107 



ARCTIC TERN. 



PLATE CCXVI. 



Sterna arctica, . . . Fleming. Selbt. Jenyns, 

 " " . . . . Eyton. Gould. 



This Tern contents itself with a slight hollow scratched 

 out either in the bare sand or grass, a little of the 

 latter forming a lining, by the sea-shore, the borders 

 of islets, or the mouths of rivers. Great numbers build 

 together, and the nests are so closely contiguous that 

 it is hardly possible to avoid walking upon them. 



The eggs are two or three in number, rarely four; 

 they are subject to almost endless variety, the ground 

 colour being variously white, green, dull green, brown, 

 pale blue, and pale yellow, spotted with grey and dark 

 reddish brown. They are usually laid the beginning 

 of June. The period of incubation is about fifteen or 

 sixteen days. 



