110 



LESSER TERX. 



LITTLE TERN. 



PLATE CCXVIIT. FIG. I. 



Sterna mhmta, . . Pennant. Montagu. Bewick. 

 " "... Fleming. Selby. Jenyns. GorLD. 



The bird before us lays in the sand or gravel along 

 the sea-shore, as also by the borders of rivers: several 

 pairs breed close together. 



The eggs are general!}' two, or sometimes three in 

 number, of a pale brown, dull green, or stone-colour, 

 spotted and speckled with grey and dark chesnut brown. 

 They are laid by the first week in June. 



The young are hatched in a fortnight: they are able 

 to fly by about the second week in July. Audubon 

 says that they are fed for a time on the wing by both 

 parents. 



