°^S95 I >r\CK\v. Terns of .\riiskesref Island. az 



flesh color nearly to the tip, which is brownish black. When a 

 few days old they are somewhat similar in general appearance : 

 both have blackish throats, but the throat of the reddish-legged 

 chick is decidedly blacker than that of the other. As I have 

 often seen the reddish-legged chicks in what I call Roseate's 

 nests, with unhatched Roseate's eggs beside them, and the same 

 day seen a similar chick crouched beneath the breast of a Wilson's 

 Tern, it will be understood why I am not prepared to speak more 

 definitely. 



I have frequently heard the chick peep while in the shell prior 

 to its being chipped. At such times the chick is doubled up, 

 with the head between the legs at the larger end of the egg. On 

 carefully breaking open such eggs the chick instantly opened 

 its eyes. I have also watched the process of the chipping of the 

 egg while the chick was endeavoring to release itself. This 

 process is slow and laborious. As soon as a small hole is pierced 

 a little to one side of the larger end of the egg with the bill, 

 which is provided with a little hard white knob at its point, 

 the chick seizes hold of, and bends back and forth, a minute 

 fragment of the shell until it is detached. This effort is con- 

 tinued for only a few seconds at a time, and must be repeated a 

 number of times before the fragment is broken off. The labor 

 seems exhausting, the chick panting while resting after each 

 effort. In a few seconds later the attempt is again renewed, and 

 so on until its release is effected, and a wet little chick appears. 

 As soon as it is able to run it leaves the nest, and its first 

 instinct is to hide. A few blades of grass or a leaf is sufficient 

 for the purpose ; provided its head is partially covered it will not 

 move, no matter how closely it is approached. 



During this early period of their existence, and while in the 

 nest, they suffer considerably from the attacks of a small, red ant, 

 which is numerous on Muskeget Island proper, including South 

 Point. These ants get on them in numbers, and by an incessant 

 biting and pulling at their wet down, with accompanying worri- 

 ment, cause the death of many of them. I have stated in a 

 previous part of this article the number of dead chicks I found ; 

 but they doubtless represent but a part of the whole number. As 

 there had been no inclement weather in the neighborhood since 



