400 LARIDAG 
Scotland and Ireland accommodate small colonies. The 
numbers of Little Terns which haunt certain nesting- 
districts are liable to fluctuate considerably every year. 
I am aware of several nesting-sites on the British coast, 
where during one season the number of birds has been 
treble that of the preceding year, while in another locality 
I have known a colony of forty pairs to be represented by 
only about twelve birds in the two ensuing years, and after 
that the numbers to rise again to more than sixty birds. 
Geographical distribution.—Beyond our Isles the Little 
Tern is found nesting in Temperate Europe from lat. 60° N. 
down to the Mediterranean. It also breeds in North Africa, 
and in Asia as far as India. On migration, it visits the 
coasts of Southern Africa and Asia. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial—Forehead, white; top 
of head and back of neck, black; a broad black stripe 
extends in front of and behind the eye ; back, scapulars, and 
wings, ‘pearl’ grey; primaries, grey, margined on the inner 
webs with white; two outer primaries have dark shafts; 
throat, breast, abdomen, and tail, white. 
Adult female nuptial.—Similar to the male plumage, but 
the outer tail-feathers are shorter than in the male. 
Adult winter, male and female.—The black on the head 
is much duller in colour, and there is more white on the 
forehead than in the nuptial plumage. 
Immature, male and female.—Top of head and back of 
neck, tinged with pale yellowish-buff and streaked with 
dark brown ; back, scapulars, and wings, grey, tinged with 
buff and mottled with umber-brown; tail-feathers, greyish- 
white, slightly spotted with brown near the tips. 
The mature plumage is gradually assumed, breeding not 
taking place until the completion of the third year. 
Beak. Yellow, with dark brown tip. 
FEET. Yellow. 
Ir1pEs. Blackish-brown. 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
TOTAL LENGTH :.. 10 in. Female a little smaller. 
WING Orlouw,; 
BEAK ax Mee 
TARSO-METATARSUS O75 ,, 
EGG 135x239 5:in, 
