COMMON AND ARCTIC-TERNS 81 



no hurry she shows herself quite disposed to humour the cock's mood ; 

 she sidles up to him, her suppliant attitude in strong contrast to his, 

 her neck contracted, her whole body in a lower plane, her beak 

 turned up and sometimes opening and closing in anticipation. She 

 takes the fish only when it is given her, and behaves, in fact, with 

 marked decorum. If, on the other hand, she happens to be hungry, 

 she hardly awaits for her mate to alight before she snatches the fish 

 from his beak. This, however, in nowise prevents the cock, whatever 

 his feelings, from duly performing his part of the ceremony. 



I have never seen the presentation take place elsewhere than on 

 the ground. Pairs may frequently be seen flying about in a wild 

 chase about the sky, one holding the fish, but they suddenly descend 

 to the ground for the actual presentation. At least such is my 

 experience. Mr. A. W. Seaby once noted it take place on the 

 water. The male hovered like a big silver butterfly over his mate, and 

 she received the fish with upturned open beak. A pretty scene, 

 except to the eyes of those for whom the part played in it by the fish 

 is a matter of moment. 



The display above described may be seen when there is no food 

 brought. It is frequently seen when the pair is engaged in nest- 

 building, also on occasions quite disconnected with any function. I 

 have, for instance, seen two common-terns suddenly alight, both 

 strike the erect posture, head up, tail up, flat-iron back, and then 

 immediately fly off. Mr. Jourdain saw a pair of Arctic-terns display 

 in the same way in the water. As in the case of other species, 

 individuals may not infrequently be observed displaying when quite 

 alone. I have, among others, a note of an Arctic-tern pattering 

 about on a patch of sand by himself. Besides posturing in the usual 

 way, he nodded his head in a private and confidential manner, as if 

 engrossed by some matter of mighty import. 1 The general effect was 

 marred by the extreme shortness of his little red legs. He had the 



1 My note reads "beak gracefully erected and lowered." This was written at the Fames 

 two years ago, at the time of watching. It conveys to me at present not much meaning. I am 

 not, therefore, sure that " nod " is the right word to use. 



VOL. III. L 



