276 THE SANDWICH TERN 
which abound in extensive marshes. In its habits it is scarcely 
less aquatic than the preceding species, but differs from them all 
in preferring fresh water to salt. It was formerly of frequent occur- 
rence in England ; but draining and reclaiming have, within the last 
few years, given over many of its haunts to the Partridge and Wood 
Pigeon ; and it is now but rarely known to breed in this country. 
A few, however, are not unfrequently seen in spring and autumn, 
when on their way from and to their winter quarters, which are 
the warmer 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, which it catches on the wing, but adds to its 
dietary small fresh-water fish, which it catches by dipping for them. 
While in pursuit of its winged prey, it does not confine itself to the 
water, 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 themselves, 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 placed near enough to each other to form colonies 3 
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 Temminck to be numerous. This author states 
that the Black Tern commonly lays its eggs on the leaves of the 
water-lily. 
THE SANDWICH TERN 
STERNA CANTIACA 
Bill long, black, the tip yellowish ; tarsus short (one inch); tail long; head 
and crest as in the last; nape, upper part of the back, and all the lower 
parts brilliant white, tinged on the breast with rose; back and wings 
pale ash-grey; quills deeper grey; tail white; feet black, yellowish 
beneath. Young birds—head mottled with black and white ; back, wing- 
coverts, and tail-feathers varied with irregular lines of black; bill and 
feet dark brown. Length eighteen inches. Eggs greyish green, blotched 
with brown and black. 
THE Sandwich Tern, which takes its name from the place where 
it was first seen in England, is not uncommon on many parts of the 
coast during the summer months. In some places it seems to be 
1 The Rev. R. Lubbock states in his Fauna of Norfolk, 1845, that it has 
ceased to breed regularly in Norfolk, but that eggs had been recently obtained 
at Crowland Wash in Lincolnshire, 
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