86 



shoal. While we were watching the birds, we were delighted to 

 note that among the flock were three pairs of a smaller Tern 

 with a yellow-tipped, black bill — the Cabot's Tern, that rare 

 straggler from the tropics. They had been reported as nesting 

 at Royal Shoal in the previous year in small numbers, but in 

 such a small colony as this we had not hoped to find them. As 

 we drew nearer to the nests, there jumped up and ran ahead of 

 us little shadow}', gray forms, w^hich were the young Terns 

 in various stages of growth, from those just hatched to those a 

 week or so old. The little Roj^als, almost as soon as their natal 

 down is dry, are strong on their legs, and at the age of a day 

 or two become expert swimmers. As we walked through the 

 nesting area, the little fellows preceded us, and having been 

 driven to the end of the dry land, they took to the water without 

 the slightest hesitation, swimming out in groups of a dozen or 

 more, to wait patiently until we should depart. 



The nesting area was a sight long to be remembered. Every- 

 where were eggs — large, handsome eggs, the size of a turkey's — 

 with whitish ground color, profusely marked with various 

 splotches and dots of black and brown and violet. They were 

 laid in little hollows scratched out of the peaty surface of the 

 lump. So thick were the eggs that one had to be exceedingly 

 careful where he walked to find foot space among them. Most 

 of the nests held but one egg, though in several were found two, 

 the markings of which were the same, and which were laid 

 obviously by one bird. Best of all, however, we located three 

 nests of the Cabot's Tern among the others. Each contained a 

 single egg, very like the eggs of the Royal Tern, though smaller. 

 Bowdish took a large number of nest and egg pictures of both 

 the Royal Tern and Cabot's Tern; they give an excellent idea 

 of the nesting. 



It was with reluctance that we left, but the following day being 

 Sunday, it was against the principles of the warden to do any- 

 thing remotely resembhng work; so we again boarded the 

 ''Dutcher" and sailed across the mile of deep water to Buxton, 

 where the warden lived. 



We were met at the landing by Captain Davis, the most 

 eminent citizen of these parts, who entertained us most hos- 



