258 BULLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



but generally a scanty nest was formed by scraping together a few 

 pieces of dry grass or rubbish to partially line a slight hollow in the 

 sand. The method we employed for identifying the nests is the 

 only sure way in a locality like this ; it is seldom possible to see one 

 of the birds sitting on its nest; for, as Mr. Mackay (1895) says: 



The alarm is given from bird to bird until it reaches those at the farthest 

 end, who hasten to lend their vocal aid in driving ofE their common enemy, 

 thus rendering it impossible to come to any conclusion regarding any particular 

 nest and eggs. I have had roseates dart down at me and show every demon- 

 stration of anger and solicitude when I have been examining a "Wilson's tern's 

 nest and eggs, the identification of which I felt sure. I have also had the same 

 experience with Wilson's tern as the assailant when I have been busy over a 

 roseate's nest and eggs. It must not therefore always be assumed that the 

 solicitous bird is the owner. As far as my observation shows I should say that 

 not only do roseate and Wilson's terns lay their eggs indiscriminately at times 

 in each other's nests, but also care for each other's young and make united 

 battle against intruders. 



On Penikese and Weepecket Islands the roseate terns nest mostly 

 in the beach grass, poison ivy, and rank herbage on the higher parts 

 of the islands, where their nests are well hidden. In the summer of 

 1915 I visited a large and populous colony, consisting of many thou- 

 sand pairs of common and roseate terns, which had recently been es 

 tablished near the extremity of Nauset Beach, on the mainland of 

 Cape Cod, near Chatham, Mass. This is probably an over- 

 flow from the Muskeget colony. Here the roseate terns were nesting 

 under similar conditions to those noted on Muskeget, mainly on the 

 ridges or sand dunes heavily overgrown with beach grass, but sur- 

 rounded by common terns nesting in the open. On Faulkner's Isl- 

 and, in Long Island Sound, Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway (1884) say : 



While some gather a few dry weeds or a little dry seaweed, others make 

 only a hollow in the sand ; and some deposit their eggs on the stones without 

 any nest at all. 



Audubon (1840) found them breeding in considerable numbers 

 along the shores of southern Florida. He writes : 



At different times in the course of nearly three months which I spent among 

 the keys I saw flocks of 20, 30, or more pairs, breeding on small detached 

 rocky islands, scantily furnished with grass, and in the company of hundred« 

 of Sandwich terns. The two species appeared to agree well together, and 

 their nests were intermingled. The full num'ber of eggs of the present species 

 is three. * * * They were deposited on the bare rocks, among the roots of 

 the grasses, and left in fair weather to the heat of the sun. Like those of 

 the common tern and other species they are delicious eating. The eggs of the 

 Sandwich tern were more attended to during the day, but toward night botl 

 species sat on their eggs. 



In the Bahamas and West Indies they seem to nest in open situa- 

 tions, with Cabot's and Sooty terns, laying their eggs in hollows 



