284 Mackay, Zhe Terns of Pentkese Island, Mass. fuly 
slightly smaller than it was fifty years ago. A third of the island, 
on its northern side, is fairly well covered with coarse herbage 
and beach grass (Ammophila arundinacea). It is on this shoal 
that a little colony of about one hundred and fifty Roseate Terns 
(S. dougalli) and a few Wilson’s (.S. Azrundo) are domiciled. Mr. 
Frederick S. Allen, who has been a resident on Cuttyhunk for 
fifty-four years, informs me that when he was a boy “ the Terns 
were more abundant on Gull Island than on Penikese, to which 
island they extended to breed.” He also thinks “there are as 
many Terns at the present time as formerly; cannot perceive any 
difference in their numbers.” It nevertheless appears to the 
writer as unlikely, from the size of Gull Island, etc., that it could 
ever have furnished breeding quarters for more than a few 
hundred birds. 
The first eggs were noted on Penikese Island in 1892 on May 
20. In 1893 the Terns arrived May 1o, in the night, an advance 
guard of several hundred being noted early the following morning 
at daylight; these all left before noon of the 11th, and on the 
morning of the 12th, before daylight, immense numbers had again 
arrived. In 1894 the advance guard arrived on the night of May 
7. In 1895 the first eggs were noted on May 24. In 1896 the 
Terns commenced to arrive during the night of May 9; they 
were in evidence at daylight on the roth, and continued to arrive 
all day, and on the morning of the 11th the usual colony had 
taken possession of the island. I am informed that the Terns 
had considerably diminished in numbers on Penikese by August 
28, and that the young birds were all in the air and able to care 
for themselves ; that after September 1 there were but few birds 
left, and that by the 17th all had departed. It was thought that 
those remaining the longer time did so in order to care for a few 
mutilated young birds that needed aid. These mained young 
having been killed, the old birds departed as above. A goodly 
number of young birds were raised this season, as the owners of 
the island inform me that they did not allow them to be molested. 
