366 LARID^E : JAEGERS, GULLS, TERNS, ETC. 



bird becomes cold. Like an ethereal grace, it shrinks 

 and perishes before the gaze of vulgar eyes. 



" When the cares of incubation are over, and sad, un- 

 profitable cares they must be in most cases for these poor 

 birds, the Terns resort again to the sand-bars nearest 

 their chosen fishing-grounds. The waters about Nan- 

 tucket are a favorite haunt, and through the month of Sep- 

 tember they swarm about every bay and cove that indents 

 the shore. Their movements, however, depend largely 

 upon those of the blue-fish. These voracious creatures 

 prey upon the smaller fishes, and, hunting always in 

 schools, by their combined action drive the feeble fry to 

 the surface, when they are seized by the Terns. The 

 fishermen rely almost wholly upon the actions of the 

 latter to discover the presence of fish in the Sound, and 

 when a flock of Terns is seen hovering over a certain 

 spot, a school of blue-fish is pretty sure to be at work 

 beneath. 



" It is an interesting sight to watch the birds collect. 

 A moment before, perhaps only a few were to be seen, 

 leisurely winnowing their way along the shore ; but in an 

 incredibly short space of time the lucky discoverer of a 

 school is surrounded by hundreds of his fellows, and a 

 perfect swarm of eager, hungry birds poises over the 

 spot. Dozens dash down at once, cleaving the water 

 like darts, and, rising again into the air, shake the salt 

 spray from their feathers by a single energetic move- 

 ment, and make ready for a fresh plunge. Every bird 

 among them is screaming his shrillest, and the excite- 

 ment waxes fast and furious. Beneath, the blue-fish are 

 making the water boil by their savage rushes, and there 

 is fun and profit for all save the unfortunate prey. 

 Their position is perhaps the best exemplification of 



