569 

 THE GULL-BILLED TEEN. 



STERNA ANGLIC A. 



Bill short, stout, black throughout ; feet long, black ; head and long occipital 

 feathers black (in winter white) ; upper plumage pale ash-grey ; under, white. 

 Length tliirteen inches. Eggs olive-green, blotched with brown. 



This species takes its name (Anglica) from having been 

 first detected in England by Montagu. It has since been 

 observed in the eastern parts of Europe, especially 

 Hungary, and in North America, where it is known as 

 the Marsh Tern. Very few specimens only have been 

 obtained in England. 



THE LESSER TERN. 



STERNA MINUTA. 



Bill orange, with a black tip ; feet orange ; forehead, and a streak above the 

 eye, white ; cro\vn black ; upper parts pearl-grey ; under, white ; tail much 

 forked, shorter than the wings. Yoiing birds have the head brownish, with 

 darker streaks ; upper plumage yellowish white and dusky ; bill pale yellow, 

 with a dark tip ; legs dull yellow. Length nine and a half inches. Eggs 

 stone-colour, spotted and speckled with grey and brown. 



On the sandy and marshy shores of Norfolk, the Lesser 

 Tern is a bird of common occurrence in summer, either 

 single, or in small parties of three or four. Not unfre- 

 quently, as the sea-side visitor is sauntering about on the 

 sands, one of these birds seems to take offence at its 

 dominion being invaded. With repeated harsh cries it 

 flies round and round the intruder, coming quite close 

 enough to allow its black head and yellow beak to be 

 distinguished. Its flight is swift, something like that of 

 a Swallow, but more laboured, and not so rapid. If 

 fired at, it takes little notice of the noise ; and, know- 

 ing nothing of the danger, continues its screams* and 



* I have been beset in this manner by a Lesser Tern so far on in 

 the summer, that I could not attribute its actions to any anxiety 

 about either eggs or young. I am inclined to think it is, on such 

 occasions, taught by its instinct to accompany a traveller for the 



