298 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



lined with a little dry grass ; Sabine found the eggs on 

 the bare ground ; whilst Richardson describes it as a 

 hollow in the short mossy turf. When disturbed at the 

 nest, the birds rise in an anxious fluttering crowd, utter- 

 ing an incessant note and flying to and fro until left in 

 peace. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of Sabine's Gull, so far as is known, are two in 

 number. They vary in ground colour from pale brown 

 to dark brown, occasionally tinged with olive, spotted 

 with darker brown, and with very indistinct underlying 

 markings of grayish-brown. On some eggs a few short 

 streaks occur on the larsfer end. Averacre measurement, 

 17 inch in length, by 1*25 inch in breadth. The duration 

 of the period of incubation is unknown, as is also the sex 

 performing the duty. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of this Gull 

 somewhat resemble the more sparingly marked eggs of 

 the Arctic Tern in colour, but are distinguished by their 

 larger size and darker ground colour. 



Family LARID.^. Genus Anous. 



Sub-family STERNINyE. 



NODDY TERN. 



A NOUS STOLiDUS {LinncBiis). 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Double Brooded (?). Laying season, May and June (Northern 

 Hemisphere), September to January (Southern Hemisphere). 



Breeding area : Oceanic tropical zone. The Noddy 

 Tern breeds on the various islands and reefs that stud 

 the tropic seas right round the world. Amongst the 



