BIRDS. 



335 



reduced to a miserable remnant of some five or six pairs. A slight 

 change in the configuration of the coast has taken place since then, 

 and a ridge of shells has been formed parallel with the shore-line a 

 little to the north of Edenmouth. 



This lamentable decrease took place since the "small boys" — and 

 men too, but principally the former — developed the wholesale 

 robbery of their and all other birds' nests to be found on the Tents 

 Muir shores and sandhills. They came over in boats from Dundee, 

 and worked their evil will unchecked, or almost so, because with 

 such access and opportunities it became a difficult matter for keepers 

 or watchers to prevent these raids. However, since the Bird 

 Preservation Acts were taken up, and came to be enforced by the 

 County Council of Fife, aided by still stricter charges being given to 

 gamekeepers and watchers to prevent these raids, and this within a 

 well-defined area drawn up and advocated by Mr. Berry, of Tay field, 

 and accepted by the County Council, there has been a great and 

 charming increase of the "wild things" of Tents Muir, including the 

 present species. Besides the main colony, there are even indications 

 of an increase beyond, and further to the north (and nearer to 

 Dundee), but as yet only to the extent of a few isolated pairs, which, 

 we may hope, represent the nuclei of future colonies of this interesting 

 and harmless little bird. As yet the increase has been slow^ but if pro- 

 tection be continued, we may expect it to increase and gain in force 

 before many years have passed. ^ 



In 1885 Mr. W. Evans found about twelve pairs. In 1880 I found 

 fewer at the old station near the salmon-nets belonging to Mr. Speedie. 



Mr. Evans describes the place as follows : "From near the Eden 

 mouth a broad belt of cast-up and worn shells stretches away north- 

 ward, parallel with the coast-line, or nearly so. White and yellow 

 are the pervading colours, etc. ; and the bank is composed of Afj/a 

 arenaria, Cyprina islandica, Cardium edule, etc. On this bank the 

 Little Terns breed." 



An increase has taken place within the last ten years or so. In 

 1886-7-8 some twenty pairs were seen in the main colony, and 

 by June 1904 their numbers had increased to some thirty or more 

 pairs, estimated to be nesting at the time of Mr. Evans's last visit. 



And by 1905 I was pleased to learn that although their eggs 



1 But since the above was printed, I regret to have to record that it is only upon 

 the northern third of Tents Muir shore that any real protection is accorded them ; and 

 almost as great persecution is being continued in the summer of 1906 as before the 

 specially protected area of Tents Muir was defined (see map). 



