SOME THREATENED BRITISH SPECIES 203 



poor little birds lost almost every egg, picked up by 

 excursionists ; year after year their once secluded 

 shingles became the summer resort of crowds of 

 despoiling " trippers," and the Lesser Tern has 

 disappeared. This has gone on in many other 

 places ; but we are glad to hear that in some 

 localities efficient steps are being taken to preserve 

 this Tern from extinction. We are afraid this will 

 be an exceptionally difficult task, owing to the 

 habits of the bird ; still, it should not prove an 

 insuperable one. It is useless, perhaps, to appeal 

 to seaside visitors, and we fear that in all the more 

 populous parts of the coast where the Lesser Tern 

 breeds, the bird sooner or later will become extinct. 

 We might add that a great many Lesser Terns have 

 been shot for the sake of their plumes, the bird 

 from its small size being in great requisition by 

 milliners. 



A few passing words must now be said for the 

 Divers. We have at least two species of these 

 breeding within our limits, whilst a third is better 

 known as a winter visitor to the coasts. There 

 may not be any very urgent necessity for pro- 

 tecting these birds at present ; but there is no 

 doubt they are disturbed a good deal during the 

 nesting season, and their eggs taken, whilst in 



