284 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTti. 



tinged with green. Size about 1-7 by 1*35 in. 

 Distinguishable from those of the Gargaiiey only by 

 down tufts which are brown without white tips. 



Time. May. 



Remarks. Resident and partially migratory. 

 Notes: call, T\riTi ; alarm, JcnaJce. Local and other 

 names : Common Teal. Sits closely. 



TERN, ARCTIC. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 fifteen 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. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, amongst 

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

 the water ; on low islands, and at suitable places 

 on mainland shores ; on the Fame Islands, on 

 the Yorkshire side of the mouth of the Humber ; 

 the Scilly Isles ; on the Welsh coast, Lancashire, 

 Cumberland ; generally round the Scottish coast, 

 and at various suitable places in Ireland. Our 

 illustration shows a number of the birds sitting 

 on their eggs at the Fame Islands. 



Materials. None whatever, as a rule, and I 

 am inclined to think that where bits of grass and 

 seaweed are found their presence is accidental. 



