406 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



TERN, LESSER. See TERN, LITTLE. 



TERN, LITTLE. Also LESSER TERN. 



(Sterna minuta?) 

 Order GAVLE ; Family LARID^E (GULLS). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length between 

 eight and nine inches. Bill fairly long, straight, 

 and orange-coloured, except at the tip, which is 

 black. Irides dusky. Forehead white, crown and 

 nape deep black. Back and wings French grey, the 

 first two wing-quills being a trifle darker ; the wings 

 are long and narrow. Upper tail-coverts and tail, 

 which is much forked, white. Chin, throat, sides 

 of neck, breast, belly, and vent, clean glossy white. 

 Legs, toes, and membranes orange. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, on 

 sandy, flat coasts interspersed with banks of shells, 

 gravel, and shingle. Some authorities assert that 

 the bird scrapes a slight hollow for the reception of 

 its eggs, whilst others deny this. According to my 

 experience the bird may scrape a slight declivity 

 when breeding on sand, but not when dropping 

 her eggs amongst pebbles. Small colonies are still 

 said to breed on the Kentish side of the mouth of 

 the Thames ; also on the coasts of Essex, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Cumberland, and 

 Lancashire, and in suitable places round the Welsh, 

 Scottish, and Irish coasts. It also breeds in a few 

 suitable inland places. 



Materials. None, the eggs harmonising well 

 with their surroundings. 



Eggs. Two to four, generally two or three, 

 varying in ground-colour from stone-yellow to pale 

 brown, spotted, speckled, and blotched with grey 



