AMONG THE WATER FowL 
bles, iying in a slight hollow that is unlined, except 
sometimes for a scant bed of little chips of mussel- 
shell. Whese: are the Weast, Merns) ‘nests: 
Previous to the departure of the Terns from us 
in the autumn, they are everywhere flitting about 
our shores and bays, following up the schools of 
small fish and resting on sandbars, flats, or even 
boats, buoys or 
fis hie Tmbeunems 
traps. Old and 
young are inter- 
mingled, and 
they. “ares tame 
and. gentle... a 
bays where there 
is good fishing 
: they will resort 
“THREE LiITTLE EGGS THAT LOOK ALMOST EXACTLY : ‘ 
LIKE THE MOTTLED PEBBLES, LYING IN A SLIGHT daily, flying out 
HOLLOW THAT IS UNLINED, EXCEPT SOMETIMES d 
FOR A SCANT BED OF LITTLE CHIPS OF MUSSEL- scawar a t 
SHELL.’’? NEST OF LEAST TERN. BY W. H. FISHER = 
night. 
The Herring Gull is the only true Gull that 
nests on the coast of Maine. From Massachus- 
setts southward the Laughing Gull nests spar- 
ingly on sandy islands and marshes, often near 
colonies of Terns. The other species of the Gulls 
are more northerly than either of the above. Im- 
mature individuals linger far south of the breed- 
ing-range of the species. So when one sees more 
or less mottled Great Black-backed, Glaucus, or 
Bonaparte’s Gulls in summer, do not imagine that 
their nests can be discovered by any amount of 
search. 
Early autumn begins to bring the Gulls to us 
144 
