386 Mackay, The Terns of Miiskeget Island. \-^^ 



and eggs in the colony of Laughing Gulls {Larjis atricilld) , which 

 I considered the more desirable data for present record. I, 

 however, walked all through the breeding area on two separate 

 lines, in order to acquaint myself with the conditions. I suppose 

 it is safe to say that there are many more Terns here this year 

 than last, but it would be difficult to substantiate the statement by 

 evidence. The fact is that the birds have now reached such 

 numbers as to render even an approximate estimate useless. 

 Great as the aggregate may be, there is yet ample room on 

 Muskeget Island proper alone, for several times the present 

 number, whatever it may be, to breed. 



Of the eggs viewed on the various islands this season I did not 

 see one other than normal ones. 



The first arrivals of the Terns this season was on May 4. 

 (They commenced to arrive on the night of May 9 at Penikese 

 Island, Massachusetts, and by the nth were apparently all there.) 

 A dense fog prevailed at the time when they were first heard high 

 up in the air. The fog lifting for a short time later in the 

 morning, disclosed about a dozen birds. On May 8 Mr. 

 Sandsbury noted fifty Wilson Terns, the weather still continuing 

 foggy. On the 9th it cleared and the Terns were seen in thousands 

 over Muskeget Island proper. On April 27, 1896, Mr. Sandsbury 

 observed four Least Terns (^Sttnia antillanwi) for the first time 

 this season ; on the 30th he saw about a dozen. On May 31, 1896, 

 Mr. Sandsbury noted seven nests with one egg each ; two nests 

 with two eggs each ; and one nest with three eggs. 



As this happened to be the first walk he took to look for eggs, 

 it does not follow that they were the first of the season. On June 

 9, with Mrs. Sandsbury, who assisted in the search, he walked in 

 a direct line from his house towards the north shore of the island 

 and returned by another route not covered by the first. The fol- 

 lowing is the result noted. 



25 nests of I egg each, 25 



