the Birds of Nakl Man d. 3 1 



on the south-east part of Nakl Island, among a growth of 

 Salsola. The season for eggs was over, but many young 

 birds almost ready to fly were found hiding among the 

 herbage, while others were on the wing. The old birds were 

 very bolcl, and one was shot for identification. The nests 

 were constructed of grasses and were placed among the 

 Salsola branches. Two addled eggs were found, and one 

 (which I still possess) measured 2-45" x T82", being practi- 

 cally the same size as the eggs of a clutch which I obtained 

 on the Vacca Rock, Sardinia, two years ago. The colony 

 appeared to consist of about fifteen pairs. Both here and on 

 the Vacca Rock I noticed much whitewash round the nests 

 of this bird ; they are far dirtier in this respect than those 

 of the Mediterranean Herring-Gull. 



4. Larus cachinnans. 



Larger Gulls, which were seen but not obtained, were 

 probably of this species. Their nesting- place was not dis- 

 covered, but they may breed on Ramkine, as several were 

 observed flying over that island, which was not visited. 



5. Sterna fluviatilis. 



The Common Tern was found in abundance on both visits 

 to Nakl. Very few of the nests had three eggs, many had 

 two, and a considerable number only one ; but it is possible 

 that many of the eggs had been taken by the fishermen 

 before our visits. Near the harbour, on the inner reef, a 

 few rocks rise above the surface, and there this bird also 

 breeds abundantly. On July 4th all the eggs were incubated; 

 on June 20th the majority were fresh. Specimens of this 

 bird were shot on both visits. 



6. Sterna saundersi Hume (Cat. B. xxv. p. 120). 



This Arabian representative of the Lesser Tern was ex- 

 ceedingly abundant on Nakl, and as the boat approached 

 the island the birds rose in a cloud from the shore. On 

 Sanani they were, if anything, more plentiful. We found 

 numerous nests, two being the usual number of eggs in a 

 clutch. The nests were on the sand above high-water mark, 

 a very few being found away from the actual beach. The 



