296 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



reeds, sedge, and grass, and lined with finer sedge and 

 dry grass. When disturbed the birds rise in a fluttering 

 throng, and fly round and round above their nests utter- 

 ing their pecuHar short, screeching note, and behave 

 generally like the Black-headed Gull under similar 

 circumstances. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Little Gull are generally three, but in 

 rare instances four in number. They vary in ground 

 colour from pale buffish-brown to olive-brown and olive- 

 green, spotted and more rarely blotched and streaked 

 with dark brown, and with underlying markings of pale 

 gray. As a rule, the spots are not very large, and the 

 blotches, formed by one or two spots becoming con- 

 fluent, are not numerous. Average measurement, 17 

 inch in length, by 1*2 inch in breadth. Incubation is 

 performed by both sexes, but the duration of the period 

 is apparently unknown. 



DiACiNOSTlC characters : Unless the eggs of the 

 Little Gull are thoroughly well authenticated they are 

 absolutely worthless. I know of no character v/hich will 

 distinguish the buffer b.own varieties from those of the 

 Common Tern. The nest, however, is very different ; it 

 may also be remarked that the eggs of the l>rn rarely, 

 if ever, show any trace of olive or green in the ground 

 colour. 



