STERNA HIRUNDO : WILSON'S TERN. 363 



of gliding arrowy forms swept down in silence to the 

 fallen victim. From the sky above, from every nook 

 and corner of the neighboring sand-hills, they came 

 hurrying to the spot. Then, as if at a given signal, 

 every bird burst out afresh in cries of rage, protest and 

 despair. The effect was indescribable. As the graceful 

 birds came whirling down in perfect silence, they seemed 

 like dread avengers seeking to bear away their dead 

 comrade and to overwhelm his destroyer. If another 

 bird were killed, the tumult continued and the excite- 

 ment became even more intense ; but if no further 

 molestation were offered, they gradually departed one 

 by one. This habit of hovering over their slain com- 

 panions, though undoubtedly prompted by sympathy 

 and social affection, is a most unfortunate one, as it 

 is constantly taken advantage of, and dozens are 

 frequently killed at a time. 



" Upon Muskegat the Terns have, or had at the time 

 of which I write, another enemy, which, though second 

 in importance to man, nevertheless destroyed large 

 numbers of these birds. This was the Short-eared Owl 

 (Brachyotus palustris). A small colony of these birds 

 had established itself upon a certain elevated part of the 

 island, spending the day in a tract of densely matted 

 grass. Scattered about in this retreat were the remains 

 of at least a hundred Terns, that they had killed and 

 eaten. Many of these were fresh, while others were in 

 every stage of decomposition, or dried by the sun and 

 wind. In each case the breast had been picked clean, 

 but in no instance was any other portion disturbed. 

 Every day, at a certain time, these Owls sallied forth in 

 search of fresh prey. We used regularly to see them 

 about sunset, sailing in circles over the island or beating 



