^°i898 ^J Mackay, Terns of Muskeget Island, Mass. in l 



South Point Island, July 3, 1897. 



Terns. 



144 nests with i egg each, 144 



342 " " 2 eggs " 684 



68 " " 3 " " 204 



9 " " 4 " " 36 



5 nests with i egg ilv i chick in down 

 3 " "I "2 chicks " 

 I nest with 2 eggs and i chick " 

 I " " no " 2 ciiicks " 

 103 live chicks in the down 

 67 dead " " " 



563 1068 



Laughi7ig Gulls. 



I nest with i egg each, i 

 4 nests " 2 eggs " 8 



_7_ " " 3 " " 2} 

 ■.12 30 



On South Point (of Muskeget Island proper) , now united to 

 South Point Island, I found very few eggs although the Terns 

 used it as a nesting place. I observed no eggs this season but 

 what were normal. 



I visited Adams Island but, as heretofore, found no birds nest- 

 ing on it. This island has been considerably reduced in size 

 since the washing away of the south beach. 



I surveyed Muskeget Island proper on July 4 and 5, 1897, with 

 feelings of concern and regret, for great changes had taken place 

 regarding the domiciled birds since last season, as I found that 

 this great breeding resort of the Terns and Laughing Gulls had 

 been practically abandoned, there being only a few Terns still 

 nesting at the westernmost part of the island. The cause of 

 this abandonment I attribute to the building of a new life saving 

 station in the midst of their former breeding grounds on the 

 northern side of the island, together with some minor causes. 

 This particular area has been the stronghold of the Common 

 Terns, where they congregated in thousands, as well as of the 

 Laughing Gulls. I am of the opinion that a portion of these 

 birds have re-located on some of the small adjoining islands, 

 while others have apparently abandoned these waters. The com- 

 paratively small number of the Roseates remaining, in comparison 

 with 1895 and 1896, together with the diminished aggregate of 



