18 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1921 



Very rarely was there noted any attempt at concealing 

 the eggs, althongh occasionally a set wonld be fonn<l lying 

 at the base of a tnft of beach grass and partiall}^ shaded by 

 it. Laying nsnally commenced the first week in June, and 

 by the lotli of that month the breeding season Avas at 

 its height. Tlie first of Mr. Perry's several visits annually 

 to Warsaw island was never lyade before the lOtli of June, 

 and he informs me that a nund)er of times he lias secured 

 fresh eggs late in the month of July. Although he never 

 fully determined how many broods were raise<l in a 

 season, he is of the opinion that there was only one. ^lost 

 authors agree on the subject that unless there is a mishap 

 to the eggs only one set is laid. Their ground color varies 

 from i)ale grayish-green to light olivaceous-drab ; often it 

 is clear bulfy. The spotting consists of <lots an<l splashes 

 of brown and lilac, and is usually well distributed over 

 the egg, although it frequently tends to form a wreath 

 around the large end. In size the eggs average 1.25 x .95. 

 These birds are very solicitous for the safety of their eggs 

 and young, greeting tlie intruder with shrill cries and 

 much circling overliead. The young, like those of all beach 

 nesting birds, are adepts at hiding, their color blending so 

 perfectly with their surroundings that once the eye is 

 taken otf them great difliculty is had in locating them 

 again, even though the observer marks the spot where they 

 lie. As soon as they are able to fly, the young, in com])any 

 with the adults, resort to the sounds and inlets, where, at 

 this season of the year, they obtain an abundant supply 

 of food. 



Since this species lately began to increase in numbers 

 in this county, I have been much interested in studying its 

 feeding habits, and, while it continues as formerly to show 

 a preference for the larger bodies of water, I often observe 

 it singly or in pairs fishing in the numerous narrow 

 creeks and rivers that tliread their way along this coast. 

 In Tybee inlet there are numerous shoals more or less dis- 

 connected but togetiier covering a wide area. Many of 

 these banks are uncovered at low tide, but a nund)er are 

 perpetually washed l)y tlie breakers rolling in from the 



