ARCTIC TERN 



PLATE CCXVL FIGURES I. AND II. 



Sterna arctica, . . . FLEMING. SELBY. JENYNS. 

 Sterna macrura, . . NAUMANN. 



THIS regular summer visitant breeds north of the 

 H umber. It contents itself with a slight hollow in the 

 bare sand by the sea-shore, the borders of islets, or the 

 mouths of rivers. Great numbers build together, and the 

 nests are so closely contiguous that it is hardly possible to 

 avoid walking upon them. 



The eggs are usually three in number, sometimes only 

 two, but never four ; they are subject to almost endless 

 variety, the ground colour being often tinged with olive 

 and frequently buffish brown ; a pale bluish green is not 

 unfrequent, and sometimes they are rich ochre red. They 

 are spotted dull green and brown, with grey and dark reddish- 

 brown. They are usually laid in the beginning of June. The 

 period of incubation is about fifteen or sixteen days. 



