33G BOARD OF AGlilCULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Under protection the common tern and the roseate tern 

 are multiplying rapidly, and are now attempting to breed 

 again on coasts and islands whence they had been driven by 

 the feather hunters. The following estimate may be given of 

 the numbers found on the principal breeding places : Muske- 

 get Island, 10,000; Penikcse, 7,000; the Wepecket Islands, 

 5,000 ; Ram Island, 1,200 ; Gull Island, 700 ; Skiff's Island, 

 300. Birds are nesting also in small numbers on several 

 beaches, and it is probable that over 30,000 of these terns are 

 now breeding within the limits of the State. 



The laughing gulls, once nearly exterminated, on the island 

 of Mnskeget have so increased in numbers that there are now 

 fully 1,000 birds (estimated) in two colonies there. They 

 have colonized on the Maine coast, and are increasing there. 

 They are also visiting other islands, and it would not be sur- 

 prising if a few were found nesting in other localities in 

 Massachusetts. Even the herring gull, which is not known to 

 breed here, now frequents some of the islands off our coast 

 during the entire year. 



The piping plover and the willct, which once bred in num- 

 bers along our coasts, were victims of spring and summer 

 shooting. The willet long since entirely disappeared in the 

 breeding season, and the piping plover is well on the road to 

 extirj^ation. The entire number seen on the Massachusetts 

 coast in July did not exceed 20 birds. Very small birds 

 unable to fly were seen in July and August. The laws of 

 Massachusetts still (December, 1908) allow the shooting of 

 these birds in these months, and with such laws on our statute 

 books, the only possible hope for the salvation of the birds lies 

 in forbidding shooting on their breeding grounds, and enforc- 

 ing the regulation by meaus of resident wardens or deputies. 



The Increase of Office Woek. 

 The State Ornithologist is now looked upon as an advisory 

 or consulting ornithologist by many citizens of the State, and 

 the correspondence of the office continually increases. This 

 correspondence occupies a large part of the time of the 

 present Incumbent, and requires occasionally the services of 

 an outside stenographer. This has made it impossible to do 



