294 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



(Sandwich, Arctic, and Common) rose in a perfect 

 cloud, and whirled round and round, for all the 

 w^orld like a thick shower of snow played upon 

 by fickle gusts of wdnd. Small colonies breed at 

 various points on the Scottish and Irish coasts, 

 also at Walney Island, off Lancashire, and at Raven- 

 glass, in Cumberland. 



Materials. — Generally none ; sometimes, a few 

 bits of dead herbage, and occasionally even a 

 liberal supply of dry grass is used. 



Eggs.- — Two to three, usually the former number; 

 varying very much in colour, from creamy-white 

 to buffy stone-colour, spotted, blotched, and clouded 

 and scrolled with grey, deep rich brown, and chest- 

 nut. I saw one on the Fame of a uniform dark 

 brown, although its fellow egg was of the normal 

 coloration. Size about 2-1 by 1-4 in. Size of 

 parent birds and eggs prevent confusion with those 

 of any other Tern. 



Time. — May and June. 



BemarlxS. — Migratory, arriving in April and May 

 and departing in August. Note, a hoarse and 

 grating kind of hirhitt or liirliif. Local and other 

 names: Great Tern. Gregarious, sits lightly, and 

 flies round the intruder, uttering its hoarse cry. 



THICKNEE. ^ee Cuelew, Stone. 



THRUSH, COMMON. Hrc Thrush, Song. 



THRUSH, MISSEL. Also Mistletoe Thrush. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 eleven inches ; bill moderately long, slightly curved 



