Reports of Special Agents 



315 



birds return to the nest first. AVhen tiie very young birds shortly begin to return 

 to their respective nests (as they always do after every interruption until they 

 are ready to fly), they have to run the gauntlet of the sharp beaks between them 

 and their goal. The young which are thus slain are, approximately, from one 

 to five days of age. After they attain the fifth day, they are quick to avoid the 

 neighboring nests. (2) On account of the carelessly constructed nest, the Noddy 

 young often falls to the ground and perishes. Just what percentage of the young 

 of the two species are lost in these ways is not known. 



Relation of Frigate Bird to Tern. — After the young Terns appeared, possibly 

 five hundred Frigate Birds were present on the island. Even during the lay- 

 ing season of the Terns, one 

 hundred to one hundred and 

 fifty Frigate Birds are always 

 present. In order to verify the 

 statements of Dr. Thompson 

 and others to the effect that 

 the Frigate Bird chases the fish- 

 laden Tern until it disgorges, 

 a tower was constructed which 

 gave an adequate view of the 

 island as a whole. The above 

 statement of Dr. Thompson 

 could not be verified, nor could 

 a further statement which is 

 sometimes made, to the effect 

 that the Frigate Bird eats the 

 young Terns. On the other 

 hand, hundreds of times I have 

 seen the Noddy (rarely the 

 Sooty) chase the Frigate Bird 

 when the latter attempted to alight (roost) in the vicinity of the Noddy nest. In 

 justice to the above writers, it must be said, however, that the number of 

 Frigate Birds rapidly increases as soon as the young Terns appear, and that all 

 during the day they continually rest on the low bushes which are nearest the 

 open nesting-places of the Booties. 



A Few Words About the Least Tern {Sterna antillarum). — The Least Tern, 

 so far as the Tortugas group of islands is concerned, is nearing extinction. Early 

 in the season, it was thought that a moderate-sized colony was going to thrive 

 on Loggerhead Key. When this colony was first visited, in the neighborhood 

 of fifty nests were found, a large percentage of which contained two eggs. About 

 two weeks later, the colony was again visited. Only one nest containing eggs 

 remained. A visiting dog (from the lighthouse) and a large colony of wild rats 

 which infest this island probably destroyed the eggs. One Least Tern was 



ONLY LEAST TERN FOUND ON LOGGER- 

 HEAD KEY, FLORIDA 

 Rats and dogs destroy the eggs. This species of Tern 

 has been nearly exterminated by plume hunters 



