Notes on the Habits of the Breeding Water Birds 17 



on the habits of the breeding water birds of Cliathara 

 Count}', Georgia. 



Sterna antillarum — Least Tern. 



This beantifnl tern formerly nested in great abundance 

 on the isohited beaches of the larger coast islands, but 

 since 1891 no eggs have been taken in this county. On my 

 visits to the islands during the past five years I have noted 

 Least Terns in increasing numbers, but I have so far failed 

 to secure evidence that they have reestablished themselves 

 upon their former breeding grounds. The aspect of most 

 of the beaches where they once nested remains unchanged, 

 and hopes are entertained by local bird students that the 

 birds will continue to increase and return to their old 

 haunti^. Commencing in late spring and continuiiig 

 through the summer, numbers of these dainty birds nmj 

 be seen fishing in the waters of Tybee inlet, but it is my 

 belief that these individuals have merely wandered here 

 from their breeding grounds to the north or soutli of this 

 county. Long before I began the study of ornithology' this 

 species had ceased to breed in this locality, and for the fol- 

 lowing notes on its breeding habits I am indebted to T. D. 

 Perry, whose experience with it is probably more exten- 

 sive than that of any other Georgia ornithologist. From 

 1885 to 1890 large numbers of Least Terns annually re- 

 sorted to the unfrequented beach of Warsaw island to 

 rear their young. Although the birds were pretty evenly 

 distributed over the entire five mile beach the most favored 

 portion was near what is known as the " middle settle- 

 ment," the name of which is explanatory of its location on 

 the island. Mr. Peri'}^ tells me that at that time the 

 beach at this point was wide; large areas of suitable shell- 

 strewn sand being available for nesting sites. Most of 

 the birds preferred that portion of the beach between high 

 water mark and the sand dunes where numerous little tufts 

 of vegetation were growing, affording protection for the 

 3'oung not only from the hot mid-day sun but from their nu- 

 merous enemies as well. The eggs, usually three in number- 

 were deposited in a slight depression in the bare sand. 



