112 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ber of Egrets wandering from the south this year. The first 

 was noted on Cape Cod July 30. 



A Few Egrets move Northward. — The hot weather of late 

 July and early August appeared to send more Egrets north- 

 ward at the time when Great Blue Herons had begun moving 

 southward. Egrets were reported in August, and several 

 Little Blue Herons were noted on Long Island. Experience 

 leads to the belief that Egrets and Little Blue Herons move 

 north in small numbers through the middle Atlantic States 

 into New York and New England after the breeding season, 

 particularly w^hen the weather of July or August is exceedingly 

 hot. Snowy Herons are more rarely seen. Very few in- 

 dividuals of any of these species are noted in early spring or 

 in late autumn. 



An Increase of Gulls and Terns. — Reports from the coasts 

 and islands of Massachusetts indicate that the increase of 

 Gulls and Terns still goes on. Herring Gulls bred in at least 

 three localities in Massachusetts and one in southern New 

 Hampshire, near the Massachusetts line, but one of the sand- 

 spits on which they nested in INIassachusetts was nearly washed 

 away by the sea, doubtless destroying both eggs and young. 

 The number of Laughing Gulls increases and they are seen 

 more and more in summer along our shores at localities dis- 

 tant from their principal breeding place on Muskeget Island. 

 Common Terns now breed in large or small colonies, or in 

 pairs at nearly every suitable location on the coast. Roseate 

 Terns and Arctic Terns are increasing in numbers, and Least 

 Terns have settled in new breeding places, some at least on 

 the mainland, where formerly they bred only on islands. A 

 great migration of sandpipers and other shore birds occurred 

 during the cold wave of the latter part of July. 



August. 



August was nearly normal so far as weather and temperature 

 were concerned, with perhaps a little more rain than usual in 

 Massachusetts and less than usual in parts of northern New 

 England. 



Southward Flights. — Early in the month night flights of 

 land birds were noted in INIaine. Soon after the loth there 



