26 



JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



A number of Common Terns were 

 now observed flying above our heads, 

 and on the ground, on barren spots 

 and among the grass a number of 

 their nests were found containing from 

 one to three eggs. 



The nests, as usual, were but a slight 

 depression; the eggs resting on the 

 bare ground. 



Two Laughing Gulls were also notic- 

 ed with the terns, all keeping well out 

 of range. 



For some distance from the sea wall 

 in toward the center of the island, and 

 continuing all around it, the ground 

 was tunnelled with petrel burrows, 

 every stone covering one or more bur- 

 rows, according to the size. 



Numbers of the Spotted Sandpipers 

 were seen, all no doubt with young, a 

 few of which were seen. 



As it still looked as though it might 

 storm, we decided to make sure of a 

 few exposures although the light was 

 very poor. 



Hastening back to camp we got our 

 cameras and returned to the place we 

 had just left. 



Mr. Norton was the first to find the 

 nest of a Laughing Gull which was at 

 once photographed. 



The nest was placed on the ground 

 among nettles and other plants, and 

 contained one egg. 



r was fortunate enough to find the 

 next, and last, nest of this species. 



The nest was some thirty yards away 

 from the former, among tall weeds and 

 flags, and contained two eggs. 



Both nests were slight depressions 

 in the ground, the eggs resting upon 

 such dead weeds as were at hand. 



Having made exposures of both 

 nests from different points of view, 

 and also a number of the most pleas- 

 ing nesting sites of the Common Tern, 

 we again returned to camp. 



During the time passed in photo- 

 graphing the different nesting sites, 

 the number of laughing Gulls had 



slowly increased, and at the time just 

 mentioned, a dozen of them could be 

 seen, circling over the nests we had 

 just left. 



Eating a hasty breakfast, we again 

 started to explore the Guillemots' 

 breeding ground before mentioned. 



The threatening aspect of the sky 

 had cleared away, and old Sol once 

 more shone upon us. 



On reaching the locality, we again 

 commenced a vigorous search for a 

 Guillemot's nest, but did not meet with 

 success until attracted by the squalling 

 of the young. 



Atlhough we could hear them 

 every now and then, it was some time 

 before we could definitely locate them. 



Having removed two tons, or more 

 of rocks, many of them requiring our 

 united strength to be moved, the birds 

 were at last discovered far in among 

 some larger rocks. 



Should any one who may read this 

 discription desire to follow our ex- 

 ample, I would suggest that they first 

 put themselves through a course of 

 training before trying to find a young 

 Guillemot. You should first assume a 

 position such as is much used in the 

 Celestial Empire, then after gazing in- 

 to space behind you an indefinite 

 length of time, you will experience 

 much the same feelings as did the 

 writer of this tale. 



The nearer we got to the birds, the 

 harder was the struggle, until with 

 dirt and perspiration streaming from 

 our faces, the birds were reached. 



The nest was well down among the 

 rocks, and was but a slight depression 

 among broken mussel shells washed 

 there by the sea. 



The egg shells had been removed, 

 and no excrement was noticed around 

 the nest. 



The young birds were removed and 

 placed upon the rock above, and we 

 then noticed the undigested tail of a 

 rock eel protruding from one of the 



