280 THE LITTLE TERN 
parties of three or four. Not unfrequently, as the seaside visitor 
is sauntering about on the sands, one of these birds seems to take 
offence at its dominion being invaded. With repeated harsh cries it 
flies round and round the intruder, coming quite close enough to 
allow its black head and yellow beak to be distinguished. Its 
flight is swift, something like that of a Swallow, but more laboured, 
and not so rapid. If fired at, it takes little notice of the noise ; 
and, knowing nothing of the danger, continues its screams + and 
circling till its pertinacity becomes annoying. When feeding it 
presents a far pleasanter appearance. Then, altogether heedless 
of intrusion, it skims along the surface of the drains in the marshes, 
profiting by its length of wing and facility of wheeling, to capture 
flying insects. At least, if this be not its object, I can in no other 
way account for the peculiar character of its flight. At other 
times, either alone or in company with a few other individuals 
of the same species, it is seen flying slowly along, some fifteen or 
twenty feet above the surface of a shallow tidal pool, or pond, in a 
salt marsh. Suddenly it arrests its onward progress, soars like a 
Kestrel for a second or two, withits beak pointed downwards. It 
has descried a shrimp, or small fish, and this is its way of taking 
aim. Employing the mechanism with which its Creator has pro- 
vided it, it throws out of gear its apparatus of feathers and air- 
tubes, and falls like a plummet into the water, with a splash which 
sends circle after circle to the shore; and, in an instant, having 
captured and swallowed its petty booty, returns to its aerial 
watch-post. A social little party of three or four birds, who have 
thus taken possession of a pond, will remain fishing as long as the 
tide is high enough to keep it full. They take little notice of pas- 
sengers ; and if startled by the report of a gun, remove to a short 
distance only, and there resume their occupation. Sometimes they 
may be seen floating about in the open sea, resting their wings, 
perhaps, after a long flight, or simply idling, certainly not fishing ; for 
although they plunge from a height, with great ease and elegance, 
diving proper is not one of their accomplishments. 
To the stranger who visits the coast of Norfolk, the Lesser Tern 
will, perhaps, be pointed out under the name of ‘Sea Swallow’, 
or, more probably, as a ‘Shrimp Catcher’. Either of these names 
is appropriate. Its mode of progress through the air is more 
1 IT have been beset in this manner by a Lesser Tern, so far on in the summer 
that I could not attribute its actions to any anxiety about either eggs or young. 
I am inclined to think it is, on such occasions, taught by its instinct to accom- 
pany a traveller for the sake of the insects disturbed by his movements. 
During the summer months, the shingle, on a sunny beach, is haunted by 
myriads of sluggish flies, which rarely take wing unless thus disturbed. That 
the Chimney Swallow often accompanies the traveller for this object, I have 
no doubt; as I have seen them fly to and fro before me, darting in among 
the swarming flies, and so intent in their chase, as to pass within a few yards 
of my feet every time they crossed my path. 
