THE BLACK TERN. 573 



regions of the globe. In Norfolk its name still lingers 

 as the "Blue Darr,'^ a corruption, probably, of Dorr-Hawk 

 (another name of the Nightjar), a bird which it closely 

 resembles in its mode of flight. Like the Dorr-Hawk, the 

 Black Tern feeds on beetles and other insects, wdiich it 

 catches on the wing, but adds to its dietary small fresh- 

 water fish, w^hich it catches by dipping for them. While 

 in pursuit of its winged prey, it does not confine itself 

 to the w^ater, but skims over the marsh and adjoining 

 meadows, sometimes even alighting for an instant to pick 

 up a worm. Black Terns are sociable birds among them- 

 selves, but do not consort with other species. They lay 

 their eggs in the most inaccessible swamps, on masses of 

 decayed reeds and flags, but little elevated above the level 

 of the water. The nests are merely depressions in the 

 lumps of vegetable substance, and usually contain three 

 or sometimes four eggs. They are j)laced near enough to 

 each other to form colonies ; and the birds continue to 

 flock together during their absence in warmer climates. 

 Large flocks have been seen in the Atlantic, midway 

 between Europe and America. In Holland and Hungary 

 they are said by Temniinck to be numerous. This author 

 states that the Black Tern commonly lays its eggs on the 

 leaves of the water-lily. 



THE WHITE-WINGED BLACK TEEN. 



STERNA LEUCOPTERA. 



General plumage black ; small wing-coverts, tail, and its coverts, white ; wings 

 ash-grey ; beak reddish brown ; irides greyish black ; feet red, with black 

 claws. Length eight inches. 



This species, Temminck informs us, frequents the bays and 

 gulfs of the Mediterranean ; especially about Gibraltar : 

 it visits also the lakes of Switzerland and Italy. A single 

 specimen was shot on the Shannon, in 1841 ; and on 

 this rests the sole claim of this bird to be admitted into 

 the catalogue of British birds. 



