TWO DAYS WITH THE TERNS 



125 



breeding birds, who had returned to their nests after 

 I had partially concealed myself behind a bowlder. 



In or near the nests many dead young birds were 

 seen. The cause of their death was not evident, 

 unless it may be attributed to the unguarded foot- 

 steps of the grazing sheep. If this be true, the 

 parent birds seemed in no way to resent the sheep's 

 carelessness, but accepted their presence without 



MiM' 



Young Tern, fourth stag:e. 



protest ; one bird even exhibited a sign of good 

 fellowship by perching on a sheep's back, and the 

 length of time it remained there showed that it was 

 by no means an unwelcome visitor. 



My time on Penikese was too short to more than 

 show what an admirable opportunity is here offered 

 the ornithologist who desires to make a close study 

 of the home life and social relations of Terns. The 



