WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA 33 



disturbed and harried by trippers and egg-stealing 

 collectors. One curious result of the protection given 

 to the terns was that two or three years ago two pairs 

 of black-headed gulls started breeding close to them. 

 It was as if these gulls had observed what was being 

 done and had said to one another: "This is not a 

 suitable breeding-place for gulls, though a proper 

 one for terns who prefer sand and shingle; but what 

 an advantage to have a man stationed there to protect 

 the nests from being harried! Come, let us make our 

 nests here, just on the border of the terns' gullery, 

 on the chance of our eggs coming in for protection 

 too." The experiment turned out well, and last 

 summer no fewer than sixteen pairs nested and 

 brought off their young at that spot. 



