562 THE COMMON TERN. 
or else had been overwhelmed in time of storm. We made the circuit of the 
island like excited children, only taking care not to crush the eggs beneath our 
feet. ‘The birds themselves were tireless in voice and wing, and would not be 
lulled to any sense of security, while the strangers were on their premises. The 
convenient, terrace-like arrangement of the ground invited the taking of a 
census, which showed the following results: empty nests, 200; nests with eg 
> Photo by Walter C. Metz. 
A TYPICAL BIT OF NESTING GROUND. 
counted which showed some signs of architecture,—perhaps half the number. 
Some of the nests were quite respectable affairs, neat cushions of bark and 
feathers and trash; but for the most part eggs were dumped just anywhere on 
the gravel. ‘I'wo nests were found in the corners of dry-goods boxes, which 
had been cast up on the reef. One of these contained a waif cork by way of a 
nest-egg. A large percentage of the eggs found were evidently deserted or 
dried-up specimens. Others were on the very point of hatching; while a few 
were perfectly fresh. 
A similar visit and inventory was made at “the Chick,” a half-acre reef 
