its area, on the coast, its occupants being mostly 

 the beautiful Roseate Tern {Sterna dougalli). Being situated at 

 some little distance from the other islands, it is slightly more 

 secluded and but little visited. Its central and highest part is 

 covered with tall beach-grass. In the middle of the island is an 

 unoccupied house, within fourteen inches of one of the corner 

 posts of which, in a little hollow in the bare sand, there rested two 

 eggs of a Roseate Tern ; a little further away, say fifteen feet, was 



