BLACK TERN 



PLATE CCXVIII. FIGURE II. 



Sterna nigra, .... NAUMANN. 



Sterna fissipes, .... YARRELL. HARTING. 



Hydrochelidon nigra, . . . MACGILLIVRAY. 



THESE birds, which were formerly abundant in the 

 breeding-season, especially in the eastern counties of 

 England, from which they are now banished by drainage and 

 persecution, build together in great numbers ; they choose for 

 the purpose swampy places among moors or fens. Their 

 nests are either placed in some slight mound of earth, or tuft 

 of grass or rushes, close to or floated on the water, among 

 the kindred stems and stalks of flags and reeds, and with 

 grass for the inner portion. 



The eggs are three in number, of a rather dark ochreous 

 clay, olive-green, or olive-brown colour, blotted and spotted 

 with deep brown or black, principally at the larger end. 



The young are produced in fifteen or sixteen days. 



