COMMON TERN'S NEST. 309 already, with three eggs in it, of a warm creamcoloured ground, and dark blotches and streaks, all lying with a sort of garnish of whitish pebbles and pieces of shells under and around them;-the smaller shingle surrounding the whole.” There could be little doubt what they were, especially as the oyster-catchers themselves were seen flying around the party with such evident solicitude. Their shrill whistle was now quite noisy, and as four or five continued their circuits, sometimes passing very near and then settling on the mud at no great distance for a few seconds, or until a sudden movement of one or other of the visitors set them in motion again with a repetition of their piercing note, Bob felt sure there was at least one more nest very near them. Very brief search showed that he was right, for another nest was discovered, and within two paces of that a third, one of them with three eggs-the customary number-the other with two, in it. Further researches disclosed nothing more, though the pertinacious swooping of two gulls gave good ground for believing that they had a nest at no great distance. The whole party now returned to the boat, and Edward Benson seemed desirous to atone in a measure for his previous indolence by taking an oar and pulling steadily and in very good style, Mr. Spencer having the other, until they reached the 66 True Blue." Once more aboard, they sailed before the wind until they fetched Shingle Point. Rounding this, they proceeded about half a mile up the estuary, and lay to off" a hard" which gave access to the Ringsbury saltings and marshes. The saltings were, as to surface, much what Sunken Island had proved, except that the rills or lesser channels formed a more extensive but irregular reticulation; and every here and there, a sort of creek or larger channel, like an artery in the body, served to convey the sea-water from the main channel into the interior of the saltings. Some of these creeks were too deep in water and mud to be crossed at all, except at some distance from their departure from the main creek; and others again were considerably less. The boys, under Mr. Spencer's guidance, spent half an hour or more on these saltings, and found three or four more redshanks' nests, and one oyster-catcher's. Availing themselves of the boat once more, they returned to the "Blue," to see if the remainder of the party were inclined to join them in the exploration of Shingle Hill. All seemed willing, and Tay delighted, to do so; and putting off again they rowed across the mouth of the Ringsbury creek, and were speedily landed on the hill. Here for a space of 600 or 700 yards a tapering point of land ran out into 311 the sea between Ringsbury creek on one side and the Hareboro' and Freshcot creeks (which were united a little above) on the other. At the further extremity, this spit presented nothing to the eye —it was visible only at low water—but hard mud. Higher up, however, a very considerable accumulation of shingle, chiefly consisting of shells and chalk in a state of fine comminution, was to be seen. Larger fragments of shells and lumps of chalk were observable about in considerable quantity, though relatively to the whole deposit it was small enough. Not being very easy of access from the land side, and presenting no great attractions to any one except a lover of birds, it was not often visited; and in consequence, considerable numbers of such of the shore birds of the district as usually resorted to such places for nesting purposes, were now to be met with about it. Three or four oyster-catchers' nests were speedily discovered. Then Mr. Spencer hit upon a gull's nest, and a moment after Jack upon another, each with three eggs in. But the crowning find of the day fell to the lot of Tay and Bob. They had rambled off to a little distance from their companions, when, in a little hole on the surface of the highest part of the accumulation of small shingle, Bob's quick eye detected four beautiful black-spotted cream-coloured eggs, which from RING-DOTTEREL'S EGGS. |