i6 



Notes on Rhode Island Ornithology. 



^gialitis meloda. — A local gunner named Hammond killed a bird at 

 Middletown, on May 15. 



Arenaria interpres. — I shot a fine male on the second beach, Middle- 

 town, on May 20, and heard of three others being shot a day or two pre- 

 viously. 



GENERAL NOTES. 



The Tern Colony at Gull Rock. — This spring I first saw Terns {Sterna 

 Jiirundo), on May 2oth, although they arrive in Rhode Island before that 

 date. On the 22nd they were common at Cormorant Rock, and I 

 observed large numbers flying about Gull Rock, which lies a few hundred 

 yards off the Newport Cliffs not far from Rough Point. On June 12th 

 I visited this locality and found the Terns breeding there in abundance. 

 Gull Rock is of much the same formation as Cormorant Rock, but is 

 somewhat moi'e extensive and, as from its less exposed situation, it is 

 rarely, completely swept by the sea, one finds a few weeds and grasses 

 growing on the higher parts. 



As we approached the rock a great many Terns rose from it, and 

 hovered over our heads. They were principally Cominon Terns {S. 

 kirundo), although I noticed a few Roseates (5'. dougalli). Another bird 

 was flying near which seemed to be one of the Shearwaters, possibly 

 Puffinus borealis. We landed on the rock and found many eggs. I 

 counted over ninety nests averaging two to three eggs apiece, although I 

 found two nests with four eggs and one with five. The birds themselves 

 were very tame and had evidently been little disturbed. 



Later in the day we went over to Cormorant Rock and found perhaps 

 one hundred Terns breeding there. The Gull Rock colony is much 

 larger, numbering at least one hundred and twenty-five pairs, as I did not 

 count nearly all the nests. This locality seems to be one of the chief 

 nesting place of the Terns in Rhode Island. 

 Newport, June 14. LeRoy King. 



LETTERS. 



Museum of Natural History, Roger Williams Park. 



Providence, R. I., 7 June, 1902. 

 Mr. Reginald Heber Howe, Junior, Editor. 



Dear Sir: — I am very happy to be able to send you notice that Mr. 

 LeRoy King has recently donated to this Museum, his Cathartes aura, 

 the one taken June 20, 1S93, at Brenton's Point, also his Lanius ludovici- 

 anus excubttorides [mz'g'rans^, the young female, taken at Middletown, 

 Aug. 29, 1898. 



Yours very truly, 



James M. South wick. 



