I 12



The New York Zoological Park.



smelling and, I hoped, adapted to the digestion of the little

Terns. I was right, as it proved, for at one feeding they ate

more than they had done the entire day.”


At this age it was noticed that when frightened the Terns

run to the darkest corner to hide, while the Skimmer gives

several side flicks with his feet, “ making thus in an instant a little

cavity into which he sinks, drops his head close to the sand and.

—disappears, his back almost flush with the general level of the

sand. It is a marvellous bit of instinctive jugglery.”


At the age of iS days the Skimmer still had the white

egg-tootli on the tip of his upper mandible.


We are not told whether the young birds were actually

reared to maturity.


In conclusion, Mr. Beebe writes:


“ A.—The call, food, and alarm notes of the Common

Terns, Black Skimmers, and Laughing Gulls are instinctive;

not taught by the parents nor learned by imitation. The one

positive proof of this would warrant the assertion.


“ B.—The remarkable disparity in the length of the

mandibles in the adult Black Skimmer is foreshadowed even in

the embryo and in the newly-hatched bird.


“ C.—My experience with a dozen Terns and Gulls

showed that these individuals prefer fresh water to salt.


“ D.—There is absolutely no ‘instinctive’ fear of man or

other objects which enter quietly into the environment of the

young birds, but a sudden shadow or loud noise causes them to

perform certain acts—wholly instinctive—which have for their

object an escape from supposed danger. Under such conditions

the Terns (which we remember are not so protectively coloured,

as the Skimmer), take time to run to the darkest corner or

shadow before squatting, while the Skimmer crouches instantly,

and with two or three instructive flicks of feet and legs, almost

buries himself.


“ E.—The sight of small but entire fish excites a newly-

hatched Skimmer much more than does macerated fish. Terns

are not so excited until after the first week.


“ B\—The act of pecking is instinctive to a certain extent,



