2 4 o THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



coarse sand close to the sea. Such, at least, 

 is my unvaried experience of the nesting habits 

 of each species. Both Terns lay two or three 

 eggs, and never rear more than one brood in 

 the season, although, if their eggs are taken or 

 destroyed, they will usually be replaced. The 

 eggs of the Common Tern are buff or grayish 

 brown in ground colour, spotted and blotched 

 with various shades of darker brown and gray. 

 Those of the Arctic Tern are more inclined to 

 an olive-tinted ground colour, are smaller and 

 more elongated. The eggs are not sat upon 

 much in the daytime during bright, hot weather, 

 the sun helping considerably to incubate them. 

 When their colony is invaded the birds assemble 

 in the air in one vast fluttering throng, chattering 

 in excitement, and swooping round the intruder 

 until their domain is left in peace. I might just 

 remark that both these birds in many northern 

 stations breed close together, and at the Femes 

 the Sandwich Tern as well nests in close 

 proximity. 



And now with a brief glimpse at the Petrels 

 breeding on the downy summits along the coast, 

 we will bring our list of breeding species to a 

 close. These birds are rarely seen on land, and' 

 without some experience of their whereabouts 

 their nests are easily overlooked. Indeed we 

 might spend days upon the breezy sea-downs sur- 

 rounded by Petrels and yet never dream of their 

 presence, let alone the actual whereabouts of their 

 nests. Close observation, and wide knowledge of 

 the birds to be met with at sea off the coast, are 

 the only guides to success. One other fact- 

 deserves mention. Petrels are birds that love 



