108 BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



looked in vain for the Terns which, had previously so 

 enlivened our shores. 



The protection afforded by an insular existence 

 was now given a practical and striking illustration. 

 The Terns which nested on the mainland or near- 

 lying sand bars were soon extirpated, but on cer- 

 tain less accessible, uninhabited islets, they still sur- 

 vived. 



Thus all that were left of countless numbers of 

 these birds which once inhabited the shores of Loug 

 Island were to be found on the Great Gull Islanc], 

 while Mnskeget and Peiiikese, off the Massachusetts 

 coast, contained the only large colonies of Terns 

 from Long Island to Maine. The existence of the 

 Gull Island colony being threatened by collectors, 

 the influence of several bird lovers secured the ap- 

 pointment of the keeper of the lighthouse on the 

 neighboring i4et. Little Gull, as a sjjecial game 

 warden to enfoi'ce the previously useless laws sup- 

 posed to protect the Terns. 



The result was both encouraging and instructive. 

 In two years it is estimated that the colony increased 

 from two thousand to four thousand, and it was hoped 

 that it might prove a nucleus from which the ad- 

 joining shores would eventually be restocked with 

 Terns. But the Government at Washington selected 

 Great Gull Island as a desirable point for fortifica- 

 tions, and before even this suggestion of war the 

 poor Terns disap])eare(l. For one season the labor- 

 ers employed by tlie Government feasted on Terns' 

 eggs ; then the gradual occui^ancy of the eighteen 

 acres composing the islet forced the birds to seek 

 homes elsewhere. 



