278 Mackay, The Terns of Pe7iikese Island, Mass. ^^^^^. 



case with a normal bilaterally symmetrical color pattern. On 

 the distal primary the spot is very indistinct and nearly confined 

 to the inner web where it occupies a space 3 mm. long (measured 

 at the shaft) and 4 mm. from the tip of the feather. Toward the 

 inner margin of the web the spot narrows rapidly and disappears 

 without reaching the edge of the feather. On the outer web there 

 is the faintest possible suggestion of a grayish trace close to the 

 shaft and opposite the spot on the inner web. On the second and 

 third primaries the spots become more distinct and extend nearly 

 to the margin of the inner web. On the third primary the spot is 

 5 mm. long and 5 mm. from the tip of the feather. On the fourth 

 primary in each wing the spot appears distinctly on the outer web, 

 and from here on the portion of the spot on the outer web becomes 

 larger and more conspicuous, that on the inner web at the same 

 time diminishing until on the proximal true flight feather there is 

 no mark at all on the inner web. The penultimate feather shows 

 a trace of white on the inner web in the right wing, but none in the 

 left, and the last spot is slightly larger in the right wing than in 

 the left, otherwise the markings are exactly alike on the opposite 

 wings. 



While these markings have all the characteristics of a normal 

 color pattern there is no known relative of the Cedar Bird with 

 wings spotted in an analogous manner. 



THE TERNS OF PENIKESE ISLAND, MASSA- 

 CHUSETTS. 



BY GEORGE H. MACKAY. 



" In the lap of sheltering seas 

 Rests the isle of Penikese." 



The Prayer ofAgassiz, 



John G. Whittier. 



If the reader will glance at the southern portion of a map of 

 New England, it will be seen that there is a string of sixteen 



