CASPIAN TERN 



PLATE CCXIII. FIGURE II. 

 Sterna caspia, PALLAS. 



THE nest of this rare summer visitor is a mere hollow 

 scratched in the sand, which is occasionally lined with 

 pieces of shell or a few bents. 



The eggs are two or three in number, of a yellowish 

 stone or pale olive-green colour, spotted with grey and 

 reddish brown or blackish brown. They are hatched in 

 about twenty days. Although the birds use great exertions 

 to prevent an intruder from approaching the nest and eggs, 

 by flying over his head, and making a considerable noise, 

 yet it has been remarked that when they are once disturbed, 

 they do not easily return to their nest, and are said even 

 not to revisit the same spot the following year if they are 

 fired at. Several hundreds of pairs build together. 



39 



