TWO DAYS WITH TUB TERNS 



115 



the wing, and tlie S(^ries of pictures shown represents 

 the stages of growtli from tlie egg to the age at 

 which the bird takes fiiglit. 



Both the nature of the bird's hannts and the 

 manner in whicli the members of a colony spread an 

 alarm make it practically impossible to surprise a 



Tern upon its nest. But by lying prone upon the 

 ground one attracts far less attention than when 

 standing. The hovering floclv of IMrds gradually 

 disperses, and those which are inculjating soon re- 

 turn to the vicinity of their nests, hanging over 

 them and dropping nearer and nearer,^-^ until at the 

 end of fifteen or twenty minutes they swoop down 

 beside them, raise their wings high over their backs, 

 then fold them gently and settle upon their eggs.^' 



On a second visit to the island a bit of old sail 

 was brought, which I drew over me when lying on 

 the ground — a plan resulting in my practical disap- 

 pearance, as far as the Terns were concerned. 



