Ill 



BLACK TERN. 



PLATE CCXVIII. FIG. II. 



Sterna nigra, . ■ • Fleming. Selby. 



" " .... Jenyns. Gould. 



Sterna Jissipes, . . ■ Pennant. 



Sterna ncBvia, .... Pennant. 



These birds build together in great numbers; they 

 choose for the i^urpose swampy phxces among moors 

 or fens. Their nests are either j)laced in some slight 

 mound of earth, or tuft of grass or rushes, close to, or 

 floated on the water, among the kindred stems and 

 ttalks of flags and reeds, and with grass for the inner 

 portion. 



The eggs are three in number, and still oftener four, 

 and of a rather dark olive green or olive brov>^n colour, 

 blotted and spotted with deep brown or black, princi- 

 pally at the larger end. 



The young are produced in fifteen or sixteen days. 



