Reports of Field Agents 357 



grandfathers and great-grandfathers had probably egged on these sandy 

 stretches — and the tendency to do so in the present generation was as inherent 

 as the incUnation to eat three meals per day. 



Not the slightest objection was raised to photographic operations, and no 

 backw'ardness was displayed in answering any questions with which we chose 

 to ply our new acquaintances, They had come all the way from Chincoteague 

 by boat, — in fact were on a several days' cruise, principally for the purpose 

 of gathering eggs. Where did they sell the eggs? Never sold an egg, had barely 

 enough for family use. How many eggs were in the basket? Oh, about 550, 

 counting those of the 'strikers,' (Common Terns). We now noticed that a 

 considerable number of Terns' eggs were mixed in with those of the Skimmers. 



There is a widespread erroneous opinion among the people of this coast 

 that eggs can be legally taken until July 4. 



As the eggers came within a few rods of our tent, they decided to retrace 

 their steps and board their boat, fortunately leavang the area north of the 

 camp undisturbed. 



The following day a party of six men and boys came ashore in a small 

 boat and began to search for eggs in the area that the previous party had left 

 untouched for our convenience. The new comers were immediately approached 

 and with very little trouble were persuaded to 'egg' to the south of the camp. 

 No mention was made of the fact that this very region had been gone over 

 very thoroughly the day before. Much to our surprise, these men came back 

 with nearly half a pail full of eggs — about 150 in all. This demonstrated how 

 the poor birds, undismayed by their previous experience, had, within twenty- 

 four hours, done much to replace their stolen treasures. * 



One member of this party told me that sometimes egging is carried on 

 until the first of August, and even after that date many of the birds persevere 

 and succeed in rearing young. Said this same man, "If the eggs were not 

 taken, the Gulls would get so thick you couldn't live here." This, however, 

 was a mere speculation on his part, and he had no idea of tr>'ing the experi- 

 ment of leaving the birds unmolested. They very generously oflfered us some 

 Skimmer eggs for our breakfast. "Pick out twenty-live or thirty of them to 

 fry," they said; but we declined. 



When we first landed on Wreck Island, I should have imagined that there 

 w?re at least five or six hundred Skimmers there; but they seemed to drift 

 away as the days passed, until there were perhaps only three or four hundred 

 birds there when we left. 



The Common Terns were not found to colonize on Wreck Island, as on 

 Gardiner's Island, New York. Their nests were more scattered, the greater 

 number being distributed along the beach on the debris just behind the ordi- 

 nary high-water mark. Of Gull-billed Terns, there were apparently none on 

 Wreck Island, although we were certain of a few Forster's Terns. One Piping 

 Plover, two or three Hudsonian Curlews which we were told were already 



