64 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



centrating one's attention it could be ascertained that it was one 

 individual that was darting or swooping down to defend its young 

 or give it special care in case of need. 



The little birds in the nests displayed no fear when they were 

 touched by the hand. For the most part they seemed to suffer in 

 the hot sun, and often their mouths were wide open as they lay 

 panting and waiting for the parent to arrive. As soon as the young 

 Tern was able to leave the nest he appeared to be paralyzed with 

 apprehension when we approached. If he had no time to conceal 

 himself he would run away from us over the pebbles, often tumbling 

 headlong in his haste to get to some cover, screeching lustily after 

 the maimer of the old ])irds. If the little fellow saw us coming he 

 would endeavor to hide from us, and the way he did this was 

 highly amusing. If he could cover his head from view he imagined 

 he was safe. Time and again I saw a young bird with his beak 

 tucked away under a stone, and the rest of his body in sight. 

 There he would remain motionless and allow us to approach near 

 enough to stroke him. Once I removed a loose flat stone which 

 covered the head of a hiding bird and still he would not stir. When 

 I put my hand on him and he knew tliat he was surely discovered 

 he made off at the top of his speed, using both feet and wings in his 

 effort to escape, while he shrieked in mortal terror. 



The young birds which were almost ready to fly scrambled into 

 the water when I came too near. They swim expertly, sitting high 

 in the water, with their tails held perked up over their backs. 

 Sometimes I would see one which was a hundred yards or more 

 from the shore, but for the most part they were afraid to venture 

 out more than a few feet. Here they were watched with great 

 solicitude by their parents, who seemed frantic at seeing their 

 young thus exposed to danger. At such times the whole colony 

 joined in a great uproar, and the air was literally rent with the 

 chorus of "Te-a-arr, te-a-arr, te-a-arr," sounding not unlike the 

 violent tearing of some tough cloth, or the ripping of an obstinate 

 seam. The half grown birds tucked themselves away as securely 

 as they might by creeping into crevices between the ledges, or 



