SUMMER HOURS ON BREYDON 133 



the shingle-strips are subject to the laving of the sea-waves ; 

 but at Aldeburgh, on the Suffolk coast, under conditions 

 like those obtaining at Wells, I found long stretches of them 

 exactly corresponding in appearance. 



We presently hid in the long maram-grass on the higher 

 sand-heaps, when the terns with no more ado simply flew 

 above their nests, and from an elevation of ten or twenty 

 feet alighted right down upon them, their wings closing as 

 their light, buoyant bodies touched their precious eggs. The 

 wind was easterly, and nearly all their agitated manoeuvres 

 had been performed with head to it ; and they, without 

 exception, sat upon their eggs with the bill pointing east- 

 ward. The clamour ceased at once. Just before we sat 

 down on the sand-dune we flushed a red-legged partridge 

 from its nest, the startled bird dashing across the nesting 

 area, whereupon the angry terns darted down upon it, and 

 fairly mobbed it out of sight. 



I regret that my time was so limited, for the nesting habits 

 of the terns are exceedingly interesting ; and Tom Cringle 

 himself, a characteristic son of the marshes, was " no chick " 

 at bird-lore, nor uninteresting in his conversation. A mighty 

 hunter of wildfowl he may be in the winter months, but a 

 famous and reliable watcher he appears to be in his proper 

 season ; and I question whether any of the " egg-poaching " 

 fraternity would profit by trying any of their games upon 

 him. That the very careful protection given the terns at 

 nesting-time is rewarded by good results seems to be an 

 assured fact, and one only regrets that on their passage south 

 in the autumn they should be treated with scant kindliness 

 by irresponsible gunners. It is gratifying, too, to know that 

 at Cley and Blakeney, equally famous nesting-places, similar 

 protection is afforded them ; and the report issued by this 

 society is so entertaining that I am constrained to copy a 

 few lines from the watcher's report for 1904: 



"May 22nd. Found lesser and common terns' and dott- 

 rells' [ringed plovers'] nests with eggs. 



" May 2%th to end of month. Plenty of fresh nests. 



"June \2th. First clutch of lesser terns and dottrells 

 hatched out. 



"June i^th and lAjh. First lot of common terns hatched ; 

 strong, healthy birds." 



