RIVER TERNS 115 



environment than the eggs do. If one picks up such 

 a crouching temlet, the bird will probably not struggle 

 at all ; it may, perhaps, peck at one's fingers, but in 

 nine cases out of ten will remain limp and motionless 

 in the hand, looking as though it were dead, and if it 

 be set upon the ground it falls all of a heap, and 

 remains motionless in the position it assumed when 

 dropped. If you take a young tern in your hand and 

 lay it upon its back on the sand it makes no attempt 

 to right itself, but remains motionless in that attitude, 

 looking for all the world like a trussed chicken ; but 

 if you turn your back upon it, it will take to its little 

 legs and run, with considerable speed, to the water, 

 to which it takes just as a duck does, its feet being 

 webbed at all stages of its existence. 



