28o 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 lired at, it takes Jittle 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, 

 proiiting 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, with its 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 fuU. 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 



^ I 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 inchned 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. 



