20 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LILRARY. 



Tern breeds in colonies, usually on a shingly beach, and the 

 whereabouts of the eggs or young can generally be discovered 

 by the anxiety betrayed by the old birds, who hover over the 

 spot and keep up a loud chorus of disapproval at the intrusion. 

 The young are so like the surrounding shingle in general 

 appearance that they are very difficult to distinguish, especi- 

 ally as they do not run along the ground like the nestlings of 

 the Sand-Plovers, but are fed by the parent-birds for some 

 days at least. The old birds bring fish to their little ones, 

 and have been known to drop them near to the latter, despite 

 the presence of a stranger in their midst. 



The food of the Common Tern consists of small coal-fish, 

 sand-eels, shrimps, and small Crustacea ; and it is a very pretty 

 sight to see a flock of Terns fishing above a shoal of small 

 fry and dipping after their prey. In the autumn, before their 

 departure for the south, flocks assemble on the sand or shingly 

 beaches, and rest quietly during the time that the tide is out. 

 I have seen many large assemblages of these birds on the 

 beach near Lydd in Kent, and at the incoming of the tide 

 into Romney Hoy, especially if this took place towards even- 

 ing, large flocks of terns would often follow the rush of the 

 water as it entered the principal channel, and a constant 

 chorus of their creaking note, like the syllables kree-e-e, was 

 kept up, until at times there was a perfect babel of sound. 

 The birds were apparently feeding on the small fish which 

 came in with the tide. 



Nest. — A hollow in the sand or shingle; or on the bare earth, 

 when the birds breed at a little distance from the water. 

 Sometimes a few stems of grass are added as a lining. Mr. 

 Robert Read sends me the accompanying note : — " The nesting 

 habits of this bird differ much according to site. When the 

 nest is made on the sea-shore it usually consists simply of a 

 slight hollow scraped in the sand or shingle without any lining 

 materials whatever. When, however, the nest is built inland, 

 on swampy ground, it consists of a more or less substantial 

 structure of dried grasses and stalks, doubtless to keep the 

 eggs out of the damp." 



Eggs.— Mr. Read adds : — " Three is the usual number of 

 eggs laid, but on more than one occasion I have taken four 



