3o8 



Bird -Lore 



to President Dutcher and to the Audubon Society, for kind permission to carry 

 on scientific studies on a protected bird colony, and for the complete control 

 of the colony during the period of study. 



The writer has nothing but favorable statements to make upon the con- 

 dition of the colony. A few years ago. Dr. Thompson (Bird-Lore, Vol. V, 

 1903, pp. 77-86), made a detailed report upon the condition of this colony. 

 Apparently, since that report was made, the birds have increased largely in 



OLD HOSPITAL BUILDING, BIRD KEY, DRY TORTUGAS, FLORIDA 

 Used by wardens as a residence 



numbers. By methods which are described below, some notion of the number 

 of birds nesting upon the island was obtained. 



Approximate Number of Sooty Terns. — As was shown by Dr. Thompson, 

 some of the Sooties lay their eggs in holes in the sand, either under the bay 

 cedar bushes, or out in the open spaces, while others lay directly upon the sand, 

 or upon the matted grass. Apparently, the Sooties come to the island in groups. 

 This is evidenced by the fact that laying begins at slightly different dates upon 

 different portions of the island. Roughly speaking, the southwestern portion 

 of the island was first 'taken,' for the eggs first appeared in that section; then, 

 in order, the central and northeastern portions. The natural subdivisions of 

 the surface of the island, the sandy places, wooded portions, etc., made it pos- 



