THE SOOTY TERN. 93 



Early the next morning I was put on shore, and remained there until I 

 had completed my observations on the Terns. I paid no attention to their 

 lamentable cries, which were the less piercing that on this occasion I did not 

 molest them in the least. Having seated myself on the shelly sand, which 

 here formed the only soil, I remained almost motionless for several hours, in 

 consequence of which the birds alighted about me, at the distance of only a 

 few yards, so that I could plainly see with what efforts and pains the younger 

 females deposited their eggs. Their bill was open, and their pantings 

 indicated their distress, but after the egg had been expelled, they imme- 

 diately walked off in an awkward manner, until they reached a place where 

 they could arise without striking the branches of the bushes near them, when 

 they flew away. Here and there, in numerous places within twenty yards 

 of me, females, having their complement of eggs, alighted, and quietly 

 commenced the labour of incubation. Now and then a male bird also settled 

 close by, and immediately disgorged a small fish within the reach of the 

 female. After some curious reciprocal nods of their heads, which were 

 doubtless intended as marks of affection, the caterer would fly off. Several 

 individuals, which had not commenced laying their eggs, I saw- scratch the 

 sand with their feet, in the manner of the common fowl, while searching for 

 food. In the course of this operation, they frequently seated themselves in 

 the shallow basin to try how it fitted their form, or find out what was still 

 wanted to ensure their comfort. Not the least semblance of a quarrel did I 

 observe between any two of these interesting creatures; indeed, they all 

 appeared as if happy members of a single family; and as if to gratify my 

 utmost wishes, a few of them went through the process of courtship in my 

 presence. The male birds frequently threw their heads over their back as 

 it were, in the manner of several species of Gulls; they also swelled out their 

 throats, walked round the females, and ended by uttering a soft puffing sound 

 as they caressed them. Then the pair for a moment or two walked round 

 each other, and at length rose on wing and soon disappeared. Such is one 

 of the many sights it has been my good fortune to witness, and by each of 

 them have I been deeply impressed with a sense of the pervading power of 

 the Deity. 



The Sooty Tern always lays three eggs as its full number, and in no 

 instance, among thousands of the nests which were on the Bird Key, did I 

 find one more when the female was sitting close. I was desirous of ascer- 

 taining whether the male and the female incubate alternately; but this I was 

 unable to do, as the birds frequently left their eggs for half an hour or even 

 three quarters at a time, but rarely longer. This circumstance, together with 

 the very slight difference in size and colour between the sexes, was the cause 

 of my failure. 



