410 



NATATORES. 



LARID.E. 



LARIDIE. 



THE LESSER TERN. 



Sterna minuta, Lesser Tern, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 198. 



,, ,, ,, ,, Mont. Ornith. Diet. 



,, ,, , ,, Bewick, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 209. 



,, „ „ ,, Flem. Brit. An. p. 144. 



,, ,, ,, ,, Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 475. 



,, ,, ,, ,, Jenyns, Brit. Vert. p. 267. 



,, ,, Little ,, Goui.D, Birds of Europe, pt. viii. 



,, ,, I'etite Hirimdelle de vier, Iemm. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 752. 



This pretty little bird, the smallest of the British Terns, 

 but one of the most elegant as well as delicate examples of 

 the species, is not uncommon during summer on such parts 

 of the coast of the British Islands as are suited to its habits. 

 It appears to prefer low flat shores, or islets, of sand, broken 

 shells, or small shingle, coming here early in May, and laying 

 two or three eggs before the end of that month in any small 

 accidental depression in the ground above high water mark. 

 I have found them in considerable numbers at the mouth of 



