September, 1S99.] 189 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEST OF 

 THE EITTEE TERN 



(Sterna minuta). 



BY CHARGES J. PATTEN, B.A., M.D. 



(Plate 9.) 

 When a careful examination of a large number of different 

 birds' nests is made, one cannot fail to be struck with the 

 enormous variety there is to be seen among them. Not only 

 do they differ in shape, and in the constituent materials which 

 form them, but also in the way in which they have been 

 constructed. 



All birds (with very few exceptions) make or construct nests 

 of some kind or another, yet in the strict sense of the word, 

 only certain species can be said to build them. 



We understand by a built 1 nest one which has been con- 

 structed by making it up of a number of pieces of material, 

 carefully chosen, and put together after a particular fashion by 

 the bird, according to what the species may be. 



Considerable skill is often displayed in these cases by the 

 feathered architects, as may be seen in the beautiful nests of 

 the Long-tailed Titmouse {Acredula caudatd), Gold-crest 

 (Regulus cristaius), Chaffinch (Ft ingilla ccclcbs), and others 

 too numerous to mention. 



On the other hand a built nest may be extremely rude in 

 its formation, as exemplified in those of the Columbidce 

 (Pigeons), and in certain of the Laridcc (Gulls). Between the 

 latter and the more perfectly formed nests many gradations 

 exist. But it is needless to dwell any longer on this subject 

 which does not directly concern us at present. 



Passing to those species which do not build nests, we find 

 that they are in the minority, at all events as far as Ireland is 

 concerned. 



They are for the most part occupants of the cliffs or sea 

 beach, and include among them many of the (a.) Grallatores 

 or wading birds (especially the Charadriidcc or Plover family), 

 (b.) the GavicE or Terns, and (c.) the Alcidce or " Divers " 

 (Guillemot and Razorbill). The last mentioned group may 



1 We may here include certain birds which sometimes only repair 

 deserted nests of other birds, e.g. ; Kestrel rebuilding old Magpie's nest. 



A 



