^"iSps^'J Mackay, Terns of Miiskeget hiaud. ^7 



buoys, stakes, etc. They especially delight to be in the air. 

 Their plumage is immaculate, for they are constantly washing 

 themselves. I have yet to see one with soiled plumage. When 

 fishing they arrest their flight suddenly, and maintaining their 

 poise with repeated movements of the wings, look sharply for 

 their finny prey beneath the surface of the water. When it is 

 perceived, the wings are quickly closed, and with a rapid rush 

 they dart headlong from their elevated position into the water, 

 completely immersing themselves, if the fish is sufiiciently deep 

 to render it necessary. They reappear almost immediately with 

 the fish held crosswise in the bill, and with a shake of their feathers 

 continue on their way. Their principal food appears to consist 

 of small fry, as lance, pipe fish, etc. 



On May 5 and 6, 1894, the wind was strong southwest, and 

 foggy, clearing on the afternoon of the 7th. The 8th was 

 moderate, with southwest wind and foggy. This morning the 

 Terns were observed for the first time this season to be quite 

 numerous, having arrived during the night. At sunrise on the 

 9th they were abundant, hovering high up over Muskeget proper. 

 The weather was fine, the wind N. N. W., moderate ; partly cloudy. 

 On the lothat sunrise there were large numbers, as was evidenced 

 by their rising in flocks of two to three hundred from the middle 

 northern part of Muskeget proper. On the nth a large number 

 were noticed resting on the sand beach on the north side of the 

 island. On the 19th and 20th they were hovering over the island 

 in thousands ; on the latter date a strong easterly gale prevailed, 

 which continued during the next day. 



In response to my request Mr. John R. Sandsbury walked over 

 a portion of the breeding grounds on Muskeget proper on the 21st, 

 and discovered three fresh eggs, — the first noted this season, and 

 quite an early date to find them. On the 28th he walked in a 

 direct line from his house to the north shore of the island. On 

 his way he saw 4 nests with three eggs each, 16 nests with two 

 eggs each, and 10 nests with each one egg. On June 2 he 

 repeated the walk taken on May 28th, finding 24 nests with one 

 egg, 25 nests with two eggs, 19 nests with three eggs, 2 nests with 

 four eggs, and i nest with five eggs. On the morning of June 15 

 he again took the same walk, only a little more to the westward. 



