TERNS 59 



As the visitors approach nearer the alarm begins to spread, a 

 few individuals fly into the air and circle around uttering 

 leisurely a few calls of "chir-r-r-r chir-r-r," but gradually the 

 tumult spreads and increases until finally all the inmates of the 

 colony present are on the wing uttering each in its most intense 

 voice "chir-r-r-rchir-r-r-r chir-r-r-r" varied by "tear-r-r tear-r-r-r 

 tear-r-r-r-r" , flying in circles over head and now and then 

 swooping downward, this swooping being seemingly done by 

 individuals whose homes are most nearly threatened by the now 

 landed visitors. If one of the Terns be shot the others fly lower 

 and hover over their comrade so that in this manner the plume 

 hunters formerly were able to kill large numbers of the birds. 



When unaware that intruders are present it is a pleasure to 

 watch a Tern sitting quietly on its nest, occasionally dabbling 

 the sand with its bill or preening its feathers. Now sleepily 

 closing its eyes in a very satisfied manner, then opening its bill 

 in a very leisurely gape, then quickly turning its head to 

 ascertain the cause of some unwonted sound which may possibly 

 have been incautiously made by the concealed watcher of its 

 habits. Two birds (probably an engaged or already married 

 couple) are engaged in billing and fondling one another in a 

 manner which seems quite foreign to such birds as the Terns 

 ordinarily appear to be. Presently one of the billing birds 

 does a little excavating in the sand with its feet and bill, seem- 

 ingly forming the beginning of a nest, then suddenly both are 

 off" in a wild game of tag, one after the other, not again to 

 return, in the short time the place was watched. 



The nest is usually a mere hollow in the sand or among the 

 short grass, though occasionally a well constructed nest of 

 grass is found which will retain its shape when lifted. The 

 usual number of eggs is three, though sets of four, five and 

 exceptionally six eggs have been found which resembled each 

 other in each case sufficiently well to have been the product of 

 the same bird. Occasionally when repeatedly robbed the 

 number of eggs laid late in the season is only two. The eggs 



