150 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:4— April, 1918 



tically no market value, one decides that the birds must have met 

 their death, either by accidents in taking flight or in attempts to 

 alight during storms. 



Large signs, at either end of the island, warn the public that the 

 birds are protected by law and a reward is offered for the detection 

 of anyone molesting them. 



Wee Weepecket, the second island in the chain lies about two 

 hundred to three hundred from the first island. Approaching it 

 from the east side it has the appearance of a high plateau with 

 wind-swept and spray-worn mud banks capped by a layer of 

 thick sod. This relatively level summit, eight to ten feet above 

 water level, slopes at an angle of sixty to seventy degrees down to 

 fringe of boulders, which nowhere offer a sandy beach as a landing 

 place. It is necessary to anchor the boat among the rocks, and 

 make one's way without some difficulties over the slippery, wet 

 rocks, in many cases covered by Fucus andAscophyllum, to land. 

 After climbing over the outer row of boulders an elevated mass of 

 gravel thrown up by the action of the waves is reached. Here one 

 does not receive as noisy a reception as they did on the Weepecket, 

 for the reason that fewer Terns nest here and many of these doubt- 

 less frightened by the cries and behavior of their companions on the 

 other island had already taken flight or joined their neighbors in 

 an attempt to drive off the common enemy. No nests are to be 

 found on the shore, doubtless, on account of the unhospitable con- 

 ditions existing there. 



The top of the island is clothed by coarse beach grass with a few 

 scattered Bayberry shrubs. Here nests are found but they are 

 less numerous as the small size of the island and its level top offers 

 little or no protection from the winds which sweep this region. 



The third and smallest of the three islands Wee Wee Weepecket, 

 lies about one hundred feet distant from the second island. It has 

 the same general appearance and offers the same difficulties of 

 approach. It contains only about one-fourth of an acre of land 

 and its surface is even more exposed to the sweep of the storms. 

 There is little of interest on this island as very few Terns nest here. 

 As one embarks and steers his course toward the harbor, the 

 Weepeckets lie in grim shadow behind. The shrill cries of the 

 Terns gradually die away in the distance, while the quiet lapping 

 of the water affords a restful change. 



