So THE COMMON TERN OR SEA-SWALLOW 



common crossbills sometimes do considerable injury to apples, 

 tearing them in pieces to come at the pips or seeds. 



The COMMON TERN or SEA-SWALLOW (Sterna hirundo), Fig. 51, 

 is a member of the Natatorial or Swimming Birds of the Laridae 

 or Gull family and sub-family Sterninae, arriving on British 

 shores in May and leaving them in September. Its average 

 length is 15 in., the long-forked tail forming a considerable 

 part of this measurement. The head and neck are black and 

 the upper part generally ashy-grey, whilst the lower parts are 

 white, and the legs, feet and bill red. It is very active, seemingly 

 in ceaseless flight, and darting down upon small fishes, which con- 

 stitute its food. Its cry is noisy and jarring. The nest is made 

 on the sand or rock above high-water mark, and contains two or 

 three eggs, on which the female usually sits by night. 



FIG. 51. THE COMMON TERN OR SEA-SWALLOW. 



As evidence of the destructive nature of the Common Tern, it is 

 noteworthy that the East Suffolk County Council was in 1906 

 petitioned by 100 fishermen of Aldeburgh to rescind the order 

 prohibiting the taking of the eggs of the common tern, as during 

 the last ten years the birds had greatly increased, and the smelt 

 fishing industry had been nearly destroyed. It was estimated that 

 there were 40,000 birds in the district, and one bird alone had been 

 seen to take thirty to forty young fry in an hour. The council 

 decided to allow the order to expire in January, 1907. 



