133 



ARCTIC TEEN. 



PLATE CCXVI. 



Sterna arctica, FLEMING. SELBT. JESTNS. 



" " ETTO>*. GOULD. 



THIS Tern contents itself with a slight hollow scratched out either 

 in the bare sand or grass, a little of the latter forming a lining, 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 two or three in number, rarely four; they are subject 

 to almost endless variety, the ground colour being variously white, 

 green, dull green, brown, pale blue, and pale yellow, spotted with 

 grey and dark reddish brown. They are usually laid the beginning of 

 June. The period of incubation is about fifteen or sixteen days. 



