LESSER TERN 



LITTLE TERN. 



PLATE CCXVIII. FIGURE I. 



Sterna mt'nuta, . . PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 

 Sternula mtnuta, . GOULD. 



THIS bird, a regular summer visitant, breeds in many 

 parts of Great Britain, laying in the sand or gravel 

 along the sea-shore, or by the borders of rivers : several 

 pairs breed close together. 



The eggs, generally two, or sometimes three in number, 

 are stone colour, spotted and speckled with grey and dark 

 chestnut brown. They are laid by the first week in June. 



The young are hatched in a fortnight : they are able to 

 fly by about the second week in July. 



148 



