io8 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



In connection with the river-nesting birds, it 

 is, as far as my observations go, a curious fact 

 that neither the Tern nor the Oyster Catcher will 

 ever fly under a bridge if they possibly can help 

 it. Many a time I have watched these birds flying 

 up the river Dee at a point where it is crossed by 

 a suspension bridge, but never have I seen 

 either an Oyster Catcher or Tern fly under it. 

 Although the Oyster Catcher and the Tern 

 come up the river flying only a foot or so above 

 the water, directly they reach the bridge, instead 

 of continuing their flight on the surface of the 

 river, they rise fully 50 feet and fly well over 

 the bridge, whereas by continuing their original 

 course they could save themselves a deal of 

 trouble. 



The Tern, although not a rapid flier, is able to 

 keep on the wing for a long time on end, and 

 will go great distances up and down the river in 

 search of small fry for its young ones. Usually 

 it works the ground once only in search of fish, 

 but should it come upon a good pool, it will 

 fly backwards and forwards repeatedly, every 

 now and then hovering motionless about a dozen 

 feet above the river's surface. 



The Tern must see a great many fish it is unable 

 to capture, judging from the number of times it 

 hovers without dropping down into the water. 

 But the explanation may be that the bird does 

 not always see a fish when it stops suddenly in 

 its flight, but hovers so that it may the better 

 search the surrounding shallows for prey. It is 

 a pretty sight to see a Tern beating up the 

 river in the teeth of a strong summer breeze, carry- 

 ing a large worm or fish in its bill for its sitting 



