112 OUR RARER BRITISH BREEDING BIRDS. 



rootlets, hair, and feathers, and is a loose and truly 

 Sparrow-like structure. 



The eggs are slightly smaller than those of 

 the House- Sparrow, which they resemble, however, 

 so closely in coloration that I would not under- 

 take to differentiate them without seeing the 

 parent birds. At close quarters, or by the aid of 

 a moderately powerful pair of field-glasses, there 

 is little difficulty about identifying them ; for 

 amongst other differences in the breeding plum- 

 age, the crown of the male Tree- Sparrow is reddish- 

 brown and the House - Sparrow ashy grey ; and, 

 more important still, whilst both sexes in the 

 former species have a black throat, only the male 

 of the latter is so adorned. 



TERN, LESSER. 



WE have obtained photographs of this bird's eggs 

 both on the Norfolk and Kentish coasts. At its 

 principal station on the former it is at least hold- 

 ing its own, on account of the practical character 

 of the protection afforded it by an association of 

 East Anglian bird lovers ; but at a famous old haunt 

 on the latter it is gradually dwindling in numbers 

 year by year, through increase of population and 

 visitors to its breeding grounds. It is a great pity 

 the species should have such a fatal aptitude for 

 nidification on the mainland, instead of upon islands 

 like the other members of its family, for it is a 

 sweet little bird which we can ill afford to lose as 

 a breeder. 



The male and female show great affection for 

 each other, and when the latter is brooding it is 



