ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FEOM ROMNEY MARSH. 107 



I was rewarded in finding their two eggs. They were deposited 

 amongst some flowering fox-glove — altogether a pretty site, 

 but, all the same, unhappily selected, since the locality was 

 continually being subjected to a "dropping" artillery fire. I 

 had hopes of being able to see the young, but after four days of 

 sitting the birds deserted the nest. The extraordinary sense 

 of smell possessed by the Thicknee renders a near approach 

 to the nest, without disturbing the bird, difficult. 



Of the two species of Tern breeding here, the Common 

 and Lesser, the latter is by far the most numerous. But the 

 numbers of both have sadly diminished of late years. Both 

 species keep separate in their breeding haunts, the Lesser 

 Tern preferring rather the close proximity of the sea. The 

 restricted breeding area taken up by the Common Terns is 

 distinctly prejudicial to the safety of their eggs. The children 

 of the fishermen and coastguard officers soon discover these 

 spots, and the eggs are robbed right and left for purposes of 

 eating. Over these piaces, sheep have invariably been feeding, 

 and where they have poked their noses, forming small stone- 

 padded hollows, the eggs are more often than not deposited. 

 On May 21st, a nest of the Common Tern was found containing 

 the unusual number of five eggs. They were of the reddish- 

 buff variety. 



On May 23rd, I was fortunate enough to discover, with the 

 aid of my field glasses, a pair of Sandwich Terns breeding here. 

 The birds, however, deserted after the first egg was laid. I 

 am inclined to think that the Common Terns must have driven 

 them away. A pair of Black Terns were seen on May 24th, 

 following the sea-board. 



The sandy portions of the Bye Coast attract, now and 

 again, a certain number of Oyster-catchers. When going 

 northwards to breed, the Oyster-catcher makes a rapid journey, 

 rarely tarrying by the way for any length of time, like other 

 members of the Scolopacidas. At 5.30, on May 29th, six of 

 these birds appeared here. They shelved into the sand, and 

 immediately made for safety along the nearest groyne. They 

 "bunched" themselves up together and remained almost 

 motionless for nearly an hour, after which they aroused them- 

 selves and began to dabble in the nearest pools. Shortly 



