SEA SWALLOWS 



IT the extreme southeastern end of 

 Massachusetts, where the main land, 

 as if partially dissolved by the 

 ocean, crumbles off into numerous 

 islands, are several favorite resorts of the sea 

 swallow or tern, a rather small and particular- 

 ly beautiful and graceful species of water fowl, 

 closely allied with the gulls, and among the 

 most aerial of sea birds. Probably the spot 

 where they congregate in largest numbers is 

 Muskegat, a low and desolate island about five 

 miles northwest of Nantucket. A few years 

 ago they became almost exterminated from this 

 resort by the depredations of numerous parties 

 that sailed thither in quest of the delicate plum- 

 age or of the eggs of these birds. But, through 

 the public-spirited efforts of Mr. Mackay, an 

 ornithologist living at Nantucket, these harm- 

 less and attractive creatures are now sheltered 

 beneath the wing of the law, and have so far 

 recovered from the effects of past havoc, that 



