Reports of Special Agents 



313 



found later, I am 

 incliiu'd lo believe 

 that, in these ex- 

 ceptional eases 

 where two ej^^i^s 

 are laid, hoth are 

 hatelied and the 

 young reared. 



The weather 

 during the past 

 nesting season was 

 calm. ()nl\- one 

 storm occurred, 

 which did little 



damage. The island is so small and so little above sea-level that the birds 

 are always in danger from this source. It is well that they have favorable 

 years, when thousands are born and reared without mishap, as was the case 

 during the past year. In addition to adverse climatic conditions, the young 

 of these birds are subject to the following vicissitudes: (1) The adult Sooties 

 kill the voung belonging to adjacent Sooty nests. This occurs, however, 

 only when the colony is disturbed and the young seek cover. The old 



SOOTY TERN EICJHT D.-WS OLD 



Iji^ 



SOOTY TERX TWEXTY-FIVE U.^YS OLD, DRY lORrUGAS, FLORID.\ 



