Notes - Birds of Necker island 
Sooty Tern 
May _ 1902 (Fisher 1903) - On Necker it is the most abundant tern and noisy as 
ever. The birds lay their eggs on the shelves of rocks where there is seme soil and 
matted succulent portulacas. Unlike ;those on Laysan, all the eggs were advanced in 
incubation, and many young birds were hatched and peeping. Some were perhaps a week 
or ten days old. A few eggs of this species were laid in cavities in the face of 
the rocks, where the young were eminently able to cling with their sharp little claws. 
They pecked most savagely if we attempted to dislodge them. Likewise many eggs were 
laid out on the bare rock in the full glare of the sun and 1 saw a few perilously 
near high-water mark, in fact wet with spray. A number of eggs of Gygis were in this 
position also. Dr. Gilbert found a nest with two eggs, and saw the bird rise from 
them. 
