^"Isq^^] "Slxc^K^, The Terus of Muskeget Island. 383 



being sixteen inches, width twelve inches at one end and six 

 inches at the other. The bottom of the cavity is eight inches 

 below the edge of the hole, and the top of the nest was entirely 

 open, being formed in the stump of a broken-off limb. The 

 birds were not present, but the nest contained seven eggs, four of 

 which were fresh, one slightly incubated and two well advanced. 

 Among the pellets, etc., were probed out thirteen fresh meadow 

 mice. 



From my experience, the number of eggs laid ranges from five 

 to seven, and incubation lasts about three weeks for each egg. 

 The earliest date recorded for fresh eggs is March 10, and the 

 latest September 14. 



THE TERNS OF MUSKEGET ISLAND, MASSA- 

 CHUSETTS. PART HI. 



BY GEORGE H. MACKAY. 



I HAD about concluded that I would not take any detailed notes 

 this season on the Terns of Muskeget, intending simply to visit 

 them once or twice during the summer in order to ascertain how 

 they were breeding. In furtherance of this plan I visited the 

 island on June 26 and 27, 1896. Once there, I thought I should 

 like to know how they were laying in comparison with other years, 

 especially 1895. I therefore asked Mr. Sandsbury to get his boat 

 ready and we soon started for my favorite Tern resort. Gravelly 

 Island. Our near approach was heralded as usual, and we were 

 greeted with protests by the large assemblage of birds, considerably 

 augmented since last season. Notwithstanding their protests we 

 checked off every nest and egg we could discover. It was 

 evident from the number of birds in the air, as well as the eggs 

 discovered, that the increase from last season had been greater 

 than in any former year. My observations last season have been 

 further strengthened this, that Sterna dotigalli^ where the means are 

 available, builds a better nest and conceals it more carefully than 

 does S. hirufido. I saw a good many Roseate nests last year, as 



