Jun 18 - 1874 Cape Cod Jun 18 Clear with very strong N.W. wind. After breakfast we started out with the Capt, prepared to spend the day on the water. We were also accompanied by Barnard & Frank Hinckley. We drove down to Cotuit at a furious rate under two reefs and then flood out into the Sound for the 'bell buoy' when we came to try the ground fish but finding the wind too strong was obliged to put in again. On a Sand Bar near 'High ground' about 100 terns were sitting & getting the Capt. to put our ashore I shot four but secured only one as the others fell into the water & drifted off. I was how much pleased at seeing my acquaintance with C. atricilla about a dozen of which started off the island among the terns and rising high into the air saluted us with a wild laughing chorus that brought back old Mashkegot days & crowded memories of a friend, never also to be met with again upon this earth. We spent the rest of the day cruising about near shore shooting in all six terns; (I could detect two species, but exact S. hirundo) a pair of A. melodius and a pair of Mac. gissus. Of the latter bird I saw three individuals