6 BIRD LIFE ON ISLAND AND SHORE 
nesting near the lagoon, the other two pair beneath 
the crest of the beach. The Kittywake plumped 
for the lagoon edge, and, as we shall see, suffered 
the fate of those who carry their eggs in the one 
basket. 
The nest of the Caspian Tern is a rough-and- 
ready structure, built sparingly of such sea wrack 
and flood débris as may lie handy. The eggs, 
three in a clutch, are laid in. November, their 
ground colour stone-grey, with deep umber mark- 
ings set chiefly on the thicker end; over the 
whole surface there are markings also of a fainter 
hue of brown. 
Besides the breeding pairs, there were also in 
November six unmated birds. In one of the three 
nests the full number of three eggs remained as 
they had been laid; in each of the others the 
third egg had been blown out or otherwise dis- 
lodged, and lay a foot or two distant half buried 
in the sand. Both sexes sit; usually, perhaps 
always, the female quits her nest to be fed. 
The ceremony of changing places on the eggs is 
of a stately and decorous character, the incoming 
bird standing some feet away, bowing repeatedly, 
then again standing motionless, until, extending 
ereat wings, its partner rises directly off the nest. 
As in the case of many other species, the bird 
carrying in food, if unable to deliver its store 
at once, will swallow it and go off in search of fresh 
