230 — Mr. Peabody on the 
the bulrushes, to which they resort when alarmed. 
Nothing was known of their nests, till Audubon 
found one near the banks of the Wabash river. 
.. None have ever been found in this State. 
WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 
The Cayenne Tern, Sterna Cayana, is common 
at the south, where it breeds. Audubon also found 
it breeding at Labrador ; so that, although none have 
yet been seen here, they must pass by us, and will 
probably be found to touch upon the coast of our 
State. 
The Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, is common 
on our coast, where it bears the name of Mackerel 
Gull, from its being supposed to announce the arrival 
of that fish in its summer quarters. In May, they 
prepare, if it can be called preparing, a nest on 
some rocky islet or sand bar, where their eggs, are 
laid, with only a little sand scraped up to keep them 
in place; and in all pleasant days, are left to be 
warmed by the sun, the female sitting only at night 
and in foul weather. The eggs are of dull yellow- 
ish olive, with dark brown specks and blotches. 
The parents, though they appear so careless of their 
domestic establishment, watch over it with anxious 
vigilance, and are very bold in resisting intrusion. 
They breed at Egg rock, near Nahant. When the 
