Part I.] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 83 



Sea bird Colonies. 

 Many of the colonies of sea birds along the coast were visited 

 and inspected during June, July and August. It was found 

 that the number of arctic and roseate terns breeding along our 

 coast had increased within the past ten years. The numbers of 

 common or Wilson's terns apparently have not increased, and 

 the least tern seems in danger of extirpation. Nearly all the 

 colonies of this little species along the south shore of Martha's 

 Vineyard and at the west end of the island have either disap- 

 peared or are represented by a very few pairs of birds. Few 

 seem to be nesting on Monomoy. There is one small new 

 colony on the mainland, but this is in a situation where it 

 may be extirpated, as it is easily accessible to people, cats and 

 skunks. The least tern nests mainly on the outer beaches, 

 almost always opposite some inner bay or pond. Such locations 

 are visited more and more each year by "summer people," who 

 disturb and molest the birds. Summer residents also leave 

 numbers of cats to wander on the beaches. Cats are very 

 destructive to the terns and their young. The nests and young 

 birds are always within reach of the highest storm tides, and 

 whenever a great storm occurs during the breeding season they 

 are likely to be swept away. Probably this species can be saved 

 only by the appointment of wardens to watch these colonies 

 during the breeding season, and to protect them from intrusion 

 and the attacks of their enemies. Colonies of the larger terns 

 on the beach near Chatham have been decimated by skunks and 

 cats, and will require special protection, otherwise they may be 

 unable to maintain themselves. Piping plover are increasing. 



The Starling. 

 Complaints have been received that the starling destroys 

 apples, pears and peaches by pecking small holes in the fruit on 

 the tree, which then decays; also many observers have re- 

 ported that the starling in autumn collects in large flocks, some- 

 times accompanied by blackbirds, and attacks corn, but no 

 evidence has been received at this office until this year that star- 

 lings had rooted up seed corn after it had sprouted. Mrs. 

 Margaret E. P. Hamlin wrote from Amherst on INIarch 26, 



