LESSER TERN. 141 



LESSER TERN. 



LITTLE TERN. 

 PLATE CCXVIII. FIGURE I. 



Sterna minuta, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



Sterna minuta, FLEMING. SELBY. JENYNS. GOULD. 



bird before us lays in the sand or gravel 

 along the sea-shore, as also by the borders of 



rivers: several pairs breed close together. 



The eggs are generally two, or sometimes three 



in number, of a pale brown, dull green, or stone-colour, 



spotted and speckled with grey and dark chesnut 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. 



Audubon says that they are fed for a time on the 



wing by both parents. 



