io8 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



upper parts ash-grey, striped and barred with brownish 

 grey; under parts white with some dark streaks on 

 neck and breast ; rump white ; tail-feathers ash-brown, 

 with dark shaft-streaks ; long tail-coverts barred. 

 Young : much like adults in winter, but tinged with 

 buff above ; dull buff with dusky streaks below. 



Language. A loud double whistle-like " eou-ey." 



Habits. Sociable, often consorting on their feeding- 

 grounds with other species. No doubt when breeding 

 it is very wary, but, with us, at least when it first arrives, 

 it is very tame and confiding. In other respects it 

 much resembles the Sandpipers. 



Food. Aquatic insects, worms, Crustacea, &c. 



Nidification. Breeds in Northern Europe. 



LITTLE TERN (Sterna minuta). 



May to September. Rather local, and nowhere 

 really abundant, but found breeding almost throughout 

 our coast-lines, where there are flat, sandy or shingly 

 shores. 



Plumage. Crown and nape black. Forehead, sides 

 of face, rump, tail, and under parts white ; upper parts 

 pearl-grey. Bill reddish yellow, tipped with black. 

 Legs and feet orange-yellow. Length 9 in. Female 

 similar, but slightly smaller. In winter the black head 

 is duller. Young : head and nape suffused with buff, 

 and streaked with black ; mantle greyish, with buff 

 tinge, mottled with umber-brown ; black loral patch 

 of adult only indicated in immature birds by a dark line ; 

 rump and tail not so pure white as in adult. Nestling : 

 covered with buff down ; head black ; back grey ; 

 under parts whitish fawn. 



