152 



THE LITTLE TERN. 



Sterna minuta, L. 



A FEW Little Terns appeared in Kent between tlie Loth and 

 2Lst o£ April ; strao"^lers occurred in AViltsbire and Suffolk 

 on the lyth and 23rd ; two c;ime to the lantern at Spurn 

 Head lighthouse (Yorkshire) on the nioht of the 22nd, and 

 a slight increase was noticed in Suffolk on the 26th. Large 

 numbers arrived in Kent, and a further increase was noticed 

 in Suffolk between the 2yth of April and the 5th of May. 

 On the night of the 2nd of May some numbers came to the 

 Spurn Head light, and further increases were reported in 

 Essex between the 8th and 15th and in Norfolk on the liUli 

 and 20th. 



The first west coast record was from Merioneth on the 5th 

 of May, and a few were reported from the Lancashire coast 

 on the 6th. 



Large numbers were nesting in Kent between the 20th 

 and 26th, and had commenced doing so in Glamorgan on the 

 27th. Eggs were found in Norfolk on the 24th. 



On comparing the records of the two species of Tern it is 

 obvious that they are unsatisfactory, and that in many cases 

 the dates given are not those of the actual arrivals of the 

 birds in the different areas, but are merely those of certain 

 observers visiting special haunts. 



CriRONOLOGICAL SuMMARY OF THE RECORDS. 



Feb. 1st. Kintyre (one seen). 



„ 4th. Kintyre (ten or eleven seen). 



,, 24th. Cardross, Clyde (three seen). 



A.pril 15th. Northumberland (passing). 



