660 HYDROCIIELIDON NIGRA. 



coming up with the chase, made a pounce, but the great 

 dexterity of the Tern avoided the deadly stroke, and took a 

 new direction. The Falcon, by his superior velocity, soon 

 regained sufficient elevation, to successively repeat his pounces, 

 but at last relinquished the pursuit." About the middle of 

 May this species prepares a nest of flags or broad grass in the 

 most marshy places, upon a tuft just above the surface of the 

 water, and lays almost invariably four eggs, weighing about 

 three drachms each. Mr. Yarrell describes them as of a dark 

 olive-brown, blotched and spotted with black, principally at 

 the larger end ; the length one inch five lines, by one inch in 

 breadth. 



Young. — " The forehead, loral spaces, sides and fore part 

 of the neck, as well as all the lower parts, pure white ; a 

 large blackish-grey spot on the sides of the breast ; a crescent 

 of the same before the eyes ; top of the head, occiput, and 

 nape, black ; back and scapulars brown, bordered and termi- 

 nated with reddish-white ; wings, rump, and tail, ash-grey ; 

 the coverts tipped Avith reddish- white ; bill brown at its base ; 

 iris brown ; feet livid brown." — Temminck, 



