132 CASPIAN TERN. 



CASPIAN TERN. 



PLATE CCXIII. FIGURE II. 

 Sterna Caspia, SELBY. JENYNS. EYTON. GOULD. 



HHHE nest is a mere hollow scratched in the sand. 

 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 ap- 

 proaching 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. 



