PORANGAHAU—THE CASPIAN TERN 9 
we were able to note details of the housekeeping 
of the Caspian Tern. 
Many breeds learn to tolerate the stranger 
within their gates; the Caspian Tern is not 
amongst the number. I may say at once that 
we were never in doubt as to the big Tern’s feel- 
ings towards us. Frankly, they were those of 
implacable spleen. Throughout our acquaintance 
there was no movement that did not call forth 
shrieks and screams; almost every picture taken 
reveals the species scolding open-mouthed. The 
sight of us was an abiding exasperation to the 
fierce birds, our connection one long enduring 
duel. Certainly they failed to drive us off the 
beach by their remonstrances, but then, on the 
other hand, they did not themselves budge a foot ; 
more than once they distinctly worsted us. 
Man to man, the male, from whom many of 
the pictures are taken, twice succeeded in putting 
me into positions unworthy of my nobler self. 
The earlier of these humiliations was inflicted 
only a few days after we had met, whilst I was 
still desirous of getting a picture of him sitting 
on the eggs. It was blowing as usual, and by 
a bit of ill luck the pressure of the gale had pinned 
and flattened a flap of the screen material across 
my conning-hole. This obstruction I found im- 
possible to rectify from the interior of the frail 
topee. The focussing I knew was correct, but 
