LITTLE TERN. 243 



above the tide-mark. It seldom if ever nests on rock, and 

 bare ground is preferred to grass-grown flats. Some colonies 

 are foolishly near the water ; high tides destroy many eggs, 

 yet the bird returns annually to these danger zones, and never 

 seems to learn by experience. Courtship gifts of fish to the 

 female and the postures during presentation are as common 

 with this species as with others, and a pair will indulge in high 

 nuptial aerial chases, the air ringing with excited cries. The 

 eggs may be placed amongst pebbles without any attempt at a 

 nest, or laid in an unlined scoop in fine sand ; only occasionally 

 is grass or other soft lining used, though the eggs are frequently 

 on a paving of small pebbles or broken shells. When these 

 are collected from the immediate vicinity the denuded ground 

 forms a distinct zone round the nest ; paved nests are con- 

 spicuous when on sand. Indeed, on sand the sitting bird 

 (Plate 109), and even the two or three light stone-coloured eggs 

 (Plate 108), spotted, blotched, or smeared with brown and grey, 

 are easy to see, but amongst fair-sized pebbles the bird is 

 inconspicuous, and the eggs most difficult to discover. 



On returning to the nest, which it does very soon after being 

 disturbed, the bird descends direct, and can with ease be 

 marked down. Yet it is a plucky defender of its property, 

 chasing away with fierce cries of ki^ ki^ ki, any marauding 

 gull, crow, or more innocent bird which approaches the colony. 

 Like other terns it dives at the human head, rising first to 

 a great height, and plunging down with three or four strong 

 beats before the wings are half closed, but with a few hurried 

 and angry notes it sheers off without striking. In Lancashire 

 and Wales eggs are usually laid about the middle of May, and 

 one brood is usual, but where the bird is persecuted fresh eggs 

 in July are not uncommon. The grey or yellowish down of the 

 young helps concealment when they crouch either on sand 

 or amongst stones ; the head is speckled with black, and there 

 are irregular longitudinal lines on the back. Young in autumn 



