38 THE CONDOR Vol. XX1V 
chance to note the habits of each and compare them on the spot with one an- 
other instead of after, as in some cases, years of elapsed time. Also a collector 
of eggs had here a wonderful opportunity to acquire a representative series 
showing the maximum variations in color, shape, size and markings in thous- 
ands of eggs. Kor the photographer with sufficient time and apparatus the 
opportunities were legion. 
The breeding grounds turned out to be on three separate islands. To the 
west is a true island of about ten acres extent and rising to a height of twenty 
feet above the water level. A bluff forms its southeastern side and the top 
slopes northwestward into the water. The prevailing winds are from the south- 
east, so that this island has well-sheltered north and northwest shores. Hast 
of this island a distance of a half-mile are two shoals of dried mud fairly well 
eovered with salt grass and some associated shrubs. These two shoals are of 
about twenty acres extent each, and they do nct rise out of the water at any 
place more than a secant foot. Both have an irregular outline, and the north- 
Fig. 14. NEST AND NEWLY HATCHED YOUNG OF THE GULL-BILLED TERN. (CAMERON 
CouNTY, TEXAS. 
Photo by Robert Runyon. 
ernmost of the two has an encroaching embayment which occupies a part of 
the center. 
It was the southernmost of the two mud shoals which was first visited. As 
it was approached in a small boat the white cloud above resolved itself into 
birds. As the landing was made and we stood up in the boat an almost unbe- 
hevable number of terns rose from the grass and joined those already in the 
air. The din and shrieks, made in great part close to one’s head, rendered con- 
_versation practically impossible. The air was full of flying terns. But this 
effervescent demonstration soon blew its head off and a large part of the birds 
settled back upon their eggs. It was a hot afternoon, the sun glaring down 
from a cloudless sky and glaring up from the salt crystals in the mud. As we 
walked, or rather waded in the mud, for the crust was not strong enough to 
Support us, across a bare area toward the grassy zone, we had to pick our way 
carefully in order not to smash eggs underfoot. Nests seemed everywhere. 
