LESSEE TEEN. 
45 
male, at March, the 7th. of May, 1850. In Surrey, some 
have occurred at Frensham Pond, near Godaiming. 
It is seen in Ireland on different parts of the coast. 
In Scotland, as far as Aberdeen. In Orkney it is not 
uncommon. 
The Lesser Tern breeds on the Northumbrian coast, nearly 
opposite to Holy Island. So too in Kent, about Yanlet 
Islet, on the Thames; in Lincolnshire, at Skegness; and on 
the Cumberland coast; on the Solway Frith Skinburness is 
a station; also in Scotland, upon Guillon Point, above North 
Berwick, on the Frith of Forth. 
These birds are found both inland, by the sides of lakes 
and rivers, and along the sea-coast, frequenting low gravelly 
and sandy shores. 
They arrive early in May, and depart towards the end of 
August. The migratory journey is performed, it is said, in 
pairs or small parties, and that both by day and night, 
high in the air. 
They are sociable among themselves, and not shy unless 
alarmed. 
Their flight is similar in its easy and graceful character 
to that of the other species, and performed with quickly- 
repeated beatings of the wings; but in stormy weather they 
appear to be unable to buffet much with the gales, and 
frequently alight on the ground, generally turning themselves 
towards the wind. 
Their food consists of young fish, shrimps, crabs, insects, 
and Montagu and Meyer say, some of the smaller sea-weeds. 
In search of these they frequently alight on the water, besides 
their habit of descending on their prey. 
The note sounds like ‘creek, creek,’ uttered in a high 
pitch; but though there is nothing very ‘recherche’ in the 
musical performance of this or any other sea-birds, yet to 
the ear of the naturalist every sound in nature is pleasant 
and grateful. 
The bird before us lays in the sand or gravel along the 
sea-shore, as also by the borders of rivers: several pairs 
breed close together. 
The eggs are generally two, or sometimes three in number, 
of a pale brown, dull green, or stone-colour, spotted and 
speckled with grey and dark chesnut brown. They are laid 
by the first week in June. 
The young are hatched in a fortnight: they are able to 
