54 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



as in the preceding species. The Fame Islands 

 are, or used to be, a great breeding station of the 

 Arctic Tern, and there I have taken great numbers 

 of its eggs. The bird probably pairs for life. It 

 differs somewhat in its nesting arrangements from 

 the Common Tern, inasmuch that it never makes 

 any nest. No lining of any kind is placed in the 

 hollow which contains the eggs, and this hollow is 

 generally selected ready made. Another peculiarity 

 is that the eggs are far more generally laid nearer 

 to the water ; and this applies not only to the Fame 

 Islands, but to every breeding place of this Tern 

 that I have visited. The two or three eggs are 

 laid in any little depression in the coarse sand or 

 shingle on the line of drift, or amongst small 

 pebbles, or even on the bare ground or rock. 

 These eggs vary from buff to olive, and even pale 

 bluish-green in ground colour, heavily blotched and 

 spotted, especially at the larger end, with dark 

 brown, paler brown, and gray. They are decidedly 

 smaller than those of the Common Tern, more 

 elongated in shape, and are much more olive in 

 general colour. When disturbed from their eggs 

 the Arctic Terns become very noisy, and rise in 

 fluttering crowds above the sacred spot, continuing 

 to fly to and fro, screaming anxiously until the 

 intruder retires. 



