^"Ihc^^ J 1^"-EI), The Terns of Circa t Cull hluiiJ, N. Y. 4 1 



eleven acres. Its shape is -Jong and narrow, with an irregular 

 shore line, especially on the south side, and varies in width from 

 about three hundred feet across its centre, to long narrow ends, 

 making a total length of about three-quarters of a mile. The 

 beach is rough and stony, and contains a great many large 

 boulders scattered along the shore, especially at the east end, 

 where they form, as it were, a broken reef reaching from the 

 main land to the lighthouse, about a mile distant. At low tide 

 these rocks stand well out of the water, and present a very con- 

 spicuous appearance, with their white caps, stained and streaked 

 with the excrement of the Terns, from their constant use as rest- 

 ing places from year to year. 



The main land rises abruptly from the beach, with a perpen- 

 dicular bank, from ten to fifteen feet high ; its surface is treeless, 

 but is clothed with a coarse growth of grass and wild flowers, and 

 a few small patches of shrubs or low bushes. Much interest has 

 been taken during the last few years, in the protection of the 

 colony of Terns, which makes this island its breeding grounds, 

 and we are informed (Auk, Jan., 1897) that last year their num- 

 bers reached about seven thousand pairs of birds. The Light- 

 house Board has been called upon to assist in this work, and the 

 keeper of the light has placed rude signs at different points along 

 its banks, with a notice prohibiting the disturbing of their eggs. 



During the present year, the United States Government has 

 ordered the erection of a fortification on this island, the work 

 being contracted for by J. W. Hoffman & Co., of Philadelphia, 

 Pa., who last April took possession of the island and made prep- 

 aration for erecting the work. The plant consisted of a wharf on 

 the north side of the island, about its centre, with a derrick there- 

 on for the unloading of vessels. Five other derricks were also 

 erected at different points on the island, for the construction of 

 the work. Among the buildings erected, were a boiler house, 

 storage house for the cements, tool house, blacksmith shop, oil 

 house, steam concrete mixer, water tanks, cracked stone bin, hay 

 shed and stable for a dozen horses, ice house, commissary, com- 

 prising a store, two dining-rooms, two wash rooms, and a kitchen, 

 with sleeping apartments above, eight shanties for the accommo- 

 dation of a hundred or more workmen, an office for the contractors, 



