Mar., 1922 A LARGE TERN COLONY IN TEXAS 43 
bare strip parallel to the shore and about fifty feet from it. Nests were strung 
out in a loosely bound group and averaged about ten feet apart. Nests of no other 
species were to be found within that area. Some nests were very well made, 
consisting of mounds of grass and mud, well shaped, and dished at the top for 
the eggs. They were not high but gave the appearance of solidity and perma- 
nence. Others, especially some found by Mr. Camp on June 5, were no nests 
at all, the eggs being laid on the bare earth. These may well have been second 
layings of birds whose eggs were taken cn our visits on May 16 and 25. On 
May 16 no young had yet appeared, although some eggs were quite well incu- 
bated. On the 23rd no young were noted, though some eggs were very far 
gone in incubation. On June 5 Mr. Camp found some small downy young. 
Most of the nests contained two eges, but some sets of three were found. 
The Caspian Tern leaves its nest silently and retires to a discreet distance. 
from whieh it then watehes the intruder. It was in no ease found to make any 
demonstraticn or false attack on us. Its voice is a harsh caarr having some of 
ihe guttural quality of the squawk of the Night Heron. Caspian Terns keep 
to themselves in well formed flecks when not on the nests, and they apparently 
Fig. 19. Reval AND C'BoT TERNS GUARDING THEIR EGGS. SOME OF THE CABOTS ARE SITTING 
BUT NONE OF THE ROYALS ARE. SAME LOCATION AS THAT SHOWN IN FIGURE 18. CAME- 
RON COUNTY, TEXAS, May 16, 1921. 
do not associate at all with their cousins, the Royal Terns. They are more 
wary than the Royal also, and good photographs could not be secured by the 
direct approach method. 
Eggs of the Caspian Tern were found not to vary greatly. In size, shape 
and general type they were all the same. The ground color is dull olive gray 
with some life to it, the spots small, scattered and of a darker brown or laven- 
der brown. One set has a coffee brown ground color and the markings are 
slender lines rather than spots, but that set is unique. 
This was the only species which made any pretense of attackiny its neigh- 
bors. Caspian Terns were seen time and again to dash at smail downy voun? 
of the Gull-billed Tern which were running frantically across the flats away 
from us, snap them across the neck, back. or top of the head with the heavy 
bill, and leave the youngster a quivering mass, no longer a live tern. OF the 
two large terns, the Royal has more the lovk of a pirate, but apparently it ts 
very peaceful, and. judging from its fraternal attitude toward the Cabot Tern, 
is the direct opposite in temperament to the Caspian. 
The Royal Tern, with its satellite the Cabot Tern, was found nesting only 
