12 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



Our duffle transferred to the shore of the creek, and the launch 

 disappearing with its pilot, who had instructions to return for us 

 after four days, we cast about for a camp site. In the total 

 absence of trees we were obliged to make use of a three-legged 

 tower erected by the United States Geodetic Survey, and to this 

 our simple shelter tent was secured. In the event of a severe 

 storm I fear our supplies and outfit would have fared poorly, but 

 no violent weather occurred, although the heat of mid-day was 

 well nigh unbearable, and the gnats and mosquitoes made sleep 

 impossible except by covering our faces with cloths and thrusting 

 our hands under the bedding. During nights when a breeze blew 

 off the land the insects were exceedingly numerous, but if it 

 chanced to shift to the eastward and come in from the ocean we 

 rested in some peace. 



There were no laughing gulls nesting on Wreck Island — only 

 skimmers and terns or strikers. One of these common terns had 

 foolishly laid her three eggs on such a low piece of sand near the 

 edge of the creek not far from our camp that they were com- 

 pletely submerged at each high tide. As the water covered the 

 eggs the old bird hovered above them as terns do when hunting 

 fish from mid-air. After some minutes she would fly away but 

 would reappear at intervals and when the tide had receded alight 

 beside her now thoroughly cooled treasures and gather them 

 under her as if naught had happened. When the tide rose in 

 the night the poor bird was of course forced to abandon the site 

 until dawn, when she was once again observed to be faithfully 

 adhering to her post. After this ridiculous performance had 

 been repeated perhaps three or four times, and when we were 

 becoming increasingly interested in the possible outcome, the end 

 arrived. The fact that the eggs were perfectly fresh prevented 

 them from floating, and thus as the water crept very slowly up 

 about them they remained close together in nearly the position 

 where the old bird had laid them; but during one exceptionally 

 high and strong tide the current apparently rolled the eggs about 

 and separated them, for when the old tern came to the spot she 



