286 BRITISH BIIiDS' XESTS. 



Eggs. — Two to three, varying in ground colour 

 from 23ale bluish-green to brownish-buff, blotched and 

 spotted with varying shades of brow^n and grey. 

 They are found nearer the water's edge, as a rule, are 

 slightly smaller, more boldly marked, and inclining to 

 green in the tinge of their ground colour, than those 

 of the Common Tern. It is, however, often very diffi- 

 cult to distinguish them. Size about l-5o by 1-1 in. 



Time. — Ma}' and June. 



Bemarls. — Migratory, arriving in April and May 

 and departing in September and October. Notes : a 

 prolonged Txvr-ee. Local and other names : none. 

 Gregarious. A light sitter, the whole colony, when 

 visited, rising and fluttering overhead in a noisy 

 throng. The bird is not shy, however, and will 

 alight after a little while and sit on its eggs within 

 fifteen or twenty yards of the intruder. 



TERN, COMMON. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 fourteen and a half inches. Bill rather long, slender, 

 straight, sharp-pointed, and pinky red in colour, 

 except at the tip, which is black. Irides dark brown. 

 Upper part of head and nape black ; back ash grey ; 

 wings very long, and same colour as the back. Tail 

 much forked and white, except the outer webs of 

 the two longest feathers, which are ash-grey. Chin, 

 throat, breast, bell}^ vent, and under tail-coverts 

 white, distinguishing the bird from the Arctic Tern, 

 which is grey on its under-parts. Legs, toes, and 

 webs crimson ; claws black. 



Situation and Locality. — A mere hollow on the 

 ground, amongst shingle, sand, coarse grass and 

 vegetation, on rocks and dried wrack ; on small 



