324 



BIRD-LIFE IN WESTERN CANADA 



going the same way, and when she had finished directing 

 their movements, she came herself boldly from the reeds to 

 hold my attention by the most elaborate demonstrations of 

 helplessness. 



A pair of Black Terns which were nesting in a small 

 reed-grown slough near our camp, showed an even more 



Black Tern Incubating 



remarkable control over their downy young, but adopted a 

 less strategic method of protecting them. 



The nest was discovered, on June 16, on a small knob of 

 mud and water-soaked vegetation which had been selected 

 as a foundation for the nest of coarse reeds. At this time it 

 contained one egg. On June 18 a second egg was laid and, 

 without waiting for the usual com))loment of three, incuba- 

 tion was begun. At no time during this remarkable period 

 of a bird's year did the Terns fail to resent intrusion on 



