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 ; 

 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, 



