246 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



slender, long-streamered birds. It is, however, graceful and 

 easy in flight, often rising high, and in a good light a rosy tinge 

 shows on its white under parts, for this adornment is not a 

 monopoly of the Roseate Tern. On the ground the very black 

 cap is striking, and as the feathers of the nape and neck are 

 pointed they often stand out as a mane or crest, especially when 

 raised under excitement. The black bill with a yellow lip can 

 generally be seen on the flying bird ; the legs are also black. 

 Fishermen on the north-east coast know it as the " Tern," dis- • 

 tinguishing it from the '" Sea- Swallows." The call — kirr-whit 

 or troo-it— IS less harsh than the notes of Common and Arctic 

 Terns, and sounds almost musical when many are calling ; the 

 alarm or threat is a sharp gwit or whut. When hovering before 

 a dive the tail is not, as a rule, depressed as in the other terns, 

 and when it enters the water it is frequently submerged for an 

 appreciable interval. The habit of the male presenting fish to 

 the female during courtship is very noticeable at the nesting 

 colony ; he struts with wings expanded and depressed, dangling 

 his gift from the tip of his uplifted bill, sometimes, it is said, 

 offering it to several females in turn until it is accepted. The 

 upstretched neck and skyward pointed bill is evidently an 

 amatory salutation. 



Many birds reach the breeding grounds before the end of 

 March, and eggs are often laid early in May ; by the end of 

 July most birds are at sea, and southward departure is in August 

 and September. The majority of the British colonies are on 

 sand dunes or sandy shores ; indeed, it has been asserted that 

 the bird always nests on sand. There is, however, one west 

 coast colony on a rocky stack, where many of the eggs are laid 

 on bare rock. Nesis on sand are often mere scoops w'ithout 

 any attempt at li-ning or rim, but round others a thin scattering 

 of bents is arranged. Finished structures are uncommon. The 

 colonies, or rather colonies within the colony, for little groups 

 are often scattered around or even on the ground occupied by 



