VOL. viii.J BLAKENEY POINT TERNERY. 253 



term derive their name from the fact that they are 

 usually the headquarters of the Terns. During that 

 summer (1912) the nests were very crowded here. The 

 birds also laid in the dunes to the east and west of 

 Great Sandy Low (Fig. 1, E). In 1913 the clutches were 

 evenly scattered along the shingle front. Except on the 

 little island of embryo dunes, constituting the western 

 half of the Tern Dunes, no eggs at all were found in the 

 sand-hills. There was also a small colony in a " low '" in 

 the Long Hills. In 1914 this spot was again deserted and 

 the settlement was as indicated on the map (Fig. 1, A). 

 There was also the single clutch, B. Once more the birds 

 had taken freely to the dunes. It seems that the only 

 area which this bird invariably patronizes is the Tern 

 Dunes, with the surrounding shingle. 



Two seasons prior to these are of interest. In 1898 

 the birds were so molested by Rooks and rats that they 

 left the Point in a body and went to the StifEkey side of 

 the channel and nested on the turf. Mr. Pashley has a 

 nest still in his possession, taken Avith the sod that year. 



In 1911 rats again harassed the Terns, but they stayed 

 on the ground, though the rats also remained throughout 

 the season.* 



It is unnecessary to describe all the habits and behaviour 

 of the birds during the nesting-season. They behave in 

 a perfectly normal manner. There are, however, several 

 traits of the Common Tern which I have seen particularly 

 well illustrated at Blakeney. There is more often than 

 not a wind in some direction or another on the exposed 

 front, and if one hides for a few minutes on the crest 

 of a commanding sand-hill, whence one can see perhaps 

 a hundred or more nests, and watches the return of the 

 birds, it is remarkable to see how they all drop to their 

 eggs facing the wind, and instinctively settle down in 

 that direction. Amongst them may be a Ringed Plover 

 also incubating. If so, she is usually out of line with 

 the Terns, for she is not so fastidious. The accompanying 



* See British Birds, Vol. VI., p. 162. 



