COMMON TERN. 657 



numerous off Redcar on 26th and 27th September 1883, than 

 during the whole of the year ; a few linger into mid-October, 

 and odd birds even later ; on gth November 1892 an immature 

 example was procured at Redcar, while during a heavy 

 storm on igth November 1893, many Terns were observed 

 at Flamborough. This is by far the commonest of the family 

 in the Teesmouth area, though at Flamborough and Spurn 

 it is not so abundant as the Arctic Tern. The two species 

 frequently intermix when following the herring " sile," and 

 are difficult to discriminate when in large flocks and at a dis- 

 tance, but as a rule S. hirundo outnumbers macrura as ten 

 to one on the Cleveland coast. 



Inland it is occasionally found on rivers and the reservoirs 

 which supply the large West Riding towns with water, where 

 it alights in passing on migration, or is driven out of its course 

 by stormy weather. 



The Migration Reports contain but few references to its 

 occurrence at the Light stations ; one was killed against 

 Spurn lantern in September 1896. 



As stated above, this bird probably bred at the Tees- 

 mouth in the seventeenth century, and another colony is 

 supposed to have existed at that period at Hornsea Mere, 

 although it is not unlikely the so-called " Terns " were Black- 

 headed Gulls, which used to nest there in great numbers. 

 A reference to this breeding place is contained in a letter 

 to Abraham de la Pryme, dated " Hornsey, 2ist December 

 1693," which runs as follows : " Sir, I received yours of the 

 5th inst. (then follows a description of the mere or ' marr,' 

 as it is termed). I had almost forgot to add that there are 

 three hills (islands we call them) in the marr, two of them at 

 the season of the year are so full of tern eggs and birds as can 

 be imagined. A man must be very careful it he tread not 

 on them ! Your very humble Servant, W. Lambert." (From 

 the " Diary of Abraham de la Pryme," pp. 272-73. Surtees 

 Socy. liv.) 



The only vernacular name that can, with strict accuracy, 

 be applied to this bird, is that used generally for the family, 

 viz., Sea Swallow. 



