344 BIEDS OF TUNISIA 



The summer range of this species extends over the whole, or the 

 greater part, of Europe, North Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the 

 temperate portion of Asia, and North America from Labrador to 

 Texas. In winter it migrates to South Africa, in Asia to India, 

 Ceylon and the Malay Peninsula, and in America to Bahia and 

 Brazil. 



Specially fitted for an aerial life, the present species, like other 

 Terns, is seen to most advantage on the wing, its flight, though not 

 very rapid, being particularly graceful and buoyant, and its movements 

 and actions in the air singularly attractive and interesting. The 

 name of Sea-swallows has been applied to the Terns, and in some 

 ways perhaps not inappropriately, though the Tern's flight can hardly 

 be said to resemble greatly that of the Swallow, being far less rapid 

 and dashing, but more hovering and wavering. The Common Tern 

 swims with ease, and often plunges into the water from a height 

 when in pursuit of its prey, which it alwa3's seizes with its bill. 

 Owing to its short feet, its movements on land are rather awkward, 

 and the bird merely resorts to terra firma to rest, or during the 

 breeding season, to attend to its nesting duties. 



Its food consists chiefly of small fish and crustaceans. The 

 ordinary call-note of the species is a long-drawn cry, which may be 

 fairly rendered by the syllable " krec," but its alarm-note is more like 

 " quiee, quice." On its nest being approached the bird becomes very 

 noisy, and keeps up an incessant cry, hovering over the head of the 

 intruder till left in peace. On fine days, when the sun is shining 

 brightly. Terns probably leave their eggs uncovered for a considerable 

 length of time, particularly during the hotter hours, without any ill 

 resulting therefrom. 



Like its allies, the present species breeds in colonies, and generally 

 on the bare ground. In Tunisia the smaller islands off the south- 

 east coast are its chief breeding places, and I am unaware of its 

 resorting to any of the inland lakes or salt-marshes for the purpose 

 of nidification. In some countries where the species breeds in inland 

 districts, it often has to fly long distances to obtain food in salt-water. 



The eggs, which are deposited in a slight hollow in the ground, 

 without any attempt at concealment, are two or three in number, 

 never more. In colour they vary from yellowish-ochre to greenish- 

 buff, with grey shell-marks and dark brown surface-blotches, sparingly 

 distributed over the entire surface of the shell in some cases, but 



