Vol. XIV 
ae Mackay, The Terns of Muskeget Island. 383 
being sixteen inches, width twelve inches at one end and six 
inches at the other. The bottom of the cavity is eight inches 
below the edge of the hole, and the top of the nest was entirely 
open, being formed in the stump of a broken-off limb. The 
birds were not present, but the nest contained seven eggs, four of 
which were fresh, one slightly incubated and two well advanced. 
Among the pellets, etc., were probed out thirteen fresh meadow 
mice. 
From my experience, the number of eggs laid ranges from five 
to seven, and incubation lasts about three weeks for each egg. 
The earliest date recorded for fresh eggs is March 10, and the 
latest September 14. 
THE TERNS OF MUSKEGET ISLAND, MASSA- 
GHUSEE Esa eat TE: 
BY GEORGE H. MACKAY. 
I Hap about concluded that I would not take any detailed notes 
this season on the Terns of Muskeget, intending simply to visit 
them once or twice during the summer in order to ascertain how 
they were breeding. In furtherance of this plan I visited the 
island on June 26 and 27, 1896. Once there, I thought I should 
like to know how they were laying in comparison with other years, 
especially 1895. I therefore asked Mr. Sandsbury to get his boat 
ready and we soon started for my favorite Tern resort, Gravelly 
Island. Our near approach was heralded as usual, and we were 
greeted with protests by the large assemblage of birds, considerably 
augmented since last season. Notwithstanding their protests we 
checked off every nest and egg we could discover. It was 
evident from the number of birds in the air, as well as the eggs 
discovered, that the increase from last season had been greater 
than in any former year. My observations last season have been 
further strengthened this, that Sterna dougalii, where the means are 
available, builds a better nest and conceals it more carefully than 
does SS. hirundo. I saw a good many Roseate nests last year, as 
