LITTLE TERN. 241 



in an Irish colony it appears that but one chick is the rule, 

 Variation is less frequent than in the eggs of Common or 

 Arctic Terns, and most oologists affirm that they can at once 

 distinguish the eggs by their hght stone or buft ground and 

 small spots of varied browns and greys, which often form a 

 zone towards the larger end. On the average they are slightly 

 larger and longer than those of the Common, but many eggs 

 would puzzle the most expert sorter. The nestling is paler bufif 

 than most juvenile terns, and its greyish-brown markings are 

 streaks rather than mottles ; the bill is at an early age, at any 

 rate, pinkish flesh, and its legs " purplish flesh," but Dr. Bureau, 

 who carefully studied the changes, says that they are at first 

 blackish brown, and in a few days turn black. 



The adult bird has the top of the head and back of the neck 

 black in summer and speckled with white in winter ; the outer 

 margin of the streamer is white. The white streak on the 

 primaries, even extending round the tip, is present in the young 

 bird, which has also a white-streaked forehead, brownish nape 

 and crown, and ashy-brown speckles on the back and wings. 

 The bill of the adult bird is black, except for a red patch 

 at the base ; the legs are orange-red and the irides dark 

 brown. The length of the streamers varies greatly ; in one bird 

 I measured they were eight inches long, but others were much 

 shorter. Length, 15-17 ins. Wing, 9'25 ins. Tarsus, 0-87 ia. 



Little Tern. Stei'?ia minuta Linn. 



The Little or Lesser Tern (Plate 100) breeds on the coasts 

 and inland waters of the Palasarctic region, and closely allied 

 races occur in other parts of the world. To the British Isles it 

 is a summer visitor, nesting in small and scattered colonies in 

 all parts. It reaches the south coast about the middle of April, 

 and birds are passing north in early IMay ; it is seldom seen 

 after the end of September. 



Series II. R 



