DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 13 



Oriole. It was the note of the Roseate Tern. To all appearances 

 it had a black bill. The tail was longer and lighter in color than 

 that of the Common Tern. The rosy color of the breast was 

 not distinguishable. In addition to the Oriole-like call, the bird 

 uttered a harsh Tern-like "T-e-a-r." A set of Tern's eggs was 

 also discovered that would have made the eyes of an oologist 

 bulge with excitement. The eggs were plain blue with the exception 

 of one which had faint traces of spots. To make certain that the 

 eggs belonged to a Tern the nest was watched until a Common 

 Tern settled on it. 



On a subsequent visit with Dr. Stone, July 8, nearly a hundred 

 Terns' nests were found with eggs — also many eggs which had 

 been washed out of the nest and were found lying about. 



Two other trips July 15 and August 5, were taken to this point. 

 Yoder, Gillespie, Keighton and Gaede participating. On the first 

 trip Keighton banded some thirty young Terns that were found 

 hidden in the grass. Though some were able to fly, as proven 

 when released, they seemed to rely on the grass rather than their 

 wings for safety. It was observed that the color of the feet of the 

 young Terns varied greatly, ranging from almost red to light 

 flesh color. On this trip Yoder and Gaede each found a Clapper 

 Rail's nest while searching about in the tall marsh grass for Terns. 

 One contained 10 eggs the other 1 1 . This seemed rather a late date 

 for eggs. On the next trip Gillespie banded 69 Terns and 12 Skim- 

 mers. A most amazing habit of the young Skimmer was discovered 

 on this occasion. Some distance down the beach a youngster was 

 seen running. As we started for him he crouched, and as we 

 came up was found to be literally digging himself in. The sand 

 was flying out behind as though propelled by a terrier digging 

 for rats. The Skimmer remained squatting during the operation 

 and his motions might be likened to a duck swimming. Lying in 

 the hole thus made, his back was brought to the level of the 

 surrounding sand and the bird was rendered as nearly invisible 

 as possible. Indeed you might look directly at the bird in this 

 position and miss him entirely. 



Hudsonian Curlew were seen on both of these trips. They 

 appeared in flocks resembling ducks both as to the formation of 

 the flock and mode of flight. Their call is a far-reaching, loudly 



