The Tortugas Tern Colony 



83 



staccato laugh than anj^thing else to which it may be compared ; also a 

 few low and musical tones, used when a pair are communicating with 

 each other, as when the male has returned from a fishing expedition. 

 Their warning note is a high and shrill e-e-e — e. 



Normally, in the Tortugas, there are, on an average, a score of Man- 

 o'-War Hawks {Fregata aquila) , but when the Terns arrive their num- 

 ber is increased to over three hundred. They come not for the purpose 

 of breeding, but to rob the Terns of the food they are bringing back to 

 their mates. 



One that has been fishing and is returning with a cropful of food 



will be attacked, 

 struck at and 

 tormented until, 

 in order to facili- 

 tate escape, it is 

 forced to dis- 

 gorge. This 

 done, the Man- 

 o'-War Hawks 



snatch the bolus of food, at times be- 

 fore it has fallen into the water. 



These three species, in other respects, 

 get along most peaceably. The Noddies 

 and Terns do not pay the slightest at- 

 tention to each other ; the only quarreling that occurs being when a 

 Man-o'-War Hawk perches too near to the nest of a Noddy, when the 

 mother-bird flies up, scolding, and makes a few ineffectual darts at the 

 offender. 



The third, and last, species known to breed in the Tortugas is the 

 Least Tern {Sterna antillarum) . A few years ago they came to Logger- 

 head and nested in fair numbers on the southwestern extremity of the 

 island ; but of late, according to the keeper, they have not done so. 

 "It's too bad," he added, "because the eggs are delicious eating." 



This year about thirty couples raised families of from one to three 



