TWO DAYS WITH THE TERNS 115 



the wing, and the series of pictures shown represents 

 the stages of growth from the egg to the age at 

 which the bird takes flight. 



Both the nature of the bird's haunts and the 

 manner in which the members of a colony spread an 

 alarm make it practically impossible to surprise a 



57. Young Tern hiding in the grass. 



Tern upon its nest. But by lying prone upon the 

 ground one attracts far less attention than when 

 standing. The hovering flock of birds gradually 

 disperses, and those which are incubating soon re- 

 turn to the vicinity of their nests, hanging over 

 them and dropping nearer and nearer, 53 until at the 

 end of fifteen or twenty minutes they swoop down 

 beside them, raise their wings high over their backs, 

 then fold them gently and settle upon their eggs. 58 



On a second visit to the island a bit of old sail 

 was brought, which I drew over me when lying on 

 the ground a plan resulting in my practical disap- 

 pearance, as far as the Terns were concerned. 



