Vol. XVI 

 1898 J 



Mackay, Tcnis of Miiskcoet Isla>i(f, Afass. 



169 



tive examination of all the breeding grounds of the Terns and 

 Laughing Gulls. I found on visiting Gravelly Island a consider- 

 able falling off from the status of June 26, 1896, in both nests and 

 eggs ; the occupants were also different, being now almost entirely 

 Common Terns (S. hirundo) ^ its former possessors, the Roseate 

 Tern {S. dougaUi) having to a large extent abandoned it, there 

 being, by my estimate, not more than ten per cent, of the latter 

 now nesting there. I endeavored for over an hour to procure a 

 few specimens of Roseates having the basal half of the bill of a 

 dark orange red, with legs and feet carmine. I have noted such 

 fiying about in numbers during former years, they being noticably 

 abundant July 29, 1895; some of these birds had slaty, while 

 others had white underparts. I failed in securing any, obtaining 

 only one bird with the bill partially so colored. 



I subjoin the following statement of nests and eggs noted here: 



Gravelly Lsland. July 3, 1897. 

 Terns. 



I have not before noted Laughing Gulls breeding here, 

 although I have heard that they did so formerly. This year their 

 nests were placed in the longest and thickest lodged beach grass, 

 Atnmophila arundinacea, and were consequently well concealed. 

 These birds undoubtedly came from their former haunt, Muskeget 

 Island proper, which place they abandoned this season. 



On leaving Gravelly Island I rowed over and examined the 



