Page:Bird-lore Vol 05.djvu/96

 The Tortugas Tern Colony 83

staccato laugh than anything else to which it may be compared; also a few low and musical tones. used when a pair are Communicating with each other, as when the male has returned from a ﬁshing expedition. Their warning note is a high and shrill t—z-e—z.

Normally, in the Tortugas, there are. on an average, a score of Man- o'-War Hawks (Frrgala Mai/a). but when the Terns arrive their num- ber is increased to over three hundred. They come not for the purpose of breeding, but to rob the Terns of the food they are bringing back to their mates.

One that has been fishing and is returning with a cropful of food will he attacked. struck at and tormented until, in order to facili-

tate escape, it is forced to dis- gorge. T h i s done, the Man- o‘rVVar Hawks

EGGS axo \‘oL‘\'(2

ui' LEAST TERN

snatch the bolus of food, at times be- fore it has fallen into the water.

These three species, in other respects. get along most peaceably, The Noddies and Terns do not pay the slightest at- tention to each other: the only quarreling that occurs being when a Man-o'-War Hawk perches too near to the nest of a Noddy, when the mother-bird ﬂies up, scolding, and makes a few ineffectual darts at the oﬁenderr

The third, and last, species known to breed in the Tortugas is the Least Tern (Strrml anti/{drum}. A few years ago they came to Logger- head and nested in fair numbers on the southwestern extremity of the Island; but of late, according to the keeper. they have not done so. "It's too bad.” he added, "because the eggs are delicious eating."

This year about thirty couples raised families of from one to three