THE COMMON TERN. 507 



the distance perhaps of from fifty to a hundred yards from 

 the beach. Its beak is pointed downwards, and the 

 bird is evidently on the look-out for prey. Suddenly it 

 descends perpendicularly into the water, making a per- 

 ceptible splash, but scarcely disappearing. In an instant 

 it has recovered the use of its wings and ascends again, 

 swallowing some small fish meanwhile if it has been suc- 

 cessful, but in any case continuing its course as before. I 

 do not recollect ever to have seen a Tern sit on the Avater to 

 devour its prey when fishing among the breakers. Often, 

 too, as one is walking along the shore, or sailing in a boat, 

 when the sea is calm, a cruizing party of Terns comes in 

 sight. Their flight now is less direct than in the instance 

 just mentioned, as they "beat" the fishing-ground after the 

 fashion of spaniels, still, however, making way ahead. 

 Suddenly one of the party arrests its flight, hovers for a 

 few seconds like a Hawk, and descends as if shot, making 

 a splash as before. If unsuccessful it rises at once, but if 

 it has captured the object on which it swooped, it remains 

 floating on the water until it has relieved itself of its 

 incumbrance by the summary process of swallowing it. 

 I do not know a prettier sight than a party of Terns thus 

 occupied. They are by no means shy, frequently fij^ing 

 quite over the boat, and uttering from time to time a 

 short scream, which, though not melodious, is more in 

 keeping with the scene than a mellow song would be. 



In rough weather they repair to sheltered bays, ascend 

 estuaries, or follow the course of a river until they have 

 advanced far inland. They are harbingers of sunmier 

 quite as much as the Swallow itself, coming to us in May 

 and leaving in September for some warmer coast. They 

 usually breed on flat shores, laying two or three eggs on the 

 ground, in marshes, or on sandy shingle. The eggs in my 

 collection were procured on the coast of I^orfolk, but I 

 have seen the birds themselves in the greatest numbers in 

 Belfast Lou^h and in Loch Crinan. 



