252 



NATATORES. 



dawns, when it betakes itself to the beach or some 



sand-bar to rest. 



There are perhaps few of our readers who have 



the opportunity of visiting any part of our extensive 



sea-coast during Sum- 

 mer, who can fail to 

 notice two birds ; 

 these are the Com- 

 mon Tern and the 

 Least Tern. They 

 are so abundant, and 

 their beautiful mo- 

 tions so attractive, 

 that the most unob- 

 servant must pause 

 to watch and admire 

 them. They differ 



from each other prin- 

 cipally in size, the 

 former being much 

 the larger. Their 



Arctic Tern. 



plumage is quite similar, being mostly of a snowy- 

 white, tinged on the back with light blue-grey, while 

 a patch of black covers the crown of the head. 

 Swallow-like in their form, they seem to mimic in 

 their motions the antic gambols of that gay and nim- 

 ble little bird, skimming with sylph-like ease over 

 the white-capped breakers, watching intently for their 

 prey, upon which they dart almost with the swiftness 

 of thought. The Least Tern is particularly social, 

 and seeming to possess a degree of confidence in man, 



