562 



THE COMMON TERN. 



or else had been overwhelmed in time of storm. We made the circuit of the 

 island like excited children, only taking care not to crush the eggs beneath our 

 feet. The birds themselves were tireless in voice and wing, and would not be 

 lulled to any sense of security, while the strangers were on their premises. The 

 convenient, terrace-like arrangement of the ground invited the taking of a 

 census, which showed the following results : empty nests, 200 ; nests with eggs, 

 232 ; nests with young only, 25 ; loose squabs, 26. Only those empty nests were 



Photo by Walter C. Mete. 

 A TYPICAL BIT OF NESTING GROUND. 



counted which showed some signs of architecture, perhaps half the number. 



Some of the nests were quite respectable affairs, neat cushions of bark and 

 feathers and trash; but for the most part eggs were dumped just anywhere on 

 the gravel. Two nests were found in the corners of dry-goods boxes, which 

 had been cast up on the reef. One of these contained a waif cork by way of a 

 nest-egg. A large percentage of the eggs found were evidently deserted or 

 dried-up specimens. Others were on the very point of hatching ; while a few 

 were perfectly fresh. 



A similar visit and inventory was made at "the Chick," a half-acre reef 



