Birds of Britain 



It arrives very late in May, and leaves our shores as soon 

 as the young can fly, so that it is not often met with on 

 migration. It breeds sparingly on the coast of France, but 

 its chief breeding-quarters are along the Atlantic coast of 

 the United States. 



In general habits it resembles its congeners, but it is an 

 exclusively sea Tern, obtaining most of its food some distance 

 out at sea. 



In plumage it is almost indistinguishable from the two 

 following species, but it may be recognised at all ages by 

 the white inner margins to the primaries reaching the tip 

 and even some little way up the outer web. The bill in 

 the breeding season is black ; legs and feet red. Length 

 15 "5 in. ; wing 9 in. 



THE COMMON TERN 



Sterna fluviatilis, Naumann 



This species arrives in May and nests in colonies round 

 the whole of the coast as well as on some inland waters. 

 In England it is the commonest Tern, but in Scotland and 

 Ireland the Arctic Tern is almost if not quite as numerous, 

 and both species may often be found nesting on the same 

 island or beach. 



Its food consists of small fish and Crustacea, which it 

 catches after the manner of all Terns by dropping down on 

 them with closed wings from a moderate height. 



They nest in colonies on rocks, shingle beaches, or near 

 the margins of large inland waters, and very little attempt 



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