AMONG THE WATER FOWL 



bles, lying in ?, slight hollow that is unlined, except 

 sometimes for a scant bed of little chips of mussel- 

 shell. These are the Least Terns' 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 

 fishermen's 

 traps. Old and 

 young are inter- 

 mi n gle d , and 

 they are tame 

 and gentle. To 

 bays where there 

 is good fishing 

 they will resort 

 daily, flying out 

 seaward at 

 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 



THREE LITTLE EGGS THAT LOOK ALMOST EXACTLY 

 LIKE THE MOTTLED PEBBLES, LYING IN A SLIGHT 

 HOLLOW THAT IS UNLINED. EXCEPT SOMETIMES 

 FOR A SCANT BED OF LITTLE CHIPS OF MUSSEL- 

 SHELL." NEST OF LEAST TERN. BY W. H. FISHER 



