^°189o'"'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 255 



The birds are fed mostly on fish oftal ; iu fact, nothing comes amiss 

 to them, their ability to swallow being only limited by their size and the 

 extent to which they can expand their jaws. As a consequence, they 

 become very fat and tame, following one about like a dog, and occasion- 

 ally going to the water and helping themselv^es to what they can find, 

 but invariably returning to their homes. In January and February, 

 when other food is scarce, the gulls are killed and return to the some- 

 times famished fishermeuand their families, iu another and more palat- 

 able form, some of that abundance which could not be otherwise util- 

 ized during the fishing season. 



13. Larus Philadelphia (Orel). Bonaparte's Gull. 



Young flying birds were quite abundant at the mouth of Mingau River, 

 together with a limited number of old birds. A few others were after- 

 wards seen in the Straits of Causo. 



14. Sterna hirundo Liuu. Couimoii Tera. 



Met with abundantly everywhere, except on Funk Island. 



15. Sterna paradisaea Briiun. Arctic Tern. 



Breeding iu immense numbers on Funk and Penguin Islands. None 

 were seen elsewhere. 



On Funk Island the eggs and young birds were very numerous, the 

 nests occurring at intervals of a few feet throughout the central part of 

 the island except where the space was occupied by the puffins. 



The old birds were very numerous, screaming and hovering overhead, 

 now and then swooping down and striking our hats with their wings. 

 The young of the previous year were moderately abundant, but very 

 shy, keeping well above the others, and only occasionally coming within 

 shot; they were readily distinguished by the short tail and the peculiar 

 appearance of the head. 



The Arctic Tern is not at all choice about its nesting place. Seven 

 specimens of the nests were collected which may be taken as typical of 

 the different locations and are as different as the shape and coloration 

 of the eggs. 



Nest No. 1 is simply a few small broken pieces of granite and a bone 

 of the Great Auk. The eggs were laid on the bare rock and the stones 

 were arranged in a ring as if the bird had drawn them toward her as 

 she sat on the eggs 5 although, as there were no stones within several 

 yards of the nest, it would seem as if the bird had gathered them at a 

 distance. Quite a number of these nests were seen. 



Nest No. 2 is simply a depression scratched in gravel, and No. 3 is a 

 similar depression iu dry mussel shells. 



Nest No. 4 is a depression in a bunch of plants of a species of pUm- 

 tain with several pieces of granite rock on one side. This nest was in 

 a crevice. 



