112 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Plumage. — Head and nape black ; upper parts pearl- 

 grey. Rump and tail white ; under parts vinous grey. 

 Bill orange-red, with horn-coloured tip. Legs and feet 

 orange-red. Tail well forked. Length 14J in. Female 

 similar. In winter forehead flecked with white ; under 

 parts purer white, and bill and feet duller. Young : 

 brownish white forehead ; upper parts bluish grey, 

 mottled with greyish brown ; brownish grey band on 

 upper wing-coverts ; under parts white ; legs and feet 

 reddish brown. Nestling : covered with down ; yellow- 

 ish brown above, mottled with black ; throat and fore- 

 head brown, white below ; feet yellow. 



Language. — A harsh cry, like " cree-cree-cree-ee." 



Habits. — Its method of fishing is like that of all Terns, 

 viz., precipitating itself into the water to catch surface- 

 swimming fish. On the wing it is an adept at doubling 

 and wheeling most rapidly, almost vying with the 

 Swallow (hence Sea Swallow). It swims well, but is a 

 poor walker. Breeds in Terneries. 



Food. — Fish, sand-eels, and Crustacea. 



Nest. — May to June. One brood. 



Site. — In a hollow in the sand or shingle, not far above 

 high-water mark ; also on tumbled masses of isolated 

 rocks. 



Materials. — If any, a few bents. 



Eggs. — Two or three. Yellowish stone to olive, 

 spotted and blotched with deep brown and grey. Like 

 Arctic Tern's, but less boldly marked. 



ARCTIC TERN [Sternus macrura). 



May to September. Especially abundant on the 

 northern and western coasts. In the south it breeds on 

 the Scilly Islands, and sparingly at a few places on the 



