210 Recent Literature. 



Auk 

 April 



Tortugas group, during May 4-July 18, 1907. The author says: "The 

 specific object of my stay was to observe as far as possible the details of the 

 lives of the noddy terns (Anous stolidus) and the sooty terns (Sterna fuli- 

 ginosa) during their nesting season on that island .... Our interest .... cen- 

 tered around the portrayal of their activities." The work was conducted 

 from the viewpoint of the psychologist, and is said by the author to be 

 preliminary, and adds: "but since the immediate continuation of the 

 work is not assured, and since work of the kind is more or less ' impression- 

 istic,' the attempt is here made, while the material is still fresh in mind, 

 to enumerate some of the more important problems to be found in the 

 study of these birds and to set forth my tentative efforts to solve them." 



A general description of the two species is followed by an account of the 

 geographical situation and history of the present colony of terns, which 

 occupies "a small coral island about 300 yards wide (east and west) by 

 400 yards long (north and south)," situated about 66 statute miles due 

 west from Key West. "Owing to its juxta-tropical location, its slight 

 elevation, and the condition of its surface (largely coral sand), the actual 

 surface-temperature of this island is very high, ranging at times during 

 the hottest days from 124° to 143° F." The only vegetation consists of 

 bay-cedar bushes, abundant over the central and western parts of the 

 island, and a dense cactus growth over a small portion of the southeastern 

 part, both being used by the noddies for nest-sites. 



The food and feeding habits, the mating, nest-building, and the daily 

 activities of both species throughout the breeding season are minutely 

 detailed, together with an account of the development of the young in 

 captivity, and of tests as to recognition between mates, and of the egg, 

 nest, and nest locality. There are also accounts of experiments on distant 

 orientation, and on the "learning of problem boxes" and "the maze." 

 Such a minute and detailed study, conducted with scientific exactness, 

 of the activities of any species of wild bird has doubtless never before been 

 made, and is hence of the highest interest as a contribution to the life 

 histories of the two species here under investigation, aside from its value 

 from the psychologic side. The matter is divided into sections, under spe- 

 cial subheadings, each section closing with a brief summary of the subject 

 under discussion. 



Under 'Food and Feeding Habits' it is stated that neither species ever 

 touches the water except to drink or bathe; they "never swim nor dive," 

 and in bathing never completely immerse the body, the breast and head 

 being the only parts dipped into the water. In feeding they follow schools 

 of minnows attacked by other fish, and "pick off these minnows as they 

 hop up above and over the surface of the water." They thus differ greatly 

 in habits from our northern species of terns, which freely plunge beneath 

 the surface to secure their prey. The birds appear to fish exclusively in 

 the daytime, they all returning to the island at night. The author gives 

 it as his belief that "these birds rarely leave the island [on their fishing 

 trips] for distances greater than 15 knots." This belief is based on the 



