44 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
“ On a number of occasions I have mistaken the young of the 
year of tliese Gulls for Plover or other Waders as they sought 
their food along rocky beaches. In such cases they ran out 
with each retiring wave and back before the incoming one, 
with all the agility of a Wader. 
“ Sabine’s Gull has a single harsh, grating, but not loud note, 
very similar to the grating cry of the Arctic Tern, but somewhat 
harsher and sliorter. When wounded and pursued or captured, 
it utters the s.ame note in a higher and louder key, with such a 
grating file-Iike intensity that one feels like stopping one’s ears. 
It has the same peculiar clicking intcrruyitions which are so 
characteristic of the cry of a smallbat held in the hand. A low, 
chattering modification of this is heard at times as the birds 
gather about the border of a favourite pool, or float gracefully 
in company over the surface of some grassy-bordered pond. 
The same note in a liigher key serves as a note of alarm and 
curiosity as they fly off overhead when disturbed. Wlien one 
of these Gulls is brought down, the others of its kind hover 
over it, but show less devotion than is usually exhibited by the 
Terns.” 
Nest. — The nests are described by Mr. Nelson as having been 
found by him on an island near St. Michael’s. “ The island,” 
he says, was very low, and the driest spots were but little 
above the water. Built on the driest places were twenty-seven 
nests, containing from one to two eggs each, and as many others 
just ready for occupancy. Four or five nests were frequently 
jilaccd within two or tliree feet of each other. In about one 
half of the cases thc eggs were laid upon the few grass blades 
the spot afforded, with no alteration save a slight depression 
m.ade by the bird’s body. In the majority of the other nests 
a few grass blades and stems had been arranged circularly 
about the eggs, and in the remainder only enough material had 
been added to afford the merest apology for a nest. 
Eggs.— Two in number, of a very dark olive -brown with 
reddi.sh- brown spots, nowhere very distinct, the underlying grey 
markings being still more obscure. In some e.xamples the spots 
are congregated near the large end of the egg, but, as a rule, 
they are generally distributed over the whole surface. Axis, 
i'6-i'Sinch; diam. 1-25- 1'35. 
