128 Durcuer, Birds of Little Gull Island, N. Y. [April 
Terns, nor was there any separate colony of nests that might have be- 
longed to the Roseates; all the birds seemed to nest together without discri- 
mination as to kind. I set snares on several nests in the hope of catching 
the birds aliveand so identifying the eggs, but was unsuccessful in every 
case. The snares, which were nooses made of thread, would be found in 
the morning beaten down; whether this was done accidently or purposely 
by the birds I do not know; but it seems to me most likely that the 
Terns unwittingly pushed down the nooses with their feet as they settled 
.on their nests. In the eighty-six nests examined, and there were prob- 
ably over double that number on the island, the eggs all differed in such 
an endless variety of colors, that the Roseates’ eggs could not be distin- 
guished from those of the Common Tern. 
But two specimens were secured. 
5. Puffinus borealis. Cory’s SHEARWATER.— But two individuals of 
this species were noted, one of which was secured. The Shearwaters 
seemed always to keep in company with the Jaegers, and to be engaged in 
the same occupation,—that of robbing the Terns. In fact their habits all 
through were much the same as those of the Jaegers, although I cannot 
say positively that I] ever saw one alighton the surface ofthe water. Speak- 
ing of the Jaegers and Shearwaters collectively, Chas. B. Field said that 
they stayed while the bluefish were there, but as he had not before dis- 
tinguished one species from the other, he could not be certain whether 
only one stayed, or whether both remained. It is probable, however, that 
both remain all summer. The stomach of the specimen secured con- 
tained only fislf bones. 
6. Oceanodroma leucorhoa, or 
7. Oceanites oceanicus. Lracn’s or WILSON’s PETREL.—Petrels, one 
or both of these species, were very common in the ‘Race,’ or anywhere at 
some distance from land. But two individuals were noted near Little 
Gull, while farther to the north, out in the roadstead, they were very com- 
mon, and rather wild. Most of those seen while I was crossing over to 
New London seemed to be feeding, and to be working westward at the 
same time.* , 
8. Ereunetes pusillus. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.—An individual of 
this species was picked up dead at the foot of the tower on August 8, hav- 
ing killed itself against the Light during the night. Before] was ready to 
skin it the insects instituted a prior claim on the body, so theskin was not 
preserved. ‘This individual was the only one seen on the trip. 
g. Actitismacularia. SporreD SANDPIPER.—The ‘Tip-ups’ were very 
numerous, continually feeding around the shores of both islands, and at 
low tide flying along from rock to rock, stopping a moment on the top of 
each to pick up insects. 1 was informed that they bred on Great Gull, 
Chas. B. Field showing me a place where he found a nest in the earlier 
part of the season. 
*Later.—Aug. 17.—Chas. B. Field secured and gave me a Petrel that proved to be the 
last-named of these species, thus warranting what has heen said above to be true of 
Wilson's, if not of Leach’s Petrel, 
