400 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



the Garganey only by down tufts which are brown 

 without white tips. Size about 1.7 by 1.35 in. 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Resident and partially migratory. 

 Notes : call, krik ; alarm, knake. Local or other 

 name : Common Teal. Sits closely, and when dis- 

 turbed is wonderfully cunning in trying to decoy 

 the intruder away. 



TERN, ARCTIC. 



(Sterna macrura.) 

 Order GAVLE ; Family LARID^: (GULLS). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about fif- 

 teen inches. Bill, rather 

 long, straight, slender, 

 sharp-pointed, and pinky- 

 red. Irides dark brown. 

 Upper part of head and 

 nape black ; back, wing- 

 coverts, and wings, 

 French grey ; tail-coverts 

 and quills white, with 



the exception of the two longest feathers, which are 

 grey. The wings are very long, and the tail much 

 forked. Cheeks and chin white ; throat and sides 

 of neck ash-grey ; breast, belly, and vent, French 

 grey. Legs, toes, and webs, orange ; claws black. 

 The female is similar to the male. This species 

 can be distinguished from the next described by 

 the facts that the bird has no black tip to its 

 bill, has shorter legs, and longer outer tail quills. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, amongst 

 sand, shingle, and on bare rock, near the edge of 



