256 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vm. 



had come. The hubbub slowly subsided, and in twenty 

 minutes one could hear nothing but the breakers pounding 

 on the distant shingle. Never have I witnessed a more 

 impressive scene. 



This incident made me determine to keep a systematic 

 watch on the colony for a couple of nights. Accordingly 

 I arranged with two friends who were helping me with 

 egg-measurements to take spells together. The birds 

 were usually quiet soon after dark, and as I had frequently 

 been within earshot up to midnight, I decided to com- 

 mence the vigil at that hour. We took up the position 

 I had occupied on the previous night, I reproduce 

 the notes as made at the time. The first night was 

 sultry with distant thunder. 



A's watch, 12 to 2 a.m : — Birds uneasy. Calling to each 

 other. Alarm in centre of colony. Still uneasy. Alarm in 

 centre of colony again. Screaming, much calling again. 



My own watch : — 2 a.m. Continual undercurrent of 

 noise in the colony. All cries are discernible. A few 

 birds are flying. 2.15. First signs of dawn. No effect 

 on birds. 2,30. Can see plainly to write, 2,50, Red- 

 shank called in Gt. Sy. Low. No effect. 3 a.m. Ringed 

 Plover calling in Low. 3.5. Dead silence for a few 

 moments. 3,8. Flying becoming general, 3.20. The 

 colony waking up in earnest. The first Tern attacks us, 



B's watch, 4 to 6 a.m, : — 4 a,m. Terns are flying and 

 making a respectable noise, 4,5. A few Terns go fishing 

 and fly overhead with fish in their beaks. 4.30, Gretting 

 more noisy. Many flying, 4.45, Comparatively few 

 Terns flying about, 5,5, Terns persistently attacking. 

 5.10. Large number of Terns fishing just beyond outer- 

 most sand-bank. 5.15. Many more birds flying seawards. 

 5.30. Terns more quiet. 



On the second occasion we picked a quiet night. This 

 time there was practically no sound tiU dawn, when the 

 birds got noisy simultaneously and never quieted down 

 again. It was curious to see the persistent way in which 

 the birds attacked us as soon as it was light enough to 



