BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 405 



round the northern and western coasts and islands 

 of Scotland than the Arctic Tern, but more nume- 

 rous on the southern and western coasts of England. 



Materials. Dry grass, used as a lining to the 

 slight declivity made or chosen. When the eggs 

 are laid on bare rocks, sometimes a slight kind of 

 mat of grass is made. Often there is no kind of 

 material whatever, even when the eggs are laid 

 in this situation. 



Eggs. Two or three. Ground-colour light stone 

 or buff to olive- or umber-brown, with ash-grey 

 and light and dark brown spots. Subject to great 

 variation. A trifle larger than those of the Arctic 

 Tern, less boldly marked and lacking green tinge. 

 Size about 1.7 by 1.15 in. (See Plate XII.) 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in May and de- 

 parting in August, September, and October. Note : 

 a sharp, angry pirre. Local names : Sea Swallow, 

 Tarney or Pictarney, Tarrack, Tarret, Rittock, 

 Rippock, Sporre, Scraye, Pirr, Gull Teaser. Gre- 

 garious ; sits lightly, and flies overhead when dis- 

 turbed, uttering its sharp cry. 



COMMON TERNS' EGGS ON THE FARNE ISLANDS. 



