266 SOOTY TERN. 



cavity which it scoops in the sand undei' the trees. But, reader, let us 

 return to the Bird Key. 



Early the next morning I was put on shore, and remained there until 

 I had completed my observations on the Terns. I paid ho attention to 

 their lamentable cries, which wei-e the less piercing that on this occasion 

 I did not molest them in the least. Having seated myself on the shelly 

 sand, which here formed the only soil, I remained almost motionless for 

 several hours, in consequence of which the birds alighted about me, at 

 the distance of only a few yards, so that I could plainly see with what 

 efforts and pains the younger females deposited their eggs. Their bill 

 was open, and their pantings indicated their distress, but after the egg 

 had been expelled, they immediately walked off in an awkward manner, 

 until they reached a place where they could arise without striking the 

 branches of the bushes near them, when they flew away. Here and there, 

 in numerovis places within twenty yards of me, females, having their com- 

 plement of eggs, alighted, and quietly commenced the labour of incuba- 

 tion. Now and then a male bird also settled close by, and immediately 

 disgorged a small fish within the reach of the female. After some curious 

 reciprocal nods of their heads, which were doubtless intended as marks 

 of affection, the caterer would fly off. Several individuals, which had 

 not commenced laying their eggs, I saw scratch the sand with their feet, 

 in the manner of the common fowl, while searching for food. In the 

 course of this operation, they frequently seated themselves in the shallow 

 basin to try how it fitted their form, or find out what was still wanted to 

 ensure their comfort. Not the least semblance of a quarrel did I observe 

 between any two of these interesting creatures ; indeed, they all appeared 

 as if happy members of a single family ; and as if to gratify my utmost 

 wishes, a few of them went through the process of courtship in my presence. 

 The male birds frequently threw their heads over their back as it wei-e, in 

 the manner of several species of gulls ; they also swelled out their throats, 

 walked round the females, and ended by uttering a soft puffing sound as 

 they caressed them. Then the pair for a moment or two walked round 

 each other, and at length rose on wing and soon disappeared. Such is 

 one of the many sights it has been my good fortune to witness, and by 

 each of them have I been deeply impressed with a sense of the pervading 

 power of the Deity. 



The Sooty Tern always lays three eggs as its full number, and in no 



