TWO DAYS WITH THE TERNS 125 
a 
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 
69. Young Tern, fourth stage. 
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 
