State Reports 89 



so many here. The Roseate Terns are also increasing wonderfully, and 

 while a few years ago they seemed quite rare, this year I saw great bodies 

 of them, with not a Common Tern among them, and I judge the colony is 

 divided about equally between the Common and the Roseate. This fact is 

 very pleasing to me, as it evidences the care we have taken to see that pro- 

 tection is afforded them. There have also been but few fishermen in our 

 harbor of late, and it has thus been easy to control the taking of eggs, and 

 having but few sheep on the island very few of the young Terns have been 

 crippled. My notes give but twelve as having been found in a crippled 

 state, and I can say with confidence that this has been an exceptional year 

 for the constantly increasing Tern colony at the island of Penikese. Grad- 

 ually they are nesting nearer the outbuildings than ever before, and all my 

 fear is that they will finally overrun the island; but this matter will regulate 

 itself, I suppose. 



"Below are some extracts from my note-book: May 5, 1904. The 

 Terns arrived early this A.M. in small detached squads, the weather being 

 fine and the wind strong from the S.W. 



"May 6. The Terns are arriving in greatly increased numbers and by 

 evening had all arrived. Weather fine, wind N.E. 



"May 26. Saw the first egg. 



"June 21. Saw the first young Tern, just hatched. 



"July 17. The young are beginning to fly. 



"August 3. Terns commenced to leave with some young. 



"Sept. 15. Terns have all left." 



Unfortunately, the Common and Least Terns breeding on Katoma 

 Beach, Martha's Vineyard, did not fare so well, for some lawless party 

 robbed the birds of all their first laying of eggs. As the Least Terns are 

 less prone to breed in colonies than the other members of the family, it may 

 be possible that they did not suffer so much from the raid as did the Com- 

 mon Terns. A reward of twenty-five dollars was offered by the National 

 Committee for evidence that would convict the eggers, but it was without 

 result and the person who committed the crime is still unpunished. Mr. 

 John E. Rowland, of Vineyard Haven, who has aided the National Com- 

 mittee in many ways, writes that he is of the opinion that the Least Terns 

 breed sparingly all along the south shore of Martha's Vineyard. He adds, 

 "The severe winter, even on this favorably located island, was more than 

 our game birds could stand and the Quail were nearly exterminated; it is to 

 be regretted that our Legislature did not make a close season on these 

 beautiful little game birds. In May I saw quite a number of Heath Hens, 

 but at this writing I cannot give you any information as to how they 

 nested. Local shooters are respecting the laws protecting Gulls, Terns 

 and Night Herons in a way they have never done before." 



Miss Kimball, secretary of the Audubon Society, sends the following 

 report of growth and good results: 



